//------------------------------// // Chapter 29: Link // Story: Equestria's first warp drive - Alternate ending // by CCC //------------------------------// “There we go.” Twilight nodded, firmly, as soon as she got to the forward observation deck; Captain Anderson's ship was quite nearby and fully visible. “You don't think they're worried, do you?” asked Fluttershy, nervously. “I mean, we did kind of vanish off the ship rather abruptly. Do you think Flim would be cross that we left him behind after he came all this way?” “Probably.” Twilight grimaced. “I'll go back and reassure them, maybe get one of those portable window things so we can talk.” “Portable window things?” asked Spike. “It's just a little bit like a mirror, darling.” said Rarity. “A piece of glass in a frame. Only instead of your reflection, it shows what's in front of a different mirror.” “They've got some means of connecting any pair of them.” continued Twilight. “I'm not quite sure how they do that, but it only takes a minute or two.” “So it's some kind of magic mirror?” asked Spike. “No,” said Twilight, “that's the strange thing. There isn't a scrap of magic in them anywhere, as far as I can tell. Oh, Rarity, could you hold a marker for me for a few minutes?” Rarity raised an eyebrow. “We're not all going back, then?” she asked. “Well, no.” said Twilight. “I'm just going to get a mirror thing, and Flim if he wants to come along. And the teleport back here will be a lot easier if somepony's holding a marker for me.” “Hold it, hold it, hold it.” said Rainbow Dash. “Holding a marker?” “It's one of the easiest unicorn spells you get, darling.” said Rarity. “And the first spell that a lot of unicorns do – aside from surges, of course.” “And surprisingly versatile.” added Twilight. “So... what's it do?” asked Applejack. “Absolutely nothing, on its own, except make your horn glow.” said Rarity. “It marks a location.” said Twilight. “Specifically, the location of the unicorn casting the spell. Other spells can then use that marker as a target point.” “So as long as I'm holding the marker,” continued Rarity, “Twilight can teleport right next to me whenever she wants.” “It saves me from accidentally teleporting into the same cell as a cockatrice again.” finished Twilight, charging up her teleportation spell. * * * There was a pop of displaced air as Twilight appeared back on the Federation trade ship. This time, she'd turned up in a fairly average corridor. Unfortunately, the only part of the ship that she'd been on for more than a few minutes altogether was the forward observation lounge – she had no idea where she was, or which way to go to find Flim, or the either of humans who ran the ship. “Hello?” she called out. “Anypony there?” * * * “You were locked in a small closet,” said Red Dawn, her twisted horn glowing a bright, hypnotic green, “which was opened only briefly, for meals.” “We were locked in a small closet, which was only opened briefly for meals.” droned the two Ferengi. “You have never seen any creature covered in black chitin.” “We have never seen any creature covered in black chitin.” “You kidnapped a buffalo from Manehatten. You did not kidnap a creature covered in black chitin from near Canterlot.” “We kidnapped a buffalo from Manehatten. We did not kidnap a creature covered in black chitin from near Canterlot.” “You fear the small dragon.” “We fear the small dragon.” “If you escape, he will kill you.” “If we escape, he will kill us.” “Therefore, you will not attempt to escape.” “Therefore, we will not attempt to escape.” “If you attack a pony, the dragon will kill you.” “If we attack a pony, the dragon will kill us.” “Therefore, you will not attack a pony.” “Therefore, we will not attack a pony.” “Or any creature shaped vaguely like a pony.” “Or any creature shaped vaguely like a pony.” “Excellent.” Red Dawn let the green light fade from her horn. “Excellent.” droned the two Ferengi. Red Dawn gave them a glance, and then let green fire encase her for a moment, changing her form from an insequine creature to a buffalo. “Now, you two, get into the closet.” She pointed one hoof at the small doorway. Both Ferengi followed her directions. Red Dawn locked the door, then stepped back and nodded. She held out one hoof to Flam. “Now, let's go and meet our rescuers. I wonder if I can have them under control as well be the time we get back...” * * * “Anypony there?” “Twilight? I thought the Captain said you'd just vanished!” Flim said, trotting into view from behind her. “Oh! Right. We went to the other ship, to make sure everything was alright. Do you know where the humans are?” “They're right this way.” said Flim, pointing. “You've been walking the wrong way. How's my brother, by the way?” “Apparently he's found a marefriend.” said Twilight. “A buffalo.” “You're joking.” said Flim, his tone sceptical. “Flam? A buffalo?” Twilight shrugged. “That's what Applebloom said. Mind you, she's a young filly – she might have misconstrued something.” “She must have.” said Flim, firmly. “I mean, Flam? A marefriend? The very concept boggles the mind.”