The blaring alarm jolted the pony out of a peaceful slumber…well, about as peaceful as one could get, given her circumstances, laying on a small cot in the rear of her cargo ship.

“I’M UP!!” she yelled, her loud voice registering with the ship’s computer, which shut off the annoying sound.

The curvaceous pony yawned and stretched, before going limp and closing her big green eyes.

A few moments later, the alarm blared again, louder than before!

Rising from her dinky little cot, the young pony drew herself up to her full height, her massive breasts bounced against her upper thighs, before soon rebounding off of them with each step, as she clattered her hooves across the small ship, and right into the main cockpit.

“OKAY I’M UP FOR REAL!!!” she yelled, pressing the off switch on the alarm panel just to be sure.

And thus began the daily routine, for Space Guild Security Force Ranger BE-113, also known as: Mam Marella.

Looking at the control panel squished against her chest in front of her, she saw a blinking light that signaled that she was to report in with the guild immediately.

“Not until this filly looks more presentable,” she said, looking down at her soft white body, on which she was clothed in a regulation silver bottoms, and two large silver covers that protected her large, delicate nipples.

Moments later, she had set the coffee machine to brew, while she removed her clothing, and squeezed into the regulation-size shower (of which she was definitely a bit larger than regulation-size!).

A cleaning agent circulated through the limited cold water that trickled from the overhead faucet, as she attempted to clean as much as she could, in what little space there was.

After squeezing out of the shower, she popped a dryer pill into her mouth, and took a large swig of joe. A few seconds later, the pill had dried her off, and her pink and purple locks frizzed out in thick, voluptuous curves.

Once she had dressed back in her silver undergarments, she opened a small closet, and removed one of her many white, Space Guild-approved bodysuits. Once properly clad in the form-fitting attire, it was time to get down to business.

Pushing a button, she settled into the pilot’s seat as a hologram of a gold and orange pony, her Commander, appeared before her.

“Greetings, Ranger BE-113,” said the Commander.

“Greetings, Commander Merkin,” she replied.

“I trust you are doing well?”

“About as well as can be, given what the guild is paying.”

“BE-113, you know we are attempting negotiations with The Council of the Esteemed Throne, but change does not happen overnight.”

“Funny, isn’t it?” replied Mam. “The rulers we protect just keep getting richer, and they still expect to pay the same for our services, as their fathers did 50 years ago. You know what we need? We need a ‘make your King go to work’ day. I’d happily trade places with some snooty King. Sit on that cushy throne, stuffing my muzzle with pastries, and laughing, knowing his cushy plot was stuck behind the controls of one of these tubs.”

“I think we’d all like to have a crack at that,” smiled the Commander. “I’ll make sure to add that to the suggestion box next time I pass by. Speaking of royalty, there’s an assignment that came up, very close to your vicinity.”

“Can’t I pass it off on some lowly cadet?” asked Mam.

“Not for what’s being asked. The ruler of the Turgid System, King Opeensh, has requested we facilitate the transfer of his son to Prime Imperium.”

“The mightiest of kingdoms?” asked the Ranger.

“Correct. The Emperor’s daughter Zircon has just come of age, and the Emperor has requested that the King’s son, Prince Plenn Te, bless the royal family with his seed.”

“So, I’m being assigned to take some blue-blooded brat across the galaxy to get laid?”

“Apparently so,” replied the Commander. “And you better get moving. His highness made the request 3 hours ago. And please, do try not to insult our clients.”

“Oh come now, commander,” said Mam Marella, extending her arms to the sides and starting up the ship’s virtual controls, “I’m always nice to paying royalty!”

Mam Marella’s ship was already inside the Turgid system, so it took very little time before her craft shot through the atmosphere of the planet Bolge, where the royal family resided.

A haze hung over the atmosphere of the planet, terrain rose up in patchy colors of peach. Wind also rippled across miles and miles of dark, tangled grass. Across the landscape, she could see small groups of dwellings, but no major signs of cities, or advanced technology.

And then through the haze, she saw the Turgid Stronghold.

Carved into the side of a large mountain, a tall ring of stone and rock work separated the royal keep from any outsiders. Along the walls rose towers over 40 ft tall, atop of which well-abutted battlements sat. As Mam Marella approached, she could see the soldiers at the top aiming their large weaponry at her craft.

“Attention, attention,” came a voice over her radio. “This is Turgid Stronghold. Identify yourself.”

“Settle down, fellas,” she responded. “This is Ranger BE-113, of the Space Guild Protection Force. Just dropping by to do the King a solid, and help his son find some ac-tion!”

There was a brief silence, before the radio crackled again.

“Roger, Ranger BE-113. You are cleared to land on platform C.”

And with that, she flew over the walls, and carefully landed in the designated area.

As the craft’s doors hissed open, she found a little stallion in dark-grey robes standing before her. Dark shades hid his eyes, but the girl was fairly certain his eyes were checking her out.

“Welcome to Turgid Stronghold, Ranger,” said the stallion. “I’m Arh Welbuh, the advisor to his highness, King Opeensh. You are indeed Ranger BE-113, that the guild sent for the assignment?”

