> Apple Bloom's Huragok Helper
>  by Vigilance
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Slipspace Scandal
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	The vast expanse of space is as beautiful as it is dangerous. Home to sights that one could never hope to see on a planet, this vacuum void of territory between celestial objects is always a place of wonder and mystery.

This particular part of space was especially calm, no asteroids or space dust to float or disturb the peacefulness. Stars and black void as far as the eye could see, in all directions save one, where any creature could make out one of the many solar systems of the galaxy. A bright yellow dwarf was at its center, providing the orbiting planets light and heat. It was indeed the pinnacle of serene, looking at a solar system in the quiet of space with only the thump of your heart and the sounds of your breath to keep you company.

The serenity of this place was broken as the very fabric of reality was torn asunder, a pale bluish portal ripping through the black void. The opening was not stable, however, anyone could see that. Sparks of energy flew this way and that and it stretched and bent it odd directions. The fact it was still holding after a minute was impressive.

But soon even the portal was parted, an object forcing its way through despite the overpowering stress. Finally the front of the Ex-Covenant cruiser Assailing Divinity broke through and into the darkness of space, the slipspace portal more or less collapsing as its passenger finally left its hold.

The Divinity was in terrible condition. Its normally sleek, purplish-bluish hull was broke and gnarled in different directions as melting hot plasma flames ejected into space from the ship's many holes in a brilliant display of blue light. Pieces ripped away from the hull and the hiss of venting atmosphere could be heard. The ship’s drives continually flicker in and out of life; going dark one second and returning to a bluish tint the next.

On the bridge of this broken vessel Shipmaster Veer ‘Vadamee cursed under his breath as he watched the warning lights flash deep red. The eight foot three Sangheili snarled loudly, his four hinged mandibles flexing out. “Stupid machine! I know what is wrong! You needn’t tell me a thousand times!” His long, slender fingers slid over the controls to rectify the problem, still the light flashed.

The bridge of the Assailing Divinity looked a lot like the hull, broken and misshapen with flames spewing out anywhere they could. Sangheili were stationed at the bridges’ consoles, trying to keep the failing ship afloat. More than a few dead were scattered about, bloody and most filled with shrapnel. Many more were lying on the deck, bleeding out. Some of the younger lads tried to give aid to their fallen comrades, but the dying quickly pushed them away. They would not accept aid for a wound! To do so is not the way of an honorable Sangheili warrior!

“Life support is failing Shipmaster!”

“Bay three is aflame! Several killed in the fire!”

“Atmosphere is venting in several locations Shipmaster!”

Corun ‘Vadamee, the ship’s communications officer, made his way to Veer. “Brother, we cannot hold much longer under his conditions!”

“Curse those Jiralhanae cretins!” Veer slammed his fist into his console, visibly denting it. “A simple pickup mission has become a disaster! There will be retribution when we return to Sanghelios!”

Corun nodded. “Of course, we shall hunt down the transgressors and send them to an early death. But… brother, to do that we must first get back to our home. The slipspace drives are malfunctioning and, to be honest, I am not entirely sure where they have put us. Would there not be wisdom in allowing the Huragok to fix the…”

Veer snarled at his brother. “NO! I will not allow that machine to run free until we return to Vadam and strap it into an explosive harness!”

“But surely it would want to survive as any other creature no? It would be a simple matter for the Huragok to fix the engines and…”

“Huragok are machines! They care for nothing other than to repair and maintain the gifts of the Forerunners! I will not risk it getting caught in an explosion or any other mishap and then have to explain to the Arbiter why we failed to bring him a Huragok!” Veer returned to his console, breathing angrily. “Return to your station brother.” He said without turning back to Corun. The younger Sangheili nodded and returned to communications. 

“Shipmaster! The Jiralhanae ship has just left slipspace and is moving to intercept coordinates!”

Veer snorted. “So soon? I thought we struck their drives before we left that miserable excuse for a planet. It seems the damage they sustained sent them here as well… odd.”

Corun espied the distraught contemplation on his brother’s face. “What is wrong Veer? Surely these simpletons do not frighten you?”

“OF COURSE NOT!” Veer barked. “But they are animals, no better than the nishum. I do not like the odds of the Huragok being killed or captured by them. Even one in the hands of those filth would mean the death of many Sangheili.”

Corun tilted his head to the side slightly. “Then what do you propose we do?”


~~~~


Gelik ‘Vadamee looked at the sleek Phantom in front of him, the drop ship was a little beaten up but still serviceable. It could enter a vacuum void like space, and that was all that mattered. Turning, the seven foot five Sangheili saw his Shipmaster striding towards him in that seemingly bulky yet proud way Sangheili walk. The warrior made a light bow to his commanding officer. “Sir, I am ready to go.”

Veer nodded. “Good. Understand that this task is of utmost importance. Fail, and dishonor will be yours for eternity.” The Shipmaster stepped aside to show a Huragok behind him.

The floating bio supercomputer cocked its thin head at Gelik, its six black eyes looking at him unblinking. The Huragoks were a strange race. Artificial beings created by the Forerunners, they looked like deformed purplish blue balloons with a lot of bulging sacs that constantly fell and rose. Six tentacle appendages slung down from its body, each protruding into uncountable amounts of microscopic cilia. They were bioluminescent and the faint glow from them was slightly calming, slightly. They were passive, peaceful, usually quiet creatures whose only goal in life was to fix and improve things.

“To avoid the Huragok being captured.” Veer started. “You’ll be taking it to a nearby planet that we have discerned as habitable. Flee there and wait for us to come find you.” Veer could see the discontent in Gelik’s eyes at the words ‘flee’ and ‘wait’. “I understand your frustrations, but getting this Huragok to the Arbiter is much more important than the honor of battle.”

Gelik bit his lip; well… bit his lip in the way Sangheili can bite their lips. “Yes Shipmaster. I will go at once.”

“Good.” Veer nodded. “Be swift.” He turned to the Huragok. “Huragok! On to the Phantom, now!”

The gasbag obeyed without question, floating into the Phantom’s holding bay and stopping in the dead center while Gelik went to the pilot’s seat and started the ship up. The machine whirled to life and lifted off its holders. Gelik shut its holding bay doors and drifted to the landing bay’s opening. Passing through the vacuum shield, Gelik’s shuttle reoriented itself to the loss of gravity and then instantly sped off towards a nearby planet.

Veer watched the shuttle go, uneasy about throwing a huge asset out the door without proper protection. Gelik would have to do, however. The warriors and ships of Assailing Divinity were needed to beat the Jiralhanae back into submission. Veer’s head jerked out of thought as the ship’s comms came online.

“Shipmaster Veer! The Jiralhanae vessel is targeting Gelik’s shuttle!”

“WHAT?! Stop them!” Veer yelled, unsure if the ship wide comm system was two-way.


~~~~


In Gelik’s shuttle, the Sangheili was plotting his course towards the habitable planet his Shipmaster had picked out. Gelik noted that the blue and green sphere reminded him a lot of the human homeworld of Earth. But considering they were not knee deep in humans right now, that couldn’t be the case. He kept plotting his course towards the orb.

Back in the hold, the Huragok was floating around and looking at the shuttle’s interior. The transport needed serious repair in the creature’s mind and its cilia were twitching in anticipation to start tinkering. It spotted a nearby loose panel and began floating towards it.

Gelik was checking the shuttle’s status when he heard rustling in the hold. Turning his head sharply, he spotted the Huragok undoing a panel. “What are you doing?! Don’t touch that!” The Huragok looked at him for second before placing the panel back. Gelik returned to the shuttle’s viewscreen only for him to hear more noise. Turning his head again, Gelik spied the Huragok ripping up a block of the floor. “Don’t touch that either! Touch nothing!” Gelik shouted. Once again the Huragok placed the panel back. Gelik sighed deeply and looked back to his controls. A red flashing light instantly started flaring and the Sangheili snarled. “I swear Huragok, if that light is on because you are tampering with the ship I will personally…” Snapping his neck back, Gelik saw the Huragok simply floating at the door to the cockpit, doing nothing.

The shuttle rattled and rocked as a blast from the Jiralhanae’s ship hit its left side and sent the ship spiraling out of control. Gelik’s mind raced as he tried stabilizing the ship and doing his best to avoid burning up as they were starting to enter the planet’s atmosphere. Gelik cursed continuously under his breath.

The Sangheili didn’t have time to react as his Huragok passenger broke into the cockpit and started messing with the controls. Gelik, now following bare instincts now, growled at the intruder and tried pushing it away. “What are you doing?! Stop! I need to stabilize the shuttle! You’ll kill us both you foolish thing!” 

Despite all his efforts, Gelik could not budge the Huragok as it fiddled away with the controls and even the compartment walls themselves. Gelik was still cursing at the Huragok as the Phantom entered the planet’s stratosphere.


~~~~


The little Earth pony filly Apple Bloom kicked a rocked as she trotted down the dirt road towards Sweet Apple Acres. It was almost ten o’clock at night and the light olive pony huffed as she walked along, her pinkish bow bouncing as she moved along. Gritting her teeth angrily, the filly let out a depressed moan.

“UGH! Stupid Diamond Tiara an’ her stupid over dramatic reactions! It was just a little frog! Ain’t nothing ta be scared of! But no! She just has ta go to Miss Cheerilee an’ tell ‘er that Ah put it in ‘er lunchbox! WHICH AH DIDN’T! I just showed the darn thing ta ‘er! Why do Ah have ta stay at the school an’ clean it from top ta bottom for my disorderly conduct?” The filly let out another beleaguered moan and kicked a nearby pebble so hard it flew well passed the path into the grass somewhere.

Apple Bloom let out a sigh. “Ah hate ‘er so much sometimes. Why does she got ta be so mean?” A light caught Apple Bloom’s eye as it began to streak across the sky. A shooting star! Thought the filly, and instantly she made a wish on the one thing she had in mind. “Ah wish Diamond Tiara wasn’t such a big meanie and she’d actually be nice for a change.”

Apple Bloom smiled at her wish and looked back to the star, which was now very close. Apple Bloom cocked an eyebrow as the falling star got bigger and brighter. The filly gasped and hit the dirt when she realized the star was falling right at her! Common instinct took hold and she grasped at the ground even harder and quivered. The light from the star became intense and the filly shook like a leaf. But instead of a sickening splat followed up by a white light at the end of a dark tunnel, Apple Bloom only felt the ground shake like an earthquake was happening. Even that lasted only a second.

Apple Bloom brought her head up and looked around. The star had crashed nowhere near her, and instead had landed in the nearby Everfree Forest. She could see a light and some smoke where the thing had landed. Now normally, this is the part where any sensible pony would go home or to the local authorities, too scared to brave the Everfree or find out what fell. Unfortunately, we’re dealing with a curious filly who had braved the Everfree before and wants nothing more than to find her place in life. Throwing her fear aside, Apple Bloom leapt at the chance to discover something new. Maybe there was even a Cutie Mark for this kind of thing!

Racing into the forest at blinding speeds, Apple Bloom twisted and turned through the underbrush quickly. Zecora the Zebra had taught her the ways to navigate the forest quickly and safely, so reaching the fallen star was a piece of cake, despite how far in the forest it was. When Apple Bloom finally reached the star, she was met with a huge crater filled with charred and gnarled metal of a strange make. Her willing faltering at the sight of such things, the filly made for the main crater hesitantly.

Reaching the edge, she peered over into the fire and smoke. Huh, nothing. Apple Bloom exhaled relieved. She’d half expected something to jump out at her. She had to admit, that made it less exciting, but her find was still pretty cool. She could get Twilight Sparkle to come here and analyze the metal chunks. Twilight was super smart; she’d be able to figure out what they were.

Apple Bloom was just about to turn and leave when she heard a whistling sound coming from the crater. Eyes widening in fear, Apple Bloom looked into the crater once more. “H-Hello?”

More whistling struck through the air, and from the crater rose a… a… a thing! A creature that Apple Bloom could only describe as a messed up looking balloon rose up from the smoking crater. The balloon had six tentacles and a long slender neck and head. Six black beads that Apple Bloom assumed were its eyes stared at her. The thing tilted its head a bit, looking at her. Apple Bloom’s mouth was widely agape, the filly wanted to scream but only silence came out. The Balloon tilted its head the other way and made an innocently high-pitched sound. Apple Bloom fainted.

The Huragok’s head shot back in shock. Little hooved creature fainted! That’s not good! The alien floated down to Apple Bloom’s body and rubbed its cilia over her, trying to find the source of her disrepair. It wasn’t good that she wasn’t waking. She needs fixing right away! The Huragok looked back to the destroyed shuttle. Hmmm… Can fix that later, not going anywhere. Yes, fix living creature first, then ship! Wonder where Sangheili went, lost after ship broke apart. Hope is ok, hopefully will find and repair if necessary. But first things first, fix little hooved creature first.

The Huragok took Apple Bloom in its tentacles and hauled her off to a safer place; a burning crash site was no place for repairs after all.
> Rainy With a Chance of Gasbag
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Apple Bloom’s eyes fluttered open as she felt the rain pattering her face. Opening her eyes fully, the filly looked around without moving her head. It was still night and she was still in the Everfree Forest, but now a steady fall of rain had started up and was peppering the forest and there was a faint glow around her. Groaning in slight discomfort, the filly picked herself up and tried to rub the headache from her cranium. As she did, the faint glow brightened and her eyes met with a familiar sight.

The large deformed balloon creature was now glowing and looking at her, it cocked its head as she was getting up. It curled away again as the filly let loose a scream, wrapping its head and tentacles close to itself while it watched the pony in front of it scratch at the tree as if to climb it.

“No, no, no, no, no!” Apple Bloom repeated as she shook uncontrollably. She stuck a hoof out as the thing inched close. “No! Don’t cha come any closer, ya hear?! Ah know what the creatures of this forest do ta ponies! And my big sis told me that things with tentacles ain't ta be trusted! She never told me why though… B-But she told me she’d seen enough ta know they was bad!”

The creature ignored her pleas and brought its tentacles close to her. Apple Bloom tried swatting them away but it was no use. The balloon thing caressed the young filly with its cilia, trying to determine if she needed any more fixing. 

Apple Bloom, despite herself, had closed her eyes and started giggling as she felt each little appendage look over her. It reminded the filly of the touch of a mother, caring and comfortable. Apple Bloom still tried to resist of course. “S-Stop it! Hehehe… Stop! Don’t… ahaha!”

The sensation of uncountable cilia on her instantly stopped, and the filly opened her eyes to see the thing floating off. Whatever it wanted with her, it seemed to have gotten it and was now going on to another task. It floated a few meters to where it had dropped some strange device (taken from the crash site) and started to tinker with the thing, its tentacles picking the device up and playing with it.

As Apple Bloom watched the balloon thing tinker, she finally noticed she was no longer near the crater she had come to explore. Now, she was in a small clearing. A small pond lay to her right and forest was all around her. And of course it was raining, that bit did nothing to dampen the dark mood. Apple Bloom wasn’t sure what the thing wanted from her. The filly became fearful as she thought of all the ways a flying tentacle balloon could use her for. Most likely it wanted to eat her, that’s what all monster want right?

Apple Bloom wasn’t going to wait to find out its intent was, the filly got up herself up and ready to make a dash for the tree line. Only four or five meters and she’d be able to lose it in the forest thicket. Right, her goes nothing she thought. One, two, three… GO!!!

Apple Bloom burst into a full run from the tree she was under. Rain poured onto her, making her realize just how hard it was actually raining. But none of that mattered; all that was important was the trees. Once she was in the trees, she would be free of that creature and go home and rest in her bed and forget any of this ever happened.  The filly took one more look back to see if the balloon was chasing her. It wasn’t, and she soon learned that she had made a terrible mistake.

“AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!”

The Huragok whipped its head up as the scream of the little hooved creature ripped through the wet night. Turning to the tree it had left her at, it noticed she was no longer there. Floating back to the tree, its little device in two tentacles, it gazed around for the little being it had repaired. Screaming, yelling, and crying were still shooting through the air, but the little thing was nowhere to be found.

The Huragok finally spied a hoof-print in the mud and decided on following that. Going straight from the hoof-print, the artificial life form was brought four point seven three eight nine three four one meters and was then met by the clearing’s tree line. Looking around, the Huragok saw the little being. She was stuck inside of a large thorn bush, cut up pretty badly and crying a lot. The Huragok put its little device down and started pushing the thorn bush aside. After all, technology is never beyond the repair of a Huragok, but organic life can reach a point of no return. With that logic, it was only prudent to help the organic life first.

Apple Bloom was not so enthusiastic about the balloon creature’s help. “N-No!” She said between tears, biting her lower lip as she felt another thorn dig into her and draw blood. “D-Don’t touch me!” The filly was afraid this creature was going to hurt her worse then the thorns.

Parting the thorn bush with four of its six tentacles, the Huragok grabbed Apple Bloom with its remaining two. Floating backwards, the Huragok picked up its device and turned around to float back to the tree. Placing the hurt being on the ground, she instantly crawled into a sobbing ball. She was so afraid that this was it; she was never going to get out of this.

The Huragok took its tentacle and placed the tip on the first cut it saw and began the process of repair. Its tiny cilia got to work, grabbing the ends of Apple Bloom’s torn skin at a microscopic level and pulling them together once more. The Huragok could see the filly flinch from the pain and the sensation of being touched. The gasbag mostly ignored her this time, but made a note to be gentler with the next cut. It didn’t want her to break from self-harm. With the skin pulled together again, it was a simple task to manipulate Apple Bloom’s skin cells to start multiplying and then sealing once more. Within the time span of maybe fifteen seconds, Apple Bloom’s cut was healed. The Huragok moved on to the next cut, and the next, and the one after that and soon Apple Bloom looked as good as ever, albeit a little dirty.

The filly had watched in amazement as the creature she had fear healed her without a second thought. Looking herself over and noting that she was completely healthy again, Apple Bloom got up and stretched. All good, she wasn’t paralyzed or mutated or any other terrible thing she could think of. It had really helped her, just like that. Looking to the creature again, she watched as it returned to work on its strange device.

“Ya… ya helped me.” She blurted out, unsure of what to really say. The balloon thing let out a whistle, though the filly wasn’t sure if it was in acknowledgment. Her previous beliefs proven wrong, the filly took up curiosity once more. Walking up to the creature, she looked at the device it was tinkering with. “What’cha working on?”

It was some sort of purplish boxy thing that had weird, colorful pieces of string hanging out of it. A light was flashing on the other side and one corner looked charred slightly. Apple Bloom was mesmerized by it, never seeing something so odd looking. The balloon creature didn’t pay her any mind as it fiddled with the box with its cilia. Apple Bloom took her hoof and got close to it, wanting very much to see what it did.

“Hey!”

Don’t touch that please. The Huragok had gently taken Apple Bloom’s hoof and guided it away from its project. After all, it couldn’t have any distractions and it certainly didn’t want the filly to touch the exposed wiring, which could cause some serious damage. She seemed displeased by the action, the Huragok couldn’t understand why. Seems like she’d want to not be near exposed wiring that could send a jolt through her body so strong her heart could stop. Apple Bloom huffed and sat on her haunches, peeved that it didn’t let her touch the box.

It was starting to rain harder. Apple Bloom’s fur, mane, and tail, were soaked and hanging downward and her bow had started to do much the same. The filly sneezed and knew that it was time to get home. It appeared to her now that the balloon creature wasn’t holding her in the clearing; it just wanted to make sure she was ok. So she was sure she could just leave. Thing was, she didn’t know if she wanted to leave with the thing or without it. It was a strange creature, and Apple Bloom had no idea what its intentions were. But then again, the gasbag had helped her, and Apples always repaid acts of kindness done upon them. Being a proud Apple as she was, it meant there was only on thing Apple Bloom could do. Not only that, but nopony would believe this story without some proof!

The filly tugged on one of the balloon’s tentacles. It twisted its head around to meet her gaze, its six black beady eyes focusing on her. Apple Bloom cleared her throat. “Excuse me, would ya like ta come with me and get a warm bed for the night? Ta-Ta sleep in, Ah mean.” The creature cocked its head to the right. Apple Bloom gulped. “Well, it’s just that Ah want to repay ya for helpin’ me and all. So… So Ah thought Ah’d give ya a place ta sleep for the night, till the rain stops. How… How ‘bout it?”

The Huragok turned from Apple Bloom to its box, the thing sparked a little. The Huragok knew it would never be able to finish repairing the box in this rain. A dry place would be a much better location for repairs. The gasbag looked at Apple Bloom and nodded, twisting its entire body around to face her.

The filly smiled and nodded as well. “Great! Come on then!” The filly began to trot to the tree line, the gasbag following slowly behind her. Apple Bloom smiled confidently at it. “Don’t worry, Ah know mah way around this forest. We’ll be home quicker than you can say Appleloosa!”

The Huragok tilted its head. It didn’t know what an Appleloosa was, but it knew it could never say it like she did. That in mind, this trip could take very long indeed. Regardless, the Huragok followed the filly into the tree line.


