//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: Equestria Girls: A Star Cometh // by Time Agent pony //------------------------------// Hours later. "Arrrr," Richard groaned, as he regain consciousness on the surface of the planet. Fortunately, his Nova uniform had protected him from the impact when he crashed on the planet. Pulling himself to his feet, Richard looked around at his surroundings, they seemed familiar to him somehow. "Hello Richard," said a voice, from behind him. Richard turned to see who the voice belonged to and he realised where he was. The owner of the voice was Hal Jordan, former Green Lantern and former villain Parallax, which meant Richard was on Oa the headquarters of the Green Lantern corps. "Long time no see," Hal remarked. "With good reason," Richard replied, "you wiped out billions of sentient lives and tried to enslave the Earth." "That wasn't me," Hal responded, "that was Parallax controlling me, I know what you're thinking but it wasn't me." "Yeah," Richard countered, "I'm sure you want me to believe that." "It's the truth!" Hal insisted. Richard was about to answer, but was interrupted by a sudden blast of green energy, which forced the two back a bit. The source of the blast was Appa Ali Apsa, one of the Guardians of the Universe, who had remained behind to take out any survivors, after Starro had attacked Oa. "I see Starro's already been here," Richard stated, noticing the starfish attached to the Guardian's face. "We need a plan," Hal suggested, as he and Richard dodged the Guardian's attacks. "You are in no position to be coming up with plans," Richard interjected. "This really isn't the time for judging people's past," Hal replied, "I'm a former Green Lantern and the only one on Oa who isn't being controlled by Starro at the moment." Richard sighed, he knew Hal was right even if he didn't want to admit it, even with the power of the Nova Force, the source of the Nova corps's power, it was no match for the immense power the Guardians wielded. "Alright," he said, finally, "but just remember you're still considered a criminal and under arrest, got it?" "Fine by me," Hal replied, "I'll draw his attention and fire, then you blast the Starro spore off of him." "That's your plan?!" Richard commented. "If you can think of any better ideas," Hal responded, "I'd like to hear them." Since Richard didn't have any ideas, he didn't answer as he got into position and Hal began to execute his plan. "Hey!" Hal shouted, "over here! Come and get me!" The Starro-controlled Guardian turned towards Hal and began approaching him, charging for another powerful blast of energy. But before he could fire, Nova shot a blast at the Starro spore attached to the Guardians face, hitting it in the eye, causing the spore to detach from the Guardian's face. Appa Ali Apsa gasped for air as he was released from the mind control, once he had recovered he noticed the still alive Starro spore, writhing on the ground. "You controlled me once," Appa Ali Apsa said, "but you will never control me again, foul creature." Before the spore could attack, Appa Ali Apsa hit it was a blast of energy destroying it. After doing that, the Guardian noticed Hal and Richard. "I take it you are responsible for rescuing me, Nova Prime Richard Rider?" he asked. "Well," Richard replied, "I did have some help." Appa Ali Apsa then noticed Hal, "Jordan," he said. "Appa," Hal replied. "I hate to interrupt this little reunion," Richard interjected, "but I need to get going, Starro is most assuredly heading to Earth." "You can't go by yourself," Hal exclaimed, "one Nova corpsman against Starro the Conqueror, thats madness." "I'm afraid Hal Jordan is right," Appa Ali Apsa said, "as you can see, the star conqueror has already taken the Green Lanterns stationed here, so its ranks have grown considerably." "Then what do you suggest?" Richard asked. "I believe I have an idea," Hal answered. He turned to Appa Ali Apsa, "but first, I'm going to need a ring," he stated. "Absolutely not," Richard interjected, "no way I'm letting you have a Lantern ring." "I'm afraid that is not you decision to make, Richard Rider," Appa Ali Apsa interrupted, "you alone will not be enough to take on the star conqueror, you will need allies if you are to continue your pursuit of Starro, I myself now understand better about being controlled by another's will." Richard wanted to argue, but the Appa Ali Apsa was right, he knew all too well the Guardians of the Universe were the only ones who could decide to give anyone a Lantern ring, aside from the Lantern rings themselves. Appa Ali Apsa headed for the central power battery and returned with a ring and a power battery, which he handed to Hal. As Hal put on the ring he recited the Green Lantern oath: In brightest day, in blackest night, No evil shall escape my sight. Let those who worship evil's might, Beware my power, Green Lantern's light! "Alright," Hal said, once his ring was powered up, "that's step one, onto the next step." "And that is?" Richard inquired. "Appa said you'd need allies to help you against Starro," Hal replied, "I think I might know some people who might want to help you, maybe." "Alright," Richard said, cautiously, he still didn't trust Hal but he himself couldn't see any other option. Hal lead Richard to the Sciencells, the prison where Green Lantern corps enemies and dangerous criminals were held. Most of the cells were empty, since most of beings held in them were taken by Starro. The two stopped in front of four cells, "I have a bad feeling about this," Richard exclaimed, as he recognised the occupants of the cells. The individuals were: Lobo, Death's Head, Titus and Blackfire. Back on Earth. Another day at CHS, everyone in the school carrying out their daily routine, blissfuly unaware of the approaching threat. Once the day had ended, Rarity took Gali to her her house to start designing her swimsuit. Rarity