//------------------------------//
// Chapter One 
// Story: Culture Clashes 
// by RK_Striker_JK_5 
//------------------------------//

For Danielle Richards, life had finally something of a balance. She woke up, dressed, ate breakfast, bantered with her roommates and then stepped out of Golden Oaks Library into the bustling town of Ponyville, normally just in time to get the mail from Ditzy as the wall-eyed pegasus flew by. The rest of her day would be spent in various activities. Sometimes she'd have insane adventures with Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Dinky and her sister Michelle. Other days she would conduct interviews with various ponies around Ponyville, recording them for compilation. And by the end of the day, she'd have dinner, sometimes her mother and father joining her. Megan and Mike would fill her in on their day, anxiously ask about hers while trying to sound nonchalant about their worry.

So a hole in space, opening up in the Market District? For Danielle, that was almost a slow day. 

The young woman stood in front of a swirling vortex of emerald-colored energy, occasional flashes of electricity dancing around the edges. She clutched her mothers 1894 Marlin lever-action rifle, finger off the trigger and making sure the barrel was not pointed at anyone. A few ponies, some local residents and others members of the Equestrian Armed Forces were scattered about. There were even a pair of soldiers from the Earth Defense Command from across the Rainbow Bridge. 

“Okay,” Danielle finally said, “has Twilight done any 'research' lately on the Rainbow Bridge, and has anyone noticed parts of her mane sticking out?”

A brown-coated earth pony stallion with a bow tie around his neck and an hourglass cutie mark trotted up to Danielle, a flashing cylinder strapped to his right foreleg. “Well, the portal's stable,” Doctor Whooves, reported, looking over his sonic screwdriver. “No trans-dimensional pulling from either side. So there's that.” He let out a sigh of relief. “One thing I always hated was when the portals pulled.”

Danielle nodded to him. “Thanks, Doctor. Any idea what's on the other side of this?” She took a step closer, hands tightening on her mother's rifle. 

The Doctor shook his head. “Afraid not, Danielle.” He suddenly grinned. “Isn't this so exciting? No idea what's on the other side. Could be anything, really! Something tame, some ancient horror beyond our ken.” He leaned back on his haunches, raised his forelegs and clapped his hooves together. “We're gonna have such fun!”

Danielle blinked. “Right, fun.” She glanced over as a soldier from the Earth Defense Command walked over. She was clad in armor from her feet to throat, with a helmet tucked in under her armpit and the rank of first lieutenant on her collar. Danielle straightened up at her approach. “Ma'am?” she said, her hand going to her forehead in a clumsy, if earnest, salute.

The EDC soldier stopped and inclined her head to Danielle. “At ease.“ She held out her free hand, which Danielle promptly took grabbed and shook. “I'm First Lieutenant Erica Roberts,” she said, a smile tugging at her lips. She glanced to the portal. “We'll be evacuating all civilians from the area, and I've got people going to get the Bearers of the Elements of Harmony. No clue what's on the other side until we can get a probe through.” 

Danielle nodded. “All right. I'll leave you to your work, then.” She turned, but an armored hand on her shoulder stopped her short. She turned back to Erica, confusion on her face.	

Erica locked green eyes with Danielle's brown.”Actually, Princess Celestia recommended you remain behind, to 'provide a comforting presence' to my little ponies',” she said, making quote marks in the air with her free hand. “And I have a feeling that was less a request.”

Danielle let out a sigh. “Yeah, that's normally how things have gone with her.” She held up a hand. “I swear, I will not interfere with your work and if you yell run, I'll book it right out of here. You're the pros, after all.”

Erica let out a sigh of relief. “Thank you, Miss Richards. That's a huge load off my mind.” She walked over to the Doctor and knelt down. “Doctor Whooves, Princess Celestia has also informed me that you have experience with such phenomena. Would you consent to staying on-site as an adviser?”

The Doctor's ears straightened up and a wide grin formed on his face. “Well far be from me to turn down such a plea for help!” He swept a foreleg out and bowed his head. “Happy to be of service, Lieutenant! Allons-y, as I used to say!” He turned back to the portal, his eyes narrowing. “Let's see anything nasty try to get past us!”

Erica's mouth opened for a moment before she shook her head. “Let's hope if anything comes out, it's not actually nasty.”

