Project Rift

Not The Only Ones Here

The sun was up higher now in the blue sky, the fog had faded away, the lands had transformed and changed. Spike and Twiligt have been walking for about an hour towards the mountains that has dragged there attention this faraway from home. They were on a path in the middle of vast, open green plains. Spike looked up to the dark blue, cloudless sky. There not a single pegasus traversing the air. Spike then looked to his right to the fields; no small critters or anything at all was moving freely around or in sight at all, he shifted his sight to the road ahead, a towering forest in the distance afar.

"Hey, Twilight?" asked Spike.

"What is it, Spike?" replied Twilight.

"Are you sure there's not any you know... 'aliens' out here?" asked Spike, checking to his left and right. "Spike, why would there be any aliens out here? They can't hide anywhere out here, it's too open," said Twilight.

"I guess your right... It's just kind of odd that there's nothing out here but us."

"We're probably in a part of Equestria that nopony has ever really gone but just create a road," said Twilight.

The slightly overgrown grass waved gently, but then they were getting blown quickly. Spike noticed this and kept his eyes on the strange behaving grass. The wind became stronger, too. The way to move forward became difficult. Twilight's mane and tail were blowing rapidly. "What's going on?" asked Spike.

"I don't know! But the wind jsut beacme violent!" shouted Twilight.

The wind died down, and everything mysteriously turned back to normal. Twilight adjusted her mane back to its composure and Spike was wiping the dirt off his arms. "What was that all about?" asked Spike. Twilight looked around the area to see if there was a cause for this anamoly. "I don't know but let's just get out of here before it happens again." The mountains peeked above the forest. There was not a single sign of life no matter how close they got.

"Hey, is that... Spitfire?" asked Spike.

"What do you mean?" .

"Seriously, look up." Spike points a claw upwards to the sky. Twilight raised her head, and surprisingly did see the captain of the Wonderbolts. Spitfire appeared to be in a rush, flying away from the forest and mountains. "That's strange, what it is she doing out here?" asked Twilight, confused.

"Do you think the Wonderbolts are performing out here?" asked Spike.

"Spike, there's nothing out here but us, she's not even wearing her suit that she uses to perform."

They observed Spitfire fly away from them, the distance increasing and increasing. But then she suddenly stopped and floated there. "Why did she stop?" asked Spike.

"I don't know but-" A strange sound was heard, it sounded like it was somewhere in the distance, echoing loudly. The sound was making a rapid cutting sound. The sound felt like it was coming closer, but then it went away, returning silence to the area. "What was that!?" asked Spike, surprised by the strange noise.

"It wounded like wind or-" Twilight barley caught a glimpse of something large disappear into the forest above, "...Spike, I think I saw something fly into forest."

"What do you mean? But what about Spitfire?" Spike turned around to see Spitfire, but she was already long gone. "Well, Spitfire is gone, but did you see a dragon or a Griffon?"

"No, Spike, it looked smaller than a dragon, but it was larger than a Griffon or pegasus."

The sound came back, Twilight and Spike stared in the direction it was originating from, it was getting louder very second passed by. The forest concealed any view of the source of the sound. Twilight was able to notice something moving above the forest treeline, disappearing downwards, then reappearing upwards again. "Spike, don't you see it!"

"I kind of do, but I can't figure out what it is."

Suddenly, it appeared, a large dark object flew out of the forest, and passed by Twilight and Spike overhead, blowing air down on them.The object kept on flying over the path, but then randomnely hovered there went it got some distance. The objects was some sort of machine that was in a dark green paint color, it rotated to its left and right. Twilight and Spike stood there mesmerized with their mouths agape. "What is that thing!" shouted Spike.

"I-I-I...think thats... the aliens," Twilgiht stuttered.

The machine had a long tail, it had short stubby wings with one large tube under each wing, there was also two pairs of four other ones to the sides of the large one. But there was also a very slim tube connected to a larger part under the front area of the machine. There four spinning rapidly spinning propllers on top of it, or its what they belived to be, that kept it in flight. Spike continued to observe this machine and it's strange appearance. "Is that actually alive or is something in it!?" asked Spike.

