Chapter 1: Meeting in the Hospital
"How did you get here?" Starfire asked, almost as excited than Pinkie Pie during the Holiday Season ( Think about it: Hearth's Warming AND Hanukkah parties?! Best part of the year. ). Almost a month ago, she'd only seen Captain Noah Stone ( Now Northern Stone ) in memories given to her by Trinity, her AI . Now she could actually talk to him! Her excitement was also that she had arrived at the Crystal Empire. Her dream for the past week or so was getting her friends to safety. Now that they were in Crystal territory, they finally were.
Northern Stone chuckled at the overwhelmed filly. "Well, I'll give you the short story. I crashed here a month or so ago. Immediately, I found Dawn, that changeling who was here earlier. Her mother, Queen Pupa, gave me some Changeling energy, so that's why I'm a pony and not a six-foot-tall armored demon. I then found my way here and convinced Princess Cadence to talk to Pupa in exchange for helping to form and train some new guard units. When I heard rumors of a group of ponies wandering through the desert, I went looking for them. But I never thought I'd find you."
'Well, that would explain how you transformed into a human at the slave camp.' Trinity said. 'But, what happened to the ship?'
"When the Morning Glory crashed, it caused a mountain to collapse on it. All I managed to grab was my pulse carbine, an energy magnum, an energy ammo charger, and that hard-light storage unit I store extra gear in. Other than that, everything else is still inside."
'Captain, aren't you forgetting someone?' said a soothing British accented voice. Stone face-hoofed, then spoke.
"Almost forgot. Starfire, I want you to meet Prometheus. He's an AI, like Trinity."
The small blue pegasus reappeared next to Stone. He bowed to Starfire in a very formal manner. 'Greetings, young one. I see that you happen to know a friend of mine. How are you today, Trinity?'
Trinity giggled in a very un-Trinity way, leaving Starfire to assume they were a bit more than friends. Stone rolled his eyes and huffed, causing both AI to look at him before disappearing. "Anyway, kid, I heard about your obsession with the Shadowbolts. I was hoping I could use the name for something I'm setting up. Can't really talk about it yet. So what do ya say?
Starfire didn't even have to think before she yelled "Yes".
"Thanks," replied Stone. Bowing slightly, the green pegasus turned and walked out the door.
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Starscream was impatient. While her host was quite useful, she was able to remain in control most of the time. This infuriated Starscream to no end, for she wished to go ahead and slaughter everypony she could for her king. However, there was a job to be done, and by Nightmare she would do it. All she had to do was wait.
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Approaching the throne room, Stone was surprised to see several guards, both transformed changeling and pony, sitting outside the door. What was unusual, though, was the fact that every one of them was covering their ears. Opening the door, Stone saw Cadence and a second alicorn (Who looked like every picture of Luna he'd ever seen, albeit pink) yelling at each other. Assuming the Luna doppelganger was Pupa, Stone walked in further and saluted. "Northern Stone, reporting as requested, ma'ams! I assume peace talks are going well?"
Both ponies stopped yelling at each other and looked at Stone. Pupa was the first to speak. "Ah, good morning, Captain. How is the bat pony downstairs?"
Stone glared at her. "Starfire is quite fine. I'm here to tell you both that the Shadowbolt initiative is ready to begin. With your permissions, I would like to take Starfire and Dawn to Ponyville to begin recruiting."
Cadence was the next to speak. "Why take the fillies? What would be the point? Besides, both are of species considered enemies of Equestria."
"I am aware of that, Princess," Stone began. "We just need to disguise Starfire's wings, and Dawn can turn into a pony. As for the point, I need a cover story for why I'm staying in town. I could say that I'm visiting a friend with my nieces, or something like that."
Both alicorns looked at each other, before nodding. "Due to the fact that my sister-in-law currently resides in Canterlot," Cadence said with both sadness and pride, "I have contacted an old friend of mine who lives there with her young daughter. You'll be leaving tomorrow and staying for a week. Is that alright?
Stone nodded once more. "Princess, I think that will be just fine.
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Early the next morning, the trio boarded the train and prepared to leave. Throughout the day, the rest of Starfire's band departed to various parts of Equestria. They were on vacation, but also had been asked to help gather pegasi for something. They hadn't been told what for, but all had agreed to help. However, they didn't suffer the issues Stone had to. The biggest problem were the fillies. Both needed to be disguised in order for them to blend in. Thankfully, though, Stone had ponies willing to help. Dawn had transformed into a small light purple earth pony with a blue mane, and Starfire had wing covers over both her wings, courtesy of Sparkler. Soon enough, it was time for the train to vacate the station for parts unknown to the three travelers. As the train left, Stone watched both fillies climb into their seats. Their tickets had provided them with a private compartment, and a sliding door. Looking out the window, Stone was amazed that such a primitive planet had trains. Looking back at the fillies, he was amused to see them sleeping. Shaking his head, Stone examined his body in an attempt to understand it.
Due to a magical mishap involving Dawn (Story for another time), Stone had been given the ability to change back and forth between human and pony. A month ago, Stone had had little control over his abilities. Now, Stone was able to change at will and use limited magic, including telekinesis and incendiary abilities. Looking over the rest of his body, Stone examined his wings, hooves, disguised prosthetic, tail, and cutie mark. Even after a month, it took a lot of effort from Prometheus to keep him from screaming in terror. Sighing, Stone wondered about what his old squad mates would say if they could see him. Stone deactivated the hologram around his hoof and used the now stubby fingers to clutch the amulet around his neck. Fortunately, it wouldn't work while he was in this form. Laying his head on the cold glass of the window, Stone drifted into sleep.
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When the train arrived in Ponyville, Stone had to forcefully wake up Dawn and Starfire. After finally waking them up, they grabbed their luggage and left the train. Almost immediately, Stone was thrown to the ground by a pink blur. "Surprise?" Starfire asked. "How'd you get here? And why are you pink?"
"Silly filly, i'm Pinkie Pie! And I've never seen you in Ponyville, so that makes you new! Andi'msohappytomeetyouIcouldjustscream..."
"Pinkie," Stone said to the almost psychotic mare. "I understand you want to throw us a party, but could we please find the place we're staying? It'll be one-and-a-half-hours EXACTLY, I promise. Okay?"
"Okay! See ya!" said Pinkie Pie as she vanished from view. Stone brushed himself off and walked down Mane Street. Not two minutes later, they found the house they were looking for. It was a simple house at the end of the street. When he knocked on the door, Stone heard hoof-steps coming towards the door. It was opened by a young filly with greyish-violet fur and a grey-gold mane. "Hello sir. Who are you?"
Stone felt the filly's eyes bore into him as he spoke. "I'm Northern Stone, and this is Dawn and Starfire. Is your mother home?"
"Yes, hold on!" The door slammed shut, and the little filly could be heard running through the house. Several minutes later, a larger-sounding pony walked towards the door. Stone straightened himself and prepared for the door to open.
He didn't expect it to fall off it's hinges.
Inside the house stood a frozen grey mare, her yellow mane covering her eyes. "Good morning, ma'am. Are you the friend Cadence told me about?" Stone asked.
The mare brushed her mane out of her eyes, and Stone felt a wave of pure adorableness flow over him. The mare's eyes were pointing in opposite directions, one up and one down. When she spoke, her voice was slightly deeper than a normal mare's, but made her more adorable in a weird wall-eyed talking pony way.
"Why hello there. My name is Derpy Hooves. Would you like a muffin?"
Author's Note
I would like to thank D9_cat for stepping in to pre readthis. Hope you enjoy!