~~~~


The trip back to the dirt path and then back to Sweet Apple Acres took almost an hour thanks to the Huragok’s slow movement. The heavy rain that had poured in from the Everfree didn’t help one bit. But Apple Bloom was patient and happily led the thing along until the two of them were facing the Cutie Mark Crusader Clubhouse.

During their trek back to the farm Apple Bloom had had a realization. Whatever was following her home, it was different. After rolling her eyes at herself for stating the obvious, the filly grasped the thought that her family might react very much the same way she did if they met the creature too soon. But unlike Apple Bloom, they could probably do some serious damage to the poor thing. Apple Bloom didn’t want her family hurting the balloon without cause, that just wouldn’t be right. Not only that, but deep down, the animalistic survival instinct in her still was unsure what to make of this thing and was unwilling to bring it close to the ones she loved.

One thought led to another and Apple Bloom was certain that showing her family the creature right now was a decidedly bad idea. She’d wait for tomorrow or the right opportunity in general to tell them about her little surprise.

Stepping up the gangplank-like stairs to her group’s meeting place, the filly waited for her new companion to reach the door. Clearing her throat with a cough, Apple Bloom smiled proudly. “Ah present ta you, the Cutie Mark Crusader’s Grand and Spectacular Headquarters!” She swung the door open and presented her clubhouse like a prize-winning steer. The creature seemed more than happy to float inside and look around.

Apple Bloom watched as the balloon thing looked around her clubhouse with an odd degree of fascination. It picked up anything it could and gazed at the pictures on the wall and even felt the rug stationed in the middle of the floor. The filly smiled to herself, he must be really impressed with it.

Can improve this tomorrow… needed materials must be found, thought the Huragok as he pawed around the clubhouse, the very thought of all the things he could improve making his body tingle slightly. This place was so very low tech; he wasn’t sure what he could improve upon without the necessary materials. Regardless, he’d still improve and repair to the best of his abilities, like any Huragok would.

Despite the pride at watching someone being so interested in her clubhouse, Apple Bloom couldn’t help but yawn heavily. It was super late and she had to get home quick if she wanted any chance of getting half decent shuteye. She stifled another yawn as she grasped the door handle. “Alrighty, looks like ya made yerself comfortable. Thanks again for helping me and all. Ah’ll come back tomorrow and check up on ya ok? See ya tomorrow!”

With that said, the filly took one last look at the strange creature and then shut the door. She ran down the stairs and burst out into a full run to Sweet Apple Acres farmhouse, a huge smile on her face. She knew Applejack was going to be furious with her for being home so late, but she couldn’t help but be excited. She had something nopony, not even her sister, had, and that was cause for any child to be giddy about. 
> Friends are on a Need-to-Know Basis
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Apple Bloom awoke with a yawn, her mouthing gaping open widely as she sat up in her bed and rubbed her eyes of sleep. Stretching her hooves out and getting the last throngs of sleep out of herself, the young filly threw off her covers and hopped out onto the floor. She instantly made her way to the bathroom, relieved herself, and turned to the stairs and sped down to the living room and then the kitchen.

“Mornin’ Apple Bloom.” Her orange furred sister Applejack remarked from the table as she chewed on some toast while reading a newspaper, her tone had more than just a little anger in it.

As Apple Bloom had expected on her run back from her clubhouse, Applejack was furious with her coming home so late. The filly had tried to explain she had been caught in the rainstorm and was delayed that way, but Applejack didn’t buy it. She knew the walk back from the school would have given the filly more than enough time to get back to the farm before the storm started. She accused the filly of stopping to sulk in anger or some other thing and sent her to bed without another word. Add that to the trouble Apple Bloom was in at school and the filly was surprised her sister didn’t have visible steam coming from her head.

Apple Bloom avoided her sister’s gaze and sat at her own seat. Her big brother Macintosh set a bowl of cereal in front of her already prepared to the last detail. Apple Bloom smiled, it was her favorite kind too! “Thanks Big Mac!”

“Eeyup.” The red stallion replied as the filly began to devour the food in front of her.

Granny Smith made no comment; the old mare had fallen asleep at her chair and was now snoring softly. Her oatmeal was still steaming however, indicating she’d not been asleep long.

One quiet breakfast, shower, teeth brushing, and bow tying later and Apple Bloom was ready for the day. The filly raced down the stairs from her room once more and made for the door. Once outside, she made a beeline for the orchard that held her clubhouse. She was eager to see her new acquaintance and didn’t want to keep him waiting. She was just past the farmhouse’s fence when a voice stopped her dead in her tracks.

“Apple Bloom! Where’d ya think your goin’?”

The filly turned to see Applejack, a sack of grains on her back, staring down at her. Apple Bloom smiled sheepishly and scraped her hoof along the ground. “Ah uh… Ah was headin’ ta my clubhouse to check on it…”

Applejack snorted. “Ah see. Well little missy, ya can forget about it cause yer goin’ straight ta school.”

“What?!” Apple Bloom blurted out. “But Ah… But Ah got ta go and…”

“No buts.” Applejack shot back. “Yer in enough trouble as it is. Ah ain’t letting ya run off somewhere till ya’ve paid the price for yer ‘disorderly conduct’.”

“But Applejack…”

“Ta school, now. And don’t think of makin’ a circle and goin’ ta yer clubhouse anyway, cause Ah’ll know and Ah assure ya ya’ll not like the consequences.”

Apple Bloom huffed angrily and stomped off down the dirt path to the school, not once looking back as she made her way to Ponyville’s prime location for the education of foals.

Applejack shook her head as she watched her sister leave. “Ugh, sometimes Ah just don’t know what ta do with her. If only…” The mare shook her head, her Stetson shaking a little. “Oh, never mind…” Applejack turned around and headed back to her previous task.


~~~~


At the Crusader Clubhouse, the Huragok was twiddling with its box. Its tentacles felt around the rectangular object with a meticulous fervor, trying with relative ease to repair the broken device now that it was no longer wet. 

The little hooved creature had not returned yet, it hoped she was in working order. She was so very nice for bringing it to a place with so many things to fix and it would be displeased if something happened to her. Being a Huragok, however, the creature soon passed such thoughts away and focused solely on work. The device was coming along nicely; it was sure to be ready soon.

Screwing the last fiber into the box, the Huragok let out a happy whistling sound. Pressing one of the many buttons adorning the box, the biocomputer waited patiently for the device to activate. When it did, however, it began to fizz and shake and sparks began to fly from it. The Huragok dropped the box just in time to avoid the front panel as it shot off and smashed into a nearby chair.

Staring at the now impaled chair, the Huragok tilted its head confusedly and looked at the box again. Looking closely, it could see some of the circuitry was still a little damp. The alien let out a deep whistle/sigh. It was so very displeased that Covenant technology couldn’t take even the tiniest bit of liquid without malfunctioning. Forerunner tech never did such things; it was so durable. Heck, the Huragok had seen Forerunner technology that was required to be wet to work!

Gazing at the chair with the panel in it again, a thought came to the Huragok. The chair was broken, so now it needed fixing. Considering it had to wait for the box to dry completely, it might not be a bad idea to start fixing all the other objects in this clubhouse. There wasn’t any metals or electricity to use, so no teleporters to the next continent over… yet, but it could still improve things to the best of its abilities.

Resolving to start with the chair, the Huragok floated over to it and felt the back of it. Wood. Hmm… The Huragok had never worked with wood before, it had seen wood, but never fixed wooden objects before.

As if that mattered, it was a Huragok! Its existence was fixing things. Seeing some trees just outside the clubhouse, the Huragok floated towards the door. It was fixing time!


~~~~


The loud ding of the school bell rang out through the air and the front door of the Ponyville schoolhouse burst open to let loose a tidal wave of eager foals. It was recess, and they all planned to make the best of their break from the usual dull of school. As the flood of foals became little more than a trickle, three particular fillies trotted into the schoolyard, last ones out due to their conversation.

“I still can’t believe Miss Cheerilee did that to you!” The orange Pegasus Scootaloo blurted out angrily as she, Apple Bloom, and Sweetie Belle exited the schoolhouse. “You’d think she’d have learned by now that every other word Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon say is a lie!”

“I’m with Scootaloo.” The white unicorn Sweetie Belle nodded. “Diamond Tiara’s attitude is untoward that of the proper expectations of a decorous young mare.”

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo stopped dead in their tracks to look at their friend quizzically. After a few seconds of awkward silence, Scootaloo rolled her eyes. “Wow Sweetie Belle, glad to see you’re branching out into thesaurus now too.”

The unicorn filly blushed heavily and starting kicking her hoof to the ground. Apple Bloom motioned to the two of them and they continued to walk once more, trying to forget the whole thing. “Ah just wish she wasn’t so mean all the time.” The farmer filly grumbled. “It’s like she feeds off it or something.”

Scootaloo chuckled. “Yeah, she’s like a Changeling of hate. Maybe if we’re nice to her, she’ll go away.”

Apple Bloom snorted. “Fat chance.”

The three fillies sat down at their favorite outdoor table and began to converse more. From silly things like what colt was the most balanced on their hind-hooves to very serious things like how to get their Cutie Marks. It had generally been a normal talk, right up until the conversation turned to the day before and its consequences.

“So Apple Bloom,” Sweetie Belle started. “I went by the farm this morning to see if you wanted to walk to school with me, but your sister told me you were in a lot trouble and would be walking alone. I knew Applejack’s probably mad about the Diamond Tiara incident, but not that mad.”

Scootaloo cocked an eyebrow. “Geez, what’s that about?”

Apple Bloom shrugged. “Well, on top of what happened with Diamond Tiara Ah was late gettin’ home cause of the thing that crashed in the…” The filly clasped her hooves tightly around her mouth before she could go any further with her tale. It was too late, however, and the other two fillies instantly shot their heads forward and started to hound Apple Bloom with questions.

“Crash? What crash?”

“Did something fall from the sky?”

“Do you think it could help us get our Cutie Marks?”

“Did you get hurt?”

Apple Bloom felt a bead of sweat go do her face. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were her two best friends in the entire world. The only thing that kept the three fillies from being sisters were biological differences and it pained Apple Bloom to even think of keeping them out of the loop. But this was no ordinary loop; she had found something she couldn’t explain even if she had the next thousand years to think about it. Like her family, she needed to find the right time to tell her friends about the tentacle creature currently residing in her clubhouse. After all, you don’t take the discovery of an alien life form lightly.

The farm filly gulped. “Ah meant that Ah crashed, Ah tripped Ah mean. The roads had gotten pretty messy cause of the rain and I slipped on some mud and I fell into some bushes… yeah.”

Sweetie Belle cocked an eyebrow. “But you said something fell, something other than yourself I mean.”

Apple Bloom bit her lip. “Uh… yeah… um, a branch! A branch fell down and hit me and caused me ta trip in some mud and crash into the bushes.”

“Why’d you say crash?” Scootaloo questioned. “Seems like just saying it fell would work better.”

Apple Bloom laughed nervously. “Uh… poor word choice?”

The other two fillies gave each other a not-buying-it glance, but shrugged and decided that they probably weren’t going to get anything from their friend like this. “Alright.” Sweetie Belle started. “So we’re all ready to meet at the clubhouse today at four to start searching for our Cutie Marks right?”

“Yeah!” Scootaloo replied happily.

Apple Bloom near jumped out of her seat. “WHAT?! NO! Ah mean… we can’t.”

“Why not?” Scootaloo asked.

“Ah… a skunk got in last night and stunk up the whole place!” Apple Bloom blurted out. “Ah reckon it’ll take awhile for the smell to clear out completely…”

“I don’t see what the problem is…”

The Cutie Mark Crusaders turned and were faced with Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, the pair having clearly been eavesdropping. The pink and silver earth fillies, respectively, sneered and chuckled cruelly at the Crusaders as they continued their verbal assault.

“Yeah, a skunk would probably be great company for your family Apple Bloom, considering they wash once every year.” Sneered Diamond Tiara, swishing her streaked pale violet mane in the process.

“Yeah.” Silver Spoon added. “I bet they fear the very mention of soap.”

“Diamond Tiara…” Apple Bloom grounded out through gritted teeth. “Keep talking like that and ya’ll need ta see a dentist for teeth replacement!”

Diamond Tiara snorted. “Humph, yeah right. Come with six inches of me, and you’ll be cleaning the school floor again.”

“It’s probably the only thing she’ll ever be good at.” Silver Spoon said.

Apple Bloom felt anger rush through her body like an out-of-control river, but still managed to keep herself from giving Diamond Tiara the decking she so obviously needed. A snarky remark was in the making in the back of Apple Bloom’s mind, but she knew Tiara would only go tell Miss Cheerilee and get her in more trouble, so the filly just turned around and ignored the two as they laughed some more and then left.