The machine then rotated around, facing them ahead on, Twilight saw the machine had windows in the front and something was moving in it. "Spike, whatever you do don't move," she warned. The machine tilted downwards and heading towards them. "Nevermind, Run!" The two began to run straight for the forest as the machine approached them. The sound it made was getting louder, the forest grew larger and larger the more they got closer.

"Don't stop running!" yelped Twilight.

The forest was now right in front of them, and they were able to make it inside its safe boundaries that kept them out of reach from the machine. Twilight's heart was racing as she stopped to catch her breath and Spike was on the floor also breathing in the air. Twilight turned back at the path to see if it was still behind them. The machine was outside the forest, hovering very close to the ground, appearing to hover between the trees. Twilight felt the machine was staring at them with the two large parts it had on the sides with a hole in the center.

Spike got back up from and also turned to face the machine, he was able to notice the occupants in the inside of it. But all he saw were helmets with a dark visor. After what it felt like staring forever at each other, the machine ascended in the air and rotated arounded, flying away to the direction where Twilight and Spike came from. They stared at the machine until it became a small object in the sky. "What was that all about?" asked Spike confused. Twilight remained quiet and continued to stare at it. Spike came up to her and waved his claw in front of her head.

"Twilight, Twilight, Twilight!"

"Huh? What!" Twilight came out of her mind. "Oops, sorry... I was just surprised to see that thing."

"I'm also too, but we need to get out of here before it comes back or another one shows up!" shouted Spike.

"Alright, but what was that thing?" asked Twilight.

"I don't know! But if it's the aliens that means..." Spikes eyes went small at the shocking answer. "They're are already here..."

"Spike, we need to get to the bottom of this now," said Twilight, taking steps down the path.

"Are you sure this a good idea?" asked Spike, unsure.

I'm sure we'll be fine." They both continued down the path into the unknown forest, no sound travelled along the empty natural formations, not a single small forest dweller scurried across the path. Tall dark trees stood along the way on both sides, they spreader across all the way to the mountain that raised behind all others around its base, no sign of other flying machines in the air.

"Umm... Twilight?" Spike asked.

"What is it, Spike?"

"I know I'm probably asking too much questions about aliens, but... do you think we'll see any walking around here?" he asked nervously.

"That's one thing I've been wanting to know, I want to know if there is any actually walkg here." Twilight looked down at the ground, "But I hope there not dangerous if we do meet one, or they're all ready all over Equestria."

"Do you think it's just the machine that's the only one here or there is large group of them?"

"Who knows, but the way Applejack described her encounter with those things would mean there's likely many aliens or if they are, since she said there was multiple of them.

Spike also looked down, the questions he wished that were answered were becoming more difficult as they went along. The forest was suspiciously quiet, usually there would be sounds of its dwellers but surprisingly there wasn't. Spike looked up ahead of the path dissapearing into the ocean of trees. A figure suddenly ran across the dirt path and into the brush to the sides.

"Twilight..." Spike was frightened by the anamoly. "Did you see that thing pass by?"

"What did you see?" asked Twilight, raising her head back up and staring at Spike.

"It was this thing or creature, it like tall but it was just one."

"Spike, I think you're being a little paranoid. It was probably a bear that ran by."

The area where the figure dissapeared to was coming close, Spike stared at the spot cautiously as they passed by. There was the sound of a twig snapping, Spike instantly turned his head at the sound, then another twig snapped. "Twilight, did you hear that?"

"I do, it's coming from the brush." Twilight was also staring at the brush to their left side. "Spike, just keeping moving."

The two maneuvered away from the disturbance, the twig snapping stopped, silence returned back to the empty area. Spike checked behind to make sure there wasn't behind them like last time. Okay, at least there's nothi-... A figure came out of the brush and travelled down the path in the opposite direction they were going, but another figure appeared, then multiple figures came out of the brush. Spike lost count on how many we're there, he stared at them in awe, no sense to warn Twilight about this came to his head. One of them turned its head back at him, then turned it back to look forward, but then it instantly faced Spike again; the whole group of things turned around to face Spike and Twilight.

