Twilight adjusted the Telescope slightly to the left. It was night time over Ponyville, and she’d fancied studying some of the late night astral phenomena. Spike was fast asleep, his snoring being the only thing she could hear. She chuckled a little, and adjusted the Telescope again. It was then that she saw something unusual - a Meteor Shower looked normal, except that one of the rocks looked different - a smouldering rock that burned a trail of green fire behind it. Princess Luna didn’t seem to be trying to stop it, so Twilight assumed it was probably something new. She levitated over a book to try and look it up.
Looks like this night might be more exciting than I had originally planned Twilight thought to herself as she quietly browsed the pages.
****
That night, Applejack had been sound asleep, when something impacted with the ground nearby. Presumably, something big and heavy. She woke up with a sudden jolt of adrenaline.
What in the hay was that?
Yawning, AppleJack quickly strapped her hat on and went outside to check. After a minute's wandering, she saw smoke in a far off field. Suspecting a fire, she ran inside and looked for the bell.
****
There’s nothing here Twilight thought to herself, sounding worried. Maybe Luna was asleep? She could have let something dangerous though! No, that would be silly. Luna’s usually up by now. And if it were dangerous, she’d have redirected it. Or something.
Twilight had been desperately flicking through the book back and forth by now, but had found nothing on a Green Fireball. Twilight then stopped and look through the Telescope again - a thought had hit her.
Comets usually break up in the Atmosphere, and disintegrate harmlessly. But what if this one didn’t?
As she thought this, she scanned the Telescope back to where the Comet had been. It had moved - obviously - but Twilight took to tracking an odd oily black smoke trail. As she followed it, she started to look where it had landed - the southern fields of Sweet Apple Acres.
AppleJack!
Immediately concerned, Twilight knew there’d be no time. She left Spike in bed, took her book with her and galloped towards the possible impact site.
****
AppleJack had woken the rest of the Apple Family by now. Naturally, the family was panicking slightly - fires were never good for the crop. AppleJack suggested that AppleBloom and Granny Smith stay behind, while she and Big Macintosh went to check on the Apples. When they got there, the pair found no signs of fire - not even so much as a scorch mark, but something was still producing smoke.
“Ah don’t like this. Reminds me o’ one of them bad horror movies.” AppleJack said nervously while checking the trees.
“Eeyup.” Big Macintosh replied. “You sure it was a fire?”
“Well, what causes Smoke but no Fire?” AppleJack rebutted.
“Fair Point.” Big Macintosh replied “Ah’m gonna go check on Granny Smith and AppleBloom, AJ. Ya sure you’ll be all right here?”
AppleJack shook her head. “Oh no, ah know what happens in those movies. When the group splits up, the monster always gets the girl!”
Big Macintosh couldn’t help but chuckle. “Fine, we’ll come back an’ check later.”
AppleJack nodded and moved back with Big Macintosh. This field was starting to give her the creeps.
****
There was a loud knock at the door. Spike rolled over, and probably would have stayed sleeping if it wasn’t for another knock at the door, this one louder. Begrudgingly, Spike walked himself to the door.
This better not be another one of Pinkie’s after hours pranks...
Sure enough, Spike opened the door...and found a dark blue Alicorn standing in front of the doorway. He squinted his eyes a little, though really there was only one Pony that could be, especially at this hour. He blinked and immediately stood to attention.
“P-Princess Luna?!”
The blue Alicorn looked rather shaken. “H-Hello. Is this the residence of Twilight Sparkle?” the Alicorn asked, sounding desperate. Spike was still trying to put two and two together, but he let her in anyways.
“She’s upstairs, watching the Meteor Shower. Why?” Spike asked. Without stopping to explain, Luna galloped upstairs, to find Twilight missing. She came back down. “Stay here. If she comes back, tell her I visited, won’t you?”
“W-Wait, Twilight’s missing?!” Spike replied, now properly coming into consciousness.
“It would seem so.” Luna told him. “Fear not. You should stay here and keep an eye out for her in case she comes back. I will look for Twilight Sparkle.”
“Hold up. Shouldn’t I be looking for her?” Spike replied.
“But I need to see her, and this matter is important! And we need someone to watch this place in case she comes back. Please?”
Spike sighed and relented. With a flap of her wings, Luna flew off.
Spike crossed his arms, looking extremely bemused he’d been woken up. In truth though, he was even more worried about what might have happened to Twilight.
