Chapters So It Begins
Samus Aran is the galaxy’s most feared bounty hunter. Where ever she goes evil runs in terror, attempting an impossible escape from justice. Now she is the one running. Just hours ago Samus defied commands of the Galactic Federation to leave the research station orbiting the planet SR388. Further more she used the research station to destroy the near by planet in an attempt to destroy the X parasite. Afterwards she fled the scene when she received a transmission from the Federation branding her a traitor. She had her gunship travel to the fringe of Federation controlled space as an attempt to escape the it’s wrath.
Everypony was gathered at the edge of the Everfree Forest to discover the source of the unusual trail of smoke coming from within. No pony could see the source of the smoke due to the heavy foliage. Of course fear of the forest crushed any thoughts of entering either. So the mayor contacted the Mane 6 to investigate. All of them agreed as usual except for Fluttershy but she was forced to anyways. After gathering up what they thought they needed just in case they had to travel deep into the Everfree Forest they set off. While on their trek the group conversed their thoughts on what could’ve cause this strange trail of smoke. “I hope it isn’t another sleeping dragon,” whispered Rainbow Dash fearfully.
“Naw, it can’t be,” replied Applejack,” If it was then we’d be hearin’ snorin’ and the ground would be shakin’.”
“I hope it’s not a forest fire,” spoke Fluttershy.
“That wouldn’t be likely,” said Twilight matter of facly,” if there was we would hear the crackle of burning wood or feel an extreme heat. Besides this is the Everfree Forest we’re in and I highly doubt that a magical forest would suffer the same effects as a normal one.”
“What if it was some mean meanie pants pony who did this as a prank,” asked Pinkie.
“I don’t think anypony has the guts to even set hoof in here much less start a fire for a prank in this place,” answered Rainbow, shooing away such a silly idea.
“Well I don’t care what it is as long as we get this over with so I can get out of this icky forest,” whined Rarity. [After writing this sentence Rarity glares at me for a moment. To her friends (Except Pinkie Pie) she looks like she’s staring angrily at an empty space.] Noticing her friends were giving her odd looks she hastily makes the excuse, “Sorry phased out a bit there.” (^_^”) Now ignoring what just happened the Mane 6 start walking again. Pinkie walks up to Rarity and whispers, “I knew you could see them too!” As soon as last word left her lips she trotted ahead to catch up with the rest of the group.
After exiting warp speed Samus found her gunship orbiting a blue, green planet. She searched her navigation center for any information on the planet and her location. The only info she found was that she wasn’t in Federation space. Plotting what to do next her on board computer gave her a suggestion. “Check the dark side of the planet. Any major population centers will glow brightly and it will be easier to slip into the atmosphere undetected.” Considered the plan and decided to give it a go. The dark side of the planet was...well... dark. This put Samus at ease. Knowing that this planet had no major cities or ports meant that she could easily hide here till things cooled down. The ship was ordered to land.
Samus received a contract from the Galactic Federation. Her objective was to investigate the disappearance of a squad of Federation troops near the planet Aether. She traveled to Aether and went planetside. During the bumpy descent in the atmosphere a discharge of lightning strikes her ship causing her to partially crash land. Unfortunately for Samus she was stuck here for the time being. That didn’t matter though. She had a contract to complete.
A slight jolt snapped her out the trance she was in. The on board computer alerted her to the damage to the starboard engine and it’s controls. Evidently what ever damaged the engine hit fried some of the circuitry controlling it too. With only half power pushing the gunship through the air gravity started to take hold. The on board computer informed Samus of the ship’s increasing descent. The computer predicted that a crash landing was inevitable but wouldn’t be deadly due to the the remaining engine. From the cockpit she could see a gloomy, evil forest coming straight at them. Samus braced her self for the on coming impact.
“I think it’s just over this hill,” exclaimed Twilight. “Steel yourselves girls, we have know idea what lies beyond this hill.” Slowly they climbed to the summit of the hill. They spoke naught a word to keep them hidden from what ever lay behind the hill. Now as the Mane 6 reached the summit they saw a spectacle in the likes of no other pony has seen, including the princesses. What lay before them was a mass of metal they have never seen before. Dripping from the metal was a substance no pony ever wanted to see.
Author’s Note
This my first fan fic ever so I will apologize profusely if this made your eyes bleed from spelling errors or just by how terribly it’s written. (I suck at writing honestly. I will not pay medical bills if your eyes do bleed, it was your choice to read.) Constructive criticism would be nice and no this is not a trollfic. Oh yeah I almost forgot! I didn't create, nor do I own the characters used in this in this fic. They belong to their respective owners.
Finishing their gawking, the the Mane 6 started to descend down the hill they were on. Soon they reached the object of interest.
"Ok girls search the area around this thing for any clues as to what this thing is or where it came from," ordered Twilight.
So the group split up to search for clues. Twilight inspected the debris around her area and studied some of the metal pieces on the ground.
Hmm, she thought. Wondering if the pieces of metal had any unkown properties Twilight used her magic to conduct several experiments. First she tried bending and tearing it. It strained her to even bend it a little. Next she heated the piece up to see how it reacted. It dissapated the heat as if it wasn't able to hold it. Finally Twilight magicked one of the larger pieces and put it in her hoof. To her surprise it was lighter than an iron chunk of the same size. This metal is unlike anything known to ponies. It's extremely light and heat resistant. The applications for such material could be endless! I still need to do more tests. Who knows what else it's capable of!
While Twilight conducted her experiments on the metal Applejack and Fluttershy were discussing the identity of the red substance leaking out of the object
"Well what do ya think it is Fluttershy," inquired AJ.
"l I can tell you what it's not if that's ok with you," said Fluttershy.
"Go ahead, that'll take one guess out of the way"
"It's not blood."
"How is it not blood? Just look at it. It's red like it and flows like it."
"Please don't say any more," asks a slightly quesier Fluttershy.
"Ah apologize sugercube. Now, why is it not blood?"
"Thats why." She points to the spot where the liquid hits the ground. The spot is slightly black with small hints of smoke.
"Ah see. Maybe we should get Twi over here to look at it."
"Agreed."
Samus is blasting away at the foilage in an attempt to get a clear runway to get her speed booster charged. Her plan was to use this ability to shorten her time in this damned forest. Also this would be safer than just slowly blasting the way out which would probably alert some vicious predator. Usually she wouldn't do the speed booster run due to the fact there were energy and missle refill stations on some of the planets and she had her ship to fill those duties if there weren't any or if there wasn't a station for the weapon such as power bombs. Those she had limits on even when she had her ship, but now, she had to put even the thought of using them out of her head. Besides power bombs she also had to decrease her missle usage dramaticly. She always took for granted the 255 she had cause of how easily they could be renewed. Now she had to rely on the charge beam more to keep her missle count high. Finishing the runway she took a small break and meditated on the events of last night.
Shortly after the crash Samus inspected the inside of the ship. Most of it was intact except for the cockpit. The electronic boards and panels had electricity racing on them and she discovered that it had been crumpled up like a space pirate skull under her boot for about foot or two after hitting what appeared to be an ancient tree. She checked the hatch that led out of the ship. It was open and and found that there was a tiny space between it and the ground. Using the morph ball she dropped out of the ship and rolled a few feet and unmorphed. She checked the surrounding area as best she could with the limited light. All Samus could see was pitch black forest. The darkness made her notice something about her HUD. The minimap was off. She opened the map interface and was greeted with the message 'No data recieved from ship cartography scans. Open interface with ship navigation center.'. Samus let out a sigh. Now she had to find another way to exit the forest. Thinking of an unlikely idea, she used her space jump ability to reach the highest point she could find. From this position she could scan the horizon to see if there were any lights from an earth bound settlement. She found one off in the distance on the side of a mountain. She would consider heading in there if there wasn't a closer one. To her surprise she spied one a few miles away and out of the forest. Satisfied, Samus jumped down from the tree and decided to use her gunship as a safe haven to rest and formulate a plan for the upcoming day.
Removing herself from her trance, Samus took her position at the end of her runway and started sprinting towards the other end to get the speed booster to activate.
"Well girls, I can't help you with this mystery," said Twilight. "I have never seen anything like it. Even in the palace labs. I wish I had a few test tubes to collect some samples to study."
"What about mah flask here," asked Applejack after pulling one out and chugging it's contents.
"I don't know AJ. Seeing how it's affected the ground I dont want to risk a leak if it slowly corrodes your flask."
"Ah see yer point."
With nothing left to observe about the strange substance the ponies walked around the object to see what everypony else was doing.
"I wonder what's inside," said Pinkie staring at the circular hole in the object.
"Well why don't you crawl in and find out" replied Rainbow Dash.
"I can't do that. There's not enough space for me to crawl under silly."
"What do you think Rarity?"
"Well I think that the only one who would be able crawl in would be Spike, but he's not here."
"Maybe we can ask Twilight to use her magic to lift this thing up so we can go inside."
"Not a chance girls," answered Twilight as she, Fluttershy, and Applejack came around.
"Why not," asked a slightly frustrated Rainbow Dash.
"That would take up too much energy and --"
Her explanation was interrupted by a ferocious roar which was interrupted with a barely audible splatting noise.
"Maybe it's time to go."
"Yer probably right sugercube. Last pony out gets the lights!"
Everypony laughed and bolted out of the forest.
Samus skidded to a stop after breaking out of the forest. She inspected her suit to find it covered in what appeared to be blood, bone pieces, and bits of internal organs. Looking back at the creature she boosted through. It was large in size, covered in fur except for the tail, which appeared to be covered in a hard shell with a stinger, and cut in two. Instant death was one of the effects of the speed booster she prized. Gazing long enough at the gruesome sight she returned to the view in front of her. Clear blue sky, green rolling hills, and strange structures between the hills with small figures moving about them. With the settlement with a second chance at life in front and the forest with her past behind her, Samus started towards what she hoped would be the end of her troubles.
Author's Note
Same policy as the last chapter plus an apology for putting you to sleep and wasting your valuable time, not noticing plot holes (I hope there aren't any), and/or something else I didn't notice . Hopefully the lack of action didn't put you to sleep. Also a big thanks to GlitchyProductions, psychicscubadiver, and DatsNoMoon (Who's profile pic has an excellent moustache to rival Spike's) for their helpful criticism.
The Mane 6 were inside the town hall helping their new friend Samus with her speech to all of Ponyville. They could see how nervous she was. There was sweat forming on her face, she was taking deep breaths as if steading herself, and she was endlessly pacing across the room.
"There's nothing to be nervous about," said Fluttershy in one her sweetest voices. "It was all just a big misunderstanding. Once they know the real you they all will want to be your friend."
"Are you sure?," replied Samus's in her doubtful, shaky voice.
"Of course she is," answered Rainbow Dash, full of confident support. "You've destroyed planets for Celestia's sakes. Giving a speech should be like walking though a park or running through a manticore."
