//------------------------------// // Chapter ten- The Times we Have // Story: The Gate: A Strange New World // by Ranger-Redstar //------------------------------// So, after the failed assassination attempt on Celestia, the Secret service moved us to a secure location. Where the location was, was beyond me and the girls. They had us blind folded as they escorted us to the vehicles. By the time we stopped and brought us to a new building is when they took them off. The building looked like an abandoned empty warehouse. The only comfort they provided to us was an old tv, a couch, and some food. The girls all sat on the carpet next to the couch. I sat down as well trying to take in the last moments that happened. The girls were quiet as well as Celestia. Celestia walked over to me as I stared off into space. I thought about the man I shot and killed. I had never done anything like this before in my life and I took someone else’s life. I don’t know who this guy was, he could’ve had a normal life with a family and I just snuffed him out. I thought about my upbringing being a Christian and all and I thought about was my soul going to hell for killing a person. As I stared off into nothing, I couldn’t help but shed a tear for that poor lost soul that I killed. “Mel” Celestia called my name softly Celestia’s voice helped break me from my small trauma, as I turned to look at her wiping my face as I did. “Yes” “I understand what you’re going through, doing what you did must not have been easy for you” “Well, it’s not every day you take someone’s life” The girls could also see what I’m going through “How do you cope with that?” Celestia looked at me as she put her hoof on my leg “You just have to learn to live with it, I know that might not help but remember I have lived for thousands of years, I have fought in wars and many of my brave soldiers have died as well as watching the ponies that I’ve come to know and respect wither away” I guess it helped a little, this is just one of those things that happen “I know things may have taken a turn for the worse, but I propose we try to look towards the good times and not dwell on past events” Granted this event only took place like several hours ago. However, I can see where she’s coming from, she wants the girls to have a good time and not focus on the negativity. I turned to one of the Secret Service men. “Hey how long will we be couped up here?” I asked “Until the Secret Service deem it’s safe to go out again” The girls all came up too and sat down with me, AJ sat the furthest away from me, but I couldn’t figure out why. “I must admit Mel I am grateful that you saved us and all, and seeing that is not easy on us as well and we're all coping with it in our own way” “It was rather scary seeing you do what you did and I’m glad that you’re not hurt I just wish there could have been another way though” Fluttershy said I turned to Applejack and she had this look like she was going through some turmoil herself “You wanna talk AJ?” I asked “I don’t wanna talk about it” she said as she turned away and went to go lay down on her cot “It’s okay Mel maybe she’ll open up later, she can be pretty stubborn” Twilight said “I’m glad some one of you understand, but like I said before something like this was bound to happen, I just wasn’t expecting it so soon, I mean you guys are rather alien in our world and there are people out there that don’t like you” “Do you think those protesters from before had anything to do with it?” Celestia said “Well, it’s more than likely, but the Secret Service are looking into the matter as we speak” I laid back on the couch and took a deep breath, the pain on the side of my chest still hurt a little from the impact. “Does it still hurt Mel?” Fluttershy said worryingly “It does a little, but it will get better over time” Time was getting late and I figured it was time to turn in. “Why don’t we rest on it and we will pick up on it in the morning?” “Very well Mel” Celestia walked over to her cot and so did Twilight and Fluttershy. I went over towards Aj to say something as my hand reached out, but I withdrew it and went over to my cot. I laid in bed and tried to sleep, I pulled out my phone and put some asmr’s on and closed my eyes. 8 hours later I woke up and turned my phone off before checking on the ponies to make sure everypony was accounted for. I decided to get my things and get some air. A Service man stood by me as I went outside but I didn’t go far. The area around us was run down and filthy not the sort of place we should be in. Rarity would have a fit and probably start whining. I went to check on the girls who were fast asleep. Celestia was just waking up, knowing her she’s probably up this early to raise the sun. She looked up and caught herself when she looked at me “Mel how does the sun rise and set in this world?” “Well, it’s complicated without using visuals” “What do you mean?” “Well, if I had some balls of different size and some wire, I might be able to map out our solar system” “I see perhaps you could draw it for me” Celestia’s horn lit up and then suddenly a large piece of paper and a pen appeared out of thin air “Whoa how did you do that?” “Well, I do have magical abilities where I can conjure whatever I imagine out of thin air” “Wow that’s incredible!” Celestia then chuckled “I’m just kidding, I teleported some