“Good job not losing your cool.” Sweetie Belle commented.

Apple Bloom huffed. “One day, Ah’m gonna lose my cool all over her face and horsefeathers to the consequences! She deserves it…”

“No argument there.” Scootaloo chuckled.

Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom chuckled as well. “Well, ok… if the clubhouse isn’t available, then we can meet at my sister’s. Rarity’s watching me again while our parents are in Canterlot. Does that sound good?”

“Yup.” Scootaloo nodded.

“If Applejack lets me…” Apple Bloom grumbled.

The sound of the school bell filled the air, signaling it was time once again for class. The three Crusaders hopped down from their seats and headed to the schoolhouse, ready to continue their school day.


~~~~


The Huragok floated backward, taking in its life passion with more of a did-I-do-anything-wrong eye than simply admiring its work. It had taken a tree and a half, but the improvements to the chair were quite nice. It was slightly bigger, and certainly extremely streamlined as if a master crafts-pony had done it. But that was simply the cosmetic side of the coin. On the functional side, the chair could now swivel, lower up and down considerably, had wheels to roll around on, and it had nice armrests with collapsible decks to hold several objects on. Oh, and even Big Mac couldn’t break it with a sledgehammer if he wanted to, it was now as indestructible as wooden chair in a small filly’s clubhouse could possibly be.

Satisfied with the upgrades it had applied, the Huragok looked around for more things to fix. Though true it couldn’t make technologically advanced improvements without the proper materials, it could still fix things a great deal.

Spying about for a moment, the Huragok made its choice. Floating to its new center of focus, the Huragok began to wonder how well it could reinforce a wooden door with rocks.
> Huragok Home Improvement
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	The three fillies know as the Cutie Mark Crusaders shuffled down the main road of Ponyville, a little worse for wear than the day’s beginning. Apple Bloom groaned as she walked, not particularly sure what hurt the most. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle were no better off, and Scootaloo even had a very brazen bruise atop the crown of her head. The little Earth pony was the first to speak.

“Well… So much for bein’ Cutie Mark Crusader Quill and Sofa Shop Employees…” She managed out before her jaw became sore again.

“I just don’t know how we were able to mess that one up!” Sweetie Belle chided to herself mostly.

“I’d think it probably started going downhill when we read the employee manual and got the rooster got stuck in the fan…” Scootaloo pointed out.

“Really? I thought it was when the bull went through the front window.” Sweetie Belle countered.

Apple Bloom sighed. “What matters is that we know our Cutie Marks ain’t in bein’ store attendants…”

“At least for that store.” Sweetie Belle offered up.

Scootaloo’s spirits lifted instantly and she gave a hearty smile to her friends. “That’s true! So we aren’t Quill and Sofa Shop Employees, but there are dozens of other shops we can do!”

Sweetie Belle yawned. “Yeah, but not today, it’s getting kinda late.”

The trio looked up into the sky and realized just how much their Cutie Mark chasing had chewed up the day since the end of school. Nodding to each other, each made their way back to their respective homes. Apple Bloom waved goodbye to Scootaloo as they passed by the orange filly’s house. The filly made sure to wish Scootaloo good luck with explaining the bruise to her mother, to which Scootaloo brushed off confidently. The loud gasp and subsequent shouting that came from the home soon after made Apple Bloom chuckle.

The olive colored filly hastened her pace back to her own abode. Traveling down the familiar dirt path towards Sweet Apple Acres, Apple Bloom could see the light from her home off in the distance. Instead of continuing to the Apple family farmhouse however, the filly made a sharp turn into the apple orchards surrounding the farm. Weaving and dodging this way and that, the filly made for the Cutie Mark Crusaders’ Clubhouse. The tiny wooden structure still looked as plain as it had when she had gone last night, but the filly knew that inside was something strange and wondrous.

Trotting up the gangplank and to the front door, Apple Bloom reached for the door handle… “What the?” Apple Bloom cocked an eyebrow as she looked for the door handle, but try as she may she couldn’t find hide nor hair of it. It was gone, and in its place was a small hole no larger than the filly’s hoof.

Apple Bloom frowned. “What in tarnation?” The filly began pounding at the door, trying to make it budge. She tried to pry the barrier open, but one tug was all it took for the filly to feel just how much the door now weighed. “Sweet Celestia, is this thing filled with rocks?!”

Trying once more and failing, Apple Bloom looked down at the small, hoof shaped hole. Curiosity getting the better of her, the filly took her hoof and placed it inside the little hole. Her hoof sank a few inches in and finally hit what felt like stone. Pressing up against it, Apple Bloom gasped slightly. The filly’s hoof fit the back wall of the hole perfectly; she could feel every contour and gap in her hoof touching stone, as if it had been made especially for her.

Nudging her hoof around, Apple Bloom felt the hole twist to the right. Tilting her head in confusion, the filly turned her hoof to the right and felt the hole move as well. One ninety-degree turn later, and a loud click was heard. Pushing her hoof to the left, Apple Bloom effortlessly pushed the door aside and opened the full way for herself. The filly looked on wide-eyed, that door had weighed a ton not three seconds ago! At the time, she thought not even Big Mac could have moved it.

Apple Bloom took her gaze from the door and looked inside her simple clubhouse, or what had once been her simple clubhouse. “What in the name of Cutie Marks…”

Apple Bloom had last seen her clubhouse about a day ago, when she had sheltered the little flying balloon creature. Then it had been like any other little filly’s clubhouse, full of small wooden furniture, silly drawings, child possessions and the like. It was all very plain and rustic looking, something to be expected of the Apple family. Now her clubhouse looked… streamline. The furniture was no more taller than it had been, and certainly no less plainer looking, but it seemed much more regal and beautiful. It appeared to Apple Bloom a room one would find in the castle of a modest ruler, one who could easily line their entire palace with gold but instead choose a plainer look.

The possessions she and the other Crusaders had collected were all put away neatly in three separate cubbyholes and their pictures and paintings aligned the walls in strange, overly large protective cases. Even Scootaloo’s shrine to Rainbow Dash (though she’d never call it that) in the right hand corner was all fixed up; it looked like a pedestal you’d find in a real religious temple. And right in the middle of all of it, fiddling with its boxy device, was the floating creature.

Apple Bloom felt her mouth gaping a little. “What… What in tarnation is goin’ on in here?”

The Huragok took its gaze away from its work, noticing that the little hoofed creature had returned. Logging that fact into its head, the Huragok went back to its device. It had no time to mingle; there were repairs to be done! Still, it did feel some Huragok pride at the repairs it had done with such low-tech resources. The clubhouse was now not only up to Forerunner visual standards, but also durability regulations too. Celestia herself would have to forcibly use her magic to shove a jackhammer through the roof in order to break in, but she was much too regal for that kind of action.

Despite the visual and strength of the clubhouse, the Huragok had included very useful additions. The roof and walls were now well insulated to keep heat in the winter and cool in the summer (now it just need an energy source for the air conditioner…). The walls also kept all sound in, but a pony could hear everything outside like it was right next to them (the Huragok was a little peeved it couldn’t make the walls into two way mirrors though). The picture frames on the wall had a magnification feature up to one hundred times and could even be used as a primitive copier machine with the right materials. The shrine to the rainbow haired creature could retract into the ground in case more space was needed (or in case the featured pony came knocking). The chairs and table could be folded into beds or other necessary furniture and it had found an old bucket that it turned into a primitive liquid dispenser, with different flavored liquids as well! Huragoks didn’t feel many emotions other than the desire to fix things, but this one had whistled happily at its improvements. Still, the moment it found a slipspace drive then things would really get off the ground!

That was for another day, however, and the creature went back to fiddling with its boxy device, oblivious to the gaping maw of the filly Apple Bloom. The young farmer pony threw off her shock and stepped into the clubhouse. It looked so nice and refined, but still extremely plain. Apple Bloom looked around and inspected everything, her possessions and the like. Everything seemed normal, but the filly expected that that was only so because the creature had not gotten to them yet.

Apple Bloom shifted to the creature and watched it fiddle with its box. “How did ya do this?” She asked. She knew perfectly well that the creature had done all this, who else could have? The question was how had this little gasbag done it?

The Huragok looked up at the filly, eyes unblinking. Apple Bloom swore it made a shrugging motion before returning to work. The Apple filly huffed out and furrowed her eyebrows. “Um, hello? Can ya here me?” The creature did not heed her. The filly rolled her eyes. “What are ya doin’ Apple Bloom?” She asked under her breath. “Ya don’t even know if this thing even understands Equestrian…”

The filly bit her lip. She could guess that it did know something; otherwise it wouldn’t have understood to follow her to the clubhouse. With that in mind, it was probably just giving her the silent treatment. The filly surmised that if she was friendly to the creature and got it to trust her, then it would be willing to talk. But how to get it to trust her? She needed something she could do or give it to show that she was trustworthy… but what? The filly patted her chin lightly with her hoof…

“THAT’S IT!” She shouted, startling the creature a little. Apple Bloom ran up to the Huragok and smiled to it, getting its attention. “Hey, want somethin’ ta eat?” The Huragok tilted its head. “Food?”

Food… that was a Human word for edible material consumed to provide the body with the needed proteins and sugars a living organism required to survive. Huragoks mostly just ate a yeasty protein mixture that was fairly easy to come by; depending on what planet you were on. Still, the Huragok could always use some nourishment to help keep it going with repairs. The Huragok simply nodded at Apple Bloom.

The filly smiled happily. “Good! Then Ah’ll go and get some for ya!” Apple Bloom turned to leave. “Now don’t cha go anywhere, ok? Ah’ll be back in a jiffy with yer food.” With that, the filly took off like a rocket. Making sure to shut the clubhouse door behind her, Apple Bloom raced to the farmhouse with the intent to get food for her new friend. She had no clue what it ate, but it couldn’t be that hard to figure it now could it? Granny Smith had told her that the way to a stallion’s heart was through his stomach. She wasn’t dealing with a stallion, but everyone likes food so the principal is probably the same regardless of gender… or species… and this in this case, planet.

The Huragok watched Apple Bloom go with mild interest. The prospect of nourishment was nice and it was certainly very kind of the filly to go and get it something to… WAIT! The Huragok’s head perked in inspiration as it put its box project down and floated towards the walls. It just figured out a way to make all the surfaces in the clubhouse dust resistant using candlewicks! This was not an idea to let fall under the rug, it had to begin immediately so it could have the improvement complete before the filly returned. It still really wished it had a slipspace drive… it would make all of this so very easy.


~~~~


Apple Bloom looked through her cupboard, checking on all the things the family had to eat. While true that the Apples usually only ate at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, there was never anything wrong with a snack every now and again. The filly squinted her eyes at the inside of the cupboard. Unsurprisingly, most of the food was apple based. Apple Bloom couldn’t place it but she just knew deep down that the creature wasn’t a fan of apples. The pony really wished she had asked the floating beast what it liked.

“Hey there Apple Bloom,” Applejack began as she poked her head in from the kitchen. “Don’t be stuffin’ yer face now, dinner’s in a couple of minutes.”

“Uh-huh.” The filly responded dully, not really paying her sister any mind.

Applejack suddenly took on a rather hurt expression, sighing slightly. Removing herself from the doorway, the older sibling made her way to Apple Bloom’s side. The farmer pony looked down to her little sister, the filly in question zipping her gaze through the cupboard. Applejack coughed twice. “Uh, Apple Bloom?”

“Yeah sis?” The mentioned pony answered plainly.

“Uh… Can we talk?” Applejack replied.

Now it was Apple Bloom’s turn to look at her sister, but with a quizzical gaze. Cocking an eyebrow, Apple Bloom nodded. “Uh, yeah sure. What’s up Applejack?”

The older sister sat on her haunches and met her sister’s eye. “Ah’ve been thinkin’ and… well Ah think Ah’ve not done right by ya lately. Ah was just really mad that ya were doin’ bad things in school and then ya were late getting’ home Ah just… Umm…” The farmer scratched the back of her neck.

Apple Bloom smiled. “Yeah Ah know sis, ya were just tryin’ ta keep me on the straight and narrow. But the school thing wasn’t even ma fault! Diamond Tiara and Sliver Spoon lied ta Miss Cheerilee!”

“They pick on you and yer friends a lot don’t they?” Applejack questioned.

Apple Bloom looked off to nowhere in particular, a hurt expression adorning her face. “Yeah… A lot.”

Applejack huffed and wrapped her sister in a loving embrace. “Aw, Apple Bloom, Ah’d wish ya’d tell me about these kinda things. Ya know Ah’m always here ta listen ta anythin’ you’ve got say.”

“Really? Anything?”

Applejack smiled. “Anythin’ ya want sugarcube.”

“Applejack…” Apple Bloom started.

“Yeah sis?”

The filly darted her head and smiled at her sister. “Could Ah have some bits ta go shoppin’ for food supplies? Ah want try ma hoof at bein’ a chef, but Ah don’t want ta use up what we got.”

Applejack blinked a few times before smiling brightly. “Well of course Apple Bloom! But ya’ll have to tomorrow cause all the shops are closed up for the day.”

“Oh…” Apple Bloom said as her ears tilted back in defeat.

Applejack chuckled and released her sister from the embrace. “Aw, don’t worry, first thing tomorrow we’ll go and get some supplies for ya. Anythin’ ya want… as long as it’s actually in our price range.” The older mare gave a sisterly wink at her sibling before turning back and walking out of the cupboard. “Remember Apple Bloom, dinner’s in a few minutes!”

“Ok!” Apple Bloom shouted to her. Waiting until she was sure her sister was out of earshot, the filly groaned and slumped to the floor. She frowned hard. “Great… so much for bein’ back in a jiffy! Now the poor thing’s gotta wait another day for food!” Apple Bloom threw her hooves over her eyes. “Not feedin’ ma guests for two whole days? Ah’m a terrible host!” The filly groaned once more as she heard Applejack call her for dinner.
> Shopping for a Huragok
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Applejack cocked an eyebrow at her little sister from across the table. “Ya know Apple Bloom, the cereal will still be there in the next few seconds…”

“Eeyup.” Big Mac added, amazed at his sibling’s inhaling of her food.

To say Apple Bloom was chugging her cereal down was an understatement. Black holes have less suction than the little filly’s mouth did at that moment. Ignoring her family for another second to finish off the last bits of food and milk, the filly slammed the bowl on the table and exhaled. “But Ah really wanna get goin’ so Ah can get all the supplies Ah need!”

Applejack shook her head and chuckled. “Didn’t ya already learn yer lesson about not growin’ up too fast and such?”

“Eeyup.” Big Mac responded.

Apple Bloom blushed a deeper red than her mane. “Ah know Ah know, it’s just that Ah really want ta try this.”

The older siblings looked at each other, shaking their heads and chuckling. Applejack ate the last of her own food and got up from the table. “Alrighty then, let’s get goin’. Big Mac, you can get the work done here while Ah take Apple Bloom ta the market right?”

“Eeyup.” Big Mac smiled.

The orange farmer pony smiled. “Thanks.” She turned to Apple Bloom. “Alright, get yer saddlebags and we’ll get goin’.”

“Right!” Apple Bloom chimed, darting up the stairs to her room.

“Ah’ll never know where she gets all that energy.” Applejack laughed. “Suppose we were all like that when we were foals, huh Big Mac?”

“Eeyup.” The red stallion replied.

No sooner had she nearly flew up the steps did Apple Bloom descend again; her saddlebags hooked up and ready to go. “All ready!” She smiled.

“Then let’s get goin’.” Applejack waited for the filly to pass her and run out the door until she made her own way. “See ya Big Mac!”

“Eeyup!” Big Mac called back.

