Standing on top of the hill, having a full view of the beach, the ocean and Celestia’s sun sinking into the horizon, Twilight eagerly waits for Princess Luna’s arrival. Her sunglasses on, she still has the four forbidding ships in her sights. She has not received a reply letter from Princess Luna for hours, and she is anxious for answers.
“Twi’!” Rainbow Dash whispers aggressively several meters behind downhill with the rest of her friends. “Get down here! What if they see you?!”
Twilight ignores Rainbow’s warning, and continues to stare at the four ships as the nighttime sky finally begins to show. To keep her mind busy, she has been eyeing on the ships that have been idle for a long time. She researched through her only marine biology book at least a dozen times to confirm they are not sea creatures. Even Fluttershy claims the very same answer. Yet, there are questions still arising every now and then. How in the name of Celestia did they find this place? Are they a threat? What will happen when Princess Luna arrives? Twilight has to consider the possibilities, despite the warning letter from Princess Celestia playing in her mind like a broken record.
The last bit of sunlight finally disappears over the horizon, leaving an orange glow mixed with the night, and the stars finally begin to appear. Twilight takes a quick look down at the beach. Everything had been cleared. All their camping gear, the tents, beach equipment, and the campfire. Now, there is nothing but their tracks in the soft sand.
“Look!” Pinkie cries from below the hill, pointing towards the sky in the direction east, opposite from the ocean. The girls turns their attention to see two dark shadows in the foreground of Luna’s rising moon.
“It’s them!” Twilight chants. She races down the hill to her friends and lights up her horn. Her horn blinks several times to grab the attention of Princess Luna’s incoming guards, and the carriages prepare to land. The pullers grind to a halt several meters from the girls as soon as they touch down in the open field. Twilight rushes first to the carriages, with the others right behind. The doors on the two carriages swing open, and Royal Guards rush out in an organized fashion before the princess steps out last. Twilight and her friends bow the moment they lay eyes on her.
“Princess Luna,” Twilight speaks before lifting to see Luna before her. “So glad you came.”
“A pleasure to see you too, Twilight Sparkle,” Luna replies in her royal tone. She glances at Twilight’s friends behind. “ ’Tis wonderful to see you, Elements of Harmony.” Rainbow peeks one eye open towards the princess, an uncomfortable feeling washing over her when she called them by their bearing names.
“Where art thine ships?” Luna asks Twilight.
The unicorn quickly lifts her head as the princess passes her. “Oh, they’re still idle out there. They’ve been like that for hours, ever since I sent the letter to you. You know, that uh, the emergency one where we first spotted them, earlier…” Twilight rapidly speaks.
Princess Luna motions her troops to move forward, and so they did in a swift motion. The twenty guards march uphill, while Lieutenant Wind Strike and Sergeant Thunder Bolt stand beside the princess.
“Uh, what’s all this?” Applejack confusedly asks.
“I have brought reinforcements to deal with whoever is near our borders,” Luna sternly answers.
Twilight audibly gulps as she timidly stands between the princess and her friends, staring at the Royal Guards in armor she has never seen reach the top of the hill before halting.
“Lieutenant Strike Wind. Sergeant Thunder Bolt,” Luna announces. “Have your guards set up a position, and scout the sea for these creatures.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” Wind Strike nods, and flaps his way to the platoon with Thunder Bolt jogging behind.
Luna then turns back to Twilight. “Twilight Sparkle. Elements of Harmony.” The girls spin to the princess in an instant, like startled recruits in boot camp. “I thank thee for sending the emergency message. However, as of now, we shall be taking control over this situation.”
Twilight shakes her head, as if her ears have deceived her after Luna spoke.
“Wa- I-I’m, I’m sorry, Princess Luna?” she stutters, trying to piece together what she is comprehending.
“I understand you all are the bearers of the Elements of Harmony,” Luna explains. “But, as of this moment, this situation is beyond your control.”
“S-So, what do you want us to do?” Fluttershy timidly asks.
The princess takes a deep breath, as if she is preparing to give a speech. “I am asking you to leave.”
The butter-colored pegasus gives a huge sigh of relief. “O-Oh! I see. W-Well, I guess—”
“Hold on a sec,” Applejack raises a hoof, stopping Fluttershy before she can take a step. “My apologies, princess. But, what do ya’ mean we have t’ leave?”
“This is a situation that is beyond your control,” Luna reasons, trying to keep her head high. “And this is no coincidence that these things have appeared on both coasts of Equestria, Canterlot and Ponyville. You may be the bearers, but I am afraid we must approach this with the national force.”
“Your Highness, my apologies for disagreeing,” Rarity takes a step forward. “But, we have been through a lot of dire situations. Something like this is no different.”
“I understand, bearer Rarity,” Luna replies. “But this encounter is something we have never seen before. And we must take immediate action.”
“Has there been any word from Princess Celestia?” Twilight asks.
Luna shakes her head. “I do not know. She left earlier this morning to Manehattan to deal with the same matter.” She then pauses to look at Twilight’s friends. “I wish I could bring the Elements of Harmony. However, they are still locked up in the Canterlot Tower, and my sister is the only royal who can unlock and retrieve them.”
“Well, maybe there can be another way,” Twilight then suggests. “Even without the Elements, we can at least try to talk to them.”
“Yeah!” Pinkie cheerfully agrees as she bounces up and down. “It’s like greeting aliens!”
“I appreciate the suggestion,” Luna says. “But I cannot put you girls at this level of risk. Not without the Elements.”
“Why not?” Rainbow asks.
“This is now a military operation, bearer Rainbow Dash,” Luna speaks to the cyan pegasus. The tone in her voice slightly changes to a minor stern. “I know you all have been in numerous hazardous tasks by my sister, but this is a mission that none of you have experience on.”
