The Interstellar Record

by Omidaidias

Rating: everyone
Tags: Princess Celestia, Slice of Life, DJ P0N-3, Human, Main 6, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Alternate Universe, Princess Luna, Original Character
Length: 4409

While guarding the night, Luna noticed and pulled down a strange object from the sky that would change Equestria forever

Luna flew about the sky, guarding the night over Equestria, noticed something unfamiliar in the sky, something that looked Alien. She had used her power of the night to draw this object down from orbit for a second look. It was a Structure Composed of a Gold metal, hexagonal main body, with a thin, large bowl shape at the top. In the center of the bowl, a small radio antenna lie. There were also longer antennas on the sides, 3 of them to be exact. The other side had a Small, golden truss beam, with several radio instruments on it. On one of the sides, like a Large, golden disk with several alien markings on the front. Luna flew it back to the main Canterlot castle and informed her sister for a closer inspection.

Note: I do not own any videos or images in this story. I only wrote it.
The side of the spacecraft was labelled "Voyager"

Image borrowed without permission from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voyager_Golden_Record

Published 2013-02-15 02:50:02 UTC
Last updated 2013-05-29 00:31:53 UTC

Luna's Discovery

Celestia had been eating breakfast in the Dining hall, getting ready for what seemed to be a long day with Princess Luna gone. Princess Luna was nowhere to be found. She suspected she was still sleeping or studying, but they checked both her bedroom and the library. She seemed to have vanished. "Sister, Sister! I have made an important discovery, meet me Southern Rotunda of the castle, where I have placed my discovery for observation...When you are done eating, of course". She rushed her message, eager for Celestia to see her discovery.

She brought Celestia to the tall chamber where the "Discovery" as Luna called it, lie. They circled around it, to get a better look at the strange, metal object she pulled from the sky. Celestia approached the large, unknown object. "It took much strength to get it here. I had the royal Pegisai open the roof of the tower. Luna had used magic to suspend it in a large sphere, simulating the night sky, which hovered about their heads, Celestia looked up to see her discovery.

Luna had pulled it from its containment orb and used magic, with the help of her sister, to hover it about a hoof off the ground. "What should we do?" Luna asked Celestia. It took Celestia a moment or two to answer. She finally gave her one.
"Go, Little Sister, send messages to all the major Equestrian Scientists here to gather around this structure, and to observe it." Luna ran to her bedroom and immediately wrote several messages to the Masters and Doctors of Equestrian Science.

Both Princesses and several pony scientists patrolled Luna's strange finding, observing the structure. It had many markings along the sides, everyone in bewilderment of the wounder of what in Equestria it was. "It came from somewhere, somewhere different." Noted Scientist pony Alarcus. Alarcus was one of the top of the line Equestrian Science. He specialized in Astrophysics, as well as many of the other Scientists there.

"Somewhere obviously civilized. This writing is in Equestrian, is it possible it come from somewhere in Equestria?" said a different scientist, "The word 'Voyager' is written on the side here. I have also noted that on the other side, there is a mysterious logo with the name 'NASA' in the middle"

Hours had gone by through the middle of the night, Scientists marched around the unexplained metal shape. Conclusions had proved by vote of them that it was, in fact, alien. They drew maps of where it possibly came from and what its path might have been. They had many questions about it "Where did it come from?", "Why is it here?", "Who built it", etc. But there was no question greater than one, one important question that would lead on to change Equestria forever. "What was its purpose?".

One Scientist agreed to dismantle it, and that its weak point looked like the golden icon on the side. He began to hammer away when suddenly the golden disk seemed to fall off the side. They had picked it up, observing its strange markings.

"It seems to be possibly a key" one Scientist shared

"Or maybe its a mirror, it does hold a reflection" Another said

They thought of so many things that it might have been until Alarcus made a very important discovery. "Its not a key, a mirror, a plate, a wing, or anything, Observe the markings on it" he told them. Several of them gathered around it to have a second look at it, they all understood what it was. For something so alien, it was so familiar. It was one thing. One simple but amazing thing. It was a Record. Several of the Scientists ran to tell the princesses of their discovery.

Directly upon sunrise, the news was spread like wildfire across Canterlot. "Luna discovers alien object containing mysterious record. Record has yet to be played". All of the news of Canterlot was about the discovery. It was what everypony seemed to talk about, it seemed to be the most talked about thing in Canterlot since the return of Princess Luna. This was a very important discovery, and Princess Celestia would need help to know what exactly it means, she got a piece of parchment and began "My Dearest Student..."

