Nearly 200 years after the events of Tirek, Equestria, and indeed their whole world, is in a new age. An age if peace with their newest extraterrestrial allies; The United Nations of Humanity.
It's been nearly 150 years since first contact with the humans, Twilight Sparkle, the Princess of Friendship, Head of Diplomacy and many other titles, spear headed the now peaceful relationship of the odd bipedals. Her world has seen an unprecedented growth of technology and culture, mostly for the need of survival. Now during a routine exercise at their newest colony, the peace that has lasted so long may soon shatter. -------------------------------------------- Author's Notes: Hello all! Here it is, my official debut! Also my first story... Like ever. So constructive criticism is appreciated. I have no idea about update times or how long this will be. I am very busy but I'll do my best.
Now about the story itself, I have a general plot in my head. I figure this story will be just me testing the waters, so don't expect it being super amazing. Its sci fi theme, I like spaceships and battles along withe MLP, so why not combine them??
Twilight Sparkle looked out the window at the blur of scenery rushing by as the train made it's way through the mountainous wilderness. Barely feeling any motion or pumps as the maglev glided along the magically charged tracks.
*Ding* "We will be arriving to the Crystal Imperial City in T-Minus 5 minutes." The announcement arriving through the intercom with a pleasant mare's voice.
Twilight smiled hugely and clapped her hooves together in excitement, causing her royal regalia to jingle. The two guards at the entrance of the private car remained stoic in their deceivingly traditional armor, used to their charges' eccentric behavior by now.
The princess was excited, it's been almost five years since she last seen her sister-in-law do to how busy she's been with her duties.Cadence was like wise too busy to leave her city lately. A lot has changed in the last one in a half centuries, not just for Equestria, but the entire world. Ever since they ran into their newest allies, The United Human Republic.
The maglev burst out into flat open frozen terrain. Speeding at nearly 600 sph (strides per hour, or 300 mph) it didn't take long until the central spire of the Lost City was poking on the horizon.
A lot can change in so many years, the Crystal City is no different. Already more spires and skyscrapers were cropping into view and spreading out. Spearing the heavens with pointed peaks and various cool shades of crystalline hues. Their surfaces glimmered in the mid day sun causing an aurora of color to cascade into the pure blue skies. Jagged and pointed surfaces enhancing the rigid structures, letting none to doubt what ponies grew them.
None of the new skyscrapers were quite as large or tall as the castle though. Despite the near mind numbing technological advances pony kind has enjoyed since being introduced to the wonders from when the humans started falling from the skies in their amazing metal craft, ponykind remained resolutely traditional. Even today despite having faster transportation, instant communication, and Twilight's personal favorite, the internet. Most Equestrians enjoyed simple life.
While the current advancements in architecture, agriculture, and other things could surely create much larger buildings, the Crystal Ponies refused to out build the heart of their city.
That didn't mean they wouldn't spread outwards though. As the maglev started to leave the snowy waste and enter the spring like umbra of the city, the suburbs came into view. From when Twilight and her friends first entered the empire so long ago, the city has almost quadrupled in size, and for good reason too. The Crystal City has become one the centers of cultural hubs in the world. As Twilight's gaze moved across the beautiful sites, it soon fell on the reason why.
The Crystal Shipyards.
Off to the side Twilight couldn't help but feel a swell of pride for what, not only for herself have accomplished, but all of Equestria has done as well.
The yards sat within the industrial district, stretching out and taking up over a two by four miles. Crystalline hangers stood low to the ground, great deep furrows in the ground were used as beds for some of the larger ships in construction. Poly-alloy skeletons of ships were in various stages of completion, while others were starting the slow process of growing crystalline hull to complement the human metal back bones.
Crystal ponies, gryphons, and minotaurs walked, climbed and flew across the yards and scaffolding. Busy in their personal quests of staying on schedule.
