Previous Chapters Next
Close
Party Crashers3,336 words
The Morning After3,156 words
Meet & Greet3,429 words
Research2,772 words

Meet & Greet

Uncharted: Vought's Vestige
Chapter Three: Meat & Greet

"We have so much to do!" Twilight suddenly squealed in excitement, causing Nate and Sully to jump. "You two need a proper meet and greet with the girls! Spike, do you mind seeing if they could meet us by Nate and Sully's 'plane' at noon?" She hurriedly asked while taking up the pieces of Nate's Para 9 again. Spike, while still grumbling over Nate's poor taxonomy, left on his errand just as Twilight began spouting her plans for the next three days at a pace an auctioneer would be jealous of. The pieces of the gun matched pace with her words, whipping into place in a blur of gunmetal and magic.

"This meeting with the Princess is going to be amazing! I mean, how often do two sentient species meet for the first time? Oh, if you don't have them, you'll need suits from Rarity. No offense, but you can't meet the Princess in those clothes. Do you have any suits with you, like in your 'plane?'"

The magazine clicked into its placed before the trigger assembly snapped together floated into the grip.

"Well, no, but-" Sully sputtered.

"Hey! Applejack and Rainbow Dash could help you get your 'plane' unstuck! By the way, why is it called a 'plane?' It's far from being a two-dimensional construct."

The hammer spring tensioned while being crammed into its seat behind the firing pin, the sideplates grasping the assembly before joining the trigger in the grip.

"It's short for-" Nate attempted to cut in.

"Actually, that can wait. Oh! But what can't wait is-"

The magic surrounding the gun glowed slightly brighter as Twilight began to fight the barrel spring to fit the slide. The aura tightened its grip on every surface of the gun which depressed the trigger, and caused a slight click as the slide fit to its retracted position.

"Oh no, don't-!"

Twilight released her grip on the slide not knowing she’d chambered a round. Both the unicorn and the gun recoiled when the muzzle flared from the exploding gunpowder. The former was struck by the latter as it broke from her grip. Nate had frozen in place, his hand still outstretched towards where his gun had been moments ago. Sully was clutching his chest, not in recovery from a heart-attack or a bullet wound, but in holding back roars of laughter at Twilight's expense. After a few moments of silence, save for the clinking of the casing against the floor and Sully's continued wheezing, the mare spoke.

"Perhaps... you two would like a tour of Ponyville now?" Twilight sheepishly proposed while rubbing her freshly bruised forehead.

“Yeah, that sounds safe at least. What do you think, Sully?”

“Heh, why not,” Sully replied after calming himself enough to speak again. “It’s not like we’d be goin’ anywhere with the Goose as it is. Lead the way, Sparkler.”

Nate followed Sully and Twilight up through the lobby after re-populating his holster with his Para, but paused as he passed Twilight's desk. Among the cluttered stacks of textbooks and half-used parchment lay a small leather-bound book. The tattered book was very similar to the journals he kept on his long treks with Sully. Had he dropped his journal the night before? Had he even taken it with him on the trip to begin with? Not one to leave his journal behind if he could help it, Nate quickly slipped the book into his back pocket and quickened his pace to catch up with Twilight at the door.

While Ponyville is considered a small town due to its population only just breaking two thousand, one wouldn’t think so while attempting to cross its breadth. It sprawled over 600 acres, not including Silver Lake or the fields of Sweet Apple Acres. Nate was learning this locally known fact the hard way as he trailed behind Twilight and Sully whilst taking in the sights.

"Oh, and this is where Pinkie Pie lives! She's another one of the Elements of Harmony, and represents the Element of Laughter because she can..." Twilight rambled on as the trio passed by Sugarcube Corner. Nate incredulously eyed the frosting-mortared building, itching to sketch it in his journal. He'd come close to pulling it out earlier to document Twilight's treehouse, but stayed his hand out of fear that Twilight might've taken offense. Now, though, with Twilight seemingly lost in her own little world, seemed as good a time as any. He levered the journal open with one hand while silently taking the pen Sully always kept with him for quick contracts with the other. He was surprised as he glanced back at the open book; instead of his quick sketches and scratchy notes from the lost city of Ubar, Nate found himself looking over a wall of text written in precise handwriting:

17:29, The 12th day of the Spring Cycle of the 599th Year of the Celestial Diarchy.
The Princesses are once again arguing over the length of the Equestrian day. This discourse happens annually, upon the growing hours of the day in the Spring Cycle, to the point where Captain Polaris of the Lunar Guard and I have grown accustomed to Their bickering, taking to conversing amongst each other as the Sisters have it out in Their chambers. As I write this, however, this year's argument seems a bit more heated than in ye-
ADDENDUM: As of 20:56, Princess Luna hath vacated the castle proper in a rather unpleasant humor. I questioned Captain Polaris as to Her sudden departure and destination, although he did not have the answers I requested.

