//------------------------------// // Dawn of Equestria (Part I) // Story: DisQord Continuum: Equestria Rising // by ZoidbergIsBestPony //------------------------------// Dawn of Equestria (Part I) The Pegasus soldier sitting in front of the communications terminal became very excited when he finally cracked the encryption on a message he had recently acquired. “Sir, we’ve intercepted a communication from a rebel ship,” he proclaimed. “We’ve learned the location of a secret rebel base on a planet past the Bathmorda nebula.” He quickly copied the information onto a screenpad and showed the commander. Commander Hirkain took the screenpad and reviewed the details of the message. “Excellent! It looks like we have a new planet to colonize. Are we currently tracking that rebel ship?” “Yes sir. One of our tracking buoys shows them hiding inside an asteroid belt near the old Earth pony colony. If they continue on course to the nebula, we can intercept them in twelve hours at maximum speed.” The commander sat up straight in his chair. “Set course for the Bathmorda nebula, but keep us hidden from their sensors,” he directed at the helmspony. “Aye sir.” The helmspony set the course and engaged the engines. Within moments, the ship accelerated straight toward the nebula. Commander Hirkain called down to the engine room from his chair. “Engine room, how’re our modifications coming along?” “We’re nearly there sir,” came the reply over the line. “We should have them completed and online in another seventeen hours.” “You’ve got twelve hours, Sergeant.” “…Yes sir. I’ll have it ready.” “Good.” Commander Hirkain closed the line. Private Pimsey, recently returned to his position in the command center after his mother’s premonition had turned into a devastating reality, listened intently to this news. The commander had never thanked him or even apologized for not having listened to him, however Pimsey felt his return to his post was the only apology he was ever going to get. Pimsey needed to inform Clover of this development, but would not dare take out his screenpad during his shift again. He needed to wait until he came off duty. It was two hours before his shift finally ended. He was relieved of his post and left the command center with another officer who was also relieved and headed straight for the digi-port room to contact Clover. The other soldier left the command center heading straight for his bunk, where he could finally get a few hours sleep. He chucked his personal screenpad onto his bed and stretched out his hooves, getting some blood back into them after sitting at his post for such a long shift. However, he still needed to do one more thing before he could relax. A magical aura glowed over his wings as they slowly sank into his back, completely disappearing. A horn slowly grew straight out of his forehead. A Unicorn suddenly stood in the room where the Pegasus had once been. He took his screenpad and contacted Princess Platinum. “Report,” said the princess both straightforward and blunt. She wanted some good news and it had better be worthwhile. “Your Highness, the Pegasi have just learned where that hidden rebel base is and how to get to it. I’ve downloaded the information into my screenpad. I’m uploading it to you now. This was the type of news she had been waiting for. “Excellent. Let’s see…Bathmorda nebula… How far is that from here?” she asked her helmspony. “We’re about eight hours away from our current location, your Majesty,” he replied. Turning back to the main screen, “And how far away are the Pegasi?” “We’re still ten hours away,” the spy replied. “Take this ship to the nebula!” she ordered. “Well done, Agent.” “Thank you, your Majesty.” The princess closed the connection. Looking around the control center of the Unicorn ship, she did not see her servant anywhere. “Where is Clover?” she demanded. The Unicorns all looked at each other, none with any answer. One of them stood from their post and said, “I’ll find her, your Majesty.” “Good.” The Unicorn left to begin the search. She headed, not for the crew quarters, but instead, she headed for the first available empty room. Once out of sight, she reached up and ripped her horn right off her head, leaving a bright red mark behind where the horn once stood. She rubbed the sore, sighing from the uncomfortable feeling. She pulled out her screenpad and contacted Chancellor Puttinghoof to inform him of the rebel base location. The Unicorns, the Pegasi, and the Earth ponies were all headed straight toward the nebula where the secret rebel base lay just beyond. From the digi-port room, Harmon Pimsey pulled out his screenpad to contact Clover. “Harmon, what is it?” Clover