Author's Notes:

I just wanted to get a start on this. :)

A field of green painted the horizons. Tall grass waved in the slightest breeze, animating the land so that all was not still. Strange, exotic plants and flowers did the same, bringing color and variety to an otherwise constant state. Strange trees decorated the area, standing tall in the land, declaring themselves greater than the flowers. Creatures, both big and small, moved about the place, feeding on grass and plant. A hunter nearby - a giant insect, catches pray and stings it, dragging it back to it's hive. Other animals are wary, but the loss is shrugged off and forgotten by all.

Nature; undisturbed, unordered, unmarred.

Then, something in the sky. Something small. Almost insignificant. But it grew - it grew some more, before finally becoming large, and landing upon the earth. A maw began to screech and hiss open, before slamming onto the ground.

And then, a four-legged, lavender creature stepped from it; adorned in a dark blue coat with arcane markings on the tails, wearing a necklace that had a six-pointed star hanging from it, a blue mane with stripes of purple and magenta, purple eyes, and a horn, as well as a pair of purple wings at her sides.

"Wow.... this is.... this is just so beautiful..." she said with a tear in her eye.

"Yup! I reckon' it's ripe fer a little colonization!" said another voice; an orange creature, much like the other but lacking the horn and sporting a blonde mane in a ponytail stepped out. She wore a stetson hat with a red bandana around her neck, a green dress-shirt with a black vest, and no pants to speak of; upon her flank was three apple. "We just gotta be careful about any bigguns that might pop up! Of course, that's where you an' Fluttershy come in ain't it Twilight?"

"Oh, please don't hurt any critters..." a yellow creature, lacking the horn but sporting a pair of feathered wings, approached. She wore a coat much like Twilight, save that it was white with a pink butterfly motif on the shoulders, and sported a strange pair of square devices on her back. Her face was hidden by a long, curled pink mane. "They're just doing all they know how to..."

"Well, we might have to, Fluttershy..." said Twilight with a grimace. "There are giant wasps here with carnivorous diets that eat things bigger than us. Unless you can talk them down, it'll be kind of out of our hooves."

Fluttershy sighed. "Oh, I know that sometimes we have to do what we have to do, but please don't hurt anything unless we absolutely have no choice?"

"No can do, Flutters!" A blur of color past the others, stopping mid-air, flapping a pair of wings, sporting a multi-colored mane and wearing a beige beige explorer's type suit with a pair of goggles over her eyes. "I'm here to find some treasure, and treasure is almost always guarded by something scary!"

"Rainbow Dash!" Twilight shifted to face her airborn friend, staring daggers at her. "You know that monsters don't always guard temples. So don't let Fluttershy ever hear of you ever doing any harm to any animals, no matter how important it might be to some sort of mission!" Twilight winked at Rainbow Dash a few times; her eyes luckily out of Fluttershy's view.

"Huh. Might wanna get your eye checked Twilight. Anyway, I'm off! I'll see you girls later when I come back with super awesome treasure!" Rainbow Dash bolted away before anypony could get another word in. Twilight sighed and put a hoof upon her forehead. "This is going to be so frustrating." She turned her attention to her friends. "Anyway, where are the others? Once we get them out here we can begin the work."

"Hold on" said Applejack, who turned about. "EVERYPONY! GIT OUT HERE!" Within seconds, a few more ponies stepped out; a pink pony sporting a baby blue mech suit with a balloon motif on it, a white horned creature with a long purple mane wearing a dress with blue diamonds lining the edges, a small purple dragon wearing a pair of goggles and a dress shirt, and a large, red stallion sporting a yoke, a dress shirt, a waistcoat and a tool belt filled with various odds and ends tools.

"Sorry, I just had to make sure I was wearing my best sun-dress for this occa-" the white pony stopped herself, quirking a brow. "... I... I thought we were going to land in a city?"

"Nnnooo..." Twilight quirked a brow. "When you asked me earlier, Rarity, I made a point of telling you we weren't going to be in a city. We're building a settlement, not building onto one that already exists..."

Rarity huffed. "What!? You mean I got all prettied up for nothing!?"

"No for nothing!" shouted the pink pony. "We all think you're adorale, and I bet Big Mac and Spike do too!"

"She sure does..." said the purple dragon with a dreamy expression. The large red stallion's eyes darted back and forth as several expectant eyes stared at him. So, he began to whistle and grab several bits of wood and a bucket of nails and pretend he hadn't heard a word of what any of them had said.

"Well..." said Applejack with a sigh. "I guess me n' Big Mac'll get started on buildin' the housin'. Y'all follow Rainbow Dash's cue and go on about yer various duties."

Pinkie jumped up and down. "Oh! Oh! I'm going to throw up some vending machines filled with tasty sodas and treats, and adventurers will see them and say 'Hey! I'm thirsty and/or hungry! I could use some of that!' and they'll drink it and be all 'WOOSH' and then run faster and probably get killed by horrible monsters but at least they'll have had a tasty snack first!"

Applejack stared at Pinkie. "Uhh... Pinks, jus' help us out here, alright?"

"Okie dokie lokie!"

Rarity sniffed. "Well, while you all do that I guess I'll head to the nearest town and see if anypony can make use of my services... somepony certainly needs a good tailor with a strong sense of taste." She grinned, looking to Twilight. "I dare say I hope you're enjoying your new robes, Twilight?"

Twilight smiled and nodded. "Oh yes! They're quite practical!" Rarity's smile seemed to fade a bit for a second before shrugging it off. "Of course... practical. Anyway, I shall be going now! Don't anypony go getting eaten while I'm away!" Rarity turned about and began to trot away, following a digital map to her destination. The remaining ponies sighed and exchanged glances.

"Well" said Twilight with a sigh, "Fluttershy and I should probably head out and get to doing research. Will you four be alright staying here?"

"What!?" said Spike, startling Big Mac and making him slam the hammer into his own hoof. The stallion reeled back, tears in his eyes, biting his lip. "I thought I was going to go with you to do research!?"

"Sorry Spike" said Twilight with an apologetic smile. "This could be dangerous, and I don't think I could live with myself if I let something happen to you. I think you should stay here with Applejack and Pinkie where it's safest." The small dragon hanged his head and closed his eyes, urging Twilight forward, putting a hoof on his chin and pushing up so he was looking up at her. "Tell you what... why don't you go follow Rarity? If you hurry you should catch up to her, and I bet she could use an assistant in town!" Spike smiled big, and jumped forward, wrapping Twilight into a big hug. The mare giggled and patted his back. "Alright then, you be good Spike, and listen to Rarity and behave for me, alright?"

"Of course!" said Spike, saluting. With that, the little dragon took off in the direction Rarity had headed. "Hey! Rarity! Wait up for me!"

Twilight smiled and shook her head, turning back around to see her friends smiling at her, and shifting her attention to Fluttershy. "Well, Fluttershy, we ready to go do some research?"

"Oh yes" said Fluttershy with a nod. "I'm ready whenever you are!"

"Good!" Twilight nodded and turned to the remaining three ponies. "We should be back in no time. Remember to contact us if anything happens. We'll drop everything and make our way straight for you."

"Oh don't worry yourself none" said Applejack with a grin. "I think Big Mac, Pinkie n' me can take care of ourselves!"

"And I" said Twilight. "You meant 'Pinkie and I', not-"

"Twi, git yer flank outta here" said Applejack with a bemused look on her face. Twilight bit her lip and nodded, turning about.

"Well, let's go Fluttershy!" With that, she began to trot the other direction from where Rarity had headed, and the butter yellow pegasus was quick to follow her.