“Or that, too. That could be a nice change of pace for me.”

Danielle and Erica turned as six ponies approached, four galloping along the ground and two swooping in from the air. Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy all slowed to a halt near the two ladies. “Sorry... we're late,” Twilight panted out, her barrel heaving slightly. Her eyes widened as she focused on the portal. “What is that?” 

Erica shook her head. “For the moment, it's a trans-dimensional portal, it's stable and nothing's come through. Yet.” She held a hand to her ear and an earbud nestled in it. “Excuse me,” she said, taking a step back.

Dash flew up and close to the portal, but a magenta field of energy surrounded her and pulled her back. “Ah, come on!” she cried out, her wings beating rapidly. “I just wanna check it out!”

Twilight groaned as she used her magic to pull the pegasus back. “I think I'd prefer it if you're not directly in the line of fire, Dash. Who knows what could come out of this?”

Fluttershy's ears folded down and her entire body shook. “Oh, my!” she squeaked out, pink mane bouncing to and fro. “I-I hope it's nothing t-too mean! Or even mean at all!”

Rarity placed a hoof on her friend's shoulder. “Never fear, darling. Whatever may emerge, we shall ultimately stand triumphant over it!” 

Pinkie Pie leaned back and stood up on her hind legs. “Yeah! Let's see what nasty, vile things can come from this portal! Some slimy, tentacled thing, or killer robots or tentacled killer robots! We'll beat it back!” She dropped down to all fours and looked to Fluttershy. “Flutters, you all right? You're a little green.”

Applejack rolled her eyes to the sky. “Not helpin,” she deadpanned.

The Doctor trotted over to Twilight. “Miss Sparkle, sensing anything with the old horn?” he asked, motioning to his forehead.

Twilight's eyes blinked. “Oh, my gosh! I haven't even tried sensing anything!” She looked to the portal and her horn lit up. Her eyes half-closed in concentration. “I think...” She suddenly gasped just as the Doctor's sonic screwdriver began beeping and flashing. “Something's coming through!”

Erica's head shot over. “What?!” She glanced up and scowled. “Thompson, get all civilians out of here STAT! Coordinate with the Equestrian Army!” She placed her helmet over her head and sealed it shut. Erica then raised her arms and clenched her hands. Panels along her gauntlets slid open and the barrels of energy weapons emerged. “The Tank Corps is sending a squadron from Fort Bulwark and the Royal Air Force is scrambling airships,” she reported, stepping in front of Danielle and the others. “But it'll be an hour before the tanks get here.” Several other soldiers, human and equine alike, formed up on her flanks, arms and forelegs raised. “We'll hold off anything that comes through as long as we can.” 

Applejack snorted and walked up to their side. “Nothin' doing,” she said, pawing at the ground. “We 'ppreciate what yah do fer us, Missy, but ain't no way we're gonna let yah do all the fighting. Yer our friends and we'll stand by yah, hay or high water!”

Any other declarations or actions were cut short as a shadow appeared at the portal's epicenter, wavering in and out of focus like a reflection on water. It quickly gained clarity and solidified, crossing over the threshold. A blue-coated pony trotted out, a star-spangled hat on her head, a golden tiara perched on the hat and a cape fluttering behind her. A somewhat haughty expression was on her face as she reared back on her hind legs and thrust her forelegs into the air. “Denizens of this new land, I am Trixie Lulamoon of Equestria, personal student of Princess Luna and Element of Magic!” she declared. 

Twilight blinked. “What...”

Trixie dropped to all fours. “I bid you a cautious welcome from her royal highness, the Princess of the Night. On her behalf, I bring you...” Her voice trailed off as she focused on Erica and the other soldiers. “I-I-I...” Her jaw dropped and her eyes bugged out. Ho, ho...” She teetered back and forth, finally toppling over onto her back. Her legs stuck straight into the air, her back right leg twitching in time with her right eye.

The Doctor tilted his head and flipped off his screwdriver. “Well, that was a bit anti-climactic.”

Danielle flipped the safety on her rifle and walked up to Trixie. She waved an arm down the street. “Could... could someone go to the Ponyville Community Theater and see what Trixie was up to before...” She motioned to the still-fallen mare. “This?”