“Everybody get down!” Goombella screamed before ducking under the Met hat she quickly pulled on top of her pith helmet.
So far the trip through all the fighting fleets could have gone a lot better. The missile turrets were holding up remarkably well despite how many different things were shooting in the general direction of the fifty or so Goombella managed to put up, all in the middle of the push to make a sizable hole in the fleets. The Great Fox did a lot of damage and manage to make a sizable hole in an area where huge dogfights were taking place.
They were mostly successful in getting into the fleets and then they were slowed down by the large amount of enemy trying to board them or take down their defenses. It wasn’t long before the Space Pirates noticed their escaping ship had bypassed their fleet that was still hanging in the lowered airspace of Planet Clancer. Well whatever was left of the low hanging fleet after Kazooie was finished ripping them and Ridley a new one. They launched boarding pods otherwise known as ‘suicide pods’ and the Anubis was too slow to dodge the fifteen currently incoming pods, they were each carrying a crew of at least five space pirates each.
Throughout all this the three ponies sat around and were very bored, with watching things going on around the bridge. Sure the ship was shaking and shuddering under concentrated fire, but it wasn’t like the ship was about to explode. Even Ristar got to do some fighting as he was recently healed by the constant supply of onboard Gemini crystals which were also being used by the SCV’s to build stuff.
Sure there were these guys called Storm Troopers that had managed to get onboard the Anubis in force. It was just disappointing that they had quickly proven themselves to be so bad at shooting anything other than their own forces. It became ludicrous to the point that the Mizar Ants took a snack break out in the open while under constant fire and where never struck once.
It was a while before the Mizar Ants actually bothered to repel them considering they seemed too busy shooting themselves and everything that wasn’t alive in the hold. Even Banjo said this was ridiculous even for all the previous adventures he’s been on, out of a million shots you’d think they would hit something important.
At the time, Banjo was savoring a honey covered muffin before it promptly got blasted out of his paw. Honey reprimanded him for almost calling Murphy’s Law into action as she handed him another muffin from the basket, they were sitting on a picnic blanket which had attracted some of the surrounding humanoid ants wanting to share in the goodies too. Honey didn’t mind, it was part of her earlier agreement with them anyway.
Many a Mizar Ant and Beetle would swear the Storm Troopers were the absolute worst shots to ever exist; at least they didn’t crash and burn as badly as many of the droids had. They weren’t bad pilots, just horrible shots. It was also to be noted that their armor did nothing to stop the sudden stream of fire that tore them all down in less than ten seconds, whereas they had been firing at near point blank ranges for the last two or so minutes straight.
Now we’re back up to the point where a suicide pod slammed into the S. S. Anubis’s bridge. Finally the ponies weren’t so bored anymore as the ship was boarded in three locations. They were quickly bored again when the five Space Pirates that quickly decided to rush the room in a clustered group were quickly felled by the following convenient events.
One, the Space Pirates were firing blindly into a room where every defending member had taken cover and had pulled out a weapon, the smoke had blinded them to this for a mere moment.
Two, their shots were going wide and mostly into the ceiling and the coding didn’t stay scorched for long.
Three, Captain Gibs pulled his rocket launcher from out of hammer space.
The ability to pull a rocket launcher out of your pants or thin air was the video game realms favorite equalizer in combat situation. A lot of stuff in the video game realms is hammer space related anyway, there was still a difference between unlimited storage capacity and just having a lot of storage capacity in general.
The example of Mizar Ants is a finite storage capacity, they had unlimited ammo of whatever type they are given in their game realm. Mizar ants are color coded to their weaponry: Blue’s usually get laser rifles or pistols, Greens always had sniper rifles, Yellow had grenades and so on. Mizar Beetles were armed a little differently; they came in two flavors… machine blaster or rocket launcher, one handed or wielding two at the same time. Two hand held rocket launchers that almost never needed reloading with infinite ammo was kind of overkill.
One shot and four of the Space Pirates were immediately vaporized into a pile of quickly disappearing chunks of dead pirates by the solitary rocket.
