The leaves of her book fluttered slowly, caught by her magical breeze. Twilight Sparkle's normally brilliant violet eyes scanned dully through the pages, barely soaking in any of the literature. Occasionally she'd stop and stare at a picture of constellations in the autumn night sky or a photograph of a neon mass of stars warped together like the sugar fibers of carnival candy floss, laying a hoof over the image as she sighed longingly. The page turning would then resume and continue until finally she had reached the very last page. Pushing the book to the side, Twilight reached for another from the stack beside her. This one read The Astronomical Astronomer's Almanac to All Things Astronomy, Third Edition in golden letters on the bland hard front cover.

The princess's ears twitched at the sound of a door opening behind her. A little dragon, his scales a similar purple hue as her coat, waddled in and plopped himself on the rug, next to her. The ends of the young dragon whelp's mouth continually twitched toward the ceiling, and he kept looking over his shoulder back toward the entrance of the room. "So, Twilight," he began.

"Hmm?" the mare grunted, her focus obviously elsewhere. A diagram of a planet with half a dozen rings circumscribed around it sat before her.

"I bet you know what day's coming up," the dragon teased, stifling a giggle. Twilight didn't seem to share her assistance amusement, and she answered him with a frown and a sigh.

"I don't know, Spike, is it the day when the Horsehead Nebula is most easily seen with the aid of a hobbyist telescope?" she asked, not bothering to raise her head. The dragon's grin faltered.

"Huh? Oh right, yeah, that." Spike rolled his eyes. "Right, that thing this weekend. Wait, is it this weekend?"

"By it do you mean the day predicted that most ponies will finally be able to see that newly discovered star some astronomers believe might be of equal size and of similar composition as Celestia's sun?"

"Um, I guess. What was the last part?" Spike asked with a nervous laugh. Twilight ignored him.

"The day we'll get to hear about from all the other astronomy enthusiasts from all the other towns but won't actually get to experience because a certain magic-devouring monster melted all my telescopes when he decided blowing up my home was a good idea?" Twilight's hold on the book tightened, creasing her page. "The day that might only happen once in a lifetime so we'll never get another chance to share it with all our friends? The day--"

"I'm talking about your birthday!" Spike screeched, throwing his claws in the air.

"My birthday?" Twilight repeated. She finally lifted her head and stared at her assistant questioningly. "That's not for another month."

"Yeah, and you were talking about the Horsehead nebby thing before we even got this new castle," Spike countered as he folded his arms across his chest, "and that was like three months ago."

"Well, it's an exciting day. I mean, do you know how amazing that is?" Twilight asked. "Most of the time the Horsehead Nebula is impossible to detect with anything weaker than a nine and quarter inch catadioptric telescope. And to see a new star most ponies have never seen before?"

"What, and your birthday isn't exciting?" Spike snorted.

"It is, it is," Twilight assured, "but this is a once in a lifetime sort of thing, an event to be recorded in astronomical history books, and we'll have to miss it because even the toy telescope Shining Armor bought me for my seventh birthday was destroyed, and that thing still worked all this years even after you dropped it down a flight of stairs."

"Can't you just buy a new one? You're a princess and everything after all."

"I haven't really had time to look," admitted Twilight, "what with all the work we had to put into restoring Ponyville's library, our personal library, repairing all the damages Tirek caused all over Equestria, cleaning up Discord's mess after he tried to 'help', furnishing the new castle and establishing the new kingdom...I've just been too busy, I guess." The alicorn shook her head. "But I think we're getting off topic. You wanted to talk about my birthday?"

"That's right," Spike said, flashing a set of powerful white fangs as his grin returned. "So me and the girls--"

"Ahem."

"The girls and I sort of got together and decided to get you a present from all of us."

"That's...interesting," Twilight said hesitantly. "I mean, I'd appreciate the gift no matter whom it was from but like I said, my birthday isn't until next month and isn't telling me spoiling the surprise?" She giggled. "If all of you really are coordinating together something big, I'm amazing Pinkie Pie's letting you talk to me at all."

"Nah, I'm cool with it!"

Jumping up onto her feet, Twilight turned toward the doorway just in time to see a pink puffy mane zip out of her sight. "Pinkie Pie?" she called out.

"I'm not here!" came the same high pitched voice.

Twilight raised an eyebrow as Spike planted his face into the palm of his claw. "Alright Spike, what's going on?" she asked.

Spike sighed. The smile he wore was slightly crooked. "Happy early birthday, Twilight," he said just as six familiar mares made their way into the room. Pinkie Pie was first, her mane bouncing as she bounced. Rarity was next, her entrance as graceful and elegant as the rest of her. Fluttershy followed closely behind, and she gave Twilight a quick smile before hurrying out of Rainbow Dash and Applejack's path. The stuntmare and the farmmare both carried cords in their mouths as they carefully pulled a small wagon with them. The wagon's contents were hidden underneath a large pink silk curtain. A glittering bow sat at the very top. Each pony wore a small colorful cone party hat, and it didn't take long for Pinkie Pie to place one on Twilight and Spike.

"Happy happy birthday, from all your friends right here," Pinkie sang as she danced around a bewildered Twilight. "We're here to help you celebrate and spread the birthday cheer!"

"Sorry there's no cake, sugar cube," Applejack said, detaching herself from the wagon. She quickly removed her wide-brimmed hat and used its edge to wipe her forehead. "This here was kind of a spur of the moment sorta deal."

"Oh course, we plan to celebrate on the actual date as well, darling," Rarity said as she approached Twilight, giving the former unicorn a hug. "Consider this a taste for what we have in store. Why, I have the perfect dress for you all drawn up, fit for, well, a princess and--"

"What, you thought all you were getting from all of us was one measly present?" laughed Rainbow Dash. "Yeah, the real party'll be in a month. That ought to give Pinkie Pie enough time to decorate the entire castle."

"Ooh, can I start today? Please please please please please," the pink earth pony begged, her baby-blue eyes quivering. Twilight gently brushed her aside and, in spite of her confusion, giggled.

"We'll see, Pinkie Pie," she said, "once I figure out what's going on right now. Don't get me wrong, it's a nice gesture, but why? If you've got something plan for my actual birthday, why the early celebration?"

"Well, why don't you unwrap your present and find out," said Rainbow with a smirk. "Or unveil, whatever."

