...BOOTING SOFTWARE
...ACCESSING DATATRACKS
...EXISTING FILE FOUND
...DO YOU WISH TO OPEN? Y_
...LOADING
...READY...BEGIN RECORDING…
I can’t believe we’re actually riding on a train! Yes, a real moving train! A pony named Davie Pie rescued us from those nasty hunters, and is giving us a ride on his train to, well, wherever Star is going, I guess.
I'm still not sure if I made the right choice to follow him, but I’m glad we are together. And that Sparky is with us. And who know? Maybe Davie will come along for the ride too!
I wonder who else we’ll meet?
...END RECORD_
...SAVE FILE_
...SAVE COMPLETED
...POWERING OFF...
“Ok! Try it now!” Sparky called from under the boiler. Davie Pie reached over and turned a valve. The sound of steam hissed through the engine, and a cloud of white sprayed out of a safety valve.
“Alright, we’re back in business!” called out Davie, “Great job! I thought we’d never get this old hunk of junk moving again!”
Sparky climbed out from under the locomotive, her hoofs covered in grease, yet her short spiked orange mane was, once again, completely dirt-free. “Ain’t nothin to it,” she replied, getting to her feet and wiping her hoofs on the grass, “all ya did was blow out a valve. Just keep a better eye on the pressure, ya hear?”
While they worked on the train engine, Star Gaze and Melody had taken the opportunity to explore. There wasn’t too much to see. The tracks were taking them through a series of open, grassy, plains, with the occasional tree or cluster of bushes. At the moment, a light fog had settled over the area, hiding from view any other features of the landscape. As the two siblings continued along, careful not to let the train get out of sight, a shadow emerged from the fog.
“What’s this?” Star muttered, trotting over to investigate, Sweet Melody trailing behind him. As they moved closer, the fog faded away, revealing a white column leaning on its side. One end was sticking into the air, and looked jagged, like it had broken off of something. The other was buried in the dirt below them. A breeze crept up, and slowly blew the remaining fog away, revealing many more similar columns stuck in the dirt, spread out over the field in front of them.
“What is this place?” asked Melody, as she looked over the field, her eyes wide open in wonder.
“Haven’t got a clue,” Star replied, while spying what appeared to be a broken cart sitting in the middle of a bush. Or rather, the bush growing out from inside it, the branches wrapping around and through the wheels and sideboards. He started towards it…
“It’s the Ruins of Cloudsdale.” Star nearly jumped and, after taking a moment to collect himself, turned around. Sure enough, there was Davie Pie, standing right behind him. How…where… he thought, confused.
“I thought you were helping Sparky with the train?” he asked.
“I was. But we’re done now,” Davie replied, trotting over to stand next to Melody. “Amazing sight isn’t it?” he asked her, and was rewarded with a nod. “I heard it was burned from the sky when the lizards first attacked. Most of the city was made of clouds, you know. And the lizard’s energy weapons just boiled them away.” His gaze over the landscape never wavered. “Anything that was left just fell here. I’ve been through it all, trust me, there isn’t much left. Just a bunch of pillars and some random odds and ends.” He started bouncing, rotating in place to face Star and Melody. “Hey! When we get back to my clubhouse, I can show you some things I found out here! How’s that sound?”
“Ok, I guess,” Star replied, while giving the field another glance. He looked up into the hazy sky, and the random puffs of clouds floating above. “A whole city in the sky,” he muttered, “just burned away.” Even Melody seemed to pick up on the sadness of what they had found, and for a few moments, nopony spoke, they just stared out into the remains of the once great city.
A whistle from behind them jolted the three out of their stillness. “All aboard!” called Davie, and he turned to lead his new friends back to the train. Looking back over his shoulder, a scowl formed on Star’s face. We’ll avenge this one day, he silently promised the fields, By Celestia, that’s a promise. Whatever it takes, we’ll make them pay for what they’ve done here.