Four, the remaining space pirate having fired randomly nearly hit Screwball spooking her. Now she will now use the true power of her hammer space… it was kind of stuffed with hammers and it has grown quite a bit since she last used it to throw her baseball bat.
The final thing that happened, cue awkward stares at the pony that has just killed a Space Pirate by wedging a large metallic hammer where the sun doesn’t shine. Screwball’s left hoof was still at the end of the throwing arc from which the hammer flew. The squealing wail of the dying space pirate as he felt to the ground was heard throughout the bridge as everything other then it was dead quiet.
“Okay, I would ask where the hammer came from, but it just disappeared into thin air along with that things corpse. Does anybody else think the fact that she can pull and throw hammers from out of nowhere just a little bit disconcerting?” After asking that question Lyra was surprised to see that everyone shook their heads no and she thought Goombella was pretty down to earth as well. She didn’t know Derpy had already seen her throwing a bat; an equally aerodynamically challenged hammer wasn’t such a stretch for her anymore. Screwball had seen Kazooie pull crazier things from her backpack and wished to emulate that kind of storage space.
“I see hammers coming from behind the back all the time; I guess I was right about that throwing thing, nice one too. Oh crap they’ve taken down thirteen of my turrets, can’t stop to chat in the middle of a pitched life or death battle with a Wing Zero imminent!” It wasn’t that she didn’t want to talk; Goombella just had other more important things to do at the moment. Immediately back at the console and ordering the Mizar Ants piloting the small army of SCV’s around to fix the one or two holes suddenly opened in their defenses aside from the obvious holes of the several boarding parties that managed to get on the ship.
Speaking of fixing holes the boarding pod fell away and the wall started to recode itself back into position, the level was holding together really well. Now the ponies were bored again, Screwball sighed about the fact that they get some excitement and she goes and ends it too fast.
“Look if you’re all really that bored here on the bridge couldn’t you go find something helpful to do around the ship. You aren’t really doing much for us here except standing around looking really cute and adorable.” Waving a nonchalant left foot at them in a shooing motion, Goombella kept dishing out orders to the screen in front of her muttering about two hundred clicks a minute.
Screwball looked to Derpy who wilted under the boredom as did Lyra, sure there was a lot of action going on around them but they weren’t exactly doing anything interesting for this story to focus on them for. Things like Slippy being chased by thirty enemies, which would have been more interesting at this point.
They were ponies and they wanted to help. Well what did ponies normally do? Ponies made friends, helped others, used their special talents and then did awesome crazy stuff. So far they were failing in all areas as their other friends were busy. Lyra didn’t have a lyre to showcase her talent, though she could magically create one it was quite tiring to do. Derpy had many talents involving circles and spheres yet there was nothing to make bubbles with on this ship unless she wanted to hurt someone with her new bubble trick. Screwball herself… wait that was something they could do!
Screwball’s mind shifted into several gears, what was the problem currently afflicting everyone onboard the ship? What were the other things ponies like to do on the spur of a moment? What was it that Pinkie did all the time in Ponyville when she was around to enjoy it? Actually now that she thought of it, she really didn’t know Pinkie all that well. It was just that her mother and the happy bouncy pony have crossed paths before. It seemed like they were at odds over something and her mom seemed kind of sad about it, she’d asked her mom what that was all about later. She never really bothered to understand why it led to them fighting an RPG battle with Pinkie and that other pony.
Now if only they had a lead singer and someone to work the choreography with… well didn’t ponies usually do this spontaneously? Now if only they had a place from which to do it to cheer up everyone, doing it on the bridge seemed haphazard to their survival.
Slowly Screwball turned her head towards Derpy and a creepy toothy smile started to build its way onto her face. Soon a similar smiled appeared on Derpy’s face and they both turned to Lyra smiling. “What is there something on my horn?”
Two minutes later, with some equipment and some appropriated Mizar Ants who were still clearing out storm troopers that were spontaneously running around on fire for some weird reason and screaming about little blue aliens and Hawaii. Something about a six two six conspiracy, the ponies weren’t really paying attention except Lyra because the Storm Troopers looked human except the creepy black and white armor was off putting for her.