“What do you mean, ‘no experience?’” Rainbow’s wings flare as she jumps in the air and hovers. “I’m sure we can do this.”
“Rainbow, please,” Twilight shoots. At the same time, Applejack grabs hold of the pegasus’ tail, and tugs her back to the ground like she is ringing a church bell.
“Princess Luna, I don’t understand…” Twilight tries to reason.
“I have addressed it,” Luna responds. “You and your friends have no military experience. And I do not intend in putting the Elements of Harmony in charge of this matter.”
“But, regardless of that, we can still make contact with them without using the Royal Guard,” Twilight persuades.
“This is not to shoo away a dragon in a mountain, student Twilight,” Luna puts a hoof down in front of the unicorn. The tone in her voice has risen. “Nor, this is not some test to free a lost kingdom.” Twilight’s ears droop, a conflicted feeling writhing within like she has just been insulted.
“This is a military operation now.” The princess straightens herself. “And I plan to ask them why they are here.”
“You’re soundin’ like you wanna to take ‘em head on,” Applejack criticizes. Rarity, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie mildly gasp, frightened that the cowpony is about to become a second Rainbow Dash.
“If that’s the case, then so be it,” the princess responds without hesitation.
“P-Princess Luna!” Twilight quickly grabs her attention. “Using force will not solve anything.” She stomps her hoof on the ground.
Luna turns back to the unicorn. “Twilight Sparkle, I am trying to be reasonable—”
“At least give us a try to talk to them!”
“Enough!” the princess’ Canterlot voice stops the unicorn. Her breathing has suddenly become heavy when she realizes what she has done.
Looking down at Twilight and her friends, all of them shocked and a bit afraid of her outburst. There is a long and eerie silence between the ponies before Luna opens her mouth.
“I… Twilight…” she tries to say in a trembling voice. “I… I am very sorry. I, I did not know what came to me…”
“N-No…” the unicorn quietly replies, her head drooping as low as an ill-treated flower. “I, I realize that I shouldn’t question your choices. And I’m sorry.”
“No, I am sorry for not trusting you whole-heartedly,” Luna sternly says. Twilight lifts her head up to see the guilty princess taking a deep breath. “I realize I am still ill-experienced in this new era. That my decisions and mind are still in the past.” She pauses to look at Twilight, then at her friends, and finally back at her. “You have guided me through a new culture in Equestria. And I should have trusted you more…”
After hearing Luna confess, Twilight feels as though she should share her guilt she just pulled. The emotions running through her mind all blur together in a gray mush. It is hard to pick the first thing she wants to say.
“You truly do follow in my sister’s path closely,” Luna adds before she can say a word. “I understand why she specifically chose you.” She takes a deep breath. “I have decided to change my plan. If you all wish, you can stay, and we wait until they arrive.” Luna can see the girls’ eyes begin to glisten with excitement. “If your idea works, Twilight, then we can perhaps make a proper greeting.”
“Oh boy!” Rainbow Dash exclaims excitedly, and shoots back in the air higher this time.
“However,” the princess speaks before any of the mares can cheer. “If things do not go to plan, I ask you all this. Please, run to safety.”
“We promise,” Twilight nods her head.
Before any of the girls can cheer with joy, they hear a cough coming from the side. Princess Luna turns around to see Lieutenant Wind Strike and Sergeant Thunder Bolt standing at attention.
“Yes, Lieutenant Wind Strike?” she says.
“Our squads are in position, Your Highness,” the lieutenant addresses. Both he and Thunder Bolt are trying to hide some confusion behind their stoic faces. “We have the crafts still in our sights. It seems they are turning on their navigation lights.”
“Very well,” Luna nods. “Take Twilight Sparkle and her friends to your area, lieutenant. Keep them well hidden. I will brief you on the change in plans after I talk to Sergeant Thunder Bolt.”
Both stallions blink a few times almost simultaneously.
“At once, Your Highness,” Wind Strike trips on his first words, trying to absorb the news.
The princess then turns to the mares. “Twilight. Stay with Lieutenant Wind Strike until I arrive.”
“Of course, princess,” Twilight bows her head, and so do the rest of her friends. Afterwards, they follow the pegasus guard up the hill. Their camping and beach equipment clanging and bouncing on their backs until they disappear over the hilltop.
They clear the top, and Princess Luna now turns her attention to a perplexed unicorn sergeant.
“U-Um, Your Highness…” Thunder Bolt tries to get his words out.
“I know, Sergeant,” Luna replies guiltily. “I told Twilight Sparkle and her friends to stay.”
“But, that was not what we planned,” the guard finally says.
“I know. However, my sister’s student brings up fair points. I honestly do not know who these beings are, let alone, if they are friendly. Stick to the original plan should things escalate. Use your stun spells.”
“What about Twilight Sparkle and her friends?”
“I am afraid to say this, but I shall try and see if they can make first contact with the beings, should they approach this beach. They are the Elements of Harmony, of course.”
“O-Of course, Your Highness,” Thunder Bolt quickly bows, though still awe struck by this sudden change of plans.
Before he returns to his position, Luna asks him one more question. “What is thine position, Sergeant?”
“O-Oh!” Thunder Bolt twirls around and moves closer to the princess. “Lieutenant Strike and I have split our squads into even teams, and positioned in the forest patches on the left and right flanks. Lieutenant Strike has taken the left, and I the right.”
“Very good. Tell your squad the slight change in plans. I will be with Lieutenant Wind Strike throughout this mission.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” the sergeant salutes, and races back uphill to his position down at the beach.
