The cool night air whispers through the silk curtains that is Princess Celestia’s room. Sitting comfortably in her chair, staring at her own cluttered desk, the sun princess inhales the scent of her tea being held in her signature golden-yellow aura before taking a sip. The soothing warm liquid calms her stressful and worrisome nerves, until she looks down at her papers once more.
So many letters to fill out, so much planning to do, so little time. Celestia is lucky to have a sister and a faithful student to help take off some weight bearing down on her like a giant boulder. On the other part, her thoughts are swirling around of how they are coping with the humans. She hopes they are not into too much trouble, or at least the humans are not causing any harm. Then again, there is always her sister and Princess Cadance if anything happens.
The princess suddenly feels a tingling sensation from her horn; something is coming. As she turns her head, a ball of green flames fly inside, reforming into a scroll with a red stamp, and an audible ‘poof’. A letter from Twilight Sparkle. Eager to find out what her report says, the princess lowers her teacup to the side, and unrolls the letter with her telekinesis.
Dear Princess Celestia,
I am here with my friends on the first night onboard the human ship, USS Bonhomme Richard. I deeply apologize that I haven’t realized it sooner, but I have learned something valuable in friendship before we left to Manehattan.
It is no matter how difficult the situation is, or the unpredictable things you might face, your friends will always be there and support you, even if you have to make certain sacrifices, or have to stay in an alien ship for a few days.
Your faithful student,
Twilight Sparkle
The sun princess smiles gratefully, proud of how far her student has become. She can still remember that little energetic filly as if it was just yesterday, now grown up to be a strong mare with five closest friends, representing as the Element of Magic. And later, she will become a princess. How fast time has past, Celestia will never know.
However, now is not the time for appreciation. The princess has a lot of work to do for tomorrow and beyond. She already sent a letter two days ago to a construction company, asking them to assist the humans that are currently building a home base for them to stay. It doesn’t surprise her that they responded almost immediately after hearing about the news that had spread all over Equestria at a high rate. Now, the next thing she has on her list is notifying those who are invited to the Grand Galloping Gala that it is delayed until further notice. She had her shares of delays for the grand ball, and this is no different. However, it still troubles her to tell the citizens about the delay due to the sudden arrival of the humans. Not that it is their fault. In fact, she does see them very interesting instead of cold-hearted and violent.
With her help for the humans, she even got to see a lot of areas of the massive ship, the USS Anchorage if she remembers correctly, and the operators. The technology they have, these so-called armored vehicles and inflatable crafts that hover on water to carry them, and the aircrafts called helicopters, all stored in one ship. She was even given tours on the two other ships, the USS Spruance and the USS Princeton, if she recalls. What amazes her most is how the humans operate, like they know which one goes where, how they communicate with signals and gestures, without any mess-ups. She wonders how such a large amount can work with incredible coordination and the transportation they have, even without magic.
The princess’ thoughts are soon interrupted by a soft ‘pop’ in the air. As she turns around, another letter appears with a different seal, with a trace of white magic still floating for another two seconds before disappearing into thin air. Gently placing Twilight’s friendship report on her desk, as she does with the rest of her papers, Celestia opens the letter with her magic.
Dear Princess Celestia,
This is Lieutenant Wind Strike reporting from the underwater city of Aquastria that we have arrived. As under your request, and by the approval of King Leo, we will start searching by early dawn to the location.
Seal of Approval by King Leo,
Lieutenant Wind Strike
LCpl. Kevin Brooke
2nd Battalion 1st Marines
F.O.B. Whiskey Tango (40 Miles South of White Tail Beach), September 6th Day 16 12:37:09 PM
“ ’Brooke, Kevin James.’ Is that correct?”
“Yes.” The doctor takes a quick look at a file filled with papers before setting them on a nearby counter.
“How are you, today?” he asks.
“Doing well, doc,” I nod.
“I see. How is the sleeping?”
“Better. I, uh… been taking the medication regularly… just like you said.”
“Okay.” The doctor writes down a few notes. “Any symptoms you have? Aches? Nausea? Problems in the bathroom? Eating disorders?”
I shake my head softly. “No, sir.”
“Okay. That’s good.” He puts down the small notepad, and takes out an ear scope. “Let me just do a quick checkup, sign the paper, and you’ll be surfing waves in no time.”
“Thanks, doc. Looking forward to being back in the field.”
“Well, I guess you could say that.”
The doctor gives a quick but thorough check on both of my ears, before moving on to the stethoscope to listen for my heart rate. Without any other conversation going on, there is this awkward silence that happens almost every time whenever I go to the doctor’s.
Ever since the squad and I returned from Ponyville and Canterlot, I was rarely catching any sleep for one particular reason. This certain dream, that female voice; it all seems too real. Occasionally, I did manage to put in a few hours. Eventually, HM Smith, our field corpsman, helped me out and convinced the doctor to give me a few days of rest with just a simple note. I owe her that.
“So,” he begins again as he listens intently at my beat. “How are you feeling? Like, throughout?” Of course, he would start a topic that is medically related.
“Sorry?”
“How are things going? With, uh, how do I put it? After meeting with this horse-like species?”
I chuckle. “They are ponies, to be precise. We’ve been told many times about that.” The doctor takes off the stethoscope, and straightens himself, his face with an interested look.
“Well, I do see that. Since you have a friend who’s been trotting all over the ship with you like a little dog.” Both of us laugh for a moment. I know what he is talking about. Lyra Heartstrings he is referring to. Since the day we came back, Lyra has stayed with us ever since. She didn’t care how nearly all of the marines and sailors onboard make negative remarks or stare at her and us for majority of the time, as long as she is hanging out with us.
“Yeah. She’s, uh… a unicorn. Quite the interesting one, I would say.” The doctor smiles and takes the file again from the counter.
“Alright, let’s see…” he says flipping through some papers. “Okay… Okay… well, everything turns out well. Just a couple more questions, and I’ll sign the paper.”
I nod my head. “Alright.”
The doctor takes a quick look at me, almost as if he is examining anything out of the ordinary. With a swift turn, he takes out a tape recorder from a drawer, and places it on the counter, pressing the recording button.
“Okay, son. You know the routine,” he says, pulling out his notepad and a pen. “Start whenever you’re ready.”
It’s the same routine we go through. I say my name, rank, number and all the other important parts. He asks me a few questions, and I answer them truthfully and as best as possible. Something simple I have been doing since I joined the Marine Corps. It’s a process that I must take after the unfortunate event of the accident when I was a kid and lost my memory. They do it to make sure my head is still in shape.
“My name is Kevin James Brooke. Lance Corporal. Zero-one-five-nine-eight-eight-two-six-four. Current team leader under platoon commander Second Lieutenant Martins of First Platoon, Bravo Company, Second Battalion First Marines, Eleventh M-E-U.”
“Good. Let’s start with the first question.”
The test went by smoothly as I predicted, and just like the rest before. Nothing different, nothing special. It is only five questions, and I answer them to the best of my ability and how much I remember. So far, it is the same as always.
The doctor signs a small piece of paper and hands it to me after turning off the tape recorder. A smirk forms on him.
“Well, so far there is no change whatsoever,” he says. “Your memory seems to be improving.”
“Thank you, sir,” I reply.
“Welcome back into the field, Lance Corporal. Make sure you give that note to your lieutenant.”
“I will.” I hop off the table, the doctor opening the door to the hallway to let me be back with my squad.