When the yards were first being built, many humans scoffed at such a prospect building a shipyard on the surface of a planet, saying that building one in space was much more energy efficient. When confronted with this, Twilight just shrugged and said that’s what gravity magic is for, so meh. 1 point to Equestria!
Besides, most Equestrians don’t really like space in the first place. The majority of the ships were being built for commercial use and the adventure daring. Earth ponies prefer standing on the ground, and pegasi absolutely hates Zero-G. They say it feels like they are constantly falling, and prefers to be on a planet where the gravity wouldn’t have a chance of ‘malfunctioning.’
The majority of Equestria’s fleet were made up of unicorns, who didn’t have the same connection to the earth as earth ponies, nor the same vertigo in Zero-G as pegasi.
Twilight's view, along with her wandering thoughts, was quickly cut off as the train entered the city proper, slowing down as it neared its destination. It pulled into the bustling station. She looked out the window to see dozens of ponies moving about their business, along with some gryphon's and even a few humans in the mix. Their tall lanky bodies being at least a head or two higher than even the gryphon's.
She sat there for a few moments gathering her composure before finally getting up and walking out the door, being flanked by the two guards that had stood there. Nodding to another set of guards outside the car, who will remain there to ensure nobody enters her private chambers, Twilight braved the crowd.
Instantly the station's atmosphere changed as she set hoof onto the platform. The nearest ponies stopped and stared before giving her a short bow and smiling at her. Twilight begun walking forward, the crowd splitting before her as she walked, and as more noticed her presence the more attention she gained. Even the humans bowed their heads in respect, which is no small thing as from her experience humans tend to have some sort of racial pride, making them have a small superiority complex.
In her early days, she wouldn't expect such a welcome. Usually she could walk around with no fanfare and indeed, most not even recognize who she is. But her accomplishments started to catch up on her and Twilight can't hardly leave her Tower without being the center of attention nowadays. She's almost certain most the humans, and some ponies, are recording this through their optical implants as she made her way through.
Twilight held her head up and walked graciously with practiced steps, as expected of her, until she came upon the private royal car that's been waiting for her arrival. The car was pink with gold trim, with a long body and looks something like from Earth's 20th century... With no wheels of course. Her cutie mark was displayed on flags on the hood and back of the car.
Cadence has ‘fallen in love’ with old Earth noir genre films, and it shows.
As soon as the door closed Twilight let out a huge breath and slumped in her seat as the car took off for the palace.
'I'm never going to get used to this, am I?'
Twilight relaxed and turned her thoughts inward, calling upon her implants to open a simple drink menu that was part of the car's system. Thought clicking a simple apple cider, Twilight opened her eyes to watch as a cup emerged seemingly out of the cup holder, rising out of the solid looking upholstery like magic. Which was not the case. The glass of cider was assembled molecule by molecule rapidly by nano machines that were imbedded within in pretty much everything of this hybrid pony-human car. The machines using basic natural materials to make the more complex drink.
Twilight smiled as she thought, 'Technology is amazing.'
Grabbing the drink in her telekinesis she took a sip, and cringed.
'Well not super amazing, there's only so much synthesized food can do...'
It wasn't as if it tasted bad... Just not quite the rich flavor and texture that wholesome, natural foods would create.
Glaring down at the glass before Twilight began searching for something that wasn’t made by microscopic robots that used what was essentially dirt to make drinks, she soon found a compartment in her cabin. She opened it up and a smile spred across her face.
“Cady you know me too well.”
She levitated a bowl of Apple Family Apples along with various spices needed to make the cider along with… Vodka?
Twilight huffed, “Apparently your sense of humor hasn’t changed either,” she shouted to the ceiling and shook her hoof, as if the Princess of Love could hear her, “I have human alcohol one time at a delegation party 10 years ago, and you never let me forget about it huh?!”
‘Besides, the Vice Admiral turned back to normal in a few hours...’ Her ears droop, ‘At least his girlfriend thought it was funny...’