Slowly climbing up the hill until she stops just when the ocean view appears, Princess Luna inhales the fresh scent, feeling her moon shining its light upon her from behind. She can easily spot the dark silhouettes of the large ships over in the distance through the shimmering moonlight reflections on the sea. Her heart begins to pound, the words slowly biting back at her. She could have told the girls the truth. She could have told them why she brought the troops, or about Celestia’s sudden interest in these beings. Even if she can, it will still spell disaster of what she fears is yet to come.
The princess meets with Lieutenant Wind Strike and the bearers of the Elements of Harmony in a forest patch, after what feels like a long and slow-paced walk to her position. Her complement of twenty Royal Guards of pegasi and unicorns are evenly split and stationed to both sides of the wide beach –Princess Luna and Wind Strike take the left flank, while Sergeant Thunder Bolt secures the right flank.– Twilight Sparkle and her friends accompany the princess and lieutenant as they wait and spy on the large boats. The four idling ships have been in the same spot, as Princess Luna trains her eyes upon some activity behind the largest one. Her skilled eyes can make out almost every detail through the dark silhouettes like it is daytime, inspecting the blinking navigational lights to the complex superstructures.
“U-Um…” Fluttershy meekly breaks the silence. “Wh-What are we going to do, now?”
“We wait,” Princess Luna responds immediately. She can hear a small whimper emerging from the butter-colored pegasus.
The princess looks down to Twilight to see how she is. Spike, who is sitting on the unicorn’s back, has been playing with his claws ever since Luna allowed them to stay. Twilight has her lower lip bit more than a few times, and her breathing has become heavy from the agitation. Her legs have been jittery as well.
“Twilight,” Luna speaks in concern. The unicorn startlingly shoots her attention towards her. “If you wish to leave, please… I understand this must be stressful…”
“Don’t worry, princess,” Twilight answers with confidence after taking a deep breath. “We can do this…”
“Hey, look!” Rainbow Dash shouts softly, pointing at the ships. Princess Luna, Twilight and Spike rapidly turn back to the ocean. The princess can make out some small ripples close to the largest ship. A tiny boat is running away from the fleet.
“What do you see?” Spike whispers, squinting his eyes. “I don’t see anything.”
“Something is coming,” Luna replies.
“What?!” Fluttershy nearly screeches, but clamps her mouth shut. She speaks again more quietly. “Wh-What?”
“Something is coming this way,” Luna repeats. “A small craft.”
Twilight’s heart feels as though it just stopped. The build in her head escalates like a pressure cooker as she frantically searches the waters for the small boat. She finally spots it dashing across the waves and leaving behind a trail of ripples as it appears in the moonlight. She nearly gasps at the sight, quickly shutting her mouth like Fluttershy to not make a sound. This is it! Her mind is twitching with excitement and fear as thoughts rush around. What do they look like? How will they respond? How does their technology work?
“Twilight,” Luna interrupts the unicorn’s thoughts, nearly surprising the unicorn.
“Y-Yes?” Twilight snaps her attention to the princess, accidentally raising her voice by a tad.
“I believe it is almost time,” Luna announces, still staring out at the small boat swiftly moving.
“Of course,” Twilight nods, and turns to her friends. “Ready, girls?”
“More than ever,” Rainbow Dash replies, a hint of uncertainty in her tone. The mares briskly trot to the far back several meters, and hide behind a large boulder. With Princess Luna keeping an eye, she turns back to the craft once they are safely behind it.
“Your Highness,” Lieutenant Wind Strike quietly calls for her as he arrives next to the princess. “Are you sure about this?” Luna knows he is referring to the sudden change in plans.
She takes a deep breath. “Yes. I am sure, lieutenant. They are the Elements of Harmony. And I should let them try first.”
“O-Of course.” The pegasus nods.
“However,” Luna leans close to him. “Should things escalate, you know what to do.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Both ponies stop when they hear a low buzz emitting from the sea. When they turn, they spot the small craft drawing closer to the beach. Luna’s throat suddenly turns dry.
“They are close,” she says. “Get your men into position.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Wind Strike replies, and rushes back to his squad. She can hear him ordering them to their positions.
The sound from the small craft grows louder as it nears the beach. Luna lowers herself behind a tall bush and a tree, trying to keep her flowing mane and tail as discreet as possible. Her breath quickens, and her heart pounds. She can already imagine how they look like. Appearing very similar to the being that was brought in from the crash in Canterlot. She raises her head above the bush, seeing the craft coming in. Holding her breath, the princess eagerly waits for their arrival.
The craft shows no sign of slowing down, as it skids on to the beach head, abruptly stopping after a few meters. The motor-like sound is immediately killed off, followed by some chants coming from the boat.
“Over the side! Move! Move!” the ponies can hear. Luna is stunned by the language they speak. Equish? Impossible. She lifts an hear, carefully listening if she can hear more through the brisky wind.
The beings group up at the front of the craft. All the while, peeking from behind the boulder, Twilight’s heart lodges into her throat the moment she lay eyes right on them. They appear to be tall, standing on two legs like some dragon species and minotaurs. And the boat they came in looks sleek and advance. She watches as a small group splits off from the main, and quickly march uphill—
Twilight holds her breath when they suddenly stop. She can make out at least four beings examining something on the ground. After speculating and theorizing what they could be looking at, Twilight realizes they are inspecting their tracks the moment she notices the roughened sand.
One of the beings from shines a light towards Luna’s position.
“Duck!” Wind Strike orders whisperly. All ponies hide behind the shrubs and trees as a flashlight pans through the forest patch right above their heads. Twilight could swear she heard an ‘eep’ coming from Fluttershy as she pulls back behind the boulder with her friends.
“Stay... still,” Princess Luna stresses. Everyone remains still. Fluttershy silently whimpers and buckles while her friends cushion her.
