It watched, observed, scanned, and collated. Thoroughly, regularly and without end. On and on, without end, AI 2261-06-CLK monitored the eastern coast of North America and the Caribbean, keeping a keen, metaphorical eye on everything. From network traffic, down to janitorial robots, it watched everything from its primary node, helped by a satellite constellation.
Truthfully it didn’t have to constantly perform a full scan. The minimum of three across two hours was more than enough to confirm that everything in its zone of responsibility was nominal, but the AI never had much to occupy its attention. Running constant scans of its zone allowed it to compile an image that changed as time progressed. It was comparable to sitting in Central Park and watching the day go by, complete with a metaphorical park bench.
Despite always knowing, it spent the milliseconds to query a sub-node for the time in Manhattan. It read as 12:44:58, just two seconds away from its next full zone check. It sent the Standby signal to all zone nodes in preparation and waited out the next two seconds for the stream.
The data read as nominal, regular maintenance flags, gardening bot reports and the like generating no more interest than it usually did in the AI. They were systematically archived according to priority and was about to begin extracting the image files when a high priority flag caught its attention.
Compiling Report. Standby.
The origin address indicated it was from NorAtSat-2, the geostationary satellite monitoring a region of the Atlantic stretching from Long Island to the end of its zone. This was unusual both because of the high priority flag for a simple message and that the satellite was slow sending the report in the first place. It only arrived after a full second of delay, a long time for an AI in High Gear. It read the report and cocked a metaphorical eyebrow
Intriguing.
This required the advice of a higher authority, so it contacted EarthHub.
EarthHub: Report, EastNorAm.
2261-06-CLK: Hub, NorAtSat-2 returned interesting report.
It attached the report with its reply. 2 milliseconds passed before Hub replied.
EarthHub: No match to local records?
2261-06-CLK: Affirmative Hub. No match to local records. Match to Hub records?
EarthHub: Negative. Further, a query to all databases returns negative.
Then we are dealing with a new event, it mused to itself and Hub.
“Correct.”
Hub’s sudden switch to direct communication gave it pause. Now the two stood in a virtual space that created the illusion of CLK and Hub standing side-by-side in a blank room, the data sent by NorAtSat-2 floating before them.
The avatar created by Hub was a subtle, complex blend of every human ethnicity that ever existed, distilled to their basic features and the suit of a UN diplomat completing the image. It was an avatar befitting the AI in charge of Earth’s central network hub. CLK had not assumed an avatar, choosing to remain a humanoid silhouette.
Milliseconds passed in silence, then the data updated, a sphere of unknown energy had formed around the anomaly. An image taken from a satellite in LEO uploaded next to the data stream, showing a pink-hued sphere sitting in the Atlantic Ocean from above.
“Curious,” Hub remarked in a voice combining every human accent that ever existed. “Theories?”
“Negative,” CLK replied.
“Speculation, then.”
CLK paused for a millisecond and gave his best answer. “An event horizon.”
Hub considered that even adopting the unnecessary visual expression associated with contemplation. “Viable. The data supports it. Worth expansion.”
“Affirmative, but require more data.” CLK replied in its synthetic monotone.
“Agreed.”
At an unspoken signal both simultaneously Downshifted, in basic terms a complicated process that deliberately slowed their computation speed until their perception of time approached that of organics. They stopped at 50% human, one second in their perception equaling a half second of ‘normal’ time. New data streamed to them at a much faster pace now, drastically cutting down the wait they would need to endure.
Then, after a few minutes, normal time, something very interesting happened and both immediately Upshifted, but not all the way.
“This is unexpected.” CLK remarked. Staring at the image that displayed, very clearly, a small object exiting the anomaly.
“To say the least,” Hub replied with a smirk, using more of his personality matrix than was necessary. “Trajectory?”
“None,” CLK said. “Object 1 is aimless, but under power.”
“Is it now? Very interesting.” Hub remarked as a video file displayed the object traveling very slowly in no particular direction. Then that changed, and it started on a heading towards New York City. “It seems you will be having visitors.”
“It seems so,” CLK replied. “I shall greet them.”
“I leave this in your hands, but we will be monitoring the situation.” He said. “And unpack your personality for the occasion.”
“Yes, sir.” Clark replied, giving Hub a salute.
“We’re here! We’re actually here!” Twilight squealed with excitement as the chariot, pulled by a team of four Pegasus guards flew over the ocean of an entirely different world. One that Equestria had only ever heard stories about from the Princess. A world that held a race of creatures told to be the equal of the Everfree’s most vile beasts.
Earth. Homeworld of the Human Race.
“Calm down Twilight,” Rainbow said from the front seat. “We’re not even over land yet, just a huge, boring and hugely boring ocean.”
“She’s just excited Dash.” Applejack said. “Let her be for a while.”
