Sky Captain and the Equestria of Tomorrow

Dark storm clouds loomed over the land of Equestria. The apathetic torrents of rain beating upon the backs of miserable ponies brought the pollution that they'd released into the atmosphere back down into the city streets, poisoning water and soaking straight through expertly groomed coats to cause bizarre rashes on the skin underneath.

Canterlot may have been a great city, once.

Flying her small prop plane just above the foreboding cloud cover, the Sky Captain imagined the sight she would find beneath her. She despised having to visit the city, but it seemed necessary to see if Princess Celestia could offer any wisdom on the nation's latest threat. She can't have had her head so far in the clouds that she didn't hear what had happened... right?

She abruptly became aware of a voice nattering away from the seat behind her. “I find that hot sauce is simply too hot, so I go for something less abrasive, such as ketchup or mayonnaise. Mustard is not spicy, but the taste leaves so much to be desired! I simply cannot take such distasteful choice in condiment and retain my alleged status as a connoisseur. But relish, that is a wonderful choice. It is very sweet and—“

“Please, for the love of Celestia, will you be quiet!”

“Why, for whatever reason, my traveling compatriot?” He seemed blissfully unaware of just how irritating he was.

“Because every moment I hear you is another moment I wish all of Equestria would just disappear. Please keep try to keep it to interesting topics?”

Snips seemed more confused than anything else at this point. “Why didn't you tell me to stop earlier?”

Scootaloo sighed and replied, “Because I wasn't paying attention before. I need to focus now, and you talking is stopping me from doing that.”

Snips huffed angrily, but fell silent. The pegasus pilot breathed a sigh of relief, slowly pitching her controls down and steeling herself for the descent into Canterlot.

The propeller on the front of the aircraft dipped into the dark clouds, choking briefly on the thick, asthmatic mixture of moisture and toxic fumes, before it seemed to accept the new air filtering through and began running smoothly once again. The conditions within the cloud didn't seem too favorable on the hull of the plane, however, and it began jostling the small metal bird to and fro within the brooding mist. The less-than-ideal conditions kept making Snips' eyes dart back and forth as he heard moans and groans coming from all around him, and several times, he would quickly reach up and grab Scootaloo as though she were a life preserver. She found his actions comical and giggled at each new pace he went through.

Suddenly, there was a deafening crash.

Scootaloo slowly opened one eye and looked around. She was still flying the plane.

Snips looked about ready to burst. His eyes were full of panic as he searched for their assailant.

The orange pegasus laughed once more at her fearful cargo. “That was just lightning.”

“Just lightning! That is lightning! It shocks and electrocutes all it touches!” He paused for a moment. “... So, uh, why aren't we dead?”

“Because I insulated my plane, like any intelligent pilot would. A couple of the things that were stuck on the outside are probably dead, but nothing that Apple Bloom can't replace in a few minutes.” She shrugged, her posture indicating her lack of worry, and the atmosphere in the cockpit seemed to relax somewhat.

“Well... if you say it's no big deal, then it's no big deal!”

No sooner had he uttered these words that the cloud cover broke, giving each of them their first glimpses of Canterlot.

Scootaloo hadn't been here in just over eight years, but it seemed like a century had passed for the once-noble city. Perhaps the rain was giving her a further negative sight, but... it was disgusting.

The only part of the entire city that seemed to gleam was the royal palace itself. Even the sections that the nobility had once seeked solace in were now decrepit canning factories and textile mills.

The poor sections of town now seemed to be the centers of activity. Massive metropolises of shacks and shanties swarmed around brick fortresses that reached their stovepipes toward the dark sky like sickly fingers trying to feel light one more time, their death throes belching out a white smoke that mixed into the rain and washed the workers in their own labor and shortening their lives as they coughed and wheezed their breaths ever shorter.

She took all this in at a few glances, appalled at the state of the once-proud capital of Equestria. She remembered the gleaming white stone on some of the noble houses when she took her first airship that seemed to beckon them closer and closer, a feature that was painfully lacking now. Even the poorer sections of town had seemed to smile at her in their simplicity before. Not this... sell-soul industrial park.

She would take care of her business as quickly as she could and get out.

Behind her, Snips let out a gasp as she craned the controls down further, giving the both of them vertigo. “Hey, do ya mind? I'm trying to look at the city!”