Samus chuckled at the last sentence.
"There ya go! Now who's the most feared bounty hunter?," rallied Rainbow Dash.
"I am," replied Samus' flat voice.
"louder!"
"I am," Samus replied again, her volume rising as well as her confidence.
"LOUDER!," Rainbow shouted as the pep filled her cyan body.
"I AM!," Samus shouted, now amost filled with Rainbow's confidence.
"WHO'S THE ONE WHO'S GONNA SHOW THOSE PONIES THEY AIN'T GOT NOTHIN' TO FEAR?"
"I AM!"
A few more pep chants and an epic brohoof later, Samus walked out to face the crowd of ponies with enough confidence and swag to destroy two planets simultaneously while enjoying some of Pinkie's legendary cupcakes doing so. The feeling was glorious.
Rainbow Dash turned to her friends to find them stunned stiffer than Discord's statue from the immense amount of energy given off by Samus and Rainbow Dash's pep rally. Well except Pinkie who was bouncing off the walls.
"C'mon guys we gotta watch Samus give her speech," Rainbow exclaimed full of excitement.
She waved a hoof in front of each of their faces. Nothing. Rainbow shrugged and trotted happily out the of the town hall to go hear Samus' speech.
Samus hadn't even started to speak when she was assaulted upon by a very energetic light green unicorn which pinned her on the floor of the stage and proceeded to ask questions faster than her speed booster.
"OhCelestiait'sahuman!!!Howlonghaveyoubeenhere?Wherehaveyoubeenhiding?...Whatisthisyou'rewearing?Areyouthatthingthatscaredeveryponyearlier?WhyareyouhereinPonyville?...DoyouknowCelestia?Doessheevenknowyou'rehere?...Islifeeasierwithhands?DoyouevenunderstandwhatI'msayingtoyou?...CanIhugyou?"
"Yes?," Samus derped.
With a squeal of joy the unicorn let go of Samus, who got up only to receive the most rib crushing, back popping bear hug of her life.
"Can you lighten up on the the ribs a bit?," asked Samus in a strained voice.
The unicorn let go, but it still stared into Samus' face with it's big amber eyes.
"Sorry, I was just so excited when I saw you walk up on to the stage and I had to make sure my mind wasn't playing tricks on me. Oh, the name's Lyra by the way," said Lyra in a calmer voice.
"Samus Aran, bounty hunter extraordinaire, at your service," showboated Samus.
"B-b-b-bounty hunter?!?," gasped Lyra in fear.
"Well ex-bounty hunter. Long story."
Lyra sighed with relief.
"Now if you excuse me Lyra I have a speech to make," the authoritive voice of Samus said.
Returning to face the crowd she was surprised by the spontaneous applause from everypony. Samus returned it with a smile and a wave. The crowd cheered once more. Through all the celebration nopony saw the new pony who had just arrived.
"So you're the new guest who everypony is making such a fuss about."
Everypony turned their heads in the directon of the voice and gasped at the pony standing there.
Celestia smiled at the crowd's reaction. To which the everypony responded with a bow.
Can't a princess just come for an informal visit? I get enough formality in Canterlot.
The crowd had finished bowing and it eyed her waiting for her to speak.
"Won't anypony introduce me to our newest guest in Equestria?"
Before anypony could oblige, the mentioned guest jumped in to the air executing numerous somersaults and when it reached the peak of the jump's arc it struck a heroic pose. Once the descent started the guest slowly performed a forward flip to land kneeling. It stood up and introduced itself.
"Samus Aran," Samus said in a friendly tone, extending her hand forward for a handshake.
"Princess Celestia, charmed," greeted Celestia in a cordial tone also extending her hoof.
"Princess!"
The princess and the bounty hunter turned their heads to see Twilight and her friends, excluding Rainbow Dash, trotting towards where they were standing.
"Where's Rainbow?," asked Samus anxiously. She wanted to thank the rainbow maned pegasus for the pep rally before her speech.
"Up here guys!," called out Rainbow Dash from above.
"What are you doin' up thar?," the curious voice of Applejack floated up to her.
"Watchin' Ponyville's newest 20% cooler resident give her acceptance speech. Duh! What did you think I was doing?"
"Nappin'," replied Applejack annoyed at the nerve of her cyan friend.
"What ever."
"Please my little ponies stop this useless bickering," pleaded Celestia in a strict motherly tone.
"Sorry Princess," replied both Rainbow Dash and Applejack in quiet voices, obviously ashamed at having the Princess chastise them.
"Now that the dust has settled I'd like to ask your new friend if she would like to visit Canterlot. After all she may want to pick up a few things she can't get here in Ponyville."
"Can I come too?," shouted a voice behind them.
They saw Lyra run up to the group of ponies panting slightly. When she reached Samus' side Samus ruffled her mane in a friendly manner.
"Somepony made a new friend while we were away," commented Twilight spying Samus' ruffling of the light green unicorn's mane.
"Well she did leave quite the impression," Samus giggled remembering the awesome hug she received.
"Well can I?," asked Lyra, her eyes, irises, and pupils expanded into sparkling puppy dog eyes.
"I will send for some chariots," said Celestia.
"Yes!," exclaimed Lyra jumping in the air.
Author's Note
Well this chapter seems...sappy... so apologies all around. Oh yeah, Lyra is gonna be involved moar now and maybe the Princesses. (Preferably Luna, but I gotta see where my mind goes with this). Luna and Lyra... these ponies need some episodes. Hmm... oh well. Maybe I should put a battle scene in Canterlot. What do you guys think? Kudos to Psychicscubadiver for informing me about my lack of detail. Hopefully I didn't over or under use details. Constructive criticism is always acceptable.
` Samus and her pony friends had just arrived in Canterlot. She was slowly taking in what she saw. There were more ponies here than in Ponyville she noticed at once. Also she spotted that these ponies were also dressed in fine clothing. Most of the buildings were multiple stories high and crafted from what she guessed to be the finest building materials a pony could aquire.
"Well I must be off as I do have royal business to attend to," Celestia said interrupting the Samus' observations. "Good bye for now my young friends."
With a twinkle of light she disappeared.
"Well so what do you guys wanna do?," asked Twilight with the slightest bit of excitement in her voice.
"We could go to the best bakery in town, or maybe we can go to the library or maybe the museum, or ho--"
She was interrupted by a cyan hoof to the mouth.
"Really Twilight? The library or a museum?," Rainbow Dash questioned an incredulous tone. "This is Canterlot for Celestia's sake. We should go see the Wonderbolts instead of going to see some dusty museum. Am I right Samus?"
"Wonderbolts?" questioned Samus in a derpy tone.
"Oh my Celestia I forgot to tell her about the Wonderbolts. The Wonderbolts are..."
"Ya probably should sit down fer this," Applejack whispered in her ear.
The bounty hunter was in orbit around a green and blue planet. He was anxious to find his prey. The Federation put one hell of a price on the body and with it a reputation to match. He activated the beacon to let the Federation know that he was here and he would send a message in a week (According to the week on Norion) or less. This protocol was used to just incase he died filling the contract and Samus was planet side. The Federation would search the planet to the core when the week was up. This was a new policy that came about due to the contract's target. The bounty hunter calmed his nerves and headed planetside
"...and that is why the Wonderbolts are the most awesome pegasi in Equestria," concluded Rainbow Dash in a proud voice.
Samus, by some miracle, had not fallen asleep listening to Rainbow Dash's report on the Wonderbolts.
"Cool story brah," replied Samus sluggishly.
"Were you even paying attention?," Rainbow asked with a little hurt hidden in her voice.
"Yes, yes I was paying attention it's just that I was... uhh fantasizing about becoming a Wonderbolt while you told your story! Yeah and uh... I was just disappointed that I wasn't a pegasus like you," Samus replied nervously.
Rainbow Dash stared her down. Samus leaned back a bit as Rainbow leaned forward. She backed off.
"Ok. Now how 'bout we get some lunch? I'm starved."
The bounty hunter's ship was out of control. Most of the electronics were screwed up and the engines slowly deactivating. He knew it wouldn't be long before he hit the surface of the planet. So he strapped himself in and locked the command chair in place.
Samus and her pony friends had just started walking towards Twilight's favorite bakery when they heard a crash and the grinding of wood against metal. Samus' helmet activated as she spun around to see a small ship had crash landed into a building almost causing it to collapse. One thought raced across her mind.
Oh shit... they found me!
The bounty hunter unstrapped himself from the command chair. He noticed his ship was relatively unharmed, well from what he could tell from the inside. The bounty hunter stepped over to the side hatch to check if it would open. To his surprise it did and blinding sunlight entered his eyes.
Samus watched in horror as a figured opened a hatch on the ship. The sunlight blinded it momentarily, giving Samus enough time observe it was clad in a Federation issued armor.
His eyes adjusted to the sunlight to see his prey standing in front of him. The bounty hunter fumbled for his side arm. His arm never made it to the holster.
Samus was a master quick draw. She had frozen the Federation's agent before his arm was across his chest.
Frozen, the bounty hunter could only glare and think angry thoughts as his prey approached him.
The ponies reeled back in horror as they saw Samus slammed her right arm into the frozen creature that had appeared out of the thing that crashed into the building. They turned their heads to shield their faces from the shards of ice that flew through the air. Their heads turned back to see Samus with her helmet off and pupils dialated in fear franticly searching the sky. When she noticed her friends staring at her she slowly backed towards the destroyed building.
Lyra's quivering voice traveled through the air.
"Samus, who was that? What did you do to him?!," Lyra asked on the brink of tears.
Back against a wall Samus had no other options.
"I never told any of you what I did to get here did I?"
Just another boring shift of staring at the monitors. The operator sighed.
I can't wait till I get my shore leave. I hate being on this god forsaken ship.
He switched his attention between each of the monitors in the room.
God. Damn. Every. One. Of. These. Monitors. As soon as ny shift ends I'm gonna--
His thought interrupted by the sound of an alert appearing on one of the monitors.
Well, this is a pleasant surprise. A contract beacon, better send a message to HQ.
"... not long after my escape I recieved a transmission from the Galactic Federation HQ entitling me as a traitor. I had only Federation fringe space to run to. So I had the navigation center in my ship take me to a random location in the fringe. The location just so happened to be your planet. I guess you can figure out for yourself what happened from that point. Also the thing you guys saw come put of the ship was one of their bounty hunters. They probably sent out a beacon or signal to alert the Federation I'm here. Once they're here who knows what will happen. They'll probably see you as accessories in my attempt to hide from authority and execute you or something else horrible! It's ok to hate my guts."
Samus felt as if the ponies were staring holes into her soul. She didn't dare look at their faces in fear of being smited by their looks of hate. Turning away with a heavy heart and drooping head Samus slowly made her way towards the walls of Canterlot.
"Wait!," called out several voices in unision.