Shaking her head to rid herself of what she has labeled ‘Her Most Embarrassing Moment in Her Life,’ and soon along with it’s sequel, ‘Political Nightmare that She Had to Clean Up,’ Twilight quickly put away the offending drink.
Dumping the faux-cider into disposal, the princess quickly began squishing and mixing the drinks until near perfection. The Element of Honesty that was embedded into her regalia, seemed to glow with approval.
After a few minutes of practiced ease, Twilight finally had her drink. Taking a sip she hummed in satisfaction.
‘Now that’s cider!’
Honestly she felt kinda bad for the humans. Because of their 11.5 billion population, and their world’s changing climates, they had to all but abandon traditional means of agriculture. Relying on soybeans and faux-meat for their diet. While their nano machines could make pretty much whatever they want, the food always had a bland taste to it. This is probably one of the main reasons The Unite Nations was so interested in their world Harmony, they wanted a second Earth. They had yet to find one before hoof that would match their homeworld’s old abundance.
As the car slowed down at the base of the Crystal Palace, Twilight once again shook her head of old memories.
‘I am getting too old for this.’
Getting out of the car when it stopped, Twilight paused to double check what she just thought, and couldn’t help but giggle at herself before making her way forward.
‘Oh well, no point in dwelling on the past. Today is going to be a good day and I am going to enjoy to the fullest.’
Twilight stood at the base of the Crystal Palace, in what was becoming it’s very own statue garden.
At the center stood the Statue of Spike the Great. She couldn’t help but smile at the young image of her Number One Assistant. He looked so adorable, standing there being all ‘tall and proud.’ The princess couldn’t help but wonder what he’s up to nowadays. She should probably write him a letter. He’s too big to follow her around like he did in the old days. Now he’s been knighted and dubbed a Protector of the Land by Celestia, and travels around helping ponies or anyone else who are in need of protecting. He comes to the Tower whenever his travels comes near, but she still misses him constantly.
Shifting her gaze Twilight’s eyes lay upon one of the newer additions of the garden. The Statue of Interstellar Harmony. It depicted of two beings, a human and an alicorn standing on top of a pedestal that had a six sided star, much like her own cutie mark. It was being orbited by several spheres, like the electrons of an atom. The spheres represent the 4 ‘Home’ colonies found in the human’s solar system. They were Earth, Luna, Mars, and Titan. The representation was of the mating of Magic and Technology. Looking up at the two figures, the human was totally generic, nothing noting him as any one person. It’s suppose to represent humanity as a whole. The alicorn was a representation of all three pony races of course, and it wasn’t suppose to depict any particular princess. Though Twilight couldn’t help but notice that she looks a lot like her. Except she was taller… and thinner… and had a better jaw… and better looking all- Twilight shook her head quickly to clear her thoughts.
’Bad Twilight, you look fine. Everypony says so. Yes there’s a little pudge from sitting at a desk all day. And it doesn’t matter if you’re still so much shorter than all the princesses. And it doesn’t matter if you need to go to the gym more...’
Once again she shook her head quickly with a soft groan.
’Bad thoughts, that leads only to depression.’
With a sigh she turned her head to the main reason of her visit to the garden. Twilight sat in front of the newest addition. The statue was a crystal representation of a tall and broad unicorn. He stood there proudly in royal armor and simple crown. His cutie mark was carved into the pedestal, it was a shield that was overlapped by a six pointed star.
As Twilight stared up at the statue of Shiny with forlorn, she felt a feathered warmness rest upon her back. Looking up she saw her fellow princess, best friend, and sister-in-law Cadence looking at her with a sad smile.
Twilight smiled back at her before wiping her eyes quickly. Standing up she cleared her throat before beginning their normal ritual.
“Sunshine sunshine, ladybugs awake! Clap your hooves and do a little shake!”
Cadence and Twilight giggled and gave each other a big hug. A little depressing atmosphere wasn’t going to dampen their meeting.