“You take care of yourself. I’ll see you in a few weeks?”
“Yes, sir.” We give a quick handshake, and I head out the door to my freedom.
Trudging through the corridors of the USS Anchorage, I begin to wonder what I should do next now that I am finally free from my leave. I take turn after turn, ignoring the background noises as I ponder about, until I realize I’m heading in the wrong direction. It happens almost every time. After much figuring out, I find my way back in the correct hallway.
Like any other ship in the U.S. Navy, the San Antonio-class LPD is filled with mazes of different corridors and areas one would not believe it contains. From departing San Francisco to the RIMPAC Naval Games in just a short month, I still sometimes get lost and wind up somewhere in an area that I don’t even know exist. It’s no wonder a lot of sailors always say ‘everyday is a Monday’. I have gotten used to going about in the ship after a while, it doesn’t take long for me to get adjusted. Though, it can sometimes give us a homesick feeling.
I resume back into thinking about what to do to kill some time. During my leave, I already finished my novel, cleaned my three weapons at least seven times in the past few days, and reorganized the ammo in my ILBE assault backpack and IMTV three times each. I even looked through some new songs on Corporal Carter’s laptop, despite the fact that the wifi on this ship doesn’t work anymore, and I accidentally found some of his weird Japanese-cartoon adult videos. I’m surprised his wife doesn’t even know he has this type of stuff.
Three days ago, I sent a request to the supply depot for one extra magazine since I am unable to find it ever since. So far, there is no reply. I swear I had the correct amount when we left from the USS Anchorage to Ponyville and Canterlot and back. I thought about it when we got back on, and the only suspicion I have is one of the ponies taking it. But how can I prove that? What use will a magazine be to them? They live in a magical Renaissance Era with very little modern technology like trains, tractors, and airships.
A loud grumble of my stomach interrupts my thinking. I realize I haven’t eaten anything since yesterday. I check my watch to notice it’s already almost a quarter to one. My squad should be returning from the construction site to the ship for a lunch break by thirteen hundred hours. A short walk around the ship will kill some time until then.
“All hands, prepare for rendezvous with the U-S-S Bonhomme Richard in thirty mike.”
“Hey, Brooke!” a voice calls out from behind. When I turn around, I spot a marine hanging his head out the doorway of another berthing room. I recognize him, as he is part of Weapons Company of our battalion.
“Saw one of your animal-like friends trotting around with Mendez and Pelayo,” he says almost sarcastically. Apparently, he is talking about Lyra. “Animals should be kept ‘off’ the ship.”
“They’re not animals, man,” I respond in the same tone as his. “They’re ‘talking’ animals.”
“So what? You’re having an animal care-taking business with that shaky P-boy?” the marine teases and steps out of his room.
“You got a problem with a talking unicorn?”
“I’m pretty sure you could say that. Look around, kid.” The marine throws his arm to the side like he is at a play as he takes a few steps closer to me. And that’s what I did. I twist my head behind and forward, seeing nothing but an endless corridor.
“All I see is a corridor, man,” I say. “We’re all the same here.”
The marine giggles. “Boy, do you not get the picture. We’re in some godly place where a horse is talking to us. And we’re letting animals on a navy ship.”
“Did you hear what the commander said a few days ago?”
“Oh, hell yeah we did. And a lot o’ us aren’t too proud of that shit.”
“Hey, listen.” I take a step to him, my voice becoming a little sterner. “Like it or not, we are here, and this is the real deal. So, you quit your bitching and get your head in it.” There is a quick moment of silence.
“You do realize that a lot of us still won’t like this idea of horses helping us,” the marine says.
“Well, we all don’t have a choice, now do we?”
The marine takes a step closer. “We didn’t sign up to go to magical-land…”
“Hey! Knock it off!” another voice screams from afar. I lean my head to the side, while the marine turns his back and slides to the side. Walking briskly down the corridor is PFC Michaels with all his gear intact. His face is beaming red and dripping with sweat.
“Well, look who it is,” the marine announces sarcastically again.
“Hey, you leave him alone, jackass,” Michaels points and stops just inches from him. “Besides, it’s your time to hit the beach.”
“Hey, buddy, we all didn’t sign up to be in some magical fairy-tale land just to chill out and—” the marine argues, when Michaels interrupts him.
“Yeah, I get it, buddy. So shut your mouth, and head to the well deck. And you deal with the shit we have.” The marine didn’t say one word after that. Instead, he stares at Michaels for a few seconds before heading back to his berthing room. It feels like there is an eerie pause between my friend and I afterwards.
“You okay, brother?” Michaels asks, now showing his heavy breathing.
“Yeah,” I nod. “I had it under control.”
“Sure you did.” Michaels pats my shoulder, before turning around and heads back. Strange, he and the rest of the squad weren’t supposed to be back until one. It’s not even ten minutes to the supposed time.
“Where were you heading?” he asks.
“Back to the berth. Just had my doctor’s appointment.”
Michaels shudders a little. “You had to mention that…”
“What? The good news is he let me out. So I’ll be back in the field with you.”
“Well, you won’t get used to the fact that none of us are ‘really’ having a good time with these horses.”
“No shit.” An awkward silence builds up between us again, when something I notice is off. “Wait. How come you’re back so soon?”
“Princess Celestia took over observation of the construction. Decided to let us go early since she knows us pretty well.”
“By fifteen minutes?”
“…And Lyra was getting hungry.” Somehow, that pony gets hungry almost all the time. I don’t understand why, either she loves it, or has a tendency to hang around just to be with us rather than going back home.
“Anyway,” Michaels continues, he and I entering our berthing room. “Lyra is with Lohay and Hends. They’ll, uh… meet us at the mess hall with the rest of the squad. Yeah…” He tosses his helmet on to his bed and begins removing his elbow pads and one kneepad. I open my locker, revealing a very organized yet crammed interior. Starting from the top is my lightweight helmet resting my ILBE assault backpack, and my IMTV sitting on the bottom. Inside it is a stack of seven books that I have read twice each. Pressed against the right is a half empty nylon seabag.
“Right,” I reply, taking out my utility cover and wallet. “So, uh… how’s the base looking?”
“It’s takin’ a bit of shape. L-V-S-Rs and M-T-V-Rs are finally rolling in with the stuff we need. Princess Celestia has her workers making the high walls.”
“Heh. Now all we need is a pier for the ships.”
“Yeah, Celestia requested that to some company I-don’t-know-where. Commander Cullens and Ketcher denied it, of course, but… you get the drift. She’s a princess.”
“Uh… s-sure.”
“Yeah. Got a few incidents as well. One of them nearly got into some fight between our guys and the horses.”
I shake my head and sigh the moment I hear that part. That makes sixteen incidents in the past five days since construction began. “Well, I don’t blame them.”
I watch Michaels pull a couple straps, and his tactical vest popping open. Lifting the heavy gear off, he drops it on his bed, almost slamming it, causing me to flinch a little. Usually, Michaels is not like that to his stuff. Unless, today really took his energy.
“You okay?” I ask him with concern.
“Y-yeah,” he sniffs a little. “I’m good. Just uh… little worn out from today, that’s all. Don’t worry.”
I keep eyeing on him. “Alright… ‘cause normally you’re always ready on the dot. The Eric I know doesn’t get tired like that.” Michaels chuckles a little under his heavy breathing as he opens his locker, located next to mine, and puts away his gear. Just at the catch of my eye, I spot a small black safe sitting on the bottom of the locker. Michaels always has that thing, but I never see him use it at all.
