.
“Maintain Radio-contact!” Rarity points out.
“Of course, Rarity; Thank you, I will!” I respond, leaving the radio on.
At first, the road is straight and even. While fairly narrow, it is at least wide enough for three or four ponies to trot side by side.
If the road would permit four Ponies to trot side by side; but there is just me here, right now.
I continue to trot along the road, in a slow place; since I have no idea, as to how long this road even is. I try to pace myself, as I am heading off into what seems to be the sun-set.
“Is this Celestia’s sun, or Luna’s?" I ponder, contemplating the landscape around me.
Based on the landscape I can see, this looks like the Moon. The desolation; the void and the absolute emptiness I see, before me.
As I cast a glance back; I can still see the structure, I had just left behind.
“Ground to Twilight.. Ground to Twilight, over!” I hear a new voice I recognize as Fluttershy.
“Twilight to ground.. Twilight to Ground, over!” I respond, once more picking up the pattern of response.
“This place is weird!” I ponder.
“Ground to Twilight!” she responds; “Proceed to Alpha Base!” she continues.
“Twilight to Ground!” I respond; ”Proceeding to Alpha Base!” I confirm.
“So there is an Alpha Base, up ahead?” I ponder.
“Do not stray from the road, please; it may be lurking dangers of off the road, Twilight!” the voice points out, with a fluttering and shy tone to it.
“Wonder; who I am to see, at the Alpha Base?” I consider; expecting the voice to belong to another friend, as I get there.
Of course, nothing really happen; as I continue down the road, for several minutes ahead. Then again, why should anything happen? What could possibly happen, anyway? I have no idea.
Just as expected, nothing does happen. I just continue to follow the road before me, following the traditional Equestian etiquette for trotting along a road. If I am alone, changes exactly nothing.
While the road mainly do stay the same; the surroundings does not, as I continue further and notice how the terrain slowly shift a little bit. Just a gradual shift, nothing one would have noticed.
The road had been straight, as it started out, but the terrain had apparently corrupted it bit by bit; leaving it twisting this way and that, still staying smooth. It is almost, as if I had been trotting on a discorded snake; turned into a road, upon which I can trot.
”How did they ever make this road?” I ponder.
Maybe it is fortunate, I can not see how this road had been; before I had found myself in this twisted world, where the Magic is changing the world as I am approaching. The original black plastic; now looking as if it had been grey rock, cut out into the landscape of ever shifting ground.
Of course, the ground adamantly stay the same lifeless gray. How could I possibly have been imagining anything else? Not even Discord himself would bother even considering to change that. Not here. Certainly not for me.
It is the same magic, that turned the black plastic into the grey rock I am trotting on; as was responsible for tuning the Doll-house I came from, into a living place I could at least call a home.
Why all these levels had been stacked, one on top of the other; I have no idea, but it is the home I had found myself in. For now I am trapped, in the place I am currently exploring; with no chance of ever going home, for all I know. All assuming; the Equestria I called home, is still in existence. What if my previous memories, and my previous life is but a dream I am now forgetting?
What I have before me, feels as real as the home I had in the Golden Oak Library. How do I know which is the truth? Is it the Library, or the road upon which I am currently trotting? All assuming; I am indeed the Pony I think I am, and not something else and very different?
“Ground, to Twilight!! Ground,to Twilight!” the voice cuts in, breaking the pattern of my thoughts.
“Twilight to Ground.. Twilight to Ground!” I respond.
“Ground to Twilight!” the voice comes back; “You should be close to the cross-road!” she offers.
“Twilight to Ground!” I respond; “Cross-road?” I inquire, just before I finally do look up to see where I am going.
“Continue straight ahead, the Alpha Base should be just a mile beyond the cross-road!” she explains.
“To Alpha Base!” I respond; “Straight ahead!” I continue, as I continue trotting forwards along the road.
“Base Alpha!” I ponder; “Wonder how that looks, and how far ahead of me it is located!” I consider.
While I had already trotted along the road for an entire mile or so, this road is rather tricky. I have nothing to measure against and nothing to focus my gaze upon.
“This landscape is tricky!” I ponder; “I am used to having life and living beings around me!” I consider; “Vegetation, critters and sentient Ponies; but where are these in the void surrounding me, now?” I inquire.
