//------------------------------// // Chapter 10: The Simple Plan // Story: My Little Serenity: Misbehaving is Magic // by Trachyon //------------------------------// “No way! So the whole thing’s made out of metal?! No wonder it crashed!” “That’s what I thought too! But this other human called Kaylee who was really nice and friendly even though she’d only just met us said that the ship flies using Elements!” Pinkie replied to Rainbow Dash over the shout of the wind. With the four humans and two land-bound ponies back in the Mule, the group had set off towards the town, Rainbow Dash flying alongside. “Wait, Elements? Like the Elements of Harmony?!” “Elements of Harmony?” Book questioned Mal, the latter merely shrugging in response. “I don’t think so,” Pinkie continued. “Kaylee said that they have Elements called ‘Hydrogen’ and ‘Helium’!” “Like in balloons?” “I guess so! Hey, Mister Captain, is your ship a Balloon?” “Well, it’s not exactly that...” “Hey, we’re almost there!” Twilight called out. Sure enough, the silhouettes of shapely house roofs could just be seen over the gentle rise of the fields. Mal leant down by Wash so as to be heard over the gale “Wash, slow up, and bring us down a few yards from the outskirts, ‘kay? Keep it quiet.” “Sure thing. Make sure that no magical flying horses notice the approach of a roaring, hovering metal transport with a bunch of aliens on board. How hard can it be?” But, true to his word, they had come to a halt, undetected, just a few minutes later. The Mule had been parked in the shadow of one of the larger buildings, the sun having moved across the sky enough to provide ample shade for the group. "Which sun do you reckon that is, up there, anyway?" Book questioned. The Mule settled on the ground as Wash cut the power to it, replacing the dull hum of the vehicle with the stir of the wind and muffled chatter. "We were out by Huang Long about a week ago, but it can't be that; If it was as big as the star up there is, we'd be in the system proper. Hell, we'd be about where Boros orbits." "So what are we orbiting?" The Shepard muttered inquisitively. "And where was it when we were crashin’?” The group look to each other, but none could answer either of those questions. “So, uh?” Twilight began to speak, “I guess we’ll go find the Mayor now...” “You and Pinkie go on, Twilight! I’m not letting these stinky aliens outta my sight!” “Again with the ‘stinky’?” Wash muttered. “To be fair,” Zoe returned, “It has been a while since any of us have had a decent shower.” “Well, if you’re sure... Then okay, I won’t be too long. Just please, stay out of trouble. *All of you,* please!” And with that, Twilight and PInkie turned the corner, disappearing into the unseen town, leaving Rainbow Dash with the four humans. “So, you’re the captain, huh?” Rainbow turned to Mal. “That means you crashed your spaceship here?” “Actually, Wash here’s the pilot, so he’s (Mal clapped Wash on the shoulder) the one who crashed the ship, if you’re sticklin’ for those details.” “Hey!” “Maybe you could take a few pointers from the Fastest Flier in E-“ “Everyone quiet!” Zoe snapped. Mal picked up on it instantly. “Everyone hug the wall. Loudmouth, head ‘round the corner, head off any of your other friends who come along. We do not need any more commotion like this.” Rainbow’s eyes narrowed. “Who ya calling ‘loudmouth’?!” “Just do it!” Mal commanded back. With a huff, Rainbow rounded the corner Twilight and Pinkie had left by earlier, the four humans edging closer to try and make out any conversation. “Oh, hi Rainbow Dash!” a new voice exclaimed. “Uh, hey there, Heartstrings, Bon Bon... What’s up?” “Oh, not much! Me and Bon Bon were just talking when I heard something really weird come from over here-“ This time another voice, probably Bon Bon, piped up. “Heartstrings, I’m telling you, I didn’t hear anything! It was probably just your imagination!” “Nuh-uh! No way! I’m telling you, this isn’t just in my imagination! This is in my gut.” “Oh, Celestia...” “Anyway, Rainbow, you just came from there, did you hear anything? It kinda sounded like roaring!” “Uhh... Nope! Didn’t hear anything! Didn’t see anything outta the ordinary either! Yep, just regular, boring ol’ Equestrian grass! And ponies, just normal ponies!” Silence reigned as the humans exchanged pained glances with each other. Then, Heartstrings’ voice sounded out. “Okay!” The crew breathed a collective sigh of relief. “Me and Bon Bon’ll just go see for ourselves, then!” Mal swore under his breath. “Come on, we do not need this!” “No, wait!” Rainbow stammered. “You don’t want to go that way!” “And why not?” Heartstrings asked, beginning to catch onto something. “Because I... Uhh... I do remember hearing something! Yeah! But it was over from that direction! Here, I’ll show you!” “Rainbow Dash, you really shouldn’t encourage Heartstrings like this...” The voices faded into the distance as the three ponies moved away from the building. “That went smoothly.” Wash remarked, a grimace on his face. “Yeah, well, the sooner this is sorted out, the sooner we can stop dealin’ with all this.” “How d’you figure that?” “Simple. Twilight speaks to this ‘Mayor Mare’, and we figure out the best way into the Everfree. If possible, we get the Mule in there, and pull out everything of ours we can get our hands on. We fix up the ship-“ “In a week!” “We can manage it. We’ve managed more.” “Have we, sir?” “... We fix up the ship, and see to dealin’ with the Reavers. Who knows, maybe we’ll find a friendly dragon to help us. If not, just having Serenity up will be a help.” “Captain, do you really think that we-“ “No, wait! Heartstrings, stop!” From around the corner barrelled a small, aquamarine unicorn, white-and-mint striped mane flying in the wind. She came to a tumbling stop, Rainbow Dash following by shooting straight over her, into the ground. Time froze as the two ponies came to a grinding halt. All eyes settled on the new pony as she gazed up at the four humans, amber irises dilating with shock. “Heartstrings-” “Oh... Celestia...” “Heartstrings, just listen!” “Real life aliens!” In a heartbeat the pony had jumped up, and rushed to the feet of the humans, yammering wildly. “I knew it! You tried to fool me, but I knew better! I always knew better! I never had any proof, until today! The ancient aliens have returned!” “What.” chorused Mal and Dash. “Heartstrings, come back! I-“ From around the same corner rushed another pony, this one with a light caramel coat and a curly dark-blue and pink mane. Bon Bon. The pony stared at the still scene, eyes darting between the six creatures. Before anyone could react, she screamed out the one word Mal had been dreading. "Monsters!” In one swift, fluid motion Bon Bon had swung Heartstrings up by her tail, onto her back. Within a second the two had fled back around the corner, the pony still screaming at the top of her lungs. “Everypony hide! Monsters in Ponyville!” Within ten seconds, the shouting had spread to at least twenty more out-of-sight ponies, and it showed no signs of stopping or slowing down. The slamming of doors could be heard as every creature in the area locked themselves within their homes, hoping for safety. Within twenty seconds, the town was silent. “Uh, sorry?” Rainbow Dash tried an apologetic smile, but found it faltering under the stern gaze of Mal and Zoe. Wash sighed. “That went well.”