“We’re clear,” a Royal Guard quietly says the moment the flashlight turns away. Twilight cautiously peers around the boulder again, painstakingly searching where the small team is. She finally spots them at the top of the hill through some thick leaves, and one of them is jogging down to the main group.
Twilight frustratingly moves her head around for a better view. She needs a better view at the beings. Her yearning gets the better of her, as she unknowingly scoots herself a little closer. She trains her eyes through a hole in the bushes, examining every possible detail on these new creatures that are barely lit by Luna’s moon.
“Twi’!” The unexpected hard whisper from Applejack snaps Twilight out of her trance, suddenly realizing the position she is in. Her breathing quickens when she finds herself out of her hiding spot and close to the edge of the forest patch.
“Twilight!” Princess Luna rushes over, crouching behind the bushes and trees until she reaches the unicorn. “What art thou doing here?”
“I-I, um, I uh...” Twilight panics, afraid to move an inch. “I was, prepping! For, um, or when you give the signal!” She scolds herself for thinking up of a poor excuse, let alone a lie to the princess.
“Twilight,” Luna mutters with a stern voice. “You are supposed to be—” The princess halts midway, quickly kneeling as close to the ground and holding Twilight down. The stunned unicorn holds her breath when she spots a light panning right above them. The light shifts above the two, as they hide behind the bush. When the light passes, and soon vanishes, Luna gently lets go of the unicorn. She peers through the hole in the bush, spying on the beings for a split second before turning back.
“Doth thou want to be caught?” the princess resumes. Her grim tone still lingers. “I cannot let you be here if this happens. I cannot let this be jeopardized.”
“I-I’m sorry, princess...” Twilight’s ears droop.
“Your Highness.” Lieutenant Wind Strike’s voice sends a reasonable amount of relief to Twilight before Luna lectures her more.
“What is it, Lieutenant Wind Strike?” Luna turns up as the pegasus kneels down beside them.
“The group is splitting up and is heading over the hill,” he informs. “Should we pursue them?” Twilight and Luna peek over the shrub, finding the group of beings marching over the hill.
“Send four guards to follow them.”
The lieutenant nods. “At once, Your Highness.” Wind Strike informs a pegasus corporal, sending him and three more pegasi guards silently moving through the trees and shrubs to avoid detection from the beach. Twilight watches until the four Royal Guards disappear before returning her attention to the princess.
“Twilight.” The unicorn snaps her head to face the night princess. “I hope that amount of beings will suffice.” Luna points over to the craft. There are at least four of them guarding it.
“Yeah,” Twilight affirms. She is relieved now there are way less of them than before.
“Inform your friends,” Luna says. “I will give you the signal.”
“Yes, princess.” Twilight nods, and silently returns to the boulder.
“Goodness, Twilight, you nearly gave us a heart attack!” Rarity places a hoof over her chest the moment Twilight arrives back.
“What were ya’ even thinkin’ goin’ out like that?” Applejack says, the rest of her friends give the unicorn a worried look.
“I’m sorry, girls,” Twilight apologizes. “I, I didn’t mean to do that. But right now, we have to focus. Princess Luna will give us a signal, and we’ll go out together to greet… um, whoever these beings are.”
“That’s a bit reckless, even for my standards,” Rainbow Dash claims.
“But I don’t see any other way of doing this,” Rarity says to the pegasus before turning back. “Even though I agree with Rainbow Dash.”
“I know.” Twilight’s ears droop. “I don’t see any other option as of now. Either we go in and greet them, or stick with Princess Luna’s idea. We can do this.”
“B-but, what if they’re dangerous?” Fluttershy timidly asks while Pinkie Pie comforts her.
Twilight mildly shakes her head. “I don’t know… But we have to try.” The girls stay in awkward silence for a moment.
“I know I can’t do this on my own,” Twilight admits. “And I’m nervous too.”
“Well, aren’t we all,” Applejack shrugs with a smirk. “C’mon. Twilight is right. We faced off some terrifying things before. I’m sure greeting newcomers won’t be any different.”
“Well, I guess…” Fluttershy replies. The mares and Spike circle around one another, giving a quick hoof bump in the middle.
“Yeah.” Rainbow’s confidence returns. “We can do this.”
“Twilight Sparkle,” Luna calls from up front. The unicorn trots back to the princess to find her with Lieutenant Wind Strike.
“Prepare thyselves,” the princess instructs. “It is time.”
Twilight gulps audibly, but shows no sign of fear. Her friends appear from behind the boulder and stand beside and behind her.
“Yes, princess,” Twilight replies confidently. The mares, with Spike sitting on Pinkie’s back, slowly inch themselves close to the shrubs that shield them from being caught. With a serious face on, Twilight takes deep breaths to calm her pounding heart, and wait for Luna’s command. This is it. They are finally going to face these incredible new beings that stand right in front of them.
“You ready, girls?” Twilight turns to her friends. They nod simultaneously with confidence.
Twilight is the first to step out. Like a bear coming out of hibernation, she take extra precaution to figure out her stepping. Applejack is next to follow suit. Then, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy. The bush rattles from behind as Pinkie springs out with Spike on her back. Twilight’s throat instantly dries, her mind nearly blank for a second.
“The hell is that?”
The mares halt when they are blinded by a light. They freeze like they have been standing bare in the cold for a while. Twilight clamps her eyes shut the moment the light shines right at them. Her mind runs a mile a minute with possible outcomes of what will happen next as she panics for a solution.
Then, the light fades.
“They’re just animals. Leave ‘em be.”
Twilight peaks one eye open, startled by a voice coming from ahead. Did it come from them? After adjusting her sight to the dark again, she perks up to see the four beings staring right at them. One of them, wielding a black stick, shines the light on the ground a few feet in front of her and her friends.
