Invasion of the Astro Monster: Destroy All Ponies

Chapter 21

Wings of Steel

Trixie and Derpy were led inside the castle. They were quickly met by Princess Luna. "Ah, Miss Lulamoon, Miss Hooves. It is a pleasure to finally meet you in person," she said.

Both of the other mares bowed. "The honor is ours, your highness!" Trixie said respectfully.

"Yeah, I never thought I would ever be here in Canterlot!" Derpy added.

Luna gestured for the pair to follow her. "Allow me to explain just why we have brought you here," she said.

The two mares followed the lunar princess into a dark hallway, with a metal door at the end. The door was guaded by two well-armed guards.

"As I'm sure you're aware, the kaiju have been attacking with increased ferocity and frequency," she said.

Trixie and Luna nodded.

"Well, recently, something has come through the portal between dimensions. Something that may help turn the tide," she said, as the door was opened.

The ponies walked inside, revealing a huge laboratory. Scientists and engineers were everywhere, frantically working on...something. What it was, Trixie and Derpy couldn't tell. Luna led them to a well-lit room, with a large table in it. She pulled a folder out of a nearby cabinet, and placed it on the table. From it she extracted photographs.

"This...thing, whatever it is, appeared in our borders a few weeks ago. It was recovered, and it had the charred corpse of some strange creature inside. This corpse is being studied in another lab," she said, as the two mares looked over the photos.

Although none of the ponies knew it, they were looking at the first, and last, human jet to enter Equestria. Nopony knew what to make of this strange, alien machine. Its purpose and function were unknown. Trixie and Derpy looked on in awe.

"Our top scientists have been studying it for weeks now. It arrived not too long after the first kaiju attacked, Zilla. The advances Equestrian science has made because of it are phenomenal. Just the initial reverse engineering has revealed new fuel sources, new means of communication, and even the means to powered flight! This one discovery could change everything," Luna said.

"Your Highness, all of this is fine and dandy, but why did you require us?" Trixie asked.

Luna glanced at her, before gesturing for them to follow her again. She led them into the gigantic laboratory of before. There, the object of the scientists and engineers' attention was revealed. It was big, larger than a house. It was shaped like a cylinder that had been layed on its side. At the front was a semispherical nose, with windows around the top.

It had triangular wings that pointed towards the rear of the cylinder. At its rear were several large, hollow cylinders. These glowed with some form of unknown energy.

"Behold, the Super X-P!" Luna said grandiosely.

Trixie and Derpy were shocked. "This thing was built in only a few weeks?" Trixie asked.

Luna nodded. "You'd be surprised what fear and a few bits can accomplish," she said simply.

Derpy nodded, though looked confused. "I still don't get what we have to do with it," she said.

"I suppose you are ready to know, now. You have learned everything we have. There are no more secrets," she said.

"Trixie Lulamoon, Derpy Hooves, we would like you two to help pilot the Super X-P,"

Trixie and Derpy were in absolute shock. "Why us?" Trixie asked. "We don't even know how to use it!"

"Do not fear, you will be appropriately trained. It really is quite simple. Derpy, you were chosen because you know the Equestrian airways better than anypony else. You will serve as the on-board navigator,"

Derpy blushed in flattery.

"Trixie, your magical prowess means you will serve as the weapons operator. As a matter of fact, you were suggested to us by Princess Twilight Sparkle," Luna said.

That alone shut Trixie up, as she had no idea how to respond. But Derpy wasn't quite done. "Your highness, you said we would help pilot the Super X-P. Is anypony else going to be on board with us?"

Luna smiled "As a matter of fact, yes," She said, as the figure of a pony appeared behind her. The figure stepped into the light, revealing a dark blue colt with a lightning yellow mane.

"Hey there. Name's Gatling Gale. I'll be piloting the Super X-P," he said.

Trixie and Derpy had different reactions to the new colt. Trixie initially thought he looked cocky, and annoying in a brash sort of way. Derpy did not. She simply smiled and said "Hey Gatling Gale!" in a completely enthused voice.

Luna would be grinning, but there was work to be done.

"Now that you have been acquainted, I shall take my leave. There is much to be done. You begin training tomorrow,"

And with that, Luna left the new pilots alone in the lab.