Jet Force Twilight

The tall grass wavered over the green slopes outside Ponyville. Patches of dirt offered ways for rodents to dig colonies under it and opportunities for berries to bloom in the summer. Indeed, somepony could say that these berries came from the earth below, and that the very same earth received nourishment from the dead things that laid under it.

Twilight remember what she herself had said to Starlight Glimmer when she had stood in front of Trixie’s gravestone inside the Goldeneye movie.

I know it’s hard. Even though she will be back if we sort this out, she still died in your hooves.

But this was no movie. Starlight Glimmer was dead, from Equestria and from every possible place. Twilight thought about all the friendship advices of Starlight that had turned out valuable, even though Starlight herself had been pretty cynical as a pony. Even after her time as a dictator of a small village Starlight Glimmer had stood tall as an antihero and a true friend that always had something good to say.

It had gone days since the Canterlot attack. Twilight looked down at the gravestone that had a pink star with two tail-like symbols engraved on it. It was the cutie mark of Starlight Glimmer. Starlight’s family had already been there and mourned the loss of their daughter.

Twilight took a glance sideways at her friends. Pinkie Pie had laid down a flower for the pony she loved. Apple Jack was far from her modest self, her cowboy hat removed in respect. A bandage was covering her back hoof. Rarity was sad, not like the shifting diva she usually was, but like a pony that could stay that way for the rest of her life. Fluttershy was sobbing while having her hooves embracing Pinkie Pie. Rainbow Dash was far from the confident flier she usually was, her face lowered in sadness. Trixie the unicorn had just spoken about what her best friend in the world meant to her. Twilight had one of her hooves laid on her back in a comforting gesture.

Yes, it was the gravestone of Starlight Glimmer, and the earth would be her contribution to the berries that would be growing in the summer, but Twilight would not be growing with her. It was exactly this thought that sent the alicorn princess into the state of rage that she was in right now.

Twilight was seeing Starlight’s smiling face in front of her, but at the same time imagining Mizar stuck under her hoof. When she found him he had been nothing more than a computer chip. She had given him a body, her alicorn magic, a reason to live and this was how he had repaid her?

Oh yes, Twilight imagined him stuck under her hoof while watching his robot eyes fading into everlasting darkness. For so long Twilight had lived to see other creatures let friendship into their hearts, but this one she wanted to just die. She hated him. She hated Mizar with all her heart.

Twilight faced the blue sky. She couldn’t help but feel that Mizar was waiting for her, somewhere out there. Waiting for her to find him, take away that undeserving alicorn gift she gave him, pin him to the ground and snarl.

WHY!?

Twilight thought about the speech Celestia gave to her subjects immediately after the attack.

“We may only be mere ponies, but mark my word, we will not rest until the party, guilty of this cowardice attack on the free ponies of Equestria, have been brought to justice!”

This was what Twilight had heard Celestia say in public. Behind closed doors, though, things had sounded completely different. Twilight thought back on the earlier meeting that she had with Celestia, her sister Luna and some other ponies that were responsible of political relationships. This was the moment when Celestia's strong voice with consequent words had turned into weak reasoning with hesitation. Twilight had slammed her hooves over the table during the meeting.

“Then what are we waiting for?! Let us gather the troops and go after him!”

“Twilight. We all understand that you want justice after what happened but we really need to be careful how our actions are interpreted by the other parties involved.” Celestia had replied.

The meeting had then been about politics. Ambassadors, spies, offerings and deals. Twilight knew that, as a princess, she should take all these things into consideration, but all she could think about was those cutting pleads inside the castle. She imagined one of them belonging to Starlight Glimmer, screaming in agony, calling for help and then, just like that, gone.

“Where are you going sugarcube?” Apple Jack asked when she saw Twilight leave the grave.

“To talk to Celestia.”

Twilight used her alicorn wings to fly all the way to Canterlot. Underneath her ran the main town with its colorful houses and shops. The ponies that were out was walking along the streets with nervous appearances.

Ever since Mizar’s drones attacked Canterlot it was almost like ponies were walking with death himself by their side. For days Twilight hadn’t seen any of the relatives of the ponies that was killed in the attack. Only the Wonderbolts seemed to defy the silence as they have had several flight-shows in the memory of Blaze. Lyra Harpstring had written a harp piece in the memory of BonBon. Rarity was still trying to grasp what had happened, even now when days had passed. Maybe that had something to do with her watching Starstreak take a blast to the head and die before hitting the ground? Caramel was still at the hospital, fighting for his life, his coat burned severely by laser blasts that luckily hadn’t reached his heart. Thinking about all this made Twilight only more determined. She began a spiral dive.

Princess Celestia heard the door to the throne room open. The moment she saw Twilight’s face she knew why she was there.

“Yes Twilight?”

“I am going after him!”

Celestia closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Twilight, we talked about this.”

“No, With all respect Celestia, no more talking. That monster is out there because of me and for every moment we hesitate we will only give him more time to prepare his next strike.”

“You don’t know that Twilight.”

“I know that he came for me and that ponies died because of it. Nopony else is dying, I must at least know why!”

“We all want those ponies’ death’s not to be in vain Twilight, not me, not Luna, not those other ponies, not even those two strangers that arrived during the attack. I haven’t told you yet Twilight, but one of those fighters went by the name of Vela and she gave me some worrying reports.”