“That's just what I don't want to see.”

Her ominous words hung in the air, her passenger reserving his opinion for the first time the entire trip.

She swooped the plane toward the castle, its dilapidated yet still magnificent walls a beacon for her as she overtook them and made for a long airstrip on the other side. She mechanically maneuvered her craft between the slowly pulsating red lights that lined the edges, coming in smoothly and touching down with the feel of years of routine experience.

No sooner had she killed the engine that she saw two guards marching toward her, one white and one gray, officiousness and ever-so-slight hostility evident in their steps. One of them activated his horn and pointed a crudely made rifle at the cockpit. “Who goes there?”

“Sky Captain Scootaloo. Seems they slashed the budget for properly arming the Royal Guard.”

The guards both self-consciously looked at the firearm, noticing its substandard design and exchanging glances of shame before the other guard demanded, “What business do you have here, Sky Captain?”

“I come to warn Princess Celestia of a threat to Equestria so that she may properly prepare her nation.”

There was another pause as the guards once more exchanged glances, this time of affirmation. The same guard spoke. “And what of your passenger?”

“My name is Snips, and I will be accompanying the Sky Captain!”

“Provided it be allowed, of course.” She would leave him behind if necessary. She was actually quite hoping for it.

“If you will vouch for your passenger, he may accompany you.”

“... Yes, I vouch for him.” Celestia, why am I so nice?

“Very well. Come with us.” The guards turned to lead the way, giving Scootaloo and Snips time to disembark from the plane before taking up positions on both sides of them and escorting them to Princess Celestia's chambers.

The interior of the castle seemed quite nice, though Scootaloo had never actually seen the inside before, so she had no comparison to make. There were tapestries, stained glass, and elaborate rugs adorning most of the corridors, giving a sense of true royalty to the few who got to see it.

Relatively quickly, a chamber door was opened, revealing a large white pony standing next to a throne, her flank turned toward them as she studied a large map of Equestria.

“Princess Celestia, the Sky Captain requests your presence!” The officious tone of the guard penetrated the air and commanded attention.

The princess looked up from the map. “Oh, is that so?” She shifted her glance to Scootaloo, a warm smile coming across her features as she saw her company. “Ah, hello young Scootaloo. And your companion Snips as well? I'm glad to see the two of you are getting along.”

There was a shocked silence. “How did you—never mind. I have something of grave importance to tell you, princess.”

The white alicorn's smile faded as a look of dissatisfaction replaced it. “Ah... always business. I do wish you would simply visit more often. This is your first time in the castle, is it not?”

“Well... yes. Perhaps once this crisis is averted, we can discuss more pleasant things. I'd rather we discuss the concern at hand, though; I'm a very busy mare as of late.”

Princess Celestia sighed. “Very well... let us discuss the concern you have.” The princess sat down upon the floor of the throne room and turned her attention to Scootaloo. “What is this crisis that so urgently demands my attention?”

Scootaloo took a deep breath. “Well... there's been attacks on quite a number of cities recently. Perhaps you've heard about them. Normal mares and stallions with seemingly superpony powers have been attacking masses of citizens. Mind control, super strength... those are what I encountered, at least.” Scootaloo paused for a moment, getting only silence in return. “I managed to take one of them alive, experiencing firsthand the mind control, and she also used what appeared to be super strength to grip my plane with her bare hooves. She spoke cryptically when I did speak with her, guessing at some of the vices the interrogators had and seeming to be right.” She once again fell silent, expecting a response from Princess Celestia.

“I saved her as well! I snuck up behind the mare she was fighting and hit her across the head!” Not who she expected to talk.

Princess Celestia looked deep into Scootaloo's eyes. “Did she give you a name?”

“She said Lela Jetsam. I'm pretty sure that's not her real name, though.”

“You are correct. Hmm... Lela Jetsam....” She trailed off into silence again for a few moments, trying to recall something. “Ah, her name is actually Majestella. They like to make up code names with the letters already contained within their names. They will often sound far stranger than common names.”

Scootaloo nodded. “So, you know who they—er, she is?”

Princess Celestia nodded. “That I do. Princess Luna, contrary to what the papers say, has been personally overseeing the training of new guards, not receding into hiding. It's a secret project, but it takes up nearly all of her time. I often have to raise and lower the moon myself, it's been keeping her so busy.”