began by taking Gali's measurements and then picking out materials and fabric to began making the swimsuit. She let Gali pick out the colour of the fabric, who picked out purple and blue, after which Rarity began putting the swimsuit together. After she was done, she gave the swimsuit to Gali and asked her to try it on. "You look fabulous, darling," Rarity smiled, as she admired her handiwork, "the colours really do compliment you very well, I was right to let you pick it." "What made you pick that colour?" she asked, as Gali changed out of her swimsuit and back to normal clothes. "I don't know," Gali replied, "something about it felt familiar to me, for some reason." Elsewhere, on Oa. "I still think this is a bad idea," Richard said. "This is the best shot we have," Hal retorted, as the others collected their confiscated items, Death's Head's array of weapons, Titus's cybernetic blaster arm and Lobo's enormous hooked chain and Space hog, Blackfire on the other hand had nothing, nothing but the clothes she wore, "if you've got any better ideas I'm all ears." "Enough talk," Death's Head said, "there must be a reason you let us out of our cells, yes?" "Tin head's right," Lobo agreed, "you'd better have good reason for asking the Main Man for help." Lobo swung his chain around to emphasise his statement. "There is a reason," Richard replied, "but first things first: I need to understand how you four weren't able to be controlled by Starro?" "That's easy," Lobo replied, "because the Main Man's mind is ride you wouldn't survive." "I am a mechanical being," Death's Head answered, "no starfish can control me, yes." "My cybernetics implants," Titus growled. "I'll need a little for details of your cybernetics," Richard remarked. "Let me make this as clear as possible," Titus growled, shoving his face, "I am no longer a Nova corp member and thus you do not have the right to give me orders!" "That might be so," Richard retorted, "but as Nova Prime, I am highest galactic law officer here, therefore I OUTRANK YOU!" The two glared at each other for a few seconds, "Fine," Titus fumed, "I will work with you....for now." "Glad we have an understanding," Richard replied, "now about your cybernetics." "My implants include my arm cannon," Titus answered, "and my eye and thats about it." "And what about you?" Richard continued, turning to Blackfire. "I won't allow those filthy things to touch me," Blackfire replied, "I simply managed to stop them before they could touch me." "Alright then," Richard acknowledged, "thats some interesting information." "We can worry about the later," Hal spoke up, "we should probably get going, who knows how close Starro is to Earth. "Right," Richard nodded, "we need to move." As the six readied themselves to leave Lobo pulled Death's Head aside, out of ear shot of the others. "Listen up," he said, "the Main Man has a plan, there's probably a reward for taking down Starro, so I'm think once we strike the final blow we split the now 50/50." "Agreed," Death's Head nodded, "that sound like a good plan, yes." "Alright then," Lobo said, "looks like we have ourselves a little partnership." Without another word, the two bounty hunters headed to join Richard, Hal and the others as they prepared to move out. But unbeknown to ether of them, Lobo was secretly planning to backstab Death's Head and vice versa. Back on Earth. The last day of the high school year was about to end, Gali and the other girls were really excited about their upcoming beach party and now, they were in their last lesson of the day. "Wait for it," Rainbow Dash murmured, as she gazed at the clock above the chalkboard. Seconds later, the clock struck the time, the final school bell rang and everyone in the classroom rejoiced, after which there was a mad scramble as everyone grabbed things they needed for the summer from their lockers. After that, all the students streamed out of the front doors of CHS, finally free from school. Those of the students, who had flight or levitation, Samuel Zachary Guthrie a.k.a. Cannonball and Cassandra Elizabeth "Cassie" Sandsmark a.k.a. Wonder Girl took to the sky, now free as birds. "Wow," Gali thought, as she watched them go, "if only I had abilities like that." Earth's orbit, The Peak. As the station orbited the planet, Abigail Brand continued to gaze out of the window at endless void of space. Suddenly an alarm sounded as a blip appeared on The Peak's radar. "What is that?" Abigail asked. "I have no idea," one of her subordinate replied, "it's too far away." "Try hailing them," Abigail ordered. "These's no reply," another subordinate answered. "Alright," Abigail said, "time for plan B." She activated The Peak's external speaker system, "Attention, unidentified object/vehicle," she stated, "you are entering secure space and we will fire if you proceed." At that moment, The Peak's weapons were trained on the incoming object, ready to fire at it when the command was given. "They are still not responded," a subordinate reported. "Lock onto target," Abigail ordered, "fire at my command." The personnel manning The Peak's weapons waited for the order to fire, fingers hovering over the button. "Hold up," Abigail said, suddenly, "I recognise that ship, it's the Guardians of the Galaxy." She turned to the weapons personnel, "stand down," she commanded. "Well," a subordinate said, "what now?" "Well," Abigail replied, "the Guardians are friends of the Justice Force so they must be a reason for coming to Earth." "Still no response from the ship," another subordinate added, "it's not just that, they appear to be on course to dock with us." "ETA?" Abigail asked. "About ten or fifteen minutes," the subordinate replied, "they're moving pretty fast." "Send some agents to the central docking bay," Abigail ordered, "once they've docked I want to them brought to me and explain why they are here and why they didn't answer when we hailed them."