This is amazing! Twilight and her friends are standing just a few ten meters from them. The closest they ever been. Her head is buzzing like never before. Questions she desperately want to ask these new beings. A new species!
Later… Twilight must retain from exploding with excitement and nervousness. She and her friends have a task. They must greet them without any conflict. Twilight wonders how her friends are coping. After thinking, she realizes something odd. She cannot move. She is rigidly stuck in position for the past several seconds since they been spotted. She is unable to move her hooves. Her thoughts suddenly scramble to construct something to say, but nothing is coming out of her dry mouth.
“T-Twilight?” Rarity murmurs with worry and tremor. The lavender unicorn can barely form a response, as they all stand right in front of these beings like a stare contest.
“Well, what type of freaks are they?” a low voice emerges from one of the four beings, probably one coming from the boat. Twilight’s ears flicker. They do speak Equish!
“Dunno,” a second says. “Look like horses to me…”
“Don’t think horses look that weird,” a third –standing on the bow of the craft– replies.
“They’re just animals, okay, Cooper?” the fourth, kneeling on the ground next to the first turns behind.
“Hey!” The irritated voice of Rainbow Dash fills the air, sending a rippling chill down Twilight’s spine. Her instincts kick in finally, as she turns around to see the pegasus jumping into the air and point.
“Who are ya’ calling ‘just animals,’ huh?” she hollers, before realizing the actions she just done. Twilight’s eyes dart to her friends who suddenly flinch at the sound of a click and fast shuffling from behind.
“Jesus fuckin’ Christ! What the fu—?!”
The unicorn snaps her neck back. Seeming what felt like time has slowed, her eyes widen with shock when she first spots one of the beings draw into a defensive stance. The black stick he wields raises to his head pointing right at them, while the other beings jerk their attention with a look just like Twilight and her friends.
A flash of light whizzes right over the mares’ heads, striking right below the head of the being before he can finish his sentence. He falls back with a heavy ‘thud’ as he lands on the sand. While the other beings, including the mares, flinch from what they just witnessed. Twilight’s instincts kick into high gear.
“Contact!” the voice of one of the beings shrieks, albeit sounding as slow as time itself. Twilight leaps forward towards her friends, her horn sparkling and preparing to release a spell. Her hooves dig deep into the sand, she casts a bubble shield around her friends.
“Get down!” she screams, as the shield is deployed all around them before a collection of ‘pops,’ ‘bangs’ and flashes erupt like a thunderstorm.
“Where is it?! Where the fuck is it?!”
“I dunno! I dunno!” Twilight can hear the muffled screams through the deafening sounds like high-pitched cannon fire. Like peering through underwater, the ponies witness the chaos unfold all around them through Twilight’s shield. The light bolts from Luna’s Royal Guards overpower the new beings, each of them toppling over one by one, with another screaming right after.
“Get on the turret!”
The shield is punctured several times, with something whizzing through the air and narrowly missing the mares and Spike by centimeters. Twilight’s horn intensifies and pulses with power as she desperately tries to keep the shield up. Her friends duck and cover their heads with their hooves and sand, and scream under the intense fight.
“Flare! Get the fuckin’ flar—!” Twilight can hear from outside the shield, before it is immediately silenced from one of the guards.
The last things the mares can hear are the final quick shots of bolts from Luna’s guards, and the long faint ringing to their ears as the fight ends as quickly as it started. Shifting her hooves cautiously to the side an inch, Twilight peeks open an eye. Her vision warps and flashes for a few brief seconds before she looks at her surroundings. Her friends are crouched and quivering beside her, but unharmed. However, a third of her bubble shield appears to be covered in cracks and holes.
She stiffly rises to her hooves, and carefully lowers her shield. Her magic and horn are finally given some relief. However, she is met with a minor headache. After a quick rub to her temple, the unicorn gazes at the scene right before her. Her ears droop and her heart weighs as she gives a long stare at the two beings lying just where they stood, and one more leaning close to the edge on the bow of the boat.
Before she can take a step forward, Twilight catches a shadow rustling behind what appears to be the helm. Twilight flinches and draws back into a similar stance to a scared Fluttershy, when a bolt suddenly appears from behind and strikes the last being who let out a grunt. An intense red fireball launches from the being, soaring into the sky, and lights up the entire beach in a reddish hue like Celestia’s sun with a ‘hiss’.
“Oh no…” Twilight mutters, not realizing her friends slowly regaining themselves and witnessing the aftermath.
“Twilight! Twilight!” The unicorn and her friends turn around to see Princess Luna soaring towards them in a blink of an eye. She grinds to a halt with her wings as soon as she approaches them.
“Twilight!” she heaves. Her face is full of worry and panic. “Art thou okay? Are you all hurt?” She speeds through her words, as two pegasi guards quickly land behind the princess. Twilight merely gives the princess a saddened look, before turning her head back at the beings.
“Fear not, Twilight,” Luna takes a deep breath. “We only used stun spells. I promise.”
The unicorn stares down at the ruffled sand. Her mouth trembles as her mind scrambles to make a proper sentence after she and her friends just witnessed a fight break out between the guards and a new species. An opportunity to meet something that is intelligent as them completely ruined! She wants to yell at Luna. This would have been all avoided if none of this happened. This is all…!
She pauses. Whose fault is this? Surely, it cannot be themselves. Was it her eagerness? Rainbow Dash’s stubbornness? The insults and the sudden defensive actions from the new beings? Or was it the ambush from Luna’s guards just to protect them?
“Yeah…” she responds. “We’re okay, I guess.” Twilight stares at her shadow as the bright flare still hangs in the air. Looking back up, she spots Sergeant Thunder Bolt racing out from the treeline towards them.