“Do you ever use that?” I ask him.
“What?” I point to his safe. “Oh, yeah I do. I use it. I keep my personal stuff in there. And, uh… sometimes… Carter wants me to stash his comics.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Let me guess, his anime comics?”
“Maybe,” Michaels shrugs, but with a smug grin on his face. I shake my head while giggling as Michaels puts away his helmet and stands staring at his open locker for a while.
“You alright?” I ask, wondering if he’s daydreaming again.
“Yeah, I’m good. Just checking on something,” he responds rather well after a deep breath.
“You seem to be daydreaming a bit.”
“Yeah, I do that sometimes.” Michaels returns to his MOLLE backpack, and opens one of the smaller compartments. He takes out a small-sized thick envelope, raising a few questions in my head. But before I could ask anything, he tosses it into his locker and closes it before clicking a lock on in a hasty move.
As a best friend since college, Michaels has always stood up to me. He’s always active, and sometimes a show-off and a prankster next to Mendez. But, this time, it feels off. He is not the active and tough-working marine I know, let alone the all-over-the-place type of person. Right now, it feels as though something is bothering him. Could it be from the construction at the beach? It shouldn’t be.
“Oh, wanted to show you something,” he says, motioning me to come over. I shake my head to clear out any more questions, noticing I have this worried look. I walk over to him and peer into the berth. Photos cover every inch of the wall, each one are group photos different ponies beside our squad members. Are these from the party back in Ponyville?
“How’d you get these?” I ask him, sounding almost disbelief.
“Carter helped me out a bit,” Michaels replies. “Don’t ask how he did it.” Of course, that genius would do that. I scan the dozens of photos that are neatly set up on the wall. Some of them I see myself with a few ponies with my teammates. Then, there is one I can’t get my eyes off. I reach over and take the one particular photo, with a piece of tape stuck on the back.
“Remember that?” Michaels asks. I simply nod as I look at it. In the photo, left to right, are Mendez, the old-looking stallion Banana Peel, Carter, and the little colt Banana Seed sitting on my lap. I can still remember that time; so much fun, and it felt so welcoming. I put the photo back where it belongs, and my eyes fall on another one. This time, there is something completely odd about this one. I take it off the wall, with Michaels looking at it as well.
“Oh, that one,” he comments in a monotone voice, trying to hide his giggle. And I couldn’t blame him.
I stare at the photo, noticing Michaels, Pelayo and I with three other ponies. One of them is Lyra Heartstrings embracing me by the waist, while I have this shocked look. Judging by the pose, I look like I just saw a spider on the ground. Off to the left next to me is another pony. She is cream-colored, dual-colored curly hair and eyes wide in a funny expression as she sees the still action of Lyra. Even Michaels in the photo is leaning to the side away from my waving arms with a nervous smile. I remember Lyra telling me that’s her friend, and the next pony sitting between Michaels and Pelayo is her cousin. Speaking of her Lyra’s friend’s cousin, I have been staring at that pony for longer than I have imagined.
“Geez, what type of horse has… well…?” I stammer across my sentence as I try my hardest to find the correct terms on this particular pony. A darker cream-colored coat with a simple curly hair of many shades of blue, freckles, and dual odd-features that I think is impossible for a horse to have. Even poor Pelayo can’t stop staring with a worried expression at these two blimps on the pony’s front waist.
“Yeah, big jugs she’s got,” Michaels comments. Then, I can no longer contain it as I burst out into laughter. I don’t know why, but looking at this photo seems too weird, yet, hilarious at the same time.
“Oh, God!” I breathe, finally calming down and putting away the photo in its correct spot. “God, this photo…”
“Attention, all hands. Prepare for arrival of L-CACs Two-nine and Three-four,” the PA announces through the speakers throughout the ship. Both Michaels and I quickly look at each other with the sound of my gurgling stomach a second later.
“Hungry, I see?” my friend asks.
“Oorah to that,” I reply, standing back up and putting on my utility cover. Michaels does the same, heads out the doorway first into the corridor.
“Come on. Can’t let the rest keep waiting.”
“No better friend.”
“No worse enemy.” We give each other a quick fist-pound and continue down the corridor to the mess hall.
*****
The USS Michael Murphy cries with its foghorn out from the distance. Behind the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer are the USS Bonhomme Richard, the USS Lassen and the USS Fitzgerald in strike group formation.
Standing close to the edge on the portside aircraft elevator, Twilight Sparkle inhales the ocean air, letting the cool breeze brushes through her mane and fur as she stares out at the Fitzgerald plowing through the calm waves.
“Magnificent, isn’t it?” Princess Luna asks from behind, nearly startling the unicorn.
“O-oh, Princess Luna,” Twilight says. “I uh… didn’t see you there…”
“No need, Twilight Sparkle. May I join thee?”
“O-of course, pr-princess.” Twilight steps to the side and lets Luna stand next to her. There is an awkward moment of silence between the two as they continue to stare at the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer with a dozen or so men almost the size of ants working on the bow.
“We, uh… we’re almost there, huh?” Twilight randomly asks turning to face the Michael Murphy a few hundred meters ahead of the LHD. She looks behind at the packed flight deck with sailors preparing an MV-22 Osprey.
“Indeed,” Luna calmly replies, still looking out at the guided missile destroyer. Again, the two ponies fall into another awkward silence. Twilight despises these types of situations, especially with the princesses.
“Attention all hands, standby for Captain Conolly,” the loudspeaker echoes loudly all over the ship. Twilight and Luna can barely hear what the announcer just said.
“Warriors of the Bonhomme Richard,” the middle-aged man Captain Conolly announces seconds later, the same echoing affect rippling all over the flight deck. “In a few minutes, we’ll be rendezvousing with the remnants of C-S-G Eleven. When we arrive with the Anchorage, be prepared of what you will see, for you all know we are not at home. As of now, I want all hands ready for arrival, Thirty-first M-E-U report to well deck and prep for amphibious operations. You will stay focused, and you will respect the natives of this land.” The loud speakers turn off with a ‘click’, leaving the lavender unicorn and the moon princess staring at the bridge with concerned looks on their faces. Twilight turns to the men now returning to work the moment the announcement ends.
“Christ, who would’ve thought that we’re all stuck in a place like this?” the unicorn can hear some of them starting conversations.
“Can it, man. You want the horses to hear behind ya’?”
“I’m not talking about the damn horses. I’m talking about ‘us’. Hell, you ever wonder what might be going on back home?”
“Probably the whole world is in some peril now. After what happened on that night, pfft, we might as well be stuck here forever.”
“Well, no shit.”
“You think there are more besides us that went through?”
“How ‘bout you talk to the horses? They’re right there.”
“They’re animals, man.”
“Yeah… talking mythical animals… hey! You!”
Twilight flinches violently the moment she spots a sailor dressed in a purple vest pointing at her. Has she been spotting them for too long that they noticed? She doesn’t even know, and she feels a panic beginning to overcome her.
“You need something?” the sailor calls out again. Twilight’s mouth starts trembling, unable to find the proper words to answer to the human. Now, she understands how Fluttershy feels when it comes to meeting new ponies. Except in this case, it's humans.
“Neigh, thank you,” Princess Luna answers back, saving Twilight by the bell. The unicorn turns to see the princess walking up past her until she is a few meters from the sailor. Her height is almost exact compared to the human by a few inches.
