//------------------------------// // Taking Initiative // Story: Four Seasons, Four Princesses // by Boldish42 //------------------------------// “Ladies, thank you for coming. I realize this council was called on short notice, but it could not wait.” The council room had a foreboding atmosphere to it in stark contrast to its normal cozy feel. The rooms lights were low casting ominous shadows, the familiar little round tea table was replaced with a rectangular conference table, an odd box positioned at one end. Finally, and perhaps most disturbing, an odd smoke hung in the air, making the room seem downright claustrophobic. “... Luna, it’s two in the morning, what is this about? And what are you doing?” Celestia had to will herself to be patient as she asked her questions, two AM was not a good time for her. Luna turned to view her peers, each one disheveled in some way. Celestia’s mane hung limp, her eyes almost shut and wings sagging, Cadance had bags under her eyes and her mane up in curlers, her robe hanging open and a cup of coffee floating next to her. Twilight was.. wired, her wings seemed to be locked open, her mane sticking up at odd angles and then her eye seemed to twitch uncontrollably. Her smile was nice, a bit too wide though. Luna smiled to herself as the unanticipated side effect of her meeting seemed to be that she was the best looking of the princesses at the moment. “This my dear sister is about the fate of Equestria, Neigh! The World! And it’s called smoking.” “The fate of the world rests on smoking?” Cadance mumbled drowsily. “No, I am smoking, the worlds fate, rests on us fighting aliens.” Luna replied. Seriously, why can’t ponies stay awake at night? It’s not that hard. Twilight sprang forward triumphantly.“ALIENS I KNEW IT! THAT EXPLAINS EVERYTHING! OKAY SO AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS CHANGELINGS, OR FLUTTER PONIES OR A GIANT CONSPIRACY OF SECRET SOCIETIES, BUT ALIENS EXPLAIN EVERYTHING!!! THE EVERFREE, PYRAMIDS, PINKIE, LATE BOOKS, AND WHY APPLEJACK KEEPS PIGS! I MEAN SERIOUSLY WHAT’S WITH THE PIGS? WHAT DOES SHE DO WITH THEM? NO MILK NO EGGS NO WOOL! WHAT IS UP WITH THAT? AND WHY IS THERE A STROBE LIGHT IN HERE? DID ALIENS DO THAT TOO?” “Twilight, please not so loud, I want to be able to get back to sleep after this.” Celestia grumbled, her ears flat against her head. “SORRY! I MEAN, SORRY I HAD ABOUT 3 CUPS OF COFFEE AND A HALF DOZEN RED MINOTAURS SO I’D BE READY FOR THIS MEETING.” “So right aliens, they’re a problem, can we talk about this later?” Cadance asked. Taking her co-rulers in her magic, Luna deposited them in their chairs. Not their normal comfy ones though, these were hard and uncomfortable and fifty years out of style. Taking a drag from her cigarette she gathered herself. “Lights.” The feeble lights that were illuminating the room went out, only to be replaced by a powerful white light lancing out from the box on the table projecting a map of Equestria on the far wall. Celestia and Cadance flinched at the sudden light changes. “At approximately 0600 hours, June 21, 1000CR, contact with an extraterrestrial force was made here.” Luna dramatically stabbed at a forest south of Canterlot. “Local forces responded, but were quickly overwhelmed. Fortunately, a crack team of specialists were able to end this encounter peacefully, this time. But we can’t rely on luck forever. And so, I’ve taken the Initiative and have begun assembling an organization, to take Command of these Unknown threats, which we have dubbed X’s. I call it.. COMM-X!” “... Auntie Luna wasn’t that alien you? And that “crack team’ Twilight and her friends?” “Luna where did you even get cigarettes?” “COMICS? LIKE SPIKES COMICS?” “Our mission: survive, adapt, etc etc. Also comics? That is genius! We can tell the public the truth without leaving anything out, but they will think it’s all fiction! Excellent!” Luna happily exclaimed. “Luna! Cigarettes are poison, where did you get them!?” “ISN’T ANYPONY GOING TO ANSWER THAT PHONE? IS THAT THE PHONE? IT SOUNDS LIKE EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE, OR IS IT MORE OF AN AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA. NO WAIT ITS EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA.” “I got them from an import store, they come from the minotaur lands. Also we’re immortal. Ha! Take that poison!” “Yes they can’t kill you but they can still muck up your lungs well enough. Whatever I just want to get back to bed, this COMM-X sounds unnecessary, but maybe we can make it slate as a research project if you really want to do this. What is your estimated budget to start this Luna?” Celestia managed to ask, even as her head drooped. “Start? No I called you here to tell you it is up and running.” Luna nervously smiled. “So wait, you called us all together to tell us you were doing this COMM-X thing, but you’ve already done it?” Cadance glared at her aunt. “I’m going back to bed, good night.” “CAN I SEE YOUR NEW BASE LUNA? I MEAN I ASSUME THERE’S A BASE, CAUSE YOU’D HAVE TO HAVE A PLACE TO COMMAND FROM OTHERWISE WHY WOULD THERE BE COMM IN THE NAME? OOOH! DO YOU THINK ALIENS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THOSE HARD THINGS AT THE END OF THE LACES ON BOOTS?” The sound of Twilight yammering faded off in the distance as Luna took her to her new base. Celestia was left passed out at the table.