//------------------------------// // Chapter one: Entrances // Story: The Conversion Bureau: 52 // by jamesofearth2 //------------------------------// Carousel Boutique Ponyville, Equestria 2:30 GMT Rarity couldn't help but try and distract herself from the frighteningly uncertain nature of the world around her as she worked on the various dresses in her central showroom. After all, despite the nervousness of the whole affair there were still orders that needed to be filled. It had started with the collapse of the barrier about an hour and a half ago which threw the already on edge village of Ponyville into near chaos. Rarity was fairly certain those three troublesome mares that always instigate such pointless panic had something to do with it, but she couldn't be completely sure since like most unicorns at the time she had been rather indisposed on the ground writhing with muscle spasms and pain along with a temporary lose of conciseness. This experience was known to happen to unicorns when exposed to large concentrations of magical feedback. The after effects of the experience differed from unicorn to unicorn, for instance, after the immediate symptoms Rarity only suffered a mild and fading insensitivity with her magic, while her dear sister Sweetie Belle was suffering from a rather terrible migraine headache. "Excuse me my dear Spikey Wikey" she asked, turning to the young purple dragon while levitating a small patch of yellow silk in front of him. "Could you be a dear and bring up the roll of this fabric that I have in storage in the basement. "Sure Rarity, anything for you" she watched as the young dragon scurried for the basement door. He had show up at her doorstep sometime shortly after the barrier's destruction. She would have turned him away in order to take care of her sister if she hadn't noticed something. Despite how hard he tried to hide it in front of Rarity , Spike was shaking. It was then that Rarity realized what Twilight, who had been called away to Canterlot on royal business, really was to little Spike. She cared for him, kept him feed and warm, tucked him in at night. She had raised him from an egg. She was a mother to him, and mother was far away and possibly in danger and hurt, and he was alone. There was no way she would turn away her little Spikey Wikey into that cruel cold world. So she took him in and allowed him to help her with her own attempt at distraction. Rarity trotted into her kitchen and lifted a silver platter using her magic, placing a white china teacup, a small pill bottle and a slice of lemon on the platter. Then she mentally pulled a whistling tea kettle of the stove and onto the platter before carrying them up to her little sisters room. The lamps had been turned off, the shutters closed and the curtains drawn down making the room have a dark but peaceful feel to it as the young filly lay in her bed. The light from the open door caused her to stir covering her eye's with her fore hooves. "Sis" Sweetie Belle mumbled "Sssshhh little darling." She managed in her lowest, most gentle tone. She had almost achieved a Fluttershy level of calming in her tone. She slowly poured the tea while adding two small pills and a spritz of the lemon. Sweetie Belle sipped slowly from the cup before Rarity pulled it away. "I'm feeling better sister, I think it's going away "Sweetie Belle smiled. "Good, now hush and get some sleep " she stroked her sisters forehead before turning away moving out of the room and closing the door behind her. The look of calm sweetness evaporated out in a sigh. Fear, uncertainty and relief taking over as she slumped slightly. her sister would be fine. but she was worried for Twilight's safety she had no idea what could have possibly shattered the barrier, and as odd as it seemed it only made the fear of the unknown absolutely palpable. Rarity stared out a nearby window at the foreign sky, and wondered to herself how many unicorns where not as lucky as her and her sister. ________________ Hippocampus Bay, Equestria 1:40 GMT Shape Shift's Body convulsed in pain as her mind reeled in terror. Her friends and herself had just set out for Trottingham when whatever this was began, and now the talent which had always been her pride and joy, her transformation magic, was spewing raw and dangerous wildly about. the intensity of the pain blocked out her vision. "Please Celestia let my friends get away I CAN'T HURT THEM. PLEASE!!!" she sobbed and pleaded out, and then through the pain she saw the gateway. It looked like an upper case T with an oval on top floating still and weightlessly over the ground. to her amazement a figure appeared out of the shape. It looked almost like some kind of ape. clad in a shimmering yellow and blue coat of some strange clothing with yellow boots, a cape of golden light and an equally golden bell shaped helmet. He looked down at her and extended an open palm to Shape Shift. "BE AT PEACE" it was more as if he projected the words then if he said them. Almost at once she felt the wild magic being contained somehow. The pain and terror stopped immediately as if the being standing above her had simply flipped a switch. Her vision returned as she saw him against the shimmering gate and the clear blue equestrian sky above. "Whh-hho are you" she started to sob "my friends.." "Worry not, your companions have fled to seek aid for you in the nearby village, and shall return shortly" the figure lowered his hand. "I am Dr. Fate, Mortal host of Nabu of the Lords of Order, Enemies of chaos and fear." she stared on at the figure unsure of what to make of it's appearance and what it had just said. "I must go now, others need my aid, and I detect an odd presence in this realm". The gate behind