“So... what exactly does the program entail?”

“I can't tell you much, Scootaloo. Some secrets are better left untold.” She gave the orange pegasus a no-nonsense glance. “The only part that troubles me about all this is why soldiers under her command would be attacking innocent citizens.” She looked past Scootaloo and Snips at the two guards standing watch at the door. “Guard, will you please notify Princess Luna that I request her presence at her earliest convenience?”

Only silence greeted her.

Princess Celestia's eyes immediately hardened. “She knows.”

Before anypony else could say anything, Princess Celestia jerked one of her hind legs up as if she'd been stung by something. Her horn flared with magic, the yellow glow enveloping an earth pony that was attempting to retreat into the shadows, dragging the cloaked and hooded assassin into the light.

Before them lay a dark purple mare that was no older than Scootaloo when she discovered her cutie mark. She glared insolently at the princess who had revealed her, seeming to dare the powerful alicorn to come closer, her equally as dark blue mane now splayed on the hard floor beneath her.

“What have you done?” The princess's voice cracked. She seemed to know something Scootaloo didn't.

The mare smiled smugly. “I've brought Equestria to the past. Princess Luna will be pleased.”

Princess Celestia swayed on her hooves. “Don't you see what you're doing?” She winced slightly, still swaying back and forth, then turned to the Sky Captain. “Scootaloo, I need you to stop her.”

There was nothing more said from the princess as she summoned the last of her strength to bring the head of the pony she was holding down onto the hard tile, knocking her out. The princess then crumpled to the floor next to her assailant, surrendering herself to the poison that had been injected into her body.

Scootaloo and Snips stood in stunned silence briefly before Scootaloo looked at her friend and said, “We need to find somewhere to hide.”

“Shouldn't we raise the alarm?”

She sighed. “Luna's probably got agents like this one everywhere. If we try to raise the alarm, it will only make it easier for them to find us. Let's hide and see what happens.”

Snips nodded understanding, and the two of them found a large curtain to hide behind near the exit. They walked close by the guards, both of whose eyes were glazed over, their mortem grasping them before they had even had a chance to feel pain or relax their muscles.

They remained perfectly still for several long minutes before a guard burst in the door. “Princess Celestia!”

Snips began to move as if to speak with the guard, but was quickly stopped by Scootaloo, who shook her head warningly.

After a few moments looking around the throne room, the guard removed his helmet, making a strange shape with his mouth, but no sound came out. A few moments later, three more similarly disguised ponies entered the room, removing their helmets. She counted two pegasi, an earth pony, and a unicorn.

“What a mess... she got herself knocked out.” One of the pegasi, a dark green stallion, trotted forward, inspecting both of the bodies lying on the floor. “Well... Free Flyer, I guess you get to do the honors.”

“Yep.” The other pegasus, a younger-looking mare, approached Princess Celestia's unconscious body. She then reached unceremoniously around the ruler of Equestria's head and gave a swift, powerful jerk. The helpless alicorn's neck made a sickening crunch as the bones twisted, and her skull flopped pathetically to the ground, never to rise again.

Scootaloo stared in wide-eyed terror. Snips let out a strangled gasp.

As one, the four ponies turned to look at the curtain.

Scootaloo tilted her head toward Snips. “Run.”

The both of them dashed out of the throne room as quickly as their legs would carry them. Almost immediately, Scootaloo felt her back legs enveloped by a magical field. She was being dragged backward.

Snips summoned magic of his own and picked up one of the discarded helmets, flinging it toward the dusky grey unicorn casting the magic. It hit her horn, causing her to stop casting momentarily.

That was all Scootaloo needed. She galloped as quickly as she could around a corner, Snips leading her by a small amount, the both of them trying desperately to get back to the plane.

Behind them, they could hear two sets of hooves galloping toward them. They were being followed.

They passed through empty corridor after empty corridor, the castle eerily absent of guards. It appeared this had been planned well ahead of time. She sincerely hoped there were no more ponies like the ones following them. Celestia knew what they were capable of.

Princess Celestia. Was she really gone? She couldn't be killed that easily... could she?

There was still so much more for them to talk about. Scootaloo had never gotten the chance to ask her about where Equestria was going—the industrial boom, the state of affairs, perhaps going back to the old earth pony way of doing things....

Now Equestria was without a ruler.

Actually... Equestria had a ruler. Princess Luna.