"Hmm," Twilight hummed as she approached the wagon. The alicorn stared at the lumpy shape hidden under the cloth, tilting her head side to side to look for clues. Despite her best efforts, Twilight found no hints to what her gift could be; whoever arranged the curtain had done in a impressively strategical fashion. She gave the wild grins her friends all wore one final glance before taking hold of a corner and pulling the veil aside. The princess gasped before the cloth had completely collapsed on the floor.

"I-Is t-that..." Twilight stuttered, covering her mouth.

"Didn't take a genius to realize what you'd want," Applejack scoffed, pointing at the astronomy texts that laid scattered across the floor.

"Not to mention we all knew that the day when the Horsehead Nebula is most easily seen with the aid of a hobbyist telescope and is predicted when most ponies will be able to see that newly discovered star some astronomers believe might be of equal size and intensity as Celestia's sun was coming up," Pinkie Pie added. "I mean, who could forget about that? You marked it in all of our calendars, like, half a year ago."

"She's beautiful," Twilight breathed, timidly brushing her hoof against the smooth white skin of the large telescope in front of her. A gleam of light seemed to shine from its lens. "Oh, oh, it can't be a--"

"A Celestia nine point two five inch Cassegrain?" Rarity finished, making her way to Twilight's side. "Oh, but darling, it most certainly is."

Twilight stared at the alabaster unicorn, her eyes wide. "I-I don't know if I can accept this. It's so expensive, I don't even wait to imagine how much this would have set all of you back."

"Don't you fret nothin', sugar cube," Applejack said. "The cost wasn't so bad since we all pitched in a little somethin'."

"It was Spike's idea though," Fluttershy added quietly. "He's the one that organized us together."

"Yeah, well, I didn't really have any bits to pool in, but I had to do something." Spike's cheeks glowed pink and he focused his gaze toward the ground. "I mean, you kept moping around the castle and sighing and looking really sad, and I couldn't just--"

Twilight threw her forelegs around her assistant and pulled him close. Spike quickly returned the embrace, extending his short arms as far as he could around the princess's back. His scaly purple cheek rubbed against her furry purple cheek.

"Thanks, Spike," Twilight whispered. "You really are my number one assistant."

"You're welcome, Twilight," the baby dragon whispered back.

"Pinkie Pie, you really didn't have to do this," Twilight was saying as she stared at the streamers wrapped around the rails of the balcony, the balloons stuck to the walls, and the smiling sun made of paper mâché and filled with candy hanging right above the entrance leading back to the castle. A lavish dessert table full with trays of frosted sugar cookies stood right beside her new telescope. The alicorn winced as juice fell dangerously close to the positioned instrument from the cup Spike carelessly held.

"Of course I did," Pinkie said, tossing a few ribbons over Twilight's back. "What kind of party would this be without decorations and sweets?"

"Actually, I was hoping we'd just have a small get-togeth--"

"So, what's so special about tonight again?" Rainbow Dash asked, wiping away the last drops of fruit punch from her lips with the back of her hoof before reaching for a pie.

"It's only the astronomical phenomenon of the century," Twilight explained with an excited grin. "Girls, tonight and tonight only, we will be able to witness Solaris Maximus with our very own eyes."

"Solar what now?" said a small orange pegasus filly sitting besides Rainbow Dash.

"Solaris Maximus," Twilight repeated. "A star six thousands of light years away--"

"How can something be a year away?" squeaked the young unicorn eating from Rarity's plate. Rarity fussed over the younger unicorn, cleaning her frosted cheeks with a napkin.

"Don't speak with your mouth full, Sweetie Belle," Rarity said.

Sweetie Belle swallowed. "But Twilight, how can something be a year away? How far's a year?"

"A light year is a unit of distance equivalent to the distance light can travel in a year."

"Huh?"

Twilight sighed. "One light year is about five trillion eight hundred seventy eight billion four hundred ninety nine million eighty one thousand miles."

"Oh," Sweetie Belle said.

"Why can't they just say miles?" the pegasus filly asked. "That sounds way less confusing."

"Because then we'd have to say Solaris Maximus is approximately thirty five quadrillion two hundred seventy trillion nine hundred ninety eight billion nine--"

"It's a mouthful, and scientists are lazy," Spike explained with a shrug. "It's easier just to say light years."

"Scientists aren't lazy," Twilight exclaimed, glowering at her assistant. "Oh, Scootaloo, please don't touch that. It's positioned for the most optimal view, and I'd hate to have to recalibrate it when it's already so late."

The young pegasus removed her hoof from the telescope. "Sonarus Maximum is a star?" Scootaloo said. "Is it like a shooting star or something?" she asked, holding up one of the cookies Pinkie had made. The sweet sugary dough had been cut in the shape of a five-point star with a tail covered in vanilla frosting.

"No," was Twilight's answer.

"Then is it a cool color," Sweetie Belle questioned, "like red or blue or, ooh, what about purple"

"Ooh, what if it was all rainbow colored?" wondered Pinkie. "Hmm, maybe should have named it after Rainbow Dash."

"Hey, well, I am definitely a big star," Rainbow said smugly.

Twilight quickly filled through a glossy magazine that had a front cover with the picture of the moon circling the planet. "No, I'm pretty sure it's just yellow," she said. "Solaris Maximus is predicted to be very similar to Celestia's sun, so it's probably the same color."

"So what makes Bronus Maximus so special then?" Rainbow asked, looking up into the open night sky.

"Solaris Maximus," Twilight corrected. "And that's what makes it so special. Can you imagine implications for such a discovery?"

"I imagine you'll be telling us shortly, dear," Rarity said as she poured herself, her sister, and Fluttershy punch.

"It means that out there..." Twilight waved her hoof frantically at the twinkling stars above her head. "...quadrillions of miles away, there's a star just like our sun."

"And?" Rainbow prompted with an impatient gesture.

"And that could mean there's a galaxy just like ours, maybe with similar planets. There might even be a planet that like the one we live on now!" Twilight squealed.

Rainbow Dash waited a few moments before saying, "And?"

"What do you mean, and?" Twilight said, running her hooves through her mane. "There could be a planet out there. Just. Like. Ours."

Rainbow sighed. "Okay, so? So there might another planet that might be like ours, is that it? That's pretty neat, I guess, but it's not really something you'd call cool or anything to get so excited over."