Celestia leaned her head forward and made her voice clearer. “We still do not know why, but it appears that you aren’t the only one who is blaming you for Mizar’s return. Apparently, a large number of humans that make up the Gemini Squadron sees it that way too, some of them even belonging to the leading ranks.”

Twilight’s angry face gained a guilty core the longer Celestia spoke.

“After you accidentally helped Mizar he went out and rebuilt is army again. Ever since then he has terrorized entire planets and invaded Earth, the home planet of the humans. To many of them you are the creator of Mizar and therefore their enemy. If we march out with a pony army now we risk sending the signal that we are coming for his aid. We might face the full wrath of the human space armada upon arrival.”

“Then I’ll go first and tell them that I won't stop until Mizar is brought down.” Twilight suggested.

“We can’t risk it being interpreted as a trick. They might decide to take you as a hostage. I can't risk it.”

“I can risk it.”

“It is too dangerous.”

“I am dangerous.”

“Now, young mare. Let’s not be that way...”

“STARLIGHT GLIMMER IS DEAD!”

Twilight’s breathing echoed inside the throne room. “I helped him because I felt sorry for him, because I thought that he needed a friend and he repaid me by murdering my very first pupil!”

“Mizar lied to you about his identity and what he did before. He manipulated you. There is no way you could have known. You must not blame yourself.”

Twilight was shaking with anger. “Blame has nothing to do with it! I deserve to know why!”

“And what are you gonna do when you find him?”

Twilight glared at Celestia with her eyes and mouth half open. The barely healed wound from Mizar’s pistol was showing as a red scar that ran all the way across the left side of her face. “I’ll ask him why.”

“And what are you going to do after you have done that?” Celestia asked firmly.

Twilight turned around and started walking toward the exit. “I will know why.”

Celestia closed her eyes, her face contorting in realization. Twilight was going to leave whether she wanted it or not. Maybe she would have let her too if it weren't for those half-closed eyes she just saw, those dark pupils of remorselessness, the scar only adding to the menacing truth.

“ANSWER ME LADY!” Celestia exploded.

Twilight turned her scarred appearance around. Celestia took one more look into the eyes of the Princess of Friendship. They told her all she needed to know.

“Do you mean to kill him?”

Twilight hesitated. Within her hesitation she blinked, lowered her head and laid her hoof behind her head.

“No.”

“Do you mean to kill him!?” Celestia spelled out. Twilight’s face remained static with guilt. “Twilight. I really wished I didn’t have to remind you of this, but you are the princess of friendship, not the princess of vengeance!”

“He deserves to die.”

“That is beside the point! Right now, hundreds of thousands of lonely fillies and colts are looking up to you as an inspiration that they too will have a friend one day! Tell me Twilight, how will it affect their hope if they see you bringing home Mizar’s head?!”

Twilight had seen Celestia angry a few times before but now the thousand-year-old alicorn was bordering with fury. Her white face seemed to almost be covered in shadows in front of her hardened pupils.

“I don’t want to kill him. I just want to know why.”

“For the same reason, and that reason won't bring Starlight Glimmer back!”

Twilight lowered her head and spread her wings. “You are right, Celestia.” Twilight faced the ancient alicorn again. “As much as I can't live with myself if I never know why Starlight died, or how unable I will be to be an adversary for friendship when it was friendship that lead me to trust Mizar in the first place, as long as I am the princess of friendship this is not a mission that I can go on.”

Celestia was taken a back. She hadn’t expected the conversation to head in this direction. “What are you saying Twilight?”

The throne room became silent. Its windows were painted with glass pictures of Celestia, Luna and Twilight Sparkle, the princesses of Equestria. They had been brooded to last for a thousand years, maybe even longer then the alicorns lived themselves. Celestia shook her head.

“Twilight, I can't.”

“I resign.”

“Do you know what this means?”

“Yes.”

Celestia studied Twilight’s face, who did not seem to show any sign of regret. Celestia felt sadness.

“I am sorry Celestia, but I don’t think I will ever be able to live with myself again unless I know why.”

“Is this what you truly want?” Celestia asked.

“Yes.”

Celestia raised her giant, white wings and closed her eyes.

“As you wish.”

Twilight readied herself. Celestia opened her eyes again to warn her.

“It will hurt.”

“I have made my decision.”

Celestia’s horn started glowing with an intense light. Twilight Sparkle was engulfed with an orb that lifted her from the ground. The throne room was filled with a curving banderole of light that flowed from the flashing orb. Twilight could no longer subdue her senses. Her painful moans could be heard when the light intensified. The orb flashed again before disappearing, along with Celestia’s gift that she had once entrusted her student.

Twilight stood still on the castle floor. She took a glance back at her flank. Her cutie mark remained a pink star but her mere unicorn back gaped wingless.

“Now I can’t stop you.” Twilight heard Celestia say. She looked up at her old mentor, but her mentor wasn’t looking at her. “Just go.”

Twilight looked at her flank again, then at the door. She felt the urge to face Celestia again but that, Twilight thought, would only cause her to develop regret. The former alicorn kept facing the exit as she walked out of the throne room.

Twilight decided to take the train back to Ponyville. She was walking along the main station when a mare and a colt approached.

