Dashie: Twenty Percent Cooler

by Kieva Lynn


Eighteen

Standard Disclaimer: I do not own MLP, nor am I in any way affiliated with the author of the story this fic is based upon.

XXXXXXX

Chapter Eighteen

XXXXXXX

It was, of course, Twilight who first put together the two and two of their visitors appearance and Luna's single word question. Her eyes opened wide as she exclaimed "Queen Faust!" The unicorn dropped into a bow that was copied by all of the other non-royal ponies as they realized what she had said.

Faust chuckled, a tinkling musical laugh as she said "Rise children. In spite of my eldest daughter's stubborn refusal to take the title of Queen upon herself, I have not been your regent for long ages now."

As the ponies rose, Celestia asked "Mother, why are you here? Why now, after so very long?"

"I am sorry Tia." Faust said, "But when I was called away from Harmony for a higher purpose, I was forbidden to return. Therefore, I could not come to you there. I always hoped to see you on one of your visits to Earth, but they were always unplanned, and so brief that by the time I learned of them it was too late."

"Until this time." Celestia said, "This time the trip was planned in advance."

Luna said "But does this mean... You have been watching us?"

"Not all of the time. My responsibilities prevented that. But as much as I could, yes. I had to leave. That doesn't mean I don't still love you both."

Working up his courage, Brian spoke up. " Excuse me, not to interrupt this reunion, but..."

"You have a question son of Adam?" Faust grinned in an expression that made it clear she knew exactly what Brian intended to say.

Brian asked anyway. "You said this was all your doing?"

"I did indeed. It was I who inspired the creation of 'Friendship is Magic.' I who created the portal Rainbow Dash fell into, I who reverted her to a foal and insured that you, yes you specifically Brian Dashell, would find her. It was I who synchronized the speed of time between realities... Yes, all has been my doing."

"But... Why?"

"Yeah." Rainbow said, "I'm not complaining, I'm happy with how it's ended up, but why do it in the first place?"

Instead of answering directly, Faust fixed a parental gaze on Celestia and said "Tia... You still haven't told them about the prophecy I left have you?"

Luna leaned in close to her sister and whispered "I told you that would come back to haunt us..."

With a sigh the Sun Princess admitted "Yes sister, you did. And Mother, no, I have not told them. In my defense, I did intend to..."

"When? When destruction was breathing down the necks of both worlds?"

"Whoa whoa!"Solomon interrupted, "What's this all about?"

"I think we need some answers here." Brian agreed.

"Princess...?" Twilight asked.

"Tia, Lulu, if you don't tell them I will." Faust said.

"No Mother, you are right..." Celestia looked around at the assembled humans and ponies and said "Shall we go inside? This will be easier in comfort."

"Of course." Brian said, "Come on..."

XXXXXXX

Brian led the group into the large living room of his home. There was just enough space to accommodate everyone, though it was cramped. Scootaloo made her way close to her hero. "This is where you grew up?" She asked.

"Sort of. I was past your age when we moved here."

"Well it's really cool... So much space!"

"Yeah, humans usually build big. Probably 'cause they're taller."

"Huh. Whatever the reason, it'd be cool to live in a place like this."

Rainbow looked pointedly at her father after Scootaloo said this, but he tried to wave it off. Changing the subject, he asked "You said that you sent Dashie here on purpose. But why? And why on purpose to me? I'm nothing special."

Faust shook her head. "You are indeed something special Brian Dashell, you who found an infant pegasus and guarded her life rather than exploiting her for fame and fortune. And that is why you. But as for why at all, that leads in to the prophecy. I had expected human and pony to be allies long before now. So when it didn't happen, when my dear daughter failed to act as I intended, I had to force the issue."

"And what exactly is this prophecy?" Thomas asked.

"Yeah, it sounds like it must be really bad, you said destruction." Lyra agreed.

Faust looked at Celestia who nodded and began "It was Mother's last words before she vanished:"

"Wheels within wheels,
Worlds without end;
Of the distant future
Do my words portend;

Darkness spreads,
All light to end,
Emptiness, entropy,
Inherit the wind;

Come my daughter,
You I send;
Beyond the veil,
To worlds forfend:

Pony and human,
Must together contend,
And then the paths
Of fate may bend..."

Rainbow Dash raised one eyebrow. "That's it?"

"Dashie!" Brian exclaimed.

"Well it's cool and all but I was expecting more."

"Then I shall give you more, but only a little." Faust said. "Already I push the limits of what I am allowed to do. Still... There is an enemy coming, from across the Bleed. It is too powerful for Earth or Equestria to combat alone, for neither magic nor technology is equal to the task. But together, you have a chance."

For several minutes, everyone was quiet, digesting this information. Finally Thomas said "Well at least we've got time. I mean, distant future right?"

Luna said "Mother spoke this prophecy five thousand years ago. By it's standards, now is the distant future." Thomas swore, loudly.

"So how long do we have?" Twilight asked.

"Just long enough." Faust answered, "If you ally and prepare over the next few years."

It was Spike who spoke next. "What about Equestria's other peoples? Dragons and Minotaurs and Griffins? Where do we fit in?"

"For simplicity, the words included all of Equestria with ponies. After all, you are in the same boat, so to speak; lots of magic, minimal weapons technology."

"But Queen... I mean, Miss Faust, can't you stop this?" Sweetie Belle asked.

Applejack agreed. "The filly's got a point. As powerful as you must be..."

Faust shook her head no. "Are you asking for a Deus Ex Machina? That would require the Maker, who I am not. No, as i said before, I have pushed the limits of my authority to even warn you. You must do the rest yourselves. But now I fear I have spent as much time as my duties will allow. I must go."

"Mother..." Celestia whispered.