“Your Highness!” the unicorn guard speaks as he approaches. “Are you alright?”
“We be fine, sergeant,” Luna addresses. “Just a little…” She slows midsentence to a halt as she eyes down at Twilight and her friends. All of them looking spooked and shaken.
“I wish to speak to them alone, guards,” the princess orders. “Leave us be. Now.”
Thunder Bolt silently nods in reply before he and the two escorts move back to his position.
Finally alone, standing under the red glowing flare slowly dimming, Princess Luna and the mares remain completely silent, wondering who is to speak first. They try their best to avoid peeking at the aftermath behind them.
“I am truly sorry…” Princess Luna says in a somber tone. Her head hangs full of guilt the moment she gazes at Twilight and her friends. She broke her promise to them by shooting at a possible innocent creature they never encountered, but she had no other choice. Now, the toll would come back crashing down on her, just like the time her sister banished her to the moon.
“I am sorry,” she repeats her words. “I didn’t want it like this. I, I thought they were going to hurt you.” The mares and Spike merely stare at her.
“Please understand this,” Luna finishes. “A situation like this is not to be taken lightly. This is something where every decision, every action, every thought must be taken with heed and haste.”
“We are sorry too,” Twilight answers softly, her voice sounding dry. “We didn’t mean to pressure you in having us stay. We should have listened to you from the start.” There is an eerie pause between the princess and the girls, as the sizzling flare slowly starts to dim.
“We’ll go home,” Twilight finishes. With their heads low, the girls start shuffling past the princess in complete silence. Luna watches them as they return to retrieve their belongings.
“Twilight,” she calls. The mares halt in their track just before entering the treeline, and turn around once more to see the princess struggling to bring up a smile. “Stay safe. I promise, I shall make up your lost vacation.”
Twilight perks up a small smile before simply replying, “Be careful, Princess Luna.”
The six mares and Spike pack up their camping gear and leave the beach in less time they had spent talking to Luna. The princess watches as Twilight uses her last bit of strength in her magic, and teleport her and her friends away from their area of operation. Luna finally lets out a heavy sigh. Her heart is pounding like never before as she settles her troubled mind, as she looks up to the red flare dimming until it vanishes.
“Your Highness,” a voice from Sergeant Thunder Bolt emerges from behind. Luna straightens herself as she turns around to see the unicorn standing before her.
“Sergeant Thunder Bolt,” she addresses. “Ready your troops. Until I say otherwise, you do not attack.”
The sergeant blinks a couple times, appearing to be somewhat stumped. “What of the creatures? Should we take them?”
“Leave them.” Luna looks over at the knocked out beings by the boat. “Prepare to—” She halts when she spots a pegasus flying in from the corner of her eye. She and Thunder Bolt turn to face the hill at a single pegasus guard wobbling in midair, before making a rough landing just meters from them.
“Trooper!” Thunder Bolt and Luna rush over to the pegasus’ aid. He appears to be beaten and dirtied, like a colt has been in an outdoor brawl with a bully.
The princess quickly whistles for additional support before turning back to the wounded pegasus. “What happened?”
“W-We… We were, ov-overpowered…” the pegasus heaves. “Th-They’re, coming… All of ‘em, m-ma’am…” Considering he is the only survivor to return, Princess Luna can only guess what happened when the young Royal Guard managed to spew out those words. However, she shows no sign of emotions to her troops.
She turns around, expecting to see another trooper or two she called out for. She finds Lieutenant Wind Strike and another unicorn guard beside.
“Get him back to the carriage immediately,” Luna orders the unicorn guard, who complies and escorts the wounded pegasus away with haste.
“Prepare our troops to leave now.” The princess turns back to Sergeant Thunder Bolt, when their eyes sight several illuminations coming from behind the hill like small searchlights. Luna’s heart jumps to her throat before alerting, “Retreat! Hide now!”
The ponies dash back to their positions, just as the lights reach the top of the hill. Peering through the bushes, the princess spots the large group of beings jogging down. Tightly formed together, they rush back to the watercraft where the four beings still lie.
“What do we do now, Your Highness?” Lieutenant Wind Strike whispers next to Luna. The princess remains mute as she continues to spy on the group of beings picking the pace.
“Jesus fucking Christ! What happened?!” The ponies can hear a stern voice scream in a panic manner from one of them, and they all rush towards the craft.
“Move! Watch your surroundings!” another being shouts.
“Your Highness,” Wind Strike quietly repeats.
“We need to get Thunder Bolt’s team out of there without alerting any of these beings,” Luna quickly points out the situation.
“But how? We cannot alert them without being compromised—”
“Your Highness,” a unicorn guard hoots from a nearby position. “Two creatures moving towards Thunder Bolt’s position.”
“What?!” Wind Strike exclaims softly. He and the princess quickly turn their attention back to the beach.
The group of beings have already set up what appears to be a defensive formation around the watercraft, and taking care of their knocked out crew. The hidden ponies can hear the heated conversations over one another about the sight they just walked upon. At the same time, two beings separate from the group, cautiously moving towards Sergeant Thunder Bolt’s position. Their flashlights bob around different areas of the forest patch.
Each movement they make sends a string tugging at every nerve in Luna’s body. She can feel every part of her twitch as she mentally prays for the safety of Thunder Bolt’s team. Her heart pounds against her eardrums. Her head is drenched in sweat, her eyes stinging, her mouth dry as a desert.
“Holy shi—!!”
Two flashes and ear piercing ‘bangs’ erupt within a blink of an eye, coming from where the two beings stand. Sergeant Thunder Bolt’s team respond instantly with a barrage of bolts from within the bushes and shrubs, striking the two beings nearly point-blank. Everyone turns their attention to the exact spot before Luna can comprehend anything.
