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// Cryptic Mysteries 
// Story: A Friend from the Stars 
// by AntiBronyBenSwolo 
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Across the dark void of space, decorated only by the near-infinite amount of stars in the known universe and vastly colorful nebula, stray asteroids danced and drifted around aimlessly. That is until strange alien androids examined and investigated the asteroids in their general vicinity. The androids were circular in nature, with one giant eye in the center, a thruster in the back, and tentacles all around their metal bodies. The androids scanned the asteroids, shining bright, blue lights at the stray rocks, and continued on to the next batch of them. As the bots finished up their investigation, they floated on back over to a saucer in the middle of the asteroid field, retracting their tentacles as the saucer opened up its doors to let the droids in. The saucer was five times larger than that of Cosmica Emerald's saucer but was very much of Cloptrian design.

"Alright. Let's see what we have found," The pilot of the ship said in an alien language to the droids as they plugged themselves into the spacecraft. The pilot of the alien ship wore a light grey jumpsuit with cyan canisters, similar to Cosmica's space-suit, but wore blue gloves instead of green and wore a heavy helmet obscuring his face. The android's eyes went blank as the footage that they have collected had shown up on the saucer's computer screen. The only difference is a visible trail on the asteroids was detected that was unable to be seen by the naked eye. And there was more of this trail where it came from.

"I underestimated your spacecraft. I'm surprised you were able to get this far without running out of fuel," The mysterious pilot commented as he followed the leaky fuel trail for quite a long distance away until they found something very much peculiar. A stray probe drifting across the vastness of space with its tentacles dangling throughout the void, unable to move. This particular probe ran out of power and deactivated before it could return to its spacecraft.

"So that's where you went. Well, I hope you saved your footage," The alien pilot said as he moved his ship around and activated the tractor beam, dragging the dead android to the center of the ship. The alien then dragged the powerless bot to its charging port to gather whatever footage it has collected so they may continue their search for whoever the alien may be looking for.

"Hopefully, you have more footage of her trail," The alien commented as the footage showed up on the screen. However, what the alien found in his little lost probe was much more interesting. Footage of Cosmica Emerald's ship. And it was in orbit of the nearest planet, a bright luscious world teeming with primitive life. The alien couldn't believe his eyes as the probe managed to get as close to the cockpit of the Cloptrian spacecraft without being spotted. And there was still more footage to come. The footage showed Cosmica meeting with another creature, a local from the planet her ship was orbiting. The local had a bright purple coat of fur, with a darker shade of purple for the mane, and sported a horn and wings, and was clearly unaware of her situation.

"Who are you? Why have you abducted me? And how do you know who I am!?" The local in the footage demanded to know as Cosmica approached her. Cosmica and the primitive local continued their conversation as the alien examining the footage was simply lost in thought.

"I have finally found you, Sister. Though I am surprised you can speak their language. Computer. See if you can translate what they're saying. I can't seem to understand them," The alien pilot demanded as the computer sprung to life and analyzed the footage of Cosmica Emerald's conversation with the primitive.

"No known language in our Cloptrian Language Database has been detected within this conversation. However, various repetitions in language have been detected, able to give us clues as to the topic of the Exile's conversation," The computer answered as the alien pilot muttered a minced oath to himself.

"Do what you have to," Cosmica's alien brother responded as the computer got to work as he continued watching Cosmica's conversation with the primitive local. The more he watched the footage, the more he was able to figure a few things out. He quickly deduced the local Cosmica had abducted was the leader of the planet below them, and noticed one major thing about the footage.

"Cosmica Emerald..." The footage played, as the brother set the footage of Cosmica's name on loop.

"It's bad enough to give in to your blasphemous emotions with these inferiors, Sister, but to live amongst them with a new name?" The alien brother asked as if Cosmica were right in front of him.

"If I may, it appears standard Cloptrian names are not translatable in the primitive's language," The computer commented as the ship's pilot turned toward the computer.

"Then how was she able to translate and speak their language?" The pilot asked as the computer analyzed the footage some more.

"My hypothesis is that your sister managed to scan the local language and study it to a perfect tee," The computer said as the alien pilot bowed his head as turned to the still frame of his sister. He couldn't tell if he was feeling sympathy for his sister, wanting her to come back, or fear and anger at her for turning into what he viewed as an unholy abomination, but the saltwater canisters subdued him from feeling any emotion as to stay on task.

"If I may be so bold, I feel we may take the fugitive's steps to learn this language. And this may include a new name as our language may not be easily translatable in there," The alien computer suggested as its pilot breathed a sigh of defeat.

"Very well. We hide in the orbit of the planet, learn what we have to from them, then attack these primitive locals and capture my sister," The alien pilot schemed as the computer activated the autopilot and headed toward the alien world Cosmica has taken refuge in.

"Cosmica Emerald? What exactly does Cosmical Emerald mean to you, Sister?" The alien asked as if Cosmica were right in front of him as they neared closer and closer to the planet.

"Shall I send the probes onto the planet to simply capture Cosmica?" The ship's computer asked as the alien turned to the interface of the spacecraft.

"No. If we attack now but fail, then the locals will be alert for when we strike next. Hide in the planet's orbit and wait when their guard is at its lowest. Then we strike," The alien pilot demanded as the planet almost became visible from the cockpit. The alien then grew most ambitious and anxious for what he wanted to do next.

"I have been able to briefly scan the local's terminology and have calculated an alias for the locals to call you," The computer advised as the pilot turned to it in confusion.

"Now, why would you do that?" The alien asked as the computer flickered around.

"I have said before, our Cloptrian language is hard to translate for the natives of this planet," The computer said as its pilot sighed in defeat.

"Very well. What will these primitive locals most likely refer to me as?" The alien asked as the computer showed a list of strange letters in a formation that seemed unordinary even to a space alien.

"Cryptic...Sapphire? You want the locals to call me Cryptic Sapphire?" The alien asked as he was able to get a grasp at learning the local's language.

"Correct," The computer confirmed, shining a bright green checkmark for emphasis. The alien pilot thought the circumstances and the name over a while longer before he reached the orbit of the planet.

"Very Well. Dear Sister, be warned. For Cryptic Sapphire is now hot on your trail," Cryptic Sapphire threatened as his spaceship was hidden in the dark side of Cosmica Emerald's new refuge: Equestria!