"If aliens visit us, the outcome would be much as when Columbus landed in America, which didn't turn out well for the Native Americans." ~Stephen Hawking
~~~
The day started out like any other. A princess who's coat was a pale white. Her ethereal mane flowing with colors such as pink, blue and green. Her eyes sparkled pale pink. She was raising her horn to the sun. It glowed a gold yellow aura. The sun was breaking over the mountains, shining it's warm light all over the citizens of Equestria.
With her duty done, she went back into her room. As always, this was the beginning of another boring day. It would be filled with nothing but annoying paperwork, overzealous royals and her personal favorite, the day court.
She was combing her hair, getting it ready for the long day. Then a knocking at the door sounded. "Ahem, excuse me, your highness, are you ready for the day court?" The pegasi said, entering Celestia's room. He had a pale yellow mane with a pale brown coat. His eye's shined a pale yellow.
"Almost done Sunstream, just combing my hair and putting on the finishing touches." She replied back. Putting down the comb, she lifted up a bottle of perfume with her magic and gave herself a few spurts here and there.
With that, she was ready for the day ahead of her.
~~~
Over in a town, not too far from Canterlot. Many ponies were waking up for the day. Getting ready for work, doing their normal day to day routines. It had been a day after the coronation. A lavender pony was just rising out of her bed. Stretching her forlegs and backlegs out, she got up and trotted over to her mirror. Humming a song as she picked up the comb with her magic and combing out her hair. "Oh Spike, it's time to wake up." She said, looking over to the little dragon sleeping in his bed.
"Ohhh, just five more minutes mom." Spike said, rolling around in his blanket, trying to regain the warmth he had only a few minutes ago.
She rolled her eyes and walked over to him. Using her magic, she lifted him out of bed and gently putting him onto his feet. He opened his eyes and rubbed them. "Gee Twilight, couldn't you have given me more time to rest, it's only been a day since the coronation there's nothing to worry about." Spike said, complaining as usual.
"I don't know if you remember, but we have to get ready for the big event tonight. Don't you remember?" Twilight said, pointing at him with her hoof. The big event that Twilight was talking about was the celebration of the new ally they had gained with Saddle Arabia. The agreement that both Equestria and Saddle Arabia had accepted was the newly found trade route that the two nations had designated.
"Oh right, wait what was it again?" Spike asked.
She sighed. "It was the trade route that the delegates from Saddle Arabia and Celestia had agreed upon. You know after the little incident with Trixie?" Twilight wasn't so mad about the whole thing anymore, she was just annoyed that he had forgotten.
"Oh, you mean that. Okay I get it. So, what time do we have to leave?"
"Oh around one pm, so we have to at least get everyone ready. Speaking of which, where's Nyx by the way. Did you see her waking up? Twilight asked. Looking around for the little alicorn filly.
"The last time I saw her, she was sleeping on her bed. Like what I was doing before you got back." Spike said, walking down the stairs.
Twilight rolled her eyes again, but she smiled. Seeing how excited Nyx was after her coronation was truly a happy sight. They became more attached after both ponies were now alicorns. She walked downstairs, seeing that Spike was getting some cleaning done before they ate. The door opened. Revealing a little filly entering the library. "Hey mom, I was just having a little outing with the girls." She had a dark purple mane, nyan blue eyes and an ebony coat.
"Hey there sweetie, why don't you get seated. I'll make us something for breakfast." Twilight said. Walking into the kitchen. Before she disappeared. Twilight asked Nyx a question. "So what were you doing up so early."
"Oh, me and the Cutie Mark Crusaders were doing some night watching. They thought they could get there Cutie Marks in stargazing. But then a few little minor incidents happened."
"Oh you girls, always doing something silly. You ready for the big day today?" Twilight asked.
"Of course, I remembered about the alliance thing that's happening today. That's why I got my stuff ready extra early for the evening." Nyx said. Pointing to the bag at her side and smiling.
Twilight giggled at seeing Nyx doing that. With that she walked into the kitchen to get breakfast made.
