//------------------------------// // Attack of the Stars // Story: Friendship Kita!!!! // by cyberlord4444 //------------------------------// Big Mac stirred in his hospital bed. Waking up, he saw his sister, and a another figure. "Easy pal," Jack said, "one does not get shot-put through a wall and walk away, even if it's you." "You... you're that Jack feller AJ told me about, aren't ya?" Big Mac asked. "And the one who saved your rear," Jack said, "speaking of which, you remember anything?" "Not much," Big Mac admitted, "there was this pony, it was too dark to tell who, then he turned into this smoke thing with lights in it. Next thing I know, I'm doing my pegasus impression." Mac chuckled, then groaned. "Rest up there now brother," AJ said, "doc says you'll be outta here tomorrah." "What about Applebuck Season?" Mac asked somewhat worriedly, "I might be able to leave tomorrow, but I don't think I'll be able to buck." "Let me worry about that," AJ said, "you just worry about gettin' better." Big Mac frowned but nodded, "Alright, but you'd better get, can't buck without any sleep." AJ chuckled and left, Jack close behind. As the door closed behind him, Big Mac couldn't help but wonder, why was he attacked? "You know something about what attacked him, don't ya partner?" AJ asked Jack. "Yes," Jack replied, "but can this wait until we get to the others? I'd rather only say this once." "Fair enough," Applejack said as they approached the waiting room. Arriving, they met up with the rest of AJ's friends. "How is he?" Twilight inquired. "He'll pull through," AJ replied, "no thanks to whatever did this to him. Speaking of which?" "I got the hint," Jack said, "remember what I said about Dark Cosmic Energy the other day?" Everypony nodded, "Well, the thing that attacked Big Mac is a product of it." "How is that possible?" Twilight asked. "I'll get to it in a second. First things first, the original Astroswitch, known as the Core Switch, was sent by an alien race known as the Presenters. Their intent was to find other intelligent races that would be able to use the Core Switch to develop a way to reach them. The Core Switch was found by two scientists. The first, Rokuro Utahoshi, used the Core Switch to create the Fourze System, which was meant to be a stepping stone to allow future generations to develop a way for humans to travel to the Presenters' world safely. The other, Mitsuaki Gamou, used it to create the Zodiarts Switches, which would forcibly evolve a human, or I guess a pony, to a state where they would be able to withstand transwarp travel. They disagreed, and Gamou's ambition and fanatical desire to meet the Presenters led to him killing Utahoshi, stealing the Zodiarts Switches, and granting them to various people with the intent of creating the 12 Horoscope Zodiarts Switches, which would allow him to meet the Presenters at the cost of destroying the entire planet. The original Fourze, with the aid of the Kamen Rider Club, was able to stop him, but I think you can see why I'm a little nervious about Zodiarts appearing here." "Oh dear," Fluttershy muttered, "what an awful awful person." "Quite," Jack replied. "How exactly did this Ganma guy turn people into these Zodia thingies?" Dash asked. "Gamou gave potential subjects Zodiarts Switches," Jack replied. "Activating them triggered the evolution, turning them into a Zodiarts. While at first it's reversible, if the Switcher gets so upset that they lose the desire to remain human, it triggers the Last One function, which increases the Zodiart's power in exchange for the ability to change back on their own. I can forcibly change them back with a Limit Break, unless they've been a Zodiart for too long. After that, not even I can change them back." "What happens then?" Fluttershy asked. Jack turned somber, "Pray you never have to find out." Fluttershy whimpered as AJ spoke up, "So why did this Zodiart feller go after Big Macintosh?" "The Zodiarts Switches were granted with to people with grudges and the like," Jack replied, "negative Cosmic Energy requires negative emotions remember. Attacking the target of their grudge would cause them to turn into Last Ones, and potentially Horoscopes." "Well I for one think that it's a good thing this Gamou person isn't here," Rarity said. "Someone's distributing Zodiarts Switches," Jack interjected, "Earth wasn't the only place the Presenters sent a Core Switch to." "Celestia needs to know about this," Twilight said. "I agree," Jack replied before turning to Applejack, "as for you, keep an eye out. The Orion Switcher is still out there, and Big Mac might not be the only pony he's got a bone to pick with." "I'll do what I can," AJ replied, "but I'm gonna be hard pressed keepin' an eye on my sister, Applebuck Season starts tomorrah, and I can't buck apples and watch Apple Bloom at the same time, not while she's at school at least." "I'll keep an eye out," Jack replied, "let's just hope that he has a shred of humanity left and won't hurt a kid." Jack looked out the window, "We need to find this guy, and fast." On a bluff overlooking Sweet Apple Acres, a pony stood looking over it, Zodiarts Switch in hoof and an evil grin on his face. "Soon... you will be mine."