//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: Galactus Eats Equestria // by LittleBoyBlue //------------------------------// It was a warm sunrise in Ponyville. The birds were chirping their songs, the sun was shining over the land, and Twilight Sparkle was in bed at the royal castle in Canterlot. She was sound asleep, snoring loudly. Saving Equestria was a tiring job, as she was currently showing. It was time for the sun to rise. Twilight slowly opened her eyes and yawned. She woke up to see Spike sorting out scrolls and pens. "Good morning, Twilight!" Spike chimed. "What would the 'Princess of Equestria' like to have for breakfast?" Twilight smiled. She got out of her bed, then started brushing her mane. "Good morning Spike." She replied. "Why are you asking me what I want for breakfast? You know that I get my meals from the Royal chefs." "I know. It's just that moving to the royal castle still needs some getting used to." "Try having wings that you weren't born with." Twilight smiled. "So, what's on the to-do list?" "Well, let's see," Spike checked. "We have a scheduled appearance at the Crystal Empire, tax speech,-" "Wait, the Crystal Empire?" "Yeah. Word travels fast Twilight. Your brother wanted to congratulate you personally." "Splendid!" Twilight put down her brush and clapped her hooves. "After everything that's happened, I just wanna see my brother again." Spike nodded. "Also, you promised a picnic with your friends. Remember?" "That's right," Twilight recalled. "Well, it looks like we'll have to have it at the Crystal Empire." "Great! I'll get our things ready." Spike started to grab clothes and stuff them in suitcases. Twilight smiled and rolled her eyes. "Well, I guess I better start the day." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Are you sure you want to go Twilight? With everything that's happened and the six keys, are you sure you don't want to stay here?" "No thanks, Princess Celestia. Canterlot is not the only city in Equestria. Besides, the keys could be somewhere in the Crystal Empire." Princess Celestia nodded in agreement. The train station was empty due to the royal's presences. The Elements of Harmony were at the station also, waiting for the train. "Okay. Be sure to stay safe. All of you." Princess Celestia nuzzled Twilight. "Don't worry! We always look out for each other!" Rainbow Dash interrupted. Twilight gave her an annoyed look. Rainbow smiled nervously. Twilight then turned to Princess Celestia. "We will Princess. We will." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Herald, I hunger once again..." A loud voice boomed in the cosmos. A silver, humanoid being levitated on a silver board next to the voice. "But Master," the silver being concurred. "I have searched far and wide, but to no avail. I have not found a source of nourishment for you to consume." "You think I don't know what you do? I know that you hide and protect those planets in which intelligent beings live on." "But Master-" "Now, find me a sedation to my hunger in the cosmos now, for I feel the worse to come." The silver being sighed. "But Master-" "No buts, my herald, for even now my sister, Death, approaches nearer to me..." The voice commanded him. "Yes...my Master." The silver being said, with sorrow. He then flew with great speed towards the cosmos, in search of his master's next meal. Little did he know, that his search would not take long. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The train came to a stop. The snow blew hard against the land. All that could be seen was a sea of white. "We have arrived at the Crystal Empire! Please grab your items and personal belongings. Have a nice day!" The train conductor announced. "Welp, this is our stop!" Applejack told the Elements. "I cannot wait for our picnic Twilight! I just love going to the Crystal Empire!" Rarity sung. "I like the way my mane gets all 'crystally'!" Pinkie Pie chirped. Rarity looked at Pinkie with a surprised look. "Me too..." She whispered. "Girls. We're not just here for fun." Twilight told them. The Elements turned to her in attention. "The Crystal Empire could possibly be a location for one of the six keys." Rainbow walked closer to Twilight. "But I thought we were gonna have a picnic Twilight." Twilight blinked. "Oh. Right. Well, we need to search for the keys AFTER our picnic." They all nodded in agreement, then grabbed their suitcases. They left the train and started walking towards the Crystal Empire. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The silver being soared through the stars. I must find a planet for my Master to consume... He thought to himself. He surfed on, until something caught his attention. Something unusual, and not common in the galaxy. He flied towards the anomaly, and found an amazing sight. There, was a planet, with a star and a moon orbiting around it. Strange... The silver being thought. "My Master, I believe I have found something. It's not like anything I have ever seen." "What is it, my herald?" The voice questioned. "I have found a planet with it's sun and moon orbiting around it, rather than the planet orbiting the star." "I see..." Said the voice with slight interest. "Go forth and perform your analysis of the planet." "Yes, my Master." The silver being replied. "I shall go." He then flew towards the planet, in a streak of bluish light. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Twily, what's wrong?" The voice of her brother shook Twilight Sparkle out of her trance. "Sorry Shining Armor. It's just that...ever since we saved everypony from the seeds Discord placed on the Tree of Harmony, and discovered the existence of the six keys, I've just felt that with everything I know so far, I still have more to learn." Shining Armor held Twilight close. "Don't worry Twily. Everything you need to know will soon come to you. In time." Twilight smiled at him. "Thanks Shining Armor." "So, how's it like? Being a ruler?" "Well, it's not quite as difficult as I thought," Twilight smirked. "I've read just enough books to know the protocol. Plus, I've had a little experience with the guards as well." "So have I," Shining Armor replied. "I hope that I am able to lead this region with honor and fortitude, should the time come." "Hey guys! Come over here! The picnic is ready!" Shouted Rainbow Dash from a distance. Twilight Sparkle turned to Shining Armor. "I guess we should get over there." Shining Armor nodded. He and Twilight left, as Twilight gave one more glance to the sky. