New dawn, Medical Centre.
The still white room was new and fresh; the reinforced bed only recently bolted to the floor, as was a steel table and matching chairs, the 'toilet' (a bevelled hole with a thick curtain around it) was stainless steel, its edges flush with the toughened tile surface of the floor. The metal walls were smooth and featureless aside from a gigantic mirror that stretched floor to ceiling across half of one wall.
The cell held only one occupant behind its heavy door. A black coated alicorn, half covered with the thick blanket, her visible body shrouded in tight white bandages, the velvet coat marred here and there by a few long rows of neatly stitched incisions. The chest of the winged unicorn rose and fell in gentle rhythm, hitching here and there the lips on her muzzle moved constantly, mumbling nonsensical phrases in a language that was long dead. Long hooves twitched and pawed at the air as some phantasmal dream drove through the mare's mind. The horned horse fell silent after long minutes of motion, her breathing steadying and her mumbling lips falling still. Silence reigned over the white room once again.
Eventually one eye cracked open slightly, a blue rimmed pupil contracting into a pinprick in the bright light that filled the room, then the lids closed again and a groan escaped from dry lips.
The blanket covering Luna's prone form slid away as the mare struggled to get shaking legs under herself, using wings to help the forelimbs push. The protracted groan turned into a yelp of surprise as her left side faltered and the mare tumbled from the mattress to fall heavily on the tiled floor, her long limbs tangled in the blanket. Unshod hooves found little purchase on the polished ceramics, skittering and scraping as the now silent goddess struggled to her feet.
Finally finding her balance, Luna inspected herself with tired eyes, her frown deepening a the sight of bandages and the stitches. "So t'was no dream of mine, I am captured. At least they saw fit to keep me healthy" Her voice was resigned, but a sigh escaped when she looked back towards her rump and up towards where her mane should be; instead of long flowing hair resplendent with the shimmer of stars, black with the mysteries of night, there was instead little to see, her tail had been shaven down to the dock, her mane had been roached from forelock to withers "Mine dignity however, seems unimportant"
But then her eyes travelled upwards once more, towards her horn, her long, thin and tightly bandaged horn "Surely tis but a jest..."
Her intact, undamaged, and wholly unrestrained, horn.
She giggled inwardly, then laughed out loud. Luna smiled and then smirked "Mine captors hath signed thine own death warrants." The Alicorn Goddess stood up tall as she could and flared her wings.
She locked eyes at the wall, raised her horn high into the air, and shut her eyes in concentration...
...Minutes passed in near silence, the only sound being Luna's gentle breathing....
...Slowly, the smirk began to fade into a neutral line that became a grim frown of frustration.
Her eye cracked open, glaring at her un-glowing horn before closing once again....
...Minutes more went by, the Lunar Princess's expression becoming ever more frustrated and yet more angry...
Eventually her rage bubbled to the surface in a shout that shook the mirrored wall "DAMNABLE HORN!" Her eyes snapped open and she began to paw at the ground in anger "THOU SHALT OBEY ME!" her hooves wheeled, punching at the air as she reared and bucked, back-hooves pounding twin kinks in the bed's steel frame. Muscles rippled under her scarred hide while Luna bucked, again and again lashing out with both hooves at the bed.
The goddess slowed after many minutes to a stop, a single leg of the bed was nearly ripped from the floor and the side nearest the alicorn bent sharply where it had been kicked. Her fur was slick with sweat and shiny with trickles of blood, half a dozen exposed stitches had ripped open from the exertion, and spreading silver stains on her bandages told of a few more hidden by the gauze, her wings drooped to her side.
"All done?" the question was asked in a sing-song happy voice. Luna's eyes snapped towards the sound, her wings flaring once again and her entire body shifting back into a defensive posture. Her burning eyes found the source, a pink-suited woman, flanked by a trio of armoured marines with assault rifles gripped in their gauntlets. The woman smiled back at the growling princess, her manner and voice bright and happy "We've been been informed by our scouts that your kind speak this language. Can you understand me?"
Luna chose to respond in an angry roar "WHAT HAST THOU DONE TO MINE HORN!" She slammed a hoof into the ground and scraped it back, her posture shifting from defense to attack, heedless of the marine guard.
