Episode 1: The Frontier Calls PT.1
In the skies above the Equestrian desert, a portal of pure energy appears and expands rapidly. A massive ship starts coming through and into the skies above. When it was fully through, the ship looked like a massive dome in red and yellow coloration with four spiral like towers on the top and two angular spikes on the sides. Its presence alone would cause a passing would stop and look at it with mixed reactions. However, unknown to those outside, a conflict was going on in the depths of the ship.
“STOP HER!!”
In a spacious corridor, a lone figure was rushing away from what appeared to be bolts of energies zipping past and hitting the walls. Coming from around, a group of silver robotic machines with box like heads were moving with purpose. The single, red eye in the middle glowed and fired a bolt of energy at the figure. The bolts of energy barley missed as the figure rounded a corner. The sudden move caused hood of the cloak to come off, revealing the figure’s face. The figure was a mare with a green coat and dark-tone pink mane with a streak of white in it.
At first appearance, she looked like a regular unicorn however, on a closer look at her yellow eyes, there appeared to be green lights going across the whites of her eyes.
She raced down the hall while clutching a case in her right hand. She made it to the end of the hall and she pressed her left hand on the frame of the door as it slid up into the ceiling. She entered what appeared to be a hanger.
The mare looked around until she spotted a grey shuttle with four small wings on the sides. She ran towards as a voice booms across the room.
“5 Minutes until arcanus warp! 5 Minutes until arcanus warp!”
She reached the door of the shuttle just as the robots entered the hanger. As she glanced back, the robotic soldiers filed in and parted into groups of two and stood side by side. A lone figure walked down the middle of them.
The figure was robotic as well but this one was different from the others. The robot was completely gray with yellow shoulder and knee pads. Its head held the characteristics of a buzz saw with a triangular red lens in the middle. The most distinguishing feature were the dual saw blades in both arms spinning with a deadly sound.
It raised its left arm at the mare and one of the blades shot out with deadly speed as another one constructed itself in its place. The mare ducked just as the blade zipped right above her head, cut of the wings of another shuttle and embedded itself in a far wall before dissolving.
“That was your final warning, hand over the case or face termination.” The figure spoke despite the lack of a mouth.
The mare gave a look of defiance and in the blink of an eye, pulled out a magnum shaped blaster and took down one of the robotic soldiers.
“FIRE!”
She ducked into the shuttle just as the soldiers started shooting. She got into the pilot’s seat, sat the case down and slammed her fist on the control panel. Words began to type out on the wind shield.
-Ignition.Process: Activated-
The thrusters on the shuttle began to fire up as it was peppered by blaster fire from the approaching soldiers. The shuttles thrusters came to life and it took off as the hangers opened for the leaving shuttle. The commanding robot growled in anger and raised its left arm to fire again but froze as sirens began blaring. The mare’s shuttle had just cleared the doors when a voice went off.
“Arcanus warp in 4..3..2..1..”
Then, everything went white.
An hour earlier.
In the eastern part of the equestrian desert lays the small town of Appaloosa. The once small settlement has expanded bit by bit but, it still holds strong to its root. The ways of the west still has an impact on its residents and none more than its favorite son.
Braeburn Apple still carried the cheeriness and smile the small town came to love, if to a degree. As like everyone, his clothes were reminded of day’s long past from the denim jeans and wide chaps to the tan short sleeve shirt and brown vest to the very hat that never left his head.
As of now, he was busy preparing for a three day competition. He was walking from the orchid with a basket of apples towards a cart of five other baskets.
“’Whew’, this should be the last one.” He said as he placed the last basket in the cart.
“This ought to be enough for the stand at the competition.” He added.
“I hope so because we won’t be able to afford a second trip.”
Braeburn looked to where the voice came from. In front of his house was stood an earth pony that seemed out of place.
The pony was male with a crimson mane and a light silver coat with red eyes. The clothes he wore seemed fit for the city as he wore a red long sleeve shirt and dark black jeans. He had on a black vest and a watch on his left wrist.
“We’re an hour late as is. We got to leave now.” He added as he looked at his watch.
“Calm down, codes. It takes time to pick the right apples for any type of eatin’.” Braeburn said with pride.
The stallion, Codebreaker or Codes, rolled his eyes as he walked towards him.
“Yeah well, this competition starts tomorrow and it takes a day to get to where we need to be. We gotta move, now.” He replied. Braeburn picked up the carts handles and the two made their way off the farm and towards the train station.
“Thanks again for helpin’ me out, Codebreaker.”
“No problem, Braeburn.”
Codebreaker and Braeburn have been friends for the last five years. They met when him and his parents came to Appaloosa on the request of a client and getting out of a city. While staying there for the meeting, he wandered onto the farm and was interested on helping out. The two became good friends and kept in touch over the years, even though their views on certain things were different.