him grew brighter as faded back into it. Shape Shift stared on in thoughtless wonder as the gate closed leaving the clear blue equestrian sky. did a god come down just to save her? Was he a native of this world? She heard hoof steps in the distance as her friends Mythic Dawn and Fire Wing, a fellow unicorn and a pegasus respectively, were charging down the road towards her. An exhausted Mythic slid to a halt in front of Shape "Did you.. HA ah HA ah see .. the human" ____________ 5 Minutes outside of Ponyville, Equestria 2:35 GMT "So, magical horses then" Tora Olafsdotter, otherwise known as Ice, the princess of a long lost tribe of magical Vikings, said as she waved in a half enthused manner to the bewildered purple pegasus staring back at her through the windscreen of the javelin aircraft. Which at the time was also carrying the non-flying members of the Justice League International, namely Big Barda and her husband Mr.Miracle. Both of whom were members of the race known as New Gods, literal walking deities whose very presence was capable of altering space-time. Plastic man was also tagging along as a U.S. government attache what with his status as an official/un-official FBI agent. Booster Gold and his robot companion Skeets, Rocket Red, Fire, and the Green Lantern Guy Gardner flew in a loose V formation with the Javilin at the head "That's magical FLYING horses Tora" Fire, a Brazilian hero who had become inseparable from Ice since their time as members of the global guardians, responded. "Apparently the Doom Patrol of all people ran into some of the natives outside of their target area. From what they've been told this whole place is called Equestria" you could almost hear Fire's smirk being projected through the speaker. Some days Ice hated her job. Magical flying horses with no tact in naming things. "Excuse me sirs," Skeets slightly Tinny voice interjected " but the settlement we are to secure is now visible at one o'clock". It looked to be pastel slightly cartoon-ish version of a village with what could have been either a town hall or a church at the center of it surrounded by businesses with the residences and then several farms in the outermost area. "let's set down by the center building down there. We want to be as visible and non aggressive as possible so all smiles and let's keep the powers to a minimum people" Booster shouted. The Javilin set down outside of the Ponyville Town Hall while the various flying heroes set down on either side of the craft. The scene was surprisingly quite. There was none of the sound one would associate with an active town or village in the middle of the day. The street was abandoned, the windows and shutters on every building which had them where closed. Still some signs of life could be detected by the careful ad observant as shades in un-shuttered windows moved slightly allowing the slightly more curious occupants a view of their strange visitors. "Warm welcome" Guy quipped while running his hand through his short orange hair. He wasn't about to play the nice guy on the part of a new alien race. He had seen way to many of them in his time as an honor guard in the green lantern corps. to be surprised by whatever weird new form life took. And to be honest he always hated and was suspicious of the silent treatment, too often it hide a nasty nature or some hidden shameful sin. "Maybe they think we would try to eat them" Rocket Red said in a thick Russian accent. Garvil Ivanovich had fallen into the roll of the armored Russian legacy hero with typical cold weather pragmatism and dark humor. The squad looked back at him with glares that ranged from mild annoyance to amusement to fire's raised eyebrow. "What? of course not. Horse meat stringy and dry". "Sirs, my scans indicate that life forms matching the descriptions giving of the local intelligent species are holding themselves in almost every building in this village" Skeets proclaimed in an declarative manner. "Looks like they forgot to plan a welcoming party" Booster observed. "Too bad, I would kinda like to meet a zany cartoon pony. Seems like it'd be fun. Plastic man mused while puffing into his right hand which now resembled a light red horse balloon animal. The rather convivial discussion was disturbed by the distant sound of a creaking door As a teal-green unicorn emerged and began trotting towards them. Booster gestured to everyone to be calm as the creature approached them, eventually coming to a stop a good five yards away. It stood there for a few seconds getting a good measurement of the odd group of beings in front of her. After a few seconds she began her privately rehearsed greeting "I, Lyra Heartstrings, in the name of Equestria and all pony kind would like to say, well.. um.. hello __________________________ Canterlot Palace, Equestria 2:35 GMT Princess Celestia had sensed the destruction of the barrier quickly enough to shield herself and Twilight from the worst effects of the backlash. The princesses semi-divine nature allowed to withstand the other effects with minimum difficulty, however Twilight with her incredible power, sensitivity and unfortunate mortal body did not fare as well even when shielded. Celestia laid next to Twilight covering her unconscious from with wing while comforting her with her snout. She adjusted the healing and anesthesia spells she had cast a short time ago. Due to her immortal nature, Celestia was incapable of having children. Over the years she had watched her beloved student grow and blossom in both power and wisdom. The little endlessly inquisitive filly was now a fully grown mare. Celestia had taken a mother's pride in Twilights growth. But she knew that she would live to see this flower wilt and return