Twilight Sparkle was just finishing breakfest when she recieved the letter from the princess. She was stepping outside reading the letter and ran to assemble her friends for the next train to canterlot. "Whats all this about an Alien Spacecraft or whatever" Said Applejack, who was just barely awake. "Princess Celestia told me about the Alien...thing and about the record. She wanted us to be at Canterlot to be played". After awhile they arrived at the Canterlot gates. All the city seemed to be in a talkative stir about the whole thing.

They ran into the palace, and approached Celestia's throne. "Im guessing you all know why I told you to come here. I wish for you to take part in this exiteing moment" She wavered her hoof over to the side of the room, where Vinyl Scratch and Several other ponies where setting up a Stero system that could play the disk. Vinyl sat looking at the large disk as she watched her Colleagues finish hooking up the last speakers so people could hear it. "Im planning on playing setting up speakers at the royal balcony, so everypony can hear what is on this disk" Vinyl exclaimed. "Excellent!" Responded Celestia.
"Vinyl actually discovered that there are 31 total recordings on the disk. We shall play the first one and perhaps a few more"

A few hours later, hundreds of Ponies gathered all around the palace, the outside and in, waiting to hear the disk play. Twilight and her friends sat near the speakers. Twilight could hardly wait. She is going to hear audio from aliens. Aliens that, remarkable, spoke Equestrian. What would they sound like? Would they speak Equestrian normally? Would they have a high or low voice? Would they ha- her thoughts were interupted when Vinyl began to put the disk in. Everypony fell silent to hear.

With a slight scratch and a bit of static, the recording began

The ponies in the crowd seemed to look at each other and talk in confusion. Celestia stood up the the throne and spoke

"My dearest Ponies, we have come upon a time of change. For hundreds of years, we have wondered, what is in the stars, We have looked upon the night sky and dremt of finding other life. Today is the day of change, this record was sent to us from someone else, someone...alien."

There was soon talk of aliens coming to attack Equestria after somepony brought up the topic of plays about alien life. There seemed to be a bit of a scared roar in the crowd until Celestia spoke again.

"Remain calm everypony, you heard the record, they want to teach and be taught, they come in peace. As it said, they seek Peace and Friendship, to teach of they are called upon, to be taught, if we are fortunate"

The Crowd seemed to calm down, when suddenly, through the back door, one of the Scientists Spoke into Celestias ear. Celestia had said goodbye to the crowd and gestured for Luna to come with her. The Three of them went to the Southern Rotunda. "Ok Alarcus, what is going on with it". He looked upon her with serious eyes

"Its responding"

Author's Note

Incase you dont know what the Voyager is,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voyager_program
Also, I have noticed the popularity of my story. Please do not expect updates every now and then. This was a Spur-of-the-moment Idea, and I didnt expect so much popularity. I'm a terrible writer.

The Greetings

There was a great buzz of talk in Equestria of the record. It was what anypony wanted to talk about. Celestia gave Twilight the mission to stay in Canterlot until this whole "Alien Communication" Thing get even. They had observed the Voyager and made the confirmation that it is a machine being controlled from very far away, and that it still worked. They had rerouted several cables on Vinyl's turntable to the voyager, unfortunately, all that came out was static.

"Its obvious that they are trying to communicate with us" Said Alarcus. "Its also very obvious on what we should do. We must put the disk back on the turntable and try to get something else out of it"

Princess Celestia turned to Vinyl Scratch "How many recordings did you say were on the disk?....6......13?" Celestia Asked. "31" Vinyl Replied, with a look of surprise from Princess Celestia. After a long moment of Astonishment, they got ready to play another recording from the disk. This time Several Scientists and reporters were to record what it said. They all Gather Around Vinyls Turntables, which had been moved to the Southern Rotunda. Celestia had also called Twilight and her friends to listen to the recording. "What if its not in Equestrian, what if the Aliens find and come after us?" Fluttershy asked, her natural fear of the unknown acting up again. "Calm Down 'Shy. They aliens said before that they only want peace, to learn, and it be taught" Applejack responded. "It was in Equestrian last time, its gotta be in Equestrian this time, right?". To her dismay, and ironically, it wasnt.

As the recording went along in what seemed like Gibberish, Several of the scientists and reporters glanced around, nervously, as if they thought they broke it. Others quietly giggled at the strange sounds. They hah at last found out that the disk wasnt broken or scratched, it was fine. The last hing said before the recording ended was "Hello from the Children of Planet Earth".

