Carefully Tamed Chaos

Chapters

Prologue
Filly's First Contact
Straight as Rulers
Ceremonial Boredom
Intermission: Envy, Ambition
Station Dreams
Intermission: Den of the Lion
Star Scion

Prologue

Two figures labored over a forge piecing together a new work. The iron bubbled in the crucible and the carbon disintegrated into it, creating steel. They pulled at it, finding the pieces that rang true. They say that one way to worship God is to create in His honor, and this is what they did. It was not sanctified nor holy, merely a pittance. It was a small sacrifice to sooth their own hearts.

The first figure was big, muscle and fat mixed together. He had a great brown beard and short brown scalp-hair. His beard smoldered a little, but he had long ago ignored it. He wore boots, a great leather apron and thick jeans. His hammer was held in a meaty fist and seemed small comparing his bulk. It was carved about with Greek lettering, calling on the blessing of their God and savior. Every hammer strike marked some shout or roar from his grinning mouth. He reveled in life.

His partner was no human, but a dark red unicorn. Unlike his companion, he was silent and serious, his eyes closed in concentration as he worked bellows. Soon, he would be needed for the proper booksmithing. His companion yelled and brought out sufficient steel and began to shape it rectangular and drew from it pages. His companion ceased his labors and began new ones.

The unicorn was clothed in leather himself, as no other material could protect him so well against the spark and heat. He flicked his dark navy blue hair back out of his eyes and began his own forging. He called on the powers of the moon and the stars and from them danced letters and words. He summoned the might of the sun and transcribed them to the cooling metal. Every word and every sentence was punctuated by a hammer blow and his partner's great bellows.

Finally, a page was complete and with undisguised glee the human smithy pulled back a page and began a new one. His partner kept silent. He would drink and sing with the best of them, but only when he had finished his labors. Again his horn glowed and light transcribed itself. They would work for hours like this. Silence and laughter mixing itself with the hammer blows and fairy lights of magic.

This is creation!

Filly's First Contact

Twilight Sparkle was being lectured by her mother. She had been Celestia's student for six months yet and her mother still did not cease warning her against this or that. "Do not insult the humans! They are dangerous! Do not talk to much! Let Princess Celestia choose what to talk about. Keep your chin up!" Her mother used her magic to straighten a small and lacy hat that was the fashion for young fillies at this time.

She finally arrived at the door to Celestia's evening tea room. The sun was several hours from setting, and Celestia always used the early evening to meet with dignitaries. This particular dignitary was an Admiral named Bela Pellon. He had recently arrived to pick up and update several treaties between the Empire of Man and the commonwealth member Terra Equestria. Twilight knew dimly the blood soaked history of humanity. They were chaotic, and only trustworthy insomuch as an individual's word was good.

Celestia had assured her that Admiral Pellon was one of the good ones. He was an ally, and had been one of the backers of Terra Equestria's commonwealth status. Still, she was intimidated. Her mother gently pushed her forward as a guard began to open the door. Her mother quickly disappeared before she could be seen. Twilight went in alone.

Admiral Pellon was dressed in perfect military style. His epaulettes were perfectly arrayed. His medals shined as if new, though several were over forty years old. His pants held no improper crease. His jacket was straight lined and fit him like the immaculate white glove he wore on his hand. He had a saucer and cup of tea half way to his mouth. His grey eyes sparkled at Twilight, more keen than his age suggested.

Twilight was having problems staying calm. This was a learning experience, and she loved learning more than anything else. Celestia had taught her a quick calming method. Examine her surroundings. The room was spacious, but dominated by the table and seats. Celestia lounged on a chaise lounge and the captain sat straightly in a pure white wicker chair. The walls were lined with art pieces of sky and flowers. Two great bay windows, open to the cool evening breeze, allowed both inhabitants good views of the evening sky. Despite the military nature of Pellon, his nature seemed to fit in the surroundings perfectly.

It took a second longer, but Twilight noticed the light blue paint and the white molding. Several small, but detailed statues lined the top of a chiffarobe. White doilies covered every piece of furniture that needed them. The table held light pastries and a ceramic white teapot. The tea cups were of the same make, but with gold leaf lips and intricate purple handles. Celestia looked at her kindly, then cleared her throat.

"Admiral Pellon, this is my student, Twilight Sparkle." She took a sip of her tea as Admiral Pellon stood. He took a step forward and bent his knee, and with a twitch of his back, his eyes were at the same level as Twilight Sparkle. He kindly doffed his hat to her. She was intimidated by his eyes. They were strange, ridges and bumps and even slight changes in color. His grey eyes were not wild. Twilight would later write in her journal of his eyes as "perfectly tamed chaos, master of himself yet I could tell he had shed blood in anger."

"Nice to meet you Miss. Sparkle. I've always enjoyed Equestria, and I'm glad I'm meeting such a promising young filly as yourself." Twilight took one involuntary step back. Admiral Pellon reached backwards towards the table. Celestia smiled then levitated a cookie with heavy icing and baked apple slices into his hand. Pellon handed it to her, drawing her out. He wasn't an admiral for nothing.

Soon, Twilight Sparkle was happily burbling, in a sugar rush, about the merger of the magical sciences of Equestria and the logic sciences of the Empire. She was in the middle of talking about propulsion systems and Pony designed star ships when Pellon brought out his fob watch. It was an intricate art work, and it ran so precisely that he ran it against the atomic clock on his ship. "Twilight, would you like to see my ship?" She nearly jumped out of her chair with glee.

They walked onto a balcony. He took out his watch again and double checked his own count. In a few seconds, a star rose quickly out of the west. As it got closer, the star became a very tiny triangle. As Twilight watched, several small points of light became visible surrounding it and darting in and out. Many were left behind and spread out as far as Twilight Sparkle could see.

"The Dauntless it is one of the greatest and oldest ships of the Imperial Space Navy. When the Emperor, Marcus Corelinus, -may he live forever- goes out to inspect his empire, he has my ship take the place of honor. I can tell you that it is formidable, even compared to the newer Dreadnought and Frigate fleets that seem the new fashion. Right now we are upgrading your satellite network. It was a little dated. We've expanded so quickly that planets like Equestria, that do so well, are overlooked for this sort of thing." He hummed a little to himself as he appraised. Twilight was again enamored.

The Dauntless was a Star Destroyer Class Imperial Capital Ship. She knew it was named after some sort of Empire movie, but didn't know the particulars. It was an acute triangle with two hangar bays and bulges for engines. It was designed to be part carrier, part defense fleet and all weapons platform. She knew that this was a dangerous ship, but did not fear it, not like she did Pellon, for all his sugar confectioneries.

"Sadly, I'm going back to Earth. I'm getting old and there's a retirement age. Due to my good health, I will take a place on the emperor's -may he rule forever!- war council and advise him to the best of my ability. It's sad to go but I had a good run and I made friends." He nearly said 'and enemies' but then he realized that Equestrian had no real word for it, and he didn't want to explain enemy to a child.

Twilight listened sympathetically. He was about to tell her about earth when his communicator rang. He sighed and read the message. "Princess Celestia, I'm afraid we must finish our work soon. Twilight, it was a pleasure meeting you, and if you are ever on Earth, you will find my home, a friendly place." Twilight nodded and did the Equestrian equivalent of a curtsey, before galloping off to tell her mother about the first human she had met.

"To be young." Celestia teleported them both into her study. It was cluttered. Scrolls lay in piles and papers were on every non-sittable surface. A fire, magically powered and shielded from the very flammable room, roared to life at their arrival. "To be young and magic and immortal." He grumbled. He leaned on a bookshelf while his brain processed the split second of being in two places at once.

Celestia snorted. "The weight of responsibility grows greater. I am compelled to teach Twilight Sparkle everything I know. She has an inquisitive mind, should she be called upon..."

Without meaning too, Admiral Pellon interrupted. "Yes, but no social skills. She has no friends, and thus no social network to rely upon. No one succeeds alone. I didn't." He snorted and sat down on the one human chair as Celestia magically shuffled through her papers. "She needs to learn to make allies, to have authority without demanding it..." He brought out a pen and began to mark on the papers presented.

Celestia tactfully nodded in agreement. "Pellon, I have told you of my dream of a peaceful empire. That all species live in harmony." Pellon nearly said something, but closed his mouth and continued working. "It's a dream, I know. But I think that, with the right prodding, a good emperor, one not consumed with conquering and to conquer, could turn everything around and usher in a golden age for us all."

"And you hope that Twilight could help?"

Celestia did the pony equivalent of a shrug, then lay down on some very large pillows. "I don't know. I hope so. That she be the right pony in the right place at the right time." She closed her eyes. "You humans are so different from us... so dominating. I can't do anything but protect my people. It's a hard thing to play your games by your rules."

"I sympathize. I will be sure to speak for you and your people before the Emperor- may he rule forever! You ponies are special, some sort of blessing from God, I'm sure, to curb the blood lust of our people." He finished signing the papers and placed it in a nearby satchel. He got up to leave. He saluted her. "Things will get worse. The heir is not... good. Well. We'll deal with that when it comes time for it. I will drop this off at the embassy, then return to my ship. Princess Celestia, take care."

She got up and bowed in return to his salute. "And you take care, Admiral Pellon, you are a good man."

Pellon smiled and left briskly, in true military fashion, back straight and shoulders back. He cut a heroic figure. A shuttle took him to his ship, and, once they had finished with the satellite network, he disappeared into the black abyss.

Straight as Rulers

"Backs as straight as rulers. Every single military man or woman in the Empire's military have backs as straight as rulers. Their discipline must be absolute. Their ambition was the only thing that could match it. They grasped at with iron clad fingers and ripped it to their bosoms. There, it grew and bred like a virus. It is what drove them into the stars and to create the empire! A thousand star systems and over fifty inhabitable worlds colonized and hundreds more being terraformed and the empire still grows!

Fifteen species bow to the humans, and it is only you ponies who have earned the right to expand out of your paltry stellar mass and into the greater universe for anything more than the empire's military concerns. Indeed the generosity of humanity to the lesser sentients cannot be underestimated! You will behave accordingly and not screw this up for your entire species. We've wiped out more powerful civilizations and committed genocides on cuter animals.

