Into the Knight

The mercantile district of Canterlot: quiet, serene, and in a minor state of disrepair. All along the marble store fronts, short, claw-like gouges were etched into their pillars and custom hoof-painted displays. Along the cobblestone street resided several large depressions, each sporadically placed at or near the gouges, suggesting that this was no mere act of vandalism but somepony, or rather something, had crashed, desperately trying to halt its/their progress. Whatever it was, it seemed to be long gone now, leaving only a minor trail of destructions in its path. Yet something was still amiss for nestled with in the last, and largest, crater, a rather strange tree was growing up from the center; A thick black trunk jutting up and over with five leafless branches splayed out haphazardly, its bark shimmering like polished onyx under Luna’s moon.

Suddenly, one of the branches... twitched, emitting a quiet, mechanical groan. There rest quickly followed suit, one after another, until the whole trunk shifted under the weight of gravity, impacting the rim of the crater with a muffled crunch. Somewhere within the crater something hummed, emitting small electrical sparks. Apparently, the visitor was far from ‘long gone’.

In fact, it was just rousing from its landing.

*

While the world may have gone quiet for a certain lavender unicorn, it was full of confusion and panic for not only her friends but everypony else in the immediate vicinity. Ponies ran in all directions, their mouths wide with silent screams, scattering personal items every which way while the Royal Guards tried desperately to calm the situation before it roiled over any further. A sudden, rousing shake brought her back to the audible present accompanied by a familiar, southern accent.

“C’mon, Twi! Snap out of it!”

“Is everypony alright?” she asked, rising to her hooves. “I wanted to help, but with my magic still not up to snuff...”

“Later, Sugarcube. You’re needed with Spike and Rarity; rest o’ us gonna try n’ round up th’ ‘scardy ponies’.” Applejack disappeared within the wall of bodies, leaving Twilight alone to digest all the information.

Spike and Rarity? Surely those two hadn’t been argumentative this whole time. Groaning to herself once more, Twilight wove her way thru the wall of bodies, doing her best to avoid being trampled while simultaneously consoling ponies.

“Spike! Please, get up!”

Twilight knew that voice, knew its tonal ranges, over dramatic exposes. The way those four words entered into her ear canals sent chills up her spine. Sisterly instinct took over as she pushed and shoved her way thru the walls of flesh, desperately trying to reach the outcropping that both Spike and Rarity were occupying. This wasn’t Rarity ‘being overly dramatic’, she was terrified to a degree beyond measure. After what seemed an eternity, Twilight broke forth from the confusion, sliding to a stop next to her target. What she saw made ice form in her stomach.

Rarity sat stoically still with Spike cradled in her forelegs, eyes glistening wet. He was motionless like a rag doll, save for the shallow rise and fall of his chest; a trickle of blood ran down from the left side of his head from a rather nasty looking goose egg-sized bump. She wanted desperately to rip him from her grip, but without knowing his condition, doing so more than likely would cause more damage.

“He won’t wake up.” Rarity managed, her voice quaking and dry. “I’ve tried to rouse him, but he- he-.” The fashionata shivered, breaking her stalwart stance, turning her head to face her friend. Within the alabaster mare’s eyes Twilight saw something she’d never imagined. Hopelessness.

Twilight quickly cast her attention upon Spike, doing a quick once over on his wound. It looked much worse than it actually was; nothing a little antiseptic and bandaging wouldn’t fix. Tilting his head up with her hooves, she levitated the leftover first aid items from her saddlebag, gingerly applying them to her assistant’s head. She’d contemplated asking Rarity for assistance, but thought better of it. Not to be mean, but Rarity was in no shape to do much of anything at this point. Spike scrunched his facial features and groaned as Twilight applied pressure to the wound, resulting in a surprised gasp from Rarity.

“What happened?” Twilight asked as she began wrapping the dressing around his head. Her friend just stared as she worked on her assistant, eyes never leaving his face. “Rarity!”

“Huh? ...Oh, yes, darling?”

“How did this happen? And let’s skip the part about the fight,” Twilight added for good measure, “seeing as how Redheart told me about it already.”

“...I see...” She cleared her throat, her gaze never leaving the semi-conscious drake in her hooves. “Well, after our ‘disagreement’ earlier, I thought it better if I watched Luna’s gift on my own; do some thinking, as it were. Spike decided to join me not long after, perhaps to keep me company, though I’m not really sure as he seemed in the same frame of mind as myself. It’s all a bit vague after that, I’m afraid. I recall a ball of light and hitting the ground rather harshly before finding Spike like this.”