Twilight took a deep breath and planted her forehead into the center of her hoof. "But...are you...just...never mind," she muttered, her head drooping. She felt something cold against her cheek and looked up. Rarity was holding a cup of fruit punch with her magic and offered it to the crestfallen alicorn with a smile. Beside her stood Fluttershy, who set a plate of cookies shaped like stars and the crescent moon down in front of her.

"It's alright dear," Rarity said, gently rubbing against Twilight's shoulder. "Rainbow's insensitivity is without a doubt frustrating, but you must remember that her interests do not always coincide with yours. Are you really so surprised?"

"A little, actually," Twilight admitted. "I don't know what I was thinking. I was just hoping to share my excitement with all of my friends."

"Um, if it makes you feel any better," Fluttershy said, fidgeting with her mane, "I'm a little excited."

Twilight's raised her head, her eyes shining. "You do? You mean you understand what the existence of Solaris Maximus could mean?" she gasped as she hopped in place.

"Well..." Fluttershy took a nervous step back. Her gaze fell to the floor. "No, not really. I was just happy that you were happy."

Twilight's ears flattened against her head. "Oh," she muttered to the ground.

"But don't you see, darling?" Rarity lifted Twilight's head by her chin and pointed toward the balcony. "Look at Pinkie Pie. Look at Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle. Look at Rainbow Dash. None of them understand what's so important about tonight, but can you see how cheerful everypony is? What's more important, the occasion celebrated or those who celebrate with you?" The unicorn smiled. "Perhaps Rainbow doesn't understand, or even care about, the importance of this new star, but that doesn't necessarily mean she can't share your excitement. Can you see how excited she is now?"

Laughter echoed into evening air as Rainbow Dash shook fruit juice out of her coat and mane. She latched herself onto the orange filly holding the empty cup, laughing heartily as she gave a giggling Scootaloo a playful head rub. A smile grew across Twilight's face.

"Maybe you're right," the princess said. "Rainbow might not have cared too much for scientific discoveries or any of the things I wanted tonight to be about, but at least she cared enough to show up, because she cared for me." Twilight leaned forward, giving both Rarity and Fluttershy a hug. "Thanks girls. I think I'll grab one of those cupcakes before they're all gone."

"Oh, I don't think I helped too much, you don't have to...thank...me," Fluttershy said to Twilight's retreating figure.

"Nonsense, darling," Rarity argued. "Just being here for her was enough." She gestured to the plate of cookies beside her. "May I?"

"Oh yes, please, go ahead."

"Thank you dear." Rarity took a dainty nibble from one of the sweets. "Hm."

"Is something wrong?"

"What? Oh, no, not at all," Rarity assured. "I was just considering tonight's carte du jour. For a party, the diversity in the desserts is uncharacteristically underwhelming. Not that I'm complaining, of course," she added loudly, noticing Pinkie Pie's ears pop up and twist toward her direction.

"Well, Twilight did say she wanted a smaller party," Fluttershy noted.

"True, true," agreed Rarity, taking another ladylike bite. "It just that there's a distinct lack of--"

"Evenin', ya'll," Applejack greeted as the farm pony entered the balcony area, with Apple Bloom trotting right behind her. The cream colored filly was swarmed by Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle, and the three ran off toward the piñata, forcing the three older mares out of the way. "Glad we didn't miss this whole shindig."

"Well it's about time you showed up," Rainbow said, waving their over to the snack table. "For a second, we all thought you were a no-show."

"I didn't!" Pinkie Pie chirped.

Applejack chuckled as she set down two large pies and a small crate of chinking bottles. "For a sec, we weren't too sure we'd make it. We had a hard time gettin' Winona into the bath tonight," she explained, shaking her head. "That darn pup got into the compost just as we were 'bout to head out, made a huge mess in the kitchen." Applejack shook her head. "Sometimes you can't even tell if that dog's trained or not."

"Is Winona alright?" Fluttershy asked.

"Yeah, but she's been actin' up all this evenin'," Applejack said. "Don't worry though, it's pro'ly nothin'. So, did we miss the fireworks'?"

"You didn't miss anything yet," Twilight said before quickly glancing at the clock next to the telescope. She walked over and removed the lens cover. "In fact, you're just in time," the princess said as she looked through eyepiece and turned the nob closest to her. "Just have to make a few minor adjustments. Hm, guess my calculations were a little off," she said as she scanned through the sheet of notes Spike held up for her.

"It's starting?" Pinkie Pie cried out. The pink pony began to quake as she bounced like a dribbled ball. "It's starting, it's starting! Come on, girls!" she shouted at the Cutie Mark Crusaders.

"It is?" Scootaloo said, looking up into the sky. "I don't see anything."

Apple Bloom's gaze joined her friend's. "Do you even know what we're lookin' for?"

"Whatever's interesting, duh," Scootaloo replied. "Like bright lights or meteors or comets!"

"I see lights!" Sweetie Belle screamed, pointing up. "Oh wait, those are just stars."

Rarity gave Twilight a soft sad smile as the princess bit back a sigh before returning the smile. "Over here, girls," she called to the Crusaders, motioning them to the telescope and taking a step back as the trio skidded to a halt in front of her. "Who wants to go first?"

Apple Bloom stepped forward. "How do I work it?" she asked, tilting her head as she stared at the little nobs on the base of the tripod. "It looks an awful lot more complicated than the one we're used to."

"Everything's already set, all you have to do is look through here," explained Twilight. She pointed to eye piece with her hoof and stepped back as Apple Bloom approached the telescope. The filly shut an eye, placed her other on the black plastic tube, and squinted. A sudden gasp escaped her as both eyes flew wide open.

"Whoa," Apple Bloom breathed. She lifted her head and quickly gave her eyes a rub, then planted herself back against the eyepiece. "Whoa."

"What'cha seein', sis?" Applejack asked with a chuckle.

"Stars," Apple Bloom answered. "But nothin' like how we've seen them before," she hastily added as if sensing Scootaloo's rolling eyes from behind her. "There's like, a storm of 'em!"

"Can I see?" asked Sweetie Belle. Her friend hummed for a few seconds before tearing herself from the telescope and, with evident hesitance, made room for the unicorn filly. Under Applejack's watchful eye and in the presence of half a dozen adults, Apple Bloom tapped her hoof impatiently as she waited for Sweetie Belle to finish her turn.