“Well, who do we have here?” Nate mused as he found the previous owner's name printed neatly inside the front cover, curious as to the entry’s author. This "Captain Steadfast of the Solar Guard" had kept a neat log, filling page after page of notes ruled to military precision, with small, highly-detailed sketches punctuating most entries. Nate began skimming page after page of the Captain's logs, passing entries for general reports, thefts, training, promotions, demotions, and the otherwise daily lives of the two princesses, all dated within the sixth century of the Celestial Diarchy.

Nate turned past Steadfast's last report on recruit standings within the guard, only to find the Captain's steady writing just... ended. Nothing remained but a dozen torn out pages, the phrase "The Three Lieutenants watch over Celestia's Folly" emblazoned within the back cover, and three dots placed irregularly above a jagged line. Before he could process it further, a melodious voice caught his attention.

"Good morning, gentlecolts, Twilight! Oh, it is just a wonderful day, isn't it?" Rarity greeted.

"Ha! No thanks to lazy-bones over there!" Applejack quipped. Nate looked up from the journal to find he'd tuned out the rest of Twilight's tour and ended up by the nose of the Goose. Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity and Spike were sitting on a picnic blanket not too far away, while a single cloud hovered over the aircraft; a prismatic tail draped over the side.

Twilight giggled slightly before turning back to the men. "So, that's Ponyville! Any questions?"

"Do you mind if I get something from the plane before we sit down?" Nate asked, pocketing Steadfast's journal for later study. After a quick nod from Twilight, he waded into the lake towards the plane's hatch. Since discovering he'd taken the wrong journal at the library, he'd been set on locating his own. The time in the plane would give him the perfect amount of time to mull over and write down Steadfast's cryptic message. He popped the latch on the door only to be blasted away by a sudden torrent of confetti, balloons and streamers.

"SURPRIIIISE!"

A waterlogged Nate looked up from the shallows to see a vibrantly pink mare standing just within the plane. She straddled a still smoldering cannon, an impossibly large grin on her face. Behind her, ribbons, bunting and a "Welcome to Ponyville, Nate & Sully!" banner were strung up within the cabin. Nate could only muster a confused face. Just who was this? Did Twilight know her? And just how the hell did she get into the Goose?!

"Hi, I'm Pinkamina Dianne Pie, but you can call me Pinkie Pie! I'm the Premier Pink Party Pony of Ponyville and I throw parties for every new pony in town, buuut... youandSullyaren'treallyponies,soIguess
I'dhavetosay'Iwelcomeeverynewthingintown,'butthatsoudsmeantosay'thing'insteadof'pony,'becausethen
that'slikeyour'resayingyou-"

"PINKIE! Could you just let Nate in? He needs to get something from the... 'cabin’," Twilight chided. Pinkie smiled sheepishly before dismounting her Party Cannon and making room for Nate to climb inside before happily splashing away to shore. Nate clumsily navigated the cluttered mess which was the Goose's cabin, having left the delicate art of cramming their supplies into the plane to Sully.

Dammit Sully, Nate mentally cursed as he found the old man had piled all of Nate’s trinkets from their latest escapade into a box simply marked “Nate’s crap,” next to a mess of old aeronautical charts. Antique silver box, pocket watch, diamond-studded horse brooch (the girls might like that one), he mentally listed while emptying the box, Old ring, old ring, old fancy ring, necklace, another brooch, strange... egg thing... bangles, ah-ha! He fished the journals from the bottom of the box and began to transfer Steadfast’s message with its accompanying sketch onto an open page of his journal from Ubar. He snuck a peek out of the Goose’s windshield to find Sully speaking with Twilight.

"So, ah, what's with this town and tattoos?"

