//------------------------------//
// The Quest Begins 
// Story: The Path of the Righteous Pony 
// by Steventheman 
//------------------------------//

"This is the FTLTV Serpent. Requesting emergency permission to land!" the pilot shouted into his console, trying to keep his trade ship together in the atmosphere. "Is there anyone down there!?"

He looked towards the atmosphere gauges, and they read that the planet had breathable air. He looked towards his cargo of kittens and puppies in the hold.

"Sorry kitties and puppies." he said. "I have to go."

The pilot climbed hurriedly into an escape pod, before evacuating the craft.





"All the Elements are out in space and I can't get them!" Fluttershy said to herself. "Twilight had no idea, Spike couldn't find a book...It isn't their fault, though. I just need to hope."

A blue blur grabbed Fluttershy and whisked her from the street. Fluttershy gasped as a small spacecraft smashed into several houses before settling to a stop. The door opened, and hundreds of puppies and kittens ran out in a panic.

"That's almost too convenient..." Fluttershy whispered. 
"Woah, 'Shy. You nearly got crushed by that thing!" Rainbow Dash said, slightly panicked.
"Was I?" Fluttershy said. She decided to try and say some badass quote. "Because hell if I didn't give a damn."
"Uhh...Fluttershy?" Rainbow Dash said, not amused. "What the heck was that?"
"Nothing..." 
"So, seeing as I just saved you from a horrible death, as per our deal back when we were fifteen..."
"Yes, yes. Just take the five bits from my house." Fluttershy said. "Also, can you do me a two favors?"
"Sure."
"Look after the animals while I'm gone,  and get Applejack and Twilight over here."
"Why?"
"Because I must depart this planet, and fight against the evils of the galaxy. I need that ship."
Rainbow Dash stared incredulously. "Have you completely lost it?"
"No, seriously." Fluttershy said. She activated the lightsaber on her foreleg.
"A Jedi Padawan lightsaber...I remember my grandfather talking about these. He had a Jedi Council saber. I used to play with it all the time when I wasn't training! Please can we have a duel please?"

Before Fluttershy could respond, a second metal pod landed next to the ship. It had "CIVILIAN ESCAPE POD" printed clearly in red, however the ship's name was obscured by re-entry burns. A human in uniform fell out, dead from the impact.

"Oh, not another one!" Dash said. "Why are all these humans falling on our planet?"





"Well, I'd love to know what to tell you, sugarcube, but I don't know what the heck this is." Applejack said, looking at the trade vessel's wreckage. "I mean, it's kinda intact, but honestly, I don't know what to make of it."
"The engines are weird. I've never seen them before." Twilight said, looking through a book on pony space transport. "They appear to be able to withstand massive speed, though."
Spike spoke from the pile of books he was buried under. "They're Faster Than Light engines!"
Twilight giggled. "Spike. You know that nothing can travel faster than light!"
"Human vessels can!"
Twilight's eyes narrowed. "How do you know that?"
"...I watch Discovery Channel..." Spike lied.

Fluttershy emerged from the ship. "It seems intact in here."
"The only way this ship could've crashed was pilot error." Twilight decided. "All we have to do are repair the oxygen tanks, refill the water supply and check for cracks in the hull."
"How long will that take?" Fluttershy asked.
"About a day?" Twilight said. "Give or take."





"I name this ship...The FTLCV Samuel L. Jackson!" Fluttershy proclaimed. The ship had been modified for a pony to use, as well as having a hold full of standard nuclear torpedoes and a cannon to launch them. Fluttershy decided not to question where Applejack got them.
"You're serious about this, aren't you?" Rarity said. "Well, if you're really going to go, then I guess I should just give you a packed launch!"

Everypony who heard that pun facehoofed. 

"...Fine. But I want you to stay safe, Fluttershy...Take this." Rarity gave Fluttershy a small satchel.
"What is it?"
"It's a pack of ammunition, a disassembled laser rifle, five grenades and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich."
Fluttershy picked up the bag, and threw it into the hold. "Thank you, Rarity."

Pinkie Pie walked to Fluttershy. "Ohmagosh you're actually going to space can I come too please?"
"Sorry, Pinkie...But I must go alone."
"Aww...But if you take this, then we can still talk to you!" Pinkie pulled a upgraded radio seemingly out of nowhere,

Fluttershy and her friends hugged, before Fluttershy headed into the FTLCV Samuel L. Jackson.

The ship lifted vertically, before flying off into the sky, disappearing from view.

"...If she doesn't come back, I get her stuff." Spike said. "The stuff not covered in animal crap, anyway."





Fluttershy looked out towards the vast expanse of space. The Elements of Asskicking were only a few days away.

Fluttershy engaged the FTL Engines, and zoomed off in the direction of Planet Zebes...

The Path of The Righteous Pony: The Quest for the Elements of Asskicking.