"Whoa," Sweetie Belle said, her voice soft and subdued. "That's way more stars than I thought I saw." She turned to Twilight. "It's so pretty. Why is it pink? I thought space was supposed to be black."

"Can you see the dark spot in the center, in the shape of a horse's head?" Twilight asked, pointing in the direction of the telescope. "That's the nebula, and the reddish glow is coming from ionized gases that are behind the nebula."

"There are gases in space?" Scootaloo said suddenly, her eyes wide. She hurriedly covered her mouth and hid the growing blush spreading over her features. Twilight nodded and gestured the little pegasus toward her and the rest of the Cutie Mark Crusaders. The princess gently tapped Sweetie Belle's shoulder, and the young unicorn stepped away. Slowly, Scootaloo approached the telescope, staring at the device warily. She swallowed and lowered her head against the eyepiece.

Her jaw fell and hung loosely on its hinge. As she forced her mouth shut, Scootaloo made a conscious effort to avoid exclaiming whoa. Instead she released a small squeak as she stared at the massive pink cloud. Brighter streaks veined the cloud like lightning while the stars upon bright stars dotting the pink mess reminded the pegasus of glitter on an overly zealous foal's arts and crafts project. In the center stood a dark billowing uneven pillar that seemed to swirl and change form before her. A big black figure in a sea of beautiful bright stars and color, it appeared like an unknown menacing monster standing in the horizon, waiting patiently. Scootaloo's unease was not relieved nor was her amazement reduced once she recognized the minimalistic caricature of a pony's head the shapeless mass made.

"That's what nebulas are made of," Twilight said. "A variety of gases and dust."

"Heh, hear that Rarity?" Rainbow Dash smirk, jabbing the unicorn in the belly. "You can't escape dust even if you try leaving the planet." Laughter filled the night sky in response to Rainbow's jest. Even Rarity's polite lady-like chime could be heard.

"Well, it is a rather pretty cloud of dust," the unicorn admitted with a playful grin as she replaced Scootaloo at the telescope for a few moments before returning control to her. "Perhaps I'd learn to tolerate Madame Nebula."

"Nebula. Neh boo la." Pinkie Pie giggled. "That's a funny word, nebula! Nnnnebula!"

Twilight grinned. "Would you like to see the nebula, Pinkie?" she asked.

The pink earth pony gasped. "Can I? This is even better than the time I tried kumquat!" Pinkie cried as she hopped over to the telescope. "Have you ever had a kumquat before? Those things are as sweet as cupcakes! Well, almost anyways, sour too. Sourer than cupcakes, that's for sure and--ooh," Pinkie Pie whistled. "Eh, I don't know, Twilight," she said, turning toward the princess. "Doesn't really look like a horse head to me."

Twilight Sparkle giggled. "No, I guess it really doesn't. What do you think it looks like?"

"I think it looks like a gorilla. Oh, I'm sorry." Fluttershy bit her lip as she stepped away from the telescope. "I thought you were talking to me."

"Nah, that's a bottle opener," Rainbow Dash asserted as she peeked into the eye piece.

"The Bottle Opener Nebula." Applejack snorted. "Well, guess them astrolonomigists got some pretty interestin' eyes. You sure you don' jus' have cider on the mind?"

"It didn' look like any pony head I've ever seen," Apple Bloom said. "Don' know if it was a bottle opener or anythin' though."

"Really?" Sweetie Belle frowned. "I thought it was obviously a pony. What did you see, Scootaloo?"

The pegasus filly shrugged. "Dunno, but if that was a horse head, I'm a chicken."

Laughter flowed once again over the balcony edge, falling to the town below and floating up to the stars above. More objects and shapes were called out along with agreements and challenges. Every so often, Twilight would readjust the telescope, ensuring a perfect view of the starry gaseous structure. No pony noticed the hour hand of the clock tick by. The only hint of the passage of time was the disappearance of refreshments and the slow but certain build up of exhaustion that threatened to show on everypony's features.

"Perhaps we should wrap this up," Rarity suggested as she smiled at her yawning sister. "Or at the very least, Sweetie Belle and I had best be off."

"Not tired," the little unicorn mumbled, leaning against a half-dozing Apple Bloom.

"I think you're right," Twilight said. She gently rubbed her nose against the baby dragon sleeping on her back. Spike's lips twitched in his sleep and snuggled tighter against the young princess. "It's pretty late."

"Slumber party?" Pinkie Pie suggested with a tired grin. All six mares shared a soft chuckle. With a nod of understanding, they dispersed. Rarity and Applejack separated the empty dishes from the leftovers and folded the tablecloth neatly into a square while Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy began removing streamers, the remains of the piñata, and the decorated banner. Twilight Sparkle approached Scootaloo who was in current command of the telescope.

"Having fun?" she asked, startling the filly out of her vigil of the distant night.

"Huh, oh!" Scootaloo rubbed her eyes and brushed her mane back. "Heh, y-yeah, I guess it was aight," she tried to say indifferently. Twilight merely smiled.

"Well, if you're done, I need to put the telescope away," she said, gesturing to the device. "You have somepony to take you home, right?"

"Don't worry, Twilight, I got her," Rainbow called. She sauntered to the filly's side. "Ready to dash, squirt?"

"Um, actually..." Scootaloo rubbed her forelegs together. "Can I keep looking for a minute longer?"

Twilight Sparkle blinked. "Of course you may," she answered, recovering quickly from the initial shock. "I didn't know you had such a interest for astronomy, Scootaloo."

"I don't, really," Scootaloo assured, holding up her hooves. "It's just, there's this thing I found."

"Thing?" Twilight questioned.

"I, uh, thought it was a star, but it was moving around so I tried to follow it." Scootaloo ducked her head. "I sort of messed with the zoom and stuff, sorry."

Twilight gently prodded Scootaloo toward the telescope. "Can you show me?" she asked. The filly nodded and dived toward the eyepiece. The princess winced as her new telescope creaked as Scootaloo fiddled with the settings.

"It's not there anymore!" Scootaloo announced. She shifted the telescope's position and scanned the sky. "I lost it!"

"Well, if it was a comet or a shooting star, that's to be expected," Twilight said, tapping the young pegasus's shoulder. "Regardless, I'm glad you had fun tonight." The alicorn smiled. "Maybe we can do this again some time."

