//------------------------------// // ~Chapter 1~Telescope // Story: To the stars and beyond // by punkrose //------------------------------// "It really does look like an alicorn."Fluttershy gazed in the eyepiece of the telescope,tone driping in wander at the alignement of stars captured on the vault. The ghost of a habit urged her,reaching ever so slighty as to push away rose locks droping loosely to ruin her view.The sky never looked so beautiful.And all the credit returned to the singlest entity capable of taking her attention away,and restful nights from specialsts. She rose her hoof and found no loose strands of mane at the contact,realising that her vision was now clear from any obstacle.A pencil firmly kept her mane in a bun,magicked away by all likelihood a friendly ghost: Rarity giggled lightly. It was true.Fluttershy's attention span reached zero when it wasn't question of the Alicorn constellation.Its appearences varied like the roll of a dice,and so anyone who could catch sight of it would take their sweet time.Viewing it trough the astronomy observatory offered an altogether experience...she could only wonder: "Fluttershy dear,"the unicorn bit on her lip,having sensed another chuckle grow,"it would be dreadfull to ruin your time,but you've had the telescope for almost twenty minutes now." "Oh...U-um..."Fluttershy awkwardly stepped back to let her catch her turn,"sorry,must've slipped my mind..."her smile gave away a quiet apology; "Don't be sorry Flutters,"that was Rainbow's catch phrase of the moment,"anypony would take their time eitheir way.I understand why it would take you so long..." High above the floor,the cyan pegasus joined her statement with the impressive image of her face pressed against her own telescope,elevating in place: "This was an awesome idea!" "And there it is,"Rarity stated plainly,an amused tone playing in her voice as she reached for the eyepiece,"lo and behold the use of Rainbow's favorite word in the vocabulary of exageration." "Heh,I never exagerate." "I have more than one proof to counte-..."Rarity cut mid-sentence.Silence filled the room as the sight of the constellation flooded her eyes.Well,as silent at it could be when your friends snickered at your failing attempt to finish a line;Fluttershy shamelessly giggled,a hoof poorly suppressing her amusement,Rainbow not doing any better.The nerve of them.Didn't they know that they were spoling the experience? "This...,"Rarity rose her head to face them,annoyence and wonder scrambling her mind,"this is as breath-taking as you give it to be.Much better if you didn't ruin it with those laughs of yours!" If only stars could smile.The Alicorn constellation would smile upon them,looming over by its angelic shape.The idea was amusing.The stars twinkling in shameless distraction as they gathered their little banters.Shifting in a fantastic spark as the illusion gave away the ideal of magic.The astronoms are pulling out their mane,at loss to figure out the phenomenon... "I guess that the mystery surrounding it only ponctuates taking a closer sight,"Rarity reajusted the tube to have a better zoom on the stars,always the perfectionist. "It's not only that Rarity..."Fluttershy took her free pass at using the telescope once more,to the unicorn's regret: "...if we concentrate enough...really hard enough,it's like the constellation is waving at us!"she exclaimed,pulled in a wondrous transe as soon as she peeked trough the eyepiece. "Wait,really?Lemme see that..."Rainbow took her statement by heart.Almost landing on the yellow pegasus when she flew atop her,trying to catch a glimpse from the telescope and earning a distressed yelp from the latter. "Sorry dears,"Rarity bumped into the cyan pegasus as to regain her original spot,"but I waited long enough to have my turn on it and you won't take that away." Her interjection went unappreciated by the latter,responding with no hint of hesitation with the same counter attack.What followed was friendly jostling on wich one had their rightfull turn on the device.Eventually errupting into a swarm of giggles in parallel of their filly days.Remembrance of carefree times. A rough clearing of throat interrupted them,raising their head from their position splatered on the floor,they stared.The head of the astronomic observatory stared back,no less than the professor Gliding Light in person.They blinked in unisson,found themselves like caught in the middle of a Twister session.Immediatly if not clumsily,they parted as to regain composure: "I hope you enjoyed your visit here,"he spoke in his eternal pinched voice like always prone to a cold,"it's the least we could do after the services you provided for us,Doctor Shy." "It was my pleasure to help,Professor,"she instinctivly dusted off her blouse,the hint of embarrassent edging on her voice,"I could never decline the offer." "We did need everyone's diagnosis on the samples and ones couldn't be kept away,"he achieved by playfully rolling his eyes,giving a bitter laugh,"so much for nothing..." Fluttershy rose her hoof as to muffle a chuckle.The reference was too strong in this one.She felt sorry for the lost eyes of her friends,questionning among them her misplaced amusement.The professor caught on their lack of information,drifting