“Oh Twilight, it has felt like ages since we last seen each other!”
“It definitely feels like it huh?” Twilight smiled up at her sister apologetically, “I’m sorry, it’s so hard to get away from work. With the constant flow of out of system traffic increasing, and the Gryphons and Humans arguing about trade agreements, and the-” Cadence placed a hoof over Twilight’s mouth before her rant can go into full swing.
“Sshhh, no discussing work right now. Let’s just enjoy each other’s company, hm?”
Twilight’s smile grew bigger and gave her a nod. Resting head on shoulder for comfort, she looked back to the statue of her dear brother.
After ten minutes or so of looking up at her BBBFF Twilight let a sigh.
"Its almost been 30 years hasn't it?" She murmured.
Cadence gave a nod, "Yeah."
Letting another prolonged sigh, Twilight slapped both cheeks and forced a smile on her face before facing Cadence.
"So, is it ready?"
Her sister smiled and clucked her tongue, " Ah ah, lunch first, then business. It's been years and there's so much to catch up on."
Looking back up at the statue before facing Cadence, Twilight's smile turned more genuine as she responded, "I would like that."
~~~~~<('-')>~~~~~
The two princesses soon found themselves at a quaint 'Equestrian' style restaurant. After ordering and then receiving their food, Cadence a crystal berry pie for dessert and hayburger as the main while Twilight just had a simple salad, the statue from earlier flashing across her mind when she was ordering.
While Cadence ate and Twilight picked at her food, they talked about anything and everything. From local gossip to what they had for dinner last week. But of course, being in the presence of the Princess of Love, means that the conversation soon led to one thing.
"Oh my goodness, that's adorable." Twilight couldn't stop herself from giggling, "I finally have something to tease Celestial about." She smiles and takes a drink of her orange juice.
"Speaking of teasing love struck princesses," Cadence smiled coyly, "how's that good admiral that I saw you flirting with at the delegation party the last time we saw each other? What was his name? Admiral Abrams?"
She laughed as Twilight almost does a spit take while flushing considerably.
"Wh-what?"
"Oh you know who I'm talking about."
"I-it's not like that!"
The pink princess pouted, "But you two were getting along so well!" Cadence teased, "You definitely have a crush on him."
Twilight huffed, "That was the alcohol talking..." She lowered her voice a murmured, " and besides he turned me down anyways..."
Cadence's smile didn't waver, "So nothing happened then? You were getting awfully close."
"Cady~! We just talked. Mingled. Converse! Enjoyed each other's company-"
"And kissed"
"-and kissed," Twilight said before her eyes bugged out, "We didn't kiss!"
The entire restaurant went silent as everyone stopped to stare at Twilight's table. Cadence burst out in laughter as Twilight tried to hide her blushing face... In her salad.
After calming down Cadence brushed Twilight's mane and smiled apologetically, "I'm sorry Twilight, I couldn't help myself." She quirked an eyebrow, "Maybe next time you should refuse the smelly drink from the alien then?"
Lifting her head up, Twilight groaned, "But I couldn't be rude to the Russian delegate! It wouldn't have escalated if the Germane mayor didn't insult the Vodka and initiated a drinking contest. And then!" She tapped the Element of Laughter on her chest piece, which glowed with mirth in response, "This one got involved and it all went downhill from there."
Cadence couldn't help but giggle at her before taking a sip of her tea.
The Element of Magic looked at her before quirking an eyebrow and grinned, "And what about you?"
Cadence pause in her sip, "What about me?"
"I so happen recall you making out with the mare from Los Pegasus."
The Princess of Love sputtered while taking a drink before clearing her throat, "Really? A mare?" She blinked owlishly a couple times before murmuring, "I wondered why I tasted cherry lipstick in the morning..."
"Wait, you don't remember?"
She shrugged, "I remember most of the party but it grew fuzzy towards the end."
Twilight stared at her, "You know you can use your implants to help recall those memories."