“Ahem, is this thingy on?” Derpy turned to Retch who was glad to not be stuck outside with the others. They were closer to the center of the ship in a well protected small room, similar to the one where Honey found her cluster grenades.
So far the casualties had been pretty light and they’ve only lost three able bodies since Derpy came along, before that Retch noted that they were dying all the time in great numbers. At least the hero characters were on their side and were making sure they stayed alive too; well technically three SCV’s died, the Mizar Ants driving them survived by ejecting.
Retch noted they were surviving skirmishes and actually acquiring field experience which was somewhat unusual given the life expectancy of the average video game enemy. At least those three pieces of machinery didn’t die in vain as their savior the muffin loving mare was still okay and bubbly, as she was the undisputed Queen of the Mizar people and was going to do a performance for them. Retch heard this was impromptu too, so it’d be extra special and from the heart. Having heart was something they were still learning about and even if they are bad guys in their own realm, it doesn’t mean they have to exactly be bad guys everywhere else.
Retch gave a clawed thumb up, it was now on.
“Okay… um what about musical instruments…” Lot’s of Mizar Ants and the smaller population of Beetles that were onboard for this suddenly perked up and became more productive at hearing Derpy’s voice ship wide throughout the S. S. Anubis.
Retch smacked herself in the face; of course the queen would need a musical entourage to help with her left field performance. The yellow ant called together the ants that were procured for this and started talking to them quietly, after a moment they all went and took their place behind Derpy to stand in position waiting for her to start.
Retch squealed that she needed to start up a beat and then the ants would do a cappella following her lead.
“Well I’ve always wanted to do something like this since Pinkie sung that smile song of hers. Screwball, you’re better at this cartoon stuff can you help get me started?” Watching as Screwball tipped her propeller hat in a funny manner, Derpy smiled as Screwball took a thinking stance. Focused on forming an idea with a dim light bulb floating above her head, Screwball’s mind was wandering and thinking of something relatively simple.
Lyra was staring at the light bulb unable to believe the weirdness she has been subjected to since stealing Twilight Sparkles dimensional traveling hoof notes. She didn’t know whether to regret stealing them or to be intrigued by all the weird zany stuff she’s gotten herself into since then. Including an unprepared musical number despite being in constant mortal danger at the moment, this whole situation was just plain ridiculous.
Slowly tapping a hoof against her chin with her tongue sticking out the side of her mouth, Screwball stopped tapping and then looked at her hoof. Instead of lighting up like a normal light bulb would when you have a good idea, the light bulb turned into a representation of a phoenix and lit up brightly. It promptly caught Screwballs hat on fire and she had to quickly pull it off to stomp the fire out before it damaged her favorite piece of headwear. She had a hot idea alright.
Slapping a slightly soot covered hat back on her noggin; Screwball stomped and slid her left hoof against the floor and then stomped twice. Slowly it started to form a beat as she repeated this and then Screwball did a light tap dance looking for acknowledgment from Derpy. They started again from the start.
Musical Number! (Chrono Trigger- Robo’s Theme music)
Both ponies slid their hooves across the floor and then stomped them in sync and after doing this several times, they both did the tap dance and the Mizar Ants picked up by adding a tune to it with their voices to it. The music took a bit, but once the rhythm was started the ants were stomping along to the beat.
Twenty four seconds in to establishing a good steady beat Derpy stepped forward.
“My names Derpy Hooves, I’m a friend to all of you; I wish our friendship would last, forever.” With a sweep of her hoof around the whole room, while the stomping beat being carried out by the other ants and Screwball. “Oh we’re in trouble you see, I wish to be more helpful to you an idea for which I plead.”
“Our friendship is strong; I’ll make up for it in a song, so please don’t you give up… for me. Faith in ourselves and trust in each other, together we’ll survive this thing.” Derpy was surprised when Lyra stepped up to the front; she went back to standing next to Screwball and dropped seamlessly into forming the beat.
“My names Lyra Heartstrings and with trouble that it brings, all I wanted was to meet, some humans.” Lyra sung and even then she was stomp sliding like the other two ponies while giving them a bland look. “So now I’m stuck here you see, but now my love I wish to return to alive again with to be.”
