I spent the next couple days working on my ship and on some old gadget ideas I never got around to. I finally got the engine working although I did have to deal with a petitiion from a Ms. Mayor Mare (I almost died laughing at that name) about providing warning before I test the engines. I can't help Ms. Ditzy Doo decided to stick her head into the engine just as I fired them. And who would put a muffin in there anyway? Hey, I don't even think Rainbow Dash has moved that fast before. But I needed a break, all the engine parts were starting to run together. I headed to my armory and grabbed my pack, filing it with stuff I might need: a flashbang grenade (never know, right?), some basic tools, pistol ammo, and some sensors to place around the town so I can keep an eye on things. I strapped my pistol on and my axe.
"Firestorm, Guardian download to bipedal platforms" I said as I exited the armory. a door across the room opened and two robots exited. Guardian had chosen a standard industrial frame (think bulky ASIMO but better) and Firestorm had chosen a more feminine Coré-class infiltration unit.
"How may we help Captain?" asked Guardian. I looked at Guardian first
"I need you to work on the long-range artillery guns, Guardian" I said "Never know when we might need them"
"Yes sir" Guardian said as he turned and left "And you Firestorm, I need you to work on the comm systems"
"Consider it done Captain" Firestorm answered as she left for the bridge. I made my way to the entrance of my base, but saw something that stopped me: against the door were Twilight and Spike out of breath and holding the door like they were keeping something out.
"Uh, Twilight?" I asked "Is something wrong?"
"Captain" she answered paniced "You have to help me, they've all lost their minds"
"Who has? What's going on?" I asked. I activated the outer video feed and saw what she was talking about: outside the door was a massive group of ponies, looking like they were about to meet their idol. I needed to do something.
"Ok, hold on" I said as I reached for my communicator "Firestorm, lift the ship up"
"Yes sir" She responded as the ship shuddered "You might want to brace yourselves" Then the ship shifted as the six legs began to push the fuselage off the ground and into the air, now making my base resemble a giant beetle.
"Guardian, any chance you can launch a blank shell" I asked
"If you mean an artillery shell that will mearly create a loud noise, yes" he replied "but only one"
"Do it" With that the base shook again as the shell was fired creating a huge boom.
"There that should scare them off" I said turning back to Twilight "Now, what is going on?"
Twilight proceeded to tell me about the letter she received from the princess and the tickets she was given to the Grand Galloping Gala. The only problem was she was only given two tickets, so now everyone in Ponyville wanted her to give the extra to them. She tried to run back to the library but couldn't, so she ran here thinking a military base would be safe.
"Ok, one question" I said when she finished her story "What is a 'Grand Galloping Gala'?"
"Oh, sorry" she said "The Grand Galloping Gala is an annual royal ball hosted in Canterlot..."
"And it's only the biggest party EVER!" interupted a voice causing me to draw my gun and jump back three feet.
"Pinkie?! How did you...when..." I stuttered in confusion
"Come on Twilight, I wanna go, pleeeeeeeaaaase" she begged. I grabbed the pony, made Firestorm drop the ship down, opened the door and tossed her out. I turned back to Twilight as the ship returned to its raised position.
"Thank you,Captain" Twilight said
"No problem" I replied "Oh and don't worry about me asking for the ticket, remember I'm not a party person, especially not high society parties. What do we do now?"
"Well if I can get back to the library, I would be able to figure it out" she said "but if I walk out there, everypony's going to hassle me until I give the ticket to them"
"True" I said, suddenly getting an idea "But what if you had a big, scary bodyguard to escort you? No one would even try to approach you"
"That's a great idea" she said "but where are we going to get a bodyguard?"
"Oh, I know a guy" I said as I entered the armory. A few minutes later, I exited wearing my armor and helmet, carrying the biggest gun I could find, the PKP Pecheneg.
"Oh" Twilight said realizing the 'guy' was me "That might work"
"Intimidation is one of my many talents" I said proudly but startling the unicorn and dragon "What? Is the voice too much?"
I had made my voice modulator replicate a very deep yet robotic voice.
"No, that's perfect" said Twilight approvingly "Let's try it"
"Firestorm, lower us down" I commanded. As soon as the base touched down, the crowd was back ready to ambush Twilight. I stepped out of the door first.
