Our Days are Numbered

Applejack

It was all really hard to take in. The fact that so many good ponies died for a reason I don’t even know. The fact that Pinkie, Twilight, and Rarity might not be alive. The fact that we were heading into completely unknown territory with a species we don’t know anything about. This was all really terrifying to realize. In the end, I guess I should just be happy I’m alive, and that some of my friends were too.

The rescue ship that these human things took us on was all really advance tech from the look of it. As for the people on the ship, Haydn was simply looking down at the metallic floor clearly sad about all the good souls that he couldn’t save. Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Apple Bloom were talking about what the place they were taking us to looked like and what kind of things they would do there. Fluttershy was getting some rest while Rainbow Dash talked to some kid named Pilot about things they had done. A gal named Asa was taking us to some place called New Haven or something like that, flying the ship to our destination. As for I, I was just sitting there think about everything that had just happened.

We had been traveling for some time when a gal across from me named Skyler started talking to me “Sorry we didn’t get here sooner,” She said. “I really wish I could have done something to save your brother and grandmother,”

I sighed, tears still dripping down my face from crying earlier. “I understand. Y’all ain’t the ones to blame for what happened, that machine is. At least I’m not the only one to survive this,” I responded to her. She was about to speak again before Pilot yelled out to everyone.

“Sorry to interrupt everyone,” He apologized before continuing “but I got to explain what is going to happen when we arrive. Before we can get you all settled in with a house and everything I going to have to take you to the person in operations and get you registered for residence. After that one of us will tour you around the city to make sure you all get to your temporary house and that everything you need during your stay. Anything else you want to know before we land?”

Rainbow Dash was the first to speak up, “I understand if you want to make sure we stay safe and everything, but where can I sign up to kick some metallic butt?”

This is something I wanted to know as well. With all that those mean machines did to Equestria, I didn’t want to sit around and wait for it to be solved myself. Pilot seemed to predict this and answered immediately.

“With everything I’ve seen out of you Rainbow, I’m willing to let you and your friend help us take whoever is behind this down,” He calmly replied “I’m going to send out a notice to all ponies and army personnel and tell them to come to the operation area if they are willing to fight this cause,”

Rainbow Dash and I got really pumped up hearing this. Pilot seemed to have a lot going for him. He seemed like a soldier, always ready to head into combat and sacrifice his life, but at the same time didn’t take it as serious and seemed to have a civilian mindset more then that of any normal soldier. We all continued to ask questions about New Haven, what Humans were like, and other things concerning our stay before we hear Asa speak over the headset.

“Hello everyone, this is your captain here speaking and saying to put on your seat belts as we descend into our destination of New Haven. Thank you all for flying Asa airlines and we hope you enjoy your day,”

Asa’s talk seem to give us all a little chuckle, while Pilot and the other humans definitely laughed at it a bit more then we . Even in times like this, it’s nice to have people able to cheer you up. Everyone seemed to be looking out the window at something in the distance. I decide to follow and saw a strange object in the distance, and it seemed to be getting closer to us. As it did, I started to notice windows on the top and side of the ship, and getting even closer I noticed what looked like creatures inside of it, some similar to what the humans that saved us looked like. Asa’s next announcement confirmed what I had thought.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, Mares and Stallions, and fillies of all ages. Welcome to the great space city of New Haven!”

Rainbow Dash

Stepping into New Haven was like entering an alternate universe. Everything was made of metal except for a few windows that showed the great expanse of space around us. I felt my jaw drop as I took everything in. When we arrived, another human was waiting for us at the end of what Pilot called a “depressurization chamber” or something like that. She looked a lot like Skyler, but with one key difference. Her left hand was completely made of metal!

That was no joke, her arm looked exactly like a human one, but it was a grey metal color unlike the rest of her body. Skyler noticed her and ran right over to give her a hug. It was easy to see that they were related after that. After an exchange of words Skyler introduce her to us “Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and you other three over there, this is my sister Dusk. She works with the army here in New Haven.” He explained

“Hello there,” Dusk knelt down and held out her metallic hand to us. It’s a very strange thing to see, nowhere back on Equestria can I remember somepony having an arm like that. Dusk seemed to recognized this. “Not use to seeing things like this huh? I understand,” She said “You still aren’t us to our level of technology. I had a hard time getting us to it at first too,” Knowing that it wasn’t worth waiting for anypony else to go on and shake your hand, I decided to be the first to do this.

I put my hoof out to shake with her hand and she immediately took it in her arm as I introduced myself. “The name’s Rainbow Dash,” I greeted her. Her metallic arm was really cold, but it didn’t feel that strange after some time. I took another look at her to take in what she really looked like. She had the same hair color that Skyler, a bit darker skin tone, and blue eyes. That wasn’t what stuck out to me though, it was the very noticeable scar across her left cheek that I noticed. Despite her soft looks, she seemed to have had some battle experience it the scar and metal arm had anything to say about it.