Samus pivoted on her right foot to see the ponies not filled with hate or disgust, but with smiles and confidence.
"Samus you should really lighten up," Twilight said ironicly.
"Your one to talk Twilight," chuckled Applejack.
"Well she does," responded an annoyed Twilight.
"Please don't fight! We need to tell our friend here we don't hate her," pleaded Fluttershy.
"Y-you don't?," Samus almost sobbed.
"Of course not silly!," Pinkie Pie responded with her usual amount of enthusiasm.
"Even after telling what I pulled you into?"
"Darling please, just because we're ponies doesn't mean we're defenseless," replied Rarity's confident voice.
"Yeah," piped in Lyra "They have whatever they have and we have magic!"
"Not to be a kill joy but the Federation has a wide arsenal at it's disposal, not to mention the vast amount of troops reserves," countered Samus in a pessimistic tone.
"Well we need to inform the Princess about this!," Twilight interrupted with a hint of urgency in her voice.
"I have heard all you have spoken," said the regal voice of the Princess.
Samus spun around to coming face to face with Celestia.
"Well my newest subject? How would we negotiate with this Federation of yours?"
"I don't know we'll have to see how they react to you and your subjects," replied Samus lamely.
"Is there a possibility we could keep you hidden?"
"I don't know. If the bounty hunter did send some signal to them they would be expecting them to send a report or something."
"Well this is quite a situation we have here," commented Celestia, concern slowly leaking into her voice. "I guess I must inform my subjects sooner or later. We need to prepare them incase of we need to retaliate with force. You will stay at the castle tonight and we will meet to discuss our options in the morning. Rest well my little ponies."
Now realizing how late it was the ponies and Samus headed towards the castle, ideas formulating in each of their minds for the upcoming negotiations or war.
Author's Excuses/Apologies/Notes
Apologies for the sappyness, lack of detail, etc, but this chapter has a lot of probably unecessary sappyness. Any constructive criticism is always welcome. Also I would like any suggestions. Btw what do you ponies think of those Hasbro MLP ads? Just curious.
The Lucky One and Origins
Morning arrived swiftly. As soon as they awoke, the ponies and Samus went to meet with the the Princess. Upon arriving in the meeting room they found Celestia and her younger sister Luna waiting for them.
"At last I can meet this great warrior you speak of," said Luna excitedly. "Where is he or she?"
Samus was the last to step in. Celestia nudged Luna to look at the last one into the room. Her eyes widened in surprise and her mouth slightly agape.
"This is the great warrior! A human! Amazing! What is her strange garment?"
Before Luna could ask anymore questions Celestia silenced her.
"The questions can wait my dear sister. Right now we have a dire situation on our hooves. Due to one of Samus' actions abroad we may have a seroius conflict in Equestria," concern filling her voice. She had avoided using the word war knowing how Luna would overreact hearing the word.
"Conflict?," Luna asked, raising one of her eyebrows. "One caused by the great warrior? How did we get sucked into this?"
"Long story," replied Samus nervously, scratching the back of her head.
Luna eyed Samus with the slightest bit of suspicion.
"Carrying on we need to know what we could do to negotiate with this Federation of yours," Celestia said breaking Luna's stare. "Well Samus, what information do you have to offer?"
"Plenty. Where should I begin?"
The Captain took a seat at the meeting table. He was called from the front to meet his superiors for an important breifing. Out of all the captains in the navy he was the one they picked. Knowing HQ this would be a suicide mission.
"Good afternoon Captain," said the man at the head of the table.
"Sir," the captain responded with a salute.
"Now, now captain we do not have much time for such formalities. We have extremely important news. We recieved news of a contract beacon."
It's a suicide mission.
"... also with this task we have promoted you to Admiral. Is there something wrong...Admiral?"
The newly promoted Admiral had nearly fallen out of his seat.
"No, no it's just that I wasn't expecting to be promoted," replied the former captain.
"As I was saying..."
The Admiral didn't hear much as he was being drowned in his own thoughts
I should've known they were gonna do this. They always promote the unlucky one a rank or two to give them something as a goodbye reward.
"... you will recieve a new ship outfitted with an aurora unit..."
Are they serious? They're giving me an aurora unit and a new ship? On a suicide mission? What the hell are these people doing with the tax money?
"... you and your crew will have six days of shore leave before being redeployed. The co-ordinates will be sent to the aurora unit on that day. Any questions?"
"No sir," replied the Admiral in a firm voice.
"Then you are free to go," the man said.
After a long and tedious meeting, Luna finally gave into the loving embrace of sleep. When she could not be stirred, Celestia had the guards carry her sister to her chambers. Soon afterwards, the royal advisor had informed Celestia that she needed to get back to her royal duties. Before the Princess left, she called a chariot for them to return to Ponyville. After the princess left the ponies and Samus started to loosen up and chat idlely waiting for their chariot. All was well until Lyra asked,
"Samus, why did you become a bounty hunter in the first place?"
Samus stiffened up at the question and the other ponies stopped their conversations to hear the answer .
She didn't just ask that did she?
"Are you gonna tell us?," the pony asked again.
She did. Well... it's probably for the best. As long as they don't ask about what I did as my revenge punsiment to Ridley.
The bounty hunter's face slowly formed a smile thinking about how sweet her vengance was...and how hot it was served.
"So you are gonna tell us?," piped up Lyra excitedly noticing Samus' smile.
"I will, but we have to get on the chariot first," she said pointing towards their ride home.
Once aboard the chariot the ponies gathered around to hear the tale of why she was a bounty hunter.
"I became a bounty hunter for vengance," she said, a sinister anger was hinted slightly in her voice.
The ponies flinched. "Vengance?," asked a confused Pinkie Pie. "Did somepony play a super big, horrible, meanie-face-pants, mega-embarrassing-story-causing...
Samus' eyes widened in surprise noticing the pink pony had not taken a breath of air the entire time it talked.
"..., make-you-forever-alone, uber prank?" Pinkie finally gasped for air when she finished.
"I wish it was Pinkie, I wish it was. You know why?"
"Why?"
"It happened twice... and it wasn't a prank."
"WHAT!," gasped everypony.
"What did they do to you?," asked Lyra in a hushed voice.
"They slaughtered my biological family and my Chozo family," Samus replied coldly.
Rarity nearly fainted and Pinkie's hair deflated. Everypony else was stunned. Looks of unimaginable horror painted each of their faces. Fluttershy looked as if she were on the verge of tears.
"D-do we want to know what you did for revenge?," asked a quiet and scared Rainbow Dash as she came to.
A look of true insanity (
"That's all behind me now," she said nervously, attempting to fix their faces. "Afterwards I started to fight for justice. I wanted to make sure that no one else suffered the way I did and until recently it was going pretty well."
This fixed their faces and Pinkie's hair which inflated back to it's poofy state. Everyone was then caught off guard at what the pink pony said.
"Oh Celestia I almost forgot!," she yelled in distress. "I was so caught up in what happened yesterday I forgot to give you a 'Welcome to Ponyville' party!"
The pink pony was a blur as she made gravity her bitch and shot off through the air faster than either the speed booster or the ability's rival Rainbow Dash.
Author's Note/Excuses/Apologies
Sorry for what you'd probably call a shitty chapter. My excuse is writer's block or what ever you want to call the lack of ideas. Boring? It probably is. I thought about putting a Cupcakes like flashback in here somewhere but I wasn't sure how to put it in so I'm bouncing around the idea of it being an alternate short story or editing it in. Constructive criticism comments are nice but the misc comments about the story are even better. Those allow me to acknowlege the fact the people actually like the story and I do enjoy reading them. No I am not hatin' on constructive criticism comments just to clear things up (If it's needed.)
The Admiral couldn't tell his crew the news he recieved, if he did there would be mutiny. Most of these men had families to go back to and they would probably do anything in their power to return to them if they heard what their newest mission was. He sighed. What did he do to get himself and his crew into this?
Sugarcube Corner shook from the roof to it's foundation for the upteenth time. Anypony would've thought there was something wrong if weren't for the fact Pinkie Pie recently sped into the bakery. The building rocking explosions originated from Pinkie's signature party cannon. Why the party pony was excessively using her patented device was a mystery to everypony.
I gotta make up for two days with out a 'Welcome to Ponyville Party' for my new friend! Thank Celestia I created this party cannon. Where would this party be without it?
Pinkie fired the cannon again, shaking the building.
Thank goodness the Cakes are out of town on a vacation. I don't think they'd let me use this when the twins are here.
She heard the chariot landing. Pinkie turned out the lights expecting her friends at any moment to open the door.
The chariot had landed not too far away from what Samus' friends called 'Sugarcube Corner'. The building itself looked as it were made of gingerbread crusted with icing. After learning first hand Pinkie could bend the rules of physics the bounty hunter had to accept that anything was possible. Walking up to the door Samus opened it to only be greeted by an explosion and unrelenting force blasting her on her back a few feet away. Her helmet activated and the HUD displayed shield damage.
What the hell was that?!
Her friends rushed to help her up.
"Are you ok?," asked a worried Fluttershy.
"Yeah, I've been hit with worse," replied Samus ensuring her friend not to worry. "What was that by the way?"
"From the noise we heard it's probably that party cannon of hers," replied a slightly annoyed Rarity remembering how the device almost ruined her reputation in Canterlot.
"Party cannon?," the curious bounty hunter inquired.
"A crazy invention of mine that blasts a party in the direction it's fired," replied the ever enthusiastic Pinkie Pie.
Her sudden appearance startled Samus into a standing postition.
"I'm sorry for blasting you with it. I must've forgotten I had the cannon rigged to fire when I jumped up to surprise you."
"No problem, being a bounty hunter you gotta take heavy hits every now and then," answered Samus.
"So you wanna come in and PARTY?!," asked an excited Pinkie.
"Hell yeah!," replied the bounty hunter with great enthusiasm.
"That's the spirit! Now hold on a sec I gotta get more ponies!"
With the same great speed she used to defy gravity she sped off to gather ponies. No sooner did the ponies blink, their pink friend returned with all of Ponyville shoved in front of her.
"Party's on everypony!," exclaimed Pinkie.
The party was nothing like Samus ever experienced. Then again she never really had any parties, well except for the few on K-2L but those have long been forgotten. Distracted by the astonishing array of decorations, the bounty hunter didn't see the three filies ambush her.
"So yer tha new pony Pinkie's was makin' such a fuss about?," asked the yellow, red maned filly.
"It doesn't look like any pony I've ever seen," commented a the white unicorn with the pink and purple mane.
"Well duh!," blurted an orange pegasus who's electric violet mane was styled like Rainbow Dash's. "Since when do ponies walk on two legs?"
"What if it's a pony that's really good on it's hind legs?," the unicorn filly asked,
"What kinda pony would practice walkin' around on it's hind legs?," retorted the yellow filly.
"What is it then?"
