Over the next few weeks, the excitement continued as the techs scurried about in their labs, examining this and that, attempting all sorts of things in an effort to see if they could recover more ponies.

Several more came out, one after another, but were very confused at what had happened. Some of them had more memory than the others. A few of them even remembered landing on the planet. "I did a sync just after we landed," reported one mare. "I thought it was a good idea." She laughed nervously. "I guess I was right. Is everypony else okay?"

They each spent time learning about what had happened, and also became acclimated to their new body. Cadance took this opportunity to start getting things in order. The computers aboard this ship held vast amounts of information, but there was no system of organization for it. "Alright. Um, computer?"

"Yes, Cadance?" The voice was Twilight's, as she was the ship. "How can I help?"

"Are there any databanks on board that contain some kind of organizational structure for your data? A 'find-the-thing' program that would let me find where, for example, how we treat various diseases?" Cadance tapped her chin. "Just as an example."

"Ah, you will want our informational expert. One moment." There was a pause, then Sunset Shimmer appeared and fell forward onto her hooves. "This is Sunset Shimmer. She knows how to find information quickly."

Cadance gave a gentle laugh. "It's wonderful to meet you." She reached out and shook hooves with the unicorn. "As Twilight said, I'm looking for somepony who knows how to organize the massive amounts of data this ship contains."

Sunset shook herself lightly. "Stupid pony mandate." She squinted in Twilight's direction, easy to do with her being everywhere. "Yeah, I can help with that."

But other things were happening in the ship. Elsewhere, an egg jostled and shook in place. Within, a strange creature moved about, coming ever closer to being ready to be born. Dawning Star's eyes widened with each little motion. North Star leaned against her, eyes on the same miracle before them. "Our son."

Dawning Star flicked her tail. "I'm a little nervous."

"Mm." North Star nuzzled her lovingly. "You will be a wonderful mother."

Dawning softly swatted at him. "I'll try, but how do you know they're a son? Maybe they're a daughter!"

Fluttershy watched on with a little smile. "I could confirm their gender if you'd like?"

"That's alright," murmured North Star. "I feel it in my heart." He curled his tail around his wife's. "Just as I felt it when I met the mare of my dreams."

Dawning blushed furiously. "Stop that!" But she didn't move away from him, perhaps even leaning a bit closer. "I'm sure we're ready. Did you read those books Sunset recommended?"

North Star grinned. "Oh, absolutely. Every word. I am ready to be a father!"

Fluttershy giggled gently at the young father. "Don't forget you aren't alone. Please ask us, any of us, for help. We're a big family, yes?"

Dawning let out a groan as she laid on her side. She wrenched her head upwards as the egg suddenly cracked. "What?! It's happening now?!"

North Star stood up quickly, stepping beside her. "Breathe, it's okay. Relax. Be calm." He leaned in and touched his nose to hers. "We can handle this."

"We?!" Dawning shoved at him. "Only I even have hands!"

The egg rocked and rolled as the small creature within finally broke through the inner shell. Its beak pecked about, seeking an exit from the world it had occupied for so long. North Star watched in wonder as the little dragon tore a hole in the shell, shoving his way out into the open.

Dawning began to hyperventilate. She reached out with her hands, taking hold of the little dragon gently. "Oh! You're so cute!"

Fluttershy smiled at the mother and child. "Would you like me to check over the little one? I do have experience with infants of all manner of creature."

North Star leaned against Dawning. "I'll go inform our friends that we have a new family member." He burst into giggles. "I'm a dad!" And off he dashed, trailing his giggles on the way.

Dawning rolled her eyes. "Once in a while, he reminds me how young he is." She nuzzled her little newborn. "Not that I'm very old either. Hello there. Mmm, you need a name." She flipped the dragon upside down a moment, prompting a squeal of excitement. "Dang, he was right. A boy."

Fluttershy giggled gently as she listened. "It's wonderful to meet him. What will you name him?"

"Astarot, I think." Dawning rubbed the dragon's stomach gently. "You'll grow into the name, I'm sure, my little duke of hell."

The dragon giggled and belched a little fire, seeming entirely alright with the name.

Dawning and her child were given some space, which they gratefully used to bond. North Star brought back their friends, who came by one at a time to get a good look at the new life that had arrived.

The morale of the ship improved, as Pinkie took note during one of her breaks between getting new ponies up to speed. There was just one thing left out.

She popped out in the Tech lab. "So! How's Shining Armor coming along? You find his sync? Do you have him?!"

The techs there all shook their heads slowly. "It's probably been lost." The tech spoke with resignation, as if she knew they would not find anything. "If he had any backup, we'd know by now."

Pinkie's ears fell. "But we need him. They need him!" She waved off wildly in some random direction. It was impossible for anyone there to know she was pointing at you. "Don't give up!"

The tech rubbed her forehead. "I'm not giving up, Pinkie. We'll try to get a pony's personality going with partial data, but we can't force the computers to just make him up out of thin air."

Pinkie was quiet a moment. "I'm sorry, I don't understand what that means. Can you explain it again?" She frowned with thought. "You have parts of Shining, but not all of Shining, right?"

The tech sighed and sat down heavily. "Pinkie, if we're going to rescue even one more pony from that ship, then we'll have to finish decoding the crystal you brought us." They waved at the crystal covered in wires. "On the positive, that means we haven't lost all hope."

Pinkie bounced with joy. "Well! Great. But I know how to tilt the odds in our favor."

She vanished as quickly as she appeared, leaving the humans of the tech lab confused by her sudden departure. "Well, let's see if it works," murmured the human, waving at the machine. "Is everything ready?"

Pinkie sprang into being in Cadance's room. "Cadie!"

Cadance sat up sharply, having been asleep. "Wha? Pinkie?" She looked down at the energetic pony. "Did something happen?"

Pinkie spun around. "We're going to throw a party! For Shining Armor!" She bounced onto the bed and began shaking Cadance by the shoulders. "A welcome back party, and we need you most of all, his special somepony. Are you ready?!"

Cadance blinked with confusion. "Is he back?"

"Not yet, but if we work hard enough, he will be!" She leaned in close to Cadance. "We found parts of him, so if we can put them together right, he'll be good as new!" She touched noses with Cadance. "And you're the key. If you're there, that'll get the other pieces together, I know it!"

Cadance rubbed at her cheek. "I'm not sure it works that way." Still, she slid to her hooves. "But if you think it might help, I owe him to at least try. If there's even a sliver of hope, I can't refuse. Let's do this."

Pinkie shot her forelegs into the air. "Yay!"

Author's Note

As the ship heads on, I am gently wrapping things up. A new dragon joins us, and we work towards getting Shining back among the living, digital or not.

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