Triangle

Stepping out of the shower and onto the towel I set on the floor I turn to the mirror. Kneeling down a bit I wiped the mirror to see my face. I would have liked to shave the beard that had grown over the course of several months, but I didn't have the right tools or shaving cream to do so. I would have to resort to more primitive methods if those two things didn't exist here.

Taking the towel that rested near the sink I dried myself off before hanging up both towels to dry. Reaching for my underwear I slipped them back on and reached for my clothes next. Only to realize that I had forgotten them in my room. Oh well. Opening the bathroom door into a dark hallway I crept out into the hallway. Shutting off the bathroom light I went slowly down the chilly corridor to my room. The shift from day to night must have happened while I was in there. That aside, it has been a lot more spacious around here lately. I was honestly glad that some of the animals that dwelled in Fluttershy's cottage have left. I had originally thought that they lived here, but turns out that they just come here occasionally if they needed a place to stay, mostly for injuries or if they were sick or something like that.

Reaching the door to my room I reached for the handle, opened the door, went inside, and flipped the light switch. After I was done clothing myself in a comfortable shirt and pants, I grabbed one of the books that was left undisturbed on the bed and flipped through it as I sat down on the floor. I took note how the closer to the end you got the harder the words were.

Once I reached the end I shut the book and set it on the nightstand. Resting my chin on my right hand I stared at the floor and let my thoughts wander. The room was so quiet that I started to hear my own heartbeat with the occasional creak from the house. I was staring at one spot on the floor for the longest time, unblinking. That was until I heard something else. A new sound.

Blinking I turned my gaze and concentrated to see if I could hear it again. Minutes passed after not hearing it for the second time. I was about to chalk it up to me just hearing things. Until I heard it again. Now curious I got up and started moving slowly over to the door I opened it. I could now hear it more clearly than before. Creeping out of the door and into the hallway I made my way to the head of the stares. About halfway I heard it and realized what, or rather who one of them were. Fluttershy was conversing with someone I didn't recognize.

I took one more step, causing the floor to creek. This caused a pause in their speaking. I waited for the talking to start up again, but it never did. The only thing I heard after they stopped was the sounds of hooves against wood. Slowly I saw Fluttershy come into view. I heard the stranger speak her name as they too walked towards her. As I watched the stranger walk into view and stand next to her, she slowly followed Fluttershy's gaze. Her eyes widened as she laid eyes on me. She was a purple unicorn with a dark purple mane with purple and hot pink stripes. We stared at each other for the longest time. I felt like hours passed. The downstairs light was on but it was still dark upstairs. The switch to flip the light near the stairs was down there, so I was unable to, which wasn't good because the newcomer didn't exactly look like she wanted to say hello.

The first one to make a move was the purple unicorn. Who slowly moved her left forearm in front of Fluttershy and started to back away. Fluttershy kept uttering a single word, presumably the unicorns name but she wasn't listening, she just kept backing up until she was out of sight. Upon hearing the front door opening and shutting I walked downstairs. I was just able to make it to the foot of the stairs to witness a flash of light from outside. Walking up to the front window I saw nothing but the fading purple glow of the unicorns horn. Opening the front door and stepping outside I got maybe five feet from the doorway before I knocked into something. Seeing a clear purple surface appear where my body had made contact, I watched as it slowly faded away into thin air. Extending my arm I felt and saw the same surface as before. It was some kind of force field. I was able to make out in the dark the unicorn speaking to Fluttershy, but I heard no sound. I don't know what the unicorn was telling her but she was lowering herself to the ground with every sentence the unicorn spoke.

I was nervous before, but now my heart beat was starting to increase. I don't know who this is but I was beginning to get concerned not only for my safety, but for Fluttershy's as well. The unicorn kept scolding her until I thought she would start sinking into the ground. I don't know what was considered impressive when it came to whatever sorcery this was, but whatever powers this unicorn may have yet to display put me on edge. For all I knew she could cause me to explode by simply staring at me. Or turn me into god knows what by a simple flash of her horn. I saw the unicorn light up her horn again, which caused me to start banging on the surface with the palms of my hands. When I saw Fluttershy disappear in a flash of purple light. I froze. Did she just make her disappear? Did she vaporize her? Was she dead???

The purple unicorn walked up to me and stared at me, her expression a look of both frustration and unease. I don't know what she had in store for me but I imagined the worst. I started to try different areas, trying to see if there was a way out, but this force field surrounded the whole house and no matter how hard I pounded on it, it didn't break or crack, it just kept absorbing my blows. She just stood there, watching me struggle to get out of her cage. My rising stress and anxiety compelled me to keep trying. But it did nothing.