They had something in their grip and raised it at him. The ones that were in front crouched and the ones in back remained standing. One of them raised a object to its head, Spike noticed it had a mouth and was moving. The road curved to the right, and the figures were disappearing from sight as they turned alonged with it. Spike looked back at Twilight who still didn't have a clue that those things were right behind them. "Hey, Twilight?"

"Yes, Spike?"

"Did you see anything suspicious?" Spike asked, nervously.

"No... did you?"

"Hehehe, Me? of course not," said Spike, checking behind them.

Twilight stopped and observed a fork in the road that separated their one path. To the left it led to the mountain they planned to go to, the right was a path that continued more into the huge forest. "I guess we're taking a left then," announced Twilight. Twilight began her travel to the left, but Spike stood there facing the right. Twilight noticed Spike wasn't at her side and looked back at him, "Spike, what are you doing? We need to go this way."

"Oh, sorry, just lost it their for a second."

Spike turned to his left and caught up with Twilight. The mountain was growing more in size as they got closer, The trees were becoming less and was becoming more open. "Help!" a voice cried out. Twilight's ears perked up at the sound of distress. Twilight frantically searched in all directions to locate the voice. Spike, where did that come from!?"

"I don't know! But it sounded close!"

  "Help!" it yelled again.

"It came this way! Come on!" Twilight galloped in the directional the voice. The went off the road, and into the brush and vegetation that obscured sight of what was ahead. "Help!" the voice shouted again.

"Don't worry! We're coming for you!" Twilight loudly answered back.

Twilight saw large bushes in front of her and she charged forward to overcome the natural barrier. Twilight leaped through the bush and made a shocking discovery: a pegasus was tied up to a tree. Spike came forth from the bush, and also was surprised. Twilight approached the pegasus and untied her form the tree. "Don't worry your safe with us."

  "Oh thank you!" the pegasus shouted in joy. "But you need to get out of here before they return!"

"Who's 'they'?" asked Spike.

  "You don't understand! There's multiple of them!" the pegasus yelped.

"Please calm down," said Twilight. "But I recognize you from somewhere... aren't yo-"

  "Raindrops... Raindrops is my name," she answered.

"Well, Raindrops, what are you doing out here and what happened to you?"

Raindrops looked away saddened and confused, "I-I don't know, I was flying back home from a visit to a relative of mine, then I landed to catch a break, and then..." she was speechless at the unknown answer. "Go on..." insisted Twilight. Raindrops sighed and continued her story, "I accidently stepped on- well what I thought was a plant, but it wasn't, it was a monster or organism made out of plants!"

  "Made out of plants? So, it was a creature made out of plants!?" Spike excitingly asked.

"Spike!" Twilight made a glare at him. "If this thing attacked Raindrop, then it's likely going to attack us!"

"Well actually, it didn't really but at the same time it did." Raindrops had a unsure look, Twilight looked at her confused, "It didn't attack you...? But you also said it did." Raindrops rubbed her left foreleg nervously, "Well, it won't attack you unless you step on it. I guess they really hate that or something. But it didn't look like it had intentions to hurt me, just probably in self-defense."

"Well harmless or not, I'm going to solve this mystery!" Twilight made her way to the mountain.

"No wait! Please don't go! There's many of those things!" Raindrops shouted.

Twilight stopped, and glanced over at her confused, "There's more of them? Are you sure it wasn't just one?"

"No! There are other ones who aren't like the plant monsters! But they have the same body shape and size!"

"They're different but have the same figure? Hmm...they can be the same species, but..."

  "They can be like us, same species but different types like a unicorn and pegasus," replied Spike. Twilight rubbed a hoof against her chin, as the answer was slightly confusing, but also within range to be answered. "I guess your right, but Raindrops, would you like to come with us? We're going to the top of these mountains." asked Twilight. Raindrops had a gloomy gesture, she looked up at the ominous mountain with fear crawling up her spine, "I-I don't know about that...I think I'm just going to be on my way home."