things from the hotel we were staying at” “Oh” I said disappointingly “Gotcha” Anyhow I took the pen and I begin mapping out our solar system using my phone as a guide onto the paper “Okay so the sun is actually the center of our solar system and all the other planets rotate around it” “So, the sun stays in place while the others just float around it?” “Yeah” “What keeps them floating” “Well in outer space there’s zero gravity and certain planets have some gravitational pull that allows them to orbit the sun” “Well in Equestria the Sun and Moon are present and they do rotate but we have to offset them, so day and night happen in certain areas” “Seems like a lot of work” I said “Well back in the day before my sister and I, there once Existed a group of twelve unicorns and based on their magical abilities and devotion to their study of magic would spend their years maintaining the rising and setting of our sun and moon only for them to be replaced after 12 moons. It truly must have been a tragic time for all their magic to be snuffed out in mere moments” “Sheesh times were tough back then” “Indeed, to be fair I only just recently started reading some of the ancient scrolls from the restricted section in Canterlot library” “Wait there’s a restricted section in the library?” “Yes, but don’t go telling Twilight about it, you know how she gets when she’s thirsty for knowledge” “Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye” At this time the girls started to wake up. Twilight yawned as she looked at us “What are you guys talking about?” “Oh, just science stuff” I said When I said science, she lit up like the fourth of July and rushed over and sat down next to us “Oh, tell me, tell me, tell- oh wait” she then levitated a scroll and ink out of her saddle bag “Okay start over from the beginning” So, after telling her everything I had just told Celestia she went all wide eyed just like she did when we first met “Wow there’s so much about this world that’s just so fascinating” she said scribbling her findings down Fluttershy came over and sat down as well “Are there a lot of animals here?” “Most assuredly I have seen my fair share of the wildlife” “Oh, tell me” she said all cute like “Well, I have seen various birds like sparrows, crows, hawks, seagulls, vultures. I’ve seen deer, moose, coyotes, wolves, bears, mountain lions, bobcats. But other types and various species live in other parts of the world” “Wow!” Aj was starting to wake up and she looked at all of us and still had the expression on her face when she looked at me. She still got up and sat near us. “So…The moon in your world, has anypony been there besides Luna?” They all just looked at me funny “I don’t believe so there’s not much up there” Celestia said “So, you’ve been there?” “Once, I had to make sure the moon could hold Nightmare Moon I don’t like to talk about it that much” “How could you breathe there’s no oxygen up there?” “I used a magic bubble that kept some of the air trapped inside” “Interesting” “Has any human ever been to your moon?” Twilight asked “Why yes let me tell you all about it, in 1969 we sent a crew of six astronauts into outer space on the ship Apollo 11, and they successfully landed on the moon to quote Neil Armstrong- it’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. As he walked across the surface on the moon” Twilight went wide eyed again “Hold up now sugarcube, how did they get into this outer space on a ship without water, it be impossible?” I was dumbfounded by her question, but I answered as best I could “Well, they didn’t use a sailing ship to do it they used a spaceship attached to a pair of very large rockets” Twilight was scribbling her new findings down “Well then how could they breathe up there without using magic?” “Well, the scientist’s at Nasa, that’s the National Aeronautics and Space Administration built specialized suits that would protect them from the vacuum of space as well as provide oxygen to them as they did their mission” I could see that Applejack found that to be ridiculous meanwhile Twilight was writing everything down. I could see Twilight looking back and forth at me and her paper as she jotted everything I said down Soon some Service Men came up to us with breakfast “Here you are Donuts and coffee, I also have some tea as well” he said I grabbed the bag and coffee’s and put it on the table in front of us “Take your pick girls” I said grabbing a donut and shoving it in my mouth as I got up to talk to the Service Men. The girls started to eat and drink as I went and talked “Any news on the guy?” “Well, our suspicions were correct the radicalistic group based in DC were behind the attack however there are several of them hiding everywhere and their leader is pretty hard to find, but once we find him, he will be punished for his crimes” “So, what happens next?” “Well, were in the process of changing location preferably closer to the airport so our visitors can be flown back before any more interruptions happen unless there a place that you’d like to take them?” I thought about it and I wanted to do something nice for them, like take them somewhere safe and simple. “I was hoping to take them to the Smithsonian” The Service man looked at me funny as he raised his brow “Are you sure that’s wise being out in the open is just begging for another attack” I looked back at the