They returned to the train, which was leaking steam out of the sides. “Come on!” called Davie, hopping up and down on the wood pile in the small tender behind the locomotive, “let’s get moving! We’re almost back to my home! And it’s been FOREVER since I’ve had new friends to entertain!” As they siblings climbed aboard, Sparky pushed a lever forward, and the train started moving again.
They traveled for some time, each finding a different way to occupy themselves. Sparky kept busy operating the engine, adjusting valves and messing with the fire. Davie Pie and Sweet Melody were playing little games, like ‘I spy’ or ‘guess what I’m thinking’. Star would help toss logs into the fire, but mostly just stared out at the landscape flowing past them. What came over me back there, he thought, I’ve never felt angry like that before. He looked up into the sky, lost in his thoughts. I started this to try and find a way to save my family. But now… now I want to save everypony. A determined look spread over his face, as he finally realized what he had to do. Saving our herd isn’t enough anymore. They’ve destroyed our world! We have to drive them away, and take back what’s ours! He looked out into the horizon. I just hope this ‘Star Princess’ can help us….
----------------
He stood at the viewport, watching the landscape flow far below the Flyer. It was humiliating, being pulled off an uncompleted hunt. But what choice did he have? The Sphere Leader had sent a summons, and Thrakish didn’t have the authority to ignore it. At least he wouldn’t have to travel on foot back to the Crystal Nest. Kessish may be an over-weighted fool, but he had the foresight to send this Flyer to pick him up.
Far below the craft, the empty plains rolled past, randomly dotted with debris from a floating city that his people had destroyed when they first arrived on this Sphere. While he hadn’t been hatched at that time, he heard the stories from older warriors who were still stationed here. Back then, a large number of ‘Questrins had wings, and they lived in the skies, high above their brethren on the surface. They were also a large part of the resistance against the Vectin’s invasion, so when the time came to provide an example to the rest of the population, three large War Flyers came down from orbit and used their Energy Projectors to boil away the clouds the city was built on. It was an inspirational sight, the old warriors had told him. After the city’s destruction, resistance crumbled, and the flying ‘Questrins fled. Most were killed when their other sky villages were also destroyed, but some escaped into the mountains. Not that the Vectin cared. Without the support of their flyers, the surface dwellers had no defense left, and were quickly conquered, and put to work in the bio-fields.
He frowned. There were also stories of a third group of ‘Questrins, ones who had horns and strange psionic abilities. They were the biggest threat to the Vectin invaders. But somehow, using a method he didn’t know about, they were able to defeat and exterminate the horned ‘Questions. At least, that’s what the older ones claimed.
Suddenly, a line of grey smoke in the distance caught his attention. It was low, almost at ground level, and seemed to be following twin silver lines across the plains…
His whole body went rigid. Could it be? He thought, and turned to face the front of the craft. “Pilot! Take ship down!” he ordered, “My prey is near!”
The pilot of the craft didn’t even twitch, just sat in his harness, which was hanging from cables that seemed to grow out of the ceiling. Of course, since the entire craft was produced from bio-matter grown on the surface, that wasn’t far from the truth. “I will not,” he replied, “Sphere Leader orders you returned. I obey.”
Thrakish pointed to the viewport. “I insist!” he shouted, “That machine carries prey! Take ship down!”
This time, the pilot looked out to where his agitated passenger was pointing. “That not prey,” he said, “that single ‘Questrin. Runs machine back and forth across plains. Does not bother or cause trouble, so we leave alone.” He looked back at the Hunt Leader. “It matters not. I obey orders from Sphere Leader, and deliver you.” With a final glare, the pilot turned back to the forward viewport.
If looks could kill, his head would have been blown off. Thrakish glared daggers at him, but finally gave up. He is nothing. I will take vengeance on Sphere Leader, who shames me like this. Looking out the viewport once more, at the smoke fading into the distance, Thrakish once again cursed the universe, for sending him to this pathetic little Sphere….
----------------
With a jolt, the train came to a halt, waking Sweet Melody from the nap she’d fallen into. She looked up, to see a large barn next to the train. “We’re here!” cried Davie Pie, as he jumped out to the ground. Getting up to follow the others off the train engine, Melody took a look around. They were on top of a large hill, with a few trees, and an amazing view of the mountains in the distance.