“I am, sir.”

“I will need to see your ID before we can proceed?”

“Very well.”

The young pony reached down, and parted her chest, as the stallion kneeled before the area where her navel would be.

There was a beeping sound, and his glasses suddenly flashed red, before a chirping sound was heard.

“Thank you,” said Arh. “Follow me, please.”

As Mam Marella followed along, she could feel the humid heat of the region beating down on her. The suit she was wearing was already starting to hear up, and she could feel sweat forming on her forehead, and in other places.

Arh led her through a number of rooms and large doors, before they came to the main throne room. Seated on a throne 15 feet above them, was the king. His dark blue skin and white hair, stood out in contrast to the peach and gold colorations of the large room. Even his robes seemed to match his surroundings.

“A little late, I see,” said the King. “I told the guild to send me their finest…and a strong soldier…but they said you were the closest, so here you are.”

“Your highness,” said Mam Marella, bowing before the mighty stallion, her large chest touching the carpeted floor.

“You appear to be quite bounteous than many other vixens of your stature. Please, join me and rest your hooves. You as well, Arh. Servants, fetch us refreshments!”

And soon, the young ranger found herself sitting with the King and Arh, though in a less elaborate seat, with a stone glass filled with a bubbly, purple substance that seemed somewhat salty to the taste.

“Know full well, vixen,” said the King, “my son will be entrusted to your care. You are to see that he is escorted to the Emperor’s daughter, with no diversions. It is imperative to the agreement between our realms.”

“And what agreement is that?” asked Mam.

“That does not concern you,” snapped Arh. “You are simply to provide your services per the guild’s guidelines. You will deliver the Prince to his destination. Once he has completed his royal duties, you will then return him to us. Once he is back in our presence, your payment will be released into your guild account. Please be aware that you will not be able to access said funds until at least two weeks after the mission is completed.”

Swell, thought Mam. They’re low-balling me, and holding my pay hostage.

“Understandable,” she nodded, still acting as proper as possible.

It was then that Arh clapped his hands. The sound echoed in the huge hall, as some servants placed a table, some papers, and a pen in front of her.

“Your contract for the assignment,” said Arh. “Any business transactions with the Turgid Kingdom have to be properly recorded for posterity.”

There were at least 20 pages of documents in front of her. Mam knew the dangers of signing something before you read it, but this was one of those days that she just wanted to get over with as soon as possible.

She signed her name with the pen, whose purple ink gave off a rather putrid smell.

“Tis’ the blood of the Dirsed beasts that roam this planet,” said the King. “Our family has used it in the signing of documents for centuries.”

“Well, now that the details have been taken care of,” said Arh, reviewing the papers, “It is time for your assignment to begin. Guards, bring forth the Prince!”

Two of the adorned guards bowed, and exited through an archway, covered in symbols that Mam could not decipher. Moments later, they returned, flanking a handsome-looking stallion.

Like his father, the prince’s skin was dark blue, but his hair was a mixture of white and black coloration. As he drew closer, she could see that his eyes were as shiny as gold.

He was also clothed only in a long, flowing robe that ended past his knees. An elaborate pattern graced the flowing, silken item.

“Father,” said the young stallion, bowing before his elder.

“Plenn Te, my son,” smiled the King, getting up from his throne, and placing his hands on the young stallion’s shoulders. “You look resplendent. Zircon is indeed fortunate to receive your purist seed. It will grow her and our Kingdom mightily.”

“Yes, father.”

“Ranger, you may approach,” commanded the King. “My son, this is the Ranger who will be escorting you.”

“I am Ranger BE-113,” said Mam, kneeling before the young stallion. “It tis’ an honor to be serving you.”

“You may rise, Ranger,” replied the Prince. “Please, lead us to your transport.”

Mam Marella was surprised to find a number of guards flanking the path to her ship.

As she, Arh, and the King and Prince walked past, each soldier snapped to attention.

When they finally reached the ship, the King saluted his son, and Mam led him up onto the ship.

“You will be seated here,” she said, pointing to a chair some ways behind her own. “Please belt up for your safety.”

The Prince did as he was told, and Mam took her seat, activating the ship.

“Attention, Turgid Stronghold,” she said, pressing a communications button, “this is Ranger BE-113, Prince is aboard. Departure permission request.”

“Copy, Ranger BE-113,” came a reply. “You are clear for takeoff. Once you are airborne, an escort will guide you to the edge of Turgid space.”

And with that the engines on the ship thundered to life, and moments later, the small craft had cleared the walls of the kingdom, and streaked up into the sky, as two additional craft followed closely behind.

As the King and his assistant adjourned to the throne room, they did not notice a figure, lurking in the shadows of the landing platform.

“Come in, come in,” said the figure into a wrist communicator, “this is Sleetz, reporting in. Do you copy?”

“Yes, Sleetz,” came a voice on the other end, “is the package in motion?”

“Affirmative, and the tracking device is operative. You’ll be able to pick it up on the forty-meter band. Remember, wait until they have passed well outside of Turgid space, where the escort ships will return to the base. Once the ranger’s ship enters into open space territory, that should give you all the time you need to immobilize the ship, and capture the Prince.”

