Five Months Earlier

Ghastly Gorge, Equestria

It took a month for production to get well underway, and Maud Pie was there for every step of the process.

Roughly a month ago, in a geological research expedition led by T.I.T.A.N. and Maud, something was discovered. Something beyond their knowledge of the world they thought they knew. Reports of Titans burrowing back and forth came to T.I.T.A.N.’s knowledge, and they employed the top rock expert in Ponyville to understand what exactly was causing the Titans to act in such a way.

Within Ghastly Gorge, inside a nearly collapsed tunnel, the path of a Titan was made. A creature fought its way through the rock and earth just to reach its destination. Maud led T.I.T.A.N. to that destination, where the end of the cave unveiled a deep and great abyss. Within it, there was no darkness.

Quite the opposite. Inside the abyss, an array of rainbows swirled together in a mighty, unhinged vortex. A vortex that led somewhere. Somewhere they couldn’t tell. Somewhere the Titans were burrowing to en masse.

Somewhere they need to find.

For all the signs were pointing to an old theory concocted on Black Skull Island over forty years ago. Titans were burrowing beneath the ground, entering these wormholes that led to an unknown destination. If this meant anything, it meant their theories on the Hollow Earth were not abandoned. They were made well alive now.

And if the Hollow Earth was real, the origins of these creatures could finally be known.

Now, after informing the leading T.I.T.A.N. directors Celestia and Luna of their discovery, scientific teams descended upon the location and conducted several geological and experimental tests. To learn more of the raw energy source radiating from the vortex, to try and understand its origin. And with more and more Titans beginning to vanish across the globe, several more T.I.T.A.N. teams began discovering exactly what Maud had discovered.

This wasn’t a single instance. This was a widespread phenomenon. The secrets of Equus were finally being unveiled, all thanks to the Titans.

But the order came from the highest authority in T.I.T.A.N., from Princess Twilight and the directors as well: There was to be no exploration into the wormholes. Not until they had a safe and surefire way to traverse the initial descent and plunge.

So, with Maud Pie aiding T.I.T.A.N. in the creation and development stages, a magical vehicle was designed. A vehicle capable of surviving the harsh environments of the Hollow Earth, or what they knew of it. For while T.I.T.A.N. had made many expeditions far below the ground in its long history, never before had they encountered something like the vortex. This was new territory, for everypony.

In terms of pressure changes and structural integrity, threats of radiation when closer to the planet’s core, and various other dangers, Maud Pie helped with as much knowledge as she could muster on the subject of rocks and geological exploration. The brilliant minds of T.I.T.A.N. definitely helped with the heavy lifting.

Literally and figuratively.

An airship descended upon Ghastly Gorge, carrying on its underbelly a massive container with multiple “RESTRICTED” notices painted across the steel. Once the airship carefully dropped the container, it eased itself further off from the tunnel’s entrance. Now settled, the ramp fell and connected with the dirt and rock, and out came Director Celestia, Director Luna, and Maud Pie.

“Ease it right into the entrance now! And be careful!” Luna called, ordering the mining crew over to the container. They poured out from the large tunnel embedded within the rocky wall of Ghastly Gorge, with multiple teams of scientists, armed guards, and miners surrounding the grounds within.

All at once, the unicorn miners ignited their horns and gently raised the container above the ground. They all struggled, but their numbers were great. Together, the mining crew levitated the stunningly large and immensely heavy gift into the tunnel’s gaping maw. The directors followed behind it, with Maud Pie and an escort of T.I.T.A.N. guards joining.

“So begins our first step into a brand-new world,” Celestia noted aloud, turning to Maud Pie on her right. The Earth pony kept her dulled expression forward, never taking her half-lidded eyes away from the cavern. “I would like to thank you especially, Ms. Pie. Your work has been monumentally helpful.”

She simply blinked, turning her gaze from one side of the cavern to the next now that they had entered the tunnel. “Rocks are my passion,” Maud replied, her voice and expression not in any way mirroring her words. Her eyes turned to the container. “It’s a prototype. There’s still no telling what will happen once it enters the vortex.”

Celestia and Luna exchanged a glance, sharing the same curious thoughts about their new friend Maud Pie. So vastly different from her sister.

Clearing her throat after an awkward silence, Luna suggested, “Well… it is better we learn today in order to improve tomorrow… if need be.”

It was a quiet though strenuous journey. The miners were the toughest of the tough, so they managed to handle the container well, if not with strain here and there. Celestia and Luna were always prepared to help if they lost their strength. Despite her silence, Maud Pie slowly looked in every direction, scanning the integrity of the cave. Always alert and always aware of the cavern’s structure in case there were any abnormalities or dangers to be cautious of.

But soon enough, the strains and worries were at an end. If only to be replaced by new worries.

Spotlights covered the walls and teams were scattered all across the cavern, mixtures of scientists and T.I.T.A.N. guards studying and protecting the great, circular abyss that covered the end of the tunnel. Though the cave was well lit with the spotlights, the gushing aura of rainbows bursting from the hole offered plenty of light, more than enough for them to see their surroundings.

They couldn’t be too cautious, however, and needed every bit of light for what came next. The container was settled onto the ground.

