Chapter 2:
The planet of Equestria
“Thank you all for witnessing the greatest show on Equestria, the show of the Great and Powerful Trixie!” Trixie shouted as she wrapped up her fiftieth performance this month in Ponyville. It was another large crowd which brought in a large amount of bits for her. After the curtain fell, Trixie began counting the bits within the box. She ran out of bits to count at seventy five. This made Trixie squeal, it was more than enough to pay for rent and dinner for the night.
Putting the large amounts of bits back into the box, she hooked herself up to her traveling stage and began to wheel it to the library. It was a clear day in Ponyville, Celestia’s sun was shining brightly and not a cloud was in the sky. Ponyville was all abuzz on this day with ponies young and old walking through the town. Many who weren’t tied up within their own affairs gave Trixie a welcome wave and congratulations on another great performance.
Trixie responded to all with, “Thank you Trixie appreciates all your applause. Trixie only hopes her performances make your day just as good.” The response always brought smiles to ponies’ faces and Trixie continued on. Just then, a flash of pink made Trixie jump in fright.
“Hi Trixie! Sorry to frighten you, I wasn’t trying to scare you but I usually do that anyway. I mean I don’t know why ponies always jump when I pop in, I mean yes I use it to surprise but I don’t intend for it to be too much surprise!” Pinkie Pie greeted with her usual smile, “I’m so, so, so sorry I missed your show but the Cakes had an enormous order to fill.”
Trixie chuckled, “It is fine Pinkie, Trixie understands completely. Besides Trixie hasn’t changed her routine too much so you missed little.”
“I know but I’d feel better being there. Ooh maybe next time I’ll be your assistant! Yea you can saw me in half, or I can chain you up like Houdini, or maybe…” Pinkie started.
“Pinkie Pie!” Trixie interrupted as politely as she could, “Trixie appreciates it and will consider it, but seriously Trixie needs to get back to Twilight’s.”
“Ooh I’m sorry. You two have any plans?” Pinkie asked.
“Actually yes, I made enough today to treat Twilly to a nice dinner tonight. Consider it a perfect fourth date.” Trixie smiled.
“But isn’t a fourth date supposed to be a picnic?” Pinkie asked tilting her head.
“Who ever said Trixie follows the rules all the time?” Trixie smiled before setting off again.
“That’s true, have fun tonight!” Pinkie shouted before skipping along in the opposite direction.
Trixie smiled as she continued to trot on. Two and a half months ago, Trixie was homeless, bit-less, and between jobs. Things were looking extremely bleak had it not been for a chance encounter with Twilight Sparkle her former nemesis. Twilight had been in Canterlot picking up some books and found Trixie literally in a gutter.
Out of the kindness in her heart, Twilight took Trixie home and put her up as a resident. Though despite the act of kindness, Trixie’s personality made everypony around her miserable and mean. Once again Twilight stepped in, teaching Trixie how to be nice. After a while the training tools worked and Trixie turned a corner. That plus her relationship with Twilight went from friends to something deeper.
Once Trixie was redeemed her personality, the rest of the Elements accepted her as a friend and as Twilight’s marefriend. However that didn’t make Trixie accept from paying rent, but it was only a small price to pay.
As Trixie approached the library, she saw a poster plastered on a pole. It showed the picture of a young filly who was reported missing for five days. Trixie read it with a heavy heart, this filly was the fifteenth pony to wonder into the Everfree Forest and not come out. Even Zecora was spooked by the recent disappearances and stuck only to the path when she traveled. But despite the countless searches by the Royal Guard, none of the ponies were found.
After fully reading the poster, Trixie sighed and resumed her walk to the library. She parked her cart behind the tree and then headed for the door. There she saw the small purple dragon Spike sweeping the front porch. “Hey Trixie back so soon?” Spike asked.
“The show ended right on schedule, but no pony wanted autographs today so Trixie decided to come home early.” Trixie answered, “Is Twilly home?”
“Yea she’s inside reading. Are you taking her anyplace tonight so I don’t have to cook?” Spike groaned.
Trixie giggled, “Don’t worry Spike, tonight you can have the night off.” Before Spike could cheer, Trixie galloped inside. After hanging up her cape and hat, she walked up the steps and into the library. There was Twilight resting on the couch, nose deep in a book.