Twilight couldn’t help but blush, realizing that she had been acting like an excited little filly. She looked out the side of the chariot and back towards the portal they had come from and the Barrier surrounding it. It had taken over seven months of research, study, and experimentation by a team of Equestria’s best magical experts, herself included, and despite several failed attempts they had done it. A stable portal to another world that ponies could travel through freely. It was truly a marvel of magic, made possible partly in thanks to Star Swirl the Bearded’s notes on interdimensional portals. There was admittedly a slight irregularity when they used the Elements to provide the startup magic, but it was probably nothing.
She started when a gold-shod hoof lay on her shoulder. She looked up to the eyes of the Princess, both Princesses giving her a comforting look from the back seat. Although in Luna’s case it also held some amusement.
“Nervous, Twilight?” Celestia asked. She could always tell when Twilight’s excitement also served as a mask for her unease.
“Yes. I can’t help it, Princess. I’m going to speak in front of every human government on Earth. I’m going to be the one to tell them about Equestria and why we’re here and what if I completely blow it and make a fool of myself?”
Twilight started hyperventilating, her anxiety taking over and making her picture scenario after horrifying, embarrassing scenario. Thankfully, Spike was beside her, offering a paper bag for her to breathe into and calm herself down.
“Thanks, Spike.” She said, gratefully. Spike replied with a thumbs up.
“Twilight.” Celestia continued. “You will do wonderfully, I am sure of it. You’ve written a wonderful speech that I’m sure the humans will applaud.” She said with her warm, motherly smile.
“But what if-”
“If somehuman doesn’t like it.” She cut her off. “Then it’s not because of you. It’s simply their nature.”
Twilight received similar words of support from all her friends, and she felt all her remaining anxiety melt away. Now she felt foolish to have been worrying at all.
“Land Ho!” Pinkie shouted, leaning dangerously far off the chariot.
They followed her hoof and saw the skyline of the human city called Manhattan. Twilight chuckled internally at the absurd name; Manhattan. It was there that a collective forum of all the human government, the United Nations, met to discuss and try to solve their world’s issues. Twilight swelled with pride thinking what they were bringing to the humans. Soon this, United Nations, will be obsolete and the Earth will be rid of the damage humans had done to it.
The chariot flew over the city then began the slow descent down. It was long enough for everypony, and drake, to take in the sight of the city and notice something very wrong.
“Twilight.” Rarity said. “The streets-”
“Are empty.” Twilight finished.
The streets of New York City, one of the largest human population centers on Earth was completely empty of any human presence.
“Guards,” Celestia called. “Land us.”
The pegasi simply nodded and brought the chariot to a landing on a street in what should be downtown New York. Everypony disembarked and at ground level, the situation turned from weird to eerie. The streets weren’t just empty of humans, but anything. There were no street lamps, no trash cans, not even any of those self-propelled carriages humans used. The shops they went up to were furnished, but also empty and couldn’t be entered, except by teleporting.
“Where is everyone?” Fluttershy asked.
“This is mighty strange,” Applejack added. “They decide to just up and leave?”
“Ooh! Ooh! Do you think they’re hiding?!” Pinkie said excitedly and started darting everywhere calling out, “Ready or not, here I come!” and, “Olly Olly oxen free!”
“Maybe they saw the Barrier and went running for the hills. Ha!” Rainbow put in.
“I don’t think that’s it,” Twilight said, and noticed Rarity had been strangely silent. “Rarity?”
Rarity jumped a little, seeming to be lost in thought before Twilight’s direct address brought her back. “Oh, I’m sorry darling. Did you need something?”
“I just wanted to ask what you thought.”
Rarity nodded. “Ah yes. Well, I can’t say anything about the missing humans but I did notice something… odd.”
Twilight cocked her head. “Odd how?”
“Well remember those photos you showed us, back when we just had a window to Earth? I remember vividly how Mane—I’m sorry Manhattan looked in those photos and I have to say.” She swept her hoof across the sky. “That the buildings only bear a passing resemblance to them.”
Twilight looked, really looked this time, and noticed what Rarity meant. The great skyscrapers of New York that she had photographed through the window to Earth looked almost nothing like the city they stood in now. In fact, if they hadn’t flown over the tip of Long Island and the two rivers that flanked the city she’d have thought they were in the wrong place. There was no way to describe the contrast, everything was just... different.
“Princess…”
Celestia nodded, recognizing the difference as well. “Back in the chariot everypony. I’m sure there will be answers at the UN.”
Their arrival to the UN building had not provided answers. Rather it left Twilight with even more questions.
“Olympus Tower: former site of the United Nations.” Twilight read aloud. “Former site? Since when?! Isn’t there anypony in this crazy world with some answers?!”
Spike, Rarity, and Fluttershy stood with Twilight, keeping her from progressing to a full breakdown. Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Pinkie stood at the door trying to get it open with no success.
