Aliens: Consuming Equestria

Aliens: Consuming Equestria
Chapter 2

“So what you’re saying is that we are possibly stuck on an Earth-like planet with creatures that belong in Newt’s storybook?” Hicks confirmed what Ripley had told him.

“I’m afraid so, yes.” Ripley replied. Bishop looked between Ripley and Hicks as they both turned to him simultaneously.

“What do you suggest we do Bishop?” Hicks asked curious as to the simulations Bishop has possibly run through his mechanical mind.

“Well, we need to prioritise. Our first priority is to repair this ship. Even if we found fuel, it would be for nothing if we can’t even get the dropship airborne.”

“Did you run a detailed scan of the planet?” Ripley asked.

“Yes I did. I found no surface level sources of fuel and no advanced technology at all. The most advanced these equines have come to is components like light bulbs powered by the same radiation that comes off of the horned equines. There is the possibility that like on Earth, there are fuel sources below the surface, but there is no guarantee.” Bishop informed them.

“Great.” Hicks sighed.

“Our next priority is to find supplies. The dropship only comes with a small refrigerator of supplies. I think I speak for all of us when I say I do not want to find out if the creatures here are hostile.”

“I doubt it,” Ripley piped up, “You said that they are sentient. Sentient creatures don’t just attack for no reason.”

“A sound observation Ripley, but I didn’t mean the equines. I found creatures from Greek myth in the forests nearby. Creatures like Manticores and Hydras.”

“I would rather not run into them. I used to read Greek mythology when I was a kid. Without the weapons, we would be defenceless against them. The creatures I mean.” Hicks said.

“Indeed. However, there is Weyland Yutani FTL ship on its way. If we do not repair the dropship, we can rely on them to get us out of here. They are responding to a distress call sent by the dropship.”

“Wait a minute, I thought you said the radio-transmitter was broken?” Ripley enquired.

“Yes, but it had enough power to reposition and send a long range message. Now though, it is stuck. It will still send messages, but only to the same person.”

“How long till the help arrives Bishop?” Hicks asked. Bishop turned to him grimly.

“Approximately two months.”

“No. I’m not staying here that long. We may as well repair the ship and leave as soon as we can. Besides, after our little discovery with Burke, who knows what Weyland Yutani wants?”

“I agree.” Bishop was surprised to find himself saying. “It would be more beneficial if we left as soon as possible. It would be best not to draw attention to ourselves.”

“Alright then,” Ripley began, “Let’s head on outside and look over the parts that need repairing.”

The two humans, with Hicks carrying Bishop, stepped outside the dropship. Newt was lying on the grass outside. It was the most comfortable ground ever. It was as if each blade of grass adjusted so you were the most comfortable you could be. The sun was slowly making its way towards the horizon.

“I struggle to comprehend this place. It’s unnatural. The sensors detected no planetary movement at all, yet the day-night cycle still occurs.”

“Are you suggesting that there is something else moving the planet Bishop?” Ripley asked.

“I do not know.” Bishop admitted. Newt turned to them from her lying position.

“I presume that will be a problem?” She asked innocently whilst pointing to the Landing gear that was buried in the ground.

“Oh dear.” Bishop exclaimed. “This will indeed be a big problem. I did not see any way that the equines could lift heavy objects. There may be no way of getting that out of there.”

“There has to be. They must have some way of lifting heavy objects. How else would they have lifted the wood to make their buildings?”

“I suppose you have a point.” Bishop admitted. “But there is no evidence of any heavy lifting equipment.”

“What about the Unicorns?” Newt said, causing everyone to look at her.

“What hun?”

“The Unicorns. Unicorns have magic right?” Hicks and Ripley shared a glance before shrugging. “Maybe they use that lift things.”

“I don’t know, but it may explain the strange radiation given off of them.” Bishop declared. Of course in everyone’s mind excluding Newts, all they could think was: ‘Oh dear god no. We really are in a children’s book.’

There was a knock on Twilight’s door.

“I’ll get it!” Spike shouted to Twilight upstairs as he ran over to the door. “Hey there Applejack! Anything I can do for you?” Spike asked cheerily.