Of course, there is no response and no answer. None to hear, head or respond is before me; at this point.
“I never thought, I could be quite this lonely!” I ponder.
“Wait!” I ponder, as I think I see what appears to be a reflection; “What is that?” I consider.
Only this reflection has a strangely earthly blue tint to it. Why would the reflection be blue? I know the sun is yellow. No habitable planet can develop life, within the lifespan of a blue star; just as it would have to be very far, from such a star to even be habitable in the first place.
If this is not a reflection, from the Sun; it had to be light from inside a dome of some kind, or the reflected light from a planet instead. The feelings, are eerie and uncertain; not something I am familiar with, or very comfortable with either. Of course, I do not have a choice; I am stuck where I am, alone and with little to nothing productive to focus upon. Other than exploring the place; I now know as home, and its surroundings. This qualifies as surroundings. Doesn’t it?
A moment later, I find myself approaching the cross-road I had been told to find. I am continuing forwards, straight ahead, as I had been instructed. Of course; I could have chosen to go to the right, or I could have chosen to go to the left. Both viable options, but I had been told where to go. For now, I am doing as I had been told.
“If I were to run out of time, and oxygen; I could attempt to teleport, either home or to the nearest safe location before me!” I ponder, as I cast a glance towards the oxygen levels within the helmet of my suit.
Of course, the terrain is not changing one bit. Not in the least. There had been no Pony here, to force it to. Even if this road itself; is the proof of someone, or something having been here before me.
For now, I dare not speculate; in who, or what may have crafted the road under my hooves.
Why? What would be the point? At this time, I still have exactly nothing to go on.
With Pinkie Pie in mind; I had learned, not to make assumptions based on preconceptions. Maybe I had learned the lesson, or maybe I had not.
I am stuck here, trapped where I am.
With this fact in mind, I am doing the best I can; based on my situation, and thus explores every last mystery before me. What else, could I possibly do? Twiddle my hooves? To what end? What could possibly be the point, in doing that?
Do I expect to be rescued? Do I expect, to be spirited right back to where I had come from? To where I belong!
“As strange as it may seem, at least I have an adventure; exploring this strange place, to the best of my abilities!” I ponder.
A few minutes further down the road, the cross-road is materializing before me. I bravely continue.
Of course, I had been instructed to look out for this cross-road; to continue, straight ahead towards an Alpha Base. At least, it is how I had interpreted the last message. The latest message.
“If you stray from the path, Twilight; you may get lost, and will be beyond rescue!” the voice, known as Ground emphasizes
“This place, is weird!” I ponder, as I continue trotting down the chosen path before me.
I certainly did not want to get lost; and most certainly, not here in this void terrain.
There it is again, the blue tinted reflection before me. It is, like the flash from a light house; leading me, towards where I am going. Maybe I could navigate, by it. Though I still dare not stray from my path, lest I may get lost.
Minute by minute; I am maintaining a measured trot, along the road.
“Ground, to Twilight..” the voice cuts in; “Ground, to Twilight!” it is repeating; “You should be close to the Alpha Base now!” the voice elaborates.
“Twilight, to Ground..” I respond; “Twilight, to Ground; I repeat; “I think I have seen it, or at least something hinting towards my destination!” I respond.
Now I am hasting my steps, while still maintaining the stately, measured gait of a Unicorn of high status.
I may be lost, on an alien world; trapped in a never-ending void, but I will not drop. I will maintain my stature.
Giving in, could mean certain death; not mere humiliation, before subordinates and subjects.
Naturally, it is inevitable that I will be reaching the destination; all assuming, I follow the instructions given to me.
Before I knew it, I can see a small glass dome before me. The dome may not be large, but it is the symbol of Alpha Base. I continue.
The road soon sinks into the ground; following the ramp. Before me, I am faced with the air-lock; identical to the one, I had escaped before I set hoof on the path I am currently on.
The double doors soon slide up before me. I step in. The doors close behind me. An iris unseen wires shot, and the first set of outer doors slide shut. The air-lock is sealed tight. I hear the hiss of air rushing into the small room, within which I am standing.
A pair of doors before me slides up. All of a sudden; I am assaulted by a giggle, from a Pony I once knew.
“Pinkie Pie?” I exclaim.
This is not her, but a holographic projection. The projection is in her image, and a striking resemblance. Uncanny.
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