Taking this bit of information Twilight briefly scanned her immediate surroundings. It wasn’t long before her eyes fell upon a crimson-stained stone nestled secretly amongst the blades of grass.

“He was trying to save your life, Rarity. Just as he came back to save mine.”

“I don’t understand...”

“Don’t you see? He saw... what ever it was... and pushed you out of the way, banging his head against this rock in doing so. He cares for your safety just as he cares for mine.”

Rarity said nothing, eyes still focused on the drake in her hooves. Not just any drake, but a gentle drake. Her gentle drake that would give his life for his friends and for her.

No, no. They were of two different species. It could never work. So why wasn’t her heart listening to what her mind was telling her. Her self searching was short lived as a familiar tomboyish voice called from overhead, informing them to meet with the Princess’s immediately.

“Rarity,” Twilight uttered quietly as she levitated her assistant from her friends grip, “I know it has been trying for all of us, but the way I saw you earlier as you held him... loss and hopelessness...” She placed him gently upon her back, “I never want to see that again.”

*

Thermal lock down bypass initiated. System diagnostics and damage report running.

The sound of cobblestone being crushed echoed softly as Knightstride dug his fingers into the ground in attempt to haul himself upon much more level terra firma. The data streamed though his subconscious, but it hardly mattered at this point, seeing as how things had gone from bad to catastrophic in mere nanoseconds.

--

It wasn’t his fault really. None of this should have happened. All he had to do was land safely for repairs. Instead, he lost all stability once he entered this planet’s atmosphere. In a panic, he tried to reverse decent, to climb back into the vacuum of space, but it was too late.

Then in a flash it happened, the very situation he wanted to avoid at all costs:

Indigenous life-forms detected. ABORT!! ABORT!!

And not just one, hundreds of them; all huddled together in the very spot he was to land. They would all be slaughtered at the rate of his decent; damned if he was going to allow that to occur, regardless of who or what there were.

‘No, you fool! I know what you’re thinking! It’s suicide! You’ll never make it!’

His subconscious screaming at him all the while, Knightstride felt the pistons and gears shifting as he over-rid the safety bypass to transform into his root mode. The pain was instantaneous: white hot flames dipped in boiling acid shooting thru his veins. Multiplied a hundred fold.

He hit the ground hard, flailing his arms, desperately gouging at anything to slow his less that stellar landing. His body bounced once, twice, three times; the last one knocking him temporarily offline, his last thought was being grateful no life had been lost.

--

Groaning, he swivelled his right arm up and over the crater, trying to get more leverage. After all, someone was going to be less than pleased at the damage his fall had caused; the sooner he was up and away, the better.

Extracting himself, he made an attempt to stand, only to come crashing down with a rumbling ‘thud’. Apparently the damage to his flight stabilizers had affected his equilibrium as well. It would sort itself out soon enough, but still... Problems were arising faster than could be fixed. And he still didn’t know where he was or how to get back on track.

“Okay, calm you circuits,” Knightstride spoke quietly to himself, “just remember the basics: first, check your surroundings... Wow...”

Though his vision and audio were still a bit rattled, the sight laid out before his optics made his jaw drop. This wasn’t some backwater planet he’d happened upon, nor had he caused minimal damage to some off-beat outpost. This was a major metropolitan area, akin to that of Iacon or maybe Kaon, though he was leaning more towards the former as the latter contained blood-thirsty decepticons who wouldn’t think twice about putting several holes in ones chassis. Judging by the layout of his current surroundings this must be where merchants and travelers did their business as they traveled to and fro from... wherever.

Once more he rose to his feet, stumbling a bit, but remaining in his vertical position. Despite the life reading he’d picked up during his decent, they’d remained in the same central location as before, only a half dozen or so making any attempt of movement outside the main group. Surely the people of this planet had figured out by now that his arrival was more of a shooting star gone awry (though it would explain why they were all gathered together in one spot).

Movement; three life signals heading towards his current location.

It seemed that someone had deemed it necessary to investigate after all. As much as he’d love to meet the inhabitants of this planet, he felt it wise to wait until circumstances bettered themselves. Quickly and quietly he moved away from his landing spot, taking refuge behind the tallest possible structure. Hopefully, these three would investigate rapidly and leave, permitting him the chance to escape into the night undetected. With his audio receptors still ringing from the impact and most of the optic enhancing options still unavailable, Knighstride used what was at his disposal. Bringing his middle and index finger to the side of his head, he activated his thermal scanners; the world changing into hues varying upon heat expenditures.