asked. “Clover, the Pegasi know where the rebel base is and how to get to it! They’re on their way now!” “WHAT!?” Clover yelled a little too loudly. A Unicorn walking outside her quarters stared at her door. “Are you okay, Clover?” she asked. “Oh! Oh yes, fine. No worries!” she hastily replied. “Okay, then,” the Unicorn said, still confused, and continued the walk to her own quarters to relax. “Sorry Harmon. How soon will they get there?” “Ten hours,” he replied, simply. “I’ll need to think of something, thanks Har–” “Wait! There’s more,” he interrupted. “More?” “The commander’s been working with our engineers to bui- so- thing. He-… new – ology…” “Harmon?... Harmon?... Repeat. Your signal is breaking up,” she yelled into the static as the image of Harmon on the screen degraded along with the audio. Within seconds, the signal was completely lost. Clover immediately contacted to the rebel ship near the nebula to warn them. Pandemonium erupted on the surface of the rebel world. Ponies were running and flying back and forth every which way to prepare for the incoming attack. While Clover tried desperately to convince the princess the nebula was dangerous and useless for trying to make a rebel base, with little success, there was nothing that could be done from stopping the Pegasi from getting through. Star Swirl and Sugar Baker were getting ready to transport to the rebel ship in orbit. Star was needed sooner than later. “Stay safe girls,” Star said. “We’ll be back before you know it.” He kissed each of them on their foreheads and gave Mint Julep a hug goodbye. “I’ll see you onboard, Bake,” he said before turning and making towards the transport area. Tears were dripping down Luna’s cheeks and Celestia’s eyes were welled with water. “Daddy please!” Luna cried, “Can’t we come?” “Girls, it’s not safe up there. I don’t want anything to happen to you.” “But what if something happens to YOU!?” Celestia spoke up. “I’ll be okay girls. Star will look after me. Now go with Mint to the shelter.” “But I-” “No buts, Celestia,” he said placing a hoof on her cheek. “I’m coming back for you. I did before. I will again.” He kissed and hugged her. He pulled Luna into the hug and kissed her too. He needed to leave, before he started to cry himself. He pulled apart from the hug and made to leave. He nodded at Mint. “Be safe,” Mint said, nodding back with her own tears overflowing. Bake left the scene as he made his way toward the transporting area to digi-port up to the ship. “Come girls,” Mint said collecting the two young Alicorns. She lead the way toward the shelter where the other fillies and colts with their families were going to hold up during the fight. Celestia had trouble keeping up with Mint. There were so many ponies rushing every which way. More than once she was shoved hard out of the way. A little light presented itself to Celestia’s mind. She turned to Luna who had resorted to biting her big sister’s tail to not lose her. Celestia motioned toward an area to the side where some crates were being loaded for transport to the ship. Luna saw where she was pointing, but gave her a confused look. Celestia motioned again, before ducking from the crowd with her sister following. She quickly hid behind several large crates and pulled her sister in close. “Tia, what are you–” “Shh!” Celestia peered over the crates watching Mint who just noticed the girls were missing. “Girls? GIRLS!!?” she screamed attempting to see through the crowd. She started running around frantically to find them. “Sorry, Mint,” Celestia whispered, ducking before Mint could see her by the crates, “but we need to do this.” Celestia looked for a crate large enough, that wasn’t already full. The first open crate she found had some capsules laid gently on cloth blankets. Celestia remembered from her action movies that they must be the ammo used on the ship’s guns. She took an extra blanket and motioned for Luna to hop in. “What?” Luna asked completely baffled by her sister’s actions. “We’re sneaking onboard, Luna,” she answered. “Now get in!” “But why? Aren’t we supposed to go with Mint?” Celestia didn’t have time for this. “I’m not going to lose Dad in space while we’re helpless on the ground. We’re going to make sure he comes back with us! Now get in!” Luna was still unsure, but straddled the edge of the crate as she swung her hooves over. Celestia quickly gave her the extra boost to get her in faster. Then she climbed in carrying the blanket between her teeth. As soon as they were both in, Celestia closed the lid and pulled the blanket over them until they were completely covered. “Tia –” “Shh,” she whispered. We need to be very quiet now and try not to move.” Luna