//------------------------------// // Error Code // Story: Among Luna's Stars // by LadyofSorrows //------------------------------// Cecilia stood on side of the gorge that separated her path from destination. Yulee sat nervously on her shoulder her claws digging into the uniform as Cecilia leaned over a bit to look down into the rolling mists that hid the depth of the gorge. “Well this poses a small problem, from the part of the story Rainbow Dash explained; she had tied this bridge back into service.” A small fit of meows from her shoulder and Cecilia straightened back up to look at the ruins in the distance. “You can take on hundreds of ships in a single setting without an ounce of fear, yet you’re saying this place scares you?” Yulee answered her with a hiss. Cecilia humphed as studied the remaining strand of rope bridging the gap. “I see, well then you get to go first lieutenant. You’ll be faster than I; if my idiot of a plan fails then you can go get help.” Cecilia set Yulee on the rope going across, with a bit of hesitation Yulee’s first steps were small a she set her balance. Then she dashed across the rope as a squirrel would to hop down and watch as Cecilia tested her body weight on the rope. Sure that the rope would hold she pulled herself over the edge where she let her feet drop to hang as she moved hand over hand across. “I never thought I’d have ta pay up RD.” Rainbow Dash looked at Applejack confused for a moment. “What are you paying me for and how much?” Applejack grumbled; “We did a spit n hoof shake on the bet if we ever ran across somepony like us we pay 10 bits. That there stunt Cecy did is proof enough fer me she’s as crazy as you are.” Twilight facehoofed; “I can’t believe you two bet on something like that, and if you really analyze the situation…” Rainbow Dash silenced Twilight with a hoof to her mouth; “Just don’t Twi, I have thing going here…” “She’s never lied to me, and I’m second to Applejack in terms of spotting a fibber. I have to say you owe Applejack. However, Applejack would just have to give it back, which is why you should always bet in cupcakes. You can’t give back what you eat, and it’s cheaper. I can’t wait till next Thursday though, because Applejack has to let Rarity make her a dress, and do her mane and tail. Then go out to eat with her, it will be the talk of the town for weeks. The same will go for Rarity considering she has to dye her mane and tail green. I just owe Fluttershy a bushel of carrots.” Rainbow Dash just stared at Pinkie; “How do you know all this Pinkie, even I didn’t know about the bet with Applejack and Rarity…” Pinkie started bouncing towards the bridge. "Easy, she Pinkie Promised, and no one breaks a Pinkie Promise right Applejack?” “No maim, I learnt my lesson just comin close to breakin one…” Applejack shifted her hat forward to hide the growing red on her cheeks at the thought of what Rarity would do. Rarity on the other hand looked as if she would be sick. Twilight pushed Rainbow Dashes hoof off her mouth. “This is why you don’t bet girls…” “Oh don’t worry Twi, you have to blow raspberries at a princess next time one or both are in town. Which will be tomorrow, and no amount of middle of the night following Cecilia will make up for the fact she didn’t say goodbye to you before leaving town.” “That is going to be funny, captain egghead acting silly in front of her idol…” Rainbow lost it to another fit of laughter as she rolled on the ground. Twilight just hid her head under her hooves. “What have I done….” Cecilia stood atop the crumbling roof of the tallest point in the ruins. The breeze felt nice as it ruffled her hair. “I don’t think anyone would believe us if we told this story.” Yulee gave a soft meow, and hopped down into the waiting palm. Turning she looked back up at Cecilia and meowed twice. “Yes, let’s go home…” Yulee prepared as Cecilia brought the hand back, and with all her might Cecilia tossed Yulee up and out away from the crumbling tower she stood on. Cecilia had a moment of regaining her balance on her narrow spot. Yulee’s transformation went without a hitch, the huge ship with its four gleaning spires neared the tower. The gentle breeze a moment ago was replaced by gale force winds kicked up by Yulee’s engines. Using what little room she had on her narrow spot she gathered as much momentum as her legs could give her in the short distance. Leaping off towers would probably scare the pants off most soldiers, but to Cecilia it didn’t matter as she trusted Yulee to catch. Yulee