“Mildew!” Star Swirls voice rang out through the cave. Mildew Dawn, a Unicorn mare with a gray coat and black mane, looked over as her mentor trotted up next to her. “Mildew, where have you been? I’ve been calling your name for ten minutes.” He said in an annoyed tone.
“A thousand pardons master.” She turned away and pointed her hoof to what she was looking at. “But I found… something.”
Starswirl raised an eyebrow in confusion. “Found what?” He says as he follows her hoof, finding a metal device emitting blue light above it. “Mildew I’m not seeing anything that interesting.”
Mildew didn’t respond, merely reaching her hoof forward and touching the light. A second later the light shifts, showing a strange pale biped in a small bunker.
“It is October 12th, 2680. This is Staff Sergeant William Wilkins of the United Nations Republic speaking.” The biped said in a tired voice as the bunker shook and lights flickered. “... They came like a hoard of ravished insects, devouring all who stood in ther way. They showed no mercy or compassion, just an unending hatred for Mankind and it’s works.”
Starswirl took a step back in surprise, his eyes widening. “What is this?”
“They left nothing, absolutely nothing.” The biped continued. “Humanity has been fighting for fifty years, but nothing can sate their thirst for destruction.” As if on cue, there was a loud screech as something clawed at the bunker's door behind him. “The war is lost, the Hydra have found Earth and are cleansing it of life. All our colonies have been destroyed... there’s nothing left of our empire.”
Mildew and Starswirl gave each other a look at all these strange words the biped was saying.
“I’m all that’s left of my crew. I sent them on the last Seedship... they deserved to rest.” Something big was banging on the door, seeking entry to the bunker. “No one is coming for me, what’s left of our forces are scattered in the rubble of what was Earth. This is where I die.” The biped picked up a strange tool, pressing a button so it started glowing. “But I refuse to die without taking one more Hydra bastard with me.” He said, swiveling his chair towards the door and aimed the tool towards it. “Humanitas in aeternum.” He said as the door gave way, revealing several horrific beasts rushing into the room.
“By Faust!” Starswirl took a step back as the video ended, holding on a blue and white flag depicting a circle with unknown land masses wreathed in olive branches.
“What… does it all mean? Earth, Hydra, Humanity, Seedship?” Mildew asked as she trotted up to the light.
“I don’t know Mildew, but we need to alert the Princesses immediately.” Starswirl said, walking up to her. “Whatever is making these pictures, it isn’t magic. There is no magical output coming from whatever that is.”
Canterlot Archives
A month after Twilight's ascension
“What is it you wanted to show me Princess Celestia?” A purple Alicorn asked her superior.
“Twilight, what I am about to show is very important.” Princess Celestia said seriously as she led her past the forbidden section. “You are one of the few ponies to see this since the days of the Pillars.”
Twilight perked up at that, excited to be entrusted with such an honor. “Is it because I am now Princess?”
“Partly my pupil.” Celestia answered as she opened a locked door with her magic. “The other reason is to do with your recent trip into the Human world.”
“The Human world? What do they have to do with this?” Twilight tilted her head in confusion.
“That, I’m not sure about my little pony.” Celestia turned to Twilight as the doors shut behind them. “A thousand or so years ago, Starswirl and his apprentice were looking for medicinal herbs in a cave not far from Canterlot. However, they could not prepare themselves for what they found instead.”
Celestia stopped at the small metal device found so long ago. She manipulated it with her magic, activating it and showing Twilight the video.
Twilight sat there in shock at what she saw. She was confused beyond measure. That biped was clearly human, but he was different from the humans she had encountered beyond the mirror. The technology he had was also more advanced than what she had come across, and what was this ‘Hydra’ he was fighting? That creature at the end looked nothing like a Hydra from Equestria. “Princess, this… this doesn’t make any sense.”
Celestia nodded. “I know Twilight. Starswirl had become obsessed with humanity when he found this, spending his life investigating this artifact before he disappeared. He had gone so far as to make the mirror portal in an attempt to find them.”
“But Princess, the Humans I encountered were nothing like… this. The Earth is fine and they have no Hydra.” Twilight said, getting closer. “And this technology, it’s far beyond what they were capable of.”
“I know Twilight. It seems Starswirl had either made a portal leading to their past, or discovered a parallel reality.” Celestia explained, wrapping her wing around Twilight.
“I take it you wish for me to investigate this?” Twilight turned to her mentor.
“I do Twilight. Since you are one of the few ponies to live as a human for a time, perhaps you will have better insight to…” Celestia eyed the video. “This.”
“Will that mean I’ll have to leave my friends?” Twilight asked with her ears flat.
“No! No of course not!” Celestia brought Twilight into a hug. “I don’t want you spending your life on this like Starswirl did. Just see what you can do.”
Twilight returned her mentor's hug. “Should I bring Sunset in on this? She’s spent more time as a human than me.”
“No, not until she returns and I know she can be trusted.” Celestia pulled away. “We know precious little about this, I need you to swear you’ll keep this a secret.”
Twilight nodded her head immediately. “I will Princess. I won’t let you down.”
“I know you won't my little pony.” Celestia smiled. “I’m so proud of how far you’ve come.” Twilight smiled at that and hugged her mentor tightly