did as she was told, but was scared to be disobeying her father and leaving Mint behind so scared. After a few minutes, a pony outside the container attempted to lift the crate to see if it was empty. “Wow, definitely full!” he groaned. He locked the crate and got a second body to help load the box onto the cart. As the light from the magical aura of the digi-port started to illuminate the box containing the two Alicorns, a thought dawned on Celestia. She had never been so impulsive in her life, yet twice in the last month she was not only doing something foolish and dangerous, but she was putting her sister in danger again. She felt the bag around her neck that contained the golden tiara that she had gotten from the temple. She hoped that it would keep them and everypony safe. “Your Highness, please listen to me,” Clover pleaded to the princess. “This must be a trap! No ship that has ever gone into that nebula has ever come back!” “Enough Clover,” the princess said with a tone of authority. “I don’t know what you were up to when I needed you earlier, but I’ve made my decision. We have precious few ships left and no home. If we do not find something soon, we will not survive. I will conquer that rebel colony and claim it for Unicornia!” Before Clover could think of a response, a communication came in. “Your Majesty, one of our ships is trying to contact you directly,” the communications pony reported. The princess sighed, already frustrated from her argument with Clover. “Very well.” The captain of the R.U.S. Merlos appeared on the main screen. Your Highness, my apologies for the interruption, but I have a guest onboard who has been persistent in trying to get an audience with you.” Princess Platinum had little patience left, but she felt the weight of her crown pushing the responsibility onto her. “Very well, I will hear them.” An older Unicorn with ragged tufts of white mane came into view with a look as though the universe were about to end. Clover noticed this, but the princess seemed oblivious. “What is your urgency to speak with me?” she demanded. “My apologies for this, your Majesty, but this information is vital to all ponykind.” “Yes?” Her response was both curt and impatient. She would not be entertaining this commoner for very long. “My name is Professor Astro, I used to teach high school astronomy before…before the disasters on Origin and Unicornia colony.” The princess was showing signs of getting ready to end the call. Professor Astro felt he better get to his point sooner than later. “The Pegasi were not responsible for killing your father, the king!” Princess Platinum heard the words, but they did not appear to be sinking in. “I see,” she responded both calm and somewhat indifferent. “And how do you come by this information?” “Well, I, you see…I was a witness to the attack.” Princess Platinum’s eyes finally narrowed on the old pony. “What did you witness, exactly?” The professor felt he had better explain a few things first. “I’ll upload all of my data to you. You see I was tracking a mysterious object in the sky and–” “Skip to the attack!” the princess demanded. “My apologies, your Majesty, but this object was what was responsible for the attack.” “What?” she asked, both impatient and confused. “You see, this object was invisible. I could only see it through my telescope from the distortion of the stars around its edge. I watched it for four nights. When the king’s escort approached Unicornia colony, this object moved to intercept. A beam of light unlike anything I had ever seen shot forth from it, tearing the ships to shreds. There was no chance of anypony surviving the attack. When it was over, the invisible ship disappeared from my view leaving nothing behind but the wreckage.” The professor finished his story and tried not to look the princess in the eyes. She looked as though she was trying to perform differential equations in her head. It was Clover who, upon reviewing the professor’s notes, came to a sudden realization, however. “Windigos,” she whispered under her breath. The princess turned to her, “Windigos?” Pictures flashed across Clover’s eyes showing all of the events from the Maretropolis disaster to the present through an entirely new perspective. “This entire war…” she muttered in shock. “Speak up Clover,” Princess Platinum demanded. The professor too, stared at Clover with interest. “You Majesty, this entire conflict has been the work of the Windigos.” “And just what are ‘Windigos’?” “My mentor from my Ancient Mythology class, Star Swirl, taught me about them. They were known as winter spirits that foster fighting and hatred. ‘The more hate the spirit feels, the colder things become. When the world is lost in ice, they come to feed.’ This is what this war is about! They’ve set us against each other so they can move in afterward and collect our resources! We need to stop this war your Highness!” The princess was dumbfounded. She thought perhaps her servant had finally lost her mind. “Um…Clover dear…you’re speaking of ancient mythology. The word ‘myth’ by definition means–” “All myth is based on some grain of truth! Windigos might not be winter spirits, but they could just as easily be aliens bent on our destruction. Please think your Majesty, none of the events of this past year make any sense without this explanation!” The princess was still teetering on indecision. She turned to the professor, still on the main screen. “Thank you for the information, Professor A…erm… professor. We will take it under advisement.” “Thank you for hearing me, your Majesty,” Professor Astro replied. The communication ended. Clover seemed to be coming to a decision. “Your Majesty, there’s something I need to tell you; something I’ve been hiding from you.” Princess Platinum looked at Clover as if she had never seen her before. “Clover, you have never kept anything from me since we were fillies. What is the meaning of this?” “I’m sorry your highness, but there are many of us who felt we’ve been fighting the wrong war from the start; those of us from all races, who believe we need to work together to resolve the situation.” “You cannot mean that…that you are one of those rebels? “Actually…I kind of, sort of, am the leader of those rebels.” The migraine that had been building in the princess’s temple had reached a bursting point. Rubbing her head, she tried to contemplate something she could never have thought was possible. Her most trusted servant and best friend growing up had betrayed her. “No,” the princess said in disbelief. “No, it is not possible!” “I’m sorry, your Majesty, but it’s true. I am still your loyal servant, but I believe in the reunification of all ponies! I’ve told you this so you would consider an alliance with the rebels. The Pegasi are also on their way to the nebula. We need to convince them and the Earth ponies that this war is pointless and that we need to work together to stop the Windigos from destroying us!” “I will never work with the Pegasi again. They destroyed our new home!” “Only after we destroyed theirs!” Clover tried to explain. “And we destroyed theirs because we believed they murdered our king! This entire war is both no pony’s and everypony’s fault together! Please, I have contacts with both the Pegasi and the Earth ponies. Let me contact them and try to convince their leaders of this threat.” The princess looked around the bridge of her ship. Unicorns spread out working at their terminals diligently; charts of ship movements and war strategies laid out on every screen. “Could all of this really have been nothing but a waste of lives? Could I have been so blind? I’ve always wanted to help my ponies, but have I instead, led them down the path to their eventual destruction?” She looked at Clover with a face the Unicorn servant had never seen on her before: regret. “Make your call, Clover,” she said sitting up straight. “The Unicorns will join this proposed alliance.” Clover opened a dual channel communication on the ships main screen. It was several minutes before both Sunbeam and Harmon Pimsey were joined in the call. “You really think a bunch of winter spirits have been chasing us?” Sun said confused after Clover’s explanation. “Not spirits, but another race perhaps,” Clover corrected. “I’m giving you the data that was provided to me. Go over it and show it to your leaders. Convince them that this war is pointless!” “I’ll do my best, Clover,” Sun said, “but I don’t think I’m going to be able convince old Puddinghead he should be looking for invisible ships!” “Please try, we need to stop this war before we trigger our own extinction!” Harmon was trying to think of any solution that might convince the commander; to which there was none. “I’ll try Clover,” he said, “but his ship’s on the way to that rebel base and even if this is all true, I don’t think a few charts and an explanation will stop him from trying to conquer the colony for the Pegasi.” “I can only ask that you try Harmon, thank you.” Three ponies nodded in agreement and disconnected. Clover could feel the cold air of doubt wrapping itself around her. It told her to expect nothing less than a fight. “Chancellor, I realize this is a bit much to take in, but if you could just review the information, you’ll see–” “Enough Sun,” said Chancellor Puttinghoof dismissing his assistant. “I’m never going to believe a bunch of data that