“Ambush!!” is the only thing the princess hears, as she watches all the beings turn and raise their weapons towards Thunder Bolt’s position.
No! She refuses to watch this helplessly. “Shite!” Luna curses, rising to her hooves with her sights set on the first being she spots. She fires a stun bolt, watching it directly hit the back of the creature. Her vision suddenly blurs when flashes and loud sputters fill the air, and she ducks back under the bushes.
“Attack!” Wind Strike declares at the top of his lungs. The rest of the lieutenant’s team opens up and joins the fight. The unicorns fire stun bolts, while the pegasi prepare to take to the skies to outflank the beings.
Luna’s adrenaline is at her peak as she tries to control her unstable breathing. Regaining her senses, she pops out from behind cover, and continues to shoot from her horn. Bushes and some parts of the trees explode around the princess and the lieutenant from the beings, and they quickly take cover before they are overwhelmed by a volley.
“Take cover!” Wind Strike alerts, when a unicorn next to him is suddenly hit in the helmet.
“By Great Faust, what is this?!” the pegasus wails after checking the Royal Guard for vitals, only to find out he is finished. Princess Luna checks her right, when her eyes rest upon a pegasus guard preparing to attack, and he is struck several times before dropping to the ground.
“Guard down! Guard down!” A second pegasus rushes over to the fallen’s aid.
“Reinforce the left flank! Now!” Wind Strike shouts under the heavy fire. He grabs a spear from the ground and hurls it over at the beings’ position, only to see it hit the ground instead.
The princess rises from her cover again. Rearing her head back, Luna deploys a large heavy shield that covers most of the treeline. With all her might, she channels all her power within her magic to the shield as it is bombarded with pellets. Luna growls as she digs her hooves into the dirt and sand, feeling every single pellet forcing its way through with such intensity. The shield cracks more and more until the princess can barely hold it any longer. The pellets break through only several seconds after Luna manages to deploy it, and the shield shatters like glass. She yelps in pain as the dispersed magic retracts back to her horn like a whip, sending her falling back.
“Your Highness!” Lieutenant Wind Strike rushes towards the princess with another pegasus and a unicorn. Both pegasi drag her behind the same boulder where Twilight’s friends were.
“Your Highness, are you alright?!” the lieutenant urges after resting Luna against the boulder.
The princess weakly regains her senses, and rubs her temples. “Ng-Ngh… my head…”
“Your Highness, we can barely hold on to our positions!” the unicorn guard cries. “Whatever these things have, we’re being outmatched!”
“Your Highness, I strongly suggest we retreat!” Wind Strike enjoins.
The ground rumbles below when an explosion occurs nearly behind them, sending dirt, leaves, and guards flying in all directions. For a swift moment, there is a never-ending ring and the muffled cries of wounded guards that fill Luna’s ears until they finally subside. Her vision is blanketed by a thick cloud of smoke and debris.
“Oh, shit! There goes our right flank!” the pegasus guard takes cover behind a thick tree as the thick cloud slowly clears.
“Lieutenant!” the princess calls out. “Gather all guards, and prepare for immediate retreat!”
“What about Sergeant Thunder Bolt’s team, Your Highness?!” the unicorn points out with concern. A second blast goes off farther down the right flank, sending more debris and smoke pelting down around their position. A charred body of a guard lands several meters in front of them: his armor broken and bent beyond recognition, and one or two limbs appear to be missing.
“Oh, Great Faust,” the unicorn shutters.
“Send the message to Sergeant Thunder Bolt’s team!” Luna orders the pegasus guard. “Gather as many as you can! Do not let them draw!”
“Yes, Your Highness!” the pegasus affirms as he tries to put on his stern look before taking off.
“Prepare our guards to retreat!” the princess turns to Lieutenant Wind Strike, who nods in reply and dashes off into the battle.
“All guards! Fall back to Her Highness! Move!” he screams as he runs around to get his word spread.
From her safety behind her boulder, Princess Luna watches helplessly as the remaining of her Royal Guards attempt to fall back to her position. Two guards from the left side quickly run away, when a third explosion sends one of them flying forward like a ragdoll. A tree topples over, nearly crushing the second as he races towards the wounded guard.
“I need help over here!” Luna can hear him scream.
Defying the migraine in her head, Luna leaps out from cover and races towards the wounded guard. Her adrenaline spikes again, as she uses all her might and power while firing miniscule bolts. She halts next to the two guards, gently taking the severely wounded one on her back.
“Follow me!” she orders, earning a sure nod from the startled guard. The two hurry themselves back to the bolder, both of them firing bolts at any given chance while bobbing and weaving to avoid getting hit. They hide back behind the boulder where there are only a couple of Royal Guards huddled around. Luna lowers the wounded guard from her back to the ground before another comes over to assist, giving the princess a good glance at him. His right hind leg is completely blackened, his tail burned away, and the lower pieces of his armor almost entirely torn.
Before she can say a word, they are interrupted by an intense roar coming from the beachfront. Like a motor running beyond full capacity, Luna peers from behind the boulder, spotting the watercraft engaging at Thunder Bolt’s position. A weapon attached to the very bow screams as it shoots flames like arrows, mowing down everything in its path. The princess wastes no time. Lighting up her horn, she fires repeating bolts until the machine is completely disabled and the roaring ceases. But, the remaining beings continue to fight with as much strength and power as they had started.
Luna turns to the remaining Royal Guards trying to find cover behind the tree trunks and the boulder. Lieutenant Wind Strike and two more injured pegasi quickly join before she informs. “We must go!”
“What happened to Sergeant Thunder Bolt?!” a unicorn guard questions until Luna hops back behind cover.