"I can tell you what it isn't," answered the pegasus filly. "It's not a pony. Just look at where it's hooves are!"
The fillies stared at Samus' boots.
"So, it has feet like a duck," stated the unicorn.
"But it's not a duck," said the pegasus annoyed.
"Then what is it?," asked the normal filly in wonder.
Samus watched, amused by the fillies' attempts to guessing what she was.
"Maybe we should ask it what it is," suggested the orange pegasus
"Good idea Scootaloo!," the other fillies agreed simutaneously
"So um... mister or miss... can you tell us what you are?," inquired the unicorn filly.
Samus was about to answer when Rarity burst in the conversation.
"Sweetie Belle! Where are your manners?," Rarity asked angrily.
"But I used mister and miss to address the stranger sis!," replied Sweetie, slightly annoyed.
"I will give you some credit for that but you should always introduce yourself to new people."
"Alright, alright." Turning to face the bounty hunter Sweetie Belle introduced herself. "Hello, my name is Sweetie Belle!" She said it with a forced smile.
The two other fillies were laughing at their friend being chastised. Rarity shot them a look of pure venom. The fillies saw this and began to introduce themselves as well.
"Howdy, mah name is Applebloom and this is Scootaloo," Applebloom said nervously, chancing a quick glance at Rarity who looked sastified at their introduction.
"Be polite girls and don't annoy her she's a feared bounty hunter," Rarity chuckled and walked off to mingle some more.
"Bounty hunter?!," asked the fillies confused.
Rarity, was that really necessary?
"Someone who plays hide and seek for money," Samus answered nervously. She didn't want the young fillies virgin ears to hear what a bounty hunter actually does.
"Paid to play a game!?," said Sweetie Belle, excited and perplexed.
"Yeah, uhh... but you're always it."
"Even when some one sends a bounty hunter after you?," asked a curious Scootaloo.
"Well... no, then you have to hide and hiding isn't as fun as finding. Wouldn't you rather be able to move from place to place with out fear of being found?," inquired the bounty hunter.
"Ah guess yer right. Now how do ya become a bounty hunter in the first place?," asked Applebloom hoping it would be easy.
Samus tried to steer the filies away from the occupation.
"Wouldn't you rather be something else? Honestly it's a lot of paper work just applying to get registered, then theres all the annoying forms you have to get once you aquire a contract, did I mention the huge cut into your reward known as income tax?"
"What about not registering or doing the paper work? Wouldn't that save us all that trouble?," asked the pegasus filly who was annoyed at the amount of effort needed to be a professional hide and seek player.
"How could you fillies even think of doing such a thing?!," asked Samus in fake astonishment in hopes that she could deter them a bit more. "You don't want to be the ones who hide do you?"
"What if we only gave it one go? You know, just to get our cutie marks?," inquired the unicorn filly.
Cutie marks? I should probably ask Twilight what those are later.
"Still wouldn't recommend it," answered Samus firmly.
The fillies let off a unified "aaawwww" in disappointment.
"Don't worry girls there's something out there for each of you," the bounty hunter said encouragingly. "It might just be so obvious that you overlooked it."
"That's impossible we've trahed almost everything ah pony could possibly do! What else could there be?," whined Applebloom.
"Trust, me you haven't..."
Author's Note/Excuses/Apologies
Yep another filler chapter. At least it wasn't to sappy this time. As always I'm accepting constructive criticism and positive feed back. Also if you see any strange out of place letters or errors it's probably due to the fact I wrote and edited a bit from my IPod, which isn't the best for writing fan fics but it gets the job done.
A burst of light and the Mane 6 and Samus Aran appeared in the palace courtroom. An exhausted Luna plopped onto the floor.
"They're here," the night princess panted.
"Excellent!," exclaimed Celestia. "We have no time waste! If you would Old Bird?" At the mention of the name, the sun goddess saw the bounty hunter's face fill with untold emotion. It was quickly replaced with vast disappointment.
Strange. It's as if she was expecting a loved one to be present.
Celestia continued to watch the bounty hunter closely.
The griffon Old Bird had begun his report on what had just started in the land of Griffon's Roar.
"Just two days ago a strange entity entered griffon airspace. The patrols described it as larger than a griffon, it's voice was a constant roar, and it's wings were cylindrical and did not flap. The entity was also a grey in color with one large light blue eye with no pupil. It's faster than a griffon but not as agile or balanced as it appeared to have trouble flying. Several accounts also state that the entity could fire beams of light from it's wings that caused damage to what they hit. One unit of the patrols was injured by said beams. The patrols then engaged the entity in a dogfight which resulted in victory as the it was defeated and crash landed. The crash was sa--"
The griffon's voice was drowned out by a roar unheard of by everypony in the room. The ponies burst out of the palace to see a mysterious grey object fly over Canterlot.
"What was that thing?," Fluttershy asked fearfully from behind Pinkie Pie.
"I don't know but I'm gonna find out," Rainbow Dash replied.
"Rainbow ya'll shouldn't--," began Applejack but she was too late. The cyan pegasus had already bolted off to chase the flying object.
The pilot checked his instruments again. The compass, radar, and other vitals were ok with a little electronic derp here and there. His signal to the G.F.S. Poseidon was a bit patchy but usable. Everything else was unavailible for some unknown reason.
Did I end up with some damned EMP'ed Stiletto left over from the Phaaze operation? One of the pilots on Orion told me how a buddy of his got one and almost ended up dying because the chaff pods wouldn't work.
He shifted in the pilot seat uncomfortably. Anyone who had fought the space pirates knew they had a thing for heat seeking explosives. Anti-Air units weren't an exception. He had seen one of his squad mates run out of flares after an anti-air unit of pirates had ambushed them on a scouting mission. The poor guy's ship never hit the ground. Only small bits of it did.
Removing himself from the unpleasant memory the pilot gazed out of his cockpit. He didn't believe what he saw.
What the hell is that? Is that a city on the side of a mountain? Better get ready for anything
He accelerated his ship to get ready to make the pass over the city as fast as just possible incase it was a space pirate base.
Here we go.
He flew directly overhead and recorded the coordinates then getting a few snapshots from the underside camera. Seconds later he waited to hear if the missile tracking system would ping. Several more seconds and all the pilot could hear was his engines.
No missile warning. Either it's not a base or the damned system is off. I'm about to find out.
A few moments had passed and his ship was not blown out of the sky.
Thank--
His silent thanks was interrupted by a bogey alert on his radar.
Great. Just abso-fuckin'-lutely increadible. The first time I'm not shot at by missiles I get a fighter squad--. Wait. There's only one? I heard pirates atleast used a squadron to blow anyone out of the sky.
The pilot checked the radar again. What ever it was on his right. Looking in the direction from the cockpit he saw the unbelievable. A cyan head with a rainbow attached to it was staring in the cockpit tapping on it with what to appeared to be a hoof. He knew the thing couldn't see or hear him but it didn't know that. The pilot then, with some difficulty, banked hard left around a mountain to lose the thing. Once he was in the clear he changed his direction towards the G.F.S. Poseidon.
Rainbow Dash lost track of the object. It had banked left behind a mountain and disappeared. She didn't feel like flying around the mountain to find it as catching up with it and keeping pace took it's toll on her. Rainbow flew to the nearest cloud to rest.
How did those griffons manage to bring one of those things down?
This was her only thought as she lazily made her way back to Canterlot using the cloud as a kind of floatation device.
Samus was starting to panic. The Federation was finally here, the Stiletto fighter was evidence of their presence. What they were doing was beyond her. Fortunately, from what she could get from the griffon's report, was that they didn't come guns blazing unprovoked.
If they harm a single pony anywhere...oh they will get it all right...
The sound of a planet exploding filled her head. A slight smile snuck its way onto her face.
"What are you smiling about?," asked a distant voice.
The bounty hunter snapped out of her vengance planning trance.
"Uh, nothing. Just a funny memory," Samus lied nervously. She was plotting her vengance ahead so she wouldn't do to certain Federation officials what she did to Ridley. The monster deserved every bit of what he got but she didn't want to over punish said officials.
"What was it," asked Pinkie Pie, bouncing on her tail to find out.
"Umm...Don't we have a more important issue at hand?," the still nervous bounty hunter replied attempting to steer the pony away from subject. Samus didn't want to give them the impression of her being hopeless.
"She's right," said the Princess in her reagal voice. "What ever that thing was--"
"Recon craft, stiletto class," Samus interrupted.
The ponies gasped when the bounty hunter committed what many considered a felony.
"So Samus, you knew what the object was. Does this mean it's time?," asked worried Celestia.
"Almost. Now we wait for the delegation..."
Author's Note/Excuses/Apologies/Rambling
Chapter 8. Boring? Probably. Why? That's for you to decide and sorry if you do find it boring. Hopefully the title should explain the gap. 2:45 a.m. and I'm up writing ponies... Thankfully I have a 3 day weekend... oh crap...I just noticed...I left Lyra out...[insert sad Lyra pic here].
The skies over Griffon's Roar started to fill with the war cries of the griffon army. The beasts of war rallied for the upcoming onslaught. In front of them was a giant floating structure releasing smaller objects from its midriff. They could only guess that what ever those objects were. Though their purpose was obvious to all the warriors present. To protect the floating structure. The flock's noise was then silenced by the mighty roar of the griffon king Steeled Talons. His deep voice boomed through out the landscape, as he gave his rallying speech to steel his army's will.
"Today my fellow warriors, our land is faced with a new foe!," bellowed the powerful griffon "It has invaded our land and threatens our people! Will we stand for this?!"
"NO!," roared the mighty flock, the force of their voices shook the trees.
"Then CHARGE, my brothers and sisters CHARGE!,"
The army of griffons rushed foward with fury and force, unrelenting force.
The Federation comms were overloaded. The pilots could hear the booming voice's of the enemy and started filling the channels with miscellaneous chatter and profanity about the event.
"What the hell was that!?!"
"So I wasn't the only one who heard that!?"
"All of us fuckin' heard that."
"That didn't sound like no space pirate I ever heard."
"What the hell did it say?"
"All right let's do this!"
"Something about fighting."
"LLLEEEERRRROOOOYYY..."
"Who the hell set him off?!"
"...JJJEEENNKKKIIINNNSSS!!"
"Aw hell!"
A lone fighter charged foward to meet the enemy.
"Damnit Leeroy! One of these days your gonna get us all killed!"
With that said, the rest of the fighters followed suit and the comms channels started to clear up.
Lyra had been searching all of Ponyville for her newest friend. Everypony she asked gave her the same answer.
"Haven't seen her since Pinkie's party."
Speaking of the party, Lyra decided to look for Pinkie and her friends to see if they have seen Samus today.
Her first stop was Sugarcube Corner as it was closest.
"Hiya Mister and Missus Cake," greeted the seafoam green unicorn cheerfully.
"Hello," the Cakes responded in unision, equally cheerful.