The woman's smile neither faltered nor faded, she ignored the imminent charge to talk brightly "I'll take that as a definite yes, wonderful. Would you like to take a seat?" A wave of her hand motioned to the table.
An angry snort escaped the enraged mare's nose, but nothing more save a roar as she surged upwards and forwards with horn lowered...
...Only to slam into the ground two steps later, her legs buckling and her body crashing to the floor as if struck by a gigantic hammer, her thunderous roar faded to frustrated grunts as the godly alicorn strained to move. A gentle thrum coming from the floor.
The woman inspected her nails, tutting through her smile as if at a small child "Now now, none of that. It's lucky that I've had the gravity generators rigged to stop you, someone might have been hurt if you had gotten much further, and then where would we be hmm?"
Luna snarled back, a few more stitches popping open as she struggled to lift herself off the floor "HAPPY!" she managed to push herself further off the ground, almost standing fully up...
....Only to be slammed back down, the thrumming under the floor getting louder. The woman shook her head "Well if you're going to be like that dear, I'll be doing something a bit more drastic. I'd much prefer you calm down so we can talk." her voice remained cheerful, her eyebrow raised but smile in place.
Luna strained and struggled again, ignorant of her wounds.
The pink-suited woman tutted again "You'll do yourself nothing good if you don't stop fighting dear." She nodded to one of the marines next to her, the armoured giant gave a small nod of acknowledgment and walked forward.
The thrum beneath the floor stopped suddenly, The growling alicorn surged to her hooves with a bellow on her lips, but her resurgence was cut short when the marines strode in, armoured gauntlets grabbing hold of Luna and their combined weight forcing her down again; her wings beat uselessly for a moment before they were pinned to her side and her horn failed to find purchase before a heavy hand grabbed hold, forcing a scream of pain from the struggling Princess.
Eventually the trio of marines had the alicorn held down with her mouth covered and muzzle held to face the woman, who walked over and lowered herself down to look her captive in the eye. "If you won't listen to reason dear, this is what you can expect." receiving nothing but a death glare in return, she reached into her suit pocket and pulled out a small black object "Do you recognize this? This is a grenade." She waved the psych-out grenade in-front of Luna, tilting it to give her a good view.
All the fight left he princess, her eyes filled with fear and the echoes of agony while her limbs went limp, whimpering into the Marine's gauntlet. The woman waved a hand and the Marine released his grip on the alicorn's mouth.
Luna pleaded in hoarse whisper "No.. Not again.. Please." she struggled weakly as the grenade was brought marginally closer before taken away.
The woman maintained her happy smile as she tucked the grenade back into her pocket "Much better dear." she patted the princesses muzzle affectionately, pulling away as Luna tried to shrink back. "Now if you're a good little 'filly' as I think your species might say, you'll never see one of those again." She waved her hand at the Marines as she stood.
The marines released their captive and stood well back, hands flying to grip their assault rifles again. The black alicorn stood up slowly, limbs trembling and her posture shrunken. Her gaze flickered over the pocket where the grenade hid, and she suppressed a shiver
The pink-suited woman watched Luna rise carefully, her eyebrow shooting up when she noted a suppressed wince cross the mare's face “Are you in pain?” The woman asked, her own ice-blue eyes scanning over the rivulets of silver blood that streaked the black furred hide.
When the alicorn nodded with eyes downcast there came the tutting again, before the woman spoke up in a mix of motherly concern and hard-edged annoyance, all curling from her omnipresent smile. “Well of course you are, the emitters must be stopping your regeneration. Chief McConnell's going to be very annoyed with you ruining all her hard work.”
Luna mumbled an apology, stepping towards the table at the woman's gesture, she couldn't help but hiss in pain as her back legs finally decided that they were injured, one of them buckling outright under the alicorn's weight while the other shook violently in a sudden spasm. Her fall was arrested by the intervention of a nearby marine, the giant supporting the princess with surprising gentleness despite his large frame. Luna stammered her thanks, but the marine didn't respond.
The woman laughed a little “They don't speak the language I'm afraid. I'm one of a few that do” she watched Luna struggle into the short legged chair, still smiling brightly while the captive alicorn struggled to find a position that didn't press on her numerous wounds or trap her injured legs, failing miserably.