Garbled voices and the sounds of hoof-falls upon cobblestone.

He slunk back further, becoming one with the stone and plaster, and peered around its edge. Now he was about to see the locals, whether they were ready or not.

--

(Then)

Fluttershy didn’t like confrontations. Ever. Specifically when her friends were involved, even less when it came to the princess’. Granted she’d had a minor confrontation on the train with Rarity, but that was more of an intervention than anything else. What had transpired between the princesses was another thing entirely... which is why the timid pegasus had remained hidden behind Applejack the entire time. Things seemed to be calming down now, but she kept her current position, not quite ready for another round of Luna’s ‘Royal Canterlot Voice’.

“Relax, Luna, for I am not accusing nor judging you of anything,” Celestia spoke, doing her best to ease the tension down even further. Luna coiled her head forward, lowering her gaze.

“Forgive me Sister,” the ebony alicorn nearly whispered in silence, ashamed at her outburst. “After everything that you, Twilight and her friends did to help me fit back in... to even suggest that I would purposefully injure one of Our ponies...” Luna shuddered at the thought.

“Oh nonononono!” Pinkie exclaimed, shaking her head rapidly. “You’re a good princess, not like that meanie mc-mean pants Nightmare Moon... and good ponies don’t do bad things to other good ponies.”

Luna shifted uncomfortably at the mention of her previous namesake; memories of jealously and rage tugging at the corners of her mind. She didn’t mind being called that during the Nightmare Night celebration for it was all in good fun for the children and, to be honest, she rather enjoyed herself once the townsfolk got over their immediate fear of her. “I tried my best to correct the stars’ behavior, but it wouldn’t obey.”

“I think what Pinkie is trying to say is that you aren’t responsible for this... sudden turn of events,” Twilight reassured her. “In fact, I don’t think it was a star at all.”

“Beggin your pardon, Twilight, but could y’all explain yerself a might clearer.”

With a soft lavender flare from her horn tip, fives chairs materialized behind her friends, scooping them up and bringing them closer to her place by the Princess’. Another flare produced a two dimensional grid formed before the group as Twilight brought a hoof to her lips, clearing her throat. *ahem* “As you know, Princess Celestia raises and lowers the sun for us,” an image of Celestia appeared upon the grid, “and Princess Luna does the same for our moon.” The similar formed for Luna opposite the grid. “Thus providing us with a harmonious balance of-“ she cut off abruptly, noticing the stares of confusion, bewilderment, dead panning, Pinkie eating popcorn, oblivious, Rarity seemingly in another world. Twilight cleared her throat once more, slightly peeved that only the Princesses were listening to her presentation. Rainbow, as always, was the first to speak up, albeit in her normal, polite self.

“Come on Twilight, enough with the egg-head stuff. We’ve all had a rough day and would really like some closure here.”

“Perhaps I may be of some assistance, Twilight.” Celestia spoke softly, a soft yellow aura emitting from her horn; small stars appearing upon her students’ grid. “You see, Luna controls not only the moon but the bodies of the stars as well, making her just, if not more, important than myself in keeping the balance of harmony. Though I was able to do much in Luna’s... absence... her ability is second to know in controlling the heavens.”

The images upon the grid began moving as Luna flared her horn causing the stars to streak across the grid. Twilight cleared her throat once more. “As you can see, Luna can easily control something as simple as a shooting star show, which leads me to the most important fact of all,” Instantly the magically produced grid vanished with a soft ‘pwip’. “Whatever it was that landed here wasn’t a star, but something from beyond.”

“SPACE PONY!” Pinkie exclaimed with a gasp so huge the castle walls actually caved slightly at the massive intake of air. “I knew they existed! Ooh! Ooh! We should totally go and look for it. Make first contact! I’ll just whip out the Party Cannon and-“ Pinkie’s rambling was ceased win a lavender tinted Silence Spell that encompassed both mare and chair, though her random hoof flailing and facial expressions continued mutely. After all Pinkie could be a little... extreme at times.

“Sorry Princess. Pinkie tends to have an over-active imagination. There’s no such thing as space ponies.”

“Be that as it may, Twilight Sparkle, We must implore that an investigation must commence!” Luna commanded in her ‘Canterlot Voice’, “We must know if any danger is posed to Our ponies!”