"Have you seen Pinkie lately?," asked Lyra.
"Not since this morning," replied the merry Mrs.Cake. "Pinkie said she was gonna go meet up with her friends at the library."
"Ok, thanks!," Lyra said, satisfied with the information.
The unicorn proceeded to the library only to find a distraught Spike inside.
"Where could she have gone?!," the worried dragon asked himself, pacing as he did so. "It's not like her to just leave with out writing a note or a to-do list."
The baby dragon didn't notice Lyra's appearance.
"Hey, Spike."
"Gah!," the dragon exclaimed in surprise.
"Sorry, is anypony else here?," inquired the unicorn.
"Nope(.avi). Twilight and Samus were here earlier. They were discussing something about a plan. What for I don't know," responded the still worried Spike.
It hit Lyra like a rock.
It's finally happening. They left for Canterlot to negotiate with that Federation.
Lyra's ears flattend in dismay. She would've liked to have gone or at least known.
I know! I can ask Spike to send a letter to the princess! Then maybe I can get to talk to Samus and Spike finds out where Twilight is!
Her ears perked back up.
"Hey Spike," called the unicorn. "Can you write the princess a letter for me?"
There was a sigh in relief when the ponies and Samus saw Rainbow Dash on a cloud making it's way towards the castle. They could obviously see the chase had worn the pegasus out as she was sleeping and letting the wind carry her cloud back to Canterlot.
"RAINBOW DASH!," shouted Pinkie in an attempt to wake her napping friend.
The party pony was successful as she got a yawn and an angry glare from Rainbow.
"I'm up, I'm up," said the pegasus in a tired tone. "I almost executed a Sonic Rainboom chasing that thing."
"Did Ah hear correctly? There's somepony faster than Rainbow?," Applejack asked mockingly.
"No pony is faster than me!," Rainbow Dash said defensively. "Obviously, I was going easy on that thing."
"Rainbow, you just contradicted yourself," Twiligh said matter of factly.
"I did not!," exclaimed the still defensive pegasus.
"You obviously did! If you were going--, wait!," the lavender unicorn blurted out.
A whisp of smoke swirled it's way toward's the princess. It transformed itself into a letter.
"Who used Spike to-- OHMYGOSHOHMYGOSHOMYGOSH I totally forgot to tell Spike I was here he's probably worried sick!"
"Indeed he is," Celestia said calmly. "There's also somepony looking for Samus here."
"That would be Lyra," said the bounty hunter. "I knew somepony was missing from last time. Kind of a shame she isn't here now."
The hunter's face drooped slightly.
"That can be fixed my friend," smiled Celestia magicking a quill and parchment. She wrote a short message and sent it off to Ponyville.
"Princess, what exactly did you write to them?," asked the curious Twilight.
"I told them not to worry about you and to tell the other families you're here in Canterlot. After all, if they worried like this, won't the others?"
"I see the logic in that," commented Rarity. "I don't want poor little Sweetie Belle to worry about me."
"Ah agree, with ya Rarity," said Applejack. "Ah do feel guilty about leavin' Big Mac to buck them apple trees."
"He's a strong stallion, he can buck just a few more trees than usual," Fluttershy said in an attempt to keep her friend from feeling too guilty. "It's not like--"
Her sentence was interrupted by a crash as an armored figure smashed through the court doors. Wooden splinters flew through the air. The guards at the door rushed to deflect debris from hitting the princess. Everypony else dropped to the floor except for Samus who stood staring at the princess and her guards. When the wood stopped flying the ponies raised their heads to see the bounty hunter in a trance staring at the princess and her guards.
"Ahem!," Applejack cleared her throat.
This broke the hunter's trance and she armored up to face what had just smashed the courtroom doors. Everypony now back on their feet glared at the armored figure slowly rising to it's feet. It stood on all fours, larger than a pony, and it's voice shocked the Mane Six.
"Princess Celestia of--"
The thing was interrupted by the united gasps of
"Gilda?!"
Author's Notes/Excuses/Apologies/Rambling
A crappy cliffhanger oh no! Oh well... Did any one get the Super Metroid reference hidden in there? (I tried to make it a Super Metroid reference.) It's in there you just gotta look. Also I apologize for the massive amount of profanity that may offend some one. Too bad FIMFiction doesn't give you a word count when your typing. That would be nice as I try to get all my chapters above 1,000 words.
Samus stared at the armored griffon.
Is that this Gilda they gasped of?
"Ahem," the the griffon now known to Samus as Gilda cleared her throat. "As I was saying, Princess Celestia of Equestria (...Unintentional ryhme. I apologize, it will never happen again.) King Steeled Talons requests your assistance dealing with a new adversary not seen any where in the land of Griffon's Roar. Our troops are doing their best to hold out. The enemy appears to be..."
This is new. The Federation has finally gotten into a war it can win itself.
The bouny hunter smirked at the thought.
"Samus."
The bounty hunter was knocked out of her amusing thoughts by Celestia's call.
"Samus?," called the princess again.
"Yeah?," replied the hunter slowly.
"I am sending you with Gilda to counter this new threat. I'm sure you already have everything you need to solve this problem?"
"I was ready the day I crashed here."
"Excellent! I will have a chariot for you shortly. The rest of you can return to your homes."
"No way!," exclaimed Rainbow Dash. "Sorry princess but I'm not letting her go alone if I can help it!"
"Me neither!," added the eternally supportive Applejack.
"My little ponies, you know this mission is extremely dangerous," countered Trollestia.
"So was defeating Nightmare Moon and Discord, yet we still braved the tasks," Twilight said confidently.
"True, but these are foes we have never encountered before, the Elements of Harmony might not have any effect on them," Celestia stated, worried that this might be a fact.
"What makes you think this?," asked Twilight, frowning at the thought of the most poweful magical force known to ponies having no effect on aliens. "What makes you think they are immune?"
"They are not connected to magic as we are," the sun goddess replied. "Have you seen your friend use magic to complete everyday tasks?"
"No," the lavender unicorn answered bluntly. "That doesn't mean she or any other human is."
"True, as much as I would like to discuss about the subject, I believe you have a chariot to catch."
The group of friends derped for a moment before realizing they were going as a team. The Mane Six trotted hurriedly out to board the chariot. Samus on the other hand stayed put to ask the princess a personal favor.
"I got the leader I my sights!"
"Kill him now!"
The Admiral listened to the comms chatter intently, hoping that this would end the aerial battle. He still needed the pilots and their ships to search for their original target.
"You better have my medal ready after this cause I took that S.O.B. down!"
The Adimral smiled as a few cheers and hollers made their way through the out the communications.
Now that this little squabble is out of the way, maybe we can get to that castle in the scout's report
He took the castle as a good sign. Even better was that it's inhabitants were of a friendly avian race, a conclusion made by the Admiral when the scout's report included an encounter with a strange being that could fly at the same velocity as a stiletto recon. Visiting the castle would have to wait as the comms started to fill with maydays and frantic chatter.
"What the hell just happened?!"
"Those things weren't fighting like this before"
"It's like something really pissed them off!"
The Admiral could hear numerous war cries and roars over the channels. Minutes afterwards, the sounds metal being twisted and bent accompanied by may days filled several channels.
"They're literally tearing me apart over here!"
"Don't worry I got your back, just try shaking the things off."
"I'm getting rushed over here!"
"Accelerate your ass out of there, I'll get them from behind!"
"Admiral, we gotta pull back! They're all over us!"
The warriors now led by the griffon Iron Beak charged after their retreating foes. Though most of the major fighting was over, victory couldn't be declared until King Steeled Talons' death was avenged. They soon caught up with some of the retreating objects and started to rip off their metal hides. The sound of bending metal, breaking glass, and, to the griffon's surprise and pleasure, screams.
"Iron Beak! The glass eyes, break them to find the creature controlling these abominations!," shouted one of the griffons attacking the creature within, barely containing his glee doing so.
Following his fellow warrior's instructions, Iron Beak quickly grappled onto the nearest foe and violently smashed his beak into its glass eye. There's a reason he's called Iron Beak as he could slam his beak into anything and destroy it. Once the griffon created an opening large enough, he stuck his head through to painfully end the creature inside.
Lyra couldn't believe what had just happened. First she was walking home after helping Spike inform the families of the Elements of their loved one's whereabouts, then, with a small popping sound, she had found herself in the Canterlot Castle courtroom in the presence of her friend Samus and Princess Celestia. Samus then quickly ushered her onto a chariot and here she was.
"Lyra?," asked the concerned bounty hunter.
The light green unicorn snapped out of her surprise inducec trance at the sound of her friend's voice.
"Y-yeah?," responded Lyra, still slowed by here trance.
"I have an awesome surprise for you."
"What would that be?," Lyra asked, slowly filling with excitement.
"If I told you, that would ruin the excitement."
"Yeah! That's what makes surprises exciting! You don't know where or when it'll happen or what is until it's in your face!," interrupting Lyra and Samus' conversation. All the talk of surprises had sent the pink pony into rambling on about what
makes a good surprise and how important it is to load confetti cannons with confetti and not cake.
"Can you at least give me a hint?," asked the unicorn, curiosity being added to excitement.
"Let's just say you might lose consciousness from happiness, excitement, and surprise," smiled Samus.
"Are you talking about that?!," Rainbow Dash said bluntly, pointing to a massive grey structure in the air.
"Aw man, you ruined her surprise," said the bounty hunter playfully with a fake frown.
"It wasn't like she wouldn't notice it eventually darling," replied Rarity.
"So? It would've been awesome to see her face," said the bounty hunter.
"What is that thing anyways," asked Lyra confused.
"Federation Flagship probably. I can tell from its size."
"So that thing is full of..."
"Yup!"
Lyra flashed a massive smile and proceeded to ensnare her friend in a hug similar to the one she gave Samus the first time they met. Nopony noticed Twilight flinch when Lyra flashed her smile. They were too busy D'aawing to notice. A suppressed memory of Celestia wearing a similar smile and wide eyes with tiny pupils filled the poor unicorn's head.
"You're the best friend a pony could ask for!," Lyra yelled not caring about her volume. She was lost in a happy bliss.
Author's Notes/Excuses/Apologies/Rambling
Hey guys! Sorry for making you guys wait.(If you were wanting a new chapter.). I was experiencing some technical problems with my computer. When that starts everyone wants my iPod and I'm obligated to give it to them.(Most of the time). With both my writing utensils were unavailable I had to resort to experimenting with, wait for it... Dunn duuuunnnn duuuuuuunnnnn... the Nintendo Wii! To my great surprise and happiness I could use it to write! Though it's no the fastest way to write and it's painfully slow to scroll down to where you want to write it still worked pretty good. Also I heard about Derpy and quite frankly I am disappoint. Really, do you think Hasbro would or even could get rid of Derpy? No, even if they did edit out her name in the iTunes episode doesn't mean it's disappeared everywhere else. In fact I found the original scene on YouTube. So Derpy is not gone! She is still canon! Besides, Derpy is invincible! I'm sorry if I hit a nerve or two or 9001 of them. I just really needed to vent that.