Cadence smiled, "I believe we all would rather forget that night. Besides, I don't like using my implants outside of work. They're useful and all and I know that being a princess its practically a requirement to deal with the work load and the humans, but if I could I would be like most ponies and not have them." She frowned, "the thought of thousands of those bugs-"
"Nanites."
"-Bugs! Crawling around inside me gives me the shivers." To accentuate the point her body visibly shakes as if a severe case of goosebumps overcame her.
Her eye twitched from holding back going on a tangent about all the things wrong in that statement. Twilight settled with rolling her eyes instead.
"Its progress!"
Cadence takes on last bite of her pie, "Its unnatural"
The other princess huffs, "You sound like Celestia. You know from the humans point of view, our manipulating the weather and controlling everything in nature seems unnatural to them."
"Oh I do not, and I guess it's all about perspective." She takes a sip of her tea, "Although they do have there uses I admit. Heck, if it weren't for the ability to just simply look up what ever information I want at any given time I wouldn't know half of how these ships we're building work... Of course that's why I have Logical Course for too."
Twilight tilts her head at the ship wright's name, "How is Logic by the way?"
"Oh the old coot is getting, well old. He's even gotten himself an apprentice."
"Really? Well that's interesting. Who is he?... or she?"
Cadence smiles, "You'll see." She pauses and gets a far away look in her eyes, a sign that she's probably looking through her POV on her implants,"Speaking of, we should get going or else Logic is going to yell at us for being late."
Twilight giggles, "He never changes huh?"
They tossed some bits for the meal on the table, along with a generous tip, and make their way out of the restaurant. Being flanked by their personal guards they get into the hover car before heading to the shipyards.
The two princesses were giggling as they stepped out of their vehicle that has dropped them off within the shipyards outside a private fence. A sign stood there with the royal insignia, a crystal heart surrounded by a golden crown, showing all that this dock was reserved for said crown.
“Hehehe, Ok ok, I got a new one,” Cadence quirks an eyebrow and looks over to Twilight, “What runs but has no legs, lay on a bed but does not sleep, aaand has a mouth but does not speak?”
Twilight puts her hoof up to her chin as her brow scrunched up in concentration.
“Hmmm… I know I’ve heard this one before… Is it, a river?”
“Oh poo,” Cadence pouted, “Was hoping that would stump you.” She gives her sister-in-law a mock glare, “You’re not cheating are you?”
“Pfft, I don’t have to cheat. I’m just good at riddles.”
As they walked up to the gate, the two noticed a small crowd waiting for them. The group of ponies and one human noticed them too, and as they approached they greeted them half way.
“Mother! There you are!”
Cadence grinned broadly as she walked up to her daughter, “Starshine! What are you doing here?”
The middle aged mare, known as Princess Mi Amore Starshine, was a light purple unicorn of wavy blue mane and tail with a light pink stripe. On her brow laid a golden circlet, showing her station. She smiled broadly as she hugged her mother.
Cadence hugged her tightly, “Not that I am happily surprised.”
“Well-”
“Grandma!” Two voices shouted when Cadence was crushed on both sides by a young mare and stallion in a blur of blue and peach.
“Moonie,” Cadence kissed the top of a blue unicorn stallion, “And Starlit,” she kissed the top of a peach colored pegasus, “You’re here too!”
“Well of course, we want to see the imprinting of a Royal Class ship in action!” The unicorn Adamant Moon smiled up at the alicorn.
“And also of course, we want to see our ever loving grandma!” Starlit Compass finished. The twins smiled big at her in their Naval Cadet formal uniform.
“Eh-hem.”
Everyone turned to the purple alicorn, who bore a small frown and upturned eyebrow, her hoof tapping the pavement.
“Auntie!”
The two cadet officers rushed Twilight who giggled and hugged the two of them.
“Oooh, it’s so good to see you two. How are my two brave nephews?”