Luna is right,” Celestia added with a quick nod of her head. “As much as it pains me to ask you, Twilight, I need you to investigate what has happened. The guards are stretched too thin as is. If things turn hostile...”

“Don’t worry, princess,” Twilight reassured confidently. “We’ll handle it.”

Of course they’d handle it, just as the many times when the Princess’ needed them to, but the whole situation was awkward to say the least. She gazed around at her friends still perched upon their seats, considering her options, deciding whom should go. Applejack? No, not with her head injury, as minor as it was. Rarity was definitely a no-go in her emotional state. There was Fluttershy, whose skills with animal communication were second to nopony, though getting her to investigate an alien form of life would be pulling literal hens teeth. That left her with only Rainbow and Pinkie. Twilight groaned inwardly. ‘Brashness and overly hyperactive. This is going to be swell’

(Now)

“Rainbow Dash!” Twilight screamed quietly as she could, “could you keep your voice down? We don’t know what’s out here!”

“Pfft, whatever, Egghead,” Dash chided, oblivious to the danger at hoof. “Look at this place. It’s a ghost town.”

“Oooooh! Spoooooky!” Pinkie’s voice quivered as she wiggled her forehooves in the pairs’ faces. “This is super-duper awesome guys! Just like the time in the Everfree Forest!”

“Gah! Would you two just stop?” Twilight bellowed in frustration, her voice ricocheting of the building fronts like a thunderclap. Her eyes immediately went wide as she clasped her hooves to her mouth. Pinkie and Dash just stared at her, mouths agape. Twilight let out a discontented sigh, returning her hooves to their previous position. “Girls, please, we don’t know what is out there, if it’s dangerous, even if it is alive or not. I know we’ve all been thru Tartarus and back, but I need you to focus for me, ok?”

Dash and Pinkie rubbed the back of their necks sheepishly at her request. “Sorry,” they both said in unison, before giving apologetic smiles, to which Twilight quickly accepted. Then, from somewhere in the distance, came a ‘thump’, followed quickly by a crunching sound. The trio reflectively cast their gaze to the poorly lit business district.

“Come on girls,” Twilight spoke with gusto, “let’s do some investigating.”

*

Being an Element bearer and personal student of the Princess, Twilight and her friends had seen many things; been on many adventures. But, as three pairs of eyes looked on, this was nothing anyone of them had seen before.

“What exactly are we looking at here, Twilight?” asked a curious Rainbow Dash as she hovered just over head while the unicorn gazed intriguingly at Golden Apple’s Suites’ exterior wall decor... and what had caused the deep, amber colored gouges deep within the marble shell.

Twilight wondered that herself. “I’m not sure...” she trailed off, narrowing her gaze as she came as close as possible for the marks still emanated quite of bit of heat. “Other than dragons, no five-digit creature exists in Equestria.”

‘IT’S A SPAAAAAAACE POOOOONY!!!!” Pinkie wailed, managing to tackle Dash from the air, the duo landing in a heap beside Twilight. The aforementioned just groaned, face-hoofing.

“For the last time Pinkie: there are no such things as Space Ponies!” Twilight huffed once more for good measure. “I’m going to get to the bottom of - GAH!!” she exclaimed, tumbling head over plot into one of the impact craters she’d stepped around not moments before, coming to an abrupt stop covered in dirt and fragmented cobblestone.

Groaning in discomfort, Twilight rose to her hooves, looking upwards at the clear, star filled night. Twilight found herself shivering slightly at the cool dampness surrounding her. I didn’t realize it was this deep. Whatever it is must be hurting badly. She jumped slightly at the sound of scree tumbling down upon her only to breathe a sigh of relief moments later at its cause.

“Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Twilight, are you alright?” came the echoing voice of Rainbow Dash.

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

“I tried to warn you but my tail didn’t ‘twitcha-twitch’ fast enough.”

“Just hang on Twilight,” Rainbow Dash called down, “I’ll be down in a jiffy.”

“That won’t be necessary, Dash.” Twilight called back reassuringly; the faint lavender glow of her horn given her a new perspective of the situation. “It may look steep but the conical shape and low gradient... I can make it out on my own, thank you. I’ll be up in a few-“

CLINK!

Twilight froze instantly at the sound softly escaping from beneath her hoof. Keeping the glow active, she channeled extra magic from her flute, telekineticly grasping the object she’d just stepped on and brought it eye-level.

“Girls, I’ve found something.”

Author's Note

Tada! Finally!