“Excuse me Miss. You are Twilight Sparkle, right?” The mare asked nervously. Twilight stopped and looked at the mare, then at the young colt, who were laying his hoof behind his neck nervously.

“Yes.” Twilight answered.

The mare reached out a copy of the friendship journal that Twilight released some time ago. “Princess, Twilight Sparkle?” The mare asked and brought out a quill to sign the journal with. The colt looked at Twilight with admiring eyes.

Twilight felt herself reach out to sign, but in reality, her hooves stayed in place. Obviously, the mare hadn’t noticed that Twilight had no alicorn wings. Twilight shook her head.

“You mean Twilight Sparkle the princess? I’m sorry, but you got the wrong pony.”

Twilight proceeded boarding the train. The colt looked at his mother with a questioning face. The mare looked bewildered after Twilight while the train doors closed.

The land of Equestria sailed by outside. Twilight watched the passing green hills and tall mountains from the train window. She still had no idea how she would travel to space, but for now she needed to focus on breaking the news of her resignation to her friends. Twilight spotted a giant blue aircraft outside. Two of its engines was pointing down toward the ground while two pointed back toward the rear. Ponyville laid just ahead and Twilight never remember seeing it before. She wondered if it belonged to the Gemini soldiers that Celestia mentioned earlier.

Twilight made sure not to be seen by anypony on her way to her castle. Upon entering she was approached by her dragon assistant, Spike.

“Twilight. I’ve been looking everywhere for you! The others saw you leave and...” Spike paused. His eyes widened in shock. “Twilight! What happened to your wings?!”

“Gather the others Spike. I need everypony here now.”

“Yes, of course. What happened?”

“I explain later Spike, just make sure that you bring all of the elements here.” Twilight ordered.

Spike watched Twilight disappear into a dressing room, the door closing behind her. Being a humble dragon assistant, Spike followed orders and asked questions later. He brought Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Apple Jack and Fluttershy there. They too were now standing outside Twilight’s dressing room.

“Did you have any luck with Pinkie Pie?” Rarity asked Spike.

“No Rarity. I tried again and again but she seem to have locked herself inside her room at Sugarcube Corner.”

“Could anypony please tell me what in tarnation this is about?” Apple Jack asked. Being an apple grower, her country accent sailed upon her vocals. Suddenly, the door to the dressing room opened. Twilight’s hooves sent echoes along the hallway as she walked out. Apple Jack’s eyes widened in chock.

“What the?”

Twilight’s lavender coat could barely be seen behind the brown leather clothes she was wearing. They were held together by metal rings that went around her hooves. Small silver star ornaments covered the side of her body. Her mane had been cut and greased sideways, ending in a raggedy point. Her purple and violet streaked tail had also been cut poorly, resulting in a messy end that was similar to Rainbow Dash’s look.

“Darling, what happened to your wings?!” Rarity asked shocked. Being a fashionista, Rarity’s cobalt colored mane and tail curled in gracious ways.

“I resigned.”

“So, you’re not a princess anymore?” Fluttershy asked.

Twilight walked past her friends without looking at them. All of them stared bewildered at their friend, whom they felt had changed in more ways than one. Twilight stopped and glanced back at them. The red scar could barely be seen due to the shadow over her face.

“Anypony want to help me bring Mizar to the scrap yard?”

Rarity, Apple Jack and Fluttershy studied the intentions of one another. Rainbow Dash’s face twisted into a rad grin. She flapped her wings and hovered above the floor.

“Oh YEA! Now we’re talking! I love your new look by the way Twilight, you look awesome!”

Twilight turned around and faced the pegasus pony.

“It is going to be extremely dangerous.”

“Danger is my middle name! If getting through it means that I get to smack the asshole responsible for the death of Starlight and Blaze then count me in!”

“What’s the plan?” Rarity asked.

“The plan is to convince the humans to help me get rid of Mizar. I am not asking you to come with me, but if you are, then make sure to tell your loved ones’ goodbye, we might not come back alive.”

Rarity and Apple Jack glanced at each other nervously, remembering how fast the lives inside the Canterlot mingling room had ended.

“Of course, we want to come with you sugarcube.” Apple Jack said.

“Me too. It’s just the way you put it, are you sure that this is not a suicide mission?” Rarity asked worried.

"I’m not.”

“In that case, we’re not so sure.” Rarity replied with regret.

“As a matter of fact, we’re not sure if we want YOU to go sugarcube.” Apple Jack pleaded.

“I will go, with or without you, and if you aren’t sure then you shouldn’t come with me.”

“Twilight darling. Are you sure you aren’t rushing this?” Rarity asked diplomatically. Rainbow Dash’s face twisting in irritation.

“Come on guys! Can’t you see that she is ready for anything?! I am a Wonderbolt, and when you have a mission you follow through without hesitation.” Rainbow Dash sounded like a general. She looked at Twilight and smiled, treating her like the latter. “I will follow you through rain and snow Twili, and if Mizar’s blue bug dudes stand in the way, then I will do to them what Pinkie Pie did to them at your gala party!”

Twilight hesitated. She hadn’t expected her friends to be so forthcoming in coming with her. Part of her wanted to remain bluntly focused on her own goals but she felt the noble spirit of the pegasus pony reach inside her heart. Being rebellious wasn’t going to be enough, Twilight needed to become a leader.

“That is exactly what I wanted to hear soldier!” Twilight boomed.