~~~
It was dark in the room. A pony lay in her bed. Her ethereal mane was a dark blue, her coat a navy blue and her eyes glowed a dark blue. She was enjoying a dream of her own when her door creaked open. She mumbled some words as she turned away from the light flooding through the door. "Lulu, it's time to wake up sister."
"Oh not now Celestia, can't this meeting wait until the moon shines up?" Luna said, trying to fall back to sleep. She was more used to waking up in the evening rather than up straight away in the morning.
"Don't worry Luna it's just for today, this is the only time you'll ever have to get up this early. So come on get up." Celestia said. Her voice was calming and assuring.
Luna groaned in annoyance as she rose out of bed. She went to her mirror and began combing her hair. "How long till the delegates arrive?"
"Within an hour and a half. I didn't want to wake you up too early now would I?" Celestia said.
"Oh, I suppose. I never did like getting up early. So has anything happened so far while I was asleep?" Luna asked. Since returning to her throne, she had been ever vigilant about the safety of the people.
"Nothing much has happened. Just the same old same old." Celestia said, walking over to the glass window in Luna's room. She looked out and only saw the beautiful sun shining down on the city.
Luna finished combing her hair and followed Celestia out the door. An hour passes before the delegates arrive half an hour early. "It's good to see you two. I never expected you two to come so early?"
"We just wanted to show you two that when we wanted an alliance with Equestria, we really meant it. Take it as an act of friendship and kindness that we are assured that we want this to happen as much as you do." Said the brown colt.
"That is wonderful. Please if you'll come and sit down Haakim and Amira." Celestia said. Guiding them down to the dining hall. They all sat down together and discussed more about the papers. After a while. They idly chatted about all of the funny times that each one had.
"Oh my that is quite funny." Luna said.
"Poor colt didn't know what was coming to him when we spilled that water bucket on him." Amira said. Laughing along with them.
"Your highness. A message from Manehatten." Sunstream said. Trotting over to where the four ponies sat.
Oh, of course Sunstream. You may read it aloud to us."
"As you wish. Ahem. Dear Princess Celestia. We would like to inform you of a strange occurrence that is happening over the city."
Both Luna and Celestia looked at each other. They both felt nervous after hearing the first sentence from the letter. "A cloud, like nothing we have ever seen before just strolled on over above our city. We were informed that no weather team was sent out to make it rain today. But the weirdest thing is that there was no rain falling down." Sunstream looked over to the group. "The more I read this your highness's, the less I understand what's happening."
"Do not worry Sunstream, please continue reading." Luna said. Waving him to continue. Before Sunstream could continue, another alicorn walked in with a unicorn at her side. She had a pink and purple mane. Her coat was a pale pink and her eyes were a dark purple. The unicorn was a stallion. His coat was white. His hair a dark blue and eyes a cerulean blue.
"Ah, it is good to see you Cadence and Shining. How was your trip?" Celestia asked.
"Oh it was fine Celestia. How have you been doing?" Cadence asked.
"Ahem, your highness, shall I continue reading?"
"Go ahead Sunstream. Please sit down with us you two, you may want to hear this."
"What's going on your majesty? Has something happened?" Shining Armor asked.
"From what we can tell, something isn't right." Luna darkly said. They all gathered around the table. Waiting for Sunstream to continue.
"O-okay. When we sent a team of weather pegasi to clear it out. They were all...all...electrocuted."
Everyone gasped. Never before have they heard that a cloud electrocuted a pegasi before. "What do you mean electrocuted?" Celestia asked.
"That's just it. They only say that they were electrocuted." He paused before continuing on. "We found them on the ground. Everypony has been treated for the wounds so far. But thing is, all that was coming out of the cloud were very large lightning bolts. They were repeatedly striking only one area. Creating a hole in the ground. So far we have the situation contained. But what should we do about this? ...That's it."
"That is all...strange I might say. Celestia, has this happened before in the time you ruled?" Haakim asked.
"No, nothing like this has ever happened before. Clouds never just appeared and then struck out at ponies." Celestia looked over to Sunstream. "Sunstream. I want you to lead a research team over there and investigate this incident. This doesn't sound bad but we have to be careful." Celestia said. Concern was rising in her. What was going on?