"What do you mean?"

"Everyone's gotta tattoo, the same spot as yours, now that I think about it. What is that, some sort-of pony right-of-passage?"

"Uh, do you mean my Cutie-Mark?"

"Let's go with that."

"Well, a Cutie-Mark signifies a pony's special talent. Mine is magic, Applejack's pertains to her apple orchards, and Rarity's pertains to her work with gems and fashion. Ponies earn them in filly-hood once they discover what they excel in, and the Mark appears. So, it's not a tattoo Mr. Sullivan. Does that clear things up?" A satisfied grunt was his only response. "Excellent! Anything else?"

"Uh, yeah," Nate began, handing over Steadfast's journal having finished his business in the Goose for the time being. "I believe this is yours? I think I picked it up by mistake back at the library. Seems like a journal from-" He was cut off as Twilight hurriedly snatched the journal away from him with her magic, letting loose a small whinny of panic before disappearing in a bright flash. Nate blinked a couple of times, trying to get the after-image of the flash from his vision. He found Sully doing the same, but oddly enough, none of the five mares seemed to take much notice of Twilight's sudden absence. With another flash and crack! of reality reforming itself, Twilight appeared by Nate's side, causing the man to jump a little.

"Well, abra-goddamn-cadabra..." Sully mused.

"Okay... well..." Twilight huffed, slightly winded from her quick trip, "Let's get back to business. Nathan, Sully, these are my friends, some of which you've met: Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, the one on the raincloud is Rainbow Dash, and my assistant Spike -whom I really need to talk to right now."

"Come, have a seat, gentlecolts!" Rarity beckoned for the two to sit by her, but Sully sat by Applejack instead, leaving Nate by his lonesome. He was slightly intimidated by the alabaster unicorn. He had no idea if she understood the intent of his actions the night before, or how she would react. Magic or not, that horn looked like it could do some serious damage. Rarity leaned in to Nate and began to whisper. "Mr. Sullivan didn't tell me much last night after your little, panic attack, but I do understand what happened. I abhor those dreadful... things... as well. Their colors are always clashing, and that makeup! Oh!" She dramatically placed a forehoof to her head before continuing. "I only wore that garish outfit because I... because of... an... agreement."

Nate eased up slightly at the revelation. Sure, he never wanted his severe coulrophobia to be uncovered, but if it meant he didn't have to own up to the irrational fear himself, it was alright in his book.

"So, Nathan, what is it that you and Mr. Sullivan do, exactly?" She continued, loud enough for the rest of the group to hear.

"Sully didn't tell you?"

"Figured you should be the one to tell 'em, kid." Sully remarked, traces of another apple pie clinging to his mustache.

"Okay... well... we're fortune hunters. We travel-" He was interrupted by a blue face suddenly invading his vision.

"You explore the world?" Rainbow excitedly asked, her magenta eyes shimmering.

"Yeah."

"Do you hunt for ancient treasure?"

"The bills don't pay themselves."

"Do you raid dungeons, dodge death traps and fight ancient villains?!"

"Uh, I guess you could say that?"

"Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygooosh! You're just like DARING DOO!" She shrieked, earning a few chuckles from the group. Her enthusiasm was lost on the humans.

"Daring who?"

"Daring Doo!"

"Daring dude?"

"No, Doo!"

"...Who?" Nate scrunched his face in confusion, looking to Sully for an answer.

"Daring Doo, Nate. Even I heard that. Who is on first." Sully chucked at his own little joke while preparing a cigar.

"Who now?" Applejack chimed in.

"You got it."

"No, Ah'm askin' ya, who's on first?"

“Who is on first.”

“What are you asking Applejack for,” Rainbow cut in. “What’s the guy’s name on first?”

“No, What’s on second base.” It was Nate's turn to laugh as Sully was soon encircled by the mares, being bombarded with questions. Twilight had stepped aside with Spike, seemingly berating the little drake. A few moments passed before Spike sulked away towards town, leaving Twilight on her own.

Nate decided now was a good time to find out more about Steadfast's journal. If it had been just a journal, her reaction had been a little over the top. He sidled over to her and was about to speak when she cut him off.