Scootaloo sighed and stepped away from the telescope. She tilted her head up toward the heavens. Little stars winked at her as she stared. Slowly, she smiled, just as the night sky was lit up by a flare. She heard Pinkie Pie scream, "Twitchy tail!" just as Rarity gasped, "What in Equ--"

The rest of the unicorn's exclamation was drowned out by a sudden mighty roar. Twilight felt Spike jerk up and topple from her back. Her ears flattened against her head just as the screaming in the sky was replaced by a booming crash. The castle seemed to shake violently, and she quickly ran through a list of spells to deal with any and all potential disasters. The minute her eyes opened, Twilight looked for her friends.

And just as suddenly as it, whatever it was, began, everything went quiet. The quaking under Twilight's hooves stopped, and the sky was dark once again. The night did not return to silence, however, as her friends buzzed nervously or with excitement amongst each other. She heard her name and several bits of questions directed toward her but nothing comprehensible. Sounds were growing below her, the princess realized, as the sleepy town of Ponyville lit up and its inhabitants gathered at the base of her castle. More pieces of questions were thrown in her way.

A tan mare with a gray mane forced her way through the crowd. "Princess Twilight," she shouted over all the others, "what in Equestria was that?"

Twilight squinted at the speaking pony. She felt a tap on her shoulder and turned to find Applejack pointing at their early birthday gift to her. Twilight nodded, understanding her friend's gesture, and carefully altered the tripod so that it pointed down at the congregation below her. She focused on the mare who spoke. "Oh," she said quietly. "So that's what the mayor looks like without her cravat. Huh, didn't recognize her."

"Yes, she does look quite nondescript without it and her glasses," agreed Rarity.

"Uh, hate to interpret your little fashion nitpicking," grumbled Rainbow Dash, "but we've got a mob on our hooves that like two steps away from rioting."

"M-maybe you should answer her question," Fluttershy suggested, peaking out from behind Applejack. She ducked back behind the orange mare at the sight of the growing crowd below.

"Oh, right." Twilight cleared her throat. "Ahem! Citizens of Ponyville!" she shouted, her foreleg stretched forward dramatically. "There is no need to panic, that was just a...a..."

Twilight ran into the castle, leaving her audience waiting. Just as panic began to spread again, the princess returned with her muzzle buried in a large textbook. "Could be a meteorite, that would explain the earthquake," she was mumbling to herself. "But what caused the flash? The meteorite combusting? No, that can't be it. Rarity?" she said, pulling her head out of the book. "Can you see if you can find a smoke trail or something with the telescope."

"Well, let me see. Hmm, yes," the unicorn announced as she stared through the eyepiece.

"Can you follow where it landed?"

"I can try, it is rather faint," Rarity said. "Oh dear, which way do I--oh, there we go. Oh...oh no oh no oh no."

"What?" Rainbow demanded as she however over the alabaster unicorn. "What is it?"

"Applejack," Rarity said slowly, "I-I'm afraid it looks like it landed near Sweet Apple Acres."

Applejack's orange coat whitened. Her hold around Apple Bloom tightened. "B-but the farm's okay, right?" she asked hesitantly. "It's near, d-don' mean at or on or--"

"Big Mac," Apple Bloom gasped. "Granny, Winona!"

"They're f-fine, Apple Bloom," Applejack whispered, staring into the direction of Sweet Apple Acre. "D-don' you worry, they'll be--."

"Oh wait, never mind." Rarity coughed, brushed back a straying curl, and blushed. "I, er, misread the distance."

"Looks like it fell somewhere in the Everfree Forest," Twilight said, taking control of the telescope. "Doesn't look too deep in the forest, I think I can map out it's location."

"In...the Everfree." Applejack sighed. "Thank goodness."

"Wait, what about Zecora?" Apple Bloom asked. "She lives in the Everfree Forest, what if she's in trouble?"

"Well then, what are we waiting for?" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. "Come on, we've got a zebra in danger and some weird spacey thing in our backyard. Sounds like we've got ourselves a search and rescue!"

"Your concern I appreciate, no matter that you're too late."

Everypony turned to the doorway leading to the castle's interior. At its threshold stood the striped equine, her neck and ears adorn with gold rings and a large sack on her back. "Princess Twilight," Zecora said with a short bow, "for my unannounced appearance, I do apologize." The zebra lifted her head and frowned. "But seriously, getting some locks on your doors would be wise. I am surprised your townsfolk haven't made their way up here yet..." Zecora walked to the edge of the balcony and leaned over. "...but it's only a matter of time before they break in, I bet."

"Stop panicking!" Twilight screamed, lowering her book. "Yes, I'm talking to you! Stop it!" She sighed. "I'm glad to see you're okay, Zecora," the alicorn said. "Um, you are okay, right?"

"I am unhurt, so I suppose I am well," Zecora said. "But as for my home, it is too early to tell."

"Oh no, did whatever crash destroy your home?" Fluttershy asked.

"No, but I left the minute I saw flames," Zecora explained, her shoulders sagging. "Even with my skills, a forest fire I alone cannot tame. Still, the wood is wet, and there is little to light, my escape was simply a precautionary flight."

"Let's hope so," Twilight said, following the thin trail of smoke spiraling out of the Everfree Forest. "Rainbow Dash, how fast can you and the rest of the weather team gather up some rainclouds?"

"Please, I could do that all under five minutes in my sleep," Rainbow Dash declared just as her jaws were wretched apart by a mighty yawn. "Heh, okay, maybe ten," she amended sheepishly, rubbing her eyes.

"It is rather late," Rarity said. "Perhaps it would be wiser to wait for morning. There doesn't seem to be any immediate danger, after all."

"You're right," said Twilight with a nod. "It's too dark to do anything right now. We'll investigate when there's light."

"You mean..." Fluttershy swallowed and her ears flattened. "...we're still going into the dark scary Everfree Forest?"

"Oh come on, Fluttershy!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed, throwing herself onto the pegasus's back. "We've been in and out of that place so many times already it's like a running joke. And it'll be in the daytime, so it'll more of the dim not-funny overdone Everfree Forest."

Fluttershy rubbed her neck as her lips lifted into a meek smile "Oh, I suppose when you put it like that, it's not too bad."