“Very good, Sleetz,” replied the voice. “When she has the young stud in her hands, it will only be a matter of time before the Turgid system falls...and then, the Empire.”

It wasn’t long before Mam received notice from the escorts, that they had reached the border of the kingdom’s space territory.

The two craft headed back, as Mam and the Prince continued on their way.

The flight had been mostly quiet up to this point, when the Prince’s voice rang out.

“What is your name?” he asked.

“I am Ranger BE-113, your highness,” she replied, not turning her head.

“That is your designation by the guild, Miss. I wish to know the name of my pilot and escort.”

“Does it matter, your highness?”

“To me it does. And you can stop referring to me as ‘your highness.’”

Mam was silent for a moment. Of the countless royals she had escorted over the years, this was the first one to ever make such a request, let alone wanted her to drop the regal address.

“Well if you must know, my name is Mam Marella.”

“Sounds like a name out of a fairy tale,” noted the Prince. “Sort of like, Cinderella.”

“Do you know of a space ball where I could go to marry a Prince?” she smirked.

“I do not,” he replied. “How did your parents come to choose such a name?”

“I…never knew my parents,” she replied.

“I am sorry to hear that. What happened to them?”

“I don’t know. I was found abandoned by a guild member, and she adopted me. However, she was really into some spiritual bimbo-himbo nonsense, and took me to some mystic to give me a name.”

“So, the mystic named you-“

“Yep.”

“Does it have any specific meaning?”

“She didn’t tell my guardian, just that I would be destined for big things.”

“Ooohhh, is-“

“I know what you’re thinking. Don’t even say it.”

“Alright, alright,” said the Prince. “I will admit, it does seem like, a mouthful for a name. Mind if I just call you, Mam?”

“Fine by me,” she sighed. “I get paid the same, no matter what you call me.”

“Okay, ‘Mam,’” he said, chuckling and saluting at her.

“Har-har-har,” she said. “Since we’re under the microscope with names, let’s hear yours.”

“My full title is Prince Plenn Te,” he replied.

“Who ‘bestowed’ that name on you?” she asked.

“My mother,” he replied. “A former assistant to my father, informed me she was very adamant with the name. I was the first-born son, and both of them had particular ideas on what I should be called. In the end, my mother won out over my father.”

“What did he want to name you?”

“Prince Oneesh Thrum the Second.”

“Ah, so your Daddy is one of ‘those’ royals?”

“Usually in Turgid, the word of the King carries weight, but for some reason, my mother refused to back down, and demanded I be named as she requested. I don’t know how she did it, but she got her wish.”

“She sounds like she has some spunk. Did she help set you up with Zircon?”

“No. After I was born, she suffered some medical complications. She passed a few weeks later.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” said Mam, sincerely meaning it. “Did the King remarry?”

“No. The rules for the royal household is royalty is only supposed to marry once in their lifetime. Only one wife, no others. If she dies, he must also take an oath of celibacy.”

At this, Mam Marella let out a laugh.

“What’s so funny?” he asked.

“A rule telling a King he can only marry once and no hanky-panky!? No way some stallion like that is gonna just sit back and play with himself for the rest of his life!”

“Mam, watch your tone when speaking about my father,” said Plenn, the tone of his vbice sounding like a warning.

“I apologize,” she said. “But seriously, someone of his power obeying the rules? When it comes to royalty, rules can always be broken.”

“Not in our kingdom. The royal scholars wield a great deal more power than most. Even the the business decision for me to seed the Emperor's daughter was carefully scrutinized. Father may have had the idea, but tradition dictated they approve of it.”

“So, back to your father. If he didn’t obey the rules and say, had a mistress, what would be his punishment?”

“…castration.”

“Whoa,” shuddered Mam, “those royal scholars really mean business.”

Suddenly, a button began blinking on the console in front of her.

“Incoming transmission,” exclaimed the computer.

“Identify yourself,” said Mam, pressing some buttons.

“Attention Ranger,” came a muffled voice over the speakers. “I am authorized to relieve you of your cargo. Prepare to be boarded.”

“Who is this?” she asked. “Who gave the authorization? Are you with the Empire?”

“My employer is not associated with any acknowledged royal factions. You have 20 seconds to comply. If you do not, additional measures will be taken to immobilize your ship, and retrieve the cargo.”

At these words, she muted her speakers, and turned to look back at the Prince, seated behind her.

“Strap yourself in, your highness,” she said. “It’s going to get bumpy."

TO BE CONTINUED…

Author's Note

And so, we are left on a cliffhanger with Mam Marella and Plenn Te.

The concept for the story was to create a sci-fi/fantasy/sex story in the MLP universe. In my mind, this could be something that a college-age Sweetie Belle from another of my stories, could be writing in secret.

The goal for this story was to do something much different than normal, which is take an anthro-hyper-pony and put her into a sci-fi situation, such as with the character of Barbarella.

I did take a few story cues from that film, as well as author Terry Southern in regards to certain elements. There also is a little nod to a Rumiko Takahashi short story manga, titled Maris the Chojo.