Nostalgia for Infinity

by SoleReclaimer

Episode 1

Nostalgia for Infinity
By: Sole Reclaimer

Chapter One

Twilight Sparkle looked out the window at the blur of scenery rushing by as the train made it's way through the mountainous wilderness. Barely feeling any motion or pumps as the maglev glided along the magically charged tracks.

*Ding* "We will be arriving to the Crystal Imperial City in T-Minus 5 minutes." The announcement arriving through the intercom with a pleasant mare's voice.

Twilight smiled hugely and clapped her hooves together in excitement, causing her royal regalia to jingle. The two guards at the entrance of the private car remained stoic in their deceivingly traditional armor, used to their charges' eccentric behavior by now.

The princess was excited, it's been almost five years since she last seen her sister-in-law do to how busy she's been with her duties.Cadence was like wise too busy to leave her city lately. A lot has changed in the last one in a half centuries, not just for Equestria, but the entire world. Ever since they ran into their newest allies, The United Human Republic.

The maglev burst out into flat open frozen terrain. Speeding at nearly 600 sph (strides per hour, or 300 mph) it didn't take long until the central spire of the Lost City was poking on the horizon.

A lot can change in so many years, the Crystal City is no different. Already more spires and skyscrapers were cropping into view and spreading out. Spearing the heavens with pointed peaks and various cool shades of crystalline hues. Their surfaces glimmered in the mid day sun causing an aurora of color to cascade into the pure blue skies. Jagged and pointed surfaces enhancing the rigid structures, letting none to doubt what ponies grew them.

None of the new skyscrapers were quite as large or tall as the castle though. Despite the near mind numbing technological advances pony kind has enjoyed since being introduced to the wonders from when the humans started falling from the skies in their amazing metal craft, ponykind remained resolutely traditional. Even today despite having faster transportation, instant communication, and Twilight's personal favorite, the internet. Most Equestrians enjoyed simple life.

While the current advancements in architecture, agriculture, and other things could surely create much larger buildings, the Crystal Ponies refused to out build the heart of their city.

That didn't mean they wouldn't spread outwards though. As the maglev started to leave the snowy waste and enter the spring like umbra of the city, the suburbs came into view. From when Twilight and her friends first entered the empire so long ago, the city has almost quadrupled in size, and for good reason too. The Crystal City has become one the centers of cultural hubs in the world. As Twilight's gaze moved across the beautiful sites, it soon fell on the reason why.

The Crystal Shipyards.

Off to the side Twilight couldn't help but feel a swell of pride for what, not only for herself have accomplished, but all of Equestria has done as well.

The yards sat within the industrial district, stretching out and taking up over a two by four miles. Crystalline hangers stood low to the ground, great deep furrows in the ground were used as beds for some of the larger ships in construction. Poly-alloy skeletons of ships were in various stages of completion, while others were starting the slow process of growing crystalline hull to complement the human metal back bones.

Crystal ponies, gryphons, and minotaurs walked, climbed and flew across the yards and scaffolding. Busy in their personal quests of staying on schedule.

When the yards were first being built, many humans scoffed at such a prospect building a shipyard on the surface of a planet, saying that building one in space was much more energy efficient. When confronted with this, Twilight just shrugged and said that’s what gravity magic is for, so meh. 1 point to Equestria!

Besides, most Equestrians don’t really like space in the first place. The majority of the ships were being built for commercial use and the adventure daring. Earth ponies prefer standing on the ground, and pegasi absolutely hates Zero-G. They say it feels like they are constantly falling, and prefers to be on a planet where the gravity wouldn’t have a chance of ‘malfunctioning.’

The majority of Equestria’s fleet were made up of unicorns, who didn’t have the same connection to the earth as earth ponies, nor the same vertigo in Zero-G as pegasi.

Twilight's view, along with her wandering thoughts, was quickly cut off as the train entered the city proper, slowing down as it neared its destination. It pulled into the bustling station. She looked out the window to see dozens of ponies moving about their business, along with some gryphon's and even a few humans in the mix. Their tall lanky bodies being at least a head or two higher than even the gryphon's.

She sat there for a few moments gathering her composure before finally getting up and walking out the door, being flanked by the two guards that had stood there. Nodding to another set of guards outside the car, who will remain there to ensure nobody enters her private chambers, Twilight braved the crowd.

Instantly the station's atmosphere changed as she set hoof onto the platform. The nearest ponies stopped and stared before giving her a short bow and smiling at her. Twilight begun walking forward, the crowd splitting before her as she walked, and as more noticed her presence the more attention she gained. Even the humans bowed their heads in respect, which is no small thing as from her experience humans tend to have some sort of racial pride, making them have a small superiority complex.