Equestrian technology has advanced to the use of creating engines powered by magic-infused crystals. Codebreaker’s family owns the biggest manufacturing company in Baltimare. The company’s motto is ‘Don’t look back, Move forward.’
“I still don’t get why you had to come out here in those city clothes of yours.” Braeburn said.
“Not this again, I keep telling you that these clothes are what I always wear, especially for being in the city.” Codebreaker replied.
Some of the conversations they had were disputes on the present and advancement.
“Also, what’s the name of the place the competition is being held in again?” He added.
“Tumbleweed Junction.”
“’Tumbleweed’? that old, worn-out junction in the middle of nowhere. Why’s it being held there?”
“The reason is because it’s probably going to be the last one that happens in that town.” Braeburn said.
“Why’s that?”
“It’s because the deed owner sold the town to some developers and I heard they were going to turn it into some futuristic town or something. The guy always was a greedy snake, even when I first saw him.” Braeburn muttered the last part under his breath.
“Well, no offense but I think that that’s a good idea.” Codebreaker replied. Braeburn stopped the cart and looked this friend with a painful look.
“How can you even say something like that?!”
“It’s nothing personal Brae. All I’m saying that this is probably the last option that place has before going broke. Best to just, move on and get something out of it.” He said, trying to make an opinion. Braeburn just shook his head as they continued on.
The two walked in silence until they reached the train station. They continued onto the platform and went toward the stationary train.
The train itself looked like a gray steam engine with a passenger and baggage car. The true difference between it and other trains was the mechanics that went into it. The two walked beside the train until they stopped beside the baggage car. Codebreaker slid the door open and a cool air came from it. Inside were rows of apple pies and fritters on top of a cart. He and Braeburn began unloading the basket of apples and putting them inside.
“Codes, are you absolutely sure the food is going to be okay in here?” Braeburn said with concern about the food.
“Brae relax, the food is going to be fine. The car has two gems that regulate the air in here to keep it at an ideal temperature.” Codebreaker pointed at the two blue gems at opposite ends of the car. ”The car is basically a giant fridge. Now, let’s get the last basket in and head out. We’re late as is.” The two got the last basket in and closed the door to the car.
Braeburn got to the passenger car and got inside while Codebreaker went to the engine. He opened the door and stepped in to start it up. The inside had a single chair in front of a control panel that was limited to a few gauges and throttles. In front of the panel was the engine itself fixated with a round gem in the center of it. He grabbed a throttle on the right and slowly eased it forward. As it moved, the gem began to glow brighter and the engine came to life with a whistle. He pulled the handle to the left forward and the train lurched forward.
“Next stop: Tumbleweed Junction.”
The ride towards the junction was going along smoothly with no interruptions. Codebreaker kept his eyes on the gauges and out the side window to make sure there was nothing on the track.
“Codebreaker, you think maybe we can stop?” Braeburn’s voice came in. Codes looked up to a cb radio and grabbed the transceiver.
“What for?” He talked into it.
“I want to make sure the fritters haven’t broken apart.” Came his reply. Codes sighed heavily.
“Braeburn, the food is fine. You’re worrying too much on this.”
“You put too much fate in these fancy machines your parents make. I just don’t believe that this thing we’ll get us there in time.”
“It’ll get us there, don’t worry. I helped design the engine for this train and we’re lucky that I know how to operate it. We could’ve left sooner if a certain farmer didn’t take his time picking fruit.”
“I told you, you can’t just pick any apple! You have to find the right tree that has the right apples for this competition. Bloomberg had the ripest apples when I started, like he was showing respect for the town.” Breaburn talked back. Codes didn’t reply back as he thought about that.
“You know I worry when you start talking like that.” Codes said. Even if he couldn’t see him, he knew Braeburn rolled his eyes.
There was silence between them as the train kept on rolling down the tracks.
“You know if you asked I could ask my parents to design an apple picker to cut back time harvesting.”
“My cousin told me about some scam artists that tried to do the same thing and tried to take her farm a while back. No thanks. Besides, we apples have done it the same way for generations. The old ways have worked fine and we ain’t changing!” He proclaimed proudly. Codes checked his watch to see the time.
“You ask me, the old ways are dying off and being forgotten.” He said under his breath.
‘CRACK’
A loud and sharp sound exploded with force. Codebreaker leaned out the side window to see what happened and his eyes widen at the site. In the sky, a giant object was appearing out of thin air.
“CODES, WHAT IS THAT THING?!” He heard Braeburn yell through the wind. He looked back to see him leaning out the window wide eyed and looking at the object.
“I DON’T KNOW!” He yelled back. He looked back at the dome object and saw that something flew out and that the object was glowing white.
“What’s it doing?” Codebreaker thought. He got his answer when the white light exploded and expanded… and was heading right for them.
“HANG ON!!!” That was the last thing he said.
Then everything went white.