"Come on, I'm sure nothing will happen. I guarantee it!"

"Umm...okay..."

Raindrops slowly caught up to Twilight still unsure if she made the right decision, "Ok...I guess I'm going with you. But the slightest sign of those things, and I'm out of here!" Twilight smiled and rolled her eyes at Raindrops fear. "Well lets just hope that was the only or at least two of them you say."

"How are you so calm? These things are terrifying!" shouted Raindrops.

"Because you always need to stay clam, even in the most dangerous situations."

"We're doomed aren't we?" asked Spike, hunched over and letting his arms hang, Twilight looked back at him with a glare. "Hey, I believe in Raindrops more than you this time!"

"Don't worry, it will all be fine."

  "We're doomed..."

"Spike!"

Twilight rolled her eyes, and concentrated on the path they travelled on, the road now made a direct route to the mountain, nothing appeared to block the way. "Hey, we're almost there! We just got to follow path," happily announced Twillight. Raindrops still had a frightened look, and Spike also and a expression of dissaproval of Twilight's decisions.

  "We're are so doomed..."

"Hey!"

********

In the sky above the alien world flew a machine that would be unexplainable to the eyes of the inhabitants of this planet. A Apache attack helicopter flew across the sky, surveying this unfamiliar world. It swiftly curved to left and right as it maneuvered across the obstacles that stood in its way: mountains and large hills. "You got anything?" asked Fencer.

"No, just the never ending green planet," replied Hanler.

"I think we traumatized those two animals back there!" recalled Fencer, mischievously smiling at their recent event with the two 'animals'.

"It was a actually a unicorn, and a small reptile if I'm correct."

"Whatever it was it's long gone now. But keep an eye out for anything...who knows what might be watching us right now," Fencer warned. Hanler looked outside to the right side of the helicopters cockpit, just trees and more land, "Damn, how big do you think this planet is?"

"Who knows, it could probably be bigger than Earth, or the exact size. But do you remember what they told us specifically about those houses that were on clouds?" recalled Fencer. Hanler turned his head away form the window, and down at the controls in forth of him, "Yeah I do...Do you think it's a joke?"

"No, they wouldn't do that! This is the most important step for Man! But if there is houses made out clouds...then lets check it out."

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Hanler questioned.

"We're in a flying tank! Who the hell wants to go against a attack helicopter?"

"Unless they swarm us..."

"Forget it! Then we'll just light em' up!" Fencer lowered the helicopter's altitude, Hanler rolled his eyes, and went back to surveying the area, he scanned to the left and saw nothing, then to the right, and saw a large red structure. "Hey, Hey! I see something down there!"

"What is it!?" desperately asked Fencer.

"I don't know but bring us in closer!"

"Roger that!" The helicopter curved to the right, and approached the red structure. Hanler started to notice there was many trees and vast fields surroundings the structure, "Hey, I think this is a farm? But if it is, then where is everyone?" Fencer also scanned the area to spot any personnel. But strangely there was nothing, "I don't see anyone, but I'm going to circle the place to see if there is." He maneuvered the Apache forward, then started to rotate it in different directions when he came to a halt. Hanler looked downwards to the left, and saw more trees, then to the right, but saw a figure disappear behind a tree. "Woah Woah! I saw something down there!"

"Where!?" shouted Fencer.

"Down to the left! Back up!"

Fencer pulled back on the control stick to maneuver away from the possible threat. The two pilots stared down where the figure was spotted once they got some distance. "What the hell was that?" asked Hanler.

"You tell me! You saw it!"

"I didn't get a good glimpse of it! But ke- hold on...I see the thing," announced Hanler, looking through the sight-system. He saw what appeared to be a large bow. Hanler had a confused look at the odd object, "Uhh...the hell is that?"

"The hell is what?" asked Fencer.

"I see a...bow? It looks pretty large for someone."

"I don't see any 'bow'. Are you sure you not imag- wait a minute...I see what your looking at."