Some time passed before I was able to notice another flash of purple where I last saw her standing. Noticing she was gone did little to calm my nerves. I just started to pace since force was doing nothing. Awhile passed before I went back into the house and sat down on the couch. I bounced my leg trying to calm myself. I didn't know what was going to happen, but other than being trapped, nothing seemed to be going on. Some of the birds in the bird houses came out along with some other smaller critters. I didn't pay them much mind, but it was somewhat comforting that I wasn't alone in here.

Every so often I would look out the windows to check for anything, but nothing ever came. This went on for the rest of the night. It wasn't until several hours after the sun had rose what I noticed something outside.

[Twilight POV, Several hours ago]

I found myself pacing across the first floor of the library yet again awaiting their arrival. There was no way that thing in Fluttershy's house and that strange metal vehicle weren't connected. I was keeping Fluttershy here with me. I don't know what they royal guard would do to her when they found out an alien was staying in her house. I hope it won't be anything severe. I'm sure Fluttershy's heart was in the right place but it would be one thing if it was a pony, or even a gryphon or minotaur. But this? This thing was not something that was native to Equiestria, or any other foreign land I knew of. A part of the world that had yet to be explored? Maybe. Even so we don't know what this thing is capable of, or what it wants. I didn't pick up on any type of mind control lingering in her mind, but I was in a hurry, so further testing might be needed to make sure. It wasn't able to break free of the shield so no immediate signs of magical ability. Stopping to focus I felt that the shield was still up and undamaged, which was a relief.

I wonder if-

*Knock Knock Knock*

Immediately rushing over to the door I opened it to see three royal guards. Two Pegasus and one unicorn.

Three...

THREE?!

ALL THIS TIME IT TOOK AND THEY SEND THREE?!

"Ms. Sparkle?" The unicorn asked.

"Yesss?" I could feel my left eye twitch. This can't be it.

"Were here responding to your message. We came as soon as we could."

"I'm sorry. But is this...all?" I asked. Hoping that there were more waiting somewhere nearby.

After clearing his throat he responded with.

"Yes, we were the only ones available to be dispatched to Ponyville."

I could feel my eye twitch again.

"I- I see. Right. Shall I direct you to the scene of the disturbance?"

With a nod from him, the unicorn and his two squad members followed me. With the sun rising about half way to Fluttershy's house, it brought a sense of comfort in this stressful situation.

After arriving on scene I saw that the lights had been shut off. Getting closer I noticed that one of the windows that had been open before was now shut. I tried to voice my concern to him but he stopped me mid sentence.

"Ma'am, I understand your concern. However we have been trained to deal with situations like these. Whoever is inside I'm sure we are capable of handling them."

That would be true if the fugitive was a pony, but we don't know the full extent of what this thing is capable of doing. Maybe this was a mistake. Maybe I should have been more truthful. But if I told them that an alien was in Fluttershy's house who would believe me?

"You said that you erected a barrier correct? If you wish to help us allow us to pass through while keeping it active."

Understanding what he meant, I cast another spell concentrated on the three of them. With a quick flash of my horn I said they were clear to pass. With that, all three of them made their way to the house. Sitting down I waited and watched the royal guard made their way up to the house.

[POV: Sargent Gem Dust]

Walking closer to the house I took notice in all the windows that I could see had curtains shut. No lights were on as far as I could tell. I had Swift Cloud and Violet Rain flanking me, ready to receive my orders. Even though the odds seemed to be in our favor with the shield, Ms. Sparkles lack of description of the intruder plus the earlier known fact that the windows curtains were shut left me a bit uneasy. She claimed she couldn't get a good look at whoever it was, only that it "Looked vaguely like a pony standing on there hind legs."

Slightly slowing my pace I felt the familiar tingly sensation of passing through a magical shield. My two squad members followed suit. Approaching the door I raised a hoof to knock on it. After I announced my presence I waited to see if somepony would answer. Unsurprisingly after twenty seconds later, I tried again. Then a third time after nothing happening. When I waited for a good minute I used my magic to grip the door to find it locked.

Taking in some air then letting it out I reached with my magic to pull out the keyring. For the most part Ponyville's locks were made by the same manufacturer and have the same pinning system. After trying several master keys I found the right one. Turning the lock with my magic I tested to see that it worked. After putting away the keys I twisted the knob again and pushed, but it only got so far before it was stopped by something.

Pushing with my front hooves didn't do much of anything. Looking back at Swift and Violet I motioned with my head to the door and they both joined in with pushing. It took effort and time, but we got it to where the door was wide open enough for us to slip in. As I suspected, it was pitch black in there, causing the uneasy feeling in my stomach to grow.

Lighting up my horn I once again called out.

"This is the royal guard, make your presence known!"