Mandatory human bragging complete. Ms. Sparkle you have completed all necessary documents and now only require your hoof print or signature to be allowed to enter the Empire of Man's ships and transport to the capitol. A copy will be sent via hyper-droid to the capitol in digital triplicate. Another copy will digi/magically appear at the necessary functionary's desk in Canterlot. Please sign here."

Twilight Sparkle exasperatedly placed a hoof on the hard light surface. Humans and their bureaucracy. Several hundred years of running a galaxy spanning empire and they still want their digital signatures in triplicate. The hard light glowed a little brighter and then disappeared. A happy ding and a human smiley face popped out.

"Thank you for your compliance. Please remember that humanity does not cull other species without good reason. So don't give us an excuse and we'll get along just fine! :D"

Twilight levitated the contraption down into the box it came in. It was a computer, specially designed for Pony-kind's use. She had long gotten use to the posturing humans made. They would not destroy the entire pony race for the actions of one pony making a diplomatic snafu. Indeed, she did not think any human involved in the empire's work had killed a pony in cold blood since the human-pony war.

She taped the box shut. She hated that thing, a remembrance of human's domination and technological advancement. After all, what could she not learn from a book? Besides, most the computer could be used for is surfing the Equestrian net. And that was full of beastiality. You could not go five websites without seeing 'Mares in Heat wait for your pleasure!" or "Tips for the inferior Stallion". For Celestia's sake. Besides that, to get any human information from their web you had to hire a very expensive hyper-droids. These self-propelled AIs would drop into hyperspace for your request, pick it up on Earth and come back. It took days and cost as much as an island fortress.

"Spike! Take this up to the attic! And don't drop it!" Spike waddled forward. He had done his registration early and was annoyed that Twilight had put this off to the last possible minute. She was already trying to figure out what books she would take with her. As she understood, the Emperor was a lover of books, and it would do well to give him some rare tome of Equestrian lore.

"Twilight, calm down. They've been traveling in space for hundreds of years. It's safe." He picked up the box and started to half-carry and half-dragged it to the attic stairs. He shuttered the attic and returned to the ground floor. The normally neat if patched library tree was a mess. For a while, up to their trip, he had attempted to keep the tree as neat as possible, but the battle against entropy was too great and he gave up as Twilight became more and more stressed.

The organic shelves were rearranged daily, and on periods of greater stress, like the psychology exam, hourly. How she passed that he could not tell, but she did and that was all that mattered. Now she hadn't bothered re-shelving since her last ransack and it was all underfoot. Spike trod equally on "Unicorn's First Arcane Knowledge" and "Horsedotus' Natural Horsetoria". Twilight, on any other day, would reprimand him sharply, but this just wasn't one of those days.

She half ripped apart a series of papers in frustration when they wouldn't fit into a suit case. Spike began to sweat a little. The pink and purple mare was not known for her sanguinary nature. "Well, Twilight, I'm going to visit Rarity and she if she needs any help." She yelled in frustration as several important note pads were lost in the abyss that had become the floor. Perfectly camouflaged, even Spike could not guess where they were.

He skedaddled out. He turned around briefly. He had too. The tree had been his home for three years. It had grown a little, even, as he had. The door, the leaves, the trunk. All of it had very well begun to become his home in truth. He had hoped to spend many more years there. Well, he knew that he would hopefully come back, but not for a long time. Space was big, they told him. bigger than anything. He felt it would be a long time.

Rarity was doing surprisingly well. Compared to Twilight, she was the literal saint of preparedness. "Oh darling..." She said, languorously shifting through scarf and hat combos. "A lady must always be prepared. Besides, I've been following Earth Nobility fashion trends for quite some time. A bit garish, honestly, but very colorful and slightly showing and -ugh- military inspired. I've sold a literal ton of pony versions to the nobility in Canterlot. But I do envy their combination of form and function. Supposedly the Empress wears a corset that can stop a bullet..."

"What's a corset? It sounds uncomfortable." Spike slightly regretted his question, but he figured that it would be better to ask than act stupid later. He was sitting on white and purple luggage. All the luggage was matching, both to themselves and the owner. She was wearing nothing but a small headband keeping her immaculate hair out of her eyes as she had to shift constantly. She must sacrifice pure fashion now, for great results later.

"It's a thing that goes around a human's middle. It makes them thinner or something." She waved a hoof at Spike. "Oh, I'm sorry Spikey-Wikey but I'm rather busy." She gestured at the mountain of baggage behind her. "I've got most of it done, but I'm still out of sorts about my hats. Could you be a dear and run an errand for me?" She magically pulled out an opal from her gem box. It was a pure opal, and Spike visibly salivated. She placed it on his tongue with a giggle. "I've made some garments for Applejack, poor dear has nothing recent for the Emperor's court." She grabbed a solid white luggage piece with a black handle. It was comparatively small, nearly perfect size for him to carry.

"I've already fitted it and had it perfectly packed. Tell her not to open it until we meet the Emperor!" She got off her lounging chair and walked him to the door. She opened it with her magic and waved him out.

"I'll tell her Rarity! See you later!"

"Bye Spikey-Wikey! And thank you very much!"

Apple Acres was a walk for a little dragon, but opals are full of energy and his time with Rarity put him at a higher spirit than he had before. He found Applejack working on a field close by, making an inspection. These apples were not likely to be ready for a good three months, but apples can be killed for the entire tree if a branch rots or a worm plague hits them. The trees were in excellent condition. Their leaves were green and the apples were green. The grass was green too. The only different colors were ensconced in the brown tree trunks and Applejack herself.

"Howdy, Spike! How are yah?" She grinned at him. She escorted him to the barn house, taking the luggage in her teeth. It had a long, soft nylon handle that was actually perfect for biting. She couldn't really talk with it on, but she still mumbled quite around it, talking about how several relatives were coming in to help. She was still worried about her orchards. Big Macintosh was at the barn house giving a tip to the telegraph stallion. He nodded solemnly at Spike, which is about what passed as a greeting between the two males. Applejack went inside.

Applebloom and her two friends, Sweetie Bloom and Scootaloo, behind her. They were covered in barn paint, Pinkie Pie had done a fabulous job, but had forgotten to put any time into the paint finish. After a year and a half, it was starting to peel quite badly. Spike assumed that Big Macintosh tricked them into thinking there may be cutie marks in barn painting, but only if they can do the entire thing. They were on their way, but slowly and in questionably quality. Big Macintosh had already resigned himself to doing it, or getting one of the relatives to do it.

"Hi Spike! How are yah doing?"

"I'm on an errand from Rarity!" He said proudly. He wanted to get his part in before he politely asked. "What are you three up to today?"

"Cutie Mark Crusader BARN PAINTERS!" They yelled in excellent unison. "We're painting the big barn!" Sweetie Bell added. Spike could tell. It was the only barn with about two or three feet of fresh red paint and faded, near pink paint above it.

Applejack came outside. She had a small bag which, by smell, held some supreme pastry that would be a wonder to taste. She expertly flicked it to Spike, who caught it. "Thanks Spike. Ah suppose meeting the Emperor of all Mankind means Ah should wear something frou-frou." She grinned. "One taste of mah apple fritters and he'll be sure to let us colonize that new planet! We're thinking of calling it..." She paused for dramatic effect. Spike took the initiative.

"Planet Apple!"

She deflated a bit. "Yeahhh..." She scratched her neck to hide her embarrassment. "Ah guess it sounds silly when someone else says it though, but what could we call it? Planet Russet? Planet Pippin?" She sighed as Spike greedily devoured the pastry with glee. "Nothin' else seems to really work, yah know? And just about everything else means that we'd have to name it after one of us. Not that Uncle Baron Tewksberry would mind."

"Well, I guess I should head back into town. Twilight was going a little crazy. I should make sure that she's okay.”

Applejack began escorting him out. “She's nervous.” She said it a little dead-panned. Perhaps, Spike thought, she was speaking of herself than Twilight.

“Yeah, more than I think she should. I know that Humans are really violent and everything, but if they were going to kill us all, they would have done it already, you know? All their posturing is like one of those academic debates Twilight gets into, neither one of them wants to be wrong, so they deny ever being wrong. I don't know, they're not ponies. They're aliens, in a way.”

Applejack nodded. “Sounds right. All bark, but they don't bite unless they have to. Maybe they just need some lessons in friendship.” She jostled Spike knowingly. He giggled. She left him at the entrance to Apple Acres. She waved a hoof at him and turned back towards her home.

Spike found pink and yellow Fluttershy desperately trying to find poor injured animals that were surely need her full care, meaning that she would have to stay home. Stay home and not go into space. Stay home and not go to the very beating heart of an extremely militaristic empire. Stay home and not leave Ponyville or Equestria. She gave Spike a once over, hoping he had an illness. Since he was healthy, she gave him a pat on the head and a sapphire she happened across. He ate the blue gem with great gusto. Life was good, despite the impending journey.

Rainbow-colored Rainbow Dash was eager as all get out for the journey. She had heard of the space fighters and of their bravery. Flying through the abyss of space into the laser fires of hell, fighting space pirates and the armies of rebels and warlords. They were the bravest of the brave, second only to the Wonderbolts. She gave him some turquoise from Little Strong Heart. His gusto was slightly dulled by previous treats, but not to the point he could not greedily devour the light blue minerals.

Finally, he met Pinkie Pie. She had a literal train of baggage. All of it to do with parties. She had prepared to a greater extent even more than Rarity or Twilight Sparkle herself. The train was as pink as she was and filled to the brims with whimsy and happiness. Games and balloons. Strangely coins and card decks. Laughter and chuckles and giggles and hilarity. She was directing several day-laborer stallions in the stacking of still more strange packages on top of the precarious tower already leaning dangerously.

There was a customs official overseeing it. He was literally losing his mind trying to keep track of it all. The human was pulling his hair out checking boxes on his notepad. The human was shaking in his boots and shouting angrily at anything. His sanity had always been in question. It wasn't a question of any mental illness, it was a question of his mental fortitude. A hint: It was low. No mental fortitude in the world can properly prepare one for Pinkie Pie.

“OH -HONK- It's a dragon! You here to burn this big steaming pile of -HONK-? Little guy?” The Human was a good six and a half feet, three feet taller than Spike and had to bend down on one knee to look him in the eye. His eyes were entirely bloodshot. Spike wondered if he had slept at any time in the last few days. His blond hair was extremely messed up and the thin beard he affected was a new growth. His cloths smelled and he had thrown off his official 'customs' jacket for a very casual t-shirt with an evil-looking clown on it. His official hat was rakish and dirty.