Applejack waved goodbye and shut the door, sighing slightly. “We have got ta improve his vocabulary…” She shook her head before trotting after Apple Bloom.


~~~~


The Ponyville markets were abuzz with activity, especially on a bright, cool Saturday morning like todays. Ponies of all sizes, ages, genders, and vocations drummed about like bees, eager to find their targeted goods. It was one of the many reasons that the pair of sisters trotting down the main avenue of the marketplace stayed close together, lest they be separated.

“Now let’s see…” Applejack muttered as she inspected the shopping list Apple Bloom had made up the night before. Celestia’s grace, the filly might as well buy an entire grocery store… The farmer pony thought, considering the list had just about every food one could possibly buy in Ponyville on it.

“So where should we stop first sis?” Apple Bloom asked happily.

The Bank… Applejack groaned inside of her mind. There goes ma money for that new automatic backscratcher. Pushing the thought from her mind, the older sibling smiled. “How about some cherries? A stands right over there.”

Nodding in agreement, Apple Bloom raced over to one of the stands that sold cherries. A simple greenish tent with an even simpler wooden childhood lemonade style table in front, a sign with two large cherries rested two meters off the ground and baskets full of cherries could be seen in the back.

Applejack smiled at the stallion behind the counter, his coat a dark red that resembled dried blood. “Hey there Cherry Pit! How are things?”

The stallion nodded respectfully, his greyish-black mane whipping about slightly. “It iz good, Applejack my friend, as you can see. My farm has blessed me with many a cherry. Now if my wife vill bless me with a foal… but enough! You are here for cherries, yes?”

“Of course.” Applejack replied, placing several bits on the counter. “As many as this’ll pay for.”

Cherry Pit scrutinized the bits vigorously. Seeing them as genuine, the stallion nodded. Placing a bundle of cherries into a bag and handing them off to Applejack. “Here you are, cherries of the best quality! Grown from the sweat and blood of many hours of vork!”

“Thanks Cherry Pit.” Applejack replied, placing the pouch into her saddlebags. “See ya later.” The farmer waved goodbye and turned to Apple Bloom, who had taken off and was now inspecting some corn at a nearby stand.

The filly apparently liked what she saw and placed a few bits on the stand’s counter. The light blue mare behind the counter handed Apple Bloom several ears of corn. The filly packed them into her saddlebags, collected her change, and left the counter.

Applejack chuckled as Apple Bloom returned to her. “Well, that’s two foods down…” The mare sighed, pulling out the long list. “Now for the rest of Ponyville’s food supply.” She joked. Apple Bloom gave a cross look at first, but chuckled a little in the end. The sisters continued down the street to their next destination.

The next few shops were very much the same as the first two. It was just the unfortunate matter that Apple Bloom wanted as much food as possible. Applejack never realized how many food-stands the marketplace actually had until today; it was a lot if you were wondering. Applejack didn’t even know some of these food items existed, but as they found the appropriate vendors she learned they were in fact very real.

It was about noon when Applejack decided it was a good time to stop and eat. Stopping at one of Ponyville’s restaurants, the two picked an outside table and made their orders to a plump unicorn waitress who scampered off with surprising quickness. Applejack was taking a sip of cider while Apple Bloom checked on their supplies.

“Looks like we’re have way done sis.” The filly chimed happily.

The older sibling nodded. “Good, then we can probably get back ta the farm before dark.” Applejack stretched to get some soreness out of her joints. She’d not slept well the night before and carrying around the food hadn’t helped at all.

“That’s good, cause Ah want ta get cookin’ as soon as possible.” Apple Bloom said.

Applejack stopped her stretching and took a gander at the food they’d bought. It was quite a lot, a little too much for a filly to want to cook with. “So Apple Bloom, do ya really need all this food? Seems a bit excessive.”

“Remember the last time Ah tried to cook something by ma-self?”

The orange mare’s eyes darted away for an instant. “Ah believe we agreed never ta talk about that… it took me a whole month ta get the celery outta ma mane.”

Apple Bloom smiled. “See? All this is so that Ah have enough even if Ah mess up. Ah’m just tryin’ to make sure Ah got everything Ah need.”

Applejack nodded in agreement as the plump waitress returned, their food stacked on a tray engulfed in a peppermint green aura. “Here you go.” The waitress said happily as she placed a salad in front of Applejack and a hay sandwich in front of Apple Bloom.

“Thanks.” Applejack smiled.

“Yup, thank you.” Apple Bloom joined in.

The waitress did a little bow and darted off to the next table in need of service. The Apple sisters got right to work eating their food, enjoying the simple lunch. Talking about this and that between bites (Applejack made her sister eat like a normal pony this time), the two soon finish their lunches and took inventory. Checking off everything they had and memorizing all they didn’t, the two ponies got their check, tipped well, and left for the next stop.

Making a beeline for one of the shops that sold honey, Applejack and Apple Bloom were stopped short, intercepted by a familiar white unicorn fashionista. “Oh Applejack, darling, how are you?”

The mentioned pony smirked and tipped her hat in greeting. “Hey Rarity, fancy meetin’ ya here, weren’t ya workin’ on a new springtime fashion line?”

The Element of Generosity waved a hoof at her friend. “I am and thank you for remembering!” She suddenly slumped. “Unfortunately I’m in a bit of a creative ditch. I’m trying to think of a dress that truly captures the natural brilliance of May but it’s not going so well. That being said, I’m taking a little break. After thinking it over, I thought of no better way to relax than to spend a day with my precious Sweetie Belle.” Her eyes shifted to gazing off behind her.

Moving their heads to the left, Applejack and Apple Bloom could see Sweetie Belle, strapped to a small wagon and obviously pulling it. The unicorn filly spotted the two farmers and waved. “Hey Apple Bloom, hey Applejack.” She said between the strained huffs of her breathing.

“Well,” Applejack started. “That certainly looks… relaxin’?” It came out like a question.

“Sometimes a mare just has to throw all her burdens out a window and relax.” Rarity mentored. “Too much work and no play is a fast way to get wrinkles.”

“Ah guess that makes sense…” Applejack nodded.

“Well of course it makes sense.” Rarity laughed. “When have I ever been nonsensical?”

Applejack gave her friend an eyes half closed look of disappointment. “Let’s see… well, ya almost gave up on yer friendships in Ponyville fer social connections in Canterlot. And there was that time with Tom…”

“We don’t speak of that!” Rarity shouted in an unladylike, frantic way.

Applejack chuckled. “Sure Rarity, whatever you say.”

Apple Bloom tapped her hoof impatiently as the two older mares conversed. Huffing angrily, she tapped on her sister’s shoulder to get her attention. “Applejack, can we please get goin’? Ah want ta finish shoppin’.”

“Apple Bloom.” Applejack scowled. “Ah’m tryin’ ta talk ta somepony. Just hang on a second.”

“Ooo, what are the two of you purchasing toady?” Rarity asked, always the gossip.

“Just some supplies.” Applejack replied. “Apple Bloom wants ta try her hoof at bein’ a chef so we’re buyin’ food fer her to use.”

Sweetie Belle cocked an eyebrow. “Huh? But we already tried being Cutie Mark Crusader chefs. Don’t you remember Apple Bloom?”

Sweetie Belle and the two older mares brought their eyes to Apple Bloom; Applejack’s glaring expression unnerved Apple Bloom. It was still too early for her to tell her friends and family she had a new kind of species hold up in her clubhouse. The filly gulped, she’d have to do something so dastardly that the very thought of it hurt her stomach. She’d have to lie, and when one lives with the Element of Honesty, lying was a big deal. Sure, Apple Bloom had lied before, but this lie was big… and floated, and had tentacles.

The filly chuckled. “Uh, well, ya see, Ah just wanted to try it again, but Ah didn’t think that it held a lot of promise… so Ah didn’t tell Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo.”

Rarity and Applejack looked at Apple Bloom with unconvinced eyes. The filly could feel a bead of sweat trickle down her neck and her nervous smile widened. It appeared as if her ruse had failed, that is until Sweetie Belle intervened.

“That makes sense.” The little unicorn pondered, tapping her chin with her hoof. “Scootaloo and me already tried being chefs and it didn’t work out so much. If Apple Bloom thinks she can get it right without us then I guess it’s ok she didn’t say anything.”

Applejack and Rarity appeared to accept this and returned to their conversation. Apple Bloom huffed out a full breath of air in relief. Sweetie Belle had unknowingly saved her from revealing the real reason she needed this food. The filly took her hoof and wiped away the reservoir of sweat that had gathered on her brow.

“Surely we had to have a bit of rain, for dear little Apple Bloom to leak like a drain?”

The four ponies turned their heads and smiled to see none other than Zecora the Zebra, her rather drab brown cloak thrown over her as it always was when she visited Ponyville. The stoic Everfree dweller nodded and gave her friends a slight smile.

“Zecora!” Apple Bloom cried out happily and ran over to hug her zebra friend. “How are you?”

The zebra chuckled. “As good as ever, even if the Everfree has been having odd weather.”

Applejack cocked an eyebrow. “What do ya mean Zecora? Doesn’t the Everfree always have odd weather?”

“True.” Zecora chuckled. “However the forest has played host to a star’s fall, and it has certainly frightened all.”

Apple Bloom’s face became terribly pale at Zecora’s words. A falling star? She couldn’t mean the strange metal object that held the floating creature… could she? The implications almost made Apple Bloom sick. “Um… Um, Z-Z-Zecora?” Apple Bloom tried to act excited at the prospect of a fallen star. “Did ya go and check out the falling star?”

The zebra looked at her filly friend, her slight smile unknowingly scorning Apple Bloom. “I have not ventured to close to the crash, lest I fall in quite the flash. It is actually why I am here, for the star has caused much fear. The animals of the Everfree are running wild, a danger to mother, father, and child. I have come for herbs to assist, so confrontation with animals does not end with a fist.”

“Well, why are they so afraid?” Rarity asked. “A falling star fell in the forest last year and the animals did not act so madly.”

Zecora squinted darkly and looked away. “I fear there is more to this than meets the eye, this event has brought more than a star from the sky.” The moment of severity ended and Zecora smiled again. “But for now it is of no concern, and hopefully this situation does not badly turn.” The zebra bowed politely. “I’m sorry but now I must go, I must be back home before the sun gets low.” The ponies said goodbye and waved as the zebra turned and went on her way.

“I suppose that’s my cue to go as well.” Rarity said. “Sweetie and I have a lot more to get done. Let’s go Sweetie Belle.” The fashionista motioned her sister to follow her.

“See ya Rarity.” Applejack said as she took out Apple Bloom’s list and read it over again.

“It’s been a pleasure as always.” Rarity responded as she left.

“See you later Apple Bloom.” Sweetie Belle huffed out as she struggled to pull the wagon full of items.

Apple Bloom waved sheepishly to her friend. “Bye…” She said through a nervous smile.

“Alright Apple Bloom, after we pick up the honey our next stop is the spice shop at the corner.” Applejack jammed the list back into her saddlebags and began to trot off, whistling something to herself.

Apple Bloom followed, but her spirits were not so high. Celestia herself must have sent Zecora to the market today so she could talk to them, just to unnerve the filly. Her paranoia was running high and Apple Bloom didn’t know how to proceed. There was clearly more to this creature than meets the eye, but she already knew that. She had to figure out what the thing floating in her clubhouse was, and she needed to do it soon. The filly was sure of one thing however:

She was praying with all her heart for the creature to stay out of trouble.
> A Whistle and an Eeyup
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	The Huragok made an annoyed whistle as it inspected its resources. There weren’t enough candlewicks in the Crusader’s clubhouse to complete the modifications that the floating gasbag wanted, how very irksome. Looking at the candles it had collected, the Huragok went through every scenario it could think of. But no mattered what, there was no way it could make the repairs without at least another dozen and a half candlewicks.

Pondering its options, the Huragok supposed it could simply wait until there were sufficient candlewicks in the clubhouse and work on another project until then. The alien knew the thought would scratch at the back of its mind, however, and that would be just annoying… it might even harm efficiency!

Wiggling its head about at the mere thought of such a thing, the Huragok made its choice, it needed to get more candlewicks. But where would it get candlewicks? The image of Apple Bloom popped into its mind and calculations were made. Of course the equine creature would have some! She had said she would return in a… jiffy. The Huragok did not know how long of a timeframe a jiffy was, so that could mean that the foal could return next week or later! The Huragok could not wait a week for this, the very thought was an unacceptable thing.

Another thought processed through the Huragok’s mind an instant later. Sentient beings always built dwellings for shelter. If the equine did not live in the clubhouse, then a main dwelling had to be somewhere close. While refitting the walls outside the night before, the Huragok had seen some lights in the distant that must be it!

Whistling happily, the Huragok made for the door. Opening it with relative ease, the floating supercomputer floated into the outside world. Using its perfect memory to calculate the position of the lights it saw, the Huragok determined the direction of the house and floated happily towards it.

It couldn’t wait to get the candlewicks and return to work!


~~~~


“Ah’ll never know where she gets all that energy.” Applejack laughed as Apple Bloom ran up the stairs. “Suppose we were all like that when we were foals, huh Big Mac?”

“Eeyup.” The red stallion replied.

No sooner had she nearly flew up the steps did Apple Bloom descend again; her saddlebags hooked up and ready to go. “All ready!” She smiled.

“Then let’s get goin’.” Applejack waited for the filly to pass her and run out the door until she made her own way. “See ya Big Mac!”

“Eeyup!” Big Mac called back as his sister shut the door behind her.

The large red stallion got up from his seat and stretched. It was going to be a hard day of work without Applejack helping, so he had to make sure not to get hurt in anyway that might compromise his health. Turning to Granny Smith’s chair, the farmer’s eyes widened and he yelped as he saw his grandmother asleep, her head resting in her hot oatmeal! Big Mac rushed over to the old pale green mare and pulled her from her food; her face was red and steaming! Big Mac yelped in terror again and started waving his hoof frantically and blowing on his elder’s face to try and cool it down.

A sigh of relief left Big Mac’s mouth as the steaming stopped. Oddly enough, the old mare was still sound asleep, blissfully unaware of what had just happened. Cocking an eyebrow in confusion, the large stallion wondered how in Celestia’s grace had his grandmother not awoken from that! She was an odd one that was for sure.

Lifting the old mare on his back and bringing up the stairs and too her room, Big Mac tucked Granny Smith into her bed. Making sure his elder wasn’t going anywhere; the stallion smiled slightly and went to work, there was certainly a lot of it today.

Exiting the farmhouse and inhaling deeply, Big Mac took in the rustic smell of Sweet Apple Acres and loved every second of it. There was nowhere better than the farm.

Heading to the barn, Big Mac opened the massive double doors and headed for a large cart parked in the far corner. Hitching it to himself and starting up with a brisk trot, the stallion made his way out of the barn and headed for the many apple orchards contained on the family’s property.

Whistling a jaunty tune to himself, Big Mac began to think about stuff. He thought about pony stuff, and farming stuff, and brotherly stuff, and personal stuff too. Despite what some believed, the stallion was not as slow-witted as the he let on. Sure he wasn’t about to give a lecture about the properties of magical essences inside of a mircomolecular vacuum going at an excess velocity of one hundred and eighty miles an hour at Canterlot College, but just because you didn’t know all that fancy mathematics didn’t mean you weren’t smart. Big Mac was rustically smart and to the big red stallion, that was ok with him. Besides, everypony wanted the smarty ponies to fix the world’s problems, and Big Mac didn’t think he could handle that kind of pressure.

Now if only Big Mac had been thinking of where he was going, then maybe he wouldn’t have run the front left wheel of the cart into one of the farm’s many irrigation ditches. The stallion made his third yelp of the day as gravity grabbed the cart and pushed it into the ditch. Next physics came in and applied pressure to the front wheel---and snapped it in two.

Big Mac detached himself from the cart and he inspected the damage. A disgruntled groan escaped the stallion’s mouth as he looked at the broken wheel. This was just the farmer pony’s luck.

Jumping into the ditch with a wet splash, Big Mac rammed his back into the side of the cart and pushed off with all fours. Feeling the cart lift and exit the ditch helped lift Mac’s spirits and told him he was making progress. Giving one last heave, the stallion pushed the cart out of the ditch with sheer horsepower.

Jumping back to ground level, Big Mac pulled the cart a meter away from the ditch to avoid a repeat disaster. Ignoring his wet coat and inspecting the broken wheel again, the stallion groaned once more. He’d need tools for the job, tools he didn’t have on his person. Shaking his head stoically, the red stallion began walking back to the farm; he’d need a new wheel and tools to install it.


~~~~


Floating low above the ground, the gasbag Huragok moved with unseen determination. It could see the equine’s dwelling off in the distance and estimates placed the Huragok at ten minutes from it at the gasbag’s current speed. Huragoks were nothing if not patient however, and so it continued on its way without complaint.

As it floated by though, a loud crash resonated through the orchard. Drawn by the noise, the Huragok floated in the direction. Poking its head out from the tree line, the Huragok saw a rather large red equine creature inspecting a wheeled wagon. The large creature groaned in annoyance before leaving the broken transport and walking off towards the dwelling in the distance.

Once the equine was some ways off the Huragok floated out from the tree line and inspected the wagon for itself. A simple setup propelled the wagon: a metal bar slid between two more pieces of half circles nailed in the bottom. The wheels slid snuggly thanks to a hole in the center and a clamp held the wheel fast. One wheel was missing though. 

Looking around, the Huragok spotted the wheel in an irrigation ditch. Floating to it and pulling two pieces of it out of the muck, the Huragok got to work without even thinking. A little matter manipulation (as well as some nearby twigs for extra material) and the two halves became one wheel again. Floating back to the wagon and replacing the wheel, the Huragok took the clamp and snapped it onto the metal bar.

Giving the wagon an experimental push, the gasbag whistled happily as the transport moved without obstruction. The task done, the Huragok left the wagon where it was and made for the equine dwelling. 

As suspected, it took the Huragok ten minutes to get there. The structure in question was red with white outlines. Windows dotted the outside and flowers grew in little gardens all about. Floating towards the front door, the Huragok took a front tentacle and wrapped it around the doorknob. Hmm… How primitive, this unlocking mechanism… Anyway, twisting the knob and pushing forward, the Huragok opened the door and entered the house.

Now inside, the Huragok could look for candlewicks. They had to be unused, that was key. The Huragok closed the door behind itself (it knew such primitive barriers could not do so themselves) and floated about. It went about two meters when it saw a candleholder on a small table, but more importantly were the unused candles around it. Whistling happily, the Huragok grabbed the candles, six in all, with its main tentacles. Handing off the candles to one of its smaller tendrils, the Huragok began exploring the house once more.

It still needed a lot more candles for its repairs!