Luna finally settled into place, though her wings twitched in discomfort. She was still downcast and sad as the Pink-Suited woman settled into her own chair with ease, apparently comfortable despite the cold steel and straight backed chair.
The woman let the silence hang for a moment before speaking “Well now dear, introductions first before anything else.” she motioned to herself and then each of the marines in turn “My name's Sergeant Jenny Mako, from the Recreation and Leisure division of the Logistics Corps. The Marine behind me is Corporal Chao Chen, 5th Company, 3rd Platoon. To your left is Private Jeanne Zithers, 2nd Company, 1st Platoon. Last but not least we have Private Ethan Blue, 4th Company, 8th Platoon.”
The marines saluted, their armour clattering, before returning to ready positions as Jenny went on “You might recognise two of them dear, Corporal Chen and Private Blue were both on the mission to capture you.”
Private blue spoke up when Luna looked back at him “Yeah, I was first through the door. Still have the shoulder wound where you stabbed me.” he couldn't help a growl tingeing his voice with anger for the last few words.
The princess shrank back a little, a spark of fear back in her eyes “S-sorry” she stammered out, turning away to look at Sgt. Mako “My name's Luna. Princess Luna of Canterlot, I co-rule alongside my sister.”
Jenny smiled all the brighter “No need to be scared Luna, just behave and we'll all be best of friends.” she leaned forward onto her elbows “You say you're a princess dear? How exciting to finally meet some royalty. What's your sister's name? Is she a princess too?”
Luna looked a little hesitant, but she attempted a half-smile “Yes, Princess Celestia is my older sister. She is the sun, I am the moon. Together we rule over our kingdom.”
Sgt. Mako nodded “That's lovely Luna dear” she waggle her finger with a sudden smirk “Though technically you don't have a kingdom if it's two princesses ruling, that's a Diarchal Principality” Noting Luna's miffed expression, Mako moved swiftly on with her warm smile back in place “Moving on dear. Do you know why you're here?”
Luna scuffed her hoof on the chair, a little downtrodden “No..”
Mako smiled and waved a hand “Oh well, it's no trouble dear. You'll find out soon enough. Do you know where you are?”
Luna answered without hesitation “22,336 miles above Zebrica, orbital trajectory will take us above Canterlot in 5 hours” she blinked, glancing around at her captors and shrinking back from the shocked expression on the Sergeant's face “A-am I wrong? Sorry.”
Sgt. Mako blinked away her shock and resumed her smile, speaking comfortingly “Nothing to be sorry for dear. You're not wrong, I think, but that's... that's an impressively accurate approximation.”
Luna smiled fully, confidence restored a bit by the implied complement “Tis no approximation Sergeant, I am a goddess, I do not guess, I know. If I cannot know where I am at all times, then what hope do I have of guiding the moon across the sky?”
Jenny raised an eyebrow, though her smile didn't fade “You guide the moon?”
Luna nodded “As my sister moves the sun across the sky to create day, I do with the moon at night”
Mako's smile didn't falter, pressing on regardless “That's... Interesting my dear, very interesting. How can you do that?”
Again Luna answered without hesitation “Magic”
Jenny once again struggled to keep her face locked in its smile “Magic?”
It was Luna's turn to snort in mild annoyance, her confidence boosted by familiar waters “Yes Magic, what other explanation is required? We float thousands of miles above the planet, and thou dares to imply that magic is insufficient as an explanation?”
Sgt. Mako thought for a moment, then her smile lit up again “I think I know what you mean Luna, but not everything is 'Magic' dear. We humans don't have any magic, just technology.”
Luna's confident stance faltered “Technology? Thee floats above the planet without magic, using technology?”
The smile widened “Ridiculously advanced technology my dear, by the apparent technological level of your species society. Don't you wonder why this 'magic' of yours aren't working? Why your muscles seem less powerful”
Luna was not confident now and more nervous than anything, she glanced around the room “Mayhaps I do wonder...” realisation dawning, she put on a tone of incredulity, and glared at the woman “Art thou suggesting that thine technology is the reason mine horn no longer obeys me? That it is sufficient to contain a goddess?”
