"It's been a hell of a run, I'd never thought it would come to an end."
Endings.
When you go on a journey, you sometimes think that they could never end, that you'll always go about doing what you're doing. You don't expect or want to have to stop doing the things you love, despite the coming changes and things that'll happen to you.
You wish you could go on with your friends, stay with them forever and keep up the fun nonstop. But, sometimes, you have to change, let go, sacrifice your time with them because there's something more important to do. You have to say good bye and then fulfill your mission, even if it means you never see them again.
I know because it's what I've been through.
Ever since the day I left Stable 2, I had made friends, defeated many villains, and saved the Equestrian Wasteland from destruction. Though, in the process, I gave up the chance to see my friends in flesh and blood for a long time, having to tend to Equestria's weather, make sure that no one tries to take control of it or destroy the rebuilding Wasteland with it. While it's not the happiest fate I'd like, it's better than watching the whole world burn, my friends dying and me being utterly helpless, if not dead.
That's where my story ends.... Or, at least it should've.
<<<>>>
I awoke with a gasp as I took in my first breath in over ten years of operating that old pod, my bones weak and aching. I was touched by a... paw? No, this couldn't have been a paw, it felt hairless! I turned to see a face, also furless save for the eyebrows, a pair of eyes with grey irises looking back at me. The beings expression was calm, almost dad-like. He spoke to me. "Easy, you've been asleep in there for a while, this hypo should help you move after a moments rest."
I then felt pressure to my neck as another similar creature pushed a small device up to my neck and pressed a button. I'm guessing it was some kind of syringe, but there was no needle, just a bit of pressure on my neck was applied, not a sign of blood coming out of the pressured spot.
Surprised by the sudden intrusion, I spoke up. "Who are you? How did you get in this place? You know there's a shiel-" I stopped as I realized with horror that since I was out of the pod, I had no control of the S.P.P. systems or weather, the clouds could be going wild right now!
"Don't worry, we have satellites keeping the weather in check, and there are guards outside, no one will be getting in until we have everything set up." The entity I first saw said before letting out a chuckle and smiled as he continued. "Forgive me, I forgot about introductions for a moment. My name is Daniels, I'm from a group called the Starfleet Temporal Division, which is a part of the Universal Alliance. We're here because we've discovered a new enemy that poses a threat to not only our universe, but countless others, yours included."
"And why did you wake me up from weather control?" I said back to Daniels as he responded.
"We brought you back from your coma because of your history. We at the U.A. not only keep an eye on other realms, but check for possible candidates to help out, and from your record, you are a very gifted young mare." As he said that, my mouth started to open to speak but he continued before I could start. "And you won't have to worry about your home, my people will make sure it's safe."
As he finished, I sat, puzzled. There was a "Universal Alliance"? And they were trying to protect my friends from harm by this enemy of theirs? While I had several questions to ask, I assumed I'd have to take this news in with a grain of salt. Taking a breath, I started. "So, you want my help? Alright, I'll help, but I need to know: you said there we're satellites covering for the weather, right?"
Daniels responded quickly. "Yes, they're actually supposed to be backup should the S.P.P. go offline, but we have them working until we can get your holographic stand-in to operate the pod."
"Holographic?" I questioned in bewilderment.
"Yes. Ensign..." He turned his head to another one of his guards who held down a small device. After pressing a button on it, a wave of energy shifted before it took the form of me, Pipleg and all. It was another me! Only made of energy from that device.
The "hologram" of me spoke up a second after its activation. "Is the pod read-" She stopped as she saw me still inside. "Oh, you decided to show me off?"
I once again sat bewildered by the sight before speaking up. "So she's going to run the weather while I'm with you?"
"Yes, if you come with us that is." He said as I asked another question.
"And my friends?"
Daniels frowned as he answered me. "Unfortunately, they won't be coming. However, if J'ula does attack this place, I may permit visits as they'll most likely know of what's going on."
I frowned back as he continued. "But I can allow you to bring the equipment around you with you if you wish, our people have holodecks as well should you feel the need to revisit old friends."
I took in his words with a breath. I was free, but I'd still never see my friends again, they wouldn't be with me for this adventure, protecting the other universes from danger and saving the day.... but, as far as they know, I'm still here, keeping an eye on the weather. But, what if they want to visit me, or at least, my holo-self, that is.
I looked to my holo-clone and asked, "So you know everything I know, right?"
"Yep!" The fake me responded with a smile. "From the day you were born to the moment you first saw me, or, you, I mean."
I held back a chuckle as I looked to Daniels and nodded, picking up Little Macintosh in my magic and putting it into it's holster as I gave my answer. "Alright, I'm in." He smiled as I stood up for the first time since I was out of that pod. While I was a little weak, whatever was in that hypo-thing really fixed me up. I walked up to him and asked, "Where do we start?"