“Is this where you live?” Sparky asked, as Davie Pie pulled open the door to the barn.
“Nah, I just hang out here sometimes,” he replied, leading them inside. “Come on! I’ve got some bottles of juice around here somewhere…” He wandered around the room, poking into various boxes that were scattered around, along with other discarded plates, streamers, and other random things that suggested a party had occurred a few nights previous.
“Do you throw parties here?” asked Melody.
“What? No, not anymore,” Davie replied, his head poking out from inside a crate. “I tried a few years ago, but it wasn’t very good. Just don’t have the talent for parties, I guess.” He ducked back into the crate, and popped out a moment later with a bundle of bottles. “Bulls eye!” One by one, he passed them out to Melody, Star, and Sparky.
“So, what is your talent, then?” asked Sparky, before taking a swig. Melody held her bottle up to Star, who popped the lid on it for her.
“This!” Davie cried, and flicked his front-left hoof, sending the slingshot strapped there into the air. He quickly caught it, pulled the strap back, and released, sending a small pebble (where he got that from, Melody couldn’t tell) flying across the room and shattering an empty bottle that was leaning against the wall. With another flick of his hoof, the slingshot was right back in the little holster again.
“Nice shot,” Sparky commented. “That how ya got your cutie mark?”
“Yup,” Davie answered. “I practice with it every day.” He bumped a hoof against his chest. “I’m the best shot in all of Equestria!” he proclaimed proudly.
“I believe it,” Star said, “he was able to hit that Vectin’s weapon hand in a single shot.”
“Speaking of that,” said Davie, “why was that Hunter after you, anyway? You escape from another camp or something?”
“Not exactly,” replied Star, and he began filling in the light-blue pony on their adventure so far. While he talked, Melody wandered around the rest of the small barn, wondering about the ponies that used to party here. Where were they now? What kind of parties did they used to have? She moved around the room, stepping over old streamers, empty cups, and a few records piled in a corner. Interested, she pushed them aside, finding an old record player that appeared to still run. Leaning over it, she read the label:
DISCOVERING MY PAST: by NetherMan65
I wonder who that was, she thought to herself, and picked up another record:
NOTHING BUT NOISE: by DJ Pon-3
Haven’t I heard that name before? She started sifting through the other records, looking for any that might have ‘Vinyl Scratch’ on it.
“Hey Davie, what’re those things out there?” asked Sparky, pointing out a window to the field behind the barn. The records momentarily forgotten, Melody moved over to see what her friend was pointing at. Just outside were a cluster of bushes, but they looked different somehow. After a moment, Melody realized it was that instead of leaves, they had some weird greenish-brown pods growing on them. Some were as small as grapes, others the size of apples.
“Oh, those are just some bio-seed bushes,” Davie answered from right beside her, making her jump. “You’ve never seen them before?”
“Nope,” replied Sparky, “what are they?”
Davie gave her a quizzical look. “You really don’t know? Those are why the lizards are here in Equestria. They farm them.” He pointed out the window, towards the distant fields. “See those green lines way out there? Those are the bio-fields, where they grow thousands of these bushes.”
“What for?” asked Melody, noticing her brother moving over to look out. “Do they eat them?”
“No no,” Davie continued, “you can’t eat them. They harvest the seed pods and grow them into the different things that they make.”
“Like what?” she asked”
“Everything!” he replied. “From their small devices, to the Flyers you see in the sky. And even bigger ones that fly out in sp-“
“Wait,” Sparky interrupted him, “you mean to tell me that the Vectin grow their ships and tools?!”
“Yup,” Davie said, “that’s why they’re here. In Equestria, I mean. They wanted to use our world to grow their bio-material.”
“So, that’s why they came,” muttered Star, looking out across the fields. “Tell me, Davie,” he said, turning to face the young stallion, his face suddenly serious, “are you alone, or are there other ponies around?”