But when she saw Trixie appear, she jumped from the book, raced over to her marefriend, and threw her arms around Trixie. After a brief hug, the two lips met each other in a passion filled kiss. When they released Twilight was beaming ear to ear, “I didn’t know you’d be home early.”
“Well no one wanted autographs so I left early,” Trixie told Twilight as they released each other, “Plus Trixie did really good today in pay. So as a reward Trixie will treat her lover to a wonderful dinner tonight.”
“Ooh that sounds wonderful Trixie thank you.” Twilight smiled levitating one of her books up to the shelf, “Got any ideas?”
“Trixie was thinking of the restaurant near Secretariat Avenue, what do you think?” Trixie pondered.
“Perfect.” Twilight smiled.
“Apples! Come get your apples right here. Come get’em while their fresh, whole Sale on Sweet Acres Apples!” Applejack shouted into the crowd. Her apple stand was still fully stocked despite the fire-sale today, and Applejack was proud of what she made. However like any sale’s pony, she figured the ponies would still line up to buy her perfect apples.
Only problem, Applebloom was not making it easy for Ponies to get what they were asking for. “That’s right; ya’ll ponies by five apples you get fifteen free!” The filly shouted.
“Applebloom,” Applejack sighed, “No pony wants twenty apples to lug around. Didn’t ya learn that last time?”
“Awww but sis Ah know Ah can get my cutie mark in sales today, Ah just know it!” Applebloom whimpered.
“Well you ain’t gonna get any sales with a steal like that.” Applejack chuckled.
Just then Scootaloo raced in on her scooter dragging Sweetie Belle in her cart. Applebloom beamed as she saw the two fillies approach, “Hey guys, what’s the big hub-bub?”
“Applebloom,” Scootaloo smiled, “Are you free? Miss Cheerilee gave Sweetie Belle and me some extra credit and we were hoping you can help us.”
Sweetie Belle picked up a large piece of parchment with her mouth. “If we get it all done, we’ll get extra star points on our next test,” She mumbled as Applebloom read it over.
When she was finished reading it, Applebloom gasped, “Why it’s a scavenger hunt.”
“Well now doesn’t that sound like fun Sugarcube.” Applejack smiled, “Why don’t you go on and help yer friends, Ah think Ah can handle here.”
“Really AJ?”
“Yea AB, go have fun.”
Applebloom squealed as she jumped into the cart and Scootaloo sped off. As they drove away, the trio shouted, “CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS SCAVENGER HUNTERS, YAY!”
Applejack gave their innocence a quick chuckle and was just about to sell some apples when she saw Pinkie Pie shaking. It wasn’t a shake of fear, more like the pink pony had come down with the shudders. And Applejack knew what that meant, quickly rushing over to Pinkie. “Pinkie Pie, what’s going on?” She asked hoping it was just Pinkie being Pinkie.
“It’s…my….Pinkie sense!” Pinkie shuddered, “A Doozy’s about to happen!”
Applejack jumped, “What is it this time? Another Hydra?”
Just then Pinkie stopped shuddering, “No far, far worse. Ponyville’s about to get some visitors.”
* * *
Aboard the Evans, Sul’Vin had finished getting his combat suit and surveying kit on before arriving within the transporter room. The new Federation battle suit had become common wear for away teams going into hostile/unknown locations. Each were specifically tuned for the persons physiology, augmenting their strength, enhancing speed and reaction time, and also providing extra protection from enemy fire and the elements if their personal shields fell.
Sul’Vin’s, like all other science officers, was colored blue with grey patches all over. Engineers had the blue replaced with yellow, and of course Tactical had red. Pocketing his weapon, an anti-proton sniper rifle, into his transporter buffer, Sul’Vin walked into Transporter room 4. There waiting for him were Seren, Lotar, Thatok, Gorear, and Quells. Each had their own battle suit and kit on for planet surveying and stealth operations as well as their weapons packed away.
“Is everyone ready?” Sul’Vin asked.
“As we’ll ever be.” Seren answered.
“I just have one question,” Gorear asked, “Do you think it’s necessary for us to bring our weapons? I mean there just ponies after all.”
“As always Gorear, your logic and question is flawed.” Sul’Vin answered.