“Let me help you out. I have experience with Pinkie Pie. My name's Spike, by the way.” Calling on all his experience with Twilight Sparkle, Spike began to direct the workers and Pinkie Pie. Marking off each check box for things like “No weapons” “No magical articles of faith” “No whoopee cushions” and “Properly hidden all drugs and/or hallucinogens.” He didn't understand half of them, but the human started to calm down and began to speak much more quietly.

“Alright, that sounds good.” The official stared at the ostentatious train in wonder. “How did you get it all to fit? I've been doing this for years, but never I have seen an organizer of your skill! My hat is tipped, sir!” He lifted his gold/black hat and put it down again. “Alright, I'm out. Pinkie Pie! I'm adding something to give to Spike on you customs bill.”

Pinkie reached into the bole of a tree and pulled out a cake. The human blinked. Then he took out a bottle and stared at it. He threw it behind him. He ripped off a patch on his arm and brought out a cigarette. He lit it and began smoking. “Already got it!” She said. “Yep.” He said.

“Thanks Pinkie Pie!” The cake was one of his favorites. It was double chocolate. Two layers. Icing as thick as fingers. There were strawberries on the top, marvelously fresh and delicate. Indeed, Spike wanted to share it with Twilight as he hobbled back home. He did! But with one bite came another and another bite meant that he had to even them out. By the time he got to the painted door of Twilight and his home, it was crumbs, and even then he was nibbling at the plate that held it.

Twilight was finally discovering her sanity again. Her books were chosen and her clothing packed. Her mane, multi-colored pink and purple, was finally in order and her eyes were normal. Her teeth had stopped grinding and her energy was down to very reasonable levels. In fact, the reason for this sudden drop in energy and mania was that she was asleep. Her luggage was in a very messy pile next to Spike's most conservative two suitcases.

Spike briefly considered cleaning the various areas and neaten the place, but decided against it and went to bed. He was very full from the cake, the gems and everything else, and was now tired. Besides, the little dragon had helped Twilight out, gone to Rarity's, dragged a suitcase to Applejack, met several friends and helped Pinkie Pie and the customs official pack half a circus. The toddler dragon was tired.

He woke in the middle of the night. All of his calm bluster was gone in the darkness. His ward was breathing loudly in the bed close by and he felt a sudden desire, a NEED for her comfort. He knew that in the end, he was going to the great unknown and his encouragements to Applejack and Fluttershy were empty now. He pushed his basket as close as possible to Twilight Sparkle. Her head was close to the edge of the left side, and he slept right under it.

There are things that cause fear in the hearts of all beings. Dragons, humans, ponies... it doesn't matter. Do not dragons sleep with one eye open when the knight is expected to arrive? Do not the Native American's say that a 'man's courage is at its ebb just before the sun rises.' Do not the ponies shiver awake when the timberwolves howl in hunger and lunacy? It is the same no matter who. Spike felt it too keenly. Twilight Sparkle kept the night back.

Her breathing stopped and she sleepily opened an eye, then closed it. “It's going to be okay, Spike.” She seemed unconcerned now. Spike could understand why. All that remained was some ceremonies, and then the boarding. There was Rear Admiral Shining Armor waiting up in the Starswirl, the new space station constructed in Geo-synchronous orbit above Canterlot. He had Cadence with him, just waiting for her.

“Yeah.”

“Everything going to be okay.” Her voice became more sleepy. “It's okay.”

“No matter what, you'll be with there for me?”

“Yes.”

“No matter what?”

“No matter what.”

“... Thanks Twilight. I love you.”

She opened an eye and lifted herself enough to stare at Spike. “Me too, Spike, me too.” She placed her head back on the bed. “I love you dearly.”

“...” Spike curled into his bed deeper. His blankets consumed him and he imagined it was Twilight's legs. After all, he was a baby dragon. Magic lifted him out. He found himself slipped between the lavender fore-hooves of his surrogate mother. She held him perfectly. He whimpered as fear drained ever so slowly from him.

“Sometimes, life is scary.” Her voice got softer as she continued. “But we've got our friends. They'll help us. And we'll be together for the entire trip.” She snuggled a little closer. Whatever she would have said next was lost in mumbled yawning. “mmmmmmmmmm mmmm mmmm m mmmm”

“Good night Twilight.”

“...Night...”

Spike was without dreams and he thanked Celestia for it. His rest, undisturbed, gave him the peace he would need to get through the next day. The fear was still there, but it was not the crippling panic he felt in the night. He could and would walk, talk and eat with as much energy as he usually did. But when he woke, no nightmare haunted him and that was all that mattered.

Ceremonial Boredom

To recount the breakfasts of Spike and Twilight Sparkle would be a waste of time. Hay waffles and the last of the turquoise. Nor would any reader be blessed by the tearful fare wells of Applejack's family. Rainbow Dash's kidnapping of Fluttershy to the train depot would be humorous to recount but ultimately a waste of time and ruinous to the pace. Rarity had the least exciting of all, as she merely had toast, used her magic to carry her luggage to the train station where the pink train inhabited it's proper place. Pinkie Pie showed up out of nowhere and held breakfast cupcakes for everyone who needed the extra fiber.

Granny Pie's last words before they departed deserve the proper respect, if nothing else does. They were meant for all. “Applejack, everypony, I need to give you a few words. Listen, you never know who is saying something important, but don't talk unless you have to. Don't give into the courtly fashions, but don't look like a pauper at the same time. Don't promise or take money that's not a gift. But, above all, to your own self be true. If you can do these things, fillies, yer gonna do alright.” At the end of her little speech, Applejack hugged the wrinkled little old mare tightly. "Wha!? Not so tightly AJ!"

And so the train, filled to the gills with female ponies, a young dragon, a circus, enough fashion to cook the editors of 'Empire's Vogue' in their own fashion juices, several secreted animals and the entire collection of Daring Do's books. Twilight took her own luggage, three packs filled with, books, clothes and books. Applejack was the only one who likely packed rationally. She had in a saddlebag an extra stetson, rope, her frou-frou gear, a small bag of apples and a gasmask.

There were also three stowaways.

In the rafters of the final car in that garishly pink train hid three very small fillies. Applebloom, yellow and red but no coward and not angry at all, Sweetie Bell, with her sister's milky white and her own unique multi-pink hair, and Scootaloo with her orange and purple hair all huddled in a pink piece of luggage that said “Do not expose to vacuum.” Oh they were clever, cleverer than is right for three little fillies.

Applebloom figured that they wouldn't get past the first custom's office. Scootaloo wanted to see the great space foundries of the Solar System, where the facilities are so large they have their own light gravity. Sweetie Bell was scared that her parents would worry too much about her, despite the letters she left at every household.

Indeed, they were far too clever. How would they know that the massive amount of luggage, so precisely packed by Spike and Pinkie Pie, would drive the very custom's chief of all Equestria to say, quote. “Screw it, it's all party supplies anyway. Put it in the pressurized cargo containers and fuggetaboutit.” And that's what happened. But that's the future, somewhat.

The past itself is much more important, as it introduces three original characters of great importance to the plot. First, is the spidery Baron Tewkesbury. The next two will be very visible, the good captain and the heroic prince.

The train chugged into the station with a Chakchakchakchakchak that slowed to a ptsuuuu chug chug chug chug until it stopped with one last Ptsuuuu. The dock workers and custom house men knew that the pink train meant they needed to work. So they filed out and watched, humans and ponies alike, and waited for the whistles, the yelling, that would start their labors. Some actually enjoyed the work, like one orange unicorn with a magical freight train cutie mark (his parents thank the stars that he did not interpret it as hoboism), but the rest were in it for the filthy lucre they earned daily. One had to eat.

The seven passengers disembarked as soon as they could. The pink locomotive was beginning to feel hot and cramped. The breeze at the Canterlot train yards was very refreshing. The mountains around Canterlot had a habit of shunting the weather towards it, which is partly why Cloudsdale was usually so close by. Fortunately, today was one of the rare 'suns out and temps in the seventies' days where the sun was out and no one was roasting or freezing.

The seven were shunted by orderlies as quickly as possible to Canterlot castle. The castle was ripped from fairy tale and fantasy. Spires cast themselves up in multi-hues that charmed eye and soul. Indeed, humans found Canterlot an excellent vacationing spot akin to what Disney land was before John Lasseter went mad and committed the unspeakable abominations. Children of all kinds ran about, humans and ponies ate at the highfaluting restaurants and various officials did their bureaucratic necessities at all comfortable places.

The seven main characters were whisked by a coffee house that held a cadre of artists holding a demonstration of human/pony art. They passed a busker pony breathing fire and juggling knives. They briefly saw a violinist -human- playing human tunes for coins to be placed in her violin case. They glimpsed a series of acrobat ponies doing great feats that no pony had ever done before.

Finally pushed into the gates of the very citadel, they found themselves without instruction. Rainbow Dash settled on a gargoyle and yawned. “Oh come on! They drag us all over the place and expect us to just WAIT here?”

Fluttershy flustered with her purse and drew out a baby carrot which she nibbled to hide her nervousness. “Oh... I'm sure they've got good reasons...”

Rainbow Dash waved a hoof in dismissal. “Those hum-drum bureaus don't have good reason for diddly! It's all paper work this and paper work that... TRIPLICATED!” She spread her wings and nearly shouted. Spike and Pinkie Pie giggled. Twilight rolled her eyes. Rarity was fussing with her mane and fancy hat and had no idea what was going on, but giggled a little anyway.

Applejack was distracted even more than any of them. The reason was soon apparent. “Why it's Uncle Baron Tewkesbury! HEY! Over here!” She waved at a officious, cranky and old looking pony.

Baron Tewkesbury was a red pony with green, spidery hair. His sides were almost as wrinkled as his face, old wounds from long ago journeys less pleasant than any of the others had. He had a sour look about him. He scowled at her, but came over anyway. “Niece Applejack of the Sweet Apple Acres Apples.” He was very dead pan, and dry voiced. He coughed wetly in a disturbing contrast. “Always a pleasure.”

“What brings you here?” She said warmly. The older pony stared at her with annoyance. Twilight Sparkle realized that the Baron only coming up to her neck at best, having to look up to her. He was also very old, but the wrinkles were not as bad as Granny Smith's were. Twilight wondered how big he had been in his youth. Applejack continued talking at him, introducing her friends and what they were doing here. He seemed to be annoyed at each passing syllable.