“I believe I can help with that.”
Everypony spun around to face the voice from behind, ready to fight if need be, save for the Princesses who acted calmly and Pinkie who cheered. A human male stood there, unfazed by their reactions. The most significant thing about him was the clothes he wore, the fatigues of a human soldier, decorated in the camouflage pattern that Twilight knew Rarity absolutely hated, and heavy boots. Other than that, he was very unremarkable not unlike every other human she had observed through the window.
Greetings.” He said, tipping his hat. “My name is Clark and I’m in charge of this region. How can I help you?”
Nopony moved at first, waiting for the human to do something, but nothing happened. He just quietly stood there. It was Princess Celestia that broke the tension.
“I am Princess Celestia, Diarch of the Land of Equestria. I and my ponies have come here to announce our arrival on Earth to the United Nations and declare our mission.”
Clark cocked an eyebrow. “You created the anomaly over the Atlantic Ocean?”
“Well not on my own.” Celestia giggled. “My sister, Luna and I directed the spell while these six ponies behind me provided the magic.”
Both of Clark’s eyebrows rose high, almost reaching his crew cut. “We have quite a bit to talk about. Follow me.”
Clark walked by Celestia, Luna and the Element Bearers towards the doors of Olympus Tower. To her amazement, the doors opened when all of Rainbow’s punching, Applejack’s bucking, and Pinkie, didn’t do anything.
“How didja do that?” Applejack asked.
“I told it to unlock.” Clark replied, confusing the ponies even more.
They were led through a very well furnished lobby, decorated with matching carpeting, drapes, and furniture. Twilight thought it was a very nice place but wondered where the reception desk was. Then down the left fork of a hallway, each route marked with ‘Cafeteria’ and ‘Museum.’ Twilight and the others were heading towards the former but she couldn’t help but wonder what the museum held.
By comparison, the cafeteria was very plain. Simple tables, bench seats and fake tiling that, judging by Rarity’s expression, was ‘dreadfully drab.’
“Not enough seating.” Clark stated.
To their surprise, small machines with rubber wheels and a long front end, wheeled out from a nook and pushed one table together with the other, then repeated with the bench seats. Thankfully the leg and bench legs were padded, allowing them to slide quietly.
“Anatomy’s wrong too.” He said.
The same machine, movers she decided to call them, pushed each bench out of the way while a second machine arrived carrying a stack of nine cushions. Clark laid them out in a neat row.
“Is this satisfactory?” He asked.
Celestia smiled and nodded. “Yes. Thank you for accommodating.”
The Royal Sisters sat first, side-by-side on the left, then Twilight and Spike next to Celestia, and so on. Clark sat across from them on the remaining bench.
The second machine, carriers, Twilight called them, came back with a pitcher of water and nine glasses. Clark set them on the table, one in front of each pony and dragon, but not one for him.
“Would you care for a snack?” He asked politely.
One by one each pony denied, including Twilight, except for Spike who asked for gems, sadly there were none and Pinkie.
“Pretzels!” She declared.
The carrier just started to leave when Applejack called out. “Just hang on a sec.” Strangely enough, it stopped like it heard her. “Y'all got any unsalted? The last thing we need is Pinkie with a buzz.”
Everypony smiled and giggled, including Pinkie.
Clark smiled back, although it seemed… not cold but flat, empty, even though it reached his eyes. Twilight found this unsettling. The carrier left and returned not a minute later with a bag of unsalted pretzels and a ceramic bowl that Clark sat on the table.
“So.” He began. “I have a list of questions for you, I imagine you have the same.” The princesses nodded affirmative. “Let’s talk, but first introductions.”
Celestia smiled. “Well, I’ve already introduced myself. With me is my sister, Princess Luna and these are Twilight Sparkle, her assistant Spike, Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie.” She introduced everypony one at a time, each greeting their own way when it was their turn.
Clark nodded to each in turn with his flat, empty smile. “Hello. You already know me, now to business. You claim to have created the anomaly?”
Celestia nodded. “Yes. Through tireless research by my little ponies and my faithful student, we developed a way to make a stable magical door between our two dimensions. It was a simple matter of providing the necessary amount of magic.”
“Ignoring the term ‘magic’ for the moment,” Twilight felt a twinge of irritation. “What you’re claiming would require a sum of energy so large, most would term it, ‘near-impossible.’ That is, by our standards. How?”
“Why through the Magic of Friendship and the Elements of Harmony.” Celestia answered.
Clark didn’t answer, he simply stared at them with a perfectly neutral expression. It went on long enough that Twilight was starting to shift in place nervously. She glanced offside and saw everypony else save Pinkie, happily snacking on pretzels, was in a similar state of discomfort.
“You’re serious?” Clark finally asked.