“Anyways,” Dusk said withdrawing her arm and standing back up “I’ll escort you all to the registration along with Pilot, the rest of you are free till we get everything sorted out,” Everyone except me, the other ponies, Dusk, and Pilot. Once they had left, Dusk motioned us all to the door as it automatically opened to a sight I never would have believed existed.

New Haven was huge, and that’s no understatement. The ceiling was very high up and was covered in what had to be some really strong glass showing the endless expanse of space around us. Along with that was the giant crowd of species walking around. Besides from a good amount of humans and few ponies, pegasus, and other species from Equestria, I wouldn’t be able to name a single alien species in front of me. As we pushed onward, I saw signs pointing to the direction of the stores in the area. It seemed so unbelievable, but it was true! This all existed in space.

“How in tarnation did you build all of this?” Applejack asked impressed. It didn’t seem very impossible with it standing all around me, but the fact that this was all in space did seem strange.

“Honestly, I’m not quite sure,” Pilot answered “It’s been a long time since this place finish construction. No one alive then is alive today,”

As we walked farther in we came to a pair of humans blocking a door to what looked like a gondola car. Once Pilot approached they moved to the side and opened the door. Everyone walked in a took a seat as the room started moving towards a giant building in the center of the city.

Everyone waited as the gondola car got closer to the center building. The car stopped as we arrived at our destination and got out. This building was a lot less noisy than the rest of the city only having a few people dressed in black and blue uniforms passed by discussing things I didn’t bother to listen to. After heading up to the top of the tower we meet a small circular hallway with a room in the center.

“This is the place,” Dusk said as she opened the door to a low lighted room with a bunch of screens and another human talking to two things I couldn’t quite make out. As my eyes adjusted to the room's lighting, I was able to make out the two figures the humans were talking with. My eyes widened with surprise when I realized who they were. They were Celestia and Luna!

Pilot

I watched as the ponies following me quickly rushed ahead to the white and black alicorns that were in the room. Ren turned to me as the two alicorns turned to talk with Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Fluttershy. He had a rare smile on his face as he came over to talk to me.

“Asa contacted me earlier,” He said happily “I’m guessing these are the ponies she mentioned?”

“Yes,” I replied. I looked over at the two alicorns that had already been in Rens office. “Hello,” I greeted to the “I’m Pilot, who are you?”

The taller of the two stepped forward to introduce themselves “I’m princess Celestia, and this is my sister Luna,” She pointed to the slightly smaller alicorn right next to her “As the rulers of Equestria I thank you for helping us in this disastrous event,” They both bowed their heads to me.

Ren walked up behind me as the princess’ finished their introductions “Celestia and Luna arrived not long after you left,” He explained “Omega and I have been getting them up to date with what we know about the situation,”

“Whose Omega?” Rainbow Dash stated confused. She looked around, not seeing anyone that she didn’t noticed before Omega gave her an answer.

“Hello,” The computerized voice scared the ponies (with the exception of Luna and Celestia) as Omega made itself known “I am Omega, an artificial intelligence created to help out all military forces onboard New Haven. It’s nice to meet you Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Appleja-,”

“How did you get my name? I didn’t tell it to you,” Applejack interrupted Omega, shocked at the fact it knew her name.

“After you boarded the ship that transported you here, Asa contact Commander Ren here and told us about what you all saw,” Omega stated “Your names are also constantly heard around the city by ponies and their descriptions matches that of you three,”

Omega’s explanation left all of the ponies in the room speechless, and I truly can’t blame them for it. Our technology level was very far off from their owns, its only natural that they would be a bit overwhelmed for some even if it was a simple as an AI.

“Anyway,” Ren said trying to break the silence “We have already filled most of the housing available for you refugees, and the building that are still open are still under some reconstruction, so you are going to have to stay with someone willing to spare some room,”

“I have room for three at my place,” I suggested. I knew I wouldn’t be able to give all five of them room, but being able to give some of them a place to stay was the best option. If I didn’t say anything, Rainbow Dash and the others would have to stay with people they didn’t know. Once I realized that last part I quickly added “and I’m sure that one of the other members of Team Fallen would be able to make some room for the others,”

“Very well then,” Ren replied without hesitation. “I’ll have Omega radio them to come here latter. Until then, we have important matters to discuss. I think you all know what I mean,” He looked at Dusk waiting for something

Dusked turn to the CMC “Come with me you three,” She requested “This is not something you can here,”

As Dusk left the room, everyone else started gathering around the holographic table in the center of the room. “So Pilot,” Ren began “Explain to me what you saw down on Equin,”