"We could launch more." The man steepled his fingers, leaning forward towards the others. "Only two isn't much. We could light up the sky, and the proklyatiye aliens. They can't outrun every missile."
A woman rolled her hand at that, dismissing the thought with a single gesture. "Our largest missiles have already proven insufficient to even reach the aliens, let alone threaten them. Besides, I doubt it would help our case, at this point." She waved her hand towards the rest of the assembled group, most of whom were visibly displeased. "They disarmed our attack when it was but a speck in their eyes. They did it with purpose, not because they had to do it slowly, but to show us what they could do."
"Or that is what we are meant to think." A third person rubbed their face as they groaned softly. "What if they don't actually have a perfect lock on us? We've made assumptions based on scant evidence, and in doing so, we may have turned ourselves into sitting ducks. Have we shown them our vulnerable underbelly already?"
A different man huffed. "It doesn't matter. The moment the news broke of our failed attempt, we knew we were going to be dealt with. There is no way to pretend it was anything other than an attack. What is done is done." He raised his hand in a fist. "Our time is running out. Our weapons are nothing, and that is clear now. They have the skies, the spaceship that brought them here, the angels that protect them, and whatever weapons they might want to bring to bear against us."
"So why did they land in America? Is there a reason?" The first woman blinked slowly. "There is, isn't there?"
Their leader sighed, hands to either side of his head. "There are thousands of maybe reasons, but it matters not. They have come, and now we will be looked at anew, with fresh scowls. We attacked them. We can't pretend to be on any other side."
"The side of humanity." One man thrust a fist into the air.
Wilson stood before the assembled representatives of all the nations of the UN. "I stand before you today not as a president." Soft murmurs spread. "But as a human. That is all we are at this delicate time." He paced, hands behind his back, chin held high as he turned a gaze over the various faces looking up at him. "We have been given an opportunity. Our choices going forward will determine how that plays out. We have already attacked, and failed. What do we do next?"
"Are we supposed to know?" He brought his hands together. "They come with a forceful peace on their lips. Chastising adults come to clean up a child's mess for them. The question that stands is how we react to this. Do we meet them as children, crying about how it wasn't our fault? Or do we stand as adults and own our actions, presenting our actions in a positive light?"
The first woman raised her hand. "Where is the US position on this?"
"I'm getting to that." Wilson allowed a faint smile. "As you are well aware, America has more ponies in its borders than anyone else at the moment. They are good neighbors. If that was the end of things, I don't think we'd be here." Some shuffling rippled, as those who had been assigned to consider that very point were called out. "They are friendly, compassionate, and have earned the affection of much of our populace. More, they represent a powerful military that we cannot stop, along with a culture that promises great rewards for cooperation."
Wilson slammed his hands together, capturing their attention as he spread them apart. "I propose we do not turn these strange aliens away, but neither do we roll over and display our bellies. We ask that she address us as adults. We may have made mistakes. We may have left errors behind us and around us, but we deserve to keep our hands on our destinies! If we make mistakes, it should be our mistakes."
He held his hand up, towards the distant ceiling. "We must, instead, present a vision of ourselves as humans, doing what we can to better our situation and that of others. Instead of allowing the aliens to reshape our world in their vision, we will ask them instead to direct us away from the mistakes we've made, and it will be by our own feet that we will walk that path, of our own volition. We deserve to make our own future."
There was no applause. It was not the place for such. Yet, one and all, those watching him were nodding along with his words. One by one, they stood, rising to their feet as one, representing dozens of nations, speaking a thousand different languages, coming together as one voice.
They did not all stand with President Wilson's motion, but many did, more than enough to force the issue to the forefront, giving it a solidity that could not be ignored by the world at large. The news spread fast, and soon the entire world knew of this first step into a new age of humanity.
Twilight inclined her head. "I didn't think they'd manage that." She was smiling despite the startle.
Rainbow cocked a brow. "What are you so surprised about? Does it mean we can land already?"
Twilight tossed her hoof with a laugh, ears flapping as she turned to look at Rainbow Dash. "That wasn't even close to what I was expecting!" She burst into giggles, bouncing, and rotating, in place. "They shine even brighter than I imagined. We have come to a wonderful planet, Rainbow."
Rainbow Dash blinked softly. "Cool? Does that mean we're landing now?"
"Patience." With a flap, Twilight closed with her impatient pegasus friend, pressing a hoof to her snout. "But they've come together and stood up. They want to be seen as adult creatures. I couldn't be happier! Maybe I can get them to unify faster than I thought I'd be able to. One nation instead of all those they have now. Wouldn't that be nice?"
"Sure, nice. Are we going down or not?" Rainbow rolled a hoof impatiently. "It's so quiet up here!"
Twilight smiled gently. "That's exactly the point. The universe is the most beautiful thing imaginable, and up here, we are safe."