****
AppleJack and Big Macintosh meanwhile had returned to the area. Strangely, the area was still smoking, but there was no sign of any fire. As AppleJack and Big Macintosh continued to walk however, there were signs of trees that had been mysteriously broken and damaged.
“Ah don’t like this...” AppleJack mused to herself.
“As ah said, if it’s too much little sis, you can always go check on Granny Smith. And if ah don’t know any better, Ah’d have said those movies are doing yer brain in.” Big Macintosh replied. He was then confronted by a very angry looking AppleJack.
“You callin’ me yellah?” AppleJack replied, leaning her face uncomfortably close to Big Macintosh’s.
“Um, well...”
“Ah ain’t scared! Ah’m just being cautious!” AppleJack insisted. “Ah can find this thing without your help!”
With that, AppleJack galloped on ahead. Big Macintosh called her back, but AppleJack wasn’t listening. He sighed and tried to follow her.
****
Twilight meanwhile was galloping through the fields of apples. She continued to gallop heedless of anything in her way, which eventually resulted in one of her hooves hitting a tree. She yelped and fell forwards, causing her to drop the book and stumble over. Her eyes spun for a brief second, before she blinked and stood up, rubbing off her bruises.
Ow. A bit TOO desperate there, Twilight.
Twilight then picked up her book, and carried on walking into the field, keeping her wits about her.
Take it easy Twilight. You never know who could be around here.
It was at this point as Twilight took a few steps into the acres that she could hear someone calling out. It sounded like AppleJack’s brother.
But what would Big Macintosh and AppleJack be doing all the way out here? Twilight asked herself as she carried on walking.
****
Ah’m sorry, Lil’ Sis Big Macintosh thought to himself. His teasing had gotten a little too far. He trotted on, following the broken branches. It was then that he saw something flying over his head.
It’s a might late for the Pegasi to be out... Big Macintosh thought to himself. The figure swooped over and landed in front of him.
“Gentle Farming Pony, have you seen anything odd around here?” the stranger asked. Big Macintosh simply blinked, dumbfounded.
“More to the point, have you seen Twilight Sparkle nearby? I really have to find her.” the stranger added. Big Macintosh came out of his stupor for a short while.
“Ahm sorry, but ah haven’t. Have you seen mah sister AppleJack? She galloped on ahead after ah, well...”
The stranger blinked. “The Element of Honesty?”
Oddly enough, Big Macintosh did another double take.
“Hey, wait a minute...you're that Princess Luna character, right?” he asked, cocking his head to one side curiously.
“Very perceptive. Since we’re both looking for someone, why don’t we work together? I will keep an eye out for the Element of Honesty, and you look for Twilight Sparkle. Are we in agreement?” Princess Luna suggested.
“Alright, ya got ah deal. Just make sure she’s back safe, ya hear?” Big Macintosh requested. Luna turned and smiled.
“Gentle Farming Pony, it would be my honor” Luna replied, before taking off.
“Hey, wait-!” Big Macintosh tried to call back My name’s Big Macintosh...
****
Twilight carefully kept trotting onwards, following a trail of broken branches.
Whatever it was, no way it broke up...though it may have taken some hefty hits on the way she mused to herself. It was at that point she came across some bitter sounding mumbling. Instinctively, Twilight took cover in the bushes. She spotted a bitter looking orange pony wearing a Stetson walking past, kicking a stone lazily along as she trotted.
“AJ! AppleJack!” Twilight called out. AppleJack stopped for a moment.
“Huh? Twi? What are ya doin’ out here at this hour?” AppleJack asked.
“Presumably the same reason you're here.” Twilight told AppleJack “Some kind of green meteor crashed here. I thought you were in trouble, so I came to investigate.”
“Well gosh Twi...wait, green meteor?” AppleJack asked. Twilight took a moment to explain the events on her end as best as she could to AJ.
“...And it’s not listed in any of my books, so I thought I’d come take a look!” Twilight ended, sounding rather enthusiastic. AppleJack simply gave Twilight an odd look.
“Twilight, ya creepin’ me out.” AppleJack replied. Twilight took a moment to compose herself.
“S-Sorry, this is exciting! We’re seeing Science unfold, live even! Who knows what that thing was?!” Twilight replied.
AppleJack sighed. “Something a might bit dangerous. Can you focus ya mind off studying for ah moment, Twilight?”