to the earth just like all the others. A single tear flowed "Not today, my little Twilight". The doors to the royal chamber creaked open as a member of the solar guard poked his head though the opening. "Your majesty, there is a developing situation and Captain Shinning Armor has requested that your majesty and the central government be evacuated to a safer location" He said with his head bowed. "The central government can leave, but my place is here with my ponies" "As you wish Your majesty" he retreated closing the doors behind him. Twilight slowly managed to stir "Wha- What's happening?" she asked "The world is changing my student." Celestia responded _______________ 2:35 GMT The midnight blue alicorn sat on her rather oversized bed in her amusingly large bed chambers. she examined a five hundred year old deteriorating text entitled "Recent History of the Griffon Empire". It was funny how something so old and fragile could be so new and fresh to her. She raised her head from the text, a small smile grew on her face. "Ah, guests have arrived. Perchance I should prepare myself to entertain." ________________ Canterlot Palace Inner Ward, Equestria 2:40 GMT The quiet stillness of the inner ward was surprisingly unnerving. There was none of the usual hustle and bustle of scientists, bureaucrats and nobility. they had all either fled the palace or hid in some portion of the citadels fortifications leaving the group of forty guards awaiting the uncertainty of their incoming guests. Shinning Armor took one last chance to inspect his personal gear before turning to address the gathered troops. "Guards, Fellow servants of our princesses, as you have all heard by now beings of unknown origin have been sighted across Equestria, It is to be presumed that these beings are inhabitants of our new world. They seem to have concentrated their attention around any sizable cities and towns. Until now they have kept away from Canterlot. A sizable force has been detected heading in our direction. The lead contingent consists of four flying primate like creatures and some unknown chariot like device as well as one primate creature managing to keep pace at a considerable speed on hoof. They will arrive any minute now. This is of the utmost importance, we are not sure if they are hostile and we have no idea what their capabilities are, as such force is to be used only at last resort. However these visitors are not to be allowed into the palace until we are sure they are not a threat to the princesses. Ponies, you all know your duty. Any questions?" He looked across the sea of guards, brave steer faces looked strait ahead. "Good" the guards along the turrets began to shout and run from position to position. "Looks like they've arrived." Some foalish idiot obviously had not received the memo on restraint, as one of the ballista turrets launched a bolt at the not yet visible visitors. Before an enraged Shining Armor could react, a green light swept over and engulfed the turret causing the guards to flee their posts in shock and terror. One of the idiots let off a few blasts from his horn as the ballista was lifted into the air by the strange light. Much to Shining's amazement the light simply dismantled the ballista allowing all of the individual parts to fall back to the tower below. "Cease fire" Shining Armor shouted as the figures appeared over the Palace walls. The first figure came to a halt fifteen feet above the court with Celestia's sun to his back. He gave off a sense of power and confidence without arrogance or cruelty. He was covered form neck to bottom of his hind legs (hooves? They didn't look the part.) in some blue and red with a strange yellow and red S crest on it's torso. It's cape was particularly disturbing. It billowed and flapped consistently reminding him rather to much of Her Majesty's mane. Two other creatures flanked the main being. One was clad in golden armor with fabrics of solid red and blue white stars and what looked like a golden tiara (Was she their princess? Are they all royals?) and a green and black clad figure with an odd symbol on it's torso. It's body was covered in a distinct green aura. The shining black chariot had landed in front of the main gates and a shadowy dark cloaked figure stood behind it. A green creature with a blue cape and red bandoliers stood in the air further back from the main group. A streak of light and cloud of dust announced the arrival of the final creature which was almost entirely clad in red with the exception a white circle with a lightning streaking through it. "I'm going to have to ask you to move aside" Superman said as he, Green Lantern and Wonder Woman descended to the ground in front of the royal guard. "We need to discuss some things with your leaders" Superman explained "I'm sorry but until it has been determined that you are not a threat to the princesses then you cannot be allowed entrance into the inner palace" Shining Armor replied. "Your dedication to duty is admirable, but our time is limited, and if you don't allow us through we will have to go through you" Wonder Woman spoke with a strong yet maternal tone to her voice as she took a few steps closer to Shinning Armor. "Do what you have to do. I have my orders" Shinning Armored attempted to sound strong without being overly confrontational. "Don't say we didn't warn you" Superman looked at each of his companions with a note of confirmation before they walked a good thirty feet away from the assembled ponies. they turned to face the group giving them a few more moments to reconsider moving before bringing his hands together in a clap. To say that Shining Armor wasn't expecting the shockwave that carried him off his hooves and knocked him into