“What was that?” the sailor asks cocking his head to the side. Twilight cannot tell his full expression due to being covered in giant goggles.
“We do not need anything, thank you,” Princess Luna repeats differently. The sailor merely stares back at the princess, Twilight still unable to guess his expression, until he finally nods and returns to working on the Osprey behind.
“W-well, uh… y’know, if… ya’ uh… need anything…” he stammers, waving his arms in front of him.
“Thank you for your offer, human sailor,” Princess Luna bows, and turns around to walk back to Twilight.
“That’s too fuckin’ weird.” Twilight can still hear the sailor talk back to his crew.
“Well, no shit. They’re talking mythical animals like you said. Besides, you seem to take that well.”
“Can it. Check the rotors and let’s get this over with.”
They still act this way. No matter how much they all introduce themselves, the humans still respond in this unnerving way. Twilight can never get over it. This is something far more difficult than when she first moved to Ponyville. This is something that simple friendship would certainly not do. They talk negatively about them, saying they are animals. What did they do? Was it the encounter from the beach that made them have terrible views towards them, or is it how they are?
“They’re still unsure about us, Princess,” Twilight says with her head low as she and Princess Luna stop at the edge of the aircraft elevator.
“Th-they…” the unicorn stutters a little. “Th-they… they still…” Twilight again pauses midsentence, one of many things she despises, trying to find the correct terms in her frustrated mind.
“I understand,” Luna replies rather calmly. Twilight lifts her head to the night princess staring out at the USS Fitzgerald when a foghorn goes off from up front.
“Twilight,” the princess continues. “You must know that a process like this must take time. From what the marine told me, back in the castle days before, if you remember.”
Twilight nods. “O-of course, Princess Luna.”
The princess takes a deep breath, as if she is about to tell the unicorn some bad news. “He told me where they are from, friendship is minimum. You must understand, Twilight Sparkle, not every country in the world contains the happiness that we have, even those that are not of our world.” Twilight solemnly nods her head, feeling guilty inside. “You must know that these… humans… are not used to things like this,” Luna explains further. “As what my sister would say, make them feel home until we found a way to bring them back where they came from.”
“Y-yes, princess,” Twilight bows. “B-but… how do I do it when they are like this?”
The princess once again turns around to her, a smile forming. “Who knows? Maybe one of them will stand up, telling all of them for a new chance. Just like what you did when I first arrived on Nightmare Night.”
*****
“Attention all hands of Logistics Battalion Eleven, please report to the well deck.”
I once again rest in my sit-up berth after another fun yet awkward lunch break with my squad and the mint-colored unicorn Lyra Heartstrings. Thinking about it now makes me smile of how that pony acts like a child when she sat between Corpsman Smith and I, even though we all got more than a few glances from other marines and sailors. It makes me smile, knowing that for once in my life I had a good time with not only my friends, but with a talking unicorn. Though, it still makes me feel better now that I am back in my squad.
I turn to Lyra, who is standing on her hind legs in the center berth across from us, staring at a small mirror while making funny faces.
“Yo, Brooke,” Michaels calls from underneath. “You finished that book?”
“What book?” I ask.
“You know… the uh… the World War Two book, with that one marine…”
“Oh, that. Yeah, just finished it. Hold on.” I hop out my berth and open my locker to get the certain book out.
“Wow, you have a lot of books there,” Lyra comments, leaning her head out of the berth getting a look inside.
“Yeah, Kev is one of those eggheads who prefers to lay low on his books,” Michaels mocks.
“Hey, you enjoy reading them too!” I respond back, tossing the book almost aggressively to Michaels.
Sergeant Mendez chuckles, lying in the berth above Lyra while playing a game on his phone. “You two would make a ‘great’ couple…”
“Mendez!” Michaels and I shout at the same time.
“See?” Mendez says to Lyra jokingly. “This is the type of stuff I have to put up with these two in the same room.” Lyra laughs softly. She seems to have a lot more fun here than the first time we met.
Three knocks on the doorway stops our little fun, unfortunately. As we all turn around, we see Staff Sergeant Alcatraz standing with a smirk across his face.
“How are things going here?” he asks.
“Going well, Staff Sergeant,” I respond sternly.
“Well, glad to see you guys are having fun.”
“We are, sir!” Lyra cries happily with a big grin on her face.
“Aye,” Staff Sergeant salutes. “Hate to break up your play date here, but your transportation will arrive in fifteen minutes.”
“Aw, really?” Lyra pouts her lips. “Do I really have to go?”
“Sorry fella’. Commander’s orders. Besides, we’re in the middle of an operation, and the last thing we need is putting your life at risk.” The unicorn’s ears droop to the side, and she hops out of the berth. Her head slumping close to the ground as the pony takes a few steps to Staff Sergeant Alcatraz.
I can’t help but feel a little sad that she has to go so soon. Surprising enough, she has behaved well throughout the days she stayed. And it seems time has whizzed by when we’re having fun.
“But,” Staff Sergeant adds in, capturing our attention once more. “You could always be her escort as well.” I turn to Lyra, who has the biggest smile on her face.
“We accept, Staff Sergeant,” Mendez replies, hopping out of his berth. “I can take her, sir.”
“I will too,” I say.
“Alright!” Lyra chants, squirming around excitedly.
“Very well, then,” Alcatraz says. “I’ll inform the lieutenant, and get Corpsman Smith as well just in case.”
“Aye, Staff Sergeant.”
*****
The warm refreshing air of the ocean enters my lungs the moment I step out on to the flight deck, located at the stern of the USS Anchorage. A cool, rushing feeling runs all around inside me as I take another deep breath, replacing the filtered air from being inside the LPD for too long. The last time I ever stepped out was when we finally came back from Ponyville, and that was almost seven days ago. The fresh ocean breeze mixed with fumes emitted by nearby helicopters on deck makes my eyes water. My ears are quickly filled with a chopper flying by and the loud roars of LCACs in the distance.
Sergeant Mendez is the last to step out on to the crowded flight deck. Around us are a dozen sailors in their recognizable colored vests, surrounding wrapped up packs of crates spread out taking up almost half of the deck, and waiting for the next aircraft to land and pick up the next set of said boxes. Off to our very right are two AH-1W Super Cobras strapped down on the very edge of the deck, their tails hanging over the side. And next to us is the rear end of a CH-46 Sea Knight sticking out of the aviation facility.
All eyes are converted to Corpsman Smith, Sergeant Mendez and I, with the mint-colored unicorn Lyra Heartstrings in between. Ignoring all the stares, I look down to make sure my sidearm is securely strapped to my right leg. None of us did not strap on our gear, except for our pistols. Not because it takes a while to ready ourselves, weighs us down while we escort our new friend, or being too secure or strict just by the way we look and act. Since our little trip to Canterlot and Ponyville, they did welcome us warmly, even though we had a rough and violent beginning. Despite some, or more, of our men and women having a disagreement about this situation, I want to return the favor. And so far, with Lyra being one of our first allied ‘animals’ we allowed on, she easily fitted in somehow. Even Princess Celestia enjoyed our and some of the others’ companies while we gave her the tour around the USS Anchorage, the USS Spruance and the USS Princeton in the past few days.
