Twilight Sparkle leaned back in her chair and stared out the transparent-crystal viewport in front of her. She sucked in a breath and willed herself to calm down, but her stomach still did flip-flops. Her mind backtracked through nearly four years of research, material-procurement, building small-scale prototypes, diplomatic problems, and now finally, here she sat in the cockpit of the One Small Trot, Equestria's first warp-capable starship. If it works, she thought to herself.
Next to her in the small, cramped cockpit sat Spike. Immediately behind her was Trixie Lulamoon, formerly of Canterlot High and now helping Twilight navigate galactic politics. Immediately behind Spike sat Sunset Shimmer, the Princess of Redemption and another of Twilight's trusted aids in figuring out where Equestria could stand in the Milky Way. All four wore custom-made spacesuits specifically tailored for their body plans.
The intercom crackled to life. “Ground Control to One Small Trot. Ground Control to One Small Trot. Twilight, status? Over.”
Twilight tore her gaze away from the viewport and looked down at the control panel in front of her. She turned a knob with a flick of her magic and leaned in close to a microphone. “One Small Trot to Ground Control.” her eyes scanned several dials and gauges. “Status is all-green. How are you doing, Starlight?” She paused for a moment before gasping slightly. “Oh, sorry! Over.”
Starlight Glimmer's voice came over again. “It's fine, Twilight. Ground Control is fine down here, although I think Captain Kang and Science Officer Mara are about to declare some sort of blood oath against Prince Rutherford or something. I swear that yak... Oh, what, Moondancer? Oh, right! Sorry! We're at T-Minus ten minutes until launch and counting. Beginning powering up of main engines. Over.”
The One Small Trot started shuddering. Trixie looked over her own console. “Main engine is powering up,” she said, her voice hitching. She clapped her front hooves together. “Oh, my god. We're doing it. We're actually flying this rocket into space and then going to warp! Trixie can't believe this is happening to her!” Her eyes widened. “This is the coolest thing ever!”
Sunset reached out with a wing and gently ran it down Trixie's right foreleg. “Easy, Trixie! In through the muzzle, out through the mouth. We don't need you hyperventilating while we're trying to make orbit or something.”
Spike looked over his shoulder at Trixie, then looked to Twilight. “Sure we can't substitute her for someone else?” he asked, chuckling.
Twilight rolled her eyes. “I'm sure, Spike. Sunset, status?”
Sunset's eyes scanned her own console. She turned some dials and flipped two switches. “Structural integrity field and inertial dampening fields are online and in the green.” She paused. “I wonder if Zephram Cochrane had either of those on the Phoenix.”
Trixie nickered. “Well, the one in this reality did, Sunset. At least according to the historical records I've gone through.”
Sunset grinned. “Who would've thought Trixie Lulamoon would willingly spend hours going through old records. You're almost diligent!”
Trixie focused on her console. “You're lucky I don't have my smoke bombs on me,” she said.
“And you're lucky we're sitting on top of a highly-experimental warp engine and I don't feel like fighting,” Sunset retorted.
Any further arguments were cut off as Starlight's voice came through the intercom once more. “Ground Control to One Small Trot, main gantry is pulling away. We are at T-Minus five minutes and counting. Over”
A loud clang echoed through the cockpit. The shuddering increased. Twilight sucked in a breath. “Confirmed, Ground Control. Over.”
Spike swallowed. “Last call for anyone to use the bathroom,” he said, wiping sweat from his forehead.
The other three chuckled, but went through their routine, calling out status reports to Twilight. She looked around at Spike, Sunset, and Trixie. “All right, for the record? Thanks for helping out and agreeing to fly with me on this crazy mission. I don't think I could've asked for a better crew.”
Trixie smirked. “Although I appreciate your words Twilight, I don't know about that last part. Scotty, Spock, and Captain Kirk might have been better choices for you,” she said, winking.
Starlight's voice came over again. “One Small Trot, we are at T-Minus one minute until launch. Fifty seconds... forty seconds...”