his gaze to her friends besides her: "Well ,ladies,"he slightly bowed his head,"would you like to continue your visit?I think you've enjoyed all your time here,and maybe Doctor Shy would narrate her journey as well..." Fluttershy comfirmed his saying with a gracful blush creeping up her cheeks.Rainbow simply shrugged it off: "Yeah,let's go." A minute later,Professor Light was guiding the little group into the broad hallways of the observatory as they followed in a trotting pace.The night was young.At least for the astronoms,keen on catching any cosmic body in their visual field for possible studies. They came accross a large portrait of their current ruler,Prince Sombra,and probably only one.With his assumed immoratlity,his reign scretched on for hundred of years.No questions asked,only compliance and respect from his subjects and ever the bitterest of alliances. "Our project would've never been possible whitout the intervention of our Highness,"Professor Light elaborated,before slowing down his pace to share a secretive look with them,"being honest,it was also by his own personal demand before making this project public,his Highness insisted..." The project simply consisted at a probe sent to the Moon.That was it.Mercuris,Solis,Viola,Jupiter,all the planets of their system have been explored.The lunar satellite remained lonely.All questions fell to a single drop the moment they moved on to a room.Its only belonging was a lunar telescope as the professor proudly presented with an extended hoof: The opened ceiling welcomed the silver technology in open arms.The professor dwelled on its merits,he described and went on,its main function was aimed toward the Moon and all her properties.More details were added but let us not go into wider territories. Rarity rose a hoof,lurking the imposing device silhouetted against the sky with wide eyes: "Correct me if I'm wrong,you mean to say this device helped you locate the satellite in an aproximative area?And it turned out successfull?"she recalled their earlier discussion;the professor cleared his throat,pride etching in his every movement: "Indeed Miss Rarity.Not only that,it also permitted us to send our first space probe on the Moon,"he declared,throwing a hoof in triumph,"it was our first successful spacial mission for this satellite..."he achieved while keeping record of the group following behind with a glance. "...as you may know,the other probes have been lost in their way,"he dramatically sniffed the air,recalling a bleak and most regretfull memory. "Why tho?"Rainbow asked in genuine concern. "Oh!W-well..."he rubbed the back of his neck,trying to find an explanation that would conform rationnally,"they broke down when they reached their destination,we believe it could be due to a miscalculation of their landing..." Even he didn't seem to believe in this initiative,he simply seemed to recite a reply he gave off after the primar theorie didn't pay off: "But for this time,all the hard-work payed,"Fluttershy cut in softly,reminding them of the present situation,"you've gathered enough data by your studies on the samples collected from the Moon,wich I was happy to take part of..."she ponctuated with a gentle smile,shrinking slithgly from the attention she dragged on her. "...even if your previous theories on the matter weren't confirmed." Tough her statement wore genuine compassion,the professor scrunched his nose in a wince. "Yes,"he replied slowly,"we're gratefull we were brought upon the light by the geologist Doctor Pie by her diagnosis..." He cleared his throa,clear as daylight in his unease, before achieving: "...it is true that a lifeform can't be developped on basalt,wich is a volcanic stone without counting the lack of atmosphere."Fluttershy rose a hoof to her muzzle as she felt another chuckle bubble;she wouldn't have called the latter a diagnosis as it was more in her memories a flat remark blurted out by the grey mare. No emotion betrayed her expression,as she observed and digged for details on the patterns constituing the mineral."It's basalt."she have stated,and nopony contraticted her. Maud have still opted to dismiss the staff,pursuing in her explanation on the rock's nature.She made clear as to refere to it as commune in Equestria,easily reconizable,all that fuss.And it was extracted without a microscope... Fluttershy' entire narration left her two friends at loss for what to add,and the professor rolling his eyes furthermore,but this didn't take long... "Classic Maud,"Rainbow shrugged with a grin.Inspiring Rarity into snorting in an unlady-like manner,quickly followed by the soft giggle longly restrained by a yellow pegasus.The professor turned to the group,eyebrow arched playfully.He have stopped in his track as they reached the main entrence.The end of their visit loomed over their head.Goodbye stars. "From what I can tell,it seems you made off the best from your visit in here,"he smirked before giving a slight bow,"Ladies,it is with the hope of seeing you again that I shall tell you furthermore." Rarity gracefully returned his gesture,while Fluttershy opted for a brief nod: "Hey,"Rainbow conspirationnally elbowed the professor,a slight grin curving up her lip,"did Maud also tell you what kind of rock the floor was made of?"