“Wow,” Lyra gasps, turning her head to look over the edge, spotting a couple MV-22 Ospreys flying by to the land about a quarter of a mile away. Just a few thousand meters from the Anchorage’s stern, our eyes fix upon a flying carriage heading in our direction from the USS Bonhomme Richard.
Lyra taps her four hooves on the flight deck, her eyes now returning to the crewmen awaiting the next aircraft to arrive to pick up another set of supplies, the two Super Cobras, and the open aviation facility with more wrapped up boxes inside. Usually, whenever she is around us, I believe she just has unlimited energy because she cannot stop moving.
“Is that it?” Smith asks and points to the incoming flying carriage pulled by two Royal Guard Pegasi.
“Well, what do ya’ think?” Mendez teases, adjusting his utility cover to shade his eyes from the sunlight as he looks up.
The white carriage, decorated with golden sleek vines, gently touches down on to the flight deck from port side, halting smoothly in the center. Mendez, Smith and I quickly move forward with Lyra in the center, almost at jogging speed. As we finally approach the carriage, the Pegasi at the front gives us a quick glare before we proceed.
“One moment please,” one of them says, unhooking himself and walking over to the carriage door. We take a step back as he opens it, revealing six ponies and a little lizard sitting inside, with bags on the floor. All of them suddenly have their eyes pointed at us standing with our hands behind our backs. I take a good look at them; two unicorns, two Pegasi, two regular ponies, and a baby lizard. I recognize them from when we first met in Canterlot and Ponyville, but I forgot their names.
“Hi, Twilight!” Lyra jumps around me and waves her hoof. “Hi Applejack. Hi Rarity. Hi Fluttershy. Hi Rainbow Dash. Hi Pinkie Pie. Hi Spike.” I can’t help but snort a little from her little enthusiastic intro.
“U-uh… h-hello… Lyra,” the lavender unicorn replies timidly. Her eyes dart around Mendez, Smith and I, the three of us giving them a welcoming smile. But, we didn’t know the lavender unicorn’s friends are staring at the rest of the crewmen behind us.
“Welcome aboard,” Sergeant Mendez greets. The ponies inside return the favor by giving us a mild smile, nothing special.
“All right, Lyra,” I turn down to the mint-colored unicorn. “Time for you to go.”
Immediately, she begins to pout her lips and whine like a child. “Aww, do I really have to? I… I can, uh, stay here… and, uh… help you out.”
“Thanks, but, uh…” Mendez takes a quick glance at the ponies before turning back to Lyra. “This type of, uh, ‘operation’ needs certain handling by us. Besides, you don’t have fingers.”
“D-do I really…?” Her eyes start to water, giving us the usual begging look that she wants to stay instead of returning home. As much as it hurts me as well, we don’t have much choice.
“Hey, don’t be like that,” Corpsman Smith comforts Lyra, kneeling down beside her. “Think of this. You are one of the first to ever step foot here. And guess what? Instead of seeing some petrified… u-unicorn… we saw this excited little horse showing not one bit of fear. This horse full of… curiosity, excitement, and… courage.” Lyra’s eyes begin to tear up as she brings up a wobbly smile, trying her best to put up a strong emotion. Smith removes her utility cover, carefully to not damage the knotted ponytail, and offers it to the unicorn.
“Here, have it,” she says softly.
Lyra’s eyes quickly grow in size until they cover most of her face, including a smile. She quickly moves back and forth between Smith’s face and the hat in her hand. Her ears begin to flicker like they have a mind of their own. “Y-you… you really mean it?”
Smith nods. “Go ahead. A gift from us.” Lyra turns to look at the ponies who are all staring at us with such curiosity and intent like they are waiting for some plot twist in a movie, looks back at Mendez and I, and then back at Smith. Slowly, she moves her two fore hooves until they firmly grasp the utility cover. Much to her surprise, they are somewhat soft, but feel sturdy.
Looking back up to the corpsman, Lyra begins to giggle; now knowing she has something she will keep forever. She even begins to tear up again. “Th-thanks… so much. Y-you really…”
“Hey, it’s a gift from us,” Smith acknowledges.
“Y-you, uh… you will… come back… right?”
“Sorry?”
“T-to Ponyville. Canterlot. You’ll come back, right?”
“U-uh… Lyra” the lavender unicorn, Twilight if I remember correctly, tries to call out, but Lyra ignores her.
Smith, Mendez and I turn to each other with skeptical looks on our faces. We have visited their two towns, I remember, but I never thought they would enjoy our company so much they want us to return. In fact, I don’t know how the other towns’ folks are doing after our introduction.
“W-well?” Lyra asks us once more. I didn’t realize that we were studying each other’s faces for so long. “Y-you’ll come back… r-right?”
“Hey, don’t you worry,” Mendez says, patting her softly on the head. “You’ll be seeing us soon. Just… not now.”
“But… you’ll come back, r-right?” Again, there is a moment of silence.
“Don’t worry. W-we will,” Mendez answers, kneeling down in front of the unicorn. “You remember the shake?”
Lyra’s ears perk right back up again, and she nods. “Yep!” The two of them pop their fists together, top to bottom first, delivering the final fist pound in the center, and giving each other a high-five with the other hand and hoof.
“Two-one,” Mendez announces.
“Oorah!” Lyra cheers.
After giving the three of us a quick hug and a simple goodbye, Lyra hops in the carriage. The Royal Guard closes the door and hooks himself up before he and his comrade race across the small flight deck and takes off into the sky.
“All hands, prepare for arrival of L-CAC Three-four,” the PA goes off loudly, creating an echo effect across the flight deck.
“You know you really didn’t have to give her the cover,” Mendez says to Smith with a smirk.
“She’s gonna miss us. And I think giving her a souvenir would be nice.”
“And we’ll be missing her as well,” I add in, the three of us following the flying carriage making a left turn to the land.
Mendez chuckles. “Yeah, yeah. Let’s get back in and report to the lieutenant.”
“Don’t have to tell us twice.” Truthfully, I will miss that energetic unicorn. She was so much fun to hang out the past few days. Maybe I will visit her again. Just maybe.
*****
Twilight Sparkle hangs her head out of the window as she stares at the small fleet of the human ships grouped together in such a form; a ship she now knows is an Arleigh Burke-class is moored in front of the large ship they just took off from, and another ship, slightly larger than the destroyer with a taller mast in the center and a more simple looking bridge, rests just on the left side. Both of them almost resemble a protection barrier, except for the larger ship’s rear and right side that faces the beach. A whirring sound enters her ears, quickly growing louder and louder by the second. It sounds as if there is a giant fan coming up.
“Hey!” Pinkie Pie chants, looking out the open window opposite from Twilight. “Look at this!” In a moment’s notice, most of the ponies race to the two windows on the opposite end of the carriage, leaving Twilight and Rainbow Dash struggling to have a tiny peak. The whirring sound becomes increasingly loud as it draws closer.
“What is that?” Applejack asks.
“Ugh, why do ‘all’ these things they have look like a box or a square?!” Rarity whines, pulling her graceful mane over her face.
“Come on! Let me see!” Rainbow begs, climbing over Fluttershy’s back, who emits an ‘eep!’
“Such… awesomeness!” Lyra squeals, gripping tightly on to her prized gift.
“Ooh! Ooh! It’s coming to the other side!” Pinkie says. This gives Twilight the great advantage, as she and Rainbow Dash are right next to the windows. But, she is suddenly crushed against the side, her head literally sticking outside by Pinkie Pie, Lyra and Spike wanting to get a look.