”Can ah see Twilight privately? I got something real important to tell her.” She claimed.

“Sure thing, come right in.” Spike moved to the side to allow the farmpony to enter. “Twilight! Applejack wants to see you!” Soon after, a tired looking Twilight shuffled down the stairs. Her mane was unkempt and bags were beginning to form under her eyes. Applejack chuckled silently at what rarity might say to Twilight.

“Whoa Nelly! Ya’ll look like a tired old pension mare.” Applejack giggled.

“Gee, thanks Applejack. What is it? I had a late night trying to put a hyperactive dragon to bed.” Twilight scowled at Spike who smiled nervously in return.

“Ah need to tell ya something privately. Don’ wanna cause panic or nothing.” Twilight nodded and trotted up to her room. When the two mares were alone, Applejack began. “Okay. Earlier today, ah was rounding up Applebloom for dinner. She was in her treehouse when ah heard her scream. Ah ran up ta find a weird spider lookin’ thing about to jump at ‘er. I bucked it before it could, but i’s got me worried.”

“Sorry. An alien? Don’t you think this is all a bit too conclusive?” Twilight criticised.

“Ah dunno Twi. It ain’t nothing like ah ever seen before. Its skin was all white and gooey. It looked about ready to jump at my face and eat it.”

“Sounds ghastly.” Twilight commented dreaily.

“Tha’s one way a’ putting it. Ah dunno where it went, but ah don’t like it none. We need ta find it ‘n fast before it causes any damage. Maybe we should give it ta some scientists or put it down.”

“Well if it truly is an alien, there is so much to learn from it! I agree. We should find it and give it to the Research Facility in Canterlot. What was that place called again? It was in the news recently.”

“Ya mean that Neighland Yutani business?”

“Yea! That’s the place. I should imagine they would find this creature very interesting. We will gather Ponyville and inform them of the creature and then conduct the search tomorrow. Right now, it’s late. I don’t think the populace would be very appreciative of a search party gathering at eight o’clock. Go on now Applejack, you’ll need your rest for tomorrow.”

“A’ course Twi. Thanks for being so understanding an’ all that.” Applejack thanked as she left the room.

“No problem Applejack!” Twilight called after her.

‘This is exciting! Applejack never lies, and even if she does she does it very poorly. If she is right, and there really is an alien here, we could learn so much from it. We could learn about how it survives and what it does to adapt. We could improve our understanding of biology so much. We could even domesticate it! It could be like a guard spider!’ Twilight chuckled at her own little joke. ‘Plus, we could be paid quite generously for such a discovery by Neighland Yutani. I could use the money to help Applejack renovate the farm. I could use it to expand the library a bit. I could even use it to promote Rarity’s business a bit. She has always been so generous, I feel obligated to repay her. She always refuses though. I could use the money to help Fluttershy with her animals. Maybe we could buy some more medical supplies for injured critters. Even Rainbow Dash could use the money. I could see if I can’t help her into the Wonderbolt’s team with it. Perhaps I could make an air show stadium for her to perform at every now and then. So many possibilities. I feel like I felt when I had to decide who to give that ticket to.’ The more Twilight thought about helping her friends through this discovery, the more excited she got.

Of course, like everypony outside, she had no idea what really went on inside Neighland Yutani. Much like the human Weyland Yutani, Neighland Yutani researched on how to improve home defence through advanced forms of warfare. Biological warfare included. The company had hidden their research from prying eyes, particularly the Princesses, as they knew nopony would approve of their immoral research and research methods.

Twilight needed an early night tonight to catch up with the lost sleep. As the sun lowered to the horizon, she tucked herself in bed, anticipating the wonders of this new discovery.

The facehugger was outraged. So far, none of these strange new creatures had given it any chance of attacking. It had at first tried the stealthy attempt. It had followed a single creature, with a mint green coat and mane, until it was all alone in its home. Then, it crawled through the window silently as the creature lay in its bed, and just as it turned to look towards the facehugger. The creature screamed so loud that it would have deafened the poor facehugger if it had any ears. The facehugger’s anatomy meant that it needed no ears or eyes (although it still had eyes). It used ultrasound to detect objects and animals and followed scents to find suitable hosts.