She pushed off a wall back towards her station. "But things are going well. The humans are adaptable." She clapped her hooves together. "Troublesome, perhaps, but they are such a fascinating species. They want to be the ones taking the steps? Not an unreasonable request." She wagged a hoof at Rainbow. "But every foal makes that request. Not every foal can actually do it."
"Why not?" Rainbow followed along, catching up with Twilight as she landed at her seat. "It sounds easy enough."
Twilight nudged a display and frowned at it. "Momentum. They've been doing things a certain way. They're used to it. Even ponies don't like the idea of sudden changes, but a sharp pivot is required." She stamped her hoof once on the floor. "Do you know why they like being called adults?"
Rainbow blinked and sat down heavily. "I'm not actually sure. Isn't it because we keep saying they're not?"
Twilight huffed, but reconsidered her words and statements. "I have, haven't I." She sagged in place. "Sorry." Not that any humans were around to hear it. "If they want to show me their adultness, I'm more than happy to witness it. Mmm, which aspect do I approach first?" She tugged a map up before herself, humming as she considered her options, musing over the nations of Earth.
Angel stared at the screen, hoof holding a bowl of cereal, forgotten in the moment. He looked away only to take a few bites before staring at it again. The camera pulled back and focused on the colorful walls, followed by a view from outside, revealing the wider cartoon world that had Angel held captive.
Applejack walked past, glancing at the cartoon. "After that show ends, we're gonna go play outside." She nodded to herself, confident in her goal to raise her child with healthy amounts of screen time. A bit of television now and then was not going to hurt her son, after all. "So don't spend too long watchin' it, ya hear?"
Angel blinked at his mother, nodding to indicate he'd heard what she was saying, then turned back to the television. His eyes widened at a particular sound effect, and he started tapping the bowl in anticipation, standing up on his hooves to get a better look.
A chorus of 'friendship' echoed from the screen and Angel shot off with a shout, echoing the battlecry as the pastel colored figures did battle in the name of harmony.
Cindy opened the front door. "I'm home!"
Applejack closed to hug her gently. "Welcome back. How'd it go?"
Cindy smiled, enjoying the warmth of her partner. "I'm not the only person who was forced into protective custody, but I am the only one with a pony in it." She released Applejack with a gentle nuzzle and turned to walk down the hall, shrugging out of her jacket as she went. "One job's just straight out. I cleaned up as well as I could, but that's over." She shrugged. "They're not even mad at me. In fact, they've offered to cover some stuff while I get settled in."
Applejack padded along behind Cindy. "How very generous of them." She slipped into step next to her partner. "But ah know yer job was important to you. Yer feelin' things." She nudged gently against Cindy. "Yer welcome to share. Ah'm open to listenin', an' helpin' where ah can. Just tell me."
Cindy nodded and leaned into Applejack, breathing in her scent as she squeezed the farmpony's arm. "I wish I could. It's hard to put into words. What happened with me is scary, AJ. But it's also amazing." She glanced at where Angel was still locked to his screen. "It's hard to imagine part of me is in there. That's a cute little pony. I love him forever and a day, but am I really in that?"
Applejack nudged gently at Cindy. "Of course ya are. He's a cute little foal, but he's gonna be strong, independent, and oh so precious when he grows up." She pulled Cindy into a hug, pulling the woman in tight, hoof under her head to gently stroke her cheek. "It's okay to be scared. But you are Angel's mom. Ah promise, he thinks so too."
Angel quirked an ear, hearing a little of that. "Is Mom sad?" That got him to turn away from the show. "Did I do something?"
Cindy felt tears rushing to her eyes. "No! No... Come here." She spread her arms as she dropped to a knee, accepting the pouncing colt into her tight hug. "You've done not a thing wrong, and mom loves you so very much. In fact, the love is overflowing a little, so let her clean herself up a little."
Angel glanced at Applejack. "Mom? You can go ahead. I'll look after Mom for a while."
Applejack perked up at that. "Oh, um, okay?" She wandered past Angel, peeking at the little colt curiously with a faint smirk. "You take care of her real good."
Angel squirmed, struggling against the grip of his mother, until he was able to break free, landing on his hooves and then skipping back to allow a few breaths between them. "Did I do something bad? Did I make you sad?"
Cindy swallowed a laugh and sniffed instead. "You did not! You're a very good boy."
Angel pointed at Cindy. "Then you did a bad!"
Cindy recoiled, fighting a little laugh. "I did? What did I do?"
Angel swung his hoof in an arc over the ceiling. "You didn't do anything, which is bad!" He lunged at her with a grunt, catching her around the neck and hugging her. "Don't be sad!"
Cindy moved her arms to properly support her child as she stood up. "I will do my best. Why don't we go outside and play, hm? It's a sunny day."
"Alright!" Angel bounded out of Cindy's arms and scampered to the front door, slipping into his special set of shoes before bounding outside with a laugh and a shout.