"Well...thats that" Alarcus said, after several seconds of quiet talk among everypony after the recording stopped. "Lets play the next one". Vinyl pressed a button on the turntable as the disk began to spin

As the disk began, the group of ponies had those who laughed and those who looked around confused. The disk, again, wasnt in Equestrian. But this new recording added a new reaction, ponies covering their ears soon after a minute in. The Strange Moans startled many of them. As the disk went on, more and more of them covered their ears, until after 2 minutes in, Vinyl stopped the record. "That was an undesired effect..." Noted Alarcus, still covering his ears. "I could only make out a few Equestrian words, just more simple Greetings. They called the Discovery, 'Voyager'". Shall we continue to the next recording? Vinyl followed his order.

"This next audio clip is labelled 'sounds of Earth'". said Vinyl, getting ready to play the recording. Alarcus looked over his notes. "Earth is their planet, they addressed this to us on the first recording." he said. "Let it play"

At first, ponies, once again covered their ears, but soon stopped after the whining went away. The other sounds played after the first 30 seconds. The Scientists began writing down several notes as the recording went along. They noted all the sounds, some writing that it sounds a lot like Equestria. After it had ended, Vinyl was in the habit of going to the next audio clip when Alarcus was done talking, but this time, he said something else "We should stop for now, collect our notes and tell the Equestrian news".

The Equestrian printing press was in a swarm, they quickly printed the news out and sent it to every corner of Equestria. Time Turner was in the lab where they had worked with the notes, making predictions. "It possibly came from Equestria, but from a different time, in the future" he made Several Predictions, over his obsession with timelines, and it took very much convincing and evidence to prove to him that this was not from Equestria at any moment in time.

Hours had gone by, Vinyl had taken note of the titles of the audio clips and told Celestia and the Scientists. She and her assisstants we about to move the turntable back when Princess Luna Approached them. "I would suggest keeping them there, the research isnt nearly done, also, the Grand Galloping Galla is tomorrow night" She said. It seemed to skip everyponies minds, the fact that the galla was soon to happen.

Alarcus approached the group, he turned to talk to Luna "Princess, I have an idea. I looked over Vinyls notes and found out that there is more than greetings and sounds from Earth on the Record, there is music. Earth music. May I request that we play this at the Galla?". Princess Celestia approached them and spoke.

"I wouldnt have it any other way"

The Galla

Everypony got spruced up for the Galla. Coming in Long, Sparkling dresses, Tuxedos, and other things. Ponies of all sorts had come to it, but mainly the scientific and those who long to know more about the whole "Alien Record" Thing. Twilight and the Mane 6 had stepped out of the part of the castle they were staying in, Amazed the numbers that had come to arrive. They approached the main area of the castle, Celestia waited for them to be up on stage for her to make an announcement.

"My Fellow ponies. I have been informed of the want to know more about the record. The record has many contents of audio. Some of it you will be listening to, instead of our usual Galla music." She Said.

Everypony looked around to notice that speakers had taken the places where musicians usually set up.

"I hope you all dearly enjoy this night at the Galla, and I hope it will be a night you never forget. Now, let us play the music!" Celestia said, before gesturing to Vinyl to Start the record. The Crowd roared with cheer as she began to place the record on the turntable, it started with a scratch and immediately everypony grew dead silent and very still, waiting for the record to begin

It took everypony a couple of seconds to adjust to the music, many shifted around to each other to talk about it. There was movements of black and several other colors of the party clothing everypony was wearing. Half of the group of scientists stood in one corner, being questioned on their research of the golden disk, including Alarcus.

One small filly ran up to his hooves and asked him a question "Is it amazing?" He asked Alarcus,a great look of curiosity and excitement in his eyes. The small filly was standing near his parents and their friends, who agreed with the small fillys question.

Alarcus looked at the floor, thinking of a way to put it into words, and soon looked back up and spoke.

"It is amazing. It is remarkable. Its unlike anything Ive ever seen. Unlike anypony has ever seen." Alarcus said, talking to a group of 5 in a cluster, eager to know more about the disk. "It will remembered as one of the greatest discoveries in Equestrian history."