Rarity and Apple Jack still seemed hesitant to the idea. Fluttershy looked at Rainbow Dash with googly eyes. She felt her final decision dancing at the tip of her tongue due to previous events.

When Trixie, Pinkie Pie and the late Starlight got stuck inside the Goldeneye movie a while back it had been Twilight’s decision to not go with them, fearing it would only make matters worse. However, during an extreme circumstance when the ponies inside had suddenly been attacked by a military helicopter, Twilight decided to send Rainbow Dash in to aid them.

Rainbow Dash had successfully destroyed the helicopter but lost one of her wings in the progress. It was then that Twilight had sent Fluttershy as an emergency nurse to save Rainbow Dash from dying of blood loss. Of course, Rainbow Dash got her wing back again after they all made it out of the movie, but it hadn’t been easy to nurse the proud pegasus back to health. Fading in and out of extreme fever, Rainbow Dash had been plagued by nightmares. Fluttershy remember it like yesterday. Watching her lying there, shaking constantly while seeming so lonely.

Fluttershy remember herself, in that moment, thinking back to when she was just a filly, lonely and afraid, tormented by bullies. Rainbow Dash had been the only pony that stood up to them. Watching Rainbow Dash lying on that cloud bed, Fluttershy felt that Dashie was the one who was lonely and afraid while it was Fluttershy’s time to aid her, and that was exactly what the yellow pegasus did. With every moment Rainbow Dash got better, Fluttershy had felt more like her guardian, repaying her for the time in flight school when Rainbow Dash had been hers.

Rainbow Dash had eventually gotten well enough to get out of bed. Fluttershy remember walking up to her, feeling like her role as a guardian would end. It was then that she had realized the truth. Her role as Rainbow Dash’s guardian would never end. It reached all the way from her hooves to her heart.

Fluttershy still remember the time inside the Goldeneye movie when it reached, not only to her heart, but to her head. From her head to her mouth. From her mouth to Rainbow Dash’s mouth. From Rainbow Dash’s mouth to Rainbow Dash’s heart, beating against hers as she laid with her on that cloud.

“I’m coming with you too!”

Apple Jack and Rarity looked bewildered at the yellow pegasus pony, known for her shy ways and prone to violence.

“Fluttershy?” Rarity asked surprised.

Fluttershy though about another moment inside Goldeneye, when she had been forced to snap out of her fear, pick up injured Rainbow Dash’s assault rifle and suppress a group of advancing human elite soldiers because she didn’t want Rainbow Dash to die.

“We may not all be ready to face what’s about to come," Fluttershy said, raising her voice. "But if our friends are ready to face it then the least we can do is being ready to carry them when they don't have the strength to carry on!”

Twilight knew she was wearing tight leather, but hearing the speech of Fluttershy made her feel like a small filly, trying to be a grown up by putting on her mother’s clothes.

Apple Jack and Rarity looked with shameful eyes at one another. If Fluttershy had the guts to join Twilight with such determination then what dignified reason did they have to decline? Rarity remembered herself during the same shootout as Fluttershy, wielding a wall demolishing shotgun. Apple Jack remember the same shootout too when she covered them with a sniper rifle, helping them to drive the soldiers away. Apple Jack and Rarity grinned at each other.

“Twilight. You can count me in!” Apple Jack boomed.

“I have a dress at Carousel Boutique, made for Starlight Glimmer that will never be worn. Mizar will pay for his crimes!” Rarity exclaimed.

“Good.” Twilight said grinning.

“Eh, hello. Haven’t we forgotten about somepony!?” Rainbow Dash asked while waving her hooves incredulously. Twilight had waited for the question to pop up.

“Right. Where is Pinkie Pie?”

Pinkie Pie thought she heard the sound of a teleporting unicorn behind her. She immediately recognized who it was without turning around.

“Pinkie Pie. What are you doing in the darkness?”

The upper floor window had been drawn and the door locked. The only light source was a candle that burned on the writing table. Pinkie Pie sat in front of it.

“I knew this would happen.” The pink pony said with a weak voice.

Twilight sighed. “I should never have been so naive when Mizar called himself Floyd.”

“That wasn’t what I meant.”

Twilight looke bewildered at Pinkie, as if to ask. What was it then? Pinkie Pie looked down at her own hooves.

“I knew she would find me.”

“Find you?”

“Pinkamena.”

Twilight’s horn gave a spark, hoping to shed light over more than the room. She trotted up to Pinkie Pie.

“Pinkie Pie, what...?” Twilight felt her throat drop. “Pinkie, what are those scars!?”

All over Pinkie's right hoof she had a set of scars that ran diagonally. Some of them seemed fresher than others.

“I made them myself. Twilight, Pinkamena is real and she’s breaking free.”

Twilight grabbed the party pony and spun her chair around. Pinkie Pie’s mane was curly and fluffy as usual, but her face was far from smiling.

“How long have you been doing this to yourself Pinkie!?”

“Recently.”

“RECENTLY?! Is that a day, a moon, several moons!?”

Ever since Twilight came to Ponyville Pinkie Pie had pretty much been happiness ponified. What hope did Equestria have if Pinkie Pie sank into despair, let alone in such a tragic way?

“A couple of days.”

Twilight’s face softened in realization. “Is it after what happened at the Gala?”