Ponies, Not Pirates, Ponies
Samus's watched the ponies ooh and ahh over everything they saw in the docking bay. Just a minute ago the group disembarked their chariot. The ponies were pretty amazed at the size of the metal beast they had just landed in.
"Sure is amazin'ly huge," whispered Applejack in awe.
"I'm with you there," whispered her magician friend in reply. "What sorcery is this?"
"Why is it so empty?," asked Lyra. "Is this some kind of auditorium or music hall?"
"You could hold on swag party in here!," the pink party pony added cheerfully. "You could build another Sugercube Corner and an awesome stage for live entertainment."
"Or a runway!," added an excited Rarity.
"Now don't get distracted," warned Samus in a buisness like tone. "We're only here to negotiate peace and save my ass."
"There's no need to use such language darling," complained the white unicorn.
"Now let's get back on track, we're going to see the admiral in charge here. He's either going to kill himself and his crew in an attempt to try to kill me or he's going try to sway me into givng myself up. What I'm counting on is you guys distracting him while I pull a fast one on him and I pull a few strings to secure my freedom."
"How exactleh are we gonna distract him?" asked the dubious farmer pony.
"How are you guys not distracting?" asked an amazed bounty hunter. "You're cute, talking, brightly colored, litte ponies! Surely your appearance is enough."
"I am NOT cute," blared Rainbow. "I'm awesome, radical, cool, and I got... SSUUWWAAAGGG!"
The Hunter face palmed.
"Ok Rainbow, you're all of that. Now follow me into the belly of the beast."
Samus led the group of ponies to the shielded door to enter the unknown ship.
The private trodded slowly to his post. Anxiety racked his innards with an intense ferocity making him want to tear his stomache out.
What is it? Of all days it's today Maybe it's the battle that's coming up.
The admiral had made an announcement that the ship will be attacked soon, but he also told them that there was a chance there would be no need as the comms chat was starting to fill with chatter of several successful ploys. The admiral still wanted some of the anti-aircraft guns online just as a precaution.
No, that's not it. Especially with a chance of a false alarm. Maybe it's because I have no idea what we're even doing on this planet. Yeah that's gotta be it. Why would--
The private was knocked out his thoughts by a door down the corridor opening. Unusually light metal footsteps echoed in the hallway followed by clacking noises. The private dashed towards the nearest corner to hide from the sources of the sound to observe them and to use as cover incase he got into a firefight.
Is this a space pirate commando squad? If it is then they are they're pretty damn good. They boarded with out detection. Then again since all the damn comms channels are being abused at the moment, any message of their presence would've been missed.
Peeking his head around, the private's face turned white under his helmet and his heart skipped a beat. Slowly walking in front of the end of the corridor was the infamous bounty hunter. Everyone had heard of what transpired to the Hunter's massive notoriety increase and extreme bounty placed on her head.
Please let this be the anxiety making me hallucinate. Could this get any worse?
The once renowned bounty hunter had gestured for something to follow her. The clacking sounds became louder as their sources approached.
So this is how it ends. A quick one shot by the most infamous being known to the Federation or a slow death by... Ponies!?
The private watched as a group of bright colored ponies walked up to the hunter. An orange one with a old Stetson hat spoke up.
"Ah thought ya'll said there'd be humans swarmin' all over this here flyin' city."
What ever the bounty hunter's response was, he never heard it as his brain was trying to process what he just witnessed.
Ponies can't talk. That's just crazy. Sure you could put a hat on it but you can't make it talk. Hell, how did such an evil person befriend ponies like that it's
"Found one!"
The private blinked to see a pink pony's face in his visor.
"Do I get a prize?," the pink pony asked.
"No," he replied calmly. "Now if you excuse me, I have to avoid my unscheduled appointment with death."
As quick as lightning the private turned around and started hauling his ass out of there.
Samus saw the Federation trooper make a mad dash down the corridor. With out a second thought, she sprinted after after him.
Gotta be careful. Hallways aren't the easiest place to avoid speed boosting into things.
The red glow of the forethought ability began to slowly appear around the hunter, her speed increasing with the glow.
"So thats how you run through a manticore."
Samus looked to her right to see Rainbow Dash.
"Yeah, so you should stay behind me," the bounty hunter said, putting extra emphasis on behind.
"Nah, we've almost caught up with that human," said the pegasus gesturing to tired trooper who had cornered himself.
The bounty hunter skidded to a halt several yards away to insure she didn't kill it by accident, Rainbow following suit. The trooper raised his weapon, shaking fiercely, switching between Samus and the cyan pegasus.
"S-stay back!," it ordered fecklessly. "I have a P.E.D.!"
The pegasus gave her orange and yellow friend a confused look.
"P.E.D.?"
"It's a powerful suit enhancement. Makes the user temporarily invulnerable and gives the user's weapon the abilty to pack one hell of punch. Fortunately he's bluffing," responded the hunter replied with a cold edge.
Rainbow Dash opened her mouth to question Samus but closed it when she saw the trooper stiffen up.
"Ok you got me! Please don't kill me!," the trooper begged. He began to cower holding up his arms in front of his face as if it would protect him.
"Honestly, if I wanted to kill you I wouldn't have chased you down," an annoyed bounty hunter stateed. "I could've just shot you with the ice beam, which by the way wouldn't kill you and before you go numb it hurts like a bitch," she added remembering how the SA-X was conveniently armed with an ice beam to use the metroid's weakness of cold, that had been transferred to her suit via metroid vaccine, to try to freeze and then kill her with super missiles it was also equipped with while she was frozen. (That is also how you kill a metroid for those of you that don't know.)
"Then I would switch off the ice beam and blow your brains out."
Both Rainbow Dash and the trooper flinched.
"But that's not why I'm here. Infact would you be kind enough to take me and my friends to the admiral of the ship so that we may discuss certain matters of extreme importance?"
Samus heard the trooper release a breath of relief under his helmet.
"Is that a yes or a no?"
Author's Notes/Excuses/Apologies/Rambling
This chapter was written under the influence of various Metroid soundtracks. As for that one giant sentance with the SA-X, I apologize if it's an eye sore. I felt that I had to write that in there as it is 100% accurate plus I feel like I haven't mentioned the abomination yet. (I haven't right?)
The Admiral Learns Something New
The Admiral listened to the comms channels, pleased as the chatter was starting to hit positive notes.
"See me trick that fool into slammin' his buddy?"
"That was hilarious! I was surprised and annoyed that they didn't explode. Don't aerotroopers explode?"
"Yeah, maybe it's a new bioengineered pirate that don't need a jet pack."
"Maybe. Someone said they look like big ass birds."
"They are birds bro! I was flyin' next to Rogers and one of those things got onto his ship. Lordy, lordy! Biggest bird I ever seen! If its size weren't enough, the thing had half a lion for a body!"
Birds mixed with lions? What have those pirates been doing?...Oh GOD! What if the rumors are true! What if... they come back?
The Admiral broke into a cold sweat. Yes, Zebes was nothing but an asteroid cluster and the various pirate leaders had been defeated, but what if the rumors were true? Rumors that those same pirate leaders the infamous bounty hunter had killed, have been cloned. Yes it seems silly to fear rumors such as these, but there was some legitimacy to them. It was common knowledge that Samus Aran had defeated space pirate leader Ridley multiple times, emphasis on multiple Each of his reincarnations carrying the same hate as the original with just a bit more added to each death.
No, no, no thats impossible!
His thoughts were soon put to rest by several "Ooh's", "Ahh's", and a "OMYGOSHOHMYGOSHOHMYGOSHOHMYGOSH!".
Spinning on his right heel to see who or why someone was acting like they've never seen the inside of a ship he saw the quite an odd sight. Colorful, little equines and the reason he was here in the first place being led by one of his troopers acting as a tour guide.
"Trooper, what the HELL do you think you're doing?," he demanded.
"Take it easy sir, the bounty hunter is protective of the little ponies," replied the man nervously to his superior.
The admiral glanced at the hunter. Behind the green visor he could feel the piercing stare of her blue eyes.
The ship, its crew, and I will be safe, just as long as I don't do anything stupid and scare or harm those... ponies
"Trooper your are dismissed. As for our "guests"," using the word lightly, "I would like to talk to them in my quarters, in private."
Obeying his commanding officer, the distressed trooper swiftly exited the bridge.
"Now would you please follow me?"
The odd group of colorful ponies and a wanted criminal followed the admiral through the ship, getting odd and frightened looks from the crew members in different areas.
"Uh, sugercube? Do humans always do this?," Applejack asked the hunter. The looks were starting to annoy her.
"Pretty much. Then again this is a special circumstance," Samus replied.
"Special circumstance?"
"Yeah. Since when does saving the entire Federation get anyone knee, well in my case it's probably neck, deep in trouble?"
"When you don't follow orders given by them," responded their "host".
"The fools had no idea what would've happened if I obeyed those orders. Fortunately we can't find out," retorted the hunter.
"You're the fool. You destroyed a could be weapon for our armed forces. Those men out there want to go home but duty calls. The X parasites you destroyed would've been excellent for creating a fresh army to take place of a tired one."
"You're right when you said take their place. Thats what those abominations do. Infect a host, kill it, and copy it perfectly. Infact they clone their host so well they can even copy the knowledge of their victims!"
"These "X Parasites", they can use memory magic?!," Twilight intervened, curious, surprised, and a bit worried.
"I guess you could say that," replied the unicorn's Chozo-human hybird friend. "If it takes me years to find out how to use my power armor properly including all the time I've tinkered with it and learn how to use new upgrades from all the different planets and those horrors can operate it almost instantly then yeah, memory magic is the best explanation I've heard."
"There's no such thing as magic," stated the Admiral cooly without even turning around. "It's all smoke, mirrors, and bodily illusions. If it did exist I doubt a pony like you would be able to handle it."
Samus stopped to see how the unicorn would take this. At first the lavender unicorn looked shocked with her wide eyes and open mouth, jaw to the floor, staring at the man who had the nerve to say that to a unicorn, which by all means is magical. The Admiral also stopped to stare at the magical equine to see what was the matter. With a sudden leap and spontaneous combustion the angry pony began to lecture the military man on just how real magic is and how she was able to use it.
"HOW BLIND ARE YOU, YOU..."
The lecture was filled with a rainbow of language that nopony should know or use followed by some increadibly descriptive actions inlcuding about where a miniature sun should be shoved up, how to do it, and why it was necessary and all of that was topped off by several explicit death threats in which no mercy were to be given.
