It was a cool December night, and the moon was full and bright in the sky. The stars shone brilliantly for the approaching solstice, each night the sky growing more and more serene.
Celestia was sitting on her couch in her enclosed balcony, the soft red velvet awash with moonlight. This was the final part of her routine, before laying down to rest for the next dawn. To look upon the night sky, to appreciate a celestial beauty that was not her own, and be proud for her sister.
The sound of cicadas was born on a light breeze that made fur stand on end, the fireflies dancing to the sweet music of nature. It truly was a beautiful night.
Her sister alighted upon the balcony behind her, that gentle tapping of her hooves against silky marble blending into the pure harmony.
“Tis soon time for the solstice,” Luna spoke, “but we are afraid that we shall struggle to match such beauty such has been displayed this night.” Celestia did not look away from the moon as her sister came to stand beside her.
“Do not worry my Sister, for the beauty of your nights is not held within the stars, the sky, or even the radiance of the moon. The true beauty comes from the care you put into their arrangement, and the unique individuality of every night.” Celestia replied. Luna smiled.
But not all was restful.
A single sparkle in the sky, dim among the many others, came into being. A single spark, that grew into a flame, the flame of plasma flying off a burning object as it falls, falls, falls all the way through the atmosphere of their home. A spark becomes a streak, descending serenely at first, then seeming to accelerate, to move faster and faster. The burning fires were visible for miles now, and still it fell, fell, fell until… it disappeared.
It disappeared from sight, and all was peaceful for a moment. Until the shockwave hit. A pulse of pure kinetic energy rippled across the earth, scattering birds they were thrown from their roosts, tree roots holding on as leaves were stripped and charred.
Something had fallen, and everyone knew it.
That was the intention.
The guards stood in a ring, spears pointing inwards. The sharpened tips glinted in the diffuse glow of the charred crater, tiny fires danced across patches of scorched rock. Each guard was stony-faced, showing no fear in the face of a new, alien situation. The creature inside the metal coffin stared back.
The entire construct, no bigger than an adolescent minotaur, listed to one side dangerously. The creature was pressed against the side of the metallic object; it looked uncomfortable. The entire thing was shaped like a faceted raindrop, eight wide flat panels that gently sloped upwards, before bending sharply so that that they came to a peak that caught the light of the moon. Three adjacent long sides had dark, translucent panels set into them, through which the vague figure of the creature could be seen.
Never had the guards expected something like this, in such a remote place as the one they were stationed in. They had seen the flash of light, and felt the shockwave as it fell from wherever it came, and at first they were uncertain, wary of the unknown.
But it was their jobs. They took the vow to protect Equestria and her ponies, no matter the threat. They did not wait for orders to come through. They took action for the nation they represented, for the nation they believed in. And this creature would not shake them.
It continued to stare. Just staring, or at least that's what it looked like through the darkened glass. In truth, they could barely see it. It was a shadow, a presence that could not be distinguished, that left the mind to give it a body so that one's fears may be revealed. It was the perfect nightmare. And no matter how much they drew on the thought of their nation, the guards were unsettled. And in their heart of hearts, they were afraid.
"It simply stares? Not a word, not an action?"
"Indeed, my Princess." The guard captain was sweating underneath his armour as his Goddess gazed down at him, radiating her influence. "I believe it's... waiting... my Princess."
"A most astute observation captain. I share the opinion it desires attention, as discretion is not a word one could use to describe its descent."
"Indeed, my Princess."
Celestia stared into space temporarily, deep in contemplation. The guards shuffled nervously at this display, never taking their eyes off the vessel.
With a stride and a leap, the Princess descended into the crater, flaring her wings for additional effect. The guards stepped back, awed by her presence, and startled by a sudden shifting inside the pod.
Holding her head aloft and ruffling her wings, Celestia spoke.
"Behold, I am Princess Celestia, The First Celestial Goddess, Bringer of Warmth and Light to Equestria! I am ruler of these lands in which you have arrived! Come forth from your cage and speak your message!" Her booming voice bounced around the crater, resonating through all present. As the final syllable dissipated into the frigid night air, a mechanical thunk came from the creature's vessel.
The guards reared back in alarm, fighting the urge to flee as several loud noises emanated from the casing, along with small bursts of sparks and fire. A dozen bolts were ejected from the casing, falling into the warm rock with a plink.
The windowed segments began to peel away, allowing moonlight to spill in, and a thick vapour to come pouring out. It pooled at the bottom of the crater, as the metal slowly unfolded itself. A dim glow illuminated the sihlouette of something, a creature, as the doors scraped the ground. The guards' breath was coming in quick bursts, they felt light headed.
Celestia herself felt her heart beat a faster tempo as one leg emerged from the mist. The tension hung in the air like the mist, as the shape came closer, until...
The last tendrils of vapour left the body of a creature so alien, so strange, so miraculous and impossible they were all stunned. It raised an appendage and, from a unseen orifice, a voice spoke;
"You have thirty-six hours to prepare for total war. We are not your enemy. We offer you our condolences."