Pinkie Pie closed her eyes and nodded. Her mouth twisted, her eyebrows dropping. Tears leaked out from under them. Sobbing, she collapsed in Twilight’s hooves.

“It is Starlight, isn’t it?”

“I can’t live without her!”

“You loved her.”

Twilight felt the pink head in her hooves nod. “I wanted to marry her!”

“That is beautiful Pinkie Pie, Starlight Glimmer would have been so happy.” Twilight comforted.

Several minutes passed. Pinkie Pie’s crying faded, thinking about Twilight’s last words. It calmed her down when imagining Starlight’s happy face upon receiving the news.

“Feeling better?”

Pinkie Pie nodded. Twilight ran her hoof over her back in a comforting gesture. Of course, Twilight would never ask Pinkie Pie to come with her, not while she was in this fragile state, but she couldn’t leave her unknowing either.

“Me and the girls will be going away for a while.”

Pinkie Pie had stopped crying. She looked up at Twilight with bewildered blue eyes.

“Go away? Where?”

“To space. We’re going out to find Mizar.”

“Find Mizar? But Twilight, Mizar is dangerous.”

“I know Pinkie, but I have no choice. The return of Mizar is my fault and the humans feel the same way. I have to find him and stop him from terrorizing the universe on my account, every second I spend here means more danger of Equestria becoming a target again.”

“But then you might have to kill him.” Pinkie pointed out.

“Yes Pinkie, I might, but I don’t think you should come, not in the condition you’re in. You need to stay here and seek comfort among your other friends.”

“But aren’t you the princess of friendship? What signal would you killing somepony send to your subjects?” Pinkie Pie asked the same question that Celestia had asked earlier. Twilight did not need to answer. Pinkie Pie realized why her hooves around Twilight had felt oddly free.

“Your wings. Twilight, your wings are gone!” Pinkie Pie’s face relaxed while the realization hit her. “You quit, didn’t you?”

“It was the only way. I simply could not live on as a princess without knowing why Starlight died, why I needed to die. Either Mizar tells me the truth or I’ll send him to the grave with it.”

“But don’t we already know the truth? That magical gift you gave him can only be undone by you.” Pinkie Pie argued, still not sure why Twilight needed to go.

“I don’t know, but if that is the case.” Twilight’s voice gained a snarl. “If my gift that I gave to him as a sign of our friendship became the reason for him to murder my friends...” Twilight released Pinkie Pie and started walking toward the exit. The red scar on her face glistened in the wake of the patching sunlight coming from the curtained window. “Then he’ll better pray that I never find him.”

Pinkie Pie turned her face down and let her thought’s race for a moment. She gasped. “Twilight, wait!”

Twilight turned around

“Who am I?” Pinkie asked.

“Who are you?”

“Yes, who am I?”

Twilight’s serious face of vengeance softened. “You? You are Pinkie Pie.”

“I am Pinkie Pie?”

“Yes, of course you are.”

There was an explosion. Twilights mane was covered in confetti from Pinkie Pie’s hidden party cannon. The room lit up again, along with Pinkie’s party smile.

“Then Pinkie Pie is coming with you!” She trotted up and shook Twilight’s cheek. “Who else is going to put a smile on your grumpy faces?”

Twilight felt her mouth rise, feeling all her previous worries disappear. Maybe Twilight needed Pinkie Pie more than Pinkie needed her? One more worry remained though.

“But no more hurting yourself!” Twilight scolded.

Pinkie Pie looked bewildered at Twilight.

“Hurting? Why would Pinkie Pie hurt herself?”

“Promise!”

“Yes, I promise.” Pinkie Pie answered like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

“Good!”

Twilight already knew how to go about this. She remembered the blue ship that she saw during the train ride back to Ponyville. She was sure it belonged to the Gemini fighters. Twilight and her friends watched it from a vantage point on top of a hill. The ponies were just about to head down to it when Twilight had second thoughts.

“Wait!” Her friends faced her. “I’ll head down first. You stay here and watch out for trouble. If you see a Gemini fighter don’t intervene.”

“Not much of a ‘Watching out for trouble’ if we don’t do anything when it arrives.” Rainbow Dash pointed out.

“We don’t want to scare them away if they come back. I’m going to take a look inside. Unless you hear the sound of gunfire, wait here.”

It felt like a fever dream, thinking they would see Twilight head down there alone and hear the sound of gunfire. They did as she said though.

The vessel turned out to be as large as Sugarcube Corner, something that surprised the lonely unicorn. A large transport door gaped open behind the ship, revealing an area which seemed to house enough seats for a platoon. The sound of the dropped door squeaked as Twilight walked over it, entering the ship. She spotted stairs that lead up to the upper part of the vessel. Further back was door that seemed to lead into some kind of armory. Beside it Twilight spotted a running computer. The unicorn recalled a spell that Starlight taught her before she died. It allowed her to access electric devices.

Twilight walked up to the computer. Her horn gave a glow. She searched through the files and found a mail conversation.

Message from V
Mission 2471 status changed: [Mission Complete]
Mission notes: Target is alive. Heading back to base.

Twilight kept reading the conversation from oldest from newest.

Message from J
Mission 2471 status changed: [Mission active]
Mission notes: That was not your mission V

Message from V
Mission 2471 status changed: [Mission Complete]
Mission notes: The mission was to make sure that the target was being kept alive

Message from J
Mission 2471 status changed: [Mission active]
Mission notes: No V, the mission was to keep the target alive until safely brought into custody.

