//------------------------------// // To bold go to Chapter 3 // Story: The Narrator // by Sythax //------------------------------// The two companions and their pet walked for what seemed like an age. The dark void squeezed in on each side, looming above them. "Uh, Twi, Is it just me or is it gettin' lighter?" asked Applejack Applejack was right. It was getting lighter. The black expanse was becoming a very dark shade of grey and becoming brighter with each step they took. Tall, slender shapes stood in the distance, scattered as far as they could see. "Commander Applejack readied her plasma rifle, its barrel glowing with blue light as the two left the misty forest." "Commander Applejack?" "Plasma Rifle?" "Forest?" Sure enough, where the dark expanse of the mine had been now stood a dense line of trees, white mist twirling through its branches. Applejack looked up at her new weapon. It was sat on her back, resting upon a large metal arm that raise the large barrel over her head. True to The Narrator word a blue glow came from inside. Her fur armour had been replaced with a streamlined suit that clung to her body, its black fabric shining in the faint light. "Now wait just a minute here!" yelled Applejack "I thought we was in some history novel! Now we're in on with some new-fangled technology?!" "Speak for your self" said Twilight who was still clad in her black armour and cape. "Oh just get on with it!" "It there going to be any continuity in this story at all?" asked Twilight "Commander Applejack raised a hoof to her ear as her transmitter buzzed into life" "Oh my, what in the world am I wearing? This shade of red is absolutely dreadful with this gold!" "That sounded like..." "Twilight dear, Is that you? Where am I?" "First mate Rarity explained the situation to her Commander, offering to beam them up to safety." "First mate? Commander? Who is that with you Twilight?" "I'm with Applejack, just play along" said Twilight into the receiver. "If you say so dear. So what situation dare I ask am I explaining?" "That they are about to be attacked by a huge swarm!" "A swarm?" asked Applejack "A swarm of what?" "Giant Pencil Bees!" "Pencil Bees?" "Yup" "Uh Twi, you hear that?" asked Applejack A faint buzzing could be heard, the sound of thousands of pairs of wings beating rapidly. "Oh you've got to be kidding me" said Twilight as the first Pencil Bee emerged from the fog. It looked much like a bee should. The only oddities about it were that is stripes ran vertically down its body, it was easily five feet in length and instead of a sting had a very large pencil ending in a deadly point. "RUN!" yelled Applejack as she turned tail and ran back towards the forest. Twilight followed suit, crashing through the thick undergrowth, her cape snagging on branches as she ran. "Commander Applejack began firing at their pursuers, obliterating them with a burst of blue energy." The large cannon on Applejack's back swiveled in place, it barrel pointing at the Bees. With a hum a ball of blue fire erupted from the end, hitting the nearest Bee with a sizzle. It screeched in response as its body disintegrated, leaving just a small piece of graphite behind. "Rarity, Help us will ya?" shouted Applejack "But how dear? I have all these buttons in front of me but no idea what they do!" replied Rarity "First Mate Rarity quickly hit the button that said 'Transport Beam', the ship humming in response" "Oh! Well that was convenient" said Rarity Twilight and Applejack were quickly enveloped in white light. The Bees screamed as they saw their prey escaping but it was too late. With a flash they were gone. *** Being teleported was a new experience for both of them. They both shook violently as they stepped out of the machine, their stomachs turning. "Twilight! Applejack!" came a yell. The two looked up to see a white unicorn running towards them. "Rarity!" said Twilight as they embraced. "Am I glad to see you!" "The first Mate saluted as the Commander appeared on the bridge." Rarity's hoof shot up into a salute, much to her disdain. "Would somepony please tell me what in Equestria is going on?" she asked Twilight quickly filled her in, Applejack interjecting with any details she missed. "Sounds like you two have had quite the adventure" said Rarity as she examined Mr Bubbles who was till clinging to Applejack's neck. "Where are we anyway?" asked Twilight looking around the room. The room was oval in shape, tapering to their left. Various console littered the room, all curved to the shape of the room. Lights flashed everywhere, beeping angrily at the three ponies. The tapered end of the room held a large curved window that was currently closed, blocked off with thick metal plates. "The ESA Luna was the finest ship in the fleet, equipped with the very latest in recon and navigation equipment." "This don't look like any ship I've ever seen" said Applejack, curiously looking at a nearby console. "How do ya get onto the poop deck?" Twilight wandered to the closed window. What sort of ship had a window like this blocked off from the outside world? How did it open? She approached the nearest console to the window, scanning the button on it. One in particular caught her attention. "Main Window Blast Shield?" she said, pressing down on the button. With a hiss the plates over the window parted. The three of them walked forward, expecting to see the blue waves of some ocean. What they actually saw made their jaws drop. "B..But how?" gasped Rarity "This is just weird" said Applejack Twilight stared, speechless. No matter how many times she had looked at the stars, nothing could have prepared her for this. Beyond the window lay the vast expanse of space, stars glimmering many light years away. Below sat the planet they called home, Equestria sat among the blue oceans. For the longest time they just watched the planet below, drifting through space, a place no one have ever been. "Suddenly the room was flooded with red light as a wailing siren rang throughout the room." "What the hay is that?" yelled Applejack as she covered her ears. "Incoming Griffon Star-Mangler fleet bearing 5346219" said Rarity automatically The other two stared at her. "What?" said Rarity "What the hay does that mean?" asked Applejack "Well I don't know!" said Rarity "But you said it!" "Not of my own accord you realise" "The three of them looked out of the ship's window. There, just emerging from behind the moon, was a fleet of enemy ships, their bird-shaped hulls eerie in the moonlight." "Uh Twi, what are they doin'?" asked Applejack Suddenly several bursts of red light flew from the ships, racing past them. They screamed as the ship rocked and the siren grew louder. The birds of prey advanced, weapons blazing all the way.