Faust gave a wan smile. "Celestia, Luna, I love you both, and am most proud of you." The ancient alicorn began to fade away, but a sudden shout momentarily bought her back.

"Wait! What about Pinkie!?" Rainbow asked.

"Proceed in making official contact and she will be released." Faust said, and then she was gone...

XXXXXXX

General Carver sat at his desk, worrying through a stack of paperwork nearly six inches thick. He truly hated this part of the job, but there was no way around it; he needed specialists to help try and figure out why the entity behaved as it did, and there was no other way to get them. At least the first round of them should be arriving soon.

As he signed yet another request in triplicate, a knock sounded at his door. "Speak of the devil." Carver thought, "Must be the first of them now." At least he hoped so. If the entity was up to something again, he'd be pulling his hair out. "Come in!"

The Door opened and a serious looking woman, perhaps thirty years of age, stepped in."General Carver? I'm Doctor Marissa Hansen, I understand you've been expecting me?"

Rising to shake hands, Carver said "Welcome doctor, I hope you're as good as I've been told."

"I can assure you I am, at least so long as what you need me for involves aberrant psychology."

"Aberrant may or may not be accurate, but if not its still closer than any other term... You have been informed that this project is top level security, correct?"

"Yes, and I've signed all the usual paperwork."

"All right then..." Carver said, and he began to fill the doctor in on what they were dealing with. He told her about how the entity had been found, how it behaved, the bizarre attitude and impossible things it did. As he finished his tale, Hansen began laughing. "What's so funny?" The General demanded. "Do you think this is a joke?"

"Apologies, General, no... It's just... Between the behavior you describe and what you say the alien looks like, well, it sounds identical to a character on a cartoon I watched as a child." She pulled out her smart phone, typed in some words, pulling up an image, and holding it up for the General to see. General Carver stared at the image on the phone. "Son of a bitch."

"General?"

"Come with me doctor." Carver said, and rushed out the door not waiting...

XXXXXXX

Agent Helms was standing outside the containment chamber when Carver and the doctor arrived. "Has it done anything else?" The General asked.

"Nothing threatening."

"Good." Carver motioned towards the viewing window. "Take a look doctor."

Hansen did so, then looked back at Carver. "Is this some kind of joke?"

"No joke. At least not from us. Doc, tell the agent here what you told me, about this cartoon character..."

XXXXXXX

Back at the Dashell home, Faust's departure had been followed by extensive discussion on how to proceed. It was clear that Faust expected Celestia to make official contact with Earth and it's governments. The question was how best to go about this. The princess herself considered simply walking up to the U.N. building, but this was shot down quickly. "No offense Princess, but that's no good." Rainbow had said.

"But why not?" Twilight asked. "If our goal is to open political relations..."

"Human governments are paranoid." Solomon said bluntly.

Miri agreed, "Yeah, and the guards who protect them can get trigger happy. Especially in unusual situations."

Brian added "Not to mention, they've already locked up Pinkie and kept her hidden from the world. They'd almost certainly try to do the same with the rest of you."

"Well, then... What should we do?" Fluttershy asked timidly.

"We take away the option of pretending nothing is happening." Brian said.

"You're thinking... National T.V. news?" Sara asked.

"Exactly."

Rainbow said "Hold on though... They could dismiss that as special effects."

"Not if you went to one of the live on the air from outside in front of a crowd broadcasts." Miri suggested.
Brian and Rainbow both smiled. "Oh that's good." The pegasus said.

A glimmer of bemusement in her eyes, Celestia said "Well good. Now that you've planned out what I should do, would you mind explaining it to me?"

"Princess I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-"

The princesses both laughed. "I jest. You know this world better than we. Now what's this plan?" Brian and Dashie sat next to each other and began to explain what they had in mind...

XXXXXXX

It took over an hour to iron out the details of their plan. The following morning Brian and Thomas would rent the largest R.V. they could find. This would be used to transport the princesses and element bearers to New York, where Celestia would crash a national newscast, then contact the world's governments. This plan was seen as preferable to flying or teleporting, since the former would show up on radar and the latter was dangerous over such distances.

Brian, Thomas, and Sara would accompany them (and drive), while Solomon and Miri stayed behind with Lyra, Spike, and the Crusaders. Miri was initially upset about having to stay behind; as it turned out new information would change that part of the plan.

Later that same evening, Brian was working in the kitchen with Miri, Thomas, and Fluttershy, preparing dinner. He glanced out the windows to see Solomon talking on his cell to his wife. "How do you suppose that conversation's going?" Miri leaned in and asked.

"Not well, from his body language." Fluttershy whispered.

"Wait... You can read human body language?" Brian asked.

"Oh sure. My animal communications talent isn't just animals, it's any non-pony." Fluttershy glanced outside. "The poor man is getting chewed out horribly."

Moments later, Solomon hung up and started around towards the front of the house. "I'd better get the word." Brian said. "Be right back."

He stepped into bedlam in the living room. Twilight had discovered educational television. Scootaloo had discovered Super Mario Bros. Rainbow wanted race results and Rarity was demanding the fashion channel. (How did she even know about it?) Of course, there was only the one T.V. Everypony was clamoring for Brian the moment they saw him, hoping he would take their side.

"Okay hush!" He shouted. "Twilight, let me talk to Solomon when he gets in, then I'll show you the internet. Dashie, go get Scootaloo my old gameboy. Rarity, the fashion channel does exist but I don't get it."

"So who gets the T.V.?" Rainbow asked.

"I do. We've been gone for four days, I want to check the news."

"Awwww..."

The door clacked as Solomon came in. "Well?" Brian asked.

"Well... Get ready for more company. Jessie wouldn't take no for an answer. She's already on the interstate, coming this way..."