~~~~


Big Mac trotted briskly back to the wagon, a toolbox nestled in his mouth and a new wheel on his back. The stallion sighed, the repairs wouldn’t be a bother to do at all, but just the nuisance of having to run back and forth because of his foolish daydreaming really irked him. Oh well, he thought, accidents happen and the only thing to do now was go and fix the wagon so he could…

The farmer pony stopped dead in his tracks, widened his eyes, and dropped his jaw so much the toolbox fell out. The wagon… it was fixed! The wheel was back on and it looked ready to go. Big Mac shook his head, what in tarnation was going on? He was a hundred percent sure he had broken the wagon, so how in the heck was it right in front of him all fixed up?

The stallion knew that the residents of Ponyville were a kind sort and would certainly help a pony in need, but Big Mac was deep in Apple family property, there wasn’t another pony for a couple miles!

Walking up to the wagon, Big Mac tested it out so he knew it wasn’t some figment of his imagination. “Nnope…” The stallion answered his own thoughts as he moved the wagon back and forth much like a foal does with toys.

Big Mac didn’t know what to make of this. Was it some kind of miracle? Big Mac didn’t believe in miracles, a pony made their own fortunes in life. Still a little suspicious about the whole thing, Big Mac just shook his head and shrugged. The wagon was fixed and he didn’t have to lift a hoof. Best not look a gift horse in the mouth.

There was still the issue of the toolbox and new wheel. Big Mac couldn’t carry them with him, they’d take up space in the cart, space meant for apples.

Sighing again, Big Mac turned and headed back to the farmhouse to put the tools and wheel away. What a grand waste of time this all was. Still, the red stallion would have liked to at least been able to meet the pony that had fixed the wagon. Big Mac wanted to thank them for it.

The stallion decided not to dwell on it and instead made his way back to the farmhouse. His thoughts drifted to Granny Smith, he wondered if his grandmother had awoken yet.


~~~~


The Huragok was very pleased with its haul. Forty-eight candles meant forty-eight candlewicks. At first it had needed only eighteen, but as it collected candles the Huragok thought of more ways to use the wicks inside. So naturally, the gasbag started collecting more candles. Only a couple more and the alien would have all the wicks it needed for the modifications it had planned.

Returning to what the humans (and these equines by comparison it surmised) called the ‘kitchen’ from what they called the ‘living room’, the Huragok turned its head upward to the stairs. There were probably more candles up there. Floating up to the upper floor, the Huragok shifted its head left and right. To the left side: more doors, to the other: other doors, but there was a window and a small table with a plant on it under that.

Turning left, the Huragok went for a random door. Opening it up and floating in, the Huragok confirmed the room as a sleeping area. Sleeping in a double bed all snuggled up and tucked in was a pale green equine that looked aged… considerably aged---Forerunner’s glory, how old was that mare?

Granny Smith only held the Huragok’s interest for a few seconds before the alien saw them: several unused candles lay upon her bedside table! Whistling happily, but quietly, the Huragok floated towards the table and outstretched its tentacle. The candles were so close; soon the Huragok would be able to make its modifications to the clubhouse. Two feet… one… a few inches… one inch and…

“Oh well a course Ah’ll dance with ya, ya shy thing you!”

Granny Smith, having a nice dream of her younger days, unconsciously grabbed for the nearest things she could, and that just so happened to be the Huragok’s tentacle. The old mare hugged the appendage close. “Geez sweetie, Ah don’t remember yer hoof bein’ so slippery! Aw, it don’t matter though! Let’s dance!”

The Huragok’s full attention was now back on Granny Smith. Despite her outburst, she didn’t move a muscle and instead simply held the Huragok’s tentacle while humming a tune to herself in her sleep.

The alien gasbag blinked at the strange old mare, and then proceed to try to pull its tentacle free. It didn’t budge. The Huragok tilted its head in confusion and then pulled back again, and again nothing. For the next ten minutes the Huragok tried in a desperate bid to free its frontal appendage from the grasp of the elder equine. Success was nonexistent; the mare had quite the grip. The Huragok pondered how strong she was at her prime, but the thought didn’t help the Huragok get over its current situation. It was trapped here by an equine of considerable gripping strength and was unable to return to its modifications and repairs.

This would certainly not do. Mustering all its strength, the Huragok readied to pull itself loose from the mare’s grip. Three… Two… One… The mare let go. The gasbag’s tentacle feel to a hanging position. The Huragok stared at its appendage with mild interest. Huh, it was free… Excellent!

Grabbing the candles and floating away, the Huragok went down the stairs and opened the front door. Floating through and closing it, a sound yet again caught the Huragok’s attention. This time it was from a structure adjacent to the dwelling, a barn if the Huragok remembered the word correctly.

Floating to the open barn doors and peering inside, the Huragok spied the same red stallion at a workbench; putting things like tools away it appeared.

Big Mac shuffled through the many drawers of his workbench, putting his tools back in their right storage containers. The stallion was unsure how much time had been wasted from the broken wagon side trip. He sighed as he packed all the tools away. There was only one more tool to put away: a hammer. 

Reaching for the object with his mouth, Big Mac took it and was about to place the tool in the right spot when it slipped from his bite and fell to the ground. The hammer slammed onto the ground and the head broke off from the handle and slide under the workbench. The red stallion groaned audibly and crouched to lie on his belly to grab for it.

Patting his hoof around to grasp for the head, Big Mac groaned at the frailty of his equipment. The hammer was probably some foreign made garbage that couldn’t hold a candle to good old Equestrian manufacturing. Or, at the very least, Apple Family manufacturing. Big Mac remembered how he had seen his father make good quality hammers like it was nothing, and they held for the longest time too. Aw well, didn’t help to dwell on it, Big Mac just needed to find this stupid hammer’s head.

Feeling something with his hoof, Big Mac grinned triumphantly. Bringing the chunk of metal close to him and grabbing the handle, the red stallion picked himself up. What he saw next bewildered him.

Three pairs of small black eyes looked back at the stallion’s confused face. The eyes were on a fluorescent blue head that faded into a long, wormlike blue neck that snaked into a large purple-pink body with lots of inflating then deflating bladder looking things. Big Mac didn’t know what to make of this creature; his mind processes couldn’t handle it.

The Huragok, for its part, looked from Big Mac to the broken hammer. Taking its long tentacles, the gasbag took the hammer and fiddled with it. The stallion watched dumbstruck as the creature fixed the hammer with seamless precision.

When it was completed, the Huragok whistled happily and presented the hammer to Big Mac. It whistled at him to take it. Big Mac understood the gesture and took the hammer from the creature. “Uh…” The stallion got out---before falling over and crashing to the ground, sending a pile of wooden planks and tools with him. The Huragok cocked its head at the unconscious stallion. Suddenly it remembered the candles in its tentacles, the modifications!

Whistling to itself, the Huragok turned tail and floated away back to the clubhouse, leaving Big Mac to his shock-induced unconsciousness. There was still a lot of work to be done and it needed to get started right away so other projects could be started.

Still, it would have to come back here one day; this dwelling was ripe with all kinds of possible modifications!
> After a Hard Day's Shopping
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Applejack whistled a tune to herself as she and Apple Bloom past the small gate that led into Sweet Apple Acres. The sky above was plethora of warm colors as the Sun made its descent into the west. The farmer pony looked towards the burning orb as it fell; flabbergasted it took so long to gather the supplies for Apple Bloom’s cooking escapades.

Turning to Apple Bloom, the older mare could see the strain on the filly’s face. Applejack chuckled to herself, it was hard enough being a well-built adult and carrying what felt like tons of food, to see Apple Bloom holding on with nary a complaint was a refreshing sight.

“Well Apple Bloom, congratulations.” Applejack started. “This is probably enough food ta last us fer the winter, the squirrels will be so jealous.”

“Ha ha.” Apple Bloom replied. “Yer so very… funny… sis.” The filly’s sentence devolved into a heavy yawn.

Applejack chuckled to herself and shook her head. “Nah, if ya want funny, probably should go to Pinkie Pie.” The sisters reached the door to the farmhouse; Applejack twisted the knob and thrust the barrier open. “BIG MAC! GRANNY SMITH!” The mare called out. “We’re home!”

“Ah hear ya!” The aging grandmother called out from the upstairs bathroom. “Ah ain’t deaf after all!” … “No Ah don’t want any peas!”

“Didn’t say anything Granny!” Applejack shouted up.

“Oh…” The pale green mare replied.

Applejack rolled her eyes and chuckled. “Alright Apple Bloom, let’s get this stuff inta the cupboard.”

“Right sis.” Apple Bloom responded, yawning slightly afterwards.

The two walked to the kitchen and unloaded the day’s purchases into the cupboard, placing everything in an orderly fashion. Completing that task, Applejack got to work on dinner, it was getting late after all and Big Mac would need something in his belly from all the hard work he’d done alone today. Opening several cabinets and drawers, the orange mare gathered the utensils she’d need for Apple Family Gumbo, the only gumbo know to actually put hair on a pony’s chest (more hair than usual anyway).

Apple Bloom sat at the table, checking over her list to ensure they’d forgotten nothing. One missed item, the filly foolishly thought, and her new guest could die of starvation. The plan, after all, had changed and Apple Bloom was going to simply bring the creature all the food she’d brought it and let it decide what it wanted. Apple Bloom couldn’t in her wildest dreams pin down what the creature would enjoy, so the backup was to bring it everything and hope for the best. She’d also write down what the creature picked, so she’d know what to get next time.

Mulling over her list some more, the filly determined with a triumphant smile that all the food items had been bought. Step one to feeding her odd visitor was complete. She’d have to actually bring the food to it late at night, though, so as not to draw the suspicions of her family members. The filly still grew quite pale at the mere thought of Zecora and her words and didn’t want to garner any reasons for her family to think she was acting strange. Besides, she was tired and hungry, and that gumbo Applejack had started was already beginning to smell like heaven. 

Hopping from her seat, the filly made her way to the upstairs bathroom. Granny Smith was in the hallway outside the latrine, scratching her head as she scrutinized one of few small tables that were in the hallway. Apple Bloom cocked at eyebrow at her grandmother and looked at the table herself. Nothing seemed wrong with it, other than the candleholder it held on top needed a new candle. “Uh… Granny?” Apple Bloom started. “What are ya lookin’ at?”

“Ah coulda sworn Ah put a new candle in this darn thing just this mornin’. Where in the hay is it?”

Apple Bloom shrugged. “Ah don’t know, maybe Big Mac or Applejack used it fer something.”

“Maybe…” Granny Smith responded, rubbing her chin. “Or maybe we got ourselves a little thief!”

“A thief that steals candles and nothing else?” Apple Bloom tilted her head at that possibility, it didn’t make much sense for a thief to steal just candles.

Granny huffed. “Thieves ain’t gotta make sense, they’re thieves! Whether yer stealing a candle or the Princess’s royal undergarments, it’s still thieving!” The old mare pounded her hoof onto the table.

Apple Bloom was about to state that due to Equestria’s mostly nudist culture, the Princesses probably didn’t have royal undergarments. She thought better of it though and left her Granny in her current state of paranoia to make for the bathroom. Cleaning herself up for dinner and taking a much-needed tinkle, Apple Bloom returned to the kitchen to watch her sister make gumbo, she wanted to learn how her sister made it so good.

A slightly disgruntled sigh of annoyance left her mouth as she stepped into the kitchen and found the gumbo ready for consumption. The filly had no clue how her sister made the gumbo so fast, Applejack told her it was a technique their mother had taught them before… before she was gone. Apple Bloom’s gaze fell to the floor as the thought came to mind.

“Hey there silly filly!” Applejack called happily. “What’re ya doin’? Get yer flank in here and get ready fer the best Apple Family gumbo yet!”

“Ya always say this is the best one yet!” Apple Bloom protested.

“That’s cause it is.” Applejack said confidently. “Ah’m always improvin’ with the recipe. Ah’m so confident that this is the best gumbo yet Ah’d bet the whole southern orchard on it!”

Apple Bloom climbed into her chair. “Let’s not but say we did, Ah don’t think we could afford ta lose the southern orchard.” The filly settled in and awaited her food patiently.

“Yeah, yer probably right.” Applejack chuckled. “Still ma best gumbo though.” Walking to the kitchen door, Applejack sucked in a huge chunk of air. “DINNER’S READY! COME AND GET IT!”

“Fer the hundredth time: AH AIN’T DEAF!” Granny Smith shouted as she walked down the steps. “Ah can hear ya just fine without all yer yappin’ and yer hollerin’. Thought ya was raised better than this, screamin’ in the house.” The older mare shook her head. “It’s crazy.”

Applejack let out a laugh before helping Granny to her seat and putting a bowl of piping hot gumbo in front of her. Placing similar bowls filled with gumbo in front of Apple Bloom and Big Mac’s seat, Applejack got one for herself and sat down. Apple Bloom smiled and readied herself for the delicious mush of food.

“Ah ah,” Applejack chided. “We gotta wait for Big Macintosh.” Apple Bloom dropped her spoon and closed her gaping maw instantly.

The three mares waited for what seemed like forever for Big Mac. It was very odd for the stallion to be late, to anything. In truth, Big Mac usually wasn’t early either. The stallion always arrived precisely when he was supposed to. This made his current absence rather strange.

After waiting another minute, Applejack groaned. “Ugh, what’s takin’ that boy so long? He ain’t ever late or early ta anything. Heck, he was born precisely when the doctors said he would be.” The orange mare got to her hooves and collected the bowls of gumbo. “Apple Bloom, could ya go search fer yer brother while Ah reheat these?”

“Sure Applejack!” The mentioned filly replied excitingly, hopping off her own chair and racing off in search.

“Check the barn first!” Applejack called after her.

Listening to her sister’s advice, Apple Bloom galloped to the barn. The door was open and a light could be seen from inside. The filly wasted no time and ran into the barn, half hoping to catch her brother not paying attention. To catch Big Mac not being observant was a rare treasure indeed and the thought was enticing.

As she rounded the open space and darted into the barn, however, her eagerness turned to shocked concern. “Big Mac!?”

The stallion lay on the floor, unconscious and with a sizable plank of wood leaning against his head. Apple Bloom raced over to his side and began shaking him as much as she could. “Big Mac? Are you ok?! Big Mac? Big Mac!”

The stallion’s eyes darted open and he sat up quickly, sending the plank that had been resting on his head to the floor. Shaking his head to get the last remaining dizziness away, Big Mac looked around. He was in the barn? What had happened? He remembered… a floating thing? Feeling a tug on his fur, Big Mac’s eyes rested on Apple Bloom’s frightened expression.

“Apple Bloom?” He asked. “What…?”

“Ah saw you on the floor and… and you were knocked out and Ah didn’t know what ta do and…” Apple Bloom sniffed. Big Mac put a reassuring hoof on his sister’s head, scratching her lovingly. The filly looked up at him. “Big Mac, what happened?”

The stallion wondered very much the same thing. He looked around and saw the plank of wood that had been on his head. It must have hit him… yeah that’s it. He was putting some tools away after the wagon incident and that must have fallen and hit him. 

Big Mac remembered the floating creature that had fixed his hammer. No, the red stallion thought to himself, that’s impossible. There was no such creature like that in Equestria, or the world for that matter. He should know, he read a book about it, a book written by Starswirl the Bearded. A book written by that stallion didn’t lie, so the thing he saw must have been a dream concocted by his unconscious mind. 

Big Mac rolled his eyes at himself. That was the last time he read Daring Do and the Temple of the Moon Slugs before bed. Books like that only led to a pony having weird hallucinations. Deciding not to trouble Apple Bloom with the details of a wild dream, the stallion picked himself up and brushed off. Telling his little sister he was fine, the stallion put away the fixed hammer and the plank of wood, he made sure to secure it better this time.

Calming down, Apple Bloom explained that dinner was ready. Big Mac smiled and told his sister not to worry about it. Apple Bloom nodded nervously and the two left the barn for the house.

As he closed the barn doors however, the stallion couldn’t help but think that the creature wasn’t a dream. Shaking his head in response, Big Mac snorted as he closed the door. No creature like the one he had seen had ever been born on this earth, and of that the stallion was certain.