“We cannot wait much longer! Otherwise, we all die!” The volley of pellets intensify, and all the remaining ponies shuffle closer for cover.
“N’ugh… we-we’re, finished…” one of the wounded Royal Guards gurgles.
“Nay, we be not!” Luna chants as she steps in the middle of the small group. Her horn sparks with the last bit of strength she can muster through the ever increasing migraine in her head. The air around her and the guards brightens and picks up. Soon, it becomes a vortex spinning faster and faster, until they have finally warped away from the battlefield into an open grassy field within a flash.
Princess Luna drops to her rump as soon as the vortex and the magic die off, and lets out an exhausted sigh while letting the quietness finally settle upon her and the guards. She slowly raises her head at what remains of her twenty-two guards. All of them were battle-hardened and ready to defend Equestria against an unknown species. Now, there are only seven. Four of them are wounded –two in critical condition and the other two with not so life-threatening injuries.– The remaining two and Lieutenant Wind Strike look battered and in shock.
“Everypony okay?” the princess speaks softly, her voice sounding tiresome.
“A-Aye, Your Highness,” Wind Strike replies while catching his breath.
“Where are we?” a unicorn guard asks looking around.
“I teleported us as far away as possible.”
A solemn defeat feeling surrounds Luna, much deeper than she has ever felt since her banishment. A thought crawls into her mind that she knew sending Royal Guards would be fruitless, especially after witnessing the falling machine yesterday morning. These were not soldiers, only guards trained for that purpose, just as her older sister would rather like to have.
But then, these beings…
The technology they possess appeared far superior to their spells and magic. What would Celestia say? What about Twilight Sparkle and her friends? What would they say about Luna’s ultimate failure and loss?
“U-Ugh, my head…” A voice grunts from behind the ponies. The weary group snap their focus to the source, drawing into a defensive stance. A being wobbles itself to stand up roughly two meters away, when it makes eye contact with them. A long eerie pause settles between the two sides, giving the ponies a good look at it. Its height is almost exact to Princess Luna’s when it stands on its two legs, much like a minotaur. The clothing it wears from top to bottom appears to be thick and heavy.
“What the—?” the being manages to utter before it is hit by Luna’s stun spell, sending it flying backwards a few more meters before hitting the ground with a ‘clank.’
One of the pegasus guards –covered in scratches and bruises– unsheathes his sword with his mouth. “Le’ me kill i’ now!” he angrily declares, before he is stopped by another guard.
“Wait! We should leave it here.”
“ ‘N hav’ i’ aler’ the res’ of thos’ mons’ers t’ des’roy us all?!” The pegasus glares at his comrade.
“We take it with us,” Princess Luna butts in before the argument could escalate.
“Your Highness,” Wind Strike interjects. “What do we do with it? This will serve no purpose, but could escalate this tension.”`
“Perhaps it could be useful to us, if it complies well. They speak our tongue, so it will not be difficult to question one of them. Besides, this one is the most intact we have seen so far. And I plan to keep it that way. We best make haste and find our carriages.”
Neither of the Royal Guards spoke against the princess’ judgement, and they proceed with it.
“H-Hello?” an old voice appears from beside. Once again, the Royal Guards desperately raise their weapons to the source.
“Who goes there?!” Lieutenant Wind Strike shouts with a scratched voice. “Show yourself!”
A second later, an old stallion wearing a straw hat rises from the tall grass. Towed behind him is an aged wooden wagon.
“Please, please,” he pleads. “I’m merely a farmer.” The guards slowly lower their weapons before the farm stallion diverts his eyes to the princess.
“Oh my! Your Royalness!” the old stallion gasps and takes a bow. The bars hooked up to his saddle fall off on their own. “Thank goodness you came! There were these tall monsters out in the field—!”
“Settle down, sir!” Wind Strike steps forward to calm the panicked stallion. “What’s your name, sir?”
“O-Oh… B-Banana Peel, Your Royalness!”
Princess Luna walks forward, regaining her posture despite her appearance. “Mister Banana Peel. I apologize for this sudden request, but we have wounded guards, and would require aid…”
“Oh, anything for Your Royalness, er, Highness…” Banana Peel bows again. “My farm is not far from here.”
“Thank you very much.” Luna tiredly nods.
“May I ask what happened?”
“I’m sorry, sir,” Lieutenant Wind Strike raises a hoof. “That is not to discuss with civilians…”
Princess Luna merely listens while she aids to patch up the wounded with what they have. Loading them up to the wagon, and hooking up to a pegasus guard, they follow Banana Peel down a nearby narrow dirt path. The princess hangs at the very end of the group, where she keeps watch of the unconscious being being dragged and out of sight by Wind Strike and another pegasus guard.
“So,” Banana Peel cheerfully speaks. “Was it a top secret mission? Or, were ya here t’ stop those monsters from earlier?”
“Monsters?” the pegasus guard towing the wagon asks.
“Yeah! Jus’ ‘bout, I say, half an hour ago or so. I was strollin’ to the seashore for a night off like I always do. Then, these tall ‘n big monsters were up ahead ‘n blocked me.” The old farmer tries to stand on his hind legs to imitate what he saw. “Holdin’ these weird lights that nearly blinded me. Then, one of ‘em tried to reach for me, ‘n I ran!”
The rest of group remain utterly silent once Banana Peel finally finishes. A single thought runs through their minds when they glance at each other. The way the farmer briefly describes the ‘monsters’ he saw almost matches the beings they encountered.
“Perhaps you can tell us when we arrive at your homestead,” Princess Luna suggests.
“Oh, my honorable pleasure, my Royalness!” Banana Peel hops with excitement, little did he know the Royal Guards are rolling their eyes behind him. “Boy, my family will love to hear this!”