“It is standard operating procedures to bring weapons along incase we run into any and all hostile actions. This isn’t the 24th century any more.” Thatok answered.
“Besides,” Sul’Vin added, “If we didn’t, you’d be fighting off enemies with your tricorder. Now let’s get ready for transport.”
The team of six got on to the transporter pad as the Transporter Chief, Brian O’Malley, plugged in the landing coordinates. “We’ve picked a secluded spot just outside of town. You should be able to beam into and out of their without any one noticing.”
“Perfect,” Sul’Vin said, “Away team to bridge we’re ready to beam down.”
“Acknowledged Sul’Vin.” Blaze answered, “Good luck.”
Sul’Vin nodded and said, “Energize.”
But as the chief began the transport sequence, Gorear decided to give the moment a good joke. “Ponies beware….we have Tricorders.”
Seren and Quells snorted at the joke, while Lotar and Thatok smiled. Only Sul’Vin remained emotionless as the transporter began beaming them down onto the planet. Once the transport sequence was completed, the six found themselves on the planet surface.
“Okay team engage stealth mode.” Sul’Vin ordered. The other five nodded and pressed a few buttons on their suits. Within seconds they became invisible to everyone but each other.
“Stealth engaged.” Gorear commented.
Seren opened up her tricorder and began taking measurements of the area around them, “Oxygen and nitrogen atmosphere, gravity at one point five g’s, everything here is similar to Earth it’s almost uncanny.”
“There’s a small forest over there,” Lotar said pointing to a tree line.
“Really I never would’ve guessed,” Quells murmured.
“We can use it to hide ourselves even more.” Lotar continued unabated.
“Good idea,” Sul’Vin agreed. And soon the six were over in the trees. The move couldn’t have come at a better time as three small ponies appeared from the brush. One was a pure white pony with a horn on its head and a pinkish purple mane, the second was a yellow pony with a red mane, and the third was an orange pony with wings.
Quells could hardly believe it what she was seeing, “Sul’Vin, that’s a trio of mythic ponies!”
“Agreed, if I know human lore correctly the one with the horn is called a unicorn and the one with wings a pegasus.” Sul’Vin said, “Fascinating.”
“Over here Scootaloo!” The white pony shouted, “I found item number five!”
“Does anyone have the universal translator operating?” Gorear asked.
“No,” Lotar answered, “We didn’t bring it.”
“Then they are speaking…” Gorear began.
“Indeed,” Sul’Vin answered, “Even more fascinating.”
The three ponies began digging out what looked to be a flower. Just then the earth pony looked up in the direction of the team and pointed at them. The other two looked in their direction with odd eyes.
“They’re looking at us.” Seren answered.
“Indeed,” Sul’Vin answered, “But they can’t see us.”
But then the trio began walking over to the away team. Quickly at first then their pace became very slow. Then the leader, the yellow earth pony who now had a large red bow in her hair, raised her hoof right at Sul’Vin. Before the Vulcan could back up, she tapped his face. It was a significant tap, not painful, but enough to knock out his stealth mode. Within an instant the trio screamed and ran back to the town. In their wake, a small butterfly which had perched itself on Sul’Vin’s head causing the trio’s curiosity, fluttered away behind them.
“Oh shit.” Gorear said appearing from his suit, “We’re boned.”
Before they knew it, they were surrounded by ponies.
“Admiral sir,” Elal said as Blaze walked in from his ready room, “A message from the away team.”
“What’s it say?” Blaze asked.
Any normal person would’ve paused before giving Blaze bad news, especially bad news of this magnitude. But not Elal the Vulcan, “They’ve been found out sir.”
Blaze’s heart caught his throat; this was not good at all. “Oh no, not again!” he shouted to no one in particular.
A/N too anyone's who surprised about Trixie already being Twilight's Marefriend, let me give you a quick lession on why i chose that. I fell in love with the story "Of Maids and Mistress..." and felt it was kind of nessecary to give Twilight someone to love besides an OC Pony. Plus the story of Trixie/Twilight has been overused so I decided to go with the after (meaning they already were a couple) effect.
Another note, i forgot i was dealing with Star Trek fans as well as MLP fans. i'll try to be a little bit more accurate to not only science but the fan base in the future. Forgive me i'm STO-based