Meanwhile, A small group of about 6 ponies sat in the empty, Southern rotunda, cabled were hooked up to the antennas, which were hooked up to other machines, including speakers. They had noted that the Voyager was still operational, and we eager to get a signal. 3 reporters, 3 scientists. Princess Luna was also with them, should they get a response, she would represent the Secondary Leader of Equestria. They waited and waited and waited for a response, Timeturner was also there, he was known to be also a great scientist, instead of some crazy pony with a fascination for clocks. The machines only made noise that came out as static, but it seemed to go and stop randomly.

"Ive come to an important conclusion" He said to the group. They leaned forward to listen to him. "They are obviously trying to get a signal." He seemed to be right, which would explain the static noise. Half an hour later, somepony came in and told them the Galla was going to be an All-Night one. There was a collective moan among the group, similar to the one projected by the whale moans on the disk. It was later agreed that they would take shifts, the scientists and reporters, with those at the party.

Hours seemed to pass, some of the ponies fell asleep. Luna even asked one of the idle reporters to tell Celestia that she will need to take care of the moon tonight. One by one, ponies left to get coffee. Tick by tick, the clock on the wall made a slow, tiresome rythem.

Before the Galla, Twilight made sure to send letters to her other friends in ponyville, starting with Zecora. Zecora actually walked right though the main door just in time for a song that reminded her of home

~~900~~

"Does that mean your an alien?" Rainbow Dash asked Zecora, jokingly as they laughed. Zecora was the first to dance to the song, and several other ponies soon followed her. She continued dancing to the next song that came on

Zecora seemed to enjoy this song even better. She continued to dance to the music. Princess Celestia stood near Vinyl, looking over the Galla, when suddenly one of the scientists told her the news that Luna would be too busy to pull down the moon, and that she would have to do it tonight. He told Celestia that Luna would need to be at the Voyager, just at the offchance they got a signal.

It was only after they sat for 2 hours that one of the reporters seemed to think this whole thing didn't seem right. Alarcus told him the same thing he told Timeturner and the reporter seemed to be back on track.

"We have to stay faithful" said Alarcus to the group. "They could, at any moment, respond". They waited as time went by, several feel asleep, slumped over the makeshift desks they set up. What seemed like the middle of the night as Timeturner was still awake with Luna. Luna was looking out the window, watching the stars.

"Are you watching the sky for another one?" Joking asked Timeturner. "I think one is enough. Equestria is stirring at all angles". Luna seemed to be shut off from the rest of the world. It took her a minute to realize she was being talked to and responded

"No," was her response. "I was just thinking that they are somewhere out there, there is life. The only question is, are they still out there?"

"Im sure they are, the Voyager wouldnt be responding if they wernt." added Timeturner, he walked back over to the machine. "But why only static?"

Luna looked at him "Wherever it came from, it is not visible in our night sky. It came from very far away and must take awhile to respond". She looked back out the window.

Timeturner looked back at it, he fumbled with several of the machines and suddenly paused

"What is it?" Asked Luna.

Timeturner dashed to one of the machines and turned a small dial on it. The machine, make a quiet, but effective noise

".......Hello?"

Author's Note

Thanks for the ~~900~~ 1000 views guys!

The Communications

Both Timeturner and Luna's hearts raced. Timeturner shook the other scientists awake and told them the news. Afterwards he rushed to get Celestia and tell her and everypony else the news. He rushed down the several corridors, him yelling "WE HAVE COMMUNICATIONS!!!! WE GOT A SIGNAL" Alerted the guards and made them curious. He finally reached the main hall, where most of the galla took place. He rushed over to Celestia, frantically. He began to speak

"Prin-..Princess Celestia" He rushed, out of breath. "We....We..."

"Hold on Timeturner. Take a few deeep breaths and tell me whats going on" Celestia told him. He stood up striaght, he took several breaths, and told her something that attracted the full attention of the mane 6 and her.

"We have communications" Timeturner said. "Princess Luna is talking to them now."

Celestia turned to the crowd and spoke

"Attention everypony, something urgent has occurred. I need to leave for what could be the rest of the night, I am very sorry, but this is serious. There is no need to worry, My sister will fill you in" she told the crowd. She and Timeturner went back to the Voyager.

Celestia came to her sister, she instructed her to inform the galla members of what is happening and to bring the mane 6 here.

She spoke into the microphone.

"I am Princess Celestia, the ruler of a land known as Equestria. We have discovered your Voyager and played the record. Now, please identify yourselves."

There was a long pause and what sounded like a crowd talking to eachother from the speaker when finally a voice came out

"I am Senator Hanlon of the USA, Planet Earth. We have received signals that the Voyager has landed and that the record has been removed."