“Let me see! Let me see!”
“H-hey!” Twilight shouts. “Watch it!” The unicorn tries to wriggle herself free from the major pile up that is crushing her. Unable to get free, Twilight grumbles out of frustrations, and lets the two mares and her assistant push and shove to get a look at another giant boat, or what it seems like a boat, sail through the waters at a brisk speed. ‘Oohs’ are emitted from the ponies as a giant cloud of water mist sprays in all directions, blocking most of what appears to be the oddest boat Twilight has ever seen. Managing to get a glimpse of the loud machine swiftly moving to the waves towards the large ship they just took off from, the craft itself, according to Rarity, is indeed box-shaped. There were blocky objects fixed on either side, with giant fans on the rear, while in the center is bare empty. Twilight can barely scan more of the weird craft as it skims across the water surface at such incredible speed, leaving behind a cloud of water mist.
“Wow!” Lyra breathes. “How come they never showed me that?! It’s so awesome!”
Twilight twists her head to the pony lying on top of her. “Wait, what? They never told you what that thing is?”
Lyra shakes her head. “No. They never showed me this so-called area… um… well pit? No. Deck-y... s-something… Oh! Well deck! That’s what they call it.”
“Wait, does that mean they have a well?” Pinkie asks, shifting herself around, crushing poor Twilight below.
“Hey! Watch where you’re moving!” Twilight shouts back.
“No. They don’t,” Lyra answers, both the ponies and Spike ignoring Twilight’s struggling. “I don’t know why they call it a well deck if it doesn’t have a well. Sounds kind of funny.”
“Yeah! It kinda’ does sound weird!” Rainbow Dash snickers, her head hanging out the other window across from the carriage door along with Applejack, while Rarity and Fluttershy watch from behind.
The carriage steers a smooth right the moment as it reaches land, something the ponies are admiring in which they have never seen in almost a week. The whole group moves to the opposite side of the carriage. This time, Twilight manages to find a open spot without getting squished by other bodies. As they pass over the beach, they spot another of the same craft, this time, parked on a tiny beachfront while unloading its unknown cargo. Now, Twilight can carefully inspect the craft before the carriage swoops over the construction site. The only difference is the craft’s base, which looks deflated, while the rest looks completely related.
Twilight’s eyes catch the incredible sight of the human base still under construction. Flying overhead of what were once a tiny beachfront and a small forest patch now cleared and covered by a vast construction site, covering ten or more acres from shore to inland, with a main dirt road created by human-made machines that are running up and down. Starting from the beach is an acre of open space filled halfway with human-made machines in a jungle and desert color, and evenly divided in half by a main road created by the tracks of many other machines the humans use. The main road runs through the base all the way until it disappears by the construction of workers. There are sections that are all easily identified, divided by cheap fences and concrete barriers. Sometimes there are more sections on one side than the other, where there is more equipment. There is a large open area sitting just below the carriage, protruding from the main base. According to Twilight’s view, it covers approximately four acres of land, with four even sides like a square. Six circles with a letter H are painted within in red and white paint, one of them containing an MV-22 Osprey. She guesses it might be some landing spots for the air transportation.
“Would ya’ look at that,” Applejack says.
“What? Those things rolling around, or the whole construction site?” Rainbow turns to the cowpony. “Because I’m liking both of them now.”
“B-but… but… b-but… wh-what a-about those…” Fluttershy stammers her words in such fright, she start nibbling her two hooves. “Th-those… poor… creatures? Th-they just… des-destroyed a forest…”
“Don’t worry, Fluttershy,” Twilight says, putting a hoof on the trembling Pegasus. “Princess Celestia informed me through the letter that they moved the forest and the critters to another place safely before they started building.”
Fluttershy lets out a breath of relief. “O-oh… w-well, that’s good.”
The ponies continue to watch at the humans on one side of the base closest to the beach setting up the things they brought from the ships, while on the opposite end, the ponies are placing down the dividers and walls that will make up the base. But, Twilight notices something the moment she first set eyes on the layout. There is a large gap between the humans and the ponies. They are separated. And judging by how the base looks, production seems to be slow.
“All right, girls,” Applejack says, moving back to an open spot. The rest do the same. “Now that’s what I call ‘mission accomplished’.”
“Easy for you to say,” Rarity backfires, turning her head away from the cowpony. “That was possibly the ‘worst’… experience… of my—”
“Rarity!!” the whole group, except for Spike, stops the fashionista’s whine once again.
“Don’t you realize about this whole ordeal?” Twilight says, her expression slowly changing back to her original excitement. “We are one of the first ponies to… like… step hoof into their machines. Do you know what that means?”
“You asked us the same question twice, Twi,” Applejack points out, but Twilight ignores her.
“We made history, girls. Imagine. We’ll be on the history books that we are the first to be on their ships.”
“I thought the whole history-thing was when they were introduced in Canterlot and Ponyville,” Rainbow scratches her head.
“W-well… yes, that too, but, for ‘us’. To represent as the Elements of Harmony.”
Twilight continues her rambling almost halfway through the flight back home to Ponyville. When she finishes, her friends, except for Pinkie Pie bouncing up and down on her seat, she virtually gives up on how they played a major roll in representing as the Elements of Harmony to welcome the humans, and how they are possibly the first to sail all the way around Equestria. It doesn’t surprise her anyway. Most of the time whenever Twilight tells her friends something she believes will change the history of Equestria forever, they seem to shrug it off like it is no big deal.
The flight lasts until early evening. Though long and incredibly boring, the ponies did manage to get some needed rest in the most comfortable seats in the royal carriage, rather than sitting on paper-thin cloth in a roaring-loud craft known as what the humans call an aircraft. Some of Twilight’s friends, Lyra, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie and Spike, are all fast asleep. Except for Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Twilight, they watch out through the nearest window, being incredibly silent to one another. It is even stranger to Twilight that they have been this quiet throughout almost half of the trip back home.
Leaning her head on the open windowsill, allowing the wind to mess up her mane once again, Twilight lets out another yawn as she is in a middle of a battle to keep her eyes from shutting. A sudden spike of energy fills her immediately when she spots the town of Ponyville emerging from over a hill.
“Girls!” she turns around to half of her friends still fast asleep. “Girls, wake up! We’re home!”
“Well, holy hayseed!” Applejack cheers, her, Rainbow Dash and Rarity looking out the window. Fluttershy, Lyra and Spike begin to stir, except for Pinkie Pie.
“W-wait… wh-what’s going on?” Lyra mumbles as she rubs her eyes, still holding on to the hat one of the marines gave her.
“Oh, my! It feels like it’s been forever to be back home!” Rarity cries out full of glee.
The royal carriage slowly descends into town; Princess Celestia’s sun is still shining brightly like it is still in the late afternoon. The carriage makes another successful and smooth landing on an open area of town, suddenly waking Pinkie Pie up from her deep slumber.
“Wh-what’s going on?” the pink mare asks, twisting her head a full 360° to see what is going on. Eventually, the carriage comes to a steady halt. Twilight opens the door, and steps out first with her bags over her back. She takes her time to feel the earthy ground with her hooves after being on a metal ship for so long, to hear the cheery voices of ponies going about their day before returning to their places, and to breath the nostalgic air she calls home.
“Boy, it’s good to be home,” Applejack praises as she steps off the carriage.
