Invasion of the Astro Monster: Destroy All Ponies

Chapter 2

The Shooting Star

The princesses Luna and Celestia sat at their dining table, discussing the day's events. It was currently 10:21, and Celestia was having dinner with her sister before going to bed. Luna, who happened to be staring out the open window to their right, suddenly stopped in the middle of her sentence. "Sister," she said. "What is that?"

Celestia turned to where Luna was pointing. Falling from the sky was a giant, glowing orb. It was positively enormous. And stranger still, both goddesses could sense it was alive. "Luna, you didn't plan any meteor showers for tonight, did you?"

"If I did, would I be asking?"

Celestia rolled her eyes at her sister's sarcasm. "Maybe it's related to Discord?" she suggested, watching the orb continue to descend rapidly.

Luna shook her head. "I don't think so. Giant, fiery explosions aren't his style,"

The orb finally crashed, deep in the Everfree Forest. Celestia was still puzzled by the life signs she was getting. "What do you think it is?" she asked.

Luna's expression was somber. "I don't know. But whatever it is, we need to know. I can sense a huge amount of power emanating from it,"

Celestia nodded. "Perhaps it would be best if we took away its power, at least until we know what it is and what it wants,"

Luna nodded in agreement, and the two sisters rose. They walked to the edge of the window, and their horns glowed as they performed the spell. A small orb of yellow and blue magic appeared between them, and zoomed off towards where the falling star had landed.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

The next morning, the now-alicorn Twilight Sparkle was awoken by a letter from Celestia falling on her head. Ever since she had become an alicorn, letters were exchanged directly between the teacher and her student, meaning Spike could get much more free time. Twilight rubbed the sleep out of her eyes, and opened the letter.

Dear Twilight,

Last night Luna and I were having our dinner when we observed something massive fall from the sky and crash in the Everfree Forest. The strange thing is, we determined that the object was alive, and the two of us took away whatever powers it may possess.

I need you to go with your friends to discover what this strange thing is. Enclosed with this letter is a map of the Everfree Forest. I have taken the liberty of marking where the object landed.

I wish you the best of luck,

Princess Celestia.

Twilight removed the map from the letter, and took note of where it had been marked. It was too early for this. Saving the world could wait until after she had breakfast.

*  *  *  *   *  *  *  *  *

Once Twilight had finished her bowl of oatmeal(don't tell Pinkie), she said farewell to Spike. With the map and letter in her saddlebags, she set about finding her friends.

This didn't take long. Within fifteen minutes, all six of them were lined up outside Fluttershy's cottage, ready to enter. Well, almost ready.

"Twilight, why are we doing this again?" Fluttershy asked.

Twilight groaned. "Because the Princess said so. She saw something fall into the forest, and it was alive. So she wants us to see what it is,"

"Ooh! Ooh! I bet it's an alien!" Pinkie chimed.

Applejack rolled her eyes. "Pinkie, it's not an alien," she said.

"How do you know?"

"It just isn't. Why would you even think that?"

"Well, what else would it be?"

Twilight sighed. This had better be worth it. "Come on girls, let's get this overwith. With any luck, we'll be back in time for lunch,"

And with that, the six of them trotted into the Everfree Forest, unaware of the monster they would soon face.