There was a long conversation between them. Meanwhile back at the Galla, Princess Luna stood on the top of the staircase and shouted to the crowd

"Big news everypony. We have just got a communication transmission to Earth. Princess Celestia is speaking to them now."

The crowd seemed to roar with cheer and excitement.

Twilight stood before Celestia, watching and hearing her talk into the microphone. She couldnt believe all this had happened in just a few days. After what seemed like hours of conversation, she approached Twilight.

"Whats going to happen?" She asked Celestia

"The Humans wish to send a few people over to Equestria. Tomorrow we will discuss how to do so." Celestia responded to her student. All this was unbelievable for just about everypony. They were going to see aliens! Aliens for beyond the stars!

Twilight felt a surge of excitement. She was going to meet a human, or more than one.

After the Galla was over, just as the Mane 6 were going up to bed, Celestia told Fluttershy she needed a word with her.

"Yes, Princess Celestia?" Fluttershy said. Celestia looked down upon her with deep eyes.

"Fluttershy, I saw how you turned Discord from evil to good. When the humans arrive, I want you to be with me, I want you to show them that Equestria is a land of peace and friendship" Celestia responded.

Fluttershy looked at her, knowing the inportance of her task.

"You really think I can do that?" Fluttershy asked, her head turning away in disbelief. Celestia held her hoof to her chin to make it face up.

"I think your the only pony who can do this." Celestia told her. A warming smile on her face. "Now get some sleep. we will make a portal to Earth and send the human over tomorrow"

They both nodded before going to bed. Fluttershy lay on her bed in the bedroom she was assigned, there was one bedroom for each. She gazed out the window, up at the stars above.

"Im going to meet an alien" She thought to herself. She could hardly wait. Would he be mean, would be king, would he be funny, would he be serious, would he be a she? She was exited, yet nervous.

The Sun rose without warning. The mane 6 headed to the castle to see progress on the portal. It would be ready in about 3 hours. The Mane 6 decided to have breakfast at the royal breakfast hall. The Mane 6 was surprised to see Celestia there, half awake, her mane tangled and messy, but Princess Luna was fully awake. She sat, eating breakfast, and greeted the Mane 6 as they came in, and discussion of the portal was the topic. Pinkie started asked questions. She turned to face Applejack

"So Applejack, what makes your exited for this?" Pinkie asked.

"Hearin' 'bout Earth crops, and wounderin' if they have apples on Earth" She Responded

Pinkie turned to Rainbow Dash

"My favorite thing is gonna be what they have to say about Earth, I wanna see it!" Rainbow Dash said

Luna responded "I do not mean to disappoint you, but we may not see Earth for awhile"

"Rarity?" Pinkie asked

Rarity put down her tablecloth and spoke

"I want to know what they wear on Earth, and what they have to say, and just who are they going to send?" She said.

"Earth is picking people who they consider popular at random to come here" Luna said.

"Fluttershy?"

Fluttershy looked up and responded

"I want to know what animals they have on Earth. But Celestia told me that Ill be one of the first to greet the Earthlings"

"Twilight?"

"I want to know if they use magic, I also want to know about their history" Twilight said.

"Ill tell them all this. We will communicate with Earth again in an hour. Ill see what they can do" Luna said.

The Three hours passed and they, the Mane 6, Luna, Celestia, Timeturner, Alarcus, and several reporters stood in front of the portal. It was a Ring, atop a large, long ramp.

The Portal had a large chamber of its own. But instead of golden, white, and purple design like the rest of the castle, it looked more grey, the room was round, it contained several machines needed to make it work.

Fluttershy went ahead, she shook with nervousness.

Twilight turned to Celestia and asked "Can I go with her?" Celestia responded with a nod and she too stepped forward.

"When your ready, Alarcus" Celestia said

Alarcus stood next to the portal, a lever stood in front of him. He opened his mouth to speak

"Ready.....3.....2....1......"

Author's Note

I am not using official names for the humans.

ALTERNATE SCRIPT:
"You really think I can do that?" Fluttershy asked, her head turning away in disbelief. Celestia held her hoof to her chin to make it face up.

"Good Gracious No! Your just the only pony too chicken to refuse!" Celestia told her.

(Based off of http://cheezburger.com/7063858432)

Another important issue is that people say that the Voyager is too far away OR that it would be broken. Guys, you have to remember, MLP abandon logic a LONG TIME AGO.