“I'm head of the negotiations, Applejack. I'm the head diplomat and this entire initiative, and for some reason, I'm taking you all along. While you've done very important things for Equestria...” He stared at Rainbow Dash meaningfully. “The wrong word can ruin everything for us. If we could get to colonize planet, it would mean we were the same as the humans. We would be closer to equals with the humans than ever before.”

His eyes were sap-colored and rheumy. Twilight wondered if pride kept him from glasses. His voice was hoarse and harsh as he continued to speak. She wondered what adventures he had had in his youth. His cutie mark was a small red apple over a saddle. She knew he wasn't a baron because he was born into it. He had paid for the peer title out of a legendary horde of gold. How he defeated the guardian dragon he kept to himself. Rainbow Dash made rude sounds at him from her perch.

“Why little niece Sugar-jack! Mother's son's daughter! Look at you!” A mare came in, as old as the Baron himself, and much larger. She had a build more akin to Big Macintosh than the more normal Applejack. Her voice was loud and proud. A dark green with a matching light green mane. Her cutie mark was an apple crisp, with a ladle behind it. Her eyes were red.

Applejack and her met in a hurricane of familial love and passion. They pressed against each other very hard. “Auntie Crisp! It's been a year and a day!” She said, they twirled and stared at each other. Apples are a close knit family, and besides the various factions having their great moots every year or so, there is still that close connection in the immediate family, which, of course, extends to the fifth cousins.

“My goodness, Auntie! You haven't aged a day!” Applejack was absolutely ecstatic, her father's kin were few and far between.

“Aw it's all the family I've been producing, Sugar-jack!” Her brood was legendary. The only thing that had stopped her was sheer age. “You've got your father's blood in you girl! You've got to get yourself a proper STUD!” Applejack blushed heavily and flipped her hat down over eyes, having long forgotten that Auntie Apple Crisp was rather... outgoing.

“Aw shucks, Auntie, Ah'm young yet! No hurry.”

“Nonsense girl! Old Bear and I were just your age when he rescued me from the...”

Baron Tewkesbury made vomiting sounds. “Yes yes. Lets get on and not keep anybody important waiting.” He made a move to the citadel entrance, the grand foyer was just beyond the doors. “Apparently only thing that remains is the shuttle bearing the Prince of the Empire of Man and the Captain of the ship we'll be staying on the journey to Earth.”

Auntie Apple Crisp whispered into Applejack's ear, to her embarrassment. "And I had my first foal exactly 359 days later. HO HO HO!"

Above, there was the rumble of atmosphere engines. Baron shook his head grimly, long since used to his wife's impropriety. “And that will be the two of them all standing for ceremony. Come along!”

The doors opened by some unseen mechanism. Out poured the BROOD OF BARON TEWKESBURY. It was a legendary brood, second largest ever recorded. Out poured children, younglings, foals, colts stallions and mares. Out poured smaller families with children of their own. Out poured earth ponies, but also unicorns and pegasi sauntered or flew out. It was a small army of brats, youths and middle-aged ponies all under one family banner.

What came out next were the myriad, unmemorable introductions. The six non-apples were treated to every single type of accent that has ever existed in Equestria. They heard every dixie, drawl, cajun, urban and affect that was possible. There were even a griffin shriek in there. They came to face to face with palace guards, with business ponies, with good ole'boys and grande dams.

Finally, Baron Tewkesbury and Auntie Crisp properly introduced themselves with all the pomp they deserved. Finally over, criers were beginning to announce the festivities. The baron grumbled bad spiritedly and his dam hummed in good spiritedly. THE BROOD OF BARON TEWKESBURY followed them obediently. The seven finally found themselves alone, and Applejack was the only one who had any idea what was going on.

“Aw! Come on ya'll it's time to go in!”

“What just happened...?” Rarity mumbled. Pinkie Pie was still shaking both fore-hooves in some sort of seizure. Fluttershy appeared from behind a statue and Rainbow Dash stretched her wings as far as she could and began to flit about, trying to regain the feeling in them. Twilight Sparkle stumbled forward. Spike was being dragged by her magic, having gone something like comatose.

“I don't know, but it's time for the ceremony.”

The grand foyer filled in with functionaries and noblemen. It was not just ponies coming to see the very heir of the Empire of Man, it was humans, too. A long, lone Goz-o-gog sat silently on its hovering propulsion chair, breathing it's methanated oxygen through tubes implanted in its flesh. Another alien sat upside down in the eves, a horrible and ugly Queren, a traveler from beyond the Empire's boundaries.

Princesses Celestia and Luna stood in the back, regal and imperious as they should be. Technically, as regents of an entire planetary system, they were second only to the very family of the Empire of man and their authority-given servants. White Celestia's multi-pasteled mane flowed gracefully, covering one eye without looking like she styled it that way. Navy-Blue and serious Luna stood a step behind her. She had let the lunar-arcane powers- that were her right- gather behind her, cooling the great room and stardust seemed to sprinkle a little, enhancing the aura of both Princesses.

The doors opened. First, they cracked open. Creaking ever slowly and painfully slow. Then they sped up as the Pegasi guards gained speed. Finally the doors thrust themselves at full sped, WHUMPING into their full open position. The Pegasi Guards fluttered out, tired and very wanting to get the -HONK- out as fast as possible.

The vanguards were five and twenty Imperial Guardsmen. They were arrayed in the bulky and intimidating black and gold armor that was their custom. The Guardsmen were led by one whose black and gold was completely reversed. They each stood nine feet tall and each carried a powerful carbine in their hands. Their hips holstered a pistol, customized to each member, and a long saber, also customized, unique to each. Legend says they forged their armor themselves in the very heart of the planet Mars. Truth says that it was a contractor who did operate from Mars itself.

They filed in and spread out, eleven on each side of the doors. The first was a standard bearer, with the symbol of a great scarlet rampant lion guardant (facing out) with crossed tail and claws that dripped over a field of gold. This is the symbol of the Emperor. It flowed a little in the breeze. The lion stood over a black key and a crossed brown book, representing that the Empire knew it's foundation in Christianity. Unfortunately, no pony except the Princesses, Twilight Sparkle and maybe Pinkie Pie had any idea what any of these things meant, besides the pomp.

The gold and black took three steps in front of his black and gold battle siblings and began to cry out. “PONIES! HUMANS! DISTINGUISHED GUESTS! I present the heir to the Empire! The man who will lead us to future glory and the man who will live forever! WARLORD OF MARS, GRAND DUKE OF VENUS, VISCOUNT OF ALPHA CENTAURI, SOVEREIGN OVER THE PLEIADES AND BARONET OF NOO JOISEY, HADRIAN TIBERIUS.” There was a pause. “AND HIS LOYAL CLONE, GRAND ADMIRAL HAD TIB, THE CONQUEROR OF THIRTEEN STAR SYSTEMS AND VICTOR OF 100 BATTLES!”

The Gold and Black stepped aside, revealing the Prince, and five and twenty of his Imperial Guards behind him. On his side, though, was a little more diminutive figure, but all eyes were on the heir-apparent. After all, what is a Grand Admiral when the heir to the greatest known space empire was present?

The Heir had obviously been gene-groomed while still in the womb. The heir would not be legitimate if he had been born in any other manner. He looked perfect. His hair was golden and wavy, his face painful for the self-inferiority it inflected. Even Rainbow Dash and Rarity, purveyors of the finest stallions, were feeling hot under the harness. His eyes were the clearest blue that pierced and pulled you apart, yet you did not mind one second of it. He wore golden and silvered armor, less bulky and much more sleek than his guards. On his brow he wore a royal coronet with a great diamond diadem.

The clone slouched next to him. He was bald, his eyes were dirty-gold and his posture terrible. He did look much like the Prince in the face, but there were no other similarities. He wore an unassuming officer's uniform. It was black with silver braid and linings. His only true measure of rank was the bars he wore on his uniform. He had an officer cap that he held under an arm in deference to his original model.

Directly behind the two of them were four female servants. They bore a sword, olive branch, basin of water and a model of a space ship. They were clad in damask white and wore veils. The items they carried represented: War, Peace, Knowledge and Space. They moved only when the prince moved. Behind them were almost exact copies of the five and twenty guardsmen who had filed in front.

The Prince took several steps forward and addressed the crowd assembled in his honor. “My Little Ponies! I wish I could spend the time with you to properly know you and understand your culture, but the greater empire calls to me. I have heard, though, of your loyalty to the Empire and the benevolence of your monarch, Princess Celestia!” Polite Applause. Giant queue cards were held up by ushers.

“And I congratulate Princess Luna, personally, for her removal of that curse that was laid on her!” Not quite true but no one was going to tell him differently. More polite applause.

“I hope and pray that you will continue to prosper on this fine planet of Terra Equestria! I will now meet with your ruler and hear of your great works. Remember, the empire knows who are its friends, and it's promise to them is UNWAVERING!” More applause, a few of the humans shouted and whistled. The ponies politely stamped their hooves.

He waltzed through a center aisle that appeared. The clone and the guards followed. The Princess bowed her head to him, then led the way to an inner room. The guards blocked the way as the doors closed. Twilight suddenly found Baron Tewkesbury by her flank. “Quickly! Teleport the two of us to that room.” He whispered wetly, he coughed almost immediately afterward. She nearly jumped.

“But I can't... it could hurt you!”

“Filly, I'm Apple family. Just do it!” A flash and the two of them into the inner chamber. Baron was smoking a little when they arrived. Prince Hadrian Tiberius was shocked, but Grand Admiral Had Tib showed no sign of it.

The Princess Celestia took charge quickly. “Ah! Twilight Spark and the Baron Tewkesbury. I was about to call for you.” She raised a hoof in a minor placating gesture, hoping to calm the Prince. “I should have been quicker in informing you that they were coming.” Prince Hadrian regained his wits.

“Of course! Your personal student. It's a pleasure.” He bent himself in a near-bow. He dipped his head at the same time. Twilight Sparkle was feeling extremely uncomfortable.

“Please! No need for that!”

“It is but a courtesy.” He turned to the Baron. “The Princess has told me of your mighty deeds. I believe that you would be a mighty asset to the empire. I only doubt that pony kind alone is enough to colonize a planet.”