brought a spire around in time tilting slightly. This was a routine for the both of them so all movements were already anticipated. Cecilia folded herself into a crouch as she landed on the down slope of the spire. Yulee tracked Cecilia and when she sprung from her crouched position Yulee tilted back giving her companion the extra boost. From this point Cecilia let random tumbling take over as the large silver dome approached below her. It was one of the joys of having so much feline in her, she always landed on her feet, but never the same way twice. Cecilia passed through the sphere, and the transference slowed her descent considerably so that her landing was only slightly uncomfortable. “Cecy I have good and bad news.” Cecilia walked towards the controls, standing beside them she looked out to see the lights of Ponyville. “Well, what is the good news first?” “The IMMT system is functioning normally, but I’m getting several error codes. From gathered data it is likely due to the magic on this area; I recommend moving to another location before making our attempt.” Cecilia shook her head as she read the screens that popped up to display the information. Using her fingers she scrolled through them, and dismissed them from existence with a tap on the edge. “It’s always something…” Cecilia turned to go sit down when something caught her eye. “Yulee are we the only ones here?” Cecilia took the controls and turning Yulee slightly she tried to make out the glow coming from near the gates. “They followed us out here; the winds off my engines are endangering their lives. There is a 60% chance they will end up blown into the gorge.” “Clarify “They”, remember there is a village of ponies not far from here.” “Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy are currently held up near the gates.” The view Cecilia was looking out of changed to a close up showing the 6 trying to claw their way forward or using trees and walls to brace themselves from being blown back. Cecilia sighed and touched a spot another screen formed, on this one it showed the same picture, but Cecilia tapped each pony. Once highlighted, they slowly turned from orange highlight to blue. “Blood on the flowers so pretty…” Yulee responded; “Security override confirmed…” Cecilia touched a button at the bottom of the screen, and the blue dots began vanishing from the screen. “See if you can clear those error codes in orbit, I’ll be in my study.” (In the Study) The mane six arrived in the same postures they held before transport. They were immediately aware that this was no room on Equestria given the strange stuff lying about the room, and the furniture was not built around ponies. They picked themselves up, there seemed to be something in the room that appealed to their respective talents. They were drawn to those things out of curiosity learning a great deal about their guest in a matter of minutes. “The way she always dresses in that uniform of hers. This dress is fabulous, but a child’s dress…” “I have you beat there Rarity, Cecilia has wings in this picture.” Rainbow brought the picture over to Rarity. Rainbow continued on as she looked at the dress. “She hasn’t had so much as a feather on her back the entire time I’ve been around her. She’s been really keeping secrets.” “You all were not blessed with the mantle of my complete trust.” Heads turned to where Cecilia leaned against a wall semi covered in shadow. She pushed off to walk out into the light of the room. “These are things that can hurt me, pieces of my past that I hold dear to my heart. I trust them only to those I know would never use them against me. However, a disappointment is you won’t get to see my wings Rainbow Dash considering they are tied to the power of my crown.” Cecilia looked at the picture smiling slightly before moving on to sit down at her desk. “That picture was taken on hydroponics deck three; there is a patch of flowers at the center along with a fountain. Dad caught that picture out of luck, a moment my sister and I were forgetting everything around us. Please be nice and put it back Rainbow, we’ll be moving up to the flight deck in a moment.” Rainbow took the picture back from Rarity before flying back up to the spot on the wall and re-hanging it. She came back to land something clearly bugging her. Cecilia leaned on her desk. “Something about me bothering you Miss Dash?” “Well, yeah there is, and I don’t see why it’s so hard for you to put your crown on?” Cecilia pulled open a drawer and set a ribbon on the