Fencer also spotted the object behind the tree with his naked eye. He maneuvered the helicopter around to see what this object really was. Hanler had smirk as they were about to reveal what this bow really was, "Now, let's see what you truly are..." The Apache was in place, and hovered in forth of the object. "What...the...hell..." said Fencer, he stared down at a small pale yellow filly that shook as the helicopter hovered above. "It's a small horse! And it has a bow on its head!?" shouted Hanler.

"Pppfff....Hahaha! This is too funny! Have you ever seen something like this!" Fencer laughed as he thought the sight was humorous. "Oh man...whew! 'I can't wait until we tell the generals about this!'.

"Aww...look at it, it's completely scared of us."

Hanler saw the 'small horse' frightened by the Apache and it's loud noise. Fencer stopped laughing and sighed to calm himself, he slid the helmet visor upwards to rub his left eye when he felt it itch. Fencer slid down the visor when he was down, but caught something in the corner of his vision. He looked to the left, and saw a orange horse running away from them, "Oh don't think we see you! Hanler we got another one over here to the left!" Hanler also glanced over to the left and saw the horse, "Forget this one! Let's see what this one does!"

"I'm on it!"

Fencer rotated the helicopter and slowly pursued the other 'target, knowing they would outrun it'. "Hey, howcome this one's hair is purple? And...holy hell this one has wings!" Hanler announced. Fencer had the targeting monocle's crosshairs on the pegasus, and anticipated for it to fly away, "Come on, fly away pegasus." The pegasus didn't take off, but instead gallop away as fast as it could. Hanler gazed at the pegasus to see if it would get airborne, but it strangely didn't. "When is this thing going to take off?"

"I don't know, bu-"

Knock! Knock!

Fencer slowly rotated his to the right at the sound of something knocking on the window panel, he twitched his left eye at seeing a cyan pegasus angrily staring at him. "HOLY SHIT!" he yelled loudly, the pegasus appeared scared by his gesture and baked away from the helicopter. "Hey what is it!?" asked Hanler, looking back at him. "BACKING UP BACKING UP!" Fencer desperately pulled the Apache away from the area and headed towards a unknown direction. "Fencer! What's going on!"

"You'll see right now!"

"Well, make it quick!"

Fencer rotated the helicopter, once they got plentiful of space away from the pegasus. Hanler stated outward ahead for the anomaly Fencer panicked about it, "I don't see anything." Hanler raised an eyebrow. "Are you alright?"

"I swear! A pegasus was right next to the window!"

"Well, if there was one, all I could say that 'good job' for getting away from it."

"You have to believe me! I saw a pe-"

The pegaus was right next to the window again, and stared at Fencer annoyed. He slowly looked away and stared down at Hanler, "Hanler, can you please look to the right, and tell me what you see," he calmly said.

"Alright alright, now let's see what 's all the comm- the hell?"

The pegasus then came to Hanler's window panel, and crossed its forelegs, giving him a glare. "I'm not really impressed by the stare it's giving me, but that rainbow hair it has and its angry look...then let's see what in can do." Hanler made taunting looks at the pegasus and pretended to laugh at it by pointing a finger. The pegasus looked even more irritated and stared shouting words at them, but no sound came through by the loud rotor-blades. "Aww...it's mad at us how 'cute'. Well, we got no time to waste. So, let's get out of here!" Hanler announced.

"Hahaha! Time to leave this one behind!"

"Pppfff...don't 'terrify' it! Who cares! Let's go!"

Fencer fastly maneuvered away from the pegasus, and proceeded as planned. Hanler hummed a tune, and Fencer concentrated to the area up ahead. "Hey, do you think we lost it?" Hanler asked. Fencer looked down at the instrument panel, then to Hanler. "We probably did...Who wants to chase after a he- huh?" Fencer saw the pegasus flying to the side of the Apache; it still had that annoyed look. "Urrgghh...Come on! We don't have time for this!" he groaned, Hanler also noticed the pegasus and shook his head in disapproval. "This is going to be a real pain if this thin follows us around! Do you want the guys down below t-"

THUD!