“Yeah, it’s kinda’ nice to be back home once in a—” Rainbow Dash agrees, but is quickly cut off by a pink blur racing out of the carriage in a mere second. None other than Pinkie Pie, she dives head first into the ground, and hugs tightly to a small pile of dirt.
“Finally!!” she cheers. “Oh, ground! Ground! Ground! Oh, how I missed you so much!” As the rest of the ponies hop out of the carriage, they make a disgusted look once they see Pinkie begin kissing the small pile of dirt. This gives the opportunity for Twilight to give a quick thanks to the Royal Guard Pegasi before letting them take off again back to Canterlot.
“W-well, um,” Rarity stutters a little, veering her eyes to a different direction. “I guess I’ll be picking up Sweetie Belle now. It is starting to get late.”
“Yeah,” Applejack says. “I’ll walk with ya’. She must be with Apple Bloom and Scootaloo back in Sweet Apple Acres.”
“Yeah,” Rainbow Dash yawns, stretching a little after being cooped up in the carriage for almost half of the day. “I’ll admit, being on that ship was awesome. But…” She yawns again. “Boy, was that trip exhausting.”
“Well, look who’s the tired one now,” Twilight teases a little.
“Hey! That trip around Equestria to meet you guys can get tiring.”
“Ya’ only went halfway,” Applejack corrects. “’We’ had to go all the way ‘round Equestria.”
“And don’t get me started on the living conditions we had to endure,” Rarity adds in.
“Girls!” Twilight shouts, taking no chance of another argument breaking out. The three mares silence themselves and turn to Twilight. “Come on, now. Let’s not get into another fight. We just came back from one of the most amazing experiences ever.”
“She does have a point,” Lyra comments, when the group turns and stares at her.
“You weren’t even with us,” Rainbow says, shooting her fore hooves outwards.
“I may not, but I have been on the other three ships along with Princess Celestia,” Lyra grins. “The Spruance, the Princeton, and the Anchorage. And I also got this cool souven—”
“We get it,” Twilight and her friends deadpan together.
“Look, the point is this,” Twilight begins to get her friends back into her focus. “Besides some of the mishaps we had, I wouldn’t have done this mission without you girls. Together, besides that we represented ourselves as the Elements of Harmony, we showed ourselves as something our new allies have never seen before.”
“Well, I know plenty of things the humans showed us while we were hangin’ around,” Rainbow says, only to receive unamused stares from her friends.
“Well, Twilight,” Applejack says while adjusting her Stetson. “All I could say that was some trip we had.”
“Nothing like we have ever done before,” Rarity adds.
“W-well, i-it’s um, nice, I guess,” Fluttershy mumbles.
“And I told you they existed!” Lyra cries out. There is a silence between her and Twilight and her friends giving her annoyed expressions.
“Shouldn’t ya’ be back in Canterlot with Bon Bon?” Applejack asks.
“O-oh, yeah! I gotta’ head to the station quick! Thanks so much for letting me be here, T-T-Y-L bye!” The mint-colored unicorn dashes away to the side, leaving a small plume of dust hanging in the air before floating back down.
“’T-T-Y-L’?” Twilight asks confused.
“What in tarnation does that mean?” Applejack asks.
“Must be something the humans taught her,” Rainbow waves a hoof. “That unicorn is so full of herself.”
“Guess you might be right.” The cowpony turns back to Twilight. “Well, guess we better get home. Gotta’ lot o’ work to do at the farm tomorrow.”
“O-oh, yes. I need to pick up Sweetie as well,” Rarity says.
“Alright,” Twilight says. “All I want to says is, thank you, for being with me.”
“W-we’re always—there for you, Twilight,” Fluttershy says a little more confidently. The mares and Spike pull in for a group hug, when Pinkie Pie suddenly comes down from above.
“Hey! Don’t forget me!”
After a small laugh from a pile up the party pony had created, the ponies went their separate ways to go home. For Twilight and Spike, their home is just around the corner.
“Boy, am I hungry,” Spike says rubbing his growling stomach.
“You could say that again,” Twilight giggles, using her magic to open the door of their tree library. “Say, how about I fix something up?”
“Uh, I don’t know. Remember what happened the last time you tried to cook pasta?”
“Oh, yeah.” Twilight still remembers the first time she cooked the simplest dish ever a few months ago. Even that, she nearly burned down the library. “How about this? As for your great value effort, how would a big bowl of gems sound?”
Spike’s mouth begins to water the moment he hears the word ‘gems’. His mouth begins to fill like a small pond, and starts licking his lips. “Oh boy! Who would deny that request?!” The baby dragon races inside, and Twilight follows suit, closing the door behind.
“Just let me write a letter to Princess Celestia, and I’ll get your treat.”
“Oh, come on, Twilight! You always do that!”
“I’m just kidding.”
*****
Applejack and Rarity walk back to Sweet Apple Acres, side by side close to each other, but completely silent throughout the entire trip. Both of them are tired, from not only the flight from White Tail Forest Beach, but from the entire seven days of being out on sea in an alien boat. It’s way too silent for them.
“S-so,” Rarity clears her throat, trying to at least have a regular conversation.
“Huh?” Applejack turns to the fashionista.
“W-well, um, they seem kinda’… nice. A bit.”
“I guess.”
Both mares fall into another awkward silence as they enter Applejack’s farmland, now slowly making their way to the apple tree farm to where the Cutie Mark Crusaders are. Rarity turns to see Applejack with her head hanging low, clearly pondering over something.
“Is everything alright?” she asks.
The cowpony quickly lifts up her head. “Huh? O-oh, yeah. Yeah. J-just, uh, thinkin’ over somethin’.”
“What is it?”
“W-well… uh… i-it’s complicated, I would say.”
Rarity raises an eyebrow, and shifts a little closer. “Is it the humans?”
“I-I guess…” Applejack shakes her head in frustration. “I… I don’t know. It’s hard.”
“Applejack.” Rarity’s voice changes into a serious tone, something Applejack wishes not to hear. Because she knows how Rarity can be when things get serious. “You’re like a ill-cut gem. I can clearly see something is wrong. So, what is it?”
Applejack takes a deep breath. She knows she can’t argue against Rarity. As she prepares to reply, the two mares come across an open area of the apple tree farm. A large trench covers the entire area, with a few trees still lying around uprooted. The trench goes on until it reaches a small open field, where the two mares find the Cutie Mark Crusader clubhouse in the middle. But, that doesn’t trouble Rarity at all. She knows for a fact this is the spot where one of the human aircraft crashed landed on the day they left to the beach. As she and Applejack silently examine at the aftermath, the cowpony begins to move around the massive pile of dirt and uprooted trees. Rarity quickly catches up.
“I just have a feelin’,” Applejack finally says. “And I’ve been thinkin’ ‘bout it for a while now.”
Rarity turns to her friend, slightly confused. “What do you mean? The humans?”
“Yeah. I asked Twilight about this before we left to Manehattan.”
Silence. “Well?”
“I asked her if… well, maybe they came here for a reason.”
Again, Rarity tilts her head to the side out of confusion. “Wh-what do you mean?”
“Come on, Rarity. Ya’ know who I’m talkin’ about. The humans. What if they came here for a reason? Or… s-somepony sent them here on purpose?”
“I… I don’t know.” Rarity is stuck on her words. She heard Applejack talk about this before they left to Manehattan with Twilight. Though, the cowpony does have a serious theory. “But, hopefully, the princesses can return them back to where they come from.”