"All of you" I commanded in my booming voice "Leave, NOW!" Firestorm moved the ship so it looked like an attack dog ready to attack. Every pony immediatly bolted.
"Wow" I said shocked "That was way more effective than I thought it would be" I looked to Twilight "Let's go" we made our way through Ponyville toward the library tree. No one even looked at us, but that's to be expected when you are an armor-clad, gun-toting super-soldier. When we arrived at the tree I saw something inside.
"Twilight, someone's inside" I warned her in my regular voice. She opened the door and, sure enough, their was Fluttershy and an army of animals all dusting the books in the library. I strapped the gun to my back and entered.
"Oh Fluttershy, not you too" groaned Twilight
"Oh, hello Twilight" she said "we're just doing a little spring cleaning for you"
"You do realize it's not spring, right?" I said
"Better late than never" she replied "It was Angel's idea"
"This is about the ticket, isn't it" Twilight said
"Oh no, I'm doing this becasue your my very best friend" she said looking to who I assumed was her pet rabbit Angel, who gave her a dirty look "Oh, actually yes, we are just doing this for the ticket"
"Look, this isn't helping me decide" Twilight said "please all of you just leave"
"SUPRISE!" shouted a bunch of ponies who appeared out of nowhere
How does everypony keep sneaking up on me like that? I thought as Pinkie Pie began singing. Again.
"Pinkie" said Twilight trying to get her attention
Pinkie kept singing
"Pinkie" I said a little louder
Still singing
"PINKIE!" both of us shouted as she finished
"Yes, Twilight" she repilied calmly (by Pinkie Pie standards)
"At least everypony else was subtle about the ticket"
"What ticket?" asked a random pony which caused Pinkie to infor ALL the ponies about the Grand Galloping Gala ticket.
"Uh, Twilight" I said worried as all the ponies began closing in "I recommend we run"
"Good plan" she said as we bolted out the door. We were now being chased through Ponyville by a mob of brown-nosing ponies. I used the flashbang to buy us some time, but it only held them for a few seconds. We dashed down an alley dodging pegesi only to realize that we were trapped with ponies closing in.
"I'm all out of ideas" I said paniced "feel free to contribute" but Twilight was already working on it. Her horn was glowing and I felt the familiar tingling of magic. Then in a flash of light Twilight, Spike and I were teleported back to the library.
"Why do I always end up crashing after teleporting?" I asked as I picked myself up.
"A little warning next time" said a scorched Spike
"Sorry" she said still in a panic "Quick lock the doors" Spike and I then frantically began locking down the library as Twilight continued talking to our friends. I hadn't even noticed that they were in the room.
"Look sugarcube" began Applejack "Ah didn't mean ta put so much pressure on ya, and if it helps, ah don't want the ticket anymore"
"Me too" said Fluttershy "I feel just aweful for making you feel so aweful"
"And me too" said Pinkie "It's no fun upsetting your friends"
"Twilight, it was unfair of me to try to force you the way I did" apologized Rarity
"Yes!" exclaimed Rainbow Dash "That means the ticket is mine" She continued her celebration until she saw the angry look I was giving her, stopping her dead.
"Spike, take a note" said Twilight as Spike produced a quill and paper from nowhere
Why don't I get Hammerspace access I complained mentally as Twilight dictated her note to the dragon.
"...So, though I appreciate the invitation, I will be returning both tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala" she concluded placing the tickets into an envelope with magic.
"What!" exclaimed all five ponies
"If all my friends can't go" Twilight said "Then I don't want to go"
"A noble choice, Twilight" I said as the ponies gave a group hug "Uh, Spike? Are you ok dude?" I asked as the dragon began choking on something.
"Just like a boy" said Applejack "Can't handle the smallest bit of sentiment" Spike then barfed up a green flame and a scroll appeared. He unrolled it and read.
"My faithful student Twilight, why didn't you just ask?" he said "Woah seven tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala"
"Great" said Twilight "now we can all go" All the ponies cheered
Yeah, great I thought
"Where's my ticket?" asked Spike who then coughed up another note. He looked happy but quickly hid his joy.
"Great now I have to go." he said with phony disgust