In her early days, she wouldn't expect such a welcome. Usually she could walk around with no fanfare and indeed, most not even recognize who she is. But her accomplishments started to catch up on her and Twilight can't hardly leave her Tower without being the center of attention nowadays. She's almost certain most the humans, and some ponies, are recording this through their optical implants as she made her way through.

Twilight held her head up and walked graciously with practiced steps, as expected of her, until she came upon the private royal car that's been waiting for her arrival. The car was pink with gold trim, with a long body and looks something like from Earth's 20th century... With no wheels of course. Her cutie mark was displayed on flags on the hood and back of the car.

Cadence has ‘fallen in love’ with old Earth noir genre films, and it shows.

As soon as the door closed Twilight let out a huge breath and slumped in her seat as the car took off for the palace.

'I'm never going to get used to this, am I?'

Twilight relaxed and turned her thoughts inward, calling upon her implants to open a simple drink menu that was part of the car's system. Thought clicking a simple apple cider, Twilight opened her eyes to watch as a cup emerged seemingly out of the cup holder, rising out of the solid looking upholstery like magic. Which was not the case. The glass of cider was assembled molecule by molecule rapidly by nano machines that were imbedded within in pretty much everything of this hybrid pony-human car. The machines using basic natural materials to make the more complex drink.

Twilight smiled as she thought, 'Technology is amazing.'

Grabbing the drink in her telekinesis she took a sip, and cringed.

'Well not super amazing, there's only so much synthesized food can do...'

It wasn't as if it tasted bad... Just not quite the rich flavor and texture that wholesome, natural foods would create.

Glaring down at the glass before Twilight began searching for something that wasn’t made by microscopic robots that used what was essentially dirt to make drinks, she soon found a compartment in her cabin. She opened it up and a smile spred across her face.

“Cady you know me too well.”

She levitated a bowl of Apple Family Apples along with various spices needed to make the cider along with… Vodka?

Twilight huffed, “Apparently your sense of humor hasn’t changed either,” she shouted to the ceiling and shook her hoof, as if the Princess of Love could hear her, “I have human alcohol one time at a delegation party 10 years ago, and you never let me forget about it huh?!”

‘Besides, the Vice Admiral turned back to normal in a few hours...’ Her ears droop, ‘At least his girlfriend thought it was funny...’

Shaking her head to rid herself of what she has labeled ‘Her Most Embarrassing Moment in Her Life,’ and soon along with it’s sequel, ‘Political Nightmare that She Had to Clean Up,’ Twilight quickly put away the offending drink.

Dumping the faux-cider into disposal, the princess quickly began squishing and mixing the drinks until near perfection. The Element of Honesty that was embedded into her regalia, seemed to glow with approval.

After a few minutes of practiced ease, Twilight finally had her drink. Taking a sip she hummed in satisfaction.

‘Now that’s cider!’

Honestly she felt kinda bad for the humans. Because of their 11.5 billion population, and their world’s changing climates, they had to all but abandon traditional means of agriculture. Relying on soybeans and faux-meat for their diet. While their nano machines could make pretty much whatever they want, the food always had a bland taste to it. This is probably one of the main reasons The Unite Nations was so interested in their world Harmony, they wanted a second Earth. They had yet to find one before hoof that would match their homeworld’s old abundance.

As the car slowed down at the base of the Crystal Palace, Twilight once again shook her head of old memories.

‘I am getting too old for this.’

Getting out of the car when it stopped, Twilight paused to double check what she just thought, and couldn’t help but giggle at herself before making her way forward.

‘Oh well, no point in dwelling on the past. Today is going to be a good day and I am going to enjoy to the fullest.’

Author's Note:

So here it is, my very first chapter for my very first story. I truly hope you enjoyed and don't forget to comment

Also I have no idea what I'm going to do for cover art. Suggestions are appreciated.

Till next time, I'll see you again.

Comments

[Lancelot Heart Seeker]

A Space fairing human race looking for a new home sounds right up my ally, it sounds like a nice ground for conflict though things look calm now I feel the onset of a storm brewing. I always found the idea of humans coming to Equestria but in a little manifest desnity kind of way, but I am just giddy about the whole Nightmare incident a drunk Candace may I have been quite the sight to behold.

[SoleReclaimer]

6301778 indeed, I hope I can deliver well enough. It should get interesting real fast after all the exposition is out of the way.

As for the drunken party there will be plenty of hints through out to paint an entertaining picture.

[Roranicus]

While I find the concept of this story intriguing, issues with grammar kept me from enjoying it. One of the big ones is that you should decide if you want to write in present tense or past tense and stick to it. Also, I felt the beginning was throwing too much exposition around. Stick to the essential, and throw us straight into the action. Explaining details about the setting and its history can wait until it becomes relevant.

My recommendation would be to get an editor. Also, try to limit exposition to what is immediately necessary.