Twilight's eyes narrowed. “Hang on, everyone. It's gonna get bumpy for a bit!”
“Thirty seconds... twenty seconds... fifteen, fourteen, thirteen... we have main engine ignition... eleven, ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five–engines are hot–four, three, two, one. Liftoff!”
Even with the inertial dampening system on, all four crew members felt themselves press back into their seats. The One Small Trot lifted into the air on a tower of flame, flying from the launch pad built in the Badlands and Equus itself. It pierced the sky, exiting the atmosphere and leaving the world behind.
Twilight's eyes darted back and forth as beeps and flashing lights competed for her attention. She ground her teeth together and forced herself to remember her own checklist. “Trixie, status report?”
Trixie sucked in a breath. “Main engines are at full power and in the green. Fuel consumption within expected rates.”
Sunset planted her hooves on her chair's armrests. “Structural integrity field is holding. Inertial dampeners–” She rocketed forward, almost impaling her console with her horn. “Well, we're not chunky salsa. So yay?”
The sky outside quickly darkened, changing from bright-white to blue. The clouds parted as the sky changed to deepest black. Stars appeared, shining brightly as the atmosphere was left behind.
Twilight allowed herself a moment to marvel at the transition. She tore herself away and looked down. “All right. Prepare for first-stage shutdown and separation on my mark. Three, two, one... mark!”
Trixie and Sunset each opened a toggle and, with timing borne of practice, each flipped their switch in sequence. The One Small Trot shuddered as explosive bolts separated the main engine from the rest of the ship. Panels were also blown off, allowing two small warp nacelles to unfold.
Trixie's head swiveled back and forth. “A shame we can't see the Enterprise or K'naiah's Pride out the viewport.”
Sunset grinned. “Better than when the Phoenix did it and had the Enterprise-E hanging over it. I'm just glad they're there in case something goes wrong.” She flipped another switch. “Plasma injectors coming online. Nacelles are charging.” She slowly nodded. “I think we're set.” She looked up. “Go ahead, Twilight. Say it!”
Twilight leaned forward. “Engage!”
The One Small Trot flew through space, nacelles brightening. It left its mother world behind, accelerating with every second.
Spike looked down at a speedometer. “Twilight, we're approaching the warp barrier. We're almost at critical speed!”
The nacelles suddenly flashed. The One Small Trot stretched out an impossible length, hanging there before the aft snapped forward to meet up with the forward half as the ship broke the light-speed barrier.
The stars outside the viewport started streaking by. Twilight's eyes widened. “We are...” She looked down. “Holy horse apples! We're at warp one! We're traveling at the speed of light!”
Spike reached over and patted her on the shoulder. “Twilight, you did it!”
Twilight shook her head. “No, Spike We did it. All four of us, working together!”
Trixie barked a laugh. “Well, traveling to another reality, becoming a unicorn and helping to build a warp-capable starship is one way to achieve immortality.” She paused. “Can I move here?”
Sunset snorted. “I'm surprised you haven't already.”
Twilight pulled down on a lever. “All right, throttling the engines down below warp one.” The rumbling of the engines lessened. “Trixie, cut power to main impulse engines.” At Trixie's acknowledgment, she glanced to her side. “Spike, engage braking thrusters. Bring us to a full stop, then turn us around a full one hundred-eighty degrees.”
The One Small Trot's main engine died down. Thrusters in the nosecone and main body fired, slowing and bringing the rocket to a full stop. It hung there in the void for a few moments before spinning around, eventually coming face-to-face with its point of origin.
Twilight's eyes narrowed. She finally pointed at a large pinpoint of light, brighter than the others. “Is that... that's Equus. It looks so small.”
Sunset and Trixie exchanged a look. Sunset motioned to Trixie, who leaned forward and spoke. “It's about to get a whole lot bigger.”
Author's Note
This is written in tribute to the fiftieth anniversary of Apollo XI.
I did watch the launch and flight of the Phoenix from Star Trek: First Contact for inspiration and technical details.
A little mood music.