“That’s what I told my family,” Applejack says, looking straight down towards the small field with the tree house in the middle. “Come on. Let’s pick your sister up.”
The two begin continue walking down the field, following alongside the giant trench that was created by the flying contraption. When they finally reach the tree house, Rarity and Applejack can clearly hear the three fillies chattering about something, probably the next topics on how to earn their cutie marks.
“Apple Bloom!” Applejack hollers. The friendly chattering quickly changes to a short chaos of loud whispering and scraping, like something is being moved across the floor.
“C-comin’!” Applejack’s younger sister shouts back. A few seconds later, the door opens up, and three fillies race out until they reach the two waiting mares.
“Hi, Rarity!” Sweetie Belle says, panting heavily. “How was… the trip?”
“Quite, uh, fun,” Rarity replies, putting on a fake smile.
“What were you three doing there, anyway?” Applejack asks.
“O-oh! Um, we were, uh… making something…” Apple Bloom hesitates.
Applejack raises an eyebrow. “Like what?”
“W-well… um…”
“Something special!” Scootaloo interrupts.
“For the humans!” Sweetie Belle adds in.
“A surprise!” the trio says, showing Rarity and Applejack an awfully large grin. The two mares merely stare at them with quizzical looks.
“Listen, girls,” Applejack begins. “I don’t think the humans will be returning anytime soon. They’ve got a lot o’ things to do.” The fillies let out a whiny ‘aw’, their ears twisting back when they hear the troubling news.
“Besides, we need to, uh, give them some time to adjust here in Equestria,” Rarity says. “Now, come on, Sweetie. We’re going home.”
“Aw. Do I really have—?”
“Don’t even think about it, young lady. You’ve stayed with the Apples for six days. Now it’s time for us to go home.” Sweetie lowers her head in solemn defeat, knowing she can’t even argue back at her sister, even though she can. After saying goodbye to her friends and a thank you to Applejack, Sweetie starts taking the lead to head back home.
“Well, I guess we’ll see each other tomorrow?” Rarity asks the orange earth pony, who in turn nods.
“Sure thing. We’ll be cleanin’ up this area, probably tomorrow.”
“I see. Well, good day, Applejack.” Rarity begins walking away to catch up to her younger sister.
“Hey, uh, Rarity,” Applejack calls out, stopping the fashionista. “Ya’ know, after what we experienced ‘n all that, I think it was worth Twi’s time.”
Rarity remains silent for a few seconds, before a smile appears on her. “I think so too. I think she appreciates the things we do. And the things she does for us.”
Applejack returns the smile, when Apple Bloom suddenly interrupts the two. “And besides, them humans seem pretty nice!”
“Yeah!” Scootaloo agrees. “I wonder if we can see them again!”
“Or maybe have a school field trip on one of their, uh… uh… what are they called, Applejack?”
“Come on now, you two. Ya’ll know how these humans can get sometimes. And Scootaloo, shouldn’t you be at home now?”
“Oh, alright,” Scootaloo says disgruntled. She quickly says her thanks and goodbyes before racing off through the apple tree farm.
“Sometimes I wonder how that filly has so much energy,” Rarity ponders, before turning back to Applejack. “I’ll see you tomorrow?”
A grin appears on Applejack’s face. “If ya’ wanna get your hooves dirty…”
“Ugh! You always do that!” Rarity’s makes a disgusted look, before turning around and begins walking away.
*****
Dear Princess Celestia,
I am pleased to say that I have returned home from our trip. I hope things are going well at the new location with the humans, and with Princess Luna and Princess Cadance. As of now, I thought about some things throughout my journey with the humans. Not only that I realize that we may not be alone, or are one of the most intellectual species we know as a whole. I have come to realize that not all of us know what is beyond our land, let alone our own world. This is not a report about what I learned in friendship, this is a report about other life existing somewhere in the universe.
Your Faithful Student,
Twilight Sparkle
With a cup of coffee between her two hooves, Twilight watches her number one assistant send her letter by his signature green flame. The fireball carries itself out the open window nearby, before Spike closes it, and plops himself on the couch.
“Ah,” he sighs gratefully, popping a few joints while stretching before gulping down a cup of apple juice. “I must say, Twilight, that is one adventure I will never forget.”
“Which one?” Twilight asks, a smile forming as she looks at what the little dragon did. “The big bowl of gems your still eating, or the ‘great’ sea adventure?”
“Hey, it’s not that I’m a slow eater. I love to savor every bit of it.” Spike tosses a small re ruby into his mouth, and chews slowly. “Ooh. That one has a bit of a kick to it.”
Twilight giggles a little, taking a long sip of her coffee as she watches Spike pick out another gem and slowly eating it.
“Still, the trip with the humans? Boy, I can’t wait tell Snips and Snails about it.” He laughs in the middle. “Can’t wait to see their jealous faces.”
“Spike, you do realize that this ‘trip’ was actually a mission by Princess Celestia, right?”
“Of course. But, it was like, uh… a trip and a mission.”
“I… guess you could say that.” Spike takes another bite of the gem.
“But the best part of it was when there was the pirates!” The little dragon hops to his feet on the couch, making representations of the ships with his tiny claws. “That he’i-coop was all like ‘tuh-tuh-tuh-tuh’, and then there was a fireball, and then the captain was all like ‘ah, look out!’, and the fireball exploded!”
Not even noticing, as Spike keeps on rambling, Twilight suddenly feels herself frozen in her seat. Her hooves start trembling, along with the coffee in her mug it nearly spills over. As Twilight watches Spike explaining about the encounter with the pirates, mimicking the destroyers’ actions, making explosion sounds with his mouth, the unicorn feels a pressure building up inside her head. The loud sounds of the ships firing at the pirates, witnessing the destruction they are capable of, it is all too much for her to handle. And listening to Spike is not helping her calm down. It feels as though she just wants to hide, fast.
“A-and then, Pinkie and Rainbow Dash came in from the other ship, and was all like—” Spike suddenly stops short when he feels something lodged in his stomach. With a loud belch, a letter reforms out of the green flames, gently hovering in midair before Spike catches it.
“A letter from Princess Celestia?” Twilight shakes her head, the pressure finally subsiding once she sees her assistant walking up and handing her the letter.
“That sure is a fast response,” he says suspiciously.
“I know.” Twilight unrolls the scroll, and begins reading. But, after a few seconds, her eyes dilate, and she turns to Spike. “Spike, sorry to say this, but—”
“Yeah, yeah. I know. I’ll be in my room.” Spike knows the routine. Whenever Princess Celestia sends Twilight a letter for her eyes to read only, she asks him to give her some time alone. As usual, he grabs his bow half-filled with gems and cup of apple juice, and heads upstairs. Once Twilight hears the door close, she reopens the letter and begins reading.
Dear Twilight,
Thank your for your concern. The commanders told me everything of what you all did, and I could not be more proud than anything of what you and your friends achieved. However, there are some things I would like to discuss with you tomorrow morning.
I have spoken with my sister and Princess Cadance about a situation we are dealing with building the humans’ new base, and I would like to talk to you about it. I will see you tomorrow morning at nine o’clock.
Your Mentor,
Princess Celestia
Twilight’s eyes begin to widen even further as she rereads about this ‘situation’ between Celestia and the humans. Her heart begins to race with anxiety and fear, and her mind is telling her it cannot be what she is thinking of. Has there been another fight?