Cindy hurried after him, shaking her head. Applejack was left behind, but she was smiling brightly the whole way. "Couldn't ask fer a much better family." She frowned a little. "Still gotta ask Twilight 'bout how that works." She closed the front door then reached for her throat, tapping at it. "Ship, ya in there?"
"This is Fluttershy." A hoof waved on screen. "We're here."
Applejack beamed at the sight. "How's the mission goin'? Do ya know when yer landin'?"
Fluttershy sank at the question. "We don't. Twilight says it's getting closer, but hasn't set a date, unfortunately." She pricked up with a smile. "How can I help today, or was that the question?"
Applejack nodded slowly. "Ya helped plenty already. Ah wanted to ask if ah could see Twilight for a minute."
Fluttershy shifted and lifted her head from the camera, obscuring Applejack's view as she got up. After a moment, Twilight was in view, turning the monitor to look at Applejack with a pleasant smile.
"There ya are." Applejack waved at her distant leader. "Gotta question for ya. Angel! That's mah foal, but ah gotta know some specifics. He's healthy an' happy, proud to say. But there's somethin' botherin' his mother."
Twilight settled into a more relaxed pose as she tilted her head aside, pausing before she spoke. "I suspected this might happen." She lifted a hoof and made a pushing motion at Applejack. "Angel is a product of magic. My magic. You could say I am also his mother, but let's not complicate an already stable, if complex, family dynamic. The magic I used bridged two willing targets of different species. It encoded their genetic information and then decoded it, to figure out what codes for each specific bodypart and mechanism. It combined them together into a working single genome, which allowed—"
Applejack was swaying under the load of scientific words far beyond her. "Um, could ya simple it down a little?"
Twilight turned her hoof up with a huff. "Your child has two parents. You and Cindy are his mothers, yes, but there is another, magical, one." She touched her chest with a hoof. "But I barely count. I was the glue that held it together just long enough for one cell to become two, to become four. At about that point, the magic wasn't needed, and Angel is holding himself together quite nicely. He is a pony, with human instructions dispersed through his instructions. I could make a spell that would produce a human, but I haven't studied their genome nearly enough to do that confidently."
Applejack took a moment to consider Twilight's words, repeating them back in her own terms to understand them better. "Ya made a bridge between 'em, then stepped aside and let them take over. They're the parents?"
"You and Cindy, yes." Twilight bobbed her head. "Does that answer your question?"
Applejack snorted once. "Well, now ah'm curious how yer magic knew to put up the right targets to choose from. Ah mean, ah assume ya made it take from each of us, but ah'm just wonderin' if that was the only part ah had to do with it."
"You had to want it." Twilight leaned in. "She had to as well. Some part of you wanted to make a family with her, and she returned the desire, and here you are, with a family." She clapped gently. "Congratulations to you both."
"Huh." Applejack inclined her head. "But ah still got that magic, right? So, uh, should ah be worried 'bout a second foal just poppin' out of nowhere?"
Twilight blinked softly at that, thinking carefully about how to answer it. "No, not like that." She slipped from her seat and tapped the wall with a hoof, finding what she was looking for, and connecting the cables to the proper outlets with a little flare of magic. "I told you, it's connected to will. When you both want a second foal, then you can have one. I imagine, right now, this desire is not felt by you two, as there isn't a second foal bouncing around."
Applejack accepted the explanation with a simple nod. "Fair enough." She cast her gaze aside. "Wait, wait! Why ya pluggin' a screen in? Where are ya at?"
Twilight gestured a hoof about her, making the camera shift with her motions. "I'm on the ship, in Fluttershy's area. I'm preparing the ship. If things keep going this way." She paused for a giggle. "We may be landing soon. Wouldn't that be nice? I've missed you."
"Oh, thank goodness!" Applejack pranced a little in place, rising up on her hooves to hold a hoof to her head. "Ah'm sure Cindy'll be mighty pleased to hear that!" She waved with her free hoof, keeping her other to her forehead as she sunk back to the floor. "Um, ah think." She pondered on how Cindy would actually react.
Twilight settled in to listen, humming to herself as she waited for Applejack to gather her thoughts and say something else.
"How're the others? Rainbow and Pinkie?" Applejack paced, taking long steps. "Ya gonna go over to them soon?"
Twilight cocked her head. "Pinkie remains a program, but Rainbow couldn't handle the idea of abandoning her, so Pinkie is hosted within Rainbow now. It's adorable, if not entirely healthy. I have attempted to reach out to her, but my efforts are being deflected by the conflict between Rainbow's need to interact with Pinkie and her inability to face the truth of the situation." She twitched an ear. "We could attempt more invasive solutions, but that seems like it would be breaking the trust of the situation." She shook her head. "I need to let that go. They're both happy, as happy as any program can be."
Applejack swiveled an ear to the side. "Huh, mighty funny. Ah'll still be glad to see 'em both when ya get down here."