Mako leaned in, her smile a toothy grin “I'm not suggesting anything, I'm telling. Our tech was good enough to catch you, it's good enough to hold you.” she saw the disbelief in Luna's eyes and went on “I'll prove it too. “
The princess narrowed her eyes and turned her nose up at Jenny“Thine tongue speaks naught but lies, perhaps your surgeon bumbled their work and mine horn was damaged. But no mere technology, no matter how advanced, can contain the magical might of an alicorn”
Mako shook her head “Your little horn is perfectly fine dear. You'll learn eventually that I'm no liar” She smiled again “Now, shall we move on? Are you Hungry? Thirsty?”
The alicorn smacked her dry lips and fidgeted uncomfortably, hesitating to admit any weakness “...Yes..”
Mako smiled warmly “Well we'll soon solve that. I'll send word to the galley to get you some food and drink, and a medic will be along soon to see to your injuries, though I suspect CMO McConnell will be coming herself. Can I get a promise that you won't try to attack anyone else? They'll all be carrying those nasty grenades, and not all of them will be as nice as me.”
Luna shook at the memory, but kept her expression neutral “I promise.”
Mako stood “Wonderful. Well I must be going dear, make yourself at home” she snapped her fingers at the waiting marines, there was a cacophony of clinks and clanks as they filed out of the room, going out through a door that opened seamlessly in the mirror-wall.
Luna watched them go with old eyes; old, nervous eyes, unsure and unknowing. As the last of the armoured men left, she shuddered and laid her head on the table, her whole being sagging down.
It began as a whimper, descending slowly into sobs.
Unheeding or unknowing of the watching cameras, Luna broke down and cried in frustration, sobbed in fear, wept in pain and cried just for the sake of getting her emotions out into the cold white room.
I regret nothing
*Maniacal laughter*
Yes, yes, I know. The humans have Luna, and she is upset. The first person to post an image of Woona will probably have the joy of causing me to explode from the feels.
That said - _I wish I could see their faces!_
They are fully aware of the fact that Luna, from the outside and unrestrained, could easily crush their ship, regardless of the shielding they've put on it. _And they've just found out big sister is more powerful_.
They must be running out of clean trousers up there.
1143351 Makes you glad your not on that ship doesn't it?
... shit
this just might be the first time i feel sorry for someone/pony who has experienced true fear
THE FUCK HAVE YOU DONE TO ME!?!?
1143532 Feel her pain..
th02.deviantart.net/fs70/PRE/i/2012/161/0/b/sad_luna_by_afkrobot-d5003p6.png
FEEL IT!! YOU WANTED THIS Now FEEL!!!
Enjoy the story
i like where this is going.....
i have no idea whats gonna happen next but i think ill just pull up a chair sit back and enjoy the ride
[img] http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20111123232361/mlp/images/thumb/4/46/Discord_Evil_Grin_S2E2.png/640px-Discord_Evil_Grin_S2E2.png [/img]
1143561
Hrrk! No... too.. many... feels... *explodes*
1143624 damn, there goes a fan
Somebody get a mop!
Not to rain on your parade but .75 light years is actually very, very far away. Like out of the solar system far. Neptune is about .0005 light years from the sun. We would already be having to travel through interstellar space to reach it. The farthest man made object from earth, right now, is Pioneer 10. It is, at best, just shy of .002 light years from earth, and has officially left the solar system, and it has been traveling for 40 years. Pioneer 11, the next farthest is only .0015 light years away. Even if there was an anomaly .75 light years away, we would have no way of detecting it unless it was giving off a significant amount of radiation or had a huge gravity well. We'd have to have already stumbled across it.
Oh, and the idea that in 200 years we're still calling the sun, the sun is silly. Scientists already call it "Sol". I think it they're exploring space they would be calling it that as well.
1143744 In the words of a famous apple farmer: "Don't you use your fancy mathematics to muddy the issue!"
But if you insist Hun. Allow me to explain. It is the future, in a work of fiction. I altered reality as necessary to fit my the narrative purposes.
1143784
Well I knew it was total fiction when you said all of earth was united.
1143802 I was kinda breaking suspension of disbelief with that huh?
Imma going to read whole this thing. Sleep is for weak anyway.