The Baron was not going to have any of that! “My Lord Prince, when I was young I traveled the entire world. I saw the ruins of civilizations and the beginnings of new ones. I slew a dragon to save the mare I loved and I've mounted cockatrices on my wall for SPORT. Even if you doubt the species, do not doubt ME.”

The Prince looked at him for a second, then laughed. “Indeed! I was a fool to doubt you, master Baron.” He stopped laughing and became serious. “Enough. I am for Pony colonization of the Salamis System. However, my father, the Emperor, will not.”

The Baron wryly grinned. “You do not wish him to live forever?”

The Prince smiled. “Oh, I never said that!”

The Grand Admiral spoke up. “You're both so clever!” He took a step forward. “Right now our enemies are the War Council and the Emperor. Popular opinion is for the colony, as is most of the nobles. They figure that some passive ponies will replace some more... volatile members of the nobility. Not that they've met you, Baron.”

Twilight took her turn. “Wait, I thought that Admiral Pellon would be for us? Are there any others on the War Council on our side?”

The Princess pawed the ground. “Twilight, Pellon disappeared without a trace after he left us. His ship left orbit and no one has seem the Dauntless since.” Twilight looked down and made mumbling noises. “I'm sorry my student, I did not want to tell you.”

The Baron shook his mane. “That doesn't matter. We can cut out the war council from this. The Salamis System is close by. We can put it under the purview of Rear Admiral Shining Armor and whatever allies we have. I've got dossiers that could help us decide.”

The Prince and Grand Admiral nodded. “Short term solution I'll solve later. There is still the Emperor, though.” The Prince explained. “And the war council cannot be underestimated. But if the Emperor could be swayed, we need not fear them.”

The Princess Luna shook her starry mane and added her two bits. “But we have divined his heart. Do not take this as a threat, but his heart is blacker than the hearts that reside in Tartauros. I sensed his hatred as Nightmare Moon. She called him a... kindred spririt.” She shuddered at the memory. “I fear that she may have had an inkling of joining with him.”

The Prince and the Grand Admiral listened with serious faces. Ponies had played the Nightmare Moon incident very close to the flank, and the face that Luna had been restored was the only common thread. Had Tib spoke first. “Disturbing. I thought him maybe a little mad, but not evil.”

The Prince put out his hand. “STOP!” Everyone looked at him in surprise. He felt awkward, though he didn't want to mention it. “I would not have my father spoken of in that way. The empire has not diminished during his reign. You would do well to know that.”

Celestia nodded. “Yes, of course. We do not truly know if he will deny our request yet. The Baron, as you all know, will go to the great senate and make the case for us. We will plan a new once we know his answer.” She looked at Twilight, addressing her directly. “Twilight will keep me informed through Spike. It's magic based and basically instant.” The two humans kept their interest well hidden. Magic was another benign mystery to them. All they knew was that a Unicorn Battle Mage could rip out a soldier's spine with it.

Silence.

Had Tib clapped his hands once. “We've said enough. I'm going to head up. Prince, I suggest you have tea with the Princess and get some pictures taken. It's good publicity. By the time you've had some pomp and circumstance, I'll be ready to depart.” The Prince dismissed him. “Come along, master Baron, mistress Sparkle.”

Twilight looked at the Princess, who smiled kindly at her. “Send letters, Twilight, we can talk all we want through Spike.” The Baron was already on his way out. He did not look back. Twilight also looked forwards, but as soon as she could, she gathered her friends.

It was a comfort as they crowded around her, wanting to know what had happened. The Baron was in a similar situation, his enormous wife badgering him for information. They gave the same response. Talk later, we need to leave, now.

Intermission: Envy, Ambition

As the six focuses for our story (but not the mane characters), approached the security check-point for the miniature and magic augmented mass driver built into the side of the mountains of Canterlot, they dragged out their passports and...

you know what, screw this, I am not going to describe in intricate detail the sciences involved in flinging masses into space towards a six-tiered space station in geosynchronous orbit and spinning in such a way that it has artificial gravity. I will not go into intricate detail the pod they sat in, nor the foam that the six ponies and one baby dragon floated in, negating much of the powerful g forces that would have otherwise killed them, or at least crushed them. I will certainly not reveal any scientific details that could be otherwise found in the masterpieces of The Mote in God's Eye, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress or any of Ben Bova's Grand Tour series. Honestly, you should be reading these instead of this drivel. However, you didn't come here for the details that better written science fiction would offer, you came for the mediocre fan fiction. I am happy to provide that.

Gilda found herself drifting once Rainbow Dash rejected her. No, because Pinkie got between them. She didn't know what to do. She wanted to leave. Her family, however, had long ago cut ties with the Griffin Eyries and Mountain Keeps in a rather permanent and violent manner. Where could she go? A few weeks flying around and a few weeks not knowing what to do. At first, she found it invigorating, the open air and no dweebs to bother her... but then the loneliness set in. She would never admit it, but Gilda had been buoyed by the thought that there were friends out their for her. Well, friend. Honestly, Dash was all she had needed.

It wasn't that romantic love, it was that dependent love that only misanthropes could have for one another. They could talk, really talk, to each other. Dash was like her, at least back then, unable to properly communicate to inferiors. Even now, even at the last day, if she had heard that Dash was trying for the Wonderbolts, she would have gone in a second. She was even at the young flier's competition, though in the audience. Griffins were not allowed in a pegasus competition.

The sting was still very fresh then, and she had not wanted to reveal herself at all. She cursed herself for the emotional weakness she perceived and continued her journey. Finally, she found herself back in Canterlot. She found herself in front of a recruiters station. Ponies needed written permission to join, if they weren't already of the guard ponies. Griffons didn't. In fact, rumor was that there was a Griffin scouting brigade forming... Then she saw the poster.

"See the Universe! Escape your troubles! Forget what sorrows you in the Empire of Man's Xeno-Military forces!"

Forget what sorrows you... was she sad that she couldn't face Rainbow Dash? That her only friend had rejected her? That she was alone? That... NO! No more thoughts! She was going to do this! She'd come back and show Rainbow Dash how awesome she was! What could Pinkie Pie do that would compare to her stories of far away lands and the adventures she would have? Gilda signed up.

The recruitment office was bland and colorless. It was light blue and forgettable white. On the walls were pictures of heroism finely pictured and likely staged. Inspirational quotes were interspersed between ever set of two or three pictures. Lastly, the recruiter was in a cheap suit and, to Gilda's nostrils, cheap cologne. Humans shouldn't bother with it, unless it's the good stuff. Gilda started offended. "You sure? Most Ponies are rather squeamish around blood."

"Do I look like I'm a herbivore? I'm a griffin."

"What I mean is, can you kill?"

"Way before you biped-dweebs showed up us Griffins ATE ponies. You think they those punk guards for show?"

"I mean, there's a lot of killing to do. You're going into the Xeno-marines."

Gilda ripped him from his cheap suit and screamed at his face until he went blind.

Boot-camp was a blur to her. She found herself again on the battlefield. She had just ripped off the head of a Prayl Rebel soldier. What did they see in independence? The Empire had a strict policy of 'Don't make us come over there, and pay your taxes.' Either way, rebellion was not tolerated and it was paid for in blood. As much as could be taken tastefully.

Gilda found herself looking at the lifeless head and screamed again. Prayl's hair had some sort of reflective, oil based slick. The light caught it in such a way... Despite the giant canine buck teeth and the four multifaceted eyes and the claws and six arms... she could only see Rainbow Dash. She sat down in the middle of the battle and cried. She was so lonely. A Prayl jumped out of a fox hole to try to spike her with some makeshift spear.

Trained Empire of Man marines, Xeno or otherwise, do not get caught by surprise. The Prayl was dispatched. Gilda took one look at the dead body and said, screw it. When the battle was over she put in paperwork to be transferred from the front lines. Every Corvette class ship or bigger had a marine contingent aboard, small of course. Star Destroyers had a full battalion, but were much more active.

She thought it cruelty when a pony captain of a Dreadnought who was looking for an experienced Equestrian to lead her contingent chose her. Gilda was promoted from Leftenant to Commander and sent though an accelerated training course. She read up on the commander, about her ambition. What trepidation she felt left her when she heard her for the first time.

"Trixie welcomes you, Commander Gilda. With you at my side Trixie's rise to power will not be hindered by some ambitious and foolish marine. Trixie promise victory, if you promise Trixie loyalty. Whatever you want, if it is in Trixie's power, Trixie will give it you."

This wasn't what Gilda expected. She thought deeply about it. "I want Rainbow Dash. She was my only friend, my best friend." Gilda scratched at the gun-metal floors. "Trixie, if you can give me a second shot to earn her friendship, I'll go through fire and fury for you!"

Three months later, Gilda and Trixie storm the Prayl capital ship Tre-bol'oth. Trixie cast great magicks and arcane fire. Gilda follows close behind, and then leads the charge. She loses one of her arms, but slays the last living great Prayl Admiral, Rayle'mar the Savage. Trixie took command from the bridge and brought it to the Fury of Sol, the capital ship of Third Empire fleet. The prize money bought Gilda the best mechanical arm available. The accolades gave her great respect and Trixie got promoted to Commodore, and three ships, all Dreadnoughts to call a fleet.

Trixie smiled at her new crew, and at Gilda. "Soon, we'll rise to the top. Just follow Trixie, and Trixie will care for you." Gilda remembered Trixie's promise. It strengthened her, and privately, Gilda wondered if this was solving her problem, or just continuing to run away.

Station Dreams

Warning, some very foul language towards the end. This will be one of the few times I do have my characters swear uncensored. I assure you, though, that I am doing this for a reason. I also apologize for the long absence, as I had to work on a visual novel as well as home issues.

Station Dreams

Twilight tried to remove the anti-inertia gel by shaking it off at first. Then she tried to remove it by magic and failed miserably. The smell was obnoxious. There was about half an hour until their transport pod would reach the Harmony, the space station run by Rear Admiral Shining Armor and Princess Cadence. She was not going to meet her brother and sister in law looking like some sort of goo monster. She saw Applejack quietly freaking out as the gel had gotten into her eyes and kept her from opening them. Rarity was in some sort frozen panic. She had been told that the gel would just slide off. Twilight had never been in the gel before, but kept her cool, and tried to comfort the two of them. Before anyone started really freaking out, the computer turned on the showers and Twilight led Applejack to the eye-wash station.