girls as they ate and wondered what they’re going through “They have experienced enough and I just want them to see something nice that America has to offer” He seemed a little conflicted but ultimately gave in “I’ll see what we can do” he turned to talk to his superiors I looked over at the girls who seemed to be having a conversation about me “Well, I trust him” Fluttershy said “How?” Applejack yelled “He killed one of his own how long will it take before he kills one of us!” “That’s enough Applejack” Twilight scolded “Mel has been nothing but kind to all of us he wouldn’t do something like that” “How would you know, all of us have only known him for like a couple months” Aj yelled “Enough!” Celestia yelled very loudly that it almost me jump out of my own skin. That must be her royal Canterlot voice she mentioned to me “Yes, we’ve had some hiccups here and there, what matters is that we get through them together” Twilight and Fluttershy looked at each other and nodded, AJ was still apprehensive, she folded her forelegs nodded too. By now the Service agent came back over to me. “We can bring them after hours so nobody will be there, the security at the Smithsonian is top notch and we will also be monitoring you as well” “Excellent” I then walked over to the girls to tell them “Hey good news, our next stop will be the Smithsonian Museum” I could see Twilight get all giddy for once she was going to see human art and not the pony art she was used too. Fluttershy smiled but Applejack just looked the other way still mad. “I think a Museum would be an excellent place to take our minds off recent events” Celestia said Pretty soon the big Vehicles came into the warehouse and the girls got into one and Celestia and I got into the front one and we soon were on our way. While we were driving, I looked back at Celestia and we locked eyes and I could hear her voice in my head (Talk to Applejack she’s been through a lot since her folks died) I nodded and faced forward as we soon came upon the museum. All of us got out and I led them into the main building named the Castle. The girls entered and were immediately amazed by the art with visual exhibits and maps. Celestia walked in behind me as looked in Amazement as well. The castle didn’t hold much but the girls, except for Aj wanted more so we walked across the Mall and into the Hirschhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden where some of the more contemporary art was housed. The girls were astounded by the weird and abstract. I watched them have a good time Celestia seemed a little bored perhaps she wasn’t a fan of art or perhaps museums. I looked over at AJ and she seemed to be transfixed on one particular piece. It was an old painted titled American Gothic it was a well-known painting by Grant Wood in 1930. Applejack just seemed to stare at it for a while. “You like it?” I said I broke her out of her trance and she just brushed me off again “No, it’s just I have something similar back at home except their ponies” “Ah well our worlds are same in some areas I guess” Applejack just turned and walked away towards the girls. She really does not like me The next exhibit was the Aerospace Museum, and I could tell Twilight was going to love this one. As soon as we entered her eyes went wide again at all the planes from different time periods We soon came to the space section and here I showed them how we got into space using rockets, computers and science. They were all so amazed at how far humanity has come. I looked and Applejack was nowhere to be found. I got concerned and decided to go look for her. “Why don’t you guys check them out I’m going to use the bathroom” I said before slipping away. I started to search for Aj, I know she couldn’t have gone far, and she couldn’t have been kidnapped, there were Service Men everywhere. I checked the bathrooms and some of the Exhibits. I then got to the second floor and found her sitting on a bench all by herself in front of the first plane made by Wilbur and Orville Wright. “It’s not good to wander off Aj I was really concerned” “Why do you care?” she shouted I could feel the emotions in her tone, she seemed sad and mad at the same time “Because it’s my job Applejack, it’s my job to make sure nothing happens to you” “BUT WHY?” she yelled “You killed someone, you could have stopped him by some other means but you just killed him and now he’s dead because of us!” Aj began to cry a little “And we almost lost you too” tears began to stream down her face. I walked over to her, sat down and pulled her close to me. She didn’t expect it at first, but she just buried her face into me. I took her hat off and began gently stroking her blonde mane “You lost someone didn’t you?” She looked up at me with those green emerald eyes of her’s, tears dripping down, and she continued to cry into my chest. She nodded her head the best she could. I held her close to me and whispered to her “I’m here you for Aj, I’ll always be here for you. I am truly sorry for what I did, and I am sorry that you had to witness it. if I hadn’t done what I did, Celestia would not be with us. I am more than willing to lay down my life for you and I’m sorry you may not like the way I do things, but I will not harm you or let anyone else harm you ever” Applejack may have her own ideals, but she knew I was telling the truth. She then