//------------------------------// // Priel and R'el // Story: The Encounter // by Winter_Solstice //------------------------------// Twilight got to her feet and shook her head to clear it. That pain had been like nothing she’d ever felt before, and she needed a few minutes to recover. But when she looked out of her cage she saw she wasn’t going to get those minutes as all the enclosures in the pit suddenly opened. She was free, but now so were every other creature in there with them. Some crawled, some flew, but those that came out were united in their ferocity. Three of the larger ones attacked Luna, and she quickly threw up a shield to surround herself and the hue-mun. There was a roar as the manticore flew out of its cage and used teeth, claws, and stinger to defend itself. Twilight stared in shock for a moment as three others quickly covered the distance between herself and Belinda. Belinda grabbed Angel, set him between her shoulders and flew out to meet them. “Fight, pony! Kill or be killed!” she called as she attacked the largest of the trio. She sounded an eagle’s cry as she blinded her assailant. Just as one of the creatures flew at Twilight and tried to rake her with its claws, she ported herself out and to Luna’s side. She then used her beam to knock the attacking creatures away, but to her horror, she saw them quickly regain their feet. The one Belinda had blinded lay on its side and howled, but she still faced a creature that could fly as she soared towards the ceiling. The beast that had attacked Twilight looked around in confusion, then spotted her and began to race towards her. A much more powerful beam lanced over her shoulder and pierced the creature through its body. It shrieked and then crumbled to the floor. Twilight turned and looked in shock at Luna. Luna’s face held a mixture of sadness, but determination. “Now is not the time for mercy, Twilight Sparkle!” she shouted as she blasted another. The area around the two was clear for the moment, giving Twilight a chance to look around. She saw another flying creature attacking Belinda from behind. So intent was Belinda in engaging the one in front of her she didn’t notice it yet. Twilight had no choice and sent her most powerful beam burning through the air and lanced the creature through the heart. It fell to the floor like a puppet whose strings were suddenly cut, dead before it could cry out. Belinda shot her beak forward as swift as a snake and ripped out the throat of the being she was fighting. As it fell to join its companion she gave another eagle’s cry, while Angel clung to her back for all he was worth. Belinda hovered and looked around. All about them lay the bodies of their enemies. The manticore had downed two and was prowling about looking for more. Twilight and Luna stood side by side over the hue-mun, who lay clutching his chest. The gryphon landed next to them and took Angel off her back. It took some doing and she winced as a few of her feathers came loose in his grip, but he was otherwise unhurt. “Don’t worry, little guy. You’re safe now,” she told him. Angel looked up at her, and then chanced a glance around. He stopped, and then pointed. Belinda and the ponies followed his gaze and saw one last creature. It was similar to the one Manx had fought, only smaller. It was cowering in its cage and showed no sign of wanting to come out. The manticore spotted it at the same moment, roared and ran towards it but was gripped in a telekinetic field. “Stay, manticore,” said Luna, “that one is no threat.” The manticore looked at Luna, then at the creature, then back at Luna with an unusually intelligent expression. Then it nodded and sheathed its claws. Luna released it, and it turned its back on the creature and wandered over to them. Luna then focused her attention on the hue-mun. “Are you badly hurt, Charles?” He sat up and pulled the remains of his tunic open. There were three parallel claw marks on his chest, but the bleeding had already slowed to a trickle. “It…hu-rt…but I okay.” She then began to address Twilight, but stopped. Twilight lay staring at the creature she’d killed. Luna again tried to speak to her, but Twilight just shook her head. Then the ship began to violently shake, and there was a sound like metal being rent open. They all looked up and saw the ceiling being slowly pulled apart. ______________________________________________________________________________________ While its companion had stood immobilized by shock, the other had darted forward and activated the ship’s weapons, then released everything they had at Celestia. There was a huge explosion as their weapons made contact with her field, and so much smoke their vision was temporarily obscured. They looked at each other, and there was enough of a lull in the action for them to hope they’d actually killed her. But when the smoke cleared, Celestia hovered some distance from their ship, unscathed. Then she spoke. “My turn!” The aliens dove for cover as she sent beam after scorching beam into their ship, obliterating everything the beams touched. The ship was rocked by several explosions as her onslaught continued. Finally, she stopped and peeled back the metal of the ship’s bridge with her field as if it were paper. The aliens peeked out from their cover, drew their weapons and started wildly firing. The few shots that landed bounced off Celestia with no more effect than a flashlight. She concentrated, and then gripped them both in her field, lifting them into the air. With teeth clenched, she slammed them into one wall and then