1143561
static.tumblr.com/k5lgmbs/gZXm7hhc2/oh_god_what_have_i_done.jpg
I REGRET EVERYTHING!!!!
1143860 Oh dear lord
It's okay Omega, It's okay I was planning on doing this anyway, what happened to Luna isn't your fault.
What's about to happen to the CMC, in two chapter's time. Is completely your fault though Sorry.
1143991 Thank you Paul
1144006
i- i caused the suffering of three small fillies that hasn't even found their special talents yet?
icons.iconarchive.com/icons/icons-land/vista-style-emoticons/256/Cry-icon.png
i am beyond disgusting. im a monster who's mere existence is repulsive
1144099 Please don't be sad Omega.
I'm kidding of course I'd never hurt those cute little fillies..... *runs off to edit chapter*
1144099
You Disgust me
1144200 stop it i will not have bullying in my comments, unless I'm the one doing it.
1144213
Ok, Mate
1144229 Much better
1144158
img4up.com/up2/58727345168837876592.jpg
YOU ARE JUST SAYING THAT TO MAKE ME FEEL BETTER!!!
1143304
's what arragont pricks get for messin' with humanity.
Seriously though, I like it how humanity is kicking ass here. I hate it when fanfic princesses think they can bully magicaless races around without consequences.
1144244 Oh dear. don't cry...
If it makes you feel any better, I could write in Celestia begging for her life/that of another pony in an upcoming chapter
1144295 I did write this with the intention of breaking the 'all powerful' vibe around the ponies. To me Celestia and Luna are always used as deus ex machina devices, swooping in and solving the story without much effort.
I intend to write a decent story of them, facing off against a foe that equals/exceeds their own powers. Capable of defending and attacking them on equal terms.
I'll give them a common enemy at some point, to stop this devolving into a grimdark 'end of equestria' fic.
1144296 really?
I have never been happier in my whole life
But in all seriousness, I would love that but I won't accept you doing anything that you don't want to only to please one fan
1144344 Yay. You called yourself a fan
And eh... I was going to have her pleading with the humans anyway but for you, I'll make her less 'in control' of the situation.
1143811
I even ignored a lot too. Like how a wormhole would be stationary, but the earth and sun are not, so it wouldn't be .75 light years away for more than a few minutes. We've moving very fast right now. I've heard the example, if you jumped forward in time just one second without also moving in space, you might still be within the solar system if you're lucky. The wormhole would be stationary because it's a hole in space-time while planets and stuff move through it.
Also, the only idea on how to keep a wormhole open and stable involves throwing a rope of some sort through it that gives of negative energy. Not sure how that would work.
1144488
Exsqueeze me, Good Sir, but I don't believe anypony on here will be seriously offended about bits of science trivia, that this brill story may guilty of getting wrong. I am a mere mortal, as are most of us who read this.
Don't bother us with your boring stuffiness.
1144378 I wub you so much right now
static.fjcdn.com/comments/i+also+have+a+red+eyed+I+wub+you+Vinyl+_50112a09c68d117a9a09c3ee2fdca938.png
I agree, it is interesting how Humanity with the powee of science and technology is able to stand up to super powerful mages.
1144509
Here here! Or is it hear hear? Either way, almost everyone came on here becuase they wanted to break away from boring old reality. STOP RUINING THE DREAM MECHCOLT! Also, let me show you the face of the destroyer of all logic, and who's very existance makes your argument invalid:
chzbronies.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic-brony-pinkie-pie-laws-of-phisics.png
1144296
Celestia? On her hooves, pleading for her life? DO WANT!
I never really liked her, anyway.
i wonder how bad things would be up there if discord got free? he is a reality warper to say the least.
1144378 If I might make a request, please don't go too over the top with with it. He may not exactly have been prepped for this situation when the mission first set out, but surely Captain Morgan would be aware that forcing the leader of one of the governments that he is probably going to want cooperation from to totally debase herself probably isn't the most diplomatic approach. Considering her conversation with Shining I am sure Celestia could roll with it as needed, but if any of her little ponies see it I'm not convinced they wouldn't go apeshit on her behalf – Shining Armor in particular is already on edge from the kidnapping event.