This vent did not go unnoticed. A large crowd filled the corridor as the spectacle unfolded. It was and still is the strangest sight to ever be seen inside a Federation ship. A flaming pony levitating in midair shouting at you commanding officer about magic while being watched by other noncumbusted ponies and the galaxy's most wanted fugitive is pretty hard to top. Once the flaming equine calmed down, it plopped to the floor appearing singed from it's fiery form. The hallways were then emptied by a glance from the infamous bounty hunter.
As for the group involved, most of them were stunned by their friend's lecture of magic. Lecture being the only word they could think of at the moment as that was not a lecture nor an over zealous rant. Words can describe it but there isn't a word for it. They soon shook themselves out of their trances when Twilight asked if anypony had any water.
"Here you go!," Pinkie said holding out a bottle that came from nowhere.
"Thanks," replied the thankful and thirsty unicorn.
"Now for Equestria's sake please never do that again," asked Rarity. "What we heard should never be spoken of again."
Twilight blushed sheepishly
"Like Tom?," teased Applejack.
"Yes, like Tom," Rarity replied through gritted teeth. The memory of being Discorded into thinking a giant rock was a diamond still embarrassed her.
"I think something like this should be Pinkie promised on," suggested the party pony.
A chorus agreements ensued.
"Samus? Other guy?"
"Sure," the bounty hunter responded with out a second thought.
"What about you other guy?"
No response.
"Other guy?"
Stupid, stupid , stupid! Why did you have to insult the little pony?! You could've killed everyone on this ship!! You're lucky--
"OTHER GUY!"
The Admiral snapped out of his chastising thoughts to see a pair of light blue eyes in his face.
"Do you Pinkie Promise not to speak of Twilight's speech ever again?," asked the eyes.
"S-sure."
"Good!"
The eyes backed off to reveal their pink pony owner.
"Oh I'm Pinkie Pie by the way and I'm going to teach you how to Pinkie Promise cause I'm pretty sure you don't know how but you're going to make one right after this. So first you say 'Cross my heart' then you cross your heart like this."
The pony now known to him as Pinkie Pie swiped one of her forelegs diagonally across her chest.
"Then you say 'Hope to fly' and flap your forelegs or arms in this case like this."
The pony then flapped both her forelegs at her side.
"To complete your oath you then say 'Stick a cupcake in my eye' and you then pretend to stick a cupcake in you eye, like this."
Pinkie stuck an invisible cupcake in her eye.
"Be careful when you do that last part, you might accidentally give yourself a black eye. Twilight knows."
Before he could ask which pony was Twilight the pink pony asked if everyone was ready and began the oath.
"Cross my heart, hope to fly,--"
"Everyone report to their battlestations! Space pirate assault craft engaged with in defensive perimeter! Fire teams Alpha, Delta, Zulu report to hangers One, Two, and Five to repel enemies attempting to board! Repeat fire teams Alpha, Delta, Zulu to hangers One, Two, Five!..."
"What the hay!," exclaimed Pinkie. "That meanie stopped us in the middle of our swear!"
"That "meanie" just alerted us of space pirates! Now follow me back to the bridge and we'll get more information there and, if you want, you'll be deployed as Fire Team Omega," said the Admiral.
Without further delay the group dashed off for the bridge.
Nightmare Moon and Space Pirates?!
Once the small celebration of victory finished Samus turned to the Admiral. His face lost a little bit of color, but not much to be noticed at a glance.
"It seems that we have another problem," Samus said in a serious tone. "You said there's evidence of Space Pirate activity. I need to know where, operation size, and if I can get there."
"Ah yes the Space Pirates," the Admiral began calmly, "we think we may have discovered one of their operations on the planet's moon."
The ponies' faces filled with concern. They didn't know much about these pirates from space but from what they've heard from their bounty hunting friend, who described the pirates vividly, that these aliens are a close second to Nightmare Moon in evil.
"We had a scout pass by the base and they put up energy shields. The scout noted that there was no anti-aircraft fire from the area of operations. Either the guns were out for maintenance or there were none. The latter is an unlikely possibility due to any base of operations being important enough to shield must have some kind of offensive defense, though there is a chance it may just be shielded only."
Samus frowned at this news. She knew something strange had to be going on. Most Space Pirate installations of importance, with a few exceptions, had some kind of anti-air defense. Her mind also had other thoughts on strangely pony related theory about the shield that she couldn't put a finger on.
The ponies chatted nervously among themselves.
"Isn't this dreadful?," Rarity asked the other ponies a bit dramatically. "First the human's unfashionable uniforms and now brutes worse than those diamond dogs are on the moon! What next? A magical plague reduces all colors to grey?"
"Calm down Rarity," Twilight said soothingly. "Everything's alright! C'mon, think about it! Samus knows how to fight Space Pirates, she's beaten them down plenty of times!"
"I'd like to see that," said Rainbow Dash enthusiastically. "None of us really know what our friend looks like in action and I'd bet 20 bits that she has some pretty awesome moves."
"Ah'm kinda interested in what you said there Rainbow," chipped in a curious Applejack. "Seein' how she can fight those griffon vets and come back in one piece. Ah'm also willin' to bet 20 bits that she's got moves that might be useful in the next rodeo."
"Uhm Applejack, there is no betting pool," the cyan pegasus informed the farmer pony.
The apple bucking pony chuckled. "My bad, it sounded like you were making one."
"Girls...," Lyra began nervously. "If there are pirates on the moon... do you think they could've met... Her?"
At first the rest of the equine group gave the human crazy pony a confused look until they put two and two together.
"Do you really think that Nightmare Moon would ally herself with those brutes?," asked Rarity. "Sure the mare was evil but remember what Samus said about the pirates and how they deal with what they don't understand?"
"Use science to make it useful for their cause or destroy it," answered Twilight grimly.
Fluttershy squeaked at Twilight's emphasis on "destroy it".
"But how can we know for sure that they didn't ally themselves? Maybe they're still waiting for some signal Nightmare."
"Thank you Twilight!"
All the ponies spun around to face a smiling Samus.
"I've was thinking of her and how maybe she's connected to the shield, so I'm going to check it out anyways just in case, so you might want to tell your princesses to get ready to make another moon to take your current one's place... also you should probably tell them to move it back as well."
The equines gave their armored friend a confused look which made her smile even more.
"I'm pretty sure I've told you that my missions usually end with a bang."
Day court had finished nearly half an hour ago and Celestia had resigned to tea time with her sister. They were chatting over many topics including socks, rainbows, the appearances of strange new ponies all over Equestria, well Ponyville mainly, and what to do with the wreckage of an alien ship that had crashed several hours earlier.
"So sister, what are we going to do with the wreckage from the thing that fell from the sky earlier?," asked a curious and slightly eager Luna.
Celestia raised an eyebrow mid sip of tea. She then replaced the rather fragile cup on it's saucer with a soft clink.
"I do not know," the Sun Goddess said to her sister. "What would we do with it? Sure we could have our top ponies of science and magic study it."
"Or maybe we can rebuild it!," the moon princess suggested excitedly. "Rebuild it and use it for..."
"Exactly my point, we don't have a use for it," Celestia responded smugly.
"What about using it to transport all these new mysterious ponies out of Equestria?"
Celestia's eye's widened at her sister's suggestion. She didn't really expect her to say something so... crude...
Luna saw her sister's reaction and lowered her head a little.
"Well... we can't have Equestria filling up with strange ponies," she said in a softer voice. "We don't even know if they're citizens, there's no chance in Tartarus that they were born in the country, but what really puts me off is how most of them are amnesiacs or they have strange memories."
The Sun Goddess' face donned a serious look. Her sister was right, Equestria was filling up with more ponies and eventually the clans that handled the food and it's distribution might not be able to handle the radical increase of mouths to feed.
"Luna, I am beginning to think you might be on to something," the elder alicorn told her sibling.
Luna looked at Celestia surprised and confused.
"You've only thought about it for ten seconds," the night princess blurted out. "You can't be serious."
Before the Ruler of the Day could respond to her sister an unnatural roar pierced the the peace and silence causing the royal siblings to teleport to the balcony overlooking the royal garden to investigate the sound. Both of their eyes widened in wonder and a tinge of fear. A massive, gleaming grey object had landed in the garden surrounded by at least a dozen Pegasus royal guards. A few seconds later a rectangle appeared on the side and slid to the left. Were the rectangle once was stood several familiar figures.
Author's Note(s)
Being Captain (of the) Obvious I'm going to tell you we're going to the moon so you better not cry. Hopefully I make these upcoming chapters (If they are going to exist... eventually...) somewhat exciting. Maybe, if my mind allows, there will be a casual party with clones/replicas/members of the same species as our favorite antagonists. (Excluding ones from the Metroid games I haven't played which is The Other M and Prime Hunters and Draygoon, well I think thats it's name, cause it's too easy of a boss fight.) Also I will bet 20 bits that Dark Samus would win against Nightmare Moon.
Twilight and her friends were at Sugarcube Corner recovering from the scare in the Everfree Forest with one of Pinkie's newest creations.
"These are great! How did you come up with it," asked Rainbow Dash.
"I didn't come up with it, Lyra did. She ordered some pancakes earlier today. She said something about humans making pancakes and filling them up with stuff. They called them tacos," replied Pinkie.
"Tacos?"
"Yeah tacos. Weird name isn't it?"
"The name doesn't matter as long as I know you made them. Everything you bake is twenty percent cooler."
"Thanks! Uhh, Twilight? Is something wrong?"
Twilight had been daydreaming about giving Lyra a good lecture on why humans didn't exist.
"No, I'm fine it's just that I was thinking that Lyra needs to stop obsessing about humans. It's gonna drive her or somepony else crazy"
"Cool down sugercube. Just because you don't care for humans just as much as she does doesn't mean you gotta go tell her off," said Applejack wisely. "Besides,why do ya have such hate for them humans any how? Not like you had a quarrel with one of 'em."
"I don't hate them. It's the fact that an intelligent unicorn such as Lyra shouldn't be so crazy about myths."
"Twilight darling, you really must stop this nonsense about her passion for humans," said Rarity. "It's not affecting you or anypony else, well except maybe Bon Bon but she seems to be able to handle it."
"Your probably right Rarity I just have to acc--"
Twilight was interrupted by the sounds of a stampede and screams. The Mane 6 burst out the door to see ponies running to the other side of town.
"What in tarnation has gotten into everypony," inquired Applejack.
"Maybe if we can get somepony to stop and tell us what the hay is going on," replied Twilight.
"Uhh girls," said Fluttershy nervously. The others didn't hear her through the noise so she raised her voice a little.
"Girls?"
Still no response.
"Girls?," she said raising her voice again. Finally with only one volume left to go.
"GIRLS!"
The others came to a halt.
"I'm sorry but uhh, look over there if that's ok with you."
Looking where Fluttershy pointed her hoof, they saw what every other pony was running from.
Samus walked into the settlement as if in a trance. Her mind still in total disbelief.