wrapped her forelegs around me. “I don’t like to talk about it much but I’m glad you’re here for me sugarcube” “Who did you lose?” Applejack sniffed and wiped the tears off her eyes “My mom and dad” “I’m sorry to hear that” as my heart cracked for her “I was just a little filly when they passed, I just miss them so much, I’m so sorry for acting this way I just didn’t want to lose you too” I let go of Aj and gave her a tissue from my coat. “It’s okay Aj I forgive you” I said as I picked up her hat and placed it back on her head. “Do you think you could not tell the others bout this?” “Don’t worry sugarcube what happened between us will be our secret” I then pulled her hat down her face “Hey that’s my line” she said smiling and laughing Applejack looked up at the plane above her and pointed “So, what’s that doohickey?” she said “Well, that’s the very first plane made by the Wright Brothers a long time ago “How did it work?” “Well, they spent months trying and perfecting it, making it out of spruce and canvas equipped with a small engine, granted it didn’t fly for very long or very far but it was a start” “Hm I’m not quite sure how it works but it is pretty cool seeing how folks used to fly back in the day” “Come on lets go catch up with the others” I said We both got up and went back to find the others. We ended up finding them in front of Amelia Earhart’s plane. “Applejack come check this out” Twilight said pointing to her plane “It’s says here that she was the first women to fly across the Atlantic Ocean solo, isn’t that amazing?” Applejack just smiled and nodded her head “Sure, is Twilight” Aj looked up at the figure of Amelia I stood up and watched as Aj was now having a good time with the girls and I was glad that she opened up to me. Celestia came up from behind to speak to me. “I take it you talked to her?” “I did Indeed” I said “Thank you” she said as she gently put her wing on my shoulder After looking at the exhibits we soon found ourselves in the gift shop. I had a feeling now would be a good time for them to get some souvenirs to take home. “Alright girls feel free to grab a keepsake before we go” The girls looked around at all the tacky stuff the museum sells to tourist. I figured I'd grab something for the girls that didn’t get to come. I grabbed a fancy bonnet for Rarity, a presidential cookie recipe book for Pinkie and a wind-up balsam wood glider for Rainbow. “Mel how are we gonna pay for these things?” Twilight said “Don’t worry the Secret Service will cover us so don’t be afraid to get something expensive” Twilight’s eyes went wide again as she gleefully looked at the model airplanes. “This stuffed eagle looks really cute; it reminds me of the one I have back home” Fluttershy said “You have a pet eagle?” I spoke “Oh yes I have lots of pets, I love animals and I do enjoy taking care of them” she said as she hugged her fluffy companion. It almost made my heart explode. I turned to look at Aj as she seemed conflicted on what kind of souvenir to bring home. “Need help finding something?” “You think Applebloom would like this?” as she held a snow globe of the white house “I think so, as long as it’s from you I think she’ll love it” “Well, Alrighty then” Everypony gathered there stuff as we made our way back. I noticed Celestia didn’t grab anything. “Not a fan of keepsakes?” “Not particularly” she said “Nothing for your sister?” “My sister is hard to get sometimes” “I might have something that you could give her” I then gave her one of my gift bags to her “You can give this to her as a surprise” “Hmm thank you Mel i'm sure she’ll like it” We were then escorted by the Secret Service to a new undisclosed location supposedly near the airport. ===========================================++======================================================= After an uneventful flight we soon found ourselves back in familiar territory. As we were riding on the bus back to the gate, it was rather quiet as the ponies just either looked out the windows or made small talk amongst each other. I decided to break the silence in an attempt to lighten the mood. “So, what was your guy’s favorite part of the trip?” They all thought about it for a moment “I definitely love the museums” Twilight reminisced “You humans have such a wonderful imagination when it comes to making things” “I mostly liked seeing all you humans, well one at a time anyway your species seem so fascinating, you're just like us except you wear more clothes and walk on two legs” “I liked those trees they had in that park we passed, I ain’t never seen ones like that” “Oh, you mean the cherry blossom trees? Interestingly enough the planting of cherry trees in Washington DC originated in 1912 as a gift of friendship to the People of the United States from the People of Japan. In Japan, the flowering cherry tree, or "Sakura," is an important flowering plant. The beauty of the cherry blossom is a symbol with rich meaning in Japanese culture.” “Huh they just looked pretty to me” AJ smiled I turned to Celestia as she remained quiet amongst us “How about you Celestia?” “Oh well it was certainly interesting meeting and understanding how your Government works” “It can be overwhelming but I’m glad that we got through it together” Everypony smiled as we pulled into the secure area in front of the gate “It’s good to be back” I said looking out the window