~~~~


Apple Bloom tugged her wagon through the dark orchard, the small cart loaded to bear with food. It had taken the filly quite awhile to move all of the day’s purchases from her family cupboard, but she had done and was know trotting to her clubhouse to provide her guest with food. A little lantern hung from a pole attached to the wagon, illuminating the way for the filly. The experience of walking through the darkened orchards of Sweet Apple Acres was rather harrowing for young Apple Bloom, but she found the strength to push such feelings aside to reach the clubhouse.

Despite the near impenetrable blackness in front of her, Apple Bloom could make out the clubhouse in the distance. A faint glow coming from structure helped greatly, Apple Bloom assumed it was the creature considering the thing glowed in the dark.

Stopping at the gangplank at ground level, Apple Bloom parted her wagon and trotted up to the clubhouse’s front door. Placing her hoof into the slot in the barrier and twisting, the little filly opened her clubhouse to the world. Unsurprisingly, Apple Bloom caught sight of the creature fiddling with its boxy device as she walked in. The floating thing paid her no heed, as usual.

Walking up to it and tugging on a hanging tentacle, the filly had to bite her lip for second to avoid the instinct to flee from the foreign creature as its glowing head turned and focused on her with its six beady eyes. “Hey there.” She replied happily to it. “Ah brought some food fer ya. Are ya hungry?”

The Huragok tilted its head at the little equine in front of it. Hungry? No, it wasn’t hungry, not really. Some substance would be appreciated so it wouldn’t break down while working. The Huragok shook its head yes and the filly got excited, running out the door. The Huragok floated to the door and peered out. The equine was retrieving food items from a small wagon. Hmm… the wagon looked like it could use some modifications, but that be for later. 

Backing away from the door so Apple Bloom could enter and dump the food onto the nearby table, the Huragok watched the filly leave again and come back with more food. After more five trips of food delivery, Apple Bloom sat at the table and presented an abundance of food for her Huragok guest.

“Here ya are!” She announced happily, though with a tired expression. “All the food ya could want! Pick anything that ya like.” The filly sluggishly took out a clipboard and a pencil. She planned to check off everything the Huragok took to eat for future reference. Yawning, Apple Bloom readied herself with drooping eyes for taking notes. “Ok…” Another yawn. “Dig… in…” Apple Bloom’s head dipped and the filly began to breathe softly. Her day of running around and staying up late had finally caught up with her.

She’s fallen asleep, the Huragok observed. Looking to the food, the Huragok whistled happily. There was an acceptable amount of nourishment here. Grabbing the nearest object, a pear, and studying it carefully, the Huragok shook its head and placed it down. Scanning the rest of the food with a meticulous gaze, the Huragok reached out for the food it needed. 

It was time to make nutrient paste!
> Reaching For Contact
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	“Move on intercept coordinates pilot, hunt them down.”

“Yes Shipmaster.”

A Huragok watched with little interest as one of its Sangheili masters waved his slender fingers over the holographic control panel, signaling the Purging Brilliance to bank left in pursuit of its foes. The Huragok’s interest fell more to the panel it was currently stationed at. After prolonged battle, the computer had fallen into disrepair and the floating gasbag had been assigned to repair it.

Still, the Huragok kept one eye on the view screen, for reference. The Human planet took up much of the view and looked a sorry sight from how it looked many hours ago. The large space stations that had held orbital cannons were in ruins, nothing more than red hot, smoldering fields of debris now. Ships, both Covenant and Human, lay in broken heaps and shattered hulls. It sort of hurt the Huragok a little on the inside, such magnificent machinery broken without so much as a second thought.

“The Human ship seems to be moving to enter Slipspace Shipmaster.” The Sangheili pilot reported.

“Track the ship.” The Shipmaster growled. “With luck, they will show us to the filth pit they spawn from.”

Probably not, the Huragok thought to itself. Humans jumped around like frogs when pursued by Covenant ships. They’d most likely take some random vector and flee until their trackers where thrown off, or they were caught and destroyed. The Shipmaster knew this, so the Huragok was slightly confused by his words. Sangheili bravado was an odd thing to interpret. It was a lot better to keep things simple, which was why the gasbag was working on a multi-leveled security system with nearly eighty gigabytes of overlapping algorithms nodules that could only be solved with complex multitasking manipulation of several data streams running at one thousand and three gigs a minute while also keeping intrusion firewalls from breaking and causing one loud alarm system.

“Sir, we’re being hailed from Supreme Commander ‘Vadamee’s forces!” Shouted a Communications Officer.

The Shipmaster nodded. “Put them on.”

The Sangheili nodded. “Yes sir!” He pressed several buttons on the panel.

The bridge’s overhead speakers sparked to life. “Purging Brilliance, cancel intercept coordinates. The Fleet of Particular Justice will hunt down the Human filth; you are to stay with your fleet and continue the assault on the planet.”

The distain in Shipmaster’s face was evident, the hinged jaws of the creature flexing in anger. “But we are closest to…”

“The ship is about to jump and we already aware of its destination.” The speaker shot back. “Continue with your orders or face dishonor.” The speaker flicked off abruptly to ensure there was no backtalk.

The Shipmaster growled. “Very well.” The Sangheili turned to the view screen; the Human ship had just jumped, fleeing into Slipspace. “Bring us about! We continue to attack the planet.”

The Huragok watched the Human ship jump; it was what the Humans called a Halcyon class cruiser if the Huragok was looking at it correctly. But such an insignificant ship was of no importance to a Huragok. Going back to its task, the gasbag programed the last of the computer and deemed it ready for use again.

“Set a course for the planet’s northern pole, we’ll begin the cleansing of the planet there. Huragok!” The Shipmaster turned to the weapons control panel. “Are the weapon system’s programming completely repaired?” The mentioned Huragok nodded and chirped. “Good, then let’s regroup with the rest of the fleet and regroup.”

The Huragok moved out of the way for its Sangheili masters to use the weapon systems. The creature was probably needed somewhere else anyway, so it moved towards one of the bridge’s doors to its next assignment. Glancing back for an instant and watching as the first ships began firing their plasma weapons downward, scorching the planet below.


~~~~


Apple Bloom awoke with a big yawn. A stray sliver of sunlight had hit her face and prompted her to cast off the sleep she enjoyed. Lifting herself up, the filly realized she was still in the Crusader’s Clubhouse. Stretching to remove some numbness, Apple Bloom reasoned that she must have fallen asleep after she had…

“The list!” The filly shouted in shock. She had fallen asleep before she could see what the floating creature liked to eat. “Horse feathers!” The filly grumbled as she allowed herself to fall down into what she realized was a makeshift bed created from a bunch of the clubhouse’s extra blankets.

“Great work Apple Bloom…” The pony started, throwing her left hoof over her eyes. “Couldn’t even stay awake fer three minutes ta see what the thing ate!” The filly began to silently chide herself. Now she’d have to go waste time to inspecting what was left to see what had been eaten. “How could Ah have let ma-self fall asleep like that? Ah’m so stupid!” The filly threw her hoof from her eyes to the floor, slamming it. Instead of hearing a wooden thud however, Apple Bloom heard a crunchy sound, like paper getting crumpled.

Sitting up again, the filly looked on the floor and caught sight of her list. The crinkly piece of paper looked the same as it had last night, save for one exception. Several of the food items had a black X next to them, an X that certainly wasn’t in Apple Bloom’s hoof-writing.

Seeing her list reminded Apple Bloom of the creature living in her clubhouse. Gazing up and at the clubhouse’s interior, the filly spotted the Huragok in one of the corners fiddling with its box device. Watching the creature’s tentacles glide gracefully over the device, Apple Bloom could see that one tentacle was stained with black ink. The creature had figured out what Apple Bloom was trying to do and had done the work for her. Apple Bloom began wondering if the thing even needed her charity. 

Besides that thought, it was very clear that the creature was capable of higher thought, but it rarely interacted with anything that wasn’t an inanimate object. Apple Bloom needed to know more about this thing if she was going to get anywhere with it. If only she could… Wait! The creature had used a pen to mark the paper and it knew what each food item was. So that meant it knew modern Equestrian, or at least some of it. Grabbing her list and turning it over, Apple Bloom began to scribble words on the back.

The Huragok turned its device in its tentacles, trying to fix an anomaly in the wiring. The fact that Apple Bloom had even awakened was unknown, so when the little filly tugged on one of its tentacles, the Huragok wiggled a little in surprise. Twisting its head towards the filly, the creature was met with a crumpled piece of paper and a feather pen. There were poorly written words on the paper.

My name’s Apple Bloom, what’s yours?

The Huragok tilted its head slightly. Those words were English, a Human language. The filly before it did not look Human in the slightest, in fact the Huragok had not seen a Human for the entire time it had been here. Perhaps the creatures of this world were subservient to Humans, like the Unggoy usually were to the Sangheili. Possessing no distinction between friend and foe, the Huragok took the pen and paper from the filly and scribbled the English translation of its name on the paper.

Apple Bloom reached out and reclaimed the objects as the Huragok returned them to her. The filly placed the pen to the side and looked at the Huragok’s response: Hello Apple Bloom, my name is Floats Low. Apple Bloom cocked an eyebrow. Floats Low? What kind of name was Floats Low? Dismissing that for later, Apple Bloom took up the pen once more and scribbled a new message for the Huragok.

What are you?

Just like last time, Floats Low took the pen and paper and scribbled for a few seconds before giving it back. The creature had only written one word: Huragok.

What’s a Huragok?

Me.

Apple Bloom looked at the response with some distain. The thing was being vague. The filly had no idea if a Huragok was the species or a title. Maybe it was a special talent? The filly was about to ask Floats Low to be more specific when she realized she’d run out of room to write out her question on the back of the list paper. Looking around for more paper, Apple Bloom easily spotted it neatly stacked into a box. Once a fresh sheet was in her hooves the filly grabbed the pen in her mouth.

As she was about to write out her question, however, a thought came to Apple Bloom. Instead of writing her original message, the filly asked the Huragok a different one: Can you understand me?

Yes.

“So Ah can just talk ta you normally?”

Floats Low nodded its head at the filly in acknowledgement. Apple Bloom smiled widely, she’d done it! Now she knew how to talk to her visitor (She’d probably have fainted if she knew she had just been the first pony to ever make contact with an alien life form).  Still smiling widely, Apple Bloom asked the previous question. “Could you be more specific about what you are?”

The Huragok cocked its head at her. Had it not been clear enough? It was a Huragok; the name alone was really self-explanatory. Humans had made contact with ‘Engineers’ several times in the past, so why wouldn’t a subservient race know about them? Unless these equines were more of a complete slave race, in which case they’d know nothing about anything. Floats Low ruled that out though, slaves aren’t taught to read and write. It decided to answer again.

Apple Bloom frowned at the Huragok’s response, which was simply Huragok written again. Apple Bloom couldn’t tell whether it was toying with her or was withholding information. The filly dropped it though; she didn’t want to push her new friend away with harsh questioning.

“Alright, so yer Floats Low the Huragok?” The creature nodded at the filly’s claim. “And you can’t talk?”

Not in the way or frequencies you do.

Apple Bloom nodded, at least it could write. “Ok, so do ya mind tellin’ me where ya came from?”

I came from the Assailing Divinity. It was under attack by hostile forces, I was ordered off the ship.

“And ya crashed in the Everfree in the escape?”

Yes.

“Were you the only one that was ordered off?”

No.

“There were more of you?”

No.

“But… ya just said you weren’t alone.”

The other was not Huragok.

“Is he or she still alive?”

Unknown. Probability of survival: low

Apple Bloom frowned again, but this time it was caused by sadness. This poor thing was stranded here after a crash that probably killed one of its friends. The filly couldn’t even imagine how the Huragok must feel right now.  Apple Bloom smiled despite herself, trying to give the Huragok a feeling of comfort. “Well, ya can stay here fer as long as ya want Floats Low!”

The Huragok paused in its writing, simply staring at Apple Bloom with blinking beady eyes. The filly continued to smile, even as the silence between them became awkward. Finally Floats Low scribbled Thank you onto the paper. Once the Huragok was certain Apple Bloom had read the message it floated away to its corner, picking up its device and ripping it apart.

Apple Bloom watched with interest, but didn’t try to talk to the Huragok. She didn’t want to press it for answers; doing so might make her lose the progress she’d made. As Applejack had told her once: patience is a virtue, and the filly was willing to be very patient with this thing.

Now that Apple Bloom knew the creature was not dangerous, her options were much wider. First things first, Apple Bloom thought, Ah need learn more about what a Huragok is… The filly thought for a minute more. Without context, Huragok could mean anything. She needed an expert with creatures that were non-pony. Someone she could trust would keep her secret (Apple Bloom was still being cautious with this). The only question was who? Who in all of Ponyville could she possibly trust to not only help her with this creature but also keep its existence a complete secret?

The filly’s eyes widened and a smile slipped across her face. “Fluttershy.”
> I Would Have Been Your Daddy
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	The Sun’s brilliant morning rays illuminated the world and threw off the shroud of darkness that had previously ruled. With the coming of the Sun came the buzz of activity from the many daytime animals. A blue jay ruffled itself awake, looking about at the brightening world. Taking flight, the cerulean avian whizzed about in search of food. Catching sight of a worm, the blue jay dived and scooped up the creature. Flying to a nearby tree, the blue jay swallowed the worm whole. The bird chirped and sung happily at its morning catch.

The bird’s song was flowed through the air, reaching into a nearby window. The pony sleeping inside, a slender yellow Pegasus, perked her ears at the sound. Yawning gracefully, Fluttershy sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Looking to the sound of the blue bird, the shy mare smiled back.

“Good morning Mr. Blue Jay, thank you so very much for the beautiful wake up call.” The Pegasus continued to watch the avian sing as she got out of bed.

The Pegasus made her bed and then made a beeline to the bathroom. Washing herself and fixing her mane into its signature style, the shy pony gave a deep breath of contentment. Today was a new day!

Heading to the bottom floor of her cozy cottage, Fluttershy went for her storage closet and picked up all the animal feed she’d need for breakfast. With a degree of speed that was slightly frightening, the mare filled all her animal friends’ food bowls. Fluttershy sucked in a large amount of air. “Breakfast’s ready!” She shouted (Though to be fair, it wasn’t a very loud shout).

Animals of all kinds burst from their sleeping places and hidey-holes, racing to get their fill in.  Rabbits, dogs, cats, and a turtle were only a few example of the plethora of creatures that poured into the mare’s living room. Even Angel got up from the warm comfort of his basket, albeit reluctantly, to sample some new carrots his owner had bought.

The shy mare smiled proudly as her friends ate their meals. Only a rumbling from her own belly pulled her from watching the scene, her own needs taking hold. Trotting into the kitchen, Fluttershy made herself a simple bowl of cereal with some wheat bread and an orange to top it all off.

As the yellow Pegasus ate her meal, she squee’d at her plans for the day. Sundays were always when she was with her animals the whole time. First she’d help a family of rabbits dig out a new home, then she’d help one of her bear friends gussy up for a date, and that was only the beginning! Yes, it was going to be a nice quiet day for Fluttershy and her animals.

Finishing up her meal and tossing the dishes in the sink for later cleaning, the mare went back to her living room. Her animals had finished eating and had gone on to other activities, so Fluttershy took upon herself to clean up the mess and leftovers still littering the floor.

It was just before she finished that a knock could be heard at the door. Fluttershy’s head swung towards the door just as another knock resonated through the room. The mare tilted her head slightly, “Who could that be? Nopony usually visits me this early.” Placing her cleaning equipment down and walking to the door, the mare opened up to see who had arrived to meet her. “Oh… Hello Apple Bloom.”

The pale olive filly smiled at Fluttershy. “Hey Fluttershy, good mornin’.” She greeted back. “Whatcha doin’?” She asked in an overly innocent tone.

Fluttershy cocked an eyebrow. “Nothing right now, I was just finishing up some cleaning, the animals can get really messy sometimes.”

“Really, ya don’t say?” Apple Bloom replied back.

The yellow Pegasus frowned. “Umm… do you need something Apple Bloom? I mean if you do then… that’s ok, but I was wondering why you’d come here this early and… well, I mean you have every right to come here whenever you want I suppose it’s just strange is all… but I mean, I’m calling you strange I’m saying that what you’re doing is strange… wait, I’m not implying you do strange things it’s just…”

“Uh Fluttershy,” Apple Bloom said, cutting off Fluttershy’s sorry rant. “It’s ok, Ah just wanted yer help with something…” The filly paused for a second. “Help with an animal Ah mean.”

“Oh…” Fluttershy said, looking at the filly with quick blinking eyes. A wide smile suddenly broke across the mare’s face. “Well why didn’t you say so Apple Bloom? I’d be more than happy to help you with any animal problems. Is Winona sick? Did she eat those weird bluish-green mushrooms again?”

“Uh no.” Apple Bloom replied. “Ah found an animal and Ah thought ya’d wanna take a look at it.”

“Is it hurt?” Fluttershy asked.

“No, Ah don’t actually know what it is, so Ah was wondering if ya’d take a look at it fer me.”

Fluttershy cocked an eyebrow innocently. “Alright Apple Bloom, I’ll help.”

“Really?!” Apple Bloom asked happily.

“Of course.” Fluttershy replied. “I could not leave a poor animal hurt in good conscience. Just let me get a bag full of medical supplies ready and we can set out.” The Pegasus turned to retrieve her things when she felt a tug on her tail.

“Uh Fluttershy?” Apple Bloom asked as she held the mare’s tail. “If we see Applejack on the way there can ya not tell her what we’re doing?”

Fluttershy squinted her eyes. “Why?”

“Well… uh…” The farm filly thought for minute. “Cause… she… Ah don’t want ta worry her, ya know? She’s got so much work and Ah just hate ta distract her with something like this. Ya know what Ah me?”

Fluttershy thought about it then smiled. “Alright Apple Bloom, I won’t say a word, if it’s so Applejack doesn’t have to get worried.”

The filly smiled and released Fluttershy, who promptly went inside to get her medical equipment. Apple Bloom let out a sigh of relief, that was a lot easier then she thought it’d be.


