//------------------------------//
// Chapter 1: The PON Program 
// Story: Equestria Rim 
// by ActionPony 
//------------------------------//

Years Later:

Fluttershy walked through the stone corridors of the base, her head drooping. The PON program had been going badly. Sonic Eclipse's fight with the Major 'Arrowhead' had proved to be a turning point. The Majors were getting far stronger and more numerous. There had been a double attack several days ago. The zebras had lost a city before they were able to beat one of the Majors. All of Zebrica was still mourning for that. 50 thousand equines had been killed. Fluttershy had cried for hours after she heard the news, in private of course. While she longed to be able to show her weakness like an ordinary pony, the Captain in command of the PON program could not act like anything more than the leader that she needed to be. The sooner this war was over, the happier Fluttershy would be, but the war had to be won first, or there wouldn't be a Fluttershy to be happy. 

She came to a door marked 'Council Conference Chamber', which she opened. Inside, there was a podium in the middle,  with the walls covered with magical 'screens', a new invention, a modification of the old 'crystal balls', by which she could see the members of the Council of Equis, and they, with crystal balls in their chamber, could see her. And they were looking directly at her. 

Fluttershy meeped quietly to herself and resisted the urge to hide her face behind her long hair. She instead looked back at them determinedly. She didn't like them much. While Celestia had been rather occupied with helping fight the Majors, and international diplomacy on top of her normal duties, the Council had taken up governance of places where the rulers couldn't reach, which, around now, was a whole lot of places. There were deleglates from each race of the Equis Alliance: Zebras, Saddle Arabians, Griffins, and Ponies. And they all seemed to have a special grudge against Fluttershy and the PON-program.

“You do know that this program of yours is entirely impractical.”, stated one delegate, a Zebrican. “The Majors are getting stronger, and we're losing PONs faster than we can build them.”

Fluttershy replied: “I know. But if you'll give me one more year, I know I can make a difference. We can attack the Rift, and...”

She was cut off by one of the Equestrian delegates, Prince Blueblood, who in all honesty was only there because of his connections, but he knew how to play the game with everyone else. Fluttershy thought of him as irredeemably arrogant. He never thought anyone of less-than-royal birth was worth anything, and he showed it in the rude way he interrupted her, saying:

“The Harmony Dome is a viable alternative. It was even discussed in the Forerunners' Book, as a way for deterring the Majors other than Jaegers. It can work here.”

Fluttershy replied: “But, do remember that their wall was not made to be against Majors that could fly! Half of the ones attacking us have that ability!”

Fluttershy wished she didn't have to be so unkind, but a) Blueblood kind of deserved it, and b) as Captain, she didn't have that luxury. 

A zebra reminded her: “They did not have the advantage of magic. This dome will enclose even the sky above, and so there will be no loop for a Major to break through.” 

Fluttershy knew that she could do well, but the Council's collective minds were set on the Harmony Dome plan. Fluttershy didn't like it. It was too defensive. The Majors would keep coming, and eventually there'd be enough to break through the Dome. The rift needed to be closed, and the only way that could happen was an attack. The council, unfortunately, didn't see it that way. Except for one member. 

Fancypants, the other Equestrian delegate, broke into the conversation. “We can fund you for six months.”, he said. “I'm sorry, Fluttershy, but that is all I was able to get you. Six months, and then we'll all have to depend on the Harmony Dome.” 

Fluttershy nodded her head, to show that she understood. The screens that she viewed the council members with blinked out. Fluttershy turned, and with heavy head, hooves, and heart, made her way out of the chamber, closing it behind  her. And then, when that door slid shut, she turned away from it and composed herself, thinking of all the sources that she could use for extra cash. 

There might be independent civilians willing to fund the program, but those with enough bits would be few and far between. There was a black market for Major remains, but Fluttershy shied away from allying with them. Maybe Fancypants would be willing to lend some money, but he wasn't made of it. Most of the Equestrian treasury was either under the control of the Council or going towards repairs for all the cities the Majors broke. She might be able to get out enough money by getting small funds from very many sources, but that would be hard.

Fluttershy dropped to her knees and sighed. The war had been very hard on her, and she was very tired.  She began crying, just a little. Only a few tears. She stopped when she saw that one of them glowed. When she saw that, she gasped a little, and got up. She needed to get to her room, her pills were there. 

She quickly left the entryway to the Council Conference Chamber, and headed down the bare halls to her own quarters. She stopped when she nearly ran headlong into a pink pony with a bright pink, curly mane and tail, blue eyes, and a cutie mark of a cannon firing party decorations. Fluttershy immediately skidded to a halt.

“Pinkie Pie, what are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be working on something for that renovation project?”, she gasped in surprise.

Pinkie gave her one of her trademark smiles, and said: “That project? Oh, it'll do okay without me for a few hours. I just wanted to check on you! I mean, I know you keep your pills in your room but I was worried that you might need one and so I brought a box here just in case!” 

The pink pony then proceeded to pull a tin of pills out of her mane. Fluttershy accepted the tin and took and swallowed one of the pills from it, murmuring her thanks to Pinkie. She didn't ask how the tin had managed to stay in Pinkie's frizzy hair. She'd given up on that question long ago. 

Pinkie then remembered something and said: “Oh, and I almost forgot! There's this new deli place about five miles over. Wanna taste their dandelion sandwiches?” 

Fluttershy shook her head and mumbled something about not being in the mood.  Pinkie stuck her head close to Fluttershy's and stared at her. After a little while, in which Fluttershy was mostly trying to hide behind her mane, Pinkie seemed to come to a conclusion, and came over and put her front leg over Fluttershy.

“Oh. Bad meeting, was it?” she asked.

Fluttershy nodded assent. “Yes. Yes it was. The council wants to put all their hopes in the Harmony Dome, and they've cut funding. After six months, we're done for!” she replied, dejected. 

Pinkie Pie was one of that rare species of pony whom you could break down as much as you wanted before and could always be sure of a boost up. And she knew just how to boost Fluttershy up: “Aw, cheer up, Fluttershy”, she said “and come to lunch with me. I know a pony who knows ponies who definitely could do the funds! And she'd contribute herself, I'm sure of it. So, 'Shy, what say we discuss these PON-Jaeger funds over a good dandelion and hayseed sandwich, and I can tell you how to contact her!”

Fluttershy perked up immediately. “Really? You know someone? Who can fund us? It isn't cheap, you know.”, she said excitedly, or at least, as excitedly as Fluttershy could. The tone of voice and facial expressions Fluttershy considered 'excited' a normal pony would consider 'slightly interested'. But excited, Fluttershy was. This was a good break for her.

Pinkie nodded. “Yes, I'm sure. She might require a few things in return, but she'll do it. But I'll only tell you if you agree to come to lunch with me, so come on!”

She led the way out of the Lunadome. As the two ponies cantered out one of the complex's many back doors, Fluttershy asked: “Okay, Pinkie, so who is it?

Pinkie replied: “Well, her name is Rarity...”