“I’m stuck with you guys, not sure whether or not it’s wise, but at least I’m with some… company. Craziness aside, we’re certainly in for a ride and you’ll never be surprised by me.” Taking a step back she and Derpy shoved Screwball into the spotlight.
“Screwball is name, Kalzoonteight is same. Sing not to really good, but me try hard. “Her voice was good but her lyrics were a bit disjointed, the beat didn’t stop though. “Existentialism is cause; living is for grace of Miss Faust.”
“Friends happy have, life need to grab, without kicked to the curb, happiness!” Screwball stopped when she noticed the other two ponies take up her side. “Strength is to find, I’m friend of all kinds and never be a troubled bore.”
Now all three ponies were standing side by side and both Lyra and Derpy started singing the next part together. Screwball intoned with the tune with a hum, because she wouldn’t be able to match them word for word and singing in silent protagonist would be weird.
“Now we’ll sing in tune, in our hearts we ponies have got room. A friendship with our kind, can last forever.” Derpy and Lyra threw a hoof around Screwball and gave her a quick squeeze before separating to continue the beat. “Our happiness can spread, to even the most heartless of beings that could want us dead!”
“Together we are strong, having a grand friendship is not wrong. So our heart beats will, show the way. Faith in ourselves and trust in each other, together we’ll survive this day!” The beat slowed down and a cheer rose up throughout the ship as a rousingly loud bunch of squeals. Then the final part all three ponies started to sing their own parts for a finisher.
“My names Derpy Hooves…” Singing bubbly her part of the song she stood in front of Screwball to her left and Lyra to her right.
“Kalzoonteight is same…” Screwball was smiling as all the surrounding Mizar ants were filled with happiness.
“All I wanted was to meet, some humans…” Lyra sang sadly with a faint smile on her face.
“We’re in trouble you see.” It kind of occurred to Derpy she’s always getting into trouble and just as easily walking away from it, the interesting times curse never lead her to her death yet as that wouldn’t be very interesting.
“But now my love I wish to return to alive again with to be.” Lyra had a few tears in her eyes and she thought of a certain pink and blue haired candy selling pony.
“Our friendship is strong.” Said with a lot more conviction this time, Derpy didn’t want anyone to deny it.
“Not sure whether or not it’s wise.” Though Lyra may have thought them strange they protected her when she was whimpering like a coward, what was not wise was being friends with her if as she almost got them killed. It wasn’t wise to be friends with Screwball because she could snap and kill them at any moment, though Lyra had recently gotten over her having that strange episode of darkness. It wasn’t wise to be friends with Derpy because she was a hazard to be around at any given time. In any case these were the ponies Lyra could actually call her friend, they were crazy but then again so was she.
“Without kicked to the curb, happiness!” She could feel the warmth building up ever stronger inside of her, Screwball never felt so snuggly unless she was around her mom and her friends. “Strength is to find.”
“We’re certainly in for a ride and...” She felt like she was coming off a high feeling as if she had taken part in a Pinkie Pie song, Lyra couldn’t help but feel the similarities between the reality breaker and these two.
“Together we’ll survive this thing!” Derpy brought Screwball, Lyra and a bunch of humanoid ants into a group hug they all cherished.
End musical number.
Just about every hero on the ship was soon surprised by how the morale boost had altered the Mizar people’s sudden insane increase in productivity. (‘Skies of Arcadia: Boss Battle- Opportunity’ music plays.)
“Holy… what in the world did you ponies just do!” Goombella voice stated in shock over the communications watched as the turrets that were recently constructed by her SCV piloting ants were now firing at triple the rate and double the volley.
Every invaded part of the ship was suddenly cleared of enemies and all the Mizar Ants were moving at twice their normal speed and even the Beetles had twice the fire rate.
The beetles having twice their fire rate was important considering quite a few were now standing on top of the Anubis. They were among all the rapidly built missile turrets that now covered the entire top of the ship with the exception of the Command Center and they were using the turrets as cover, plus all the beetles were armed with rocket launchers.