Message from V
Mission 2471 status changed: [Mission Complete]
Mission notes: That wasn’t what we discussed at the briefing.

Message from J
Mission 2471 status changed: [Mission active]
Mission notes: I am the leader of this squadron and you WILL bring your assigned target into custody!

Message from V
Mission 2471 status changed: [Mission Complete]
Server Action: Send_Mission_2471-: History Folder 10
Mission notes: sdfgsetgryhsrthgsrghsrth

Message from J
Mission 2471 status changed: [Error: Mission status change failed: Missions added to history folder 10 cannot be changed / Admin]

Message from V
Private message sent…

Twilight never had time to read the last message. The sound of growling came ominously from behind. Slowly, she turned around. The dog showed his dirty teeth gray while glaring at Twilight with aggressive eyes. On top of his back he had a gun that was pointing straight at her. Behind the dog Twilight spotted the blue haired woman from earlier.

“Well, well, well. What do we have here Lupus?” The woman asked her companion. She had a soft voice with a coldness in it. Twilight remained silent. “Looks like someone, or somepony as they say here, wants to get a medal in snooping.”

“You saved us at the Grand Galoping Gala.” Twilight said.

“Is that what you call it? Sounds like something I would visit to get a lap dance back home.”

The woman appeared to be holding a pistol. She was pointing it straight at Twilight.

“I need your help.” Twilight said.

“Are you sure? You seemed to be handling yourself pretty well reading my private e-mails.”

“I’m sorry about that.” Twilight didn’t sound sorry.

“Then you know that my brother Juno wants me to bring you in.”

Twilight looked the weapons, then at her company.

“Well.” Twilight turned to the human and the dog. “Then, your brother can suck my horse vagina.”

The lavender unicorn and the woman glared stubbornly each other. The woman raised her mouth slightly, giving Twilight a subdued smile. She lowered her gun.

“That’s what I told him also.”

The dog looked up at his colleague, then at Twilight. He ran up to the unicorn and leaned against her flank. His eyes sparkled with happiness while his tongue hung out.

“Eh, heheheh.” Twilight looked at the woman with expecting eyes. The woman shrugged.

“Don’t look at me. He is the squadron mascot, I’m not his master.”

“Who is then?”

“No one is. Lupus handles himself.”

Twilight looked down at the dog. His teeth were all gray after what must have been countless cases of caries. His body seemed more like a large tuft than fur and had, as far as Twilight knew, never been cleaned in his life. A warm patch of air came out of Lupus's mouth and reached Twilights nose. Her throat bounced upon her brain.

“Hugh… I see. And I guess you are the one they call Vela?”

Vela walked pass the lavender unicorn without answering. She took a short glance at the leather clothes of the unicorn on the way, having it spin as she rolled her eyes. Vela had seen this before, this rebellious look, put immediately upon a fragile shell that was trying desperately to escape how little she knows.

“What are you planning on doing sister?” Vela asked.

“Find Mizar.”

“And then?”

Twilight turned to Vela. The scar that ran across the left side of her face luminated by the entering sun.

“Kill him.”

Vela stopped walking. She felt her stomach turn.

“WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”

Vela’s girly laughter pulsated the inside of the ship. Twilight’s face turned into an inch of shame. “Aren’t we…haha…Aren’t we getting ahead of ourselves just a little, princess? What are you going to do, jam a silver spoon into his socket!?”

Twilight face twisted in anger. “No. And am not a princess!”

Vela looked teasingly at Twilight. “You were when I saw you at the castle.”

“I resigned. Despite, I wasn’t born into a princess, the title was given to me as a gift.”

Vela tried to subdue her chuckles. “Given? Why?”

“By studying hard.”

“Study? Where?”

“Celestias school.”

“Celestia, your princess without a king?” Vela leaned closer to Twilight’s angry face. “And I guess your pony parents lived in Canterlot when you had your little test to get in there?”

“So?”

“So, one happy little pony family, living happily with their little pony daughter in the main capital, and then this amazing opportunity shows up, a chance for their daughter to apply to the fanciest school in the land. Now, who could say no to that?”

“I studied hard and Celestia recognized my talents. That is how you succeed in life, but I didn’t come here to study, I came here to end Mizar.” Twilight said.

“Let me tell you another story pony princess.” Vela lectured. “It is a story about two human parents living with their human daughter and son in the outskirts of the main capital, inside a hut made out of mud and sticks. The son in the family is already playing with guns made out of wood but their father does not have the money to send him to a military school. In fact, he doesn’t have the money for pretty much anything. But then this amazing opportunity shows up, a chance for them to buy food that will last them for months.”

Vela un-sheeted pistol and pressed it against Twilight’s forehead.

“It turns out that the pay is immensely high within the child slave market. The space pirates bring the money over to the parent’s doorstep and the parents bring their wares over to the hallway. But then, in a sudden act if brilliance, the pirates decide that they want to keep both the money and the wares. So, one of them pulls a gun, just like this one here, and pulls the trigger on both parents …” Vela pressed the silvery barrel harder against Twilight before ending. “Right here.”

Twilight barely kept her stubborn look going. She managed to answer without trembling. “Must have been hard on the kids.”