desk before closing the drawer. Standing back up she came out to kneel down in front of her desk. She tossed one end of the ribbon away from her. “Put your hoof on the ribbon Rainbow Dash, Yulee transport the rest to the flight deck and keep them out of trouble.” “Wait, I want to see why too.” Twilight appeared beside Dash in a flash and pop of teleportation. “Put your hoof anywhere on Rainbow Dash.” Rainbow felt five other hooves touch her, and looking back at the semi circle of her friends she gave a confident grin before looking back and putting her hoof on the ribbon. “Let’s do this…” Cecilia began the incantation for the summoning of her crown. (On Glaxia) “Come on sis, you can do it…” Jezabelle stood on the observation deck looking out at the stars. Her attention not focused on the scenery, but more on the large pooling of her sister’s presence. “Jezabelle…” Jezabelle snapped out of her thoughts to turn around to see who came up to the deserted deck. She immediately snapped to attention and saluted as SalSane approached. “At ease commander, you’re off duty; you needn’t afford me an officer’s respect.” SalSane looked out the windows as she put her hands on the railing. “I’m not 100% certain, but you have something to do with your sister’s disappearance. Even if it has nothing to do with official business for this ship, Cecilia considered me a confidant with her secrets of that responsibility. Are my suspicions correct Jezabelle?” “I have to try Captain, I’ve tried so many things and failed to restore the lost confidence. I regret stopping her every day…” “You did the right thing that day Jezabelle, but that is not the answer I was asking for.” Jezabelle turned back around to stare out at the stars. “I sabotaged Yulee’s IMMT system, she cannot return by that method. I hijacked her exit point to a place that I believe could help her. This is the last option captain, if she cannot forgive herself to be my other half I’ll be forced to destroy her and appoint another to her place.” SalSane put her hand on Jezabelle’s shoulder; “I’ll keep your secret, but how long does she have?” Jez felt the pool of her sister magic end abruptly, a sigh of sadness escaping her. “She has until she turns nineteen, eight months captain. She just failed again…” SalSane turned for the exit; “Come, I’ll buy you a drink after I introduce you to your replacement pilot.” (Back in the Study) The ring of the crown hitting the floor before shattering back into blue energy to fade away was the only sound for a moment. Cecilia was shivering and holding herself as she rocked on her knees. Tears leaked out from under her closed eyes. The screams and crying was slowly fading away. Rainbow Dash’s normally reckless confidence was nonexistent as she struggled to wrap her understanding around something she knew nothing of. What she did understand first and foremost was that she just witnessed worlds being destroyed, a memory so real she could have sworn she was there, and the whole while voices were shouting at her in anger, hysterics, and pain. “That’s a doozy, now I know what makes the frown I can work to turn it upside down.” “Pinkie dear, how can you change something so unforgivable?” Pinkie put a hoof to her chin and thought for a few minutes. “Well, I have no idea how yet. I’ll think of something eventually. What do you think Twilight?” Twilight was so unprepared for what she witnessed, but the question from Pinkie snapped her from her thoughts to speak the first thing on her mind. “It’s like Nightmare Moon and Luna, but I don’t think even she has fully forgiven herself for that either.” Rarity trotted forward; “Cecy dear, here take this since you clearly a mess.” Rarity floated a handkerchief in front of Cecilia, but Cecilia didn’t take it. She instead lurched forward to wrap her hands around Rarity’s neck and bury her face in the fashionista’s mane. “You’re the first people to care other than my sister and parents. Why, why take a chance on a monster like me?” “That is what friends do for one another…that is if…well you know if we are your friends…” Fluttershy hesitantly answered before touching a hoof to Cecilia’s back and started rubbing softly, adding a bit more as she got an approving glance from Pinkie and Twilight. “We all make mistakes; you just need help to fix this one.” “Fluttershy’s right sugarcube, if I had a bit for everytime ah made a mistake I wouldn’t be buckin apples from sun up to sundown. However, you going it alone and refusin help won’t fix nothing. Ya said you could