The creature scrambled out of its bed and ran to the window, slamming it shut. It took a few times before the facehugger’s long legs were out of the window frame. The facehugger made one final hiss before it ran off in search of a different prey.

It soon came across a single creature walking along an empty street. The creature had a blue coat and a rainbow coloured mane. Seizing the opportunity quickly, it charged at the creature and leaped at its face. The facehugger had indeed thrown caution to the wind and the creature saw it coming miles off. The rainbow creature leaped into the air and spread its tiny wings. The creature became a dot in the sky as it flew off. The facehugger’s lack of caution had caused it to miss its opportunity. It decided to wait until morning, when there would surely be a lot more creatures roaming about and a lot more opportunities. The facehugger cared not about being spotted, for as soon as it latches onto something, there is no getting it off. It crawled into a small gutter where it would wait until the sun rose up.

“Citizens of Ponyville!” Twilight began her speech that she had prepared in her head the night before and written down before lunch. Twilight had asked the Mayor to gather everypony in Ponyville to the town centre for an announcement. She could see her friends in the crowd, and a few faces that obviously knew what was happening. “We are gathered here today to discuss a serious matter. Last night, my good friend Applejack was attacked by a creature possibly alien to Equestria. The creature had a pale white body that resembled a spider and it tried to jump on her face, possibly harming her.”

Mumbling began in earnest in the crowd. Some ponies shouted their displeasure. Some ponies didn’t believe her:

“She’s lying!”

“She’s gone crazy again!”

“Somepony get her off of there!”

But others knew that she spoke the truth:

“I was attacked to!”

“I saw it at my window!”

“It’s true! It tried to jump on my face!”

“Quiet everypony!” Twilight shouted amidst the chaos. Everypony returned their attention to her. “Thank you. Now, I am not sure if her claims are true, but I propose a search party. We shall find this supposed ‘alien’ and observe it. If we have truly being visited by an alien species, this could be an amazing scientific discovery.”

“That spider could be the aliens scout!” Pinkie cried out suddenly. “We should capture it and interrogate it.” She said deviously, rubbing her hooves together. Twilight sighed.

“I shall organise parties and then we shall scour Ponyville for this ‘alien’.” The next hour or so was spent organising all of the Ponyvillians into groups.

A certain group, containing Lyra (a mint coloured Unicorn pony), Derpy (a lazy eyed, grey Pegasus pony) and Time Turner (a brown Earth pony stallion). The trio trotted down a side road of Ponyville that eventually led to Sugarcube Corner.

“I’m not entirely convinced this thing actually exists.” Time Turner began. “It seems too abnormal to me.”

“What? And the other things this town is subject to commonly aren’t abnormal? I’m telling you, I saw it at my window. Whether you choose to believe that is not my problem, so stop complaining.”

“What if it just wants to make friends?” Derpy asked. “Who knows, maybe it just wants a kiss?” Lyra giggled at Derpy’s suggestion.

“I highly doubt that dear. I have never heard of a smooching spider-alien. I suspect it might want to extract something that it requires for its survival.”

The trio were just about to reach the end of the road, when Lyra screamed.

“What on Equus is it?” Lyra pointed a hoof at a small gutter. They all stared at it for a while before Time Turner broke the silence.

“What are you up to Lyra? There is nothing there.” Suddenly, the spider-like alien ran out of the gutter and turned to face the three ponies. Lyra shook even more and pointed at the facehugger. Time Turner turned to face the alien.

“There it is!” Derpy cheered. “What do we get?”

“Stay behind me!” Time Turner instructed, forming a wall between him and the mares. “I’ll get it.”

The facehugger approached menacingly towards him. Time Turner could feel his heart skip a beat each time the creature stepped closer. Sweat could visibly be seen on Turner’s head as the facehugger drew nearer. What was bravery was really a refusal to move from the spot in terror.