"More like, when do we start?" He replied with a chuckle of his own as he continued. "You'll need to know all of the history we have on our group and governments, but don't worry, you have all the time you'll need or want."
I was a little confused by that, but before I could ask he looked to one of his guards and asked, "How long until she'll be in?"
The guard laughed, putting a paw(?) on the other me's head before answering. "It'll only take about 6 minutes, no longer."
"Great. We'll be at New Khitomer when you're finished." Daniels replied, his guards nodding before him and I were assaulted by a flash of white light. After a moment, I blinked to see a large silver platform surrounded by a purple sky(?). Around the platform were several... screens? Each of which was displaying a random scene from what I assumed was the U.A.s history. There were a few I could make out, one was of a person similar to Daniels standing on a platform as a large, glowing cloud-like field flew over him.
Another was of a ship, built out of a saucer and some other section, being burnt apart, specifically on the top part of the saucer section, I think I could also see a name on the ship, but it was too damaged to be readable.
A third one was of a massive object made up of several spikes and.... I think there were a few wires too. The 'ship' was in front of a smaller vessel similar to the one in the second image, dwarfed by the giant vessel, from how it looked, the view must've been terrifying.
As I looked around the massive room. Daniels walked beside me as he spoke up. "I almost forgot, with this device here, you won't age, something all of our agents are accustomed to as well." He put the small, circle shaped device onto my neck, a surge flowing through my spine as I stood, taking in the effects of the new piece of equipment added to my body.
I steadied myself as I spoke. "Wow, that's incredible." Daniels smiled before I continued. "So, I'm assuming this'll take more than a day, right?"
"Yes, approximately several weeks." He said dourly, knowing that I wouldn't be too happy with the answer. "But, as I said, you'll have all the time you need to know everything. Come, let's get started." He said as I followed him, preparing for the longest history course I'd ever taken.
---------
It had been about 4 weeks before I'd finished, knowing the history of the human race and their rise to become the United Federation of Planets, their feats, their failures, all that they'd been through had been put into my brain as of today, and I was now going to start practice in my new career: Engineering.
I was an apprentice for the pipbuck technician duty in my previous life before leaving Stable 2, and while I wasn't an actual technician, I was exceptionally good at the job, and how could I resist learning how to handle technology that was at least 200 years more advanced?
As I walked to the Engineering station within the large ring shaped station around the planet New Khitomer, I saw several officers to my left testing their weapons against a hologram of one of the Voth dino-warriors, some being knocked back by the retaliating attacks as it turned to fight.
"A new cadet like you could use some of that training." I heard a rough, strong voice come from my right, he was a humanoid with dark skin, braided hair and ridges on his forehead, from my research, I could tell he was a Klingon.
From what I saw, he was the trainer at the Tactical station, where officers would hone their combat skills and practice holographic starship combat scenarios. As he looked at me, I spoke. "Oh, I'm on my way to the Engineering station, but I suppose I could try this place out sometime."
"You will most likely have to, my little tinkerer." He said, acknowledging my small size as he continued. "No matter your duty, every officer must have some practice in the ways of the warrior. There are many threats you shall have to face, and to secure victory, you must train the soldier within you to grow strong."
"Oh, if only Xenith was here." I thought to myself as he finished. I thought about the fights in the Pit, I was nowhere near the skill that even the weakest raider was when it came to physical combat. The only things that kept me alive in that hellhole was my telekinesis and wits. However, I think that now would be a good time to practice and make myself better than that, after all, I wasn't going to be able to grab all of the soldiers at once and throw them into a lake before they got a hit on me, right?
I looked to the Tactical tutor as I said, "Yeah, you're right, and I suppose Engineering can't save me all the time, right?"
The warrior gave a hearty laugh. "Ha! That's the warrior I see in you! But first, you shall fulfill your tasks at Engineering, then come see me afterwards, understood?"
"Yes Sir!" I said as I saluted and continued onwards towards the Engineering station, making a note on my Pipleg as I passed the officers in their simulation. I probably won't be the best fighter, but I could use the training and exercise to make myself ready. After all, this new threat I'd be facing soon would most likely have quite the brutes to fight against, and magic wouldn't be enough to stop them.
I put those thoughts to the back of my mind as I reached the Engineering station, my new teacher introducing himself as I walked in.
"Ah, Littlepip, you're here. Great! Now I hear you have experience in this field, yes?"
I replied back. "Yep, Stable 2 Pipbuck Technician apprentice here is ready for your first lesson!"
The teacher smiled as he replied. "Excellent! Now, Let's start with this 25th Century communicator here."
I watched and listened as he explained how the device worked. I would be here for a while, but by the time I was done, I'd be ready for my first mission.