“Of course there are!” He pointed back to the window. “They farm the fields for the lizards. Work hard every day, they make us, and we get food and shelter in return. It’s not the best life but,” he grimaced, “it was that, or end up like Cloudsdale.”
Melody glanced back out the door, remembering the ruins they found earlier that day. It sent a brief shiver down her spine. Then she remembered the abandoned Ponyville they had found, and wondered just how bad it had been when the Vectin first came to Equestria…
“Hey!” Davie called out, interrupting Melody’s thoughts, “I’ve got an idea! Why don’t you all come back home with me!”
“Huh?” Sparky asked, “What do ya mean ‘back home’?”
“To the Crystal Camps!” the young stallion replied excitedly. “I bet the others would be thrilled to meet you, ponies from the outside. It’s been years since we’ve had anypony new, well, except for newborns, of course.” He started bouncing from excitement. “What do you say?”
Sweet Melody looked to her brother, waiting for Star to make the decision. “I don’t know,” he said, finally, “If the Vectin are still hunting us…”
“Awl, don’t worry about that,” Davie waved it off, “the lizards almost never go into the camps. Just a few guards at the gates, and some in the fields. And those are low-ranking ones. The hunters, the ones that were chasing you, stay out of the camps and fields completely.” He frowned, “like we’re beneath them, or something.”
“In their minds, we probably are,” Star commented, still looking out the window at the distant fields. In his eyes, Melody could see the strain he was under, trying to decide on where they should go next. She knew he wanted to keep her safe, but still needed to get to the distant mountains. “Well,” he said at last, “we have to go through the fields to get to the mountains anyway, right?” He turned to Davie, “might as well go with you.”
“All right!” cried the blue pony. “Then get on up and follow me!” He led them to a corner of the barn, and Melody noticed one section of the floor had hinges on it. Davie lifted it up, revealing a tunnel below.
“Do we have to go down there?” she asked, frowning while stepping back, one leg held in front of her.
“Yup, Davie replied, “it leads past the guards at the edge of the fields. Don’t worry, it’s perfectly safe! The others built it years ago, when they used to sneak out to here. Supposedly, Pinkie Pie and Applejack helped dig it out, so they could keep in contact and try to help other ponies escape the camps.”
“What happened?” asked Melody, as Star and Sparky climbed down into the softly lit tunnel. A pair of small lights was mounted into the walls, connected by wires to another pair farther down the passage, and so on to other lights.
“Applejack disappeared,” he replied, helping her down. “After that, and losing her other friends, Pinkie stopped coming out here. The others forgot about it, and settled into life in the camps.” Once inside, he pulled on a rope, which closed the entrance, bathing them in the soft yellow light from the wall lamps. “It wasn’t as bad as everypony thought it would be, you see,” he continued, as they started walking down the tunnel. “As long as we worked hard and farmed the fields for them, the lizards let us live on our own. As long as we stayed in the camps, of course.”
“Then what are you doing out here?” Sparky asked, having fallen behind Star so she could listen to Davie’s story. “Didn’t you get in trouble for leaving?”
“They don’t know I left,” Davie explained. “The Vectin don’t bother counting us, or keeping track of who’s there and who isn’t. As long as the work in the fields is done, and we aren’t causing trouble, they couldn’t care less. Besides,” he knocked a hoof on the dirt wall, “they don’t know about this! So I come and go as I please!”
“How long is this tunnel?” Star asked, causing Melody to try to look ahead and try to see the end. But the tunnel had a slight curve to it, so she couldn’t tell where it went to, or how long it was.
“Its a couple hours trot to the end,” replied Davie, “Tunnel opens into one of the storage sheds, so the exit is hidden from view. Come on, I’ll race ya!” He took off at a full gallop, and Melody chased after him, laughing as she ran. She didn’t even hear Star sigh, as he shook his head, while Sparky laughed.