It took half an hour for Rarity to choose a hat that could work in the brief zero-gravity and the Harmony space station. In that time Twilight trained them how to transfer from the pod to the station, Fluttershy found that the computer was not mean at all and Pinkie Pie finished crying over all her squished confectioneries, who could not survive the pod's entry into the depths of space. Perhaps, Rainbow Dash soliloquized, they were not meant for this new era of awesomeness. Spike presided, and the treats were given a proper space burial.

Despite four accidents, one injury and two arguments, they made it onto the six hooped space station. The Harmony was the first great space station to orbit Equestria. It started as one hoop for the various specialists who ran the satellites. Then, several rich ponies got it into their heads that it would be cool and fashionable to go to space. The station expanded, and several smaller and more luxurious stations began orbiting elsewhere. When Shining Armor acquired enough clout in the human war council, the station was expanded and he was given a miniscule fleet to protect the 'Pony sector'. Princess Celestia did not allow military ships close to the planet for longer than necessary, so most of the ships under Shining Armor's command were kept on patrol, or as parts of pirate hunter fleets that surrounded the 'Pony Frontier'.

The pod lost gravity as it was forced to lose it's spin to dock with the stationary module on the outside of the top ring. Once they were aboard, the pod disconnected and the module matched the spin of the rings, providing gravity and allowing the seven to finally enter the Harmony.

“Twili! Everyone! It's so good to see you again!” Shining Armor, garbed in tradition Pony military uniform, was looking genuinely happy to see the sore, tired and somewhat cranky group of mares and one young dragon. He seemed oblivious to their murderous glares as his genuine cheerfulness began to force them to conform. He began escorting them. “I'm sorry that you have to leave so soon, I have so much to tell and show you!” Cadence, arrived in a blast of teleportation magic. Shining and Cadence nuzzled lovingly, causing Spike to flinch at this pony disease called love.

“Don't worry every pony, I can fix this!” She triumphantly declared. She let loose and soon everypony was relaxing in the aura of gentle love magicks. Everypony sighed in relief and began to smile. Pinkie Pie, however was suspicious. Was Cadence's power truly as controlled as they assumed it was? Was the love and friendship of Equestria natural? Or was it controlled by the unholy alliance of power hungry princesses spreading a devious matriarchy to keep pony kind down. This was why she started the revolution! Eventually, Pinkie Pie would cast down the regents from their mountain home and...

“Pinkie Pie are you okay?” Fluttershy had noticed that Pinkie Pie had spaced out with an ever widening grin on her face. Fluttershy feared that the smile would begin to hurt. Pinkie Pie waved a hoof at her.

“Oh, don't be silly! Any day to plot a revolution is an OKAY DAY!” She jumped up and down, causing Fluttershy to flitter nervously, before deciding to catch up with the main group.

Twilight and Shining were greatly enjoying their time talking to one another. While he was away for most of the year, he had begun, at Cadence's request to write to Twilight and update her on what he was doing, when he could tell her, that is. They passed through the stokes until they reached the bottom and oldest rung.

“Hey... Spare some faygo? Maybe a bit or dollar or coin? I'm down on my luck and stuck on this god-forsaken series of hoola-hoops.” A facepainted... clown? Stumbling down a side-corridor towards them was some sort of buffoon wearing purple, raggedy clothes and facepaint. His hair was wild and uncut and he assaulted Rarity's eyes such as to nearly cause her to faint.

Shining stamped in bad temper and trapped him in a purple sphere. “How did you get out of the cell?” The pierrot honked at him. He wasn't trying to swear, he was just honking. “Come on!”

“Miracles man. Ain't got no other explanation. Honk.” Shining's eyes glinted in fine bad temper. Cadence was nuzzling him.

Twilight was concerned, her brother never showed anger like that. “What is he?”

Cadence shut Shining down and answered. “Juggalos, they spread with the humans. We don't really know what they are but they're mostly harmless. It's some sort of human music too, we ponies usually find it far to violent. He arrived one day, fairly drunk and we've been trying to get rid of him since. He likes 'Faygo'.”

Pinkie Pie's eyes widened. She loved Faygo! Before she could say anything, Shining picked up the spherical prison telekinetically and began shifting it into an elevator. “Cadence, take them to the transport. I'm putting this guy into the cell myself.” Cadence waited until he was gone.

“I really don't know why the clown disturbs my Shining Armor so much. Come along, my little ponies, I'll see you off. Baron Tewkesbury took a more direct route to the Prince's Ship. He's a savage one, but unquestionably loyal to Pony-kind.” They marched, a little more subdued than before, toward the shuttle dock. This shuttle was circling the station much like a geostationary satellite, and thus they could board. Cadence hugged them all, then said. “We know what's beyond our system, but we do not understand it. When Shining came back to me, to marry, he was a little different. He brooded for a long time before he became happy again.” She looked out into space.

“This universe is chaos. It's like Discord is everywhere. Whatever you do, do not be consumed by it.” She nodded at them, once. She hoped they understood. Even Rainbow Dash was looking subdued, no! She rallied.

“Don't worry Princess! We'll be able to beat anything that comes our way and we'll come back with a new planet!” She pumped a hoof in the air and everyone cheered, but Cadence.

“Just remember, they aren't us.” Cadence smiled at them. “But we wouldn't send you if we didn't think you could do it!” She left the shuttle and closed the doors with the magic. The shuttle left. Cadence cried for them as their star got dimmer and dimmer as it headed for the dark side of the moon.

Baron Tewkesbury.

Baron Tewkesbury, truth be told, was far too old to gallivant off to other worlds. His body was old. He was younger than Granny Smith but he was barely in better shape than she was. He had fought in wars, killed dragons and cockatrices... His body could be handled with exercise, good eating and drugs, but he could not stop the nightmares. He could not stop the gnawing at his spirit slowly trying to drive him mad. Several days in the year he did not sleep at all.

One nightmare concerned the death of his oldest son. He and his son had been hunting a violent cockatrice and killed it. The vengeful mother cockatrice froze him and his son, shattering his son before unfreezing the Baron and departing. Another nightmare was Apple Crisp's fall off of an airship during a fight with Sky Pirates. He had thought her dead, but she had been forced to journey through Everfree for years until she got out. Another Nightmare was the death of his second wife. She had died in child birth and the child that killed her coughed up a lung in his hooves as he cried.

The worst were the nightmares about his youth. His youth was not, as a whole, nightmarish, but there was a reason he was so angry all the time. He dreamed of the first dragon he killed coming back for revenge. He dreamed of his father, hulking and ashamed of his undersized son. He dreamed of the War of Humans and Ponies.

He screamed at his parents. They were keeping him back, he knew. His cutie mark was the apple over a saddle, it meant he would travel. He wanted to so badly it burned. He ran away in middle of the night. His father came after him and tackled him. Rain poured down but he could see his father's breath, towering over him like a colossus.

“OBEY ME OR I WILL BREAK YOU UNTIL YOU DO!”

Tewkesbury said nothing but charged. He tore his father down from his high perch and pummeled him into unconsciousness, his mother screaming out at them, too afraid to get into the middle of the melee. His father had gotten some very good blows on him, like always, but Tewkesbury didn't care. He collected his soggy things and trotted away. He would return, but only in triumph.

The Nightmare skipped ahead. This was the yank on the dog's chain, the kick when he was down.

Apple Crisp had been put in his platoon. They eventually recognized each other as sixth cousins. They trained together and went into battle together.

One night. This was the best part. The moon was high. There was not a cloud and the stars were beautiful. They sat on a stone and looked up, but then they looked at each other. They kissed. He said: Do you love me? Is this love I feel for you?

She smiled. Then, she kissed him fiercely. She replied: Yes. You do, you love me as much as I do. You've been so closed to everyone, but not to me. You must love me.

He paused to take a breath: That sounds right. I love you.

Then the nightmare skips forward quickly. The next day. The next few glorious battles. The humans were savage, but the ponies discovered... terrible things about themselves, what they could do. Unicorns provided the main ground force, tearing magical holes into the human ranks while pegasi took down air power and out-flanked them. It was the earth ponies who charged forward unflinching. They trampled and captured the humans in massive numbers. Eventually, Celestia said, it would be too expensive for the humans to keep fighting, and they'll offer a peace agreement.

The last great battle.

A great explosion threw the ponies around the battlefield. Tewkesbury lost sight of Apple Crisp and searched for the giant love of his life. He heard her screaming as a human stabbed her, trying to hit something vital. Tewkesbury beat him to death with his hooves.

“YOU DAMFUCKERS THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME!?!?” He cried as he charged into an entire squad, causing them to scatter. He killed again and again. “YOU THINK YOU'RE BIG FOR KICKING A WOUNDED MARE WHEN SHE'S DOWN?” One human had his throat ripped out by Tewkesbury's teeth. Another had her genitals crushed. One lined up a gun at him and fired, but Apple Crisp was there and took the shot. Faster than he could have believed, he broke the human's neck then galloped back to her.

“You dumb BITCH!” He screamed at her as he began to administer aid. He ripped her first aid pack off her back. “You are the FIRST pony to LOVE ME! I WON”T LET YOU GO!” He called for a medic as he plastered the wound and poured medicinal alcohol and anti-bacterial medicine into the wound as she struggled to breath. “DON”T LEAVE ME YOU SELFISH NAG! YOU SELFISH BITCH! YOU AREN'T LEAVING AFTER I TOLD YOU I LOVED YOU! YOU SAID YOU LOVED ME? THEN DON'T LEAVE ME! Don't leave me! You think you can leave whenever you want!? I WON'T LET YOU! YOU CAN'T PLAY WITH MY HEART LIKE THAT!” He began applying bandages. The blood flow began to lessen and he prayed to Celestia that she would be saved.

A shadow over him. A claw reached down. He stared into the eyes of pure, undiluted chaos.

“HA ha ha!” The draconequus laughed, the ground turned to purple bubblegum and the clouds to vinegar. The birds flew backwards and the humans found themselves in dreamscape.

“YOU! You're Discord!” Tewkesbury did not cease pressing on the bleeding wound. “Please! Save her!”

“Why should I?”

Tewkesbury was stumped. Love would not be reason enough. Force would be futile. He had one thing he could offer.