~~~~


Apple Bloom and Fluttershy walked past the front gate of Sweet Apple Acres, trotting merrily along the dirt path that led from Ponyville to the farm. The duo made for the path that led to the orchard that contained the Crusader’s Clubhouse. Apple Bloom was giddy; they were almost to the path with no sight of Applejack. Maybe Apple Bloom would be able to pull this off after all…

“Hey! Apple Bloom! Fluttershy!”

The filly and mare stopped dead in their tracks at the voice (Apple Bloom gulped). The two turned to see Applejack trotting towards them, baskets full of apples strapped to her sides.

“H-Hey sis…” Apple Bloom managed out.

“Hey Apple Bloom, we missed ya at breakfast,” The older sister stopped in front of the two. “Where’d ya go? And why is Fluttershy with ya?”

“Hi… Applejack.” Fluttershy squeaked out, hiding behind her pink mane.

Apple Bloom tried to stay composed. “Well Ah, um, Ah woke up really early today and went ta my clubhouse ta get something. That’s uh, when Ah noticed a rabbit that looked a lot like one of Fluttershy’s.”

“And so I came here to get it.” Fluttershy added in meekly.

“Really?” Applejack asked. “Then why do ya have a medical bag with ya?”

“Well… Well…” Fluttershy tried to think of a good excuse. “I uh, you uh, never know if the bunny could be hurt, so I brought it just in case.”

“Makes sense.” Applejack admitted. “Do ya need help?”

“No we’re fine.” Apple Bloom interjected. “Ah’m just gonna bring her ta the rabbit and she’s gonna bring it home.”

“Alright then. Good luck you two.” Applejack tipped her hat. “Nice seeing ya Fluttershy.” The Earth pony began trotting away.

“Same here.” Fluttershy replied quietly.

“Bye sis!” Apple Bloom waved her sister as the mare left. The filly sighed in relief. A stray thought entered her mind: This thing’s gonna make me a problem liar…

Leading Fluttershy to her clubhouse, Apple Bloom stopped as the two walked up to the tree house. Apple Bloom steeled herself; this was it. The two walked up the gangplank. As the filly stuck her hoof in the door hole and twisted the door open, she turned to Fluttershy.

“Umm… Fluttershy? Ah just wanna tell ya now that there’s no injured animal in there.” The filly watched the Pegasus’s expression become confused.

“What… What do you mean Apple Bloom?” The mare took on a very nervous and scared look.

“Ah found something… some Ah really can’t explain.” The door slid open and Apple Bloom stepped inside. “So Ah was hoping you could.”

Fluttershy stepped inside the tree house and looked around. She noted how different it appeared compared to when she had seen it once. The changed of decorum was the least interesting thing though. In one corner of the little structure floated a creature. It’s bluish-purple skin looked luminescent and its six tentacles were busy with some strange looking pieces of equipment that seemed to have been ripped from a small boxy device. Fluttershy felt her mouth drop slightly, but the rest of her felt numb and unresponsive.

Apple Bloom chuckled nervously and stepped in the two meters between the two. “Uh, Fluttershy, this is Floats Low.” The filly waved at the creature. “And Floats Low.” The creature heard its name and turned to the source. Apple Bloom waved her hoof at an equine with wings. Curious evolutionary turn, Floats Low pondered. “This is Fluttershy.” Apple Bloom said.

Floats Low floated to Fluttershy until the two were snout to snout. The six beady eyes of the Huragok stared at the wide expression of Fluttershy. The mare’s mouth was still agape, apparently stuck in a silent scream. Floats Low seemed to ignore Fluttershy’s condition as its head twisted this way and, looking over the mare. Apple Bloom noted that it was especially interested with Fluttershy’s wings. Floats took a tentacle and reached for one of Fluttershy’s wings. Taking in its tentacle, the Huragok seemed to examine it in every detail. Fascinating… The Huragok admitted. It wondered what kind of predators existed that would cause an equine to evolve in such a way. Perhaps this was the work of the Forerunners.

Apple Bloom watched this interaction of Pegasus and Huragok with mixed feelings. On the one hand, Floats Low seemed to be enjoying itself. On the other, Fluttershy looked shocked into an open-eyed coma. Maybe it had been a mistake to bring Fluttershy here without telling her any of the real details.

“Apple… Apple Bloom…”

The mentioned filly looked up to see Fluttershy, visibly shaking. It broke the filly’s heart somewhat. “Y-Yes Fluttershy?”

“Where… Where’d you find this creature?” The mare didn’t so much as blink the entire time.

“The… Everfree Forest.” Apple Bloom responded. “Ah found it in a crash site of… something. Ah fainted and it took care of me why Ah was out cold.”

“I see…” Fluttershy stated.

“Fluttershy.” Apple Bloom started. “Please don’t be scare, Floats Low is actually…”

“Scared?” Fluttershy asked, cutting the filly off. “Apple Bloom, scared isn’t the right word for what I am feeling right now.” The filly bit her lip at that. Fluttershy continued. “No, right now all I can feel is… is…”

The mare burst into the air and shouted at the top of her lungs (still pretty quiet though). Fluttershy smiled as she hopped up and down. “I can’t believe it! I can’t believe it! Would you look at this?! I must be dreaming! Oh my gosh, I’m so excited!”

“Wut.” Apple Bloom took on a confused look as she watched Fluttershy look over the Huragok. The filly thought she was looking at a slideshow of pictures, Fluttershy hopped from observation point to observation point so quickly it looked as she simply teleported to each new spot. The mare’s barely contained excited caught Apple Bloom by surprise, the filly had no words to respond with.

“Oh my gosh, oh my gosh! Look at this body structure!” Fluttershy poked one of Floats’ bulbous gasbags, the mare squee’d hard as she watched it inflate and deflate. “Sustained floatation via lighter than air bladders! That method of flight is supposed to be only theoretical!” Fluttershy looked to the Huragok’s tentacles. Taking one in her hoof, she observed it closely and noted the microscopic cilia. “Extremely large amount of cilia to allow precision grasping ability! Amazing!” The Pegasus floated down towards the Huragok’s neck, watching the creature’s skin glow slightly. “And he’s bioluminescent! Apple Bloom, do you know how many land based animals are bioluminescent?!”

The filly thought about it. “Well, Ah know that fireflies count, other than that…”

The filly didn’t get to finish her sentence as Fluttershy continued her scrutinization of the Huragok. The mare took Floats Low’s slender head into her hooves and looked straight at it. “Six eyes? Interesting.” The mare raised the Huragok’s head up to look at its chin. “Hmm… no fully developed mouth? So that must mean it must communicate differently… maybe using complex body language? You can whistle too, can’t you?” Fluttershy smiled again, the mare looked absolutely drunk off her happiness. As for the Huragok, it was now far from the interest it had had several minutes ago. Now it cowered somewhat from Fluttershy’s observations, a little frightened by the near mad fervor the mare before it was exhibiting.

“Fluttershy? Are you ok?” Apple Bloom asked, even more worried then when the Pegasus had looked frightened.

“Ok? OK?” Fluttershy landed in front of Apple Bloom, her smile still etched across her face. “I’m more than ok! I’ve never gotten the chance to ever see a creature like this before! I went to college to learn all I could about animal care. For a pony that loves animals so much, this situation is a dream come true! To see something so exotic, so alien, I feel like Twilight when she gets a new book in the mail! It’s even better considering this thing doesn’t want to violate me brutally and lay eggs in my abdomen so I can be its broodmother and birth the next generation of its species!”

“You went to college?” Apple Bloom curiously found herself asking, seemingly skipping over Fluttershy’s last statement.

“Well… It was more of a take home college program, but I still had to take it and get a degree so I could work with animals. It’s not like anypony would entrust their animals to an unlicensed mare, that’s just crazy!”

“That does make sense…” Apple Bloom admitted.

“Now…” Fluttershy pulled up two chairs and sat down in one, prompting Apple Bloom to do the same with the other. “Tell me everything that’s happened so, right from the beginning!”

Apple Bloom nodded and took a seat. “Alright… so it started three days ago when I was walking home from school late at night…”
> Fluttershy Hearts Huragok
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	“And after Ah found out Floats Low could understand Equestrian Ah gave him some paper and let him write out responses. Shortly after that Ah decided to come find you fer help. So that brings us ta now Ah guess.” Apple Bloom exhaled as she finished her story about the past few days.

The butterscotch yellow Pegasus Fluttershy sat in a chair across from her, listening intently. The usually shy mare absorbed the information about the filly’s discovery and subsequent interaction with the Huragok Floats Low. The gasbag in question had recovered from its shock over Fluttershy’s rather loud introduction, which the mare eventually apologized for, and was back to intense pondering of the Pegasus evolutionary track. Floats Low whistled and hummed to itself as it looked over Fluttershy’s body, such a strange creature needed thorough documentation after all.

Ignoring a quick poke from the Huragok’s tentacle, Fluttershy got up and walked over to the farm filly. “And you haven’t told anypony else about this? Not even Applejack?”

Apple Bloom nodded. “Yeah. At first, Ah didn’t tell anypony cause Ah thought Floats might be dangerous. After Ah figured out that wasn’t the case Ah came ta you, mostly cause yer so good with animals Ah kinda hoped it transfer over to…”

“Whatever Floats Low is?” Fluttershy asked, still ignoring the Huragok’s prodding of one of her wings.

“Basically.” Apple Bloom agreed. “Ah mean, he said he was a Huragok, but Ah’ve no clue what that is. Ah’m guessing it’s Floats’ species.”

“I’ve never heard of a species that call themselves Huragoks.” Fluttershy replied, tapping her chin. “Though to be fair, it’s believed Equestrians don’t even know half of the creatures that exist in our world.” The mare giggled happily at the notion. “Which is exactly why this is so great!”

“Yer really enjoyin’ this ain’t cha Fluttershy?” Apple Bloom observed.

“Of course!” The usually shy mare blurted out. “I’ve read just about every book in existence that details animals! The ponies that wrote those books got to get up close and personal with a lot of animals that Equestria had no information about before-hoof. You could say they kind of took out all the mystery out of a chunk of the creature catalogue. Because of that, I never really believed I’d ever find a creature that hadn’t already been documented before. But I was wrong, and now I’m the one that’s observing a new species that ponies have never heard about before! It’s just… It’s just an animal lover’s dream! It’s so exciting I could just scream in delight! Especially since this little guy doesn’t want…”

“No.” Apple Bloom blurted out instantly, thrusting her hoof over Fluttershy’s mouth. “Not again! There’s no need, no need once so ever, ta explain that again.” Fluttershy was about to object when the filly interrupted her. “Please, I’d rather not have those mental images stuck in ma mind.”

Fluttershy nodded, mostly to get the filly’s hoof away from her mouth. Wiping away some spittle, the Pegasus turned and gazed at Floats Low. “So, when were you planning to tell Applejack about your friend?”

Apple Bloom dragged her hoof along the ground. “Umm… What’s the time before never?”

Fluttershy’s expression hardened and the shy mare frowned. “Apple Bloom, you can’t not tell Applejack about this. She’d want to know you have a previously unknown species hidden away in your clubhouse.”

The filly sighed, gaze falling to the floor. “Ah… Ah know.”

“Especially considering he just took down a tree…”

“Yeah… Wait, WHAT?!” Apple Bloom’s head shot up and the filly ran to the window Fluttershy had moved to and was now looking out of. Sure enough, Floats Low was examining the fallen mass of wood that had once been an apple tree. The farm filly’s mouth gaped. “How did he… How’d he take down a tree?! We took our eyes off him fer ten seconds!”

“That was apparently enough time.” Fluttershy said matter-of-factly. “Though judging by how the tree looks, I’d say Floats had been working on that one for awhile.”

Apple Bloom felt a twitch forming in her left eye. Applejack was going to kill her if she found out that the filly’s guest had taken down one of the family’s trees. “What can kinda crazy do Ah have livin’ in ma clubhouse?”

“Come on.” Fluttershy said. “Let’s go and get him back in here before he takes down another tree.”

“Good luck…” Apple Bloom retorted. “Ah’ve tried ta pull him along before, it didn’t work out so well. If he doesn’t want ta move, he doesn’t move.”

“There’s no way to move him?” Fluttershy asked.

Apple Bloom thought about it. Looking around the clubhouse for inspiration, the filly spotted Floats Low’s device. A smile crept across Apple Bloom’s face. “Ah know exactly how ta move him.”

Outside, the Huragok Floats Low pondered the fallen tree before it. It would need this for the next modification it would need for Apple Bloom’s clubhouse. Taking in all the necessary variables, the Huragok surmised it would next need two cubic tons of scrap metal and the proper electronic equipment. Floats Low didn’t care if it took a hundred years, it would have its slipspace drive!

“Hey Floats Low.”

Head perking up and turning, the Huragok spied Apple Bloom and Fluttershy. The fact they were behind Floats Low held the gasbag’s interest for about a nanosecond before it decided to go back to its work; that is until Apple Bloom called out again.

“Look what Ah’ve got Floats!”

The Huragok turned again and saw that Apple Bloom had the device the Huragok had been working on for the past few days. Floats Low tilted its head and began floating towards the ponies, intent on retrieving its device. After all, the Huragok was no fool; it would be a while until it could make the drive, so it only made sense to work on other things while it waited. Extending its tentacles forward, the Huragok willingly followed the ponies as they backed up, walked up the gangplank, and returned into the clubhouse.

After Floats Low was securely inside, Apple Bloom handed over the device. Floats Low chimed happily and floated to its favorite corner to tinker on the device, once again slipping back into the infamous Huragok obliviousness.

“I’m guessing that thing is very important to him?” Fluttershy asked as she watched the creature work.

Apple Bloom shrugged. “Honestly, he’ll take anything ya give him and work on it. Look what he did ta ma clubhouse.” The filly motioned all around them. “If he were a pony, he’d have earned his Cutie Mark fifty times over already. Sometimes Ah think all he wants ta do is tinker with stuff.” An excited whistle came from the Huragok; the device flickered and began to hum pleasantly before going dead again. Floats Low let out something of a snort of frustration.

Fluttershy sat on her haunches and tapped her chin. “Huh, that really weird. I mean there are sentient species I’ve heard of that love fixing things, but they’re really far away from Equestria and none of the descriptions I’ve heard of them match Floats Low. Have you asked him if there are any more of his kind around?”

Apple Bloom shook her head. “No, he said he crashed in the Everfree Forest from some ship called the… uh… from a ship. He mentioned that there had been another creature with him in his escape, but they got separated during the crash.” The filly looked away, her eyes showing some sadness. “Floats said that his friend’s odds of survival were low.”

Fluttershy gasped quietly, throwing her hooves over her mouth. “Oh the poor thing… I can’t even image how sad he must be, to lose a friend like that.”

“Actually he seemed rather unaffected by it.” Apple Bloom interrupted. “But we did talk through paper, so maybe it wasn’t the best way to relay emotion.”

“I’m sure he just doesn’t want to worry you with something like that.” The butterscotch yellow mare replied. “He does seem rather nice after all, if not oblivious.”

“Oblivious isn’t a strong enough word.” Apple Bloom said, rolling her eyes.

“Hmmm… you’re probably right.” Fluttershy observed, giggling a little bit. The pair stood in place for a minute or two, watching the Huragok work. Finally, Fluttershy looked to Apple Bloom. “Is it alright if I ask him some questions?”