----------------
He stepped into the great hall, scowling at the Sphere Leader sitting on his throne, which was elevated above the main floor by a pedestal of purple-black colored crystal. The colors made it stand out against the rest of the room, and the castle in general, which was made out of crystal more lighter-blue in color. As he approached the throne, his scowl deepened. Vectin had always lived in green-colored bio-engineered structures. To install the Sphere Nest into this crystal castle, built by the locals no less, was abhorrent to Thrakish. Yet another reason why he despised the overweight Vectin who called him here.
“Why have you summoned me, Sphere Leader?” he asked, making no attempt to hide the anger in his deep, raspy voice. “I was in pursuit of prey and-“
Kessish cut him off with a wave of his clawed hand. “It matters not,” he interrupted, “I have decided that hunt is not required. You will be re-assigned to other task.”
Thrakish stood there, frozen in surprise. To be pulled off a hunt was one thing, but to have the hunt canceled when uncompleted-
“Sphere Leader,” he said, forcing his voice to remain calm, “with respect, to cancel hunt before capture of prey is-“
“Yes, yes,” Kessish cut him off again, “I know hunters prefer to finish whether hunt is needed or not. But I make choice.” He leaned forward in his throne. “Do you question that choice?”
“No, Sphere Leader,” Thrakish growled. It was disgraceful to have his hunt called off before he could capture his prey. And unnecessary, which is why Kessish made that call. He was trying to humiliate the Hunt Leader. It implied that Thrakish was unable to capture this prey, which, following his previous hunting accomplishments, added to the dishonor.
“Good,” the bloated Vectin replied, sitting back once again. “I have decided that you no longer needed here. In three cycles, Cargo Flyer will leave for Home-Sphere, and you be on it.”
Thrakish stepped back, as if the other had struck him physically. To be sent home like that, after a failed hunt, in disgrace- “I do not understand?”
Kessish looked at him skeptically. “I thought you want to leave this sphere? Was I not correct?”
“Yes, but,” he caught his tongue. Claiming he was leaving a hunt unfinished was as good as admitting his dishonor. “I obey, and return to Home-Sphere,” he quietly replied, and turned to leave the chamber. He could feel Kessish’s grin follow him out. The Sphere Leader was well aware of the dishonor he was giving Thrakish. But at the moment, there was nothing the now-disgraced Hunt Leader could do about it. He stalked off to find some way to occupy his time until the ship left. At least, he told himself, he was getting what he wanted: a way off this dirtball….
----------------
Sweet Melody was starting to think the tunnel would never end, when Davie called out to them. “We’re here!” he said, and climbed up a ladder to push open the hatch above. One by one, the four ponies climbed up into the light…
…and found themselves in a tool shed.
There was no mistaking what it was. Various gardening and farming tools and gadgets lay about, some hanging on the walls, others just sitting on the floor. Davie stepped over to the door and pushed it open, allowing the evening sunlight to pour in. “Welcome to the Crystal Camps!” he exclaimed, and led the group outside.
Blinking her eyes to adjust them to the light (after being in the darker tunnel for a few hours), Melody took a long look around. Rows upon rows of the pod-covered bushes ran as far as her eyes could see, stretching on for miles in front of her. A few hundred ponies (that she could see, at least) worked among them, adjusting water, laying fertilizer, and about a dozen other chores that she was unfamiliar with.
“They don’t look that excited,” muttered Sparky, and Melody looked at the faces of the others. They were all sullen, slumped shoulders, and not a smile among them.
“They’re slaves,” Star said, and she heard the anger in his voice, saw the fire in his eyes. She’d never seen such emotion in her brother, and it scared her a bit.
“DAVIE PIE!” a harsh female voice called out, and they all turned to see a brownish-yellow mare with a curly rusty-pink mane approaching. “Where have you been this time?!”
“It’s alright mother,” Davie replied, slightly lowering his head, “I was just out at the old party barn and-“
“What have I told you about going out there?” she scolded him, causing his smile to fade. “If the guards ever caught you…” she trailed off, a few tears forming in her eyes.
“Mother, it’s alright!” he said, moving up to give her a hug, “and look! I found some new friends!”
