//------------------------------// // Sssssssscanning the horizon // Story: A Flowery Affair // by Voltsthevoltvolts //------------------------------// Fern's space ship buzzed to life as its various panels on the ship lit up, slowly the ship came to life as its AI panel flickered on and was shortly followed by the small white teleportation pad on the floor. Twilight was the first of the group to appear on the ship, she was shortly followed by Luna, then Lyra and Fern. Twilight ran over to one of the windows and gazed out into space. "So this is space then? The final frontier?" Twilight mused to herself. Fern casually strolled past and sighed happily. "So Fern, this is your ship then?" "Yessssss." Fern stated happily. "Thissss issssss Floran'ssssssss ssssssssship." Fern moved over the the AI panel and the AI appeared on a small screen. "Sssssss... Can Ssssssssail sssssssscan the nearby sssssssship?" "Heh! Easy!" The AI remarked before vanishing from the small screen. A brief humming noise was heard before the AI popped back. "A basic life-form scan suggests that there is at least one intelligent life-form. Heh! Basic scan suggests that the ship is being used for agriculture! Heh! Basic scan reviled that the ship is out of fuel and is stranded in this star system." "Ssssss... Floran sssssseessssssssss." Fern hissed. "Can Sssssssssssail find anymore information about the sssssssship?" Fern asked the AI. "Heheh! I can do an advanced scan of the ship, however it may take a few minutes! Heheheh!" The AI stated. "Do you want me to continue?" "Yessssss... Floran can wait." Fern replied. The AI panel flickered off a second time and Fern sighed. "Now, Floran waitssssssss." "Hm, space is amazing!" Lyra said, reminding everyone that she had in fact followed them. "No matter how many time I look out the window, it still looks beautiful." "Yes, it does have a certain beauty to it." Luna added. "We tried to replicate the beauty of the stars for Equestria, however it changes so much." Luna sighed. "To capture ever a single shred of the beauty of the untamed space requires years of practice." "Yes, it is quite nice." Twilight joined in. The trio gazed out one of the ship's large windows. "I have to wonder, where exactly is this other ship?" "Oh, its just over there." Lyra pointed out the large sphere drifting in space. "I wonder what kind of creature is living on it? It seems a fair bit larger then this ship." "Yes, I can imagine you could have a small town living on that ship. Yet the scan said there was only one..." Twilight mused. "Sssssss... Floran not know what issssssss on that sssssssssship." Fern sighed. "Ssssssssship issssssss ssssssscanning the ssssssssssssship." Fern chuckled. "Maybe..." Fern was interrupted when the ship's AI panel flickered back on. "Heheheh! Scanning complete! The scan indicates that the ship is in fact... A class two Bio Ship, manufactured by the Apex for public use. The ship itself is mainly being used for agriculture purpose, however the food appears to have Glitch origin. Heheheheh! Oh, the ship's defensive systems alerted the pilot when I was scanning, and they fired up a jammer prevent on-board teleportation. Heheheheh! However they did not prevent me from scanning. Heheheheheh! This indicates that they are not hostile, or at least weary of us." "Sssssss... Anything else?" Fern inquired. "Hm... Anything else..." The AI mused. "Well, judging by heat signals and movement... I cannot say that I have encountered that particular race before. I have scanned all nearby data banks for information however the AI on the ship is... Uncooperative. Heh. Heh. Heh." "Sssssss?" Fern hissed curiously. "When I requested access to the ships data banks they refused me entry... Heh!" The AI flickered briefly. "Hm, it appears that the ship has initiated a scan of our ship. I can jam the signal, however..." "Sssssss, ssssssslow them down..." Fern sighed and turned to the ponies in her ship. "Ssssssss, Floran isssssss going to have to ask for privacy." Without ushering a word the trio left the ship "Ssssssss, allow the ssssssship to sssssscan us." A blue light briefly went over the small ship a few times before vanishing. "It would appear that their AI is attempting to access my data banks. Heh..." The AI flickered. "I am currently jamming the signal." "Sssss... Allow them access." "I wonder what that was all about..." Lyra sated angrily. "She just threw us out!" "Well, she was about to be scanned. Maybe she felt subconscious about it..." Twilight replied. "I mean, I have no idea what happens when a ship is scanned. It might have been dangerous." Lyra sighed and Luna remained silent. "Do you have any thoughts on the matter Princess?" "We do not... The aliens behavior is strange, however it is to be expected." Luna stated. "We shall return to our sister and inform her about the situation." Luna stated. "Our wing has recover sufficiently, so we must bid you farewell." Luna hastily walked off, vanishing into Ponyville before being seen flying across the night sky. "That was confusing..." Lyra slowly said. "I mean, I don't think she likes Fern that much. I wish they didn't fight..." "Yes, I agree." Twilight agreed. "The fight could have been easily avoided... However they both are quite stubborn." Twilight shook her head and sighed. "I still don't know how it started." "I'm guessing they bumped into each other and things went downhill quickly." Lyra chuckled. "But where would they have met up... I don't recall seeing Luna before the fight." Twilight sighed and the pair walked back into Ponyville, it was late and the day had been tiring for both of them. "Heheheh! They are now requesting permission to teleport onto the ship should I..." "No. Floran hasssss been ssssssssssscanned too many timesssssssss!" Fern angrily stated. "Deny them accesssssssssssss..." Fern hissed. "Heheheh! Request denied! Heheheheh! That felt good." The AI stated. "Heh! They are requesting a reason why we denied them access. Heheheh!" "Sssss... Tell them... Ssssssss. Going to sssssssssleep." Fern chuckled. "Heh, powering down the ships lights."