Apple Bloom thought about it. “Ah don’t know… Ah’ve been trying not ta push too hard, Ah don’t want ta make him feel so uncomfortable that he starts ta hide away again.”

“I won’t ask anything major,” Fluttershy persisted. “Just a few basic things about himself so I can get a better view of the kind of animal we’re dealing with.”

“Alright…” The filly conceded. “Ah guess if it’s only a couple of basic things.” Turning around, Apple Bloom got out a pen and paper. The pony placed them on the table and called out for the Huragok. “Hey Floats Low! Can you come here? Fluttershy wants to ask you some things.” It took another two shouts to get the gasbag’s attention, but eventually the Huragok floated over and took the pen in one tentacle in preparation for its answers.

Fluttershy smiled and sat in a chair across from Floats Low and Apple Bloom. “Alright. So for my first question…”


~~~~


Apple Bloom and Fluttershy trotted down the same dirt path they had taken an hour or so ago.  After Fluttershy’s Q&A with Floats Low, the pair of ponies had promised to find out more about the floating creature together. On Apple Bloom’s insistence, however, the day’s observations were over and they had decided to leave the Huragok alone for now.

“He’s very vague, isn’t he?” Fluttershy asked her filly friend, somewhat disappointed at the lack of information in the Huragok's answers.

“Yeah… but Ah’m sure he’ll warm up ta us eventually.” Apple Bloom replied. “Then we can make some real progress talking with him.”

“Speaking of talking, when are you going to tell Applejack about Floats?” The Pegasus raised an eyebrow at the filly.

“Ah still think it’s a bad idea.” Apple Bloom said. “Ah mean, you were okay with him because you love animals. Applejack’s gonna be steamed to hear Ah kept him a secret fer so long without telling her.”

“It’s only going to get worse the longer you put it off.” Fluttershy replied. “Applejack will understand and appreciate your honesty.”

“You think so?”

Fluttershy looked off into the distance. “Well… she might ground you or something to begin with, but the appreciation will come eventually.”

Apple Bloom gave the mare a heavy frown as the two exited the orchard and found themselves in front of Sweet Apple Acres farmhouse. The two said their goodbyes and parted, Fluttershy turning to the front gate and Apple Bloom going to her home.

As the filly got to her door and entered her home, she took a deep breath. “Alright… Ah can do this. ‘Applejack, Ah’ve got an exotic tentacle creature in ma clubhouse that Ah found a few days ago but don’t be mad cause he’s nice and won’t hurt anypony.’ Yeah… that’ll work… probably.”

“Apple Bloom?” Applejack’s voice shouted from the kitchen. “Is that you? Everything ok? You and Fluttershy get the rabbit without any hassle?”

“Uh, yeah.” Apple Bloom shouted back.

“Well that’s good! Ah’d hate fer any of those innocent little critters ta get hurt, ‘cept when they decide ta try and eat ma flowerbeds, then Ah wanna slam a hoof inta their noggins!” Applejack laughed a little at the thought of teaching the rabbits a lesson or two about trying to eat an Apple family plant. “Anyway, ya want lunch sis? Ain’t nothing fancy, just some leftover hay sandwiches courtesy of Big Mac.”

“Sure Applejack.” The filly replied. “And sis, can Ah talk ta ya about something?”

Applejack’s tone of voice hardened. “It ain’t about that Diamond Tiara filly again is it? Cause so help me if it is Ah’m goin’ straight ta her father and…”

“No, no,” Apple Bloom inhaled deeply. “It’s about something else… someone else actually.”

“Some-one?” Applejack asked, pausing for a moment afterward. “Aw shucks Apple Bloom, Ah don’t care if yer… ‘preferences’ go ta another species, Ah still love ya all the same. Granny might be mad though, she was kinda hoping ta see her great grand-foals from ya, said they were gonna be beautiful.”

Apple Bloom gagged in shock. “WHAT?! NO! It ain’t nothing like that like sis! It’s nothing like that! Why would you even begin to think that?!”

Applejack stayed quiet for another minute. “Uh, no reason really. It’s just we live in a very open society and there ain’t no law that says a pony can’t fall in love with a zebra or a griffon or whatever else. When ya said someone instead of somepony Ah guess Ah foolishly assumed the most extreme scenario, silly me right?… Okay then sis, come on in here and we’ll sit down and talk about it while we eat.”

Apple Bloom breathed deeply and exhaled slowly. Staring at the kitchen door and feeling wobbly in her legs, the filly gulped. Remembering Fluttershy’s words of encouragement, Apple Bloom hardened her resolve and took the first step.

It’s alright, the filly repeated in her head, everything’s going to be just fine…
> Warning! Hitchhikers May be Escaped Convicts
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Three Days Ago


The remaining intact plasma turrets on the Assailing Divinity flared red and expanded outward, jettisoning superheated plasma into space towards the approaching Jiralhanae cruiser. Not having enough time to maneuver out of the way, the ship was hit with beams of destructive power. The ship’s shields flared white and flickered uncontrollably. Despite the harsh hit, the Jiralhanae craft’s shielding held together and the ship pushed on towards its target.

“Successful hit Shipmaster!” The Sangheili at weapons control shouted. “Enemy cruiser is still intact however.”

Shipmaster Veer flexed his jaw and shuffled a bit in his armor. “Bastards… They’ll come flying at us with no care to their own ship. I’d be impressed at their resolve if not for the fact Jiralhanae have no honor to base respect off of.” The large Sangheili turned to Corun. “What of Gelik? Have we gotten word from him?”

Corun shook his head. “No Shipmaster. Since the Jiralhanae shot his Phantom down there’s been no communications from him.”

“Mostly likely died in the crash.” The Shipmaster grunted. “Unfortunate. But once we are done with these Jiralhanae fools we’ll search for him and the Huragok.

“Shipmaster! The Jiralhanae cruiser is charging up its plasma cannons!”

“Evasive maneuvers!” Veer shouted. “Keep us out of their firing range! Corun, get a targeting solution on their plasma turrets.”

“Yes brother!”

Veer turned to look at the virtual screen that showed the approaching ship outlined against the black of space. “Let’s make sure that no matter who wins this engagement the Jiralhanae do not get their filthy paws on the Huragok.”


~~~~



Canterlot, Royal Bedchambers


Inside the confines of her own room, the Alicorn Princess Celestia finally believed she could relax and take her mind off the ever troubling subject matter of ruling a country. Unhooking her golden neck brace and equally golden boots and crown, the mare sighed in happy contentment.

She turned and walked up to her large sun-adorned circular bed and readied for a good night’s sleep. She usually finished up undone projects, read, or contemplated things after a long day’s hard work of princess duties, but today had been especially hard so a good long sleep was in order.

Wiggling under her bed’s sheets and resting her regal head onto the golden colored pillows, the alabaster princess began to shut her eyes and escape her earthly troubles for the (almost) never-ending peace of the dream world…

“TIA!!! TIA! TIA! TIA!”

As the large double doors of her bedroom burst open, Celestia could not help but think that she should have expected this. Payback was indeed a hard mistress, and certainly in Luna’s tastes, even if she didn’t mean it. Banish a pony one time… The Diarch groaned as she sat up and turned to her younger sister as Luna rushed her. “Goodnight Luna, and what may I ask brings you here?”

“Celestia, it’s terrible, an atrocity! I know not how it happened or why, but it did and I fear the citizens of Equestria shall hate me once again for it!” The Lunar Princess frowned heavily.

“What happened?” Celestia asked as she stretched to remove some numbness in her back. “You didn’t proclaim eternal night again did you?”

Luna huffed and pouted. “Sister, this is serious! A falling star flies towards the Everfree, a star I did not command to do so nor had any inclination for!”

The Solar Alicorn cocked an eyebrow at her sister. “And how is that going to cause the citizens of Equestria to hate you again?”

Luna rolled her eyes. “Well, how can they trust a Princess who allows such things to occur? I am the Stewardess of the Night! I am supposed to know anything and everything about it! What will the ponies think if they hear I did not know of this event?! Anger, Tia, ANGER!”

Celestia plopped her head back onto her pillow and rolled her body to face away from Luna. “Little sister it’s fine, our little ponies will not hate you for not knowing this event occurred.”

“But…” Luna began.

Celestia twisted her head to look at her sibling. “Luna, is the star landing in a populated area?”

“No…”

“Is it landing in an area that could cause an economic disaster?”

“No…”

“Is anything besides its landing zone going to be affected by this?”

“I… well I don’t know… but it’s really small so I think…”

Celestia smiled brightly. “There you go sister mine, there’s your answer: our ponies won’t hate you. As long as you’re not trying to plunge the world in eternal night or beginning a tyrannical rule of evil, it’ll all be okay Luna, trust me. It’s just your nerves, nothing more. Everything will be fine.” The white mare turned her head back around and fell into sleep.

Luna wanted to argue more on the point, but knew Celestia was stubborn in her resolve. The mare took a deep breath, Tia was right, it was just nerves and that’s all. Turning, the nighttime Princess left her sister’s chambers feeling slightly better, if not still frightened by the fact she had not seen this falling star coming.


~~~~


A silver coated manticore brushed aside the bushes as it walked into this rare open area of the Everfree forest. This particular spot just so happened to contain a small lake and the lion creature with bat wings and a scorpion’s tail enjoyed this waterhole above all others. Despite being near the middle of the night, many other creatures of the Everfree were also about, doing this and that. The manticore’s ears perked, it could hear the rustling of a pack of timber wolves in the foliage nearby. The beast would need to watch its back; those wooden wolves could be dangerous if not taken seriously.

Walking to the water’s edge and leaning down, the manticore took its first few laps of water. The beast made sounds of relief; the water was fresh and had a superb taste. The manticore continued its drink, even as the dark sky above lit with fire.

None of the beasts around the small lake, the manticore included, barely had the time to flee in fear as the chunk of burning metal dropped itself into the lake. Many lives of the creatures of the Everfree were silenced instantly as the shockwave and wall of fire from the falling star’s impact ripped through the forest, slicing apart trees and flesh like tissue paper.

The crash and shockwave had taken all of ten seconds, but in those ten seconds the forest that had been there before was gone, replaced by charred land and the few remaining flicks of fire that weren’t snuffed out by the instant lack of oxygen. The area suddenly became deathly quiet, with only the crackling of fire to keep one company.


~~The Next Morning~~


The fires around the impact of the falling star had subsided, leaving behind a large area of charred and broken land. In the epicenter of this destruction lay the fallen star: a mangled chunk of blackened purple metal that was still smoking. No animal in the Everfree dared to go near it, lest it shell out more fiery death.

A shuffling sound suddenly came from inside the fallen star, dashing away its inert nature. Seconds later, two pointed barbs of sizzling energy burst from shell of the Phantom’s hull. The metal seared and melted away as the twin barbs were twisted this way and that. The hull was soon red hot from the continued plasma searing and this is when the barbs disappeared back into the hull. The hull shot outward as something inside rammed against it. Again, a third time, a fourth, and finally as the creature inside slammed against the hull for the fifth time it gave way.

Gelik the Sangheili, barely alive, burst from the Phantom’s broken cockpit onto the charred earth below. The huge biped thudded against the ground and cried out in pain, rolling around like a dog from the intense agony. Eventually the pain endured was too much, and, content with at least being out of the ship, Gelik slumped into unconsciousness.

An unknowable amount of time passed until the Sangheili fluttered its eyes open, groaning the entire time. The alien cocked its head to look down at itself, despite the intense pain this caused. His body and armor were charred and black, Gelik could see the cuts that had been cauterized by the flames and had made sure he didn’t bleed out, now that would have been an ignoble death.

Letting his head fall back down, the Sangheili thought back to what had happened: while caring the Huragok to safety his dropship had been shot by the Jiralhanae ship. As they were falling however, the Huragok had entered the cockpit and began interfering with Gelik’s piloting. That’s about when the ship began to break apart and when Gelik blacked out. The Sangheili was still working out how he had survived; perhaps the Huragok had done something to the ship before the crash. As if it mattered, Gelik was alive and that was good enough for the Sangheili. Only fools think about good luck rather than celebrate it.

Rolling onto his belly and pushing himself up, the Sangheili winced in pain but fought through it. The warrior had fought through worse, fought with worse. Getting on his own two legs, the Sangheili wobbled and grabbed his torso. Under the exact same circumstances, most creatures would have died from that crash; Gelik took pride in that fact. Still, the Sangheili did not forget the Huragok’s contribution, without it he would certainly have died no matter what.

Taking his first few wobbly steps away from his crash, the Sangheili checked his gear. His armor’s camouflage systems were scorched to hell and his plasma rifle was a loss. Luckily, his two energy swords were intact and almost at full charge. So he wouldn’t be weaponless on this strange planet, which was definitely a bonus. This world might hold a great deal of dangers but with weapons they can be combatted.

Speaking of dangers, Gelik brought his head up when a growl ripped through the quiet of the crash site. Before the alien was a pack of quadrupeds that looked to be made out of wood. The one at the front of the pack growled at the large creature before it. Gelik spread his legs apart and readied himself into a combat stance, these things looked like they wanted one thing: his flesh.

The Sangheili’s assumption was proven correct as the nearest timber wolf jumped for him, jaws wide for a chance to sink into his blackened skin. Gelik sidestepped and caught the timber wolf by the throat. Using his impressive Sangheili strength, Gelik tightened his grip on the wolf’s neck until a loud crack was heard and the beast went limp. Bringing his arm back and then thrusting forward, the Sangheili threw his timber wolf into the next nearest one. The wooden bodies slammed together and tumbled away.

This early exertion proved costly, as Gelik winced and fell to one knee as his injured body nearly gave out on itself. The timber wolves took the opportunity and jumped on their target, two of them latching to the alien’s back and another getting his right arm. Gelik swallowed his pain down like a true warrior and punched the wolf attached to his arm. With his right arm freed, the Sangheili used it to grab one of the wolves on his back and hold it at arm’s reach even as it pawed and bit at him. The alien rose to his feet as he snatched up the other timber wolf and threw it to the ground. Bringing his huge left foot up, the massive biped slammed down on the wolf’s head, causing it to crunch and spill splinters all around. Still holding on to the wolf in his right hand, Gelik took his left one and firmly held on to the wolf’s head as he twisted and snapped the neck. Throwing the corpse on top of others, Gelik roared out at his remaining opponents.

The timber wolves back away in fear of the massive creature before them. Gelik grinned in triumph, but it was slowly extinguished as the remains of the fallen timber wolves began to twitch and move. The Sangheili watched in disbelief as the wood fell back to one location and condensed, pulling together into one massive timber wolf. Rarely did Sangheili have to look up to meet the gaze of their enemies, but Gelik craned his neck to look at the beast before him. 

The beast roared and charged its prey. Gelik met the challenge, grabbing for his belt. The electronic swish of energy forming into blades coursed through the air and two blazing white-blue double barbed swords jutted out from Gelik’s massive hands. The Sangheili stood his ground and waited for the beast to pounce and glide towards him, a moment when its path would be unchangeable.

Just as expected, the wolf jumped in the air at the Sangheili. Gelik squatted down, his torso touching his knees. The wolf was three meters away, two, one – THRUST!! Gelik fell back as his swords plunged into the bottom of the wolf’s head, burning and melting the wood instantly. The Sangheili hit the ground with his back but certainly fared better then the massive timber wolf, the big beast landing behind the alien and slumping lifelessly.

The other timber wolves backed away, their largest member slain. Gelik getting up, his swords still pulsing with lethal energy, was the final motivation the wolves needed to flee with their tails between their legs. Whimpering and running, the wolves tripped over themselves but were quickly righted in their attempts to flee the stronger creature behind them.

Gelik huffed as he watched the wolves run. Instead of sitting on his laurels however, the Sangheili made sure to check the large timber wolf to confirm its deceased status. Squatting down and inspecting the beast, the alien was confident that it was dead. Another quick stab with his sword to make sure, and Gelik finally collapsed.

The Sangheili stayed like that for an hour, simply lying next to the corpse of a big timber wolf until he felt strong enough to fight off the great pain he still felt from the crash. Getting up and shaking off body-wide soreness, the warrior went for what was left of his Phantom. A quick check confirmed that the communication systems were offline, no way to call for help then. Gelik bit his lip; there was no way to call the Assailing Divinity for an evacuation.

Gelik wouldn’t be able to contact his Shipmaster to tell him he was alive. Gelik couldn’t fix the system, that wasn’t the job of a warrior like him. It’s the job of a Huragok, the Sangheili concluded. Flexing, the alien warrior jumped down from his ruined ship. It now seemed that the Huragok was not only his main mission, it was also his only way to contact the Divinity. That meant Gelik’s path was clear: find the Huragok. That was the Sangheili’s one and only goal on this foreign world. Gelik glanced down at the dead timber wolf, his grip tightening on his swords…

And nothing was going to get between him and his goal.