another hard enough to dent the thick metal again and again. Only when she saw their suits were wrecked and broken did she stop. They both hung limp in her field as she brought them up to her face. “I am only going to ask this once: WHERE ARE MY SISTER AND TWILIGHT?!” Her voice shook what was left of the bridge, as more panels shorted out and sparks flew. But all she got from them was incoherent babbling. Just then a voice called out to her. “Your Highness, I can pinpoint the hue-mun! We don’t need their help!” shouted Rarity. She and the other ponies were still in awe over what they’d just witnessed. Celestia turned to her and then floated back out of the ship, carrying the two with her. “Very well. Show me!” Rarity’s beam hit the middle section of the rounded ship. “They’re down inside there, Your Majesty.” Levitating herself and her captives over the top of the vessel, she then used her magic to open up the section Rarity had indicated. The scene below was one of carnage. Bodies of misshapen beasts lay everywhere, with their blood or ichor staining the floor. The stench of death was heavy in the air, causing the newly arrived ponies to recoil in shock and some to fight to keep from vomiting. As they watched, the gryphon landed next to a howling creature and put it out of its misery. She turned to them with a defiant look in her eye, as if daring the ponies to reprimand her for killing that last beast, but it was to Twilight her friends most attended. She was staring in silence at the body of the being she’d killed and did not look up when her name was called. Her friends approached her as Celestia landed with the aliens and spoke quietly to Luna. “Twilight? Are…are you okay?” asked Pinkie. Just as they thought she wasn’t going to answer, she spoke just barely above a whisper. “No. No, I’m not.” Rainbow followed Twilight’s gaze to the dead creature and then turned back to her friend. “Whatever you had to do, Twilight, we support you.” Twilight closed her eyes and then got to her feet. “This can wait.” She looked at the aliens as they were held in Celestia’s field. “So these are the ones who caused all this trouble?” Charles stood as well, held his chest and nodded. “Yes. They…must…save Flut-ter-sy.” His face darkened. “Make them.” Celestia released them and they both fell flat on the floor. Twilight walked up to them and noticed breaks in their armor that showed their bodies underneath and some that showed only metal. The aliens lay staring up at her. Twilight drew closer and saw that even though one’s helmet was cracked, it was still breathing. “Twilight, what are y—” began Applejack. Twilight held up a hoof. “Something’s not right.” She took that same hoof and poked one of the cracks in their suits, and observed the alien’s reaction. She turned to Celestia. “This armor isn’t their true forms,” she said. “Is that so?” asked Celestia. As all the ponies and her guards stood and watched she slowly, carefully used her field to pry their suits open. When she was done, there were revealed two short, pale, bipedal humanoid creatures, each about four feet tall. Though their eyes looked the same as in their helmets, they lacked the frightful mouths that had appeared before. Their heads had dark hair, but one’s hair was longer than the other’s. They had hands like Charles’, yet they had only four digits. They each still wore a device that was attached to one ear and curved forward like a microphone. As all stared at them, the two slowly got to their feet and looked fearfully around. Charles walked up to them, holding his chest. “So…those suits were a farce. This is what you both really look like.” With one hand he reached down and grabbed the closest one by the throat, and lifted it off the floor. “The antidote for Fluttershy. Now,” he growled. The alien’s eyes bulged as he struggled for breath. “We…we don’t have it!” Charles squeezed tighter. “But…but we have another creature with poison like the Garlax! It’s that one!” he wheezed. He pointed at the one remaining beast, still cowering in its cage. Charles opened his hand, and the alien dropped to the floor. He stayed where he landed, not daring to move, while his companion fell to her knees. “Please…we’ll go and never return. Just…don’t kill us,” she begged. She looked at Celestia and threw herself down in front of her. “Please spare us, Your Majesty.” Celestia stared down at the creatures without pity. Then Belinda gave a bitter laugh. “After the way you treated Manx? And me?! I’m going to gut you both and eat your entrails!” She started forward, but Celestia stopped her with a glance. “Stay, Gryphon. I’ll decide their fate,” she said. Belinda began to protest, but her angry retort died in her throat when she met Celestia’s gaze. She dropped her eyes from her and then stared at the two. “I want blood, Princess. For Manx.” Glancing at the blood that still covered her beak and talons, Celestia said, “Enough has already been spilled in the heat of battle. Many lives have been lost this day,” and here she looked at the aliens, “but if two more join this number it will be for justice, not revenge.” At this the female alien looked frantically around, searching the faces. Finding one she thought favorable, and before anypony could stop her, she jumped up and ran to Pinkie, then threw herself down as before. Gripping Pinkie’s front hooves, she said, “Pink one! You seem kind! Don’t let your ruler kill us!” Pinkie recoiled from her touch, closed her eyes and said one word: “Fluttershy.” The alien stared up at Pinkie. “W...what?” Pinkie’s eyes snapped open, and