“Very, but it all turned out fine, because one day, by the time you were having your cute little test to apply for Celestia’s royal school as a cute little pony girl, this cute little human girl received her own test. You see, one of the space pirates became careless and left one of his guns laying. This cute little girl was at first not sure what to do, but she eventually picked it up and passed her own cute little test with flying colors, all five of them as a matter of fact. She then swore with her brother that they would dedicate their lives to protect the universe from scumbags like that.”

“Good for them.” Twilight said, her stubborn eyes fading into sadness by the second. She wasn’t sure what was worse, the fact that Vela’s parents were killed or the fact that they were going to sell her.

Vela sheeted her pistol. “Have you ever killed anyone?”

“Yes…” Twilight lied. “… And I will kill Mizar. He has an alicorn gift that I gave him, a magic stone.”

Vela rapidly put her pistol against Twilight’s head again. “Oh, so that is why he rebuilds himself again every time I try to shoot him?”

This time Twilight kept her bearings. “Right, and I am the only one that can undo it. So, are you going to help me get to him, or am I going to be forced to use my horn, teleport you both thousand meters up into the air, hack this vessel and find out myself?”

Vela lowered her gun.

“It is worth a shot, but I doubt it will help. So far, the Gemini intel about Mizar’s whereabout have sucked Tribal balls. He moves around, like to make copies of himself to use as distractions, both coded and physical. I know some people who might know but you are going to need the help of me and Lupus.”

“What about your brother?”

“Juno? About as helpful as an ass-pimple.”

“Twilight!” Twilight heard Rarity call outside. Once exiting the ship the white unicorn was close to hysteria. “Twilight, we tried to stop them!”

A group of stallions with golden armor approached behind the fashionista. One stepped up and took of his golden helmet. Twilight felt joy shower over her while her face stayed bewildered.

“Shining Armor?”

“Twili.” The colt addressed.

Twilight was just about to ask her brother what he was doing there when the ground was suddenly covered in shadows. The pegasus pony named Spitfire landed not far from the members of the royal guard. One by one, the rest of her Wonderbolt members landed beside her.

Next to Spitfire’s left stood High Winds, who had a white coat and blue mane. Next to her stood Misty Fly, a yellow pegasus mare with a light blue mane. Next came Silver Zoom, a pegasus stallion with a gray coat and white mane. Next to him stood Soarin, a white stallion with a dark blue mane. Next to him came Fleetfoot, the light blue mare with white mane. Twilight remember her being the one who cried over fallen Blaze at the gala. To Spitfires right stood Surprise, a vanilla colored mare with a yellow mane that stood up in a Rasta way. The last pegasus had a black coat and a white mane with sky shaded stripes. His name was Thunderlane. All seven Wonderbolts stood hoof fast in discipline while their leader stepped forward.

“Twilight Sparkle. Nice to see that you’re still in one piece!” Spitfire boomed. The pegasus mare had a yellow coat. Her red and orange mane stood up in a punky way, making her almost look like she was on fire. Her face lowered slightly in sadness. “We came to offer our condolences. Starlight Glimmer was a fine unicorn!”

“Thank you. You all came for that?” Twilight asked bewildered.

Spitfire took a glance back at her Wonderbolt members, letting her face rise into a grin. “Not quite princess, we heard you were heading after Mizar.”

“Yes.”

The snorting of Fleetfoot could be heard from the line of disciplined fliers. Spitfire looked sideways at her. She signaled the pegasus stallion Soarin to handle it. She proceeded explaining their cause to the princess.

“Blaze was a fine flier and a friend. She did not deserve to die simply by being in the wrong place at the wrong time, all because of some petty war criminal that is too busy murdering defenseless ponies. After all that has happened we feel like our discipline and morale are wasted in showbiz, we came here to fight the coward!”

“It’s going to be very dangerous.” Twilight said.

Spitfire grinned. “Was that supposed to talk us out of it? We got your back princess!”

“I am thankful for your offered help, but I am not a princess.”

Twilight turned and showed of her wingless sides.

Spitfire took a glance back at her Wonderbolt fliers, who all grinned at her. “You still are in our books, Twilight!”

Twilight looked at her brother, who was looking back at his guard. It was like they were an all stallion version of the Wonderbolt fliers. “What she said.” Shining Armor flung his eyes sideways in modesty. “Almost, at least. Our presence may be off the books, but me and Celestia had a little chat earlier.”

“Plus, we came here to honor the memory of Highmane and Littlehoof.” One of the guards broke in. “They died while preforming their duty, and now our duty is with you, Twilight!”

“I am so thankful for your help boys, but this is no ‘dying for’ mission.”

“I am not leaving my sister alone, not when that monster is out there!” Shining Armor answered his sister with determination.

Twilight caught sight of another white pony. The mare was a familiar sight.

“Nurse Redheart.” Twilight addressed.

Redheart had been a nurse in Ponyville for years. She looked worried but determined at Twilight.

“Twilight. I was called in as backup after that horrible attack on Canterlot, I’ve seen the wounds the enemy weapons cause. I know I’m not much of a fighter, but if things go bad I know where I need to be.”