That said, I am pretty impressed with the story so far. The humans are very competent and are clearly capable of holding their own/dominating the situation, but for the most part you are staying away from the over used "humans are bastards" trope with really only one exception.
That exception, however, seriously sticks out. A medical doctor (who I assume has sworn to do no harm) who is willing to perform a vivisection on a obviously intelligent & sentient life form with the rationale that it's okay because it isn't human? Forgive me for invoking Godwin, but that is the sort of logic that led to concentration camps and I almost stopped reading right then and there out of disgust.
1145563
A Fucking greed.
Get my flamer... we got a story to burn...
[puts up modified heresy notice]
BY THE ORDER OF THE ANTI-'HORRORS OF HUMANITY' DEPARTMENT OF THE UN
This story is to be banned due to some Nazi undertones being part of the 'good' category. Anyone openly suggesting Nazism or anything related to Nazism is to be investigated and punished severely. The Nazi ideal is an ideal for Crimes Against Sapience. This is not to be tolerated. If anything, this draconian measure is to contain the ideals of Nazism and other 'Crimes against Sapience' level threats of human dignity and mentality. If you support these ideals, please keep them off the air or turn in your memberships. Thank you and have a nice day.
FUCK OFF LEAVE LUNA ALONE
...Thou can get to use thy granades on Celestia over and over in exchange.
Meh Luna is being a selfish ass for pulling the humans through the hole and resisting her captors is being stupid on her part so for all I care let them have a little revenge. They have a perfectly good reason to act aggressive and it is admirable that they have not executed her on the spot. So all in all good story is good.
Good luck with the diplomacy Luna! And everything that is happening to you could have easily been prevented, so I guess that you do deserve it...
And what about the CMC?1144006
this should be good...
Yes! More Luna please. Her interactions with the humans are incredibly entertaining.
Oh my lawd! Where'd all these fans come from
I'm not complaining... but wow.... Me gusta
1151032
If you want to look at the equations, go here: http://www.projectrho.com/public_html/rocket/slowerlight.php#id--Relativity (They are easiest when it comes to long trips. Just use years and light years as your units, 1g is almost exactly 1ly/yr^2.[1])
The times I was giving were all "proper time", (i.e. in the ships frame of reference). At 1g, it would take 614 days for the people in the ship and the peak velocity is only 0.686c.
Now, I did simplify things: I just calculated brachistochrone trajectories for the given distance. In actuality, such a flight would be far more complex. At the minimum it would start with a sungrazer trajectory to take advantage of the Oberth effect, and would likely also use slingshots and possibly a solar sail for the initial portion of the outbound flight.
[1] Whenever you can, you should set the constants to 1 and use the resulting units.
Woop woop.
I've been looking for some proper science fiction for some time now, and I'll be damned if this doesn't fit the bill perfectly. Very well done. A favorite, a like and a new follower for you, good sir.
Woop woop woop.
1143802 touche
:1151388
Intersteing owh only now you realize the full #Awesoumeness of that story..
IT'S THIS GOOD
<( *o* )>
I request moar or their will be hell to pay
1156854 'Sans' is an archaic word for 'without'
Thanks for the criticism though. It keeps me on my literary toes.
Quick announcement guys and gals, fillies and colts.
The newest chapter is begun (1,100 words atm)
But It will be a rather special chapter, as I will be inserting one of my fan's OC pony.
Depending on reaction, she might even become a regular character.
Thoughts and comments?
If any of you saw the chapter that just published, sorry. it wasn't done
I've unpublished it, sorry guys and gals
989774 Yeah, I know how you feel. If a fusion reactor breaches containment, all that happens is the plasma torus collapses and the fusion ceases immediately. Of course, anyone standing next to it has a bad day if the plasma burns through where they're standing.
Now, an anti-matter reactor is the one where you really don't want to containment field collapsing.
1062652 My question is, why do human even have any technology that can affect magical powers which clearly don't work according to our laws of physics?
I ask that every time humans suddenly begin using anti-magic anything when they're supposedly from our universe.
1124143 Yeah, clearly this dimension is run by the Chinese. (because that's what those evil commies would do with ponies! Dissect them and then eat them for aphrodisiacs! DEATH TO CHINA!!)