"Then it's settled," Twilight said. "We'll go to the Everfree in the morning and see if we can find whatever crashed. Imagine, we might find an actual meteorite!" The alicorn squealed. "Oh, the astronomy community's going to go crazy over this discover!" she cheered, hopping side to side. Noticing the blank looks her friends wore and the stifled laughter coming from the three fillies, Twilight landed and quickly clear her throat. "So we should probably all get a good night's rest. You can stay in one of the free rooms here if you want, Zecora. I'm sure I can find--"

"Uh, Twilight, sugar cube," Applejack interrupted, "don' you think you're forgettin' somethin'?"

Twilight's gaze followed Applejack's hoof pointing over the railing of the balcony, toward the rumbling crowd below. "The horror, the horror!" she heard some mare scream.

"Oh, right," the princess said, blushing. "Uh, Rarity, could you help Zecora find a room. All of you are welcomed to stay, of course," Twilight added. "Celestia knows this place has enough room. Oh, and could you take care of..." Twilight gestured to the sleeping dragon curled tightly around her. Rarity's cool blue magic blanketed Spike, gently removing him from his guardian and draping him on her own back.

"Of course darling," the unicorn said as she touched her nose against Spike's. "Come along, Sweetie Belle," she said, urging her sister along.

"Guess we'd all better hit the hay," Applejack said. The mare stretched and yawned as Apple Bloom slowly made her way to her side. "Somethin' tells me tomorrow's gonna be a busy day."

"So how exactly did you calm down that mob last night?" Rainbow was saying as she hovered right above Twilight's head. The two mares walked slightly added of the rest of the group trudging past gnarled tree trunks. Other conversations were made between the mares, with Fluttershy politely listening to Rarity's thoughts of the latest issue of a fashion magazine and Applejack and Zecora chuckling to Pinkie Pie's story.

"It wasn't easy," Twilight answered with a sigh. "Snips and Snails almost started a witch hunt. I forgot they checked out that science fiction book recently about extraterrestrial body snatching spies."

"Really?"

Twilight nodded. "Yeah, it's amazing how ponies sometimes can't tell the difference between fantasy and reality," she said.

"Actually, I'm more amazed those two can actually read," Rainbow said with a snicker. The pegasus received a disapproving frown from the princess below her.

"That's awfully mean, even for a joke," Twilight chided. "Sure, those two thought bringing a Ursa Minor into town was a good idea, somehow get trapped in bubble gum every other week, ruined a couple of rummage sales by releasing fleas..."

Twilight's rambling came to a close as a hollowed tree decorated with large painted, wooden masks. "Oh, we're here," she said, turning to the zebra approaching her side. "Well, it looks like your home's alright, thank goodness."

"Indeed, thank the heavens you are right," Zecora agreed. She bowed, her gold rings jingling as she bent her knee. "Thank you, dear princess, for the room to spend the night."

"No problem," Twilight assured as she urged the zebra up. "I wouldn't be much of a friend if I didn't. I'm sorry we don't visit as often anymore."

"You are busy, that I understand," Zecora said. "It's not easy being a princess of this land." Slowly, she made her way to the door of the hut. "I will prepare some tea for your return here. Whatever crashed down must be quite near."

"Are you sure you don't want to come with us?" Twilight asked.

"I'm afraid I must clean the mess I have made last night," Zecora explained, sighing. "But I look forward to your tale of the sight. Do be careful, pony friends of mine. Stick together, and you should be just fine."

"Don' worry 'bout us," said Applejack as she adjusted her hat. She wore a confident grin. "Ain't nothin' here we haven' tangoed before. See you 'round, Zecora," she added as the zebra nodded her good byes and entered the hut.

"Still, I think Zecora's right," Fluttershy interjected, setting her waving hoof down. "We should stay together. Oh, I'd hate to be lost and all alone out here."

"Don't worry, we'll be fine," Twilight said, sharing Applejack's smile. "We just have to follow this path, and there should a clearing close to the crash site."

"So stick to the path, eh? Pft!" Rainbow Dash scoffed. "And here I thought this was going to be another adventure."

"But it is an adventure!" gasped Pinkie Pie. "We're going to find rocks! But not just any rocks. Rocks from outer space! Come on!" the pink pony cheered as she hopped ahead of the group and kicked up little clouds of dust every time she landed.

"Pinkie Pie, wait!" Twilight's shouts trailed behind her as she and Rainbow Dash flew after the bouncing pony, with the others following closely behind. "Just--oof!" Twilight grunted, failing to notice the outstretched branch until she collided with it.

Rainbow looked over her shoulder and called, "You alright?"

Twilight spat out a flurry of leaves and nodded. Applejack helped her slowly climb back onto her hooves. "Yeah, I'm fine. I, heh, think I'll walk. You catch up with Pinkie Pie and make sure she doesn't cause too much trouble."

"On it!" the pegasus declared before zooming off, leaving behind a trail of colors and falling leaves caught in her path.

"We should pro'ly pick up the pace too," Applejack said. "You sure you're good, Twilight?"

"Positive," Twilight answered as she ran, keeping her head low in case of low hanging branches.

"And why exactly are we running with reckless abandon again?" huffed Rarity from behind. "Pinkie Pie isn't in any danger, is she? Are space rocks any more dangerous than the average rock?"

Twilight bit her lip. "Well, no, maybe not," she said. "I mean, I don't really know, I don't know if anypony does. This could be the first specimen of extraterrestrial material Equestria's seen in decades, if not centuries, who knows what it could do to her? And who knows what Pinkie Pie could do to it?" The alicorn shuddered.

"Maybe we should have waited for an expert," Fluttershy said, her voice barely audible over the thundering hooves. "Or at least Princess Celestia or--oof!" Fluttershy exclaimed as she collided into Applejack, sending the two tumbling. "S-sorry," she apologized into the grass.

Applejack helped the pegasus back to her feet. "Don' worry a thing, sugar cube," she chuckled. "Just, ah, guess I could have given you a warning. We're here, by the way."

"Are you sure?" Fluttershy asked, looking around. "Is this the right clearing?"

"Quite sure, darling," Rarity said, her voice subdued and quiet as the unicorn gently nudged Fluttershy's head, directing her gaze toward the charred tree branches, blacken patches in the grass, and ashy trails reaching across the clearing.