It's impossible! Unimaginable! But it's here in my face. A planet run by something other than humans or other bipedal creatures! A planet run by ponies! How they accomplished all of this is unfathomable. Do they have some kind of alien technology? Did the Chozo help them?
Her thought of the Chozo knocked her back into reality. Ponies of all kinds were running away from her. Others that had wings flew away from her and some fainted or took cover in nearby structures. All except for the five trying to stop some of the fleeing ponies and the sixth one staring at her and trying to get the others attention.
"GIRLS!"
Samus jumped a little, taken by surprise of the volume of the shout. With the other's attention, the sixth pony pointed at her. The other ponies froze.
This is new. Maybe I can signal to them that I mean no harm.
She started to move her left arm to signal that she meant no harm. The frozen ponies flinched.
If I had to take a guess at why they're afraid of me it's probably how I look
Gazing down, she saw that her suit was still covered in gore.
Yep. I knew I should've found a stream or something to clean off this stuff.
Samus slowly walked closer to the ponies.
"STOP RIGHT THERE"
She stopped in her tracks.
Did...did that pony just talk?!
Samus stared at one that appeared to be a purple unicorn,which then it took a defensive stance
"DON'T YOU DARE COME ANY CLOSER!"
Holy shit, it did! This pony talks!! If this one can, then do the other ones do too? Only one way to find out.
She raised her left arm to remove her helmet. The purple unicorn returned to it's original fearful position, a white pony that also appeared to be a unicorn fainted, and a pink ponie flinched onto its back. Samus continued to remove her helmet to reveal her long golden blonde hair and smiling face.
"Hello," the thing said with what appeared to be happy tone.
Twilight in company sat there in shock.
"Hellllooo?"
Still stiffer than Discord's statue.
The thing reached out to touch Twilight, who reared back to keep it from doing so.
"Knew that would get ya to do something other than sit there," said the thing in it's cheery tone.
Twilight's brain finally recovered from shock but only enough to say one word.
"Muffin!"
It stared back appearing confused.
Twilight's brain finally regained full function and started to overflow with so many questions she could've sworn she saw them fly throught the air. Taking it slow she asked,
"Who are you?"
"I am Samus Aran. Most feared bounty hunter ever known. Well former most feared bounty hunter."
Before Twilight could tell Samus her name interrupted by Rainbow Dash.
"You? Most feared? How can anypony earn that kind of reputation?"
"By destroying planets. I destroyed a three but the third one doesn't count."
Rainbow Dash falls to the ground and laughs with tears coming out her eyes.
"That's a good one," she replies.
"No I'm being serious. I've destroyed three planets."
"C'mon, no pony can do that, the princesses maybe, but you?"
She begins to laugh again.
"Please excuse mah friend Rainbow Dash here," said Applejack.
"She's prolly just jealous of your feats."
"Hey I'm not jealous! I just don't believe that anypony could do such a thing once. Yet she say's she's done it three times!"
"Well it is true," replies Samus. "It wasn't easy either I had to--"
"I'm sorry Samus but I had a few more questions," interrupted Twilight.
"Sure."
"How did you get get here?"
"My ship. Crash landed in a forest back there," answers Samus gesturing her thumb in the direction behind her.
"So your 'ship' was that thing my friends and I found in the Everfree Forest?"
"Probably."
"Last question. For now at least."
"Ready when ever you are."
"How did you defeat that manticore?"
"So that's what that thing was called. I, um... uh... I ran through it."
"You ran through it? Likely story. Now seriously, how did you do it?"
"As I said before, I ran right through it. The proof is on my armor."
"That's what that is! Why didn't you clean your armor off?!"
"Couldn't find any lakes or streams to wash it off."
"Ok, thats enough questions for now."
"So where can I find a place to clean this off myself?"
"I can get you some soap and water at my place."
"I also need you to help me write a letter."
"Ok no problem."
Twilight told her friends to get everypony assembled at the town hall so she could introduce Samus to the town and stamp out any fear. After the group dispersed Twilight had Samus follow her to the library to clean off her armor and get ready for the assembly. While Samus walked and talked to her new pony friend she had one constant thought.
I hope the Federation won't find me here
View Online
Griffons Lose and the Answer Everyone's Been Waiting For (Hopefully)
Samus back flips out of the way of a frozen griffon as it slams into the hangar floor and explodes into a storm of icy shards. Landing on her feet she scans the upper regions of the hangar to find the remaining griffon warriors. It only takes her a few seconds to spot one and she fires a quick burst of her Ice Beam to take it down. It dodges the blasts of ice cold energy with it's surprising agility. Immediately after her Ice Beam barrage a lion's roar from behind alerts Samus to a dive bomb attack. She barely leaps out of the way, transforming into the Morph Ball mid flight. The offending griffon, now on the ground, stabs at the rolling ball of metal with it's beak. Another griffon dive bombs the ball and successfully pins it to the ground. Samus feels a bit of pain as the attack caused major damage to her shields, leaving her at 843 units of energy. While she's pinned she plants a power bomb. The bomb's timer alerts the two griffons and they look down at the spinning explosive. Before they could take flight to get away from the weapon, the power bomb unleashes it's immense fury leaving no traces of the two foes. Returning to her normal form, Samus smiles underneath her helmet. The victory is short lived as one of the few griffon warriors remaining swoops down and grapples on to her helmet and left shoulder with it's eagle talons, lifting her off the ground. Samus' surprise leaves her stunned until the griffon smashes her into one of the many supple crates around the hangar. Having had experience is such situations she fires a missile into the griffon's lightly armored underside. The griffon was frozen solid by the powerful explosive projectile. As with all objects and creatures frozen in mid-flight, the griffon crashed into the ground freeing the bounty hunter from it's clutches. After quickly smashing off the frozen talons still gripping her suit, Samus began to search for the last of the griffons in the hangar.
"I assure you Miss Sparkle, everything is fine. Your friend knows how to handle herself," the Admiral said reassuringly to a worrying Twilight.
"Are you sure?," Twilight asked, her voice trembling slightly. "These are griffon veterans we're talking about here. Rumors say they have the strength of a manticore, the ferocity of a dragon, and less compassion or empathy than Nightmare Moon!"
"And," Rainbow Dash butted in, "she's a bit insane."
The Admiral raised an eyebrow of curiosity
Insane? This is new. Though I need to be careful, I'm already on thin ice letting the bounty hunter be free, asking about her sanity might just get everyone here killed
"Rainbow Dash!," Twilight scolded. "Don't say such things, sure she's a bit... off... but I think any one would be with history like that."
"You're probably right," Rainbow Dash said apologetically. "But still, that look she had on the chariot gave me the creeps."
"Same here," added Applejack. "I haven't seen anypony make a face like that, except well, maybe me when Pinkie pulled that prank with pears." She shot Pinkie an annoyed look.
"Oh come on AJ, it couldn't have been that bad," the party pony said in her ever cheerful voice.
"It was Ah tell ya! Ah, in all mah days..."
The Admiral felt a tap on his shoulder so he turned around to see one of his ship's communications officers.
"Sir, Federation HQ is waiting for your report on the planet and on the status of the mission," reported the officer.
"Patch them through, but make sure the video screen won't pick up any trace of them," the Admiral gestured towards the colorful equines. "They don't need to get involved any further."
"Yes Sir," replied the communications officer. "Also, what about the bounty hunter? I've heard you might let her go."
"That is true, but it's necessary."
"Necessary Sir? What about the reward or the punishment?"
"Who cares about that? I'm ensuring most everyone here makes it home."
The officer smiled at his leader.
"Well Sir, I think we've kept HQ waiting long enough," he said with a slightly cheerful tone.
With that said the comms officer and the Admiral walked to the video screen.
"...and there were pears every where needin' to be cleaned--," Applejack stopped in mid-sentence. She was the first to notice their host wast missing.
Everypony else looked curiously at the apple farmer and then at the once occupied space.
"I knew it!," declared Rainbow Dash. "He's gone and back stabbed us!"
"Or he had some business to take care of," added Lyra calmly. "He is the commander of this thing we're in. Maybe he's checking on something."
"She does have a point Rainbow," Rarity agreed. "He is fighting an army of griffons. Something probably needs to be checked on or maybe the battle's over. Speaking of checking up on something, I wonder how our friend Samus is coming along."
"You heard the Admiral, he said she can handle herself. Besides, if what she's done is true, a few griffons won't be too big of a problem."
"Yes I heard that but remember what Twilight said? These are VETERAN griffons. She might be in a tight spot. Oh I wish we could help."
"How could we help?," asked Fluttershy in her soft tone. "I mean, they have the attributes of some of the most mean and evil creatures in Equestria, how could we stand a chance?"
"It's easier with a suit like mine."
The group of ponies snapped their heads in the direction of the voice to find their warrior friend smiling at them. In a blur of motion the bounty hunter was surrounded by the colorful equines.
"Well those griffons aren't veterans for nothing," began Samus, some what exhausted by her fight. "I didn't think they'd be that agile or fast in that armor of theirs but this new tale is for later. Right now I want to know if that admiral back stabbed me."
"I wouldn't dare think of that, there are too many lives at stake."
Samus turned on her heel to face the Admiral.
"So you're letting me go?," asked the bounty hunter in an astounded voice.
"Yes, but I'm going to have to remain here a few days longer," sighed the Admiral in disappointment. "HQ was disappointed that the bounty hunter that set the beacon here crash landed into a "hostile creature's den" and that you aren't planet side."
Samus frowned. "That sounds a bit too... accepting of HQ... are you sure they aren't going to send a fleet over here to search?"
"Sort of.," began the Admiral in serious tone, "there's going to be a research lab orbiting the planet eventually. HQ was interested about the planetary scan failures we had earlier, the flora and fauna, possible resources, and evidence of Space Pirate activity."
Samus groaned in frustration.
"So the Admiral here did back stab you!," Rainbow Dash yelled, attracting a few stares. "Why I'm gonna--"
"No, Rainbow, he didn't," the bounty hunter sighed. "He kept his end of the deal, but I totally forgot about HQ and it's inability to just stop."
"So don't give up hope!," Pinkie said cheerfully in an attempt to brighten up her friend's mood "I mean sure this HQ is going to be constantly watching the planet but we got your back! Not to mention that we have plenty of tricks to keep you hidden."
Samus gave the hyper active pink party pony a smile. She knew Pinkie was right. The Federation hasn't encountered talking, magical ponies before this planet. That gave her hope that even with the Federation in the night sky she would be hidden by methods unknown to her pursuers.
Author's Note
It's been a while but I'm back.... sorta... Not gonna lie, I'm not sure if this is the ending much less if I'm going to have enough motivation/inspiration to write. I kinda think I can't make this the ending because well... so far the story's been pretty boring in my opinion and probably yours as well. Also I kind of wanted to do something with the moon (Why not? It might make things a bit more interesting.) ... but still... not sure of anything because of my inability to think of what happens next at a pace faster than a snail.