tells me some phantom enemy is attacking us. It was the Pegasi all along, and the Unicorns do not lift a finger unless it suits their own interests.” “But Sir, the Unicorns and the rebels are willing to work together to reconstruct a new home on this rebel colony and reunite all the races together!” “I don’t need nor want reunification. Thanks to my undercover in the Unicorn fleet, I now know the location of the rebel base and how to get through the nebula that protects it. We are going to take that base and claim it for the Soil Lands!” “But you can’t possibly hope to–” “No more Sun. Sit in that chair and don’t make another sound!” The chancellor stared at Sun with an anger she’d never seen. His face was contorted. His mind set in stone on a railroad track toward disaster. “Sir please!” *SMACK* Sun fell to the ground from the power behind his hoof. Her jaw had dislocated and tooth chipped. As the tears swelled up in her, she swallowed them and stood right back up in fury. She turned away from him and slowly walked towards the door. “Stop!” the chancellor demanded. Sun obliged just barely, shaking with anger and even a little fear. “I said sit here and make no more sounds; NOW DO IT!!!” Sun turned again to face him, her ability to hold back her tears was weakening. She walked to the chair he directed her toward and sat down. She didn’t say another word. Chancellor Puttinghoof turned to the crew. “I want our shields at 125% efficiency and our weapons online and ready for firing in all directions within the next five hours. Prepare for battle!” “Come in, Private,” Commander Hirkain answered the knock at his door. He was relaxing in his quarters, still a few hours away from the nebula. The door opened allowing Private Pimsey to enter. “So, what can I do for you?” the commander asked, sipping some coffee. Harmon was a little confused by the friendly tone he spoke with. “I um, Sir, I have some information you need to look at.” He handed him a screenpad containing all the data on the Windigos. “What am I looking at, Pansy?” “Sir, we have evidence that the Maretropolis disaster and all subsequent events thereafter were orchestrated not by ponies, but a different race looking to conquer us and steal our resources.” “Interesting,” the commander mildly noted while taking another sip. “And?” Harmon could sense something was amiss, but he decided to push forward anyway. “Sir, this information comes from the Unicorns and the rebels. They are proposing a ceasefire and an alliance to stop the Windago threat. They are offering safe harbor on the rebel world in a joint reunification.” “I see.” Commander Hirkain still appeared to be only half listening. “And why did they contact you to give this information?” “I…well…you see…I um…kind of….” “You can stop now,” the Commander said, putting the pad and his coffee down. “You see I know exactly why they contacted you.” Harmon gulped. “You see one of my more loyal soldiers noticed your peculiar behavior of late and decided to take it upon himself to see if there was anything behind it.” A second knocking came to the door. “Ah, perfect timing. Come in, Sergeant.” A tall Pegasi soldier with a stern face walked in and saluted the commander. With one look, Harmon recognized the soldier as the one who saw him leaving the empty digi-port room that time. He gulped again. The commander smiled, noticing the private’s large gulp. “Yes. He’s been keeping a close eye on you, and do you know what he found?” Harmon slowly shook his head as beads of sweat formed on his forehead. “He found you attempting to give that Unicorn rebel bitch confidential information on what we’ve been designing these past few weeks. Ever wonder why you were deliberately kept out of the loop?” Harmon had never been so scared in his life. He never wanted to be a soldier. And now he had been caught as a spy. “I’ll tell you this Pansy.. no.. Private. Private is more appropriate. I never thought you’d have the set of brass to do something like this. But I congratulate you. And as a reward for your newfound bravery, I shall let you watch as your friends are destroyed, while this ship remains completely unharmed with its new shields. When they are all dead, I’ll give you an honorable soldier’s death. I will shoot you personally in front of the entire crew of the ship. How does that sound, soldier?” Harmon’s eyes faded into nothingness. His thoughts were broken and interwoven. He was near catatonic. “Take him to the brig,” Commander Hirkain ordered the soldier, who promptly saluted and jabbed the prisoner to move. When Harmon made no motion, the soldier picked up the frail Pegasus by his mane and dragged him from the Commander’s quarters.