"Oh my," Fluttershy gasped, taking a shaky step back. Her eyes slowly drifted to the center, to the heaviest damage, toward the crater cradling a massive chunk of burnt silver material. Similar holes, though smaller, also carried bits and pieces of black, yellow, and shining white that gleamed in the sunlight. "Oh my," Fluttershy whimpered.

Applejack took a cautious step forward. "Huh, can't say I've seen this kind of rock before," she said. "What 'bout you, Rarity?" the farmer asked. "You collect rocks."

"Gems are hardly common stones," the alabaster unicorn sniffed before turning back to the strange rocks. "And I can assure you, these are certainly not the diamonds and emeralds I am used to. Perhaps Pinkie Pie...where is Pinkie Pie?" Rarity asked, turning her head. "And Rainbow Dash, for that matter?"

"Should be around here somewhere," Applejack said, frowning.

"Oh," Fluttershy began, "you don't they--"

Rainbow Dash suddenly appeared over the largest block. "About time you slowpokes showed up," she exclaimed, hovering over the holes and landing besides a slack jaw Twilight. "So, egghead assessment," Rainbow said. "What're we working with here, Twilight?"

Twilight blinked, shut her mouth, and shook her head. She turned away from the debris and said, "Sorry, what?"

"I said, what're we dealing with?" Rainbow said, rolling her eyes.

"Oh, well, hmm." Twilight slowly approached the nearest crater. Her horn began to glow as she carefully reached into the hole with her magic and levitated a small jagged chunk of silver out, keeping it a safe distance from her. As it slowly spun in the air, bits of black shredded off, dissipating and littering the ground with ash and dust. Twilight frowned as the sample floated closer, dancing inches from her eyes. "Hmm, that's odd," she muttered.

Everypony leaned forward in unison. "Well?" they said together.

"This doesn't look like any kind of natural mineral I've read about," Twilight said, setting the piece of the meteorite in the grass. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say it could some sort of processed metal. I might have to take some back some more tests. What did Pinkie Pie say? Where is Pinkie Pie?" Twilight gasped. "Did I just completely forget about a friend because I was preoccupied with a piece of...of...of whatever this was?"

"Eh, it happens to the best of us," Rainbow Dash said with a shrug. "Don't worry about Pinkie, she's in the meteor."

"Oh, okay, that's a relief," Twilight said, releasing a sigh as the rest of her friends blinked and repeated Rainbow's words to themselves. Twilight's blinking and mouthing soon joined theirs. "Wait, what? What!"

"Whoa!" Rainbow grunted as Twilight grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her toward her.

"What do you mean, in the meteor?" Twilight asked, her hooves shaking.

Rainbow Dash backed away as far as she could with Twilight around her neck. "Yeah, see, I'm not exactly an expert or anything, but I don't think we have a meteor in our hooves," said Rainbow as she tried to free herself from Twilight's grip. "The thing's not made of rock."

Twilight released the pegasus from her hold. "Not made of rock, at all?" Twilight exclaimed.

"That's what Pinkie said, even sang a song when I asked." Rainbow Dash shook her head. "Also, it's hollow and has a bunch of weird things inside."

"What do you mean, weird?" Applejack asked.

Rarity walked forward with the shard Twilight had earlier in her magical grasp. "You mean, more of this strange material?" she asked.

"Yeah, well, no. I mean, yeah, there's a lot of not-space rock lying around..." Rainbow waved her hoof toward the alien chunks. "...but there's way weirder stuff too. There're these tubes and these strange big white things and shiny bags filled with powder and--just come on!" Rainbow cried, pulling Twilight and Rarity, the two mares closest. "You have to see for yourself!"

"Hold on, now," Applejack exclaimed, yanking the pegasus down to earth by her tail. "Twilight, talk some sense into her. This thing could be dangerous, and you wanna go spelunking inside?"

"Oh, come on," Rainbow scoffed. "It's perfectly safe. If it wasn't, you'd think Pinkie's Pinkie Sense would have gone off."

"That is true."

"Twilight," Applejack gasped, "you're not--"

"I'm not saying it isn't potentially dangerous," Twilight asserted quickly, "and I am upset that you let Pinkie Pie do something so reckless," she added toward Rainbow, who turned to the side and rubbed the back of her head sheepishly under the princess's disapproving look. Her stern countenance swiftly crumbled, however, as she all but squealed, "But I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to take a look inside."

"You wouldn' be you if you didn'," Applejack sighed.

"Come now, Applejack dear," smirked Rarity, "don't tell me you're not the least bit curious."

"Maybe a least bit," the farm pony admitted. "Still, I don't like it. Strange meteors or whatever they are crashin' in the Everfree filled with who knows what, sounds like nothin' but trouble."

"I, um, agree with Applejack," Fluttershy said with her front hoof raised timidly. "I don't think I like it here very much."

Rainbow Dash opened her mouth to argue, but her protests were interrupted by Pinkie Pie's cheery shout. "Rainbow Dash, Rainbow Dash!" Pinkie called out, her head sticking out of the largest chunk of extraterrestrial material. "Oh, hi girls. Rainbow, I found more of those funny looking chubbies!"

"Chubbies?" Twilight repeated.

"Yeah, chubbies! They're these big white marshmallow thingies that have giant bubbles at the top," Pinkie explained. She motioned her friends toward her. "Come on, I think I found a secret room!" Before anypony could reply, Pinkie's cotton candy mane vanished as she ducked back inside.

"See? Pinkie's totally fine," Rainbow Dash said, gesturing to where the pink pony's head had been.

"Don' mean it's safe," said Applejack with a frown. She met Rainbow's glare with a determined stare of her own. At last, Applejack closed her eyes and looked away. "But I guess a peek wouldn' hurt," she mumbled.

"Yes!" Twilight and Rainbow exclaimed together, leaping into the air as their wings shook with excitement. The moment she landed, Twilight rushed to the edge of the crater and all but dove in.

"Oh, if only I brought a camera," the remaining ponies heard her lament before the four mares broke out in laughter.

"Heh, not like she needed my permission or nothin'," Applejack snorted. "C'mon, better make sure she doesn' go overboard. Kinda wanna see this here chubby before Twilight tears it apart."

"Oh, you three go on ahead, I'll wait here," Fluttershy said, taking a seat in the grass.

