//------------------------------// // Shaky Alliances // Story: Equestria Girls: Secrets Beyond the Stars // by GoldenGoomba900 //------------------------------// Rainbow gasped as she was forced awake, panting horrified as she looked around her. She was in a semi-clear, plastic tube in a dark, dark room. She felt the tube shift, and it knocked her into the side as it slowly moved forward towards a bright light. Letting her eyes adjust, rainbow found herself in a metal room filled with machinery, and Inapan sitting in a metal chair, passing her time by reading something on one of her archive's tablets. A loud buzz let her know the process had been completed. "Ah, Rainbow Dash." The alien said, setting the tablet aside and standing up. "I believe that was your name. Welcome back to the world of the living! Of course, this is assuming your species dies when you are deconstructed atom by atom." "Wait, Princess? Let me out of here so I can kick your futuristic green a-" She struck the edge of the tube, hoping to break it. Naturally, this failed and only hurt her fist. The alien laughed in response. "Oh Rainbow, a pity you only have the same amount of braincells as you do colors in your hair, or you'd have realized this tube was made of the third hardest substance in the universe!" Inapan explained as a second robot arm picked up the tube, lifting and dropping it onto another conveyor. "Why did you even want me alive? You had me dead for... how long have I been out?" Rainbow asked. "Six earthen hours. I would have assumed someone that important would have been through the Pearly gates by then, but I suppose you have as many sins as virtues." "Wait, you're an alien. What do you know about religion?" "Rainbow, is it not possible that two completely different species have had the same idea of an almighty being pointing us towards what is right?" "Wha- How is this NOT a sin?! Killing us, terrorizing our friends, threatening to wipe out our species?!" "Oh look, we're here!" Inapan said as a third claw delivered Rainbow into some kind of socket, spinning it in place like it was some kind of odd, cylindrical lightbulb. Fluttershy cleaned her hands, shaking her head and taking deep breaths. It wasn't exactly "surgery" she'd done, given all she had to do was remove a few pieces of glass and sew up the holes they left in Applejack's side, but it still wasn't a pleasant experience. She needed to find a way to get Applejack to pony up, then she'd be healed and ready to help herself. Fluttershy paused at this notion, wondering if she'd actually remain healed once she powered down... or if she'd power down at all. She'd never had this amount of energy flowing through her for this long a time, hopefully it wasn't dangerous. As she began rubbing the disinfectant on Applejack's wound, the country girl began waking up, shaking her head and slowly opening her eyes. "Fluttershy? Why're you... where's Apple Bloom?" She sat up, flinching as the pain in her side grew. "Careful!" the impromptu nurse said, carefully lowering Applejack back to the ground. "You've gotten a lot of stitches, and any sudden movement could pull them loose." Fluttershy's calming voice worked wonders for AJ's nerves. "R-right, I'm just... Is Apple Bloom safe?" She asked again. "Apple Bloom ran away from the battle while I held Inapan off." Fluttershy offered the wounded cowgirl her hat. "She should be safe... do you want to call her, to be sure? You should still have your-" Fluttershy was cut off by her own cell. Embarrassed, she took the call and turned away from Applejack. "Hello?" "Fluttershy!" Twilight gasped. "Oh thank goodness I was- wait, this isn't her voicemail, is it?" "N-no, I'm right here. Are you OK? You sound worried." "We thought you were dead!" Twilight explained. "Oh, I'm so sorry I made you think that, b-but I'm perfectly fine and Applejack's on her way to health too." "Applejack's there? Then Principal Celestia was right..." "She can't come to the phone though, she's trying to call Apple Bloom." "I understand, it must have been pretty rough." "Oh, b-but I have other good news too!" Fluttershy explained her transformation (with Twilight taking careful notes) while, at Canterlot High, something important began unfolding. In the dark of the gymnasium, the jocks practiced hand-to hand combat, Spitfire watching from the stage. Despite the lowering of the sun, the musclebound teenagers worked hard to become the fighters they needed to be, punching in almost unison as Soarin' approached his superior. Spitfire had put on a pair of sunglasses that she usually only wore during practice. She was a completely different person in those shades. Harsher, meaner, more determined. "Spitfire! Spitfire!" Soarin' shouted. "That's Commander Spitfire." She corrected. "Commander, Ma'am, we've captured the nerd Leader. He split from th-" "I don't CARE how he was captured. Bring him to me." "Y-yes ma'am." He whistled and Bulk Biceps began walking across the room. In his arms was Microchips, wearing some kind of uniform one would have seen in a sci-fi film. Struggling in Bulk's grasp had no effect but tiring out the boy as he looked up to see Spitfire. Finally being set down before her, he rubbed his arm. "Geeze, does he have to b-" "Name and rank, soldier." Spitfire interrupted sternly. "Name and rank? What on Earth ar-" "Are you NOT the Nerd leader?" "I-I am, I guess, but I-" "Silence!" She commanded. "I am COMMANDER Spitfire, and that means I outrank you and ALL of your men, women, and children." "I don't quite understand th-" "Do not speak unless spoken to!" She commanded. "I am taking over your role as the head honcho! You and all your tiny nerds listen to me! If we are going to win this war it will be through Shock and Awe! Do you understand?" "I think so...?" "Good! Your first assignment is to build us a weapon! We're currently fighting with bows, arrows, and spears! They're fighting with god only knows! Even the playing field, maggot!" "You don't need to yell! We'll build you a weapon, all you had to do was ask!"