She looked around, noticing the three others for the first time. “Oh,” she stammered, wiping her eyes, “forgive me, I didn’t notice you.” She gave them a quizzical look. “You are not from the camps here, are you?”
“No ma’am,” Star replied. “We only met your son yesterday. My name is Star Gaze,” he waved a hoof at the girls, “and this is my friend Sparky Hooves, and sister Sweet Melody.”
“Call me Pizza Pie,” she replied, “but what are you all doing here? If you’re not from the camps, then…” a thought suddenly occurred to her. “You’re from the Apple Herd, aren’t you?”
Melody noticed the surprise on Star’s face. “How did you know that?” he asked.
Pizza Pie smiled. “The benefit of being the daughter of one of the founders of your Herd, that’s how.” She started to turn. “Come; let’s get you three to the barracks. I’ll bet you could use a nice bath and something to eat.”
“Now that sounds terrific!” Sparky said, getting a laugh from the others, as they followed Davie and his mother down the rows of bushes, heading towards a line of grey buildings in the distance…
----------------
Star Gaze was still looking out the window of the barrack, watching the other ponies labor in the fields, when Davie and Pizza Pie returned with a basket of bread and cheese. “Here,” Pizza Pie said, setting the basket down, “have something to eat.”
“Thank you,” Star replied, moving away from the window and taking a roll from the basket.
“So, what brings you to us?” Pizza Pie asked.
“Well, he did,” Star replied, pointing at Davie. “After saving us from some Hunters, that is.” He regretted saying it, after noticing the look of concern and scorn she shot Davie. He offered her a weak smile in return.
“And why were they hunting you?” she asked. “Did you escape from them or something?”
“Kind of,” he said, and gave her a brief account of the attack on his village, their escape into the forest, and his vision in Ponyville. “So now, we’re trying to get to the mountains, to find the Star Princess.”
Pizza Pie starred at him, and he almost see the wheels turning in her mind. “I see,” she said. “You do realize that they won’t stop hunting you, and the chances of getting through the Camps without being spotted are slim.”
Star was confused. “But I thought the guards only watch the entrances, and the hunters never came into the camps.” He looked at Davie.
“They don’t,” Pizza replied, “but if you head in the direction of the mountains, you would have to go past the Crystal Palace, and it’s crawling with Vectin. That’s their main command center for all of Equestria! You’ll never get past unseen. At least,” she paused, “not without help.”
“So let’s help them!” Davie cried. “If they can find this Star Princess, and if she can help us-“
“Davie,” Pizza Pie warned, “think about it. If the Vectin find out we helped somepony they are after, they will take it out on all of us.” She turned back to Star, her face stern, her voice serious. “As long as we work the fields and do our jobs, they leave us alone. But if we openly defied them like this...” She paused again. “No, we can’t help.”
“I understand,” Star replied. But then a thought occurred to him. “Is there anything we can do to change your mind?”
Pizza Pie looked at him quizzically. “You don’t give up, do you?” she asked with a smile. “Perhaps there is something.” She took a deep breath, and visibly composed herself. “While we can’t help you directly, I can give you supplies, and send you in the right direction.”
“And in return,” Star asked, raising an eyebrow quizzically, knowing the game she was playing.
“One of our smartest ponies was taken by the Vectin about seven years ago,” she began. “She’s an expert with plants, and a great scientist. They’re using her to improve the quality of the bio-seeds that we grow.”
“And you want us to rescue her?” Star asked, already knowing where this was going.
“Yes, and take her with you.” At his puzzled look, Pizza added, “her knowledge should be kept from them. She’s why they can grow their pods faster than anywhere else in their empire. Take that away from them, and maybe it will help this Star Princess of yours defeat them.”
“Deal,” he replied, as Sparky and Melody entered from the shower room next door. Davie handed them each a plate of rolls and cheese. “How will I know her from others they may have taken?”
“Her coat is a fine brown, her mane a deep blue-green, with three leaves as her cutie mark,” Pizza answered. “But you will know her by her eyes. One is yellow, the other is green.”
“And her name?” asked Star.
“Botanica…”