She shook the thoughts from her head. Order her own sister's death? Scootaloo would never believe it, not even if Princess Luna told her herself.

They emerged into the dark of day, the Sky Captain's plane still soaking under a malicious cloud cover. Snips summoned his magic to open the cockpit, and Scootaloo flared her wings briefly to lighten herself, leaping onto Snips' back, then onto the wing of the plane, then quickly reaching her hooves down to lift her helper up. They both dove into the cockpit, which Scootaloo shut with the push of a button, then hit the ignition and began taxiing their getaway vehicle onto the runway.

Behind them, four ponies emerged, the two pegasi immediately moving to intercept the plane.

They were too late; Scootaloo was going to be able to take off. She hit the accelerator, the plane's propeller spinning faster and faster.

They didn't move.

Scootaloo looked behind her, where the pegasi were getting ever closer. She also saw the glow of magic around the tail of the plane, the same orange that had enveloped her hindquarters before. The unicorn was stopping her again.

Snips was watching behind them in terror. “Do something!”

“Buckle up.” She flipped open a small, clear panel, revealing a button, which she quickly pressed.

Nothing happened. She continued to not move while the two pegasi got closer and closer. She could see the earth pony galloping toward them now, too.

She pressed the button several more times, hoping for some response. “Stupid lightning... it may have killed us after all.”

Suddenly, there was a jerk and a faint purple glow all around the plane. Snips fell forward out of his seat.

“I told you to put on your seatbelt.” Scootaloo pressed the button a few more times, then the plane suddenly jerked, the purple glow sustaining around the plane as it took off speedily down the runway.

Snips looked behind them. “Uh... we may have a problem.”

Scootaloo glanced backward, where not only the two pegasi but also the earth pony were swiftly catching up to them. “Sweet Celestia, they have super speed, too? Is there anything these ponies can't do?”

The plane reached liftoff speed, and Scootaloo pulled back on the controls, the plane lifting off into the sky. Behind them, the earth pony launched himself into the air, just barely managing to catch the tail and swinging his hind legs up to better grip the hull.

Scootaloo grinned. “Well... we're not out of the water yet.” The two pegasi likewise continued to gain on the plane, somehow managing to come up on both sides of it. They had to be going nearly fast enough to give Rainbow Dash a challenge. She moved the throttle forward, the plane speeding up and making her feel the G-force.

Still, the earth pony held on, his hooves clinking on the metal as he approached the cockpit. Still, the pegasi continued to near the cockpit.

Scootaloo pitched the plane upward, towards the clouds. Perhaps she could lose them in there. She plunged into the darkness, unknowing and uncaring of where she was. She just needed to get rid of her assailants. Still, they persisted.

The earth pony poked his head up and over the underside of the plane, his head peering into the cockpit. He grinned wickedly, causing Snips to whimper audibly. The two pegasi likewise had just caught up to the cockpit, the both of them swooping in and attaching their hooves to the metal exterior of the plane as well.

Then, the three of them began striking the glass of the cockpit. Hard.

Scootaloo could hear the glass cracking under the strain. If they got in the cockpit, it was all over. Her gun wouldn't be very effective against Supermare times three.

Or would it? She touched the gun in its holster with her hoof to reassure herself that it was there. She hoped it didn't come to that... but she couldn't see another way out of this.

Swiftly, she saw spiderwebs forming over the glass she was attempting to look through. This was not good.

Just as suddenly, there was a loud cracking sound. She reached for the gun at her side and brought it to bear.

There were no more ponies trying to get into the cockpit.

She glanced quickly downward, where she saw three smoking pony bodies spiraling toward the ground below, quickly disappearing into the dark cloud.

Scootaloo breathed a sigh of relief. “Nearly short-circuited my anti-magic field, then got three super-ponies all at once... weather is a fickle thing.”

Snips asked in a panicked voice, “What happened?”

“We survived. What did you think happened?”

“Well... I thought they'd made it in.”

“Well, be glad they didn't.” There was an awkward silence in the cockpit for several minutes while Scootaloo tried peering through all the cracks in the window and Snips collected his nerves.

Finally, the ochre unicorn summoned the courage to ask a question. “Where to now?”

“Repairs. Then we find out just what this army is that we're dealing with.”

“And how do you propose to do that?”

“We visit an old friend.”