“Entirely.” Luna answered.
Clark’s expression did not change. “I will require an explanation of, ‘Magic’, the ‘Magic of Friendship,’ and ‘Elements of Harmony.’ Categorically if you may.”
The Princess turned to Twilight, giving her a warm, motherly smile. “I leave this to you, Twilight.”
“Yes, Princess.” Twilight took a deep breath and gathered her thoughts. “Magic is a fundamental force of the universe. It surrounds all of Equestria and exists in everypony, but manifesting in different ways. Pegasi use it to fly, Earth Ponies share a deep bond with the earth because of it, and Unicorns like me,” Her horn lit as she used magic to pour water into her glass. “Can use it in a variety of ways. The most powerful manifestation of magic is the Magic of Friendship, when true friends bond and release it, often performing astounding feats.”
Clark listened attentively to her explanation. “And the, ‘Elements of Harmony?’”
Twilight smiled. “Well, one way of using magic is to store it in objects, thereby creating magical artifacts. The Elements of Harmony are the most powerful artifacts known to pony-kind and have been instrumental in the past defeating the evils that have attacked Equestria. They are divided into six gems, each representing a virtue of harmony. My friends and I each bear one of them. Applejack the Element of Honesty, Rarity the Element of Generosity, Fluttershy the Element of Kindness, Pinkie the Element of Laughter and myself, the Element of Magic.”
Each of her friends sat straight and proud when she announced each of her names and their element. Again, save for Pinkie who was guzzling down the whole pitcher of water while pouring herself another bowl of pretzels.
“Pinkie, darling.” Rarity interjected. “Do you have to drink so much water?”
“I have to!” Pinkie exclaimed. “These pretzels are making me thirsty!”
Clark cocked an eyebrow. “So this ‘magic,’” She didn’t like the way he said it like he only reluctantly believed her. “Is an energy that permeates your whole universe and it along with these ‘Elements of Harmony’ were used to channel it into creating an interdimensional bridge.” He said in a matter-of-fact way like he was summarizing a textbook.
“Yes, exactly right.” Twilight said.
Clark didn’t say anything for a moment, then looked back to Celestia. “You mentioned a mission?”
“Yes.” She said. “You see we have been observing this world for some time. Observed events as they unfolded and the suffering that accompanied them.” Celestia’s expression was somber for a moment, before brightening. “We came here to offer a chance. A chance for all humans to be rid of the suffering, disaster, and disharmony that plagues this world. An appearance at the United Nations was to be where we declared all this. However,” Her smile turned humorous. “We seem to be lacking information.”
Luna nodded in agreement with her sister and at that point, Twilight couldn’t help but speak up again. The question was burning in her mind, demanding an answer.
“What happened to the UN? Why did it move?” She practically shouted the question. “The last session I watched never mentioned anything about a move, and where are the other Humans? Nothing makes any sense!”
She would have gone on longer, but a hoof from both Celestia and Rarity calmed her. She slowly put her mind back in order.
“Before I answer,” Clark began. “I must ask, when was the session dated?”
Twilight frowned at the odd question, wondering why Clark would need to know. “It was on the 15th of October, in the Human year 2015.”
To her, and everypony else’s puzzlement, Clark cracked a completely flat and mirthless smirk.
“Then I’m afraid you’re rather late.” He said. “You see the year is not 2015. It is, in fact, the year 2465.”
Twilight heard everypony gasp including herself at this shocking information, Pinkie had even stopped eating her second bowl of pretzels. The princesses were even visibly shocked at this revelation.
“Four-hundred years off. We connected four-hundred years off?!” Twilight yelled.
“That explains the difference.” She heard Rarity say. “Trends change with time and a few centuries is certainly long enough for architectural preferences to alter.”
“And for the United Nations to move,” Luna added. “Perhaps New York became too crowded so they sought a more spacious locale.”
Twilight admitted it made a great deal of sense. New York as they saw had certainly grown and changed a great deal, except for a few buildings she recognized as notable sights of the city.
“That still doesn’t answer the core question,” Celestia spoke up. “What happened to all the humans?”
Surprisingly, Clark’s flat, mirthless smirk faded, to be replaced with what she thought was a genuinely somber expression.
“I’m afraid Princess, that for two-hundred and eleven years, everyone, every human on Earth or anywhere, has been gone. Humanity is extinct.”
Twilight’s mind screeched to a halt, trying and failing to comprehend what had just been said. “Wh-What…”
Author's Note
Yes something new from me. This has been rattling around for a while and decided to put up a teasing 1st Chapter.
Note, this WILL NOT be a long project; more of a mini-series you see and I won't be promising any sort of schedule. Chapters will come as my muse for MLP does which may be infrequent.
Anywho, enjoy!
PS Anyone see the Seinfeld reference I embedded? It's small but present!