“Stay back!” Time Turner shouted at it, his voicing shaking.

Suddenly the facehugger leapt.

Lyra and Derpy dragged Time Turner back to the library, where Twilight had asked anypony to return to if they found the alien. Twilight opened the door cheerily.

“So you found it?”

“Yea! We got it as well!” Derpy said cheerily. Lyra was on the verge of tears and shaking violently.

“Really? Well where is it then?” Derpy and Lyra dragged Turner’s body to the sofa in the library and plopped him onto it. Twilight gasped as she saw the alien latched onto Turner’s head.

“It really likes him!” Derpy giggled. Twilight stood in horror as she stared at the alien attached to Turner’s head and wrapped around his neck. She had never seen anything like it, and it certainly wouldn’t be pleasant having it on your face. Turner appeared to be unconscious which was to be expected. He was still breathing somehow and generally seemed to be in good condition. The only thing that was wrong was the creature on his face.

“We need to get it off.” Twilight boldly declared. When the two mares nodded in agreement, Twilight went off to fetch some tools.

She first held out a pair of tongs. She tried to pry the tail off around Turner’s neck. It wouldn’t budge. It didn’t even show any signs of moving. Twilight was not much surprised and pulled out the next tool.

This went on for a few minutes before Twilight eventually brought out the crowbar. She tried to lever it off, but nothing worked.

“Why won’t you move?!” She screamed in agitation. At that moment, Twilight’s friends came in.

“Twilight? Has anypony foun – Augh! Good grief!” Rarity exclaimed. The five mares stared horrified at the creature latched to the stallion’s face.

“It won’t move at all! Can you help quickly?” Rainbow, Applejack and Pinkie rushed to their friend’s side and pulled. It was to no avail.

“Girls? May I? I mean, maybe it needs to be pulled off gently?” Fluttershy piped up. Confident that her skills with animals would help in this situation, the four mares stepped aside. At first Fluttershy used one hoof to try and scoop the alien off, but eventually resorted to trying to stroke it off. Unlike her friends, Fluttershy got gently with each passing moment before she collapsed in frustration.

“Look, Turner seems to be in good condition. The alien isn’t doing any harm to him, so why don’t we just wait and see if it comes off by itself?” Derpy suggested.

“How can you suggest that? Look at him. He is unconscious with a spider thing on his face and –“

“Good idea Derpy.” Twilight interrupted Lyra. “Girls, let’s all just wait around and see if it comes off. I’m sure we have a lot of things to do while we wait.”

The next several hours were spent eating snacks and playing board games, although they soon became bored games as four hours past and nothing had changed with the alien.

As Twilight began to suggest that they try and pry the alien off again, its legs loosened and the alien fell off. The mares ran to investigate it and Fluttershy tried to find any signs of life on it.

“It’s... it’s dead.” Fluttershy stated. The mares gasped in shock. It had just fallen off and died.

“Was it the fall that killed it?” Lyra asked.

“No.” Twilight said after observing the corpse closer. “It just died. I can’t determine why it died yet.”

Indeed the alien had died after it loosened from Turner’s face. It was of course because it had lost a great deal of its energy performing a task necessary for its kind’s survival.

It was a few minutes later that Turner suddenly spluttered to life again. Lyra ran over and hugged him tightly, practically suffocating him more than the spider did.

“Are you okay?” Twilight asked curiously.

“Ugh... yes. I believe so.” Turner replied.

A few minutes of asking what it was like and what happened by the mares in front of him, Turner began coughing.

“Are you sure you’re alright?” Twilight asked again.

“Yes, I’m just *cough* just um... a bit thirsty from the whole *cough* bus... *cough*” Turner began coughing more violently. Lyra placed her hooves on his shoulders comfortably. Suddenly, Turner screamed out in pain. He held his chest in agony. He could feel something forcing its way out. In a burst of blood and fur, his chest exploded. The mares screamed as the gory scene occurred in front of them. Turner’s body fell limp back onto the sofa and his eyes closed for the last time. A small, serpentine creature emerged from his chest and screeched for the first time.