“I will give you my future!”

The draconequus stopped turning a mobile suit polka dotted in orange and blue and cast his gaze upon Tewkesbury. “Do you know what you are offering?” He said, amused.

“No... BUT WHATEVER IT IS TAKE IT IN RETURN FOR HER!” Tewkesbury could not think. He would have said anything, begged any god or demon for Apple Crisp.

“Alright. Alright, I like this! No one's done this before!” The Draconequus snapped his fingers and flowers grew out of the wound, closed it, then wilted.

“What now?”

“I mess with your future.” Discord forced Tewkesbury to look him in the eyes. “I like what I see. I just need to... tweak it!” He laughed as he jammed his claws into Tewkesbury's eyes. “COLT! Your future was already a hard one and I must admit, very cool. I cannot do much to make it more interesting but I found a way!”

“What do you mean?”

“You will have a ridiculous amount of kids, and each one will go to college. Each one will choose a different profession and each one will have a different personality!” Discord laughed. “I can't wait to see how your family turns out! I'll watch you with amusement. What fun you'll have at family reunions!” He disappeared, his mouth last, laughing.

In his nightmares, Apple Crisp stopped breathing and left him, and him giving his future to chaos was for nothing.

He suddenly awoke. Apple Crisp was standing over him. She saw his eyes and kissed him. She knew him so well. With one glance she knew she had woken him in the middle of a nightmare “I won't leave you. I'm a fairly stubborn 'honk'.” The Baron did not smile, but got up out of the gel and stood on his own four feet. Apple Crisp waited. Her proud husband was 'dominant'. Sometimes other mares mocked her for letting her husband have 'free reign'. They didn't understand. They would be offended if their mates did not show them an affection instantly. After all these years, there was plenty of time to wait.

Finally, when he gained strength back to his legs, he kissed her back. Then, he broke it. “Come on. The stupid children are probably fighting or something. I don't trust that honked griffon that Terra Firma married.” They staggered off together, still trying to find proper space legs. They entered the main room, where the family, this group over one hundred and fifty stallions, mares and youngsters waited for them.

Intermission: Den of the Lion

The room was dark purple, polka dotted with white and black in a juggalo style. It looked like faces in any number of emotions and pains. It was not that the master of the room liked the style, it was the owner's style. Master and owner being different things, the master could not criticize, especially when he had just laid claim.

The room was scattered with chairs, couches and tables haphazardly. They were eclectic and betrayed the Owner's inability to understand taste or fashion. He could be forgiven it, due to what he was. The master did not remark on the tastelessness of that room.

He did not remark on the view. Though windows existed, they only looked out to metal mountains that were forged when one continent was forced to hold the population of the world. It was not even a good view, the buildings around it blocked over ninety percent of what was worth seeing.

The Master lounged on an uncomfortable chair and did not touch the food placed before him in a gesture of respect and politeness. There was grape faygo and Doritos, one of five chips to survive into the Empire of Man's diet. The master was used to the finest, eight hundred or greater year old blue china etched by the Ming themselves. He would never deign to eat off of a paper plate, even if he starved. The Owner did not understand his sentiment, eating is eating, but he commented not on his master's finickiness.

There was another, the Servant. He did not move. He did not comment. He merely waited for his Master's orders and cared not. He was impassive and entirely without emotion. He did not care about the paint, nor the décor, nor the windows and certainly not the food, he did not eat like human's did. He did not listen to the dark music.

The Owner manipulated a disc jockey's instruments. He knew the sickest beats, his whimsy was harsh and righteous. The bass was dropped to hell then raised to heaven. The riffs were truly mirthful. The snares were perfectly coaxed like a suckling babe coaxed milk from the breast-like shape of the discs. The discs were merely a formality and covered in a thousand buttons that each did a different thing. The master knew it not, but enjoyed the beat.

“My son... he should be beginning to leave the Equestrian system now, shouldn't he?” The question was idle, but it was serious. He did want to know. Not for his son's safety, but for the time frame that he had set out. The Owner did not pause his mimsy rhythms. The Servant grimaced.

“Within two Equestrian hours.”

The Master continued his brown study. He was not bored, not was he terribly excited. He merely said nothing. He idly flicked a Dorito at the Servant. The Servant's grim line across his face turned into a one second scowl. He did not like Doritos. It was the one thing he didn't like in this situation. The orange dust got into his leather second skin cyber-suit and caused him itches.

“Emperor, please, I do not wish to clean my second skin.”

“Bah.” He started flicking Doritos at a particularly ugly futon. He did deign to sip a little Faygo, however. The Owner grinned. That was prime capricious Faygo, from before the nuclear wars or the expansion to space. Juggalo's were less plentiful then, but that was a golden age of their music. Now things were different. They did not have the WHIMSY nor the HYSTERIA the older ones did.

“What's the time?”

“Four O'clock.” For a second, the Master ceased being what he was and was merely a man. A man with ambition who could do nothing against his nature. He desired power. He had great pride. What was humility to him? Then he ceased being either the man or master, he became the Emperor of Mankind. He became himself.

Whatever kindness was in his eyes disappeared in favor of the harsh horror of the days of old. Before the Christ died for our sins there were the ancient rulers of the world. The golden magnificence of Nebuchadnezzer was in his poise and trappings. The ancient cruelty of the Assyrian Tiglath-Pileser III were in his spirit and it gnawed at his soul. The Silvery grandeur of Cyrus and Xerxes were in his mind and his hands. The Bronze, all-conquering power of Alexander the Great was in his eyes. Finally, the Iron of Rome and all the Ceasers was in his spine. The righteous beats stopped and the Owner bowed, becoming a servant. He was adorned in red and gold in perfect mathematical sync. He was Emperor Augustus Constantin the Third. He was the master, not only of this room, but of all humanity.

He was a vizier of the old school, Juggalo though he may be. He was not dressed to a magnitude of the awe of his Emperor, but he was dressed very well in formerly royal purples. A hood covered the white and black paints. He was wearing a grin, but his mouth wore a frown. His hands were immaculately gloved in purple striped leather. His name was Tortentine.

The Servant straightened his back and became the Bodyguard. He wore the shadows like a cloak, a part of him that he did not notice. He did not touch it. He did not use it. It was merely there. His threat became apparent and the light fled from him. His power did not reside in his whimsy and his purple underwear, like Tortentine. Nor did he draw power from the very human race and the grandeur of history itself, like the Emperor did. He drew his power from his soul and his faith. If you would soul gaze into his eyes to see his true form, you would see bedrock reinforced by steel, inscribed upon it: “The heart of a king is in the hand of God. By serving the ruler you serve God.” It was Divine Right and Good that he serve the ruler, no matter what. His name was Werner.

Only one was simple, only one could be truly defined and only one bore the weight of all humanity upon his shoulders. It does not make him stoop. Werner the body-guard opened the door. The Emperor stepped out into the hallway with Tortentine only a step behind him. There were no threats for one hundred miles of metal mountain. Werner had already slain them all.

The Emperor of Humanity entered into an elevator. The cyborg handler pressed the buttons to take them to the great palace that settled above them. The walls ceased being metal and became glass. The Cyborg was blind. The three who could see beheld the rotting and rusting glories of metal mountains, the last great bastion of humanity. They beheld the great last ditch effort to have humanity live in it's own planet. They beheld blasphemy and bureaucracy equally. Then they saw the bright star that is the palace that holds the firmament of mankind.

“Sir. Do you have any intention of allowing the Ponies to colonize a planet by themselves?” Tortentine asked. He was curious, but this was one of the few places that he felt he had leave to speak and request his great master's goals he would otherwise keep secret.

“As long as I live, I will deny those animals their expansion.”

Star Scion

The Prince's ship was the Scion. It was the ship of his father, and his father's, and so on and so on. It was a Star Destroyer, of course. Triangular and quite impressive, it was decidedly powerful and, more importantly, a symbol. Like the mighty castles of old the presence of a Star Destroyer meant that the Empire of Man OWNED this space, previously living species be damned.

Back in the year 2XXX when the Empire of Man voted on what theme their ships should be designed around, Star Wars won and many ships were created from the inspiration of the series. Second place was Star Trek, and many ships in the middle and personal transport classes often modeled themselves after the popular series. Other ships, like the 'Independent Carrier' class ships were modeled after Space, Above and Beyond's rectangular USS Saratoga. Colony ships and colony stations drew heavy inspiration from the Gundam and Macross series. No matter the ship, no matter the inspiration, nothing compared to the Star Destroyer.

The ship was designed for two things, intimidation and mobile fortress. A Star Destroyer orbiting a planet could be seen with the naked eye, even in the day and was brighter than almost any star. A Star Destroyer held the necessary armies for a substantial invasion, with equipment for any weather. They could strike the angels dancing on the head of a pin with any of the guns. They could disgorge a full fourteen squadrons of fighters from it's belly and take them all back in within a quarter an hour. Their only drawback was the massive expense.

The Scion was no exception. Twilight Sparkle and her friends crowded around the window, watching the mammoth ship come closer. It had hid itself behind the Moon, referred to in human star charts as 'Lunar Equestria'. The sun was to the side, giving them an awesome look at it. While at a distance it looked smooth, it's skin was knobby and quite rumbled, full of the actual machinery, barracks, turrets, censors, shield protrusions and a thousand other things needed to make the Star Destroyer Function. Twilight was ashamed to say that Rainbow Dash could name more of the turrets and other things than she could.

"And that's what they call a 'Big Bertha'! Fires GIGANTIC several ton Kinetic rounds, mostly at other capital ships or when it's sieging something." Twilight hoped that she understood the concept of kinetic rounds, being a flyer and all. She doubted it. "That's a 'Tommy Gun' they use it to destroy mines or other small stuff. Shoots faster than me! And that's saying something. That's..."

"STOOOPPP!!!" Fluttershy had collapsed. "Please stop! It's all killing stuff and I don't like it! I don't like it!" She was bawling while using her hooves to cover her eyes. Rarity began to comfort her.

"Please, dear, calm down. Rainbow Dash is just as nervous as you are, it's just she hides it better. We all are."

"I am not!" The voice cracked a little.