focused a look of such intensity the alien got up and backed away. Pinkie took a step closer and repeated herself: “Fluttershy!” “I…I…don’t…” Pinkie drew in a sharp breath and leaped forward, but was quickly grabbed by Applejack. Pinkie still fought to free herself and swung at the alien, all the while screaming, “FLUTTERSHY! FLUTTERSHY! FLUTTERSHY!” “Pinkie!” shouted Applejack. Pinkie stopped yelling and relaxed but had to take some deep breaths to calm herself. Finally, she spoke. “I’m okay now, Applejack…you can let me go.” “You sure?” Pinkie nodded, and Applejack slowly released her. The alien had backed away in horror, but visibly paled when she saw Applejack release Pinkie. “Keep her away from me!” Applejack scowled at her. “You just keep your distance, and you’ll be fine.” The alien gulped, and then went to her companion and huddled next to him. He spoke to Celestia and said, “What are you going to do to us?” Celestia stared at them without speech for a few moments. Finally, Luna stepped forward and said, “What are your names?” The alien stiffened at the question, and for a brief moment the same arrogance from before showed on his face, but he quickly fought it down. “I’m…Priel…and this is R'el,” he said as he dropped his eyes and scowled. R'el shot a look at him but dropped her eyes as well. Priel spoke again while staring at the floor. “Now that you know our…” and here he grit his teeth, “names, what are you going to do with us?” Celestia finally deigned to speak to them. “You will be held in Canterlot until your trial.” At this, both Priel and R'el stared at her. “You can’t try us!” Priel finally said. “We’re not from this world, so we cannot be judged here!” Luna’s eyes blazed, and she took a step forward. “You have committed crimes on our planet! You WILL answer for those crimes!” Priel and R'el cowered at her voice, their arrogance once again disappearing. “Take them to Canterlot, Luna,” said Celestia. “With pleasure, Sister.” Luna gripped them both in her field and then ported away. Once she was gone, Twilight turned to Celestia. “We still need the antidote for Fluttershy.” She pointed at the remaining beast. “A sample of that one’s poison should be sufficient if those aliens weren’t lying.” Celestia approached it, while it tried to back up further into its cage. “We have zoologists in Canterlot that may be able to safely extract its poison,” she said. “But I do not know how long it will take to fashion an antidote, and the time is short.” Then Pinkie spoke up. “Your Majesty, Fluttershy’s brother can communicate with animals as she does. Maybe he can tell it what we need?” “That’s a good idea, Pinkie,” said Twilight. “I can go explain the situation to him, and if he’s willing bring him back here.” Celestia gave her a worried look. “Are you feeling well enough, Twilight?” “What do you mean?” Celestia fully faced her. “I know you just went through a traumatic experience. Perhaps it’s best if I make the trip?” Twilight shook her head. “I’m fine, Celestia. I’ll be right back.” She concentrated, then ported away. “Twilight, wait! —” began Celestia, but it was too late. She turned to the friends. “I was going to say she should take this one with her,” indicating Charles with her hoof. “He’s hurt and needs medical attention.” He caught the word “hurt” and knew she was referring to himself, so he said, “I…fine, Flut-ter-sy need he-lp. She...more…hu-rt than I.” Celestia looked him over. “I must say my sister described you well, Char-Elles. I am sorry we did not meet under better circumstances.” Charles did not understand every word, but her tone and manner were welcoming, so he simply nodded. “If you all are done being lovey-dovey, I’m getting out of here,” said Belinda. She turned to Angel. “Good luck, little guy. One of these ponies will take care of you now.” She looked at the group. “Right?” Rarity stepped forward. “Of course we will. Thank you for looking after him.” Belinda nodded, then turned to Celestia. “I want to be there when you have a trial for those two, Princess.” “Of course.” Belinda’s face softened, and then she added, “Tell Fluttershy I’m wanting to see her. She’s a true warrior.” She then gathered herself, leapt up into the air and away. The manticore softly growled at the Princess, and then took flight as well. Celestia looked around the area with distaste. “I think it best if we leave this place.” “Quite agree, Your Highness,” said Rarity. “But what’s to be done about that creature?” She pointed at the remaining beast. "We need some way of shutting that cage, for now." Pinkie looked around and spotted the raised platform. “What’s that up there?” Rainbow flew up to it and looked it over. “It’s some kind of science-y stuff. Twilight would know.” Celestia smiled. “And who do you think taught Twilight?” she said as she alighted next to Rainbow. Celestia peered closely at the control panel. All the buttons were arranged in a circle. She counted, and soon realized that each set of three buttons, red, green and black, corresponded to each cage. All of the green buttons were lit, and consequently, all the cages were open. Celestia pressed a red button, and all looked up to see that cage door slide shut. It was easy after that. Once she had the remaining beast properly caged, she addressed the group. “Alright, my little ponies…and Char-Elles, we’re leaving this place of death. We’ll go outside and wait in the fresh—” she was interrupted by the sudden reappearance of Belinda, who flew back into the ship and quickly spotted Celestia. “Princess, you better get out here!”