"Yes your highness." Sunstream said. Raising his hoof into salute and running through the doors.
Everyone sat in silence before Cadence spoke up. "Is everything going to be alright Celestia?"
Celestia stared at Cadence. "I hope so, nothing like this has ever happened." Celestia then looked over to Luna, who was staring out at the window. "What's wrong Luna?" She asked. Walking to her side.
"I just get this feeling that something terrible is about to happen. Don't you?" Luna said. Staring at Celestia.
"I do little sister. I just hope nothing does."
~~~
Twilight was on the train heading towards Canterlot. She had gathered up the gang. They were only minutes away from Canterlot. Excited about this momentous day. "Aren't you all excited for a monumental moment like this?" Twilight said. Smiling at the others.
"Of course Twi. Who ain't excited fer the union taht will happen between Equestria and Saddle Arabia." A mare with a stetson on her head said. She had a yellow mane, green eyes and a orange coat.
"Oh this is such a grand occasion Applejack, I just hope I wore the right dress to such a highlighted event?" Another mare with a pure white coat, bright blue eyes and purple mane said. Her elegant voice sounding beautiful.
"I still don't know why I got dragged into such a boring thing." The third mare said. Her mane resembling the colors of a rainbow. Her eyes a dark pink. Her coat a pale blue.
"What's the matter Rainbow Dash. This is a superific event that everypony should be happy for, just like the time I first expirienced what cake tasted like. Oh it was such a terrific little moment." The fourth mare said, licking her face in the process. She had a pink mane. Her eyes sparkled a bright blue. Her coat a pale pink.
"Um, what does cake have to do with this meeting Pinkie PIe?" The final mare said. Her coat was a pale yellow. Her mane a pale pink and her eyes a nyan blue.
"Cake doesn't have to do with anything Fluttershy. You silly." Pinkie Pie said.
Fluttershy just slunk down. Showing an annoyance with Pinkie.
The train finally arrived. Everyone walked out and noticed a few more guards were on patrol. They were having an important meeting, knowing that the guard patrol would be doubled, but not by this much. They walked along until they made it to the castle. They walked in and found Celestia and Luna sitting in the court room, along with the delegates from Saddle Arabia. Twilight saw Cadence and Shining Armor sitting along with them.
Cadence seeing Twilight walked over to her and did their greeting. "Sunshine, Sunshine. Lady bugs awake. Clap your hooves and do a little shake." Both giggling afterwards.
"Twily, how's my little sister doing." Shining said. Walking up to Cadence's side.
"Oh fine my BBBFF." Twilight paused before asking. "Um, what's with all the guards walking around. I mean I understand the importance of this meeting, but aren't there a tad too much?"
"Yes Twilight but there is a reason for this." Celestia said. Walking up to her along with Luna.
Everyone bowed before the two. "You don't have to be so formal Twilight. You too are a princess as well." Twilight smiled at her former teacher's words.
"So why is there more guards walking around your majesty. I don't mean to be rude but this all seems a tad bit strange."
"Your right about that Applejack. Yes, there has been a slight incident over in Manehatten, but so far nothing else has come up yet."
"What do you mean slight incident?" Rainbow Dash asked. Raising her hoof in the air.
"Well, to tell the truth. A strange cloud was seen hovering above the city. There was no weather patrol scheduled at the time and for another odd reason. As the pegasi patrol went to try and clear it out. They were all...electrocuted." Luna said.
The group gasped in horror. "What do you mean electrocuted. I have never heard of a cloud doing that before." Rarity said. Raising her hoof to her mouth.
"That's just it. No one knows what it was doing there. The team's alright. Thank goodness, but the other strange thing was that it was striking this one spot in the ground with lightning. Apparently the whole ground was shaking from this incident that a few buildings were knocked down in the process. Again, no pony was injured." Celestia said.
"So what have you done so far?" Twilight asked.
"Well, we sent Sunstream to go check it out with a research team. So far, they've found nothing inconclusive." Luna said. "We think that it's nothing so far but we can't be too careful."
A moment passed before Celestia said. "Let us get this meeting underway, we'll discuss this tomorrow. We don't need to worry anypony now."