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The streak flew through the air at blinding speed. The snow zoomed past him, as he journeyed through the Frozen North. "I have found nothing so far. I seem to be at the north region of the planet." He carried on, deeper into the storm. "Perhaps this planet is a barren, snow-filled globe..." Suddenly, a faint image of a castle started to appear. "Wait, what is this?" He pondered. "It appears to be a...kingdom of sorts." He flew closer to the image. "Perhaps this does indeed have life. I shall invest-" Suddenly, his board hit the magical barrier. He flips off the board, launching him through the air. He landed, through the mirage, in a park. Unconscious, the board also crashed next to him. Nearby, a yellow pegasus with a pink mane saw him crash down. "Oh my!" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "What is it Fluttershy?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Somepony crashed...over there!" She exclaimed. Twilight stood up. "Somepony crashed?" Fluttershy nodded. "But...it didn't look like a pony..." Twilight raised her eyebrow. "What do you mean?" "I-I don't know..." "Let's go check it out y'all!" Applejack chimed. "Whoever or WHATever this is, it needs our help." "Applejack's right," Twilight agreed. "Let's go." The ponies galloped towards the crash site. There they saw it. A strange, metallic, ape-like creature next to a silver surfboard. The creature seemed to be unconscious, as smoke was rising from both of them. "Where do you think it came from?" Rarity asked. "I don't know," Twilight said. "But it looks hurt." "I'm going to get some medics," Shining Armor spoke. "Cadence, come with me." Shining Armor and Cadence began to make their way towards the kingdom. "Do you think it'll be okay?" Fluttershy asked. "I hope so! That way, I can throw a Welcome-to-Equestria-please-don't-let-Galactus-eat-our-world party!" Pinkie chirped. Everyone stared at Pinkie. Their faces were a mix of confusion, bewilderment, and bemusement. "Pinkie, ah swear, one of these days..." Applejack started. "Look! It's getting up!" Spike shouted. The ponies averted their gaze towards the silver being. It was slowly starting to gain consciousness. It opened it's eyes, waking to the view of the colored equines in front of him. He stood up, emotionless towards the ponies. So there is life on this planet... The being thought. Twilight was the first to speak. "Hello! I'm not sure if you understand me, but my name is Twilight Sparkle. I welcome you to Equestria on behalf of our race." Twilight came closer. "May I ask what your name is?" "My name?" The being asked. "Hey! Check this out!" Pinkie shouted. The being turned to see one of the pink equines attempting to mount his board. No... The board then sent an electric charge to her, sending her flying. She landed a few feet away from the crash site. "Oh no you didn't!" Shouted Rainbow Dash. She launched herself at him. The being barely evaded her dive. "Nopony hurts my friends and gets away with it!" "Rainbow, wait!" Twilight intervened. The being ran towards his surfboard. He mounted himself on it, then launched into the air. "Not so fast!" Shouted Rainbow Dash, as she began to give chase to the being. "Come on! Follow Rainbow Dash!" Twilight commanded. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This creature chasing me is surprisingly quick. The being thought to himself, as the cyan pegasus was right on his heels. "Life confirmed. The inhabitants of this planet are a variant species of equines." "Look buddy, I don't know why you're talking to yourself," Rainbow addressed him. "But that doesn't mean you can attack my friends!" Rainbow flapped her wings harder, increasing her speed. She was just at his side. A Sonic Rainboom oughta knock him out! Rainbow started to flap even faster, a small cone started to form around her front hooves. Almost...there! The being started to notice her in front of her. The creature is picking up speed. He realized. Come on! The cone then broke, creating a Sonic Rainboom. The shockwave spread out. I must increase my speed if I want to avoid hitting the blast radius. The being crouched down, as he went into light-speed. He left behind a blue streak, knocking Rainbow Dash into a tumble. Rainbow struggled to stay in the air. She looked at the silver being, who was a far distance away from her. "What are you?" Rainbow asked herself. "Why did you come here?" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Shining Armor bursted into the hospital, breathing heavily. "I need medical assistance!" He ordered. "ASAP!" The first-aid response ponies quickly came to him. "You go with them, Shining Armor. I'll contact Princess Celestia." Shining Armor nodded, as he started to order the ponies around. Cadence entered the family restroom and locked the door. She then cast a spell on the mirror, creating a visual portal between the restroom and Canterlot. Princesses Celestia and Luna were there, darkness behind them. "Celestia. Luna." The princesses turned to Cadence. "Cadence...why are you in a bathroom?" Celestia asked. "Yes. It was the only place of privacy I could find." Cadence replied. "Listen, do you remember when you told me that secret when I was a young mare?" The princesses nodded. "Yes. What about it?" Celestia asked. "The Silver Surfer has arrived." Princess Celestia closed her eyes. "It has begun..." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~