Twilight looked over the group of ponies that were standing proudly in front of her. She watched Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie and Apple Jack join them up front. She felt a smile form on her face. For every second, Twilight felt less and less lonely concerning what happened at the gala. “Thank you, fillies and gentle colts.” Was all Twilight could say. She still had to add though. “But I’m not sure if I have a…”

A ship for all of us. The phrase was cut when firm footsteps walked out onto the dropped door.

Vela studied all the ponies that had gathered, who were looking at her like they were watching an alien arrive to their planet. Of course, Vela knew, just like Twilight was about to mention, that she hadn’t given any permission for an entire stable of ponies to board her ship. Vela pressed her hands against her shin. She bent her knees in a girly fashion and awed hoity-toity.

“Woooo look, look over there! Look at all those cute little ponies, aaaaaawe! Lupus, aren’t they adorable?!”

Twilight frowned. The pony-squads looked bewildered at one another. Spitfire’s red eyes did what her name suggested. Shining Armor’s bewildered eyes were wide and cute, almost like he was about to appeal to the woman. Pinkie Pie was already appealing. She curved her pink body and widened her sparkling blue eyes so that they looked like oval glass ornaments by the window frame.

“Woooo, and look Lupus, they all need a ship, and I am the only one around who has one, along with a storage of fire arms that I stole from Mizar’s drones earlier!”

The ponies looked at one another, all except Spitfire and Rainbow Dash, who was not enjoying being stepped all over. Little did they know that Vela was enjoying them not enjoying it.

“Can’t we keep them Lupus? Yes, good idea, let’s keep them!” Vela turned to the ponies again. “Well, what are you waiting for ponies? Come with me, we have a long journey ahead!”

“Who does she think she is?!” Rainbow Dash whispered angrily to Spitfire while they all followed Vela inside.

Apple Jack looked around in wonder while entering the ship. She had never seen this kind of technology. A dog came up to her. His tongue hung out happily.

“Wo there, little doggie.” Apple Jack reached out her hoof to pat him.

“Watch out pony, he bites.” Vela warned.

Apple Jack was used to dogs, much due to her having Verona back at the farm. She saw the dog glaring briefly at her once her hoof got close to his belly. She pulled it away.

“Don’t like that, heh little doggie?”

Lupus looked up at the orange pony, whose accent had an odd spin on it. How could she know that? He wondered, thinking about how belly rubs always felt like the greeter was trying to lift him up, which was something that Lupus had always hated, even those rare times he allowed it.

All around Apple Jack and Lupus there were other introductions going on, mostly between Shining Armor’s royal guard and Spitfire’s Wonderbolts, whom had all started to realize that they might need to consider each other brothers and sisters if they were to survive this journey. Spitfire was ready to give Vela a chance.

“Nice vessel you have here lady. What does she do, 400, 600? One flier of mine, Rainbow Dash over there can reach the sound barrier at 1000 kilometers per hour.” Spitfire bolstered.

“This? This is just a troop transport ship, nothing special.”

“What does she reach?”

“Just about over the speed of light, 1400 000 000 kilometers per hour.”

Spitfire’s mouth dropped. Her red eyes hovered in a combination of disbelief and dreaming.

“What?!” A raspy voice awed. Vela turned and was faced with the similar eyes of Rainbow Dash’s. The blue pegasus raised her blue wings with excitement. “When is the takeoff!? Somepony tell me!”

“What is our destination?” Twilight asked Vela.

“A planet called Rith Essa. I know some creatures there who could point us in Mizar’s direction.”

“What resistance can we expect?” Shining Armor asked serious. There was an answer of half interest coming from Vela.

“Anything really. Sometimes the flying robot has an army of drones behind him, sometimes he travels all by himself to avoid attention, sometimes he is home eating chips and watches robot porn while one of his robot doubles pretends to be him.”

“I don’t like the randomness of what we’re up against.” Shining Armor whispered darkly to Twilight.

“We need a way to know for sure if its him or one of his doubles that we are chasing.” Twilight requested from Vela.

“I'm gonna have to agree with the princess.” Spitfire said.

“There are ways, but none of them are one hundred percent.” Vela turned around and started walking toward the pilot seat. “I could entertain you with it once we reach Rith Essa.”

Spitfire leaned closer to Twilight.

“I know we need her help and all, but if I were you I would keep an eye on her.”

Twilight did not pay attention to Spitfire. Her mind, recently happy with all the ponies coming to aid her, was now spinning with a growing darkness.

What if I get them all killed?!

Just as Twilight was thinking about other ponies dying because of her decisions the room suddenly went quiet. Twilight turned and spotted who the crowd was looking at.

Celestia’s wavering mane glistened by the sunlight patching through from behind.

“Celestia?” Twilight addressed.

“I came to…” Celestia hesitated. She looked at her old student with her mind reaching out. It reached past the fact that Twilight was dressed in leather, past the fact that she had an ugly red scar that ran across her face, past the fact that she had declined her responsibilities and begun a journey toward vengeance, the opposite of friendship. Yes, Celestias mind went past all this while watching Twilight walk up to her.

Instead, Celestia’s mind went to Twilight’s wingless body, the same one that was her student before Celestia sent her to Ponyville to learn about friendship. The simple innocence of a young unicorn, about to make foolish choice, about to travel to a world of which she did not understand. Celestia smiled. She reached out her wings and folded them around Twilight. She imagined her lavender hooves belonging to a small filly unicorn.

“Please, come back alive.”