the hard oak door of the main palace was something of an understatment. He tried to find his way back to onto his hooves amidst the pile of dazed and unconscious guards. His sudden dizziness and the deafening ringing in his ears. Several other guards were also struggling back up. A wave of sudden weariness came over him. He struggled against the weights pulling at his eye lids. The few standing guards collapsed limply to the ground, but Shining Armor endured. Odd thoughts and memories emerged in his mind. An overwhelming pain of loss, friends, family, an entire race extinguished on a barren red wasteland. An image of a new world and people came to him, a new home. And with that Shining Armor fell. "They will wake within thirty minutes." the Martian Manhunter explained as they walked over the ponies towards the main gate. "They have no serious injuries other then a few sprains and several have minor concussions" "That's good to hear" Superman was relieved to know that no one was seriously hurt. Deep down he hated having to use force to resolve a situation. Doing so went against everything Ma and Pa Kent raised him to believe. Whenever he found the need to do so he preferred to be as restrained as possible. Superman and the other heroes stopped, their attention drawn to the sound of flapping wings above them A white equine had taken to the air from a balcony high above the courtyard. She was larger then the other ponies, and also had a remarkably different body type more closely resembling the pegasi that the amazons typically rode with the addition of an unicorns horn and a golden necklace and tiara. She slowly descended between the Justice League and the main gate. Celestia examined the scene before her stopping occasionally to look deeply into a guard. After a few moments she turned her attention to the beings before her taking a measure of them before she spoke "They are unharmed" Celestia spoke "Of all the myriad ways in which you could have dealt with my guard, you deliberately spared them from any serious injury. Thank you." "I am Princess Celestia, Diarch of Equestria and the Princess of the Sun. I would like to avoid any more possible violence, and I believe I owe your kind an explanation and an apology." ______________________ The Rock of Eternity Silver Bolt felt the cold wet stone floor below him as eyes slowly opened. He was inside a great stone hall. The left side of the hall was decorated with a series of seven grotesque statues labeled the Seven Deadly Enemies of Man. Some corner of his mind wondered whether those were really statues. He shivered at the thought of seven discord like entities running around. Also, what in the great herd is man? Directly opposite Sliver Bolt was a stone throne with some sort of hairless monkey in a red t-shirt and some kind of blue pants. "Your awake, that's good. Now we can get started." He slid off the throne to his feet and began walking towards Silver. "Who are you and where am I?" Silver sat up and rubbed his forehead with his right fore hoof. "Name's Billy Batson, just your average abnormal human teenager from planet Earth. As far as where we are, that's complicated. Short answer, the Rock of Eternity, long answer a nexus between different dimensions that also serves as a source of magical energy" he furrowed his brow. "At least that's what I think it is. I don't know. Like I said, complicated." "Anyway, welcome to the family" he smirked and extended an open hand while standing over the pegasus. ___________________ Time Turner's Home, Ponyville, Equestria 10:15 GMT Time Turner's home was a relatively dimly lit and cluttered place every inch of wall space was covered in racks and shelving containing every kind of gear and cog known to pony kind(as well as other varieties of being) as well as numerous devices and gizmos which to the layponies eye would seem like meaningless pieces of junk. However to the truly experienced and well traveled indicated a pony with a true appreciation for all things timey-wimey. Despite the cluttered nature of his house it was still oddly spacious, with enough to accommodate the floating bubble containing a platform and the vehicles lone passenger that faded into existence in the sitting area of the house. Time Turner lifted his head from the latest doodad he had been erratically working on in time to see the craft's passenger jump down to his living room floor. "If I don' say, is that you Rip? It's been far too long" he greeted his old human friend with a smile. "What brings you here other then the obvious?". Rip Hunter , The Time Master, had spent most of his life criss-crossing the various time lines in his inherited task of protecting the multi-verse's time from the criminals and monsters who would risk countless lives for their own benefit. As such he had more knowledge then most mortal humans when it came to Equestria. He and Time turner had crossed paths quite a few times in the course of their adventures. Rip had grown to consider the equine a dear and trusted friend. "Unfortunate doc, I come bearing ill tidings" Rip gave a weary but warm smile as he walked up to the table Time Turner was working on. "When Equestria crossed into this universe something crossed back to Equus" Rip Placed a broken metal and glass cylinder slightly larger then an old thermos on th table where Time had been working. If it had been intact the device would serve to isolate whatever was inside form the time space continuum. Upon seeing the cylinder Time Turners expression faded from the joy of meeting an old friend to that of grim acknowledgement. "So then, he's free.". "And it looks Like he has a plan" Rip sighed "Let's get to work, doc". _______ end of chapter one thanks for reading