Rarity withered her in a single look. She stroked Fluttershy's mane until the timid pegasus returned from her hairy retreat. "We know that they're killing machines. But, they won't attack us, darling. They are our friends, and our job is to make sure they stay that way. Honestly, dear, they are just a more violent version of us when you boil it down. They love and they laugh like we do. They also have a passion for fashion..." Rarity could tell it was a no sell, so she changed tactics. "And you've read how they've tried to preserve the animals on their planet. You've even consulted with the zoo they opened in Equestria!"

Fluttershy perked up at the mention of animals and soon was standing, albeit much hunched over, not daring to look outside to the warship. Rarity stayed next to her, trying to cheer her up. "Now we've got to look our best, darling." She began to brush Fluttershy's mane.

"Five minutes until docking procedures!" Fluttershy couldn't take any more and slipped under a series of chairs for those who did not want to stand. "That's it! I'm not coming out!"

Five minutes later she was being dragged, telekinetically, by Twilight Sparkle. Her hair was looking frazzled and the twitch in her eye discouraged any complaints. They had learned long ago that it just wasn't worth it. Fluttershy eventually gave up after she gave her a picture of Angel she conjured from the aetherd. Twilight stared at them all. She nodded once, then hit the latch that released the thin sheet of metal that separated them from the Scion.

The hallways were stark even after the decontamination precess ended. They were led by a liveried non-commissioned officer who was impeccably polite. They didn't see many guards, and Rainbow Dash wondered where everyone was, especially the star-fighter pilots.

"Most of them are ensuring their ships are in excellent condition. Also, who would be stupid enough to assault the Empire of Man in one of their greatest bastions? We're in friendly territory anyway, even the student of the Princess Celestia isn't a true threat to such power. It's power that you can't buy or learn, it's the power of generations working together, as one, towards on great goal." There was a little psychotic twitch in his voice when he spoke. He was one of those fanatics, but thankfully controlled in his manner. The six and Spike hoped he wouldn't go on about it. He didn't.

What stopped their misery was their arrival at the bridge. This was one of several, and marked in a royal red and gold markings. The NCO palmed the door's panel and let them in. He bowed deeply and departed. A voice rang out. "Announcing the Princess's Personal Student, Twilight Sparkle. Rarity, noted Fashion designer. Rainbow Dash, noted Athlete. Fluttershy, Animal Lover. Applejack, noted Farmer of the Apple Family. Pinkie Pie, Caterer and Partier extraordinaire. Spike, a... dragon?"

Rarity struck out with the poise expected of a lady. Rainbow Dash embarrassingly strutted out; the attention was a bit much, even for her. Fluttershy was propelled forward by a burst of magic. Applejack did a curtsey then merely walked forward. Spike took position behind Twilight, waiting for her to advance. She did a second later, trying to figure out where it would be best to give the five page speech she had prepared. Pinkie Pie giggled and pranced forward, throwing out "Glad to be on your ship of death" cards to anyone she saw. They sang and shot out confetti.

The Bridge was designed for upper management to rule over the lesser space-sailors. The seven entered into the upper level, a long series of walkways with several spots for larger gatherings of officers. They walked onto the largest of these islands. It was over one hundred meters wide and seventy long. It held many closed doorways to other parts of the ship. The color scheme was nearly fifty shades of grey- NO BAD TWILIGHT- several different greys, blacks and darker navy blues.

The room was surrounded by windows staring out into all the Empire of Man owned. It was not true windows, but rather super high-def video screens designed for heavy battles. In actuality the iconic command deck sticking up from the body was for show, interdiction and shields. Even then the shielding technology had so many redundancies that even dismantling a Star Destroyer meant long work ensuring that a thousand self-defense mechanisms were turned of AND disconnected from power.

The real bridge is located in the main body, around -redacted- and quite heavily armored, which is a redundant statement. Inside it, over two hundred could comfortably be useful and do their jobs. More could, in an emergency, take refuge inside. The Prince/Admiral's chair was the geographical center and the center of operations at the same time. There were massive holographic displays that could be called upon in a second. Whenever the highest rank on the ship was not in the chair, a holographic display on the current star charts and positions of other ships in the system.

The seven Equestrians found themselves in the middle of throng of officers and VIPs. The Prince, far too important to look at them, had his back to their entrance. Beside him was the Grand Admiral Had Tib, who looked actually interested in what was happening. Everyone else, bridge crew, officers from various fighter, soldier and cafeteria squads looked like they'd rather do their jobs. Twilight coughed once. Had Tib nodded in support.

Twilight summoned her speech notes and began to intone. "In the place of Princess Celestia, I would like to thank you for allowing us to go to the homeworld of the humans and to meet, in person, the Emperor of all Mankind -may he live forever- and request an unprecedented colony world for Pony-kind. I would also like to thank you for your patience with us, especially Baron Tewkesbury and his family who will be the main funders and colonizers of the expedition.

"I believe that this will be a learning for all species as we advance culturally and economically, hand in forehoof! Together, we can enjoy prosperity working together towards a brighter future and a-" Applejack ripped the notes out of Twilight's magic grasp and ate them.

"Sorry, Twi, but that's enough of that! We're mighty glad to be here, but Ah get the feelin' that we're in the way. If ya'll show us the quarters you're puttin' us in, we'll be out of the way." She slid her stetson down over her eyes to hide the trepidation she felt. The unemotional faces in front of her were more intimidating than meeting the Princess, at least she smiled warmly. The Prince had turned around to face the arrivals as soon as he heard the munching sounds.

Everyone was in a state of dulled shock. They had expected some sort of pompous speech, but to be interrupted. They didn't know how to react. Then the Prince laughed. They had expected some sort of hissing laugh, something reserved. No one outside the family and Had Tib had ever heard him laugh. It was a belly laugh, a joyful thing that belied his grim demeanor. He gasped and declared. "She ate her words!"

Pinkie Pie began giggling her bubbly laugh and stated that it was prime funny! Spike snorted a little fire out of his nose. Had Tib grinned widely, despite being a clone, he was never one to laugh. A NCO with an apron chortled into his hand. Then other officers expressed humor. Some of them were just laughing to go along with the Prince and suck up to him.

Had Tib spoke out. "Don't worry! This isn't as bad as the Hozen dignitary. He farts when he speaks, enough said." Spike laughed loudest this time. "We're already getting your things into the appropriate rooms. Come along, I'll show you the secret to our hyperdrive technologies." He waved them into one of the doors. It said 'Star Folding chamber.'

The inside was totally dark, until Rainbow Dash, far too eager to be polite, entered the room first. The lights burst on, and illuminated this holy of holies of humanity. She immediately backed into Grand Admiral Had Tib. "That's... They're!"

The two of them stared at the secret of humanity's unique faster than light travel. Three humans of indistinguishable gender were ensconced in three wells. They were obese and seemed to grow into their stations. Eldritch tentacles of black wire were plugged into nearly every possible inch of flesh. They hummed to each other, as if communicating. However, they were otherwise silent and unmoving. The real action was happening behind them.

Holographs were everywhere. They displayed everything from stars to planets to ships to seemingly blank portions of space. Each displayed a different image and each seemed to have a different purpose. Some also displayed extremely complex mathematical concepts. Some displayed just long lists of names and numbers, distanced in space that seemed abstract, even to the navigation-ally proficient Rainbow Dash.

"Alive? Yes." A figure left her perch, unseen among the holographs. "They're savants. After the nuke wars, so many humans displayed genetic anomalies that eventually several... beneficial ones showed up." The human, if she could still be called that, was normal but for three things, completely black eyes, her wings, beautiful butterfly wings, and antennae that twitched independently of one another. "They bred us because of our usefulness. Cruel? Oh yes. But the perks." She spread her wings and gestured. The holographs dispersed and changed to show a series of planets.

Rainbow Dash, driven back by the disgusting worm-likes in the pits, was drawn to the person with the magnificent butterfly wings. "Your wings are AWESOME! My name is Rainbow Dash, what's yours? Can you fly on them? How fast can you go? Lets fly together sometime! That would be so cool!"

"My name's Farasha. That's butterfly." She was actually a distance away. She moved slowly for such a long legged creature. She was wrapped in a series of light dresses and wraps in pastels, allowing for great freedom in movement. "I'm afraid I can't really fly properly. I can fan people when the air conditioning isn't working, but not much else." She was easily twelve feet tall and had to bend down to look Rainbow Dash in the eye. Rainbow Dash had to admit, she was not expecting to see anything like this.

"So why are you four the secret to the fastest ships in the universe?" Her mind returned to her main drive.

"Watch this, dear pony." The olive colored mutant turned to her charges. "Let's get to work gentlemen." Classical music began playing and the holographs began to change. Twilight Sparkle twisted herself in to look in on the rite.

"Humanity's mutations were, 99/100 times, bad and terrible. So many suffered. You may not believe it, but even we mourn our dead. The radiation killed so many, but after generations, something came out. Some were given great and terrible powers. I was given two gifts from my parents: my insectoid appearance and height and a minor telepathic power. I can direct these savants. There are quite a few of me and them, but I can claim being an original model, if you understand. Watch."

The holographic displays morphed into a gigantic 3D model of a series of stars and constellations. "This is your beautiful planet, Equestria." She gestured to a star. "The star orbits the planet itself, no doubt due to the magical power of your princesses." She gestured to a blank space. "It's a pity that we cannot go directly, I'd really show you some speed, dear Rainbow Dash, but we must make some stops." She stopped talking and began humming.

"So... You point and we go there?"

Farasha smiled. "Yes, that is correct. These three have massive powers of computation. They are able to manage everything that goes on in the system, from the speeds, distances to the most miniscule power level. We could do it without them, but it would..."

"Be like blindfolding yourself and doing a sonic rainboom?"

"Exactly. I've actually seen tapes of your feat. It was... very awesome." Rainbow Dash flew up giggling at the compliment. "All that power and without three very intelligent retards and a gal like me it goes to waste." Farasha called up another hologram. This one had a giant, rainbow colored button. "I actually requested to see you. How would you like to send us to the depths of the galaxy?"

Rainbow Dash couldn't contain herself. "WOULD I?" She jumped forward into the button. It dispersed into a million lines of rainbow colors. They disappeared soon and Rainbow Dash was left fluttering in the middle of a blank center of the room. "What's next?"

"This jump won't give us much to look at by the way of spectacle. It'll only be a few seconds. The next one, though, we'll watch together at a observation point." She held a hand out to Rainbow Dash, who stuck her hoof in and began to shake.

"It's a promise!"