//------------------------------// // Orphans can be purple // Story: Starship Equestria // by luna264 //------------------------------// Twilight paced back and forth. "So you're saying we're heading for a planet filled with rainbows?" She asked Rain. "Yup." Said Rain. "And I'm also saying that the rainbows affect the coloring of everything there. I heard in some places the grass is pink!" Rain said the last word with a bit of disgust. 'Okay...' decided Twilight. Definitely a-- "Captain! Rain! There's a ship firing at us!" shouted Pinkie as she ran into the room. "We need our shield up A-S-A-P!" "Talk to Rachel about that." Grumbled Rain. "The Darned thing isn't working!" "Oh no! What about the cannons?" Pinkie said, fear encroaching on her normally cheery voice. "I'm not sure. Tanner! Fire up the rear cannons!" Rain ordered her cousin. "Alright, Rain, but the ship is to our port side. It appears to be attempting to board." Tanner replied as he quickly assessed the situation. "So fire up the port side cannons!" Rain shouted. "Alright!" said Tanner. "Port side cannons functioning smoothly. Evacuate everyone to the break room!" "Now hold on a second." Said Jacklyn as she entered the room. "Rain, have you analyzed the projectiles?" "You can't tell me what to do!" Said Rain indignantly. "Well I'm not." Jacklyn said sternly. "Have you or haven't you?" "Well... No, but they're taking out our engines!" "Well, we're in anti-gravity right now, so no falling to worry about, and Rachel could always fix them up later." Jacklyn pointed out. "Besides, you still need to teach your little cousin how to fire them cannons." Rain sighed. "Alright, you win... Stun beams. And we're being boarded, no hail or anything." "Well." Said Rachel, "It appears I have to fix some manners and some engines." "And a shield..." muttered Tanner. "Of course, Tanner. Now, Twilight, bring an entourage of the defense department and go meet them. I'll come with you, if you want, but it's all up to you, really." Rachel said. "Er... Of course!" Said Twilight. "Rain, do you have any suggestions for who would be a good choice here?" "Well... This is going to be my first full day with this crew, so... Not really." Said Rain. "I've just been really busy teaching Tanner how to manage this stuff, I'm sorry." "Well... I will be needing some volunteers in about three seconds." Twilight pointed out. "Alright." Rain said. "Amy, Habatchi, and Oli, Go with Twilight to meet our new 'friends'. Tanner and I will hail the ship." After ordering her department members, she and Tanner began to push buttons. "Rachel," Twilight said. "I think you should come with me. Let's go!" And with that command, the entourage left the piloting center. * * * "So this is our little greeting party." Said one of the people who had boarded the ship. "I was expecting something more..." Rachel tensed. Were these people here just to criticize them? "We'd like to speak to your captain." said one of them. "Or at least your navigation head of department." Twilight immediately took offense, but she kept her cool pretty well. "I'm actually the captain of the ship. And our navigation head of department is currently in the process of hailing your ship; a courtesy you forgot to take with us. Now, what is the meaning of this?" Rachel took the liberty of adding "And if you wanted to board our ship, you could have just asked instead of disabling our engines." The man chuckled. "You honestly think I have to be patronized by you? I don't have time for this. If this ship is really run by women, than it's probably some sort of traveling orphanage or something. We may as well let you deal with our little stowaway." That was it. Rachel grabbed her wrench and hit the man upside the head, knocking him unconscious. "Anyone else have a problem with how this ship is run? No? Good." The last word was said with some added malice. The men ran back through the tube connecting the ships, dragging their fallen comrade with them, and leaving behind a struggling sack. "Rachel, what did you do?" Said Twilight, shocked at what her head of maintenance had done. "They could--" "Relax, Twilight. We won't get in trouble with the princess for my little outburst. Those men don't work for Celestia." "Right.. The would have received an update on their dVices telling them the basic information about Starship Equestria. Also, we should probably--" The sack split open, allowing a young boy to exit it. "Thanks a lot." He said. "You're purple!" Exclaimed Twilight, causing the boy to facepalm. "Yeah, I know. I come from Downside on Prism. You know, the planet with lots of colors?" "Yes, actually." Said Rachel. "We're orbiting right now. We can take you back to your home, if you want." "No! I don't wanna go home! I hate it there!" "Alright, You can stay with us. Twilight, why don't you go check in on Rain. She's probably got the other ship captain on screen by now." "Alright. I'll go." Said Twilight. "Good." Said Rachel. 'Now for a little bit of clean up.'