“Excellent work, all of you,” Director Celestia congratulated with a thankful smile to the mining crew. Though winded, the miners were nonetheless satisfied with their work, and replied to the former Princess of the Day with nods and weak salutes. They made way for her presence, for Luna’s as well, as the directors approached the container and unlocked it.

Peeling it open like a great fruit with their magic, the sisters brought down the container’s steel walls and unveiled the first prototype for the awaiting gazes of their fellow T.I.T.A.N. The ones who had yet to witness it before. The ones who saw it fully now.

The ship was surprisingly large, able to house up to a dozen occupants. Enough for a research team and plenty of armed support. Quad engines, two on each side, acted also as a resting support for the machine, keeping it standing in a dormant state. Rocket launchers were somewhat hidden on the exterior, and thankfully had no ammunition. The black windshields reflected the light of the spotlights and the rainbows of the vortex. The white hull was painted with yellow and black stripes, wording on the metal exterior indicating that the vehicle was, in fact, still a prototype. Still in testing.

The Hollow Earth Aerial Vehicle. First of its kind within Project HEAV.

“Do we have a remote uplink?” Director Luna asked, coming up beside the scientific minds behind the control console. They were stacked up and hunkered down close to the cavern’s wall, a plethora of T.I.T.A.N. scientists crowding around the console to try and establish some sort of connection to the vehicle’s cabin.

They were informed beforehoof that the prototype would not be piloted by a pony, only remotely. For safety precautions, obviously. The later iterations of the HEAV they had planned would be capable of both remote and manually piloting.

“Give me one second… and…” the lead programmer mumbled, biting her lower lip and tongue in clear stress as her hooves tapped away furiously on the keyboard. A stress that quickly washed away when all signs turned green and the pilot’s cabin of the HEAV came to life. “Yes! We have successful control!”

“Fantastic,” Celestia congratulated, joining her sister beside the programmers. Laying her hoof on the pony’s shoulder, Director Celestia smiled down to her, nodding over to the stationary HEAV. “Now… if you would do the honors.”

“Clear the area! HEAV’s comin’ through! Back up, back up!”

The order was given and the T.I.T.A.N. guards proceeded to move the scientists and miners out of the blocked-off area of the abyss. Once everypony was safely moved out and cleared enough space around the HEAV, the machine started to rumble. The quad engines were trembling, and soon began to ignite at each exhaust port. But that wasn’t all.

A wave of magic began to wash over the engines, allowing the large ship to slowly begin to levitate. From the magical power cores imbued within the HEAV, the ship was encased in a shield of pure energy and magic. A standard shield spell that Celestia and Luna themselves integrated into the ship’s power cores, and combined science and magic almost seamlessly together.

Hovering above the ground, now with the entire ship encased in that magical, bluish shield, the HEAV slowly made progress forward. The masterminds behind the control console steadily guided the HEAV deeper into the cavern, only to have it slowly fly above the monstrous, gaping jaws of the abyss, with the multicolored array of rainbows swirling beneath it like a drain into the unknown.

Maud Pie watched it with an almost careless expression, but she was the first pony who began approaching the HEAV in mid-flight. Everypony else, though momentarily trapped in awe of the machine’s prowess, began to follow her lead.

With confirmation from the directors, the lead programmer began the HEAV’s descent.

Every scientific instrument was at the ready, proceeding to record the data that the HEAV collected upon its slow entrance into the abyss. It was going very well, a steady data collection appearing on the console as the HEAV continued downward into the awaiting wormhole. It was just right after that, the moment they lost sight of the ship, where it fell apart.

Warning signatures and sirens sounded off from the console, while the programmers desperately tried to maintain control. It was no use. Deep below in the abyss, the unknown energy patterns of the vortex began to mesh and infect the HEAV’s internal systems. Not even the magical shield was able to protect the vehicle. A new, raw power from the world below swirled and stung the magic of the world above.

The shield crumbled. The HEAV caved in on itself. The vortex consumed the ship and sucked its remains down into the blinding whiteness within the wormhole of colors.

All control and contact was lost. All within seconds, and there was nothing they could have done to stop it.

Once more, being the first pony to enter the blocked-off area, Maud Pie peeked over the edge of the hole and gazed into the swirling rainbows. No ship. Nothing else. “Good thing there weren’t any pilots in there,” Maud commented, as monotone as ever.

“Do we still have the data?” Luna urgently asked, peering onto the control console as if she understood any of the scientific babble appearing on the computer screen.

“Yeah… yeah, we collected most of it,” the lead programmer responded, her heartrate still racing from the whole ordeal.

“Then that’s enough for today,” Celestia said, turning back and gazing heavily onto the abyss. The one that secretly called to them, that held untold secrets hidden from the world for as long as she had lived. There was something there, something missing that they needed to implement. The data would help, but it was the only the first step.

The world would fight them every step of the way, but T.I.T.A.N. and the brave explorers of Equus would not be deterred. Not today, not ever.

As Celestia hardened her stare and valiantly declared, “Tomorrow… we improve.”

Author's Note

Artwork by Shrekzilla

Next chapter dropping this Sunday