They were a quarter of the way into the fleets and given the sudden boost in power they immediately pushed to the halfway point through them even with the sudden interest put on them by several different fleets. A battle cruiser from the Terran fleet started charging up a Yamato blast and when it fired it took out a single missile turret. That turret was rebuilt in seconds by five SCV’s.
It was almost immediately a dead zone surrounding the S.S. Anubis for any unfriendly unit to be around.
“Well we filled their hearts with vigor, what else would it be silly?” Chuckling merrily, Derpy couldn’t keep the happiness out of her voice and the Mizar Ants squealed with a shout all across the ship.
“Yeah, but they’re video game characters! There is no way these guys should be doubling their output and abilities quite like this, it should be impossible. Well unless what you guys did was the world’s largest ranged buff I’ve ever seen since Yuna with her dancer outfit.” With a twitching eye Goombella watched as the entire ship was jumping like an anthill that was just kicked over.
“We’re cartoon ponies aren’t we? We do the impossible!” Despite stating this with excitement and Screwballs joyous agreement to Derpy’s exclamation, one of them didn’t know what a cartoon character was.
“Huh? We’re what?” Derpy and Screwball realized something with a look, Lyra did not know that they were cartoons nor would they deign to tell her she was attracted to a species that might have created their world even if by proxy.
Derpy had learned of humans from The Doctor yet she had no idea humans had possibly created their world until she’s heard how the video game realms were born from Honey and that the cartoon realm are made in a similar manner.
In a way it’s kind of understandable that Lyra was so fascinated with a species that probably had glimpsed of their world or even personally made it. Just because humans might have created their world didn’t mean the princesses and legends were any less real. Maybe humans had just discovered their world through dreams and made their own reality of what they saw? In any way it was hard to tell whether they have always been cartoon characters or were created as cartoon characters. It didn’t matter to Derpy or Screwball as long as they could enjoy themselves and live life as they saw it, an adventure.
“Oh, it’s nothing to worry about Lyra… muffin?” With a smile Derpy finally got Lyra to accept a muffin from her, she watched with squeal as Lyra just started eating it without a fuss possibly muttering things under her breath about how she misses Bonbons candy.
“I wonder how she’s doing.” Lyra mumbled through a chunk of warm fluffy muffin.
“I’m sure she’s okay Lyra, it’s not like Bonbon to go stir crazy. Since she was always like that anyway before you came into her life. Also her voice tended to change pitch and tone at odd times, you’d almost swear she was a changeling.” The mint green pony smacked her face with a hoof; this was Derpy’s attempt at cheering her up? Lyra started laughing; at least her Bonny was safe.
(End skies of arcadia music.)
In Ponyville things weren’t quite right at Pinkie’s favorite candy stop, not that she had been eating too much candy again putting her off her slightly needed diet. Opening the door she saw Bonbon was sitting there staring at something, she snuck over and peeked over her withers to see what it was and then held her mouth with her hooves. Bonbon was looking miserable and she was staring at a picture of a smiling Lyra.
“Bonbon what’s wrong?” Pinkie asked, but Bonbon didn’t move or even acknowledge her presence as he red rimmed eyes continued to stare at the picture. “Wow this is something I don’t think even a party can solve… maybe an intervention for not being able to celebrate at a party?”
“…” Bonbon didn’t even acknowledge Pinkie’s rather noticeable babbling presence; she just kept staring at the picture of Lyra with longing eyes.
After a minute or so of babbling aimlessly Pinkie realized something, that Bonbon was in love with Lyra and that Lyra was missing from their world entirely. The Pinkie Sense really was unusual in what it could do, even granny pie theorized it was an earth pony trait that was naturally stronger in some ponies then it was in others and it was an ability centered on the nature of one’s surroundings.
“I’m sure she’ll come…” Before Pinkie could even finish her sentence Bonbon was already digging her face into Pinkie’s shoulder filling it with tears, she was really distraught. Slowly Pinkie began to rub her back and began to tell her that Lyra was alright and that she’d be back eventually. From the smell Bonbon needed a bath and a good eight or more hours of sleep.