Twilight sighed. “Your right, so...I’m guessing whatever it is will have impacted at the end of this trail. And it’s pretty big.”
Twilight pointed ahead, showing AppleJack that the path was getting wider, uprooting trees.
“Wait, what?! It’s bad enough we got a Monster, but a GIANT Monster?!” AppleJack replied.
“Well, we dealt with that Atlas guy. We can deal with this.” Twilight replied, trotting ahead.
“Hey now wait a minute! He was a Giant Pony, not a Giant Monster!” AppleJack called back, trotting onwards to keep up with Twilight.
****
Princess Luna circled above the Field, looking along the route. She was starting to despair when...
At last!
Princess Luna swooped down in front of Twilight and AppleJack. “Twilight Sparkle! At last!”
“Princess Luna? You're here for the Comet too?” Twilight asked.
“That’s the thing, Twilight Sparkle. It’s not a Comet.” Princess Luna told her. “The object is...Extra Equestrian. Beyond that I don’t know what it is.”
“Told Ya.” AppleJack said, nudging Twilight teasingly.
“She said she didn’t know what it was, not that it’s a Giant Monster.” Twilight sighed.
“There’s someone else looking for you, AppleJack.” Princess Luna told her.
“Yeah yeah, ah know. Big Mac thinks ah’m yellah.” AppleJack replied. “So ah galloped on ahead of him.”
“The Element of Honesty certainly has a prideful streak.” Princess Luna remarked.
“And what in the hay is that supposed to mean?” AppleJack snapped back, looking straight through Luna.
“Nothing dear AppleJack. Shall we trot on ahead? I have a feeling Dear Sister is going to want to know what it is.” Princess Luna asked. Twilight and AppleJack looked at each other.
“Maybe we should wait for Big Mac. He sounds concerned.” Twilight told her.
“Nothin’ doin’ Twi. Ah ain’t scared o’ nopony!” AppleJack replied.
Twilight sighed. “Let’s wait a few-”
“Let’s move on ahead!” AppleJack interrupted. Princess Luna just looked at the squabbling Ponies in a bemused fashion. She then cracked a wry smile.
“And what’s that look for?” AppleJack barked at Luna.
“I found them, Gentle Farming Pony...it is Big Mac isn’t it?” Princess Luna asked. AppleJack huffed in disapproval as the red stallion trotted over.
“Eeyup. Seems ya found who ya were looking for too.” he replied.
“Right, well then...let’s move on ahead. Our object is at the end of this mess.” Luna told everyone, before turning to lead the way. The others followed along single file, with Twilight acting as a spacer between Big Macintosh and AppleJack.
****
The quartet soon reached the end of the trail. Lying before them was a disk shaped object, at least 30 hands in diameter. It looked in bad shape, as if a good chunk of it had actually burned up on re entry with the atmosphere. It was still warm, but not burning hot. The heat was...kind of pleasant actually.
Twilight was the first to step forwards.
“Careful, Twilight Sparkle.” Luna warned.
“I’ll be okay...but there’s this...sticky stuff on the ground. Like some kind of Gel...”
Twilight examined it with her eyes, before levitating up a chunk. “Here.”
Princess Luna examined it. “Quite.” she responded simply. Luna was actually trying to hide her revulsion at the gel.
“So, what whadda we do now?” AppleJack asked.
“Well, it’s our Object. Maybe we should examine it a bit closer first?” Twilight responded, trotting closer. The heat itself didn’t seem to be bothering Twilight too much, even at this close proximity. Shouldn’t it be burning her right about now?
As Twilight got closer, the heat proved to be less intense. She found something odd - a button almost. A large red, round circular button.
“I’ve found something. It looks like a release mechanism.” Twilight called back.
Everyone looked at each other.
“Keep it closed! We don’t know what it could do to Equestria if we open it!” Luna shouted back.
“On tha’ other hand, somepony else might come along and open it. Would ya rather it be them than us?” AppleJack called over, getting odd looks from Luna and Big Macintosh. Twilight sat down for a moment, thinking of what to do.
Twilight took a deep, nervous breath. “Alright, everyone stay clear. I’m opening the - uh - disk.”
With that Twilight pressed the button. The disk split along the middle, before splashing the area with a good amount of black goo. When everyone finished wiping the goop from their eyes, they couldn’t believe what they had found...