“We’re good! Only another three months till we’re out of the academy-”
“-And we can get assigned to a ship!”
“Hehe, well good for you. I remember when Shiny finally graduated, he was so proud,” she smiled broadly and beamed at them, “And I’m sure he’d be just as proud of you.”
The two smiled and blushed, scuffing their hooves as they thought of their idle and grandfather praising them.
A clearing of a throat off to the side brought everypony’s attention to a brown stallion with a black mane, an old wooden sail ship that was half in construction bore on his flank. He looked at them with a bored expression.
“Not that this isn’t… a tender moment, your Highnesses,” Logic said, “But I do have a schedule to keep. So we should hurry along and get this ole girl running.”
Twilight giggled as she turned to the old ship wright.
"Sorry Logic, just got caught up in... The... Moment."
She finally fully noticed that standing next to Logical Course, was a tanned human male with cropped black hair and brown eyes. He stood around 5'10", a little short for today's average human. He wore a blue coverall showing he's a worker for the shipyards.
What really caught her attention was the black circlet that he wore around his brow, with part of it that branches off around one eye. If memory recalls, it was called an Iris. The hardware allows humans and ponies that wear it to connect with the cloud without needing implants. It's not as seamless or immersive, and is much more limited. The eye piece projects images directly into the retina and tracks eye movement for limited hands free control. Complement it with a tablet and anyone can function within advance technological society, albeit more 'clumsy.' Looking at the tool belt he wore he indeed had a small tablet to work with too.
Its common for ponies, since most reject the implants, but it's rare for humans as most gets them when they're infants. Only humans that Twilight knows of are naturalists, normally belonging to... A religion... 'Ooh'.
The human noticed her staring at him. Stepping forward with a small smile, he bowed at the waste stiffly, which surprised Twilight once again.
"Afternoon Your Highness. My name is Robert Fix-It. I am Mr. Logic's apprentice."
The princess smiles and waves for him to stand again, “Hello Mr. Fix-It, sorry for staring,” she scrapes her hoof on the ground, “That was rude of me.”
He returns her smile, “It’s fine, really.”
“I gotta say though, Fix-It? It’s an odd name for a human.”
“Hehe yeah, my parents wanted me to have an ‘Equestrian’ name. They were immigrants and moved here about 30 years ago. Got tired of being treated differently for not having implants.”
“Yeah I noticed that,” she nods to the circlet, “I am assuming you’re naturalist Mr. Fix-It?”
“Indeed, and Robert is fine, though my friends call me Bob. I don’t know why though. But yes we’re Catholic, my family have never even had any genetic modifications.” He puffs his chest out proudly, “100% grade A human.”
“Impressive. Personally while I feel that what humans, and ourselves, have accomplished is progress to a better end. I can’t help but admire your families and those like you who face against such odds and hold onto what they believe in.”
Cadence came up alongside Twilight with and with a raised eyebrow, whispers to her, “Oh really? Coming from the princess who was preaching about progress necessity earlier?”
“Sshh, I didn’t mean it like that,” Twilight whispered back.
“Did too.”
Did not.”
“Did too!”
“Did not!”
Cough
The two of them turned to Logical Course with guilty smiles on their face. Logic sighed, “Can we please get a move on? I got magic capacitors that I need to oversee the replacement of on a freighter on the other side of the shipyards in an hour.” He pulls out a tablet and with a stylus in his teeth he tapped it a couple times, “... Never mind, in 45 minutes! So if you don’t mind let’s get it over with.” He turned back towards the gate and started to lead the group onwards.
Twilight once again whispers to Cadence, “I see ole scrooge hasn’t changed.” To which Cadence tried to suppress a giggle.
“I heard that!”
“Eep!”
Cadence couldn’t hold it in as she burst out laughing at Twilight's embarrassment.
“This is going to be one of those days isn’t it?” Logic grumbled to Bob, who chuckled silently as he walked beside his mentor.