fix it with a thought, and I believe you’d do just that if ya just stop running from the problem.” Cecilia sat back, Fluttershy “eep’d” a bit moving back at the sudden motion. Cecilia snagged the still floating handkerchief, and began drying her eyes with it before blowing her nose. “Who would have thought a simple invitation to accept your friendship could turn into such an emotional mess?” “Oh my gosh, this calls for a party, you will come to this one right Cecy; you have to since you’re going to be the guest of honor.” Cecilia smiled weakly before ruffling Pinkie’s mane. “Was hoping for one; I have a few confessions to make that are not as dark as the one you just saw. The first is actually enjoying a sunrise for once. Everything I’ve ever done on a planet in the past has been mission related and never had much time to really enjoy the small miracles that start and end a day. The second thing is I knew you all were trying to gain my friendship; in the short time I thought I would be here I kept my distance to protect you from heartache of my leaving. I was fool to think such things and your chasing me out to the ruins pretty much sealed the deal that I wasn’t leaving without giving it.” Yulee interrupted with grim news. “Cecy, I have some bad news.” “Let’s hear it now rather than spoil a party with it.” “I’ve managed to clear all error codes but one. I have no base coordinate for this place. I have taken the liberty of mapping out the planet in IMMT coordinates, and have tested it so the system is functioning fine.” Cecilia shrugged as she stood up rolling the ribbon back up and walking around to put it back in the drawer. “You did your best Yulee; I’ll just have to accept my friends offer is all. So where are we currently?” “We are in synchronous orbit above Ponyville per your original orders.” Cecilia looked over at the silent Rainbow Dash. “Rainbow Dash, I do not doubt your friends, but I will not be a wedge that drives apart. If I accept their help to restore my crown, I’d like your help as well; you haven’t said a word since you…” “Pinkie Promise you’ll race me with your own wings and you have yourself a deal.” Cecilia narrowed her eyes on the cyan pegasus. “I promise that before I leave Equestria, two things will happen, one I will wear my crown, and two is that I will race Rainbow Dash on a course created by both princesses of Equestria under my own wing power. Is that good enough for you Rainbow?” She nodded and Cecilia went through the motions with her hand. “Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” Pinkie stomped a hoof. “Enough chit chat, I have schedules to keep.” Cecilia nodded to Pinkie. “I’ll be crashing on Twilight’s couch tonight; you can forward my invitation to the library. I’m going to spend a few hours before sleep doing some research. I’ll be sending you all home directly from here, and I’ll be by at some point in the morning Rarity. I’m going to kidnap you to the spa since I sort of ruined your mane by crying on it.” Rarity lifted a hoof giving Cecilia a dismissing wave of it. “It’s nothing really, would do it for any friend.” Cecilia rolled her eyes and holding her hand up she tapped the air in front of her. A screen formed out of that point. She tapped points on the screen and selected names in the same order. “Goodnight…” Before any pony could get another word in edgewise they were standing in their respective homes. Twilight looked over at Cecilia a smirk playing across her face. “I may have to ask for your help in a few payback pranks.” Cecilia shrugged as she walked to the shelves. “I can teach you a few things, but even then you’ll still fail against Pinkie.” “So you know something about Pinkie?” Cecilia nodded while pulling a book off the shelf. “A little…” “aaaaaand…” Cecilia sat down opening the book responding as she flipped through pages. “I know she’s a great friend, and the rest is classified beyond even the clearance of your princesses.” Twilight shook her head seeing as she wouldn’t get anything more. “Spike keeps telling me not to stay up all night, so I’ll pass along the same advice.” Cecilia paused looking up from the book. “I’ll be fine Twilight, if you’re tired…” Meeting the unicorn’s eyes told the true reason, and Cecilia felt guilty. “You’re afraid of having a nightmare after what you seen this evening?” It was Twilight’s turn to look guilty, and a light blush at feeling so childish. Cecilia patted the rest of the couch she wasn’t using. “Lay down, and when I’m done I’ll carry you up to bed.”