The pegasus bumped itself against the cockpit, but had no affect against the Apache's armor. "Okay that's it...contact the guys down below," Fencer commanded, he started heading back towards the DZ. Hanler got himself on the radio to explain the situation to the others. "Uhh...this is Vulture one, we are currently being persued by a pegasus. This is no joke...Uhh...any squads who have a visual on us please respond, over."

"This is Bravo squad we have eyes on you. Do you need help with your problem?"

"We're heading back to the drop zone, and we need to get this thing off us!"

"Alright, we got some snipers in the area. Uhh...we'll contact them, standby."

"Well, there going to get some marksmen to get rid of it," explained Hanler. Fencer stared at the pegasus, then back at the instrument panel. "They better make it quick..."

"Vulture one, this is Hunter Two, we have a visual on you and your flying 'friend', we're on a hill that has a large boulder, how copy? Over."

Fencer and Hanler searched for the hill that was described to have a large boulder. Hanler saw the location and contacted the snipers, "Alright, we see the hill! What do you what us to do?"

"Just stabilize right there, and we'll take care of it..."

"Better make it quick!"

Both Fencer and Hanler stared at the pegasus, and mischievously smiled and waved at it, "Goodbye, whoever you are..." The pegasus stared at them confused. Hanler flipped it off, and the pegasus became bewildered. Pppfff...How much you want to bet its going to be taken out in ten seconds?" asked Hanler, shaking his head at the pegasus. "I say in five!" replied Fencer. The pegasus suddenly put a hoof where the bullet struck, and spiraled towards the ground.

"Ooooohhh!" the two pilots excitingly shouted.

"Thanks for the help, Hunter Two! We're off!"

"No problem, We'll contact Bravo to check out the area where it landed."

"That was something to see!" shouted Fencer.

"Yes it was, now where were we?...Ah yes! Let's go see what this planet has..."

*********

"Bravo squad, this Hunter Two, we neutralized the threat against the helicopter, its all yours now to make sure if the pegasus is dead or not."

"Roger that, Hunter Two, we're on our way."

Ray got off the radio and looked back at the squad, "Lets go see what happened to that thing."

"Right behind you!" replied Alveraz.

The squad began to proceed to the area where the pegasus had landed. Some of the members watched the Apache fly away and become a small, dark speck as it went farther and farther away. "Do you think it's dead?" asked Victor.

"Maybe, but if it is...what are we going to do with it?" Alveraz asked back.

  "Sell it for big money!" added Victor.

"No one is going to make a living off it! You sound like a barbarian!" shouted Boxer.

"Maybe I am one!" mischievously said Victor. "In the name of- Ow!" Boxer punched him on the shoulder to stop his foolish actions "Get your shit straight!" Victor rubbed his shoulder, and made a irritated look at him, "Fine.."

"Hey, I think I see it!" Velazquez announced, pointing to a cyan figure in some brush. "Come on let's go!" The squid started to sprint towards the pegasus, all of them aimed their weapons at the pegasus. They secured the area, and cautiously approached it. "Woah, you don't see this everyday," said Alveraz, as he and Velazquez stood in front of it. "Boxer, we got General Townes on the line! He wants to speak with you!" announced Jerry.

"Oh crap! Hand it over!...Sir, yes, we had a-" Boxer continued to talk to the General while the squad stared down at the pegasus. "Damn, where did it get hit?" asked Ray.

"Right here." Derrick pointed a finger at the wound it had. Ray went around and observed closely the damage, "Whoa, they got it under where the wing connects. That's not good."

"Yes, sir...I'll see to it." Boxer got off the radio, and approach the squad. "Well, here's some crazy new for us all; General Townes is planet side here, I explained what happened, and he wants us to bring back the pegasus to the outpost he's established here...we're in for it." The whole squad stared at him surprised. "Is he crazy! Why does he want this thing back here?" asked Victor.

"His ord-"

"Hey, who are you guys an-urgh!" the pegasus yelped by the pain. "Wait unt-" Jerry slammed a boot down on its head, making it pass out right away. "Stay down...it'll be for your own good."

"Well, that works...but, Victor your carrying it this time!" Boxer announced, making a serious stare.

"Ahh, why me!"