Everyone nodded and walked on over to their seats. Ready for this meeting to begin.
~~~
The meeting went quite well actually. It had been only about six hours but everything was going smoothly. After the meeting was finally called to a stop. Twilight and the others got back on the train. They were awfully quite going back on the way home. What Celestia had told them was quite unnerving to say the least. The train finally came to Ponyville and the group departed. All saying their goodbyes to each other and heading on back home.
Twilight got back to the house with Nyx and Spike. Nothing was really said. Everyone got ready for bed and that was really all there was to it. In her mind Twilight was trying to think of what could've caused such a phenomenon. Nothing was right. No weather team had been sent out. Clouds appearing on their own and striking down lightning in one spot multiple times. It was almost unearthly.
She decided to call it a night and her dreams quickly took over.
~~~
Celestia was rising up and raising the sun as usual. She walked on over to her mirror and began to comb her hair when suddenly a messenger came crashing through her doors. "Your majesty. This is every important!"
"What is it Lightwing. Tell me?" She asked. Lightwing was out of breath but he regained his composure.
"I...bring terrible news your highness. But you have received multiple messages from neighboring countries. They are all under attack."
What? What do you mean their all under attack?" Celestia said. Whatever was going on. It wasn't good at all.
"They have all reported huge machine like objects rising out of the ground. They did nothing at first except shoot some air out of openings that were located at the sides. Then they made a very loud deep sounding roar. They said all their citizens were too frightened to move or just curious. But the worst part was that two arm like appendages detached from the sides. They stopped at a point where they were pointed at the crowds and then...and then."
"What. What did they do Lightwing?"
"They...opened fire upon the citizens. Vaporizing them into nothing but ash."
Celestia just stood in horror. Something had attacked the other countries, But not with open war, but by massacre. Opening fire upon unarmed and innocent civilians.
"Lightwing. I want you to send word to Twilight and the others." Before she told him to leave. There was one more question. "What about Saddle Arabia? Have they been hit too.?"
Lightwing paused for a moment. "Yes, from what I've heard. They were hit first."
Celestia closed her eyes and looked down. Hearing all of this, was just painful. Knowing now that they're new ally was the first to feel the wrath of these unknown creatures. "Go, get Twilight and her friends."
Lightwing nodded and ran out the door quickly.
Whatever was attacking. It seemed relentless and unmerciful. She gazed back out her balcony. Hoping that that nothing else would happen.
~~~
Twilight and the others were told to come to Canterlot quickly. They were riding the pegasus carriage along the way. Whatever was happening was really urgent. "What do yah thinks up?" Applejack asked.
"I don't know, but from the sound of it. Celestia seemed really concerned about something." Twilight said.
They got to Canterlot and trotted quickly over to the main castle. There, they found Princess Celestia and Luna sitting upon the thrones. The delegates were seated right next to Cadence and Shining. "Celestia we came as fast as we could. What's wrong?" Twilight asked.
Everyone stared at her. She seemed different. Sadden by something. "Everypony. I've gathered you all here today for a very important reason." She didn't sound normal either. "I got word this morning that...many of the other countries have been attacked."
Everyone just stood there. Silence filled the air. "What do you mean attacked?" Haakim said.
"I'm saying that something has attacked. These machines, they just sprang up from the ground and started laying waste to innocent civilians." She looked over to the two delegates from Saddle Arabia. "I'm sorry to say that your country was hit first."
Both delegates gasped. "But...but how?" Amira asked.
"How many are there?" Shining asked.
"From what Lightwing has told me. There are about two in most of the countries and three for some. They have been attacking towns and cities as they go. Annihilating every creature they see."
"What about Equestria. Has there been any reports about them invading here?" Cadence asked.
"So far, nothing has happened here, they seem to be avoiding us for right now. I don't know why though."
Then without warning. Sunstream came running through the gates. Celestia noticed something different about him. There was a pale white substance that was all over his body. He had scratch marks that trickled only a small amount of blood. His wings were no better.
He tripped and skidded across the ground. Celestia and Luna ran over to him. "Sunstream, what happened?"
The look on his face was that of pure terror. "S-something bad...has happened...in Manehatten."