“I’m sorry about snatching away that journal, Nate, but nopony but me is supposed to have it. It’s a very important Equestrian artifact and dates back to the sixth century. It’s also a valuable insight as to what life in Equestria was like over a thousand years ago. It almost never leaves Canterlot, but I’ve been granted the chance to study it by Celestia herself. If anything happened to it...”

“Wait, wait, wait. That book was over one thousand years old? So it’s the year... 1600 now?”

“1603, yes.”

“Why hasn’t it rotted yet?”

“In the year 353 of the Heliacal Monarchy -the thousand years between Nightmare Moon and now- Steadfast’s journal was recognised as an important historical document, and had a spell cast on it to prevent deterioration. How’d you find it? I was sure I had put it away in its proper place after I finished studying it last night.”

“I saw it on your desk while heading out for the tour. I thought it was one of mine.” He said while producing both of his own journals. Noticing her look of interest, he handed his journal from Shambhala for her to tab through. She eagerly flipped from page to page, drinking in Nate’s notes and sketches.

“THIRD BASE!” Came a collective, frustrated yell from Sully and the mares. “Alright, alright, I think that’s enough for now, ladies. Nate! Let’s get to work on freeing up the Goose here!”

Meanwhile...

The ride from Canterlot was about as entertaining as watching paint dry on a blade of grass whilst attempting to judge exactly how fast it was growing in the middle of one of the dog days of summer. Normally, the trip between the two settlements could take a maximum of half an hour, but unfortunately for 12, delays due to ongoing track work between Canterlot and Saddleton drew out the thirty minute jaunt into two hours of pure boredom, and she was glad when she could finally disembark at Saddleton's Fort Trotten station. One step closer to her contact, one step closer to another fat paycheck. It was beginning to be an all too familiar feeling for her, really.

The streets of Saddleton were easy enough to navigate, there only existed one main thoroughfare plus a few side streets just important enough to be numbered. 12 could hardly believe such a small settlement even warranted its own stop on the Canterlot-Area Transit Authority rail system. Still, it was exactly the place she and her contact needed to be. Being so small and having no major claim to fame like Appleloosa, Saddleton rarely saw an influx of tourists. If anything, it was a commuter town, with shops built to cater the needs of Canterlot and Manehattan businessponies looking for a quick bite to eat before sailing off to work. As a result, the locals hardly gave 12 a second glance as she trotted down the street towards one of the local cafés, searching for her contact.

12 was frustrated with her day so far. Why did those squints have to leave such little
information for her? Yes, it was a given they were meeting at a café, and Saddleton only had two eateries classified as such, but those pencil-pushing desk jockeys just had no idea was it was like for a pony in the field. Her contact wasn’t one to be tardy, so 12 was sure she’d at least be waiting for her. It wasn’t supposed to be difficult to find her, what with 09’s bright magenta coat, but 12 was having no luck whatsoever as she browsed the almost empty café.

She trotted across the street to the other café, allowing her mood to brighten as she spied her contact sitting towards the back of the restaurant.

"Oh, it's been too long! How are you? Please, have a seat!" The other mare gushed
while animatedly beckoning 12 to sit across from her. Ugh, the acting. Why did they have to act, anyway? Couldn't they just meet in some back alley and actually talk straight for once? It didn't matter, as it seemed whenever 12 was meeting a contact, the squints loved the irony of having a musician act out the part of a deaf mute (12 gathered it was also so she couldn't readily dispute a contract). She had gotten pretty decent in acting the part. Absentmindedly flicking her ears to no place in particular and feigning the concentrated stare of a lip-reader almost came naturally to her.

It didn't make the conversations any more bearable though. Every sentence was laced with double-meaning, with a story to match her contact's profession. 09 blathered on about how well her "new students" were getting along with "the class," and how they had arrived in a "new carriage" before everyone else and blah blah blah... Yeugh. It all really boiled down to the same message in the end: Humans are here, kill'em, call in disposal, get paid. Why did they even bother to drag both of them out here to begin with?

At last, 09 seemed to be reaching the end of her "story," and motioned for feedback from 12. The mare rolled her eyes before scribbling her response down on the back of a napkin, standing up, and departing for the train station, more than ready to complete her contract.

Author's Note:

Well, this took longer than expected, but it's here!

Special thanks to XorGate, Aatxe360, and The11thWonder for their excellent prereading and editing!

3,334 views

217

Previous Chapters Next