Rainbow Dash flew over to her fellow pegasus and sat beside her. "You sure?" she asked. "You're going to miss out on a lot of awesome stuff."

Fluttershy glanced over to the massive blacken object jutting out of the ground and shivered. "Pretty sure," she answered with a confident nod. "I'm sure I'll be perfectly happy with Twilight's notes."

"You'd rather stay out here in the open in the middle of the Everfree Forest by yourself?" Rainbow asked, her eyebrow raised.

"Oh, well, now that I think about it..."

"It's alright, darling," Rarity insisted as she carefully swept the top of the grass before taking a seat next to Fluttershy. "You two go on ahead, I'll wait here with Fluttershy. I can't imagine all six of us will be able to fit inside that anyways. Perhaps I'll take a look later after somepony, Twilight I imagine, cleans our strange new visitor out a bit, when there's a little less dust floating about."

Applejack and Rainbow rolled their eyes. "Whatever you say," Rainbow said as she stood up. "Well, you know where to find us if you change your mind. Oh, and we found one of the chubbies lying on the ground over there." Rainbow pointed past the craters, toward the trees on the other side of the clearing. "Probably fell out or something. Eehek, we need a better name than chubbies."

"Jus' holler if you need us," Applejack instructed as she followed Rainbow Dash. Rarity and Fluttershy watched the two mares descend into the massive hole and disappear. A few wordless affirmations could be heard leaving the crater, along with muffled laughter.

"You don't have to stay with me, Rarity," Fluttershy said, staring at the little patch of grass she was flattening with the bottom of the hoof. "I don't mind."

"Darling, please, I meant every word I said," laughed Rarity. "As curious as I am, I am in no hurry to make myself acquainted with space dust. I'd much prefer the company of a friend such as yourself."

"O-oh, thank you." Fluttershy lifted her head and smiled.

"Of course, Fluttershy," Rarity replied, returning the smile as she made her way behind the pegasus. She hummed and began to carefully comb out the tangles in Fluttershy's mane. An occasional twig or leaf fell out, to which Rarity tutted. "All done," the unicorn declared proudly after a moment. "As immaculate as it was in town. Now why don't we take a look at one of these so called chubbies?"

"But--"

"Come now, darling, we'll still be out here, away from those dusty craters and rusty space metals," Rarity reassured with a smile. "You can't say you aren't just a little little curious to see something called a chubby."

"Well, they do sound adorable." Fluttershy took a deep breath and stood up. "Let's go," she said, stepping forward. Rarity nodded and followed Fluttershy toward the other side of the meadow. Very quickly, however, Rarity overtook Fluttershy as the pegasus's gait shrunk and slowed, and soon the unicorn was leading with Fluttershy trailing right behind.

"It's a bit of a pity, isn't it?" Rarity suddenly said. She gestured to the charred mess as they passed the craters. "To not be able to see the object crashed here in its complete form?"

"Oh, absolutely," Fluttershy agreed. "I, um, think?"

"You don't see it?" Rarity frowned. "Well, clearly whatever landed here could not have simply been some simple boulder. The pieces are all jagged, some of them flat...it strikes me as odd, and I can't help but wonder what was this object's appearance before it broke into such an unrecognizable form?"

"Maybe Twilight will be able to figure it out from the pieces?" Fluttershy said.

"Maybe," began Rarity, the word slow and hesitant. She stared at the debris stabbing through the earth and turned to the bits littering the grass. Streaks of dirt and clawed grass cutting through the unkept lawn of the forest suddenly caught the seamstress's observing eye. She followed the brown trail through the green until it stopped underneath a large dirty white bulk. Four long appendages extended from the center, two toward them, one crooked awkwardly close to the core, and the last reaching toward the trees in front. A large white box with odd nobs sat on top, like a fortress on an island.

Fluttershy peeked over Rarity's shoulder. "What is that?" she whispered.

Rarity shook her head. Her horn lit blue, and she took hold of the limb closest, lifting the heavy thing a few inches off the ground before giving it a little shake. She let the limb fall back down and waited. "I don't know what it is," Rarity said after a moment, releasing bated breath. She approached the strange new object. "However, it doesn't appear dangerous."

Fluttershy took a few timid steps closer. "You think this is the chubby?" she asked.

"Well, it could certainly lose some weight," chuckled Rarity as she levitated the twisted appendage and let the short units attached to the end dangle down like the roots of a plant. "It would be rather Pinkie for Pinkie Pie to call such a thing 'chubby'." Rarity set the limb back down.

"Do you see a bubble?" Fluttershy asked, carefully walking over the spread out extensions.

"Hmm?" Rarity lifted her head. "Pardon?"

"Pinkie Pie said there's a bubble on top. I don't see it from here," Fluttershy said, craning her neck to peer over the box. "Maybe this isn't it then."

"Ah, no, I think I see what Pinkie Pie mentioned," exclaimed Rarity. She motioned Fluttershy closer, to the front of the strange artifact. "It's down here," Rarity explained as Fluttershy approached, pointing to a big round globe partially hidden in the dirt and the rest of the object. As dusty as it was, the "bubble" continued to gleam in the sunlight, reflecting along the long fissure scarring the golden surface.

Rarity bent down and frowned. With a sigh, she ran her hoof across the globe, knocking away dust. As she quickly wiped her hoof on the grass, Rarity smiled at her reflection's grin. "Hmm, feels like glass," she announced, giving the unicorn staring back at her a light tap on the forehead.

"It reminds me a little of a fish bowl," Fluttershy said as she traced the crack in the reflective material with her hoof.

"What do you suppose it's for?" Rarity asked, holding the cracked orb up.

"Do you mean the bubble or..."

"Well, the...object in it's entirety," Rarity said, gesturing to the white mound before her. "As fantastic as it sounds, this just doesn't seem natural. This material, the glass, it feels artificial, it's--"

Something fell with a soft squishy thud, landing close to the unicorn's hoof. The glass globe, caught in Rarity's magic, continued to float in the air. Rarity looked down toward her feet, and the magic holding the round golden object dissipated a second later.

"What is it, R--" Fluttershy cut herself off as she saw what Rarity saw. Laying inches from the unicorn's hoof was a mess of wet black hair. Peeking through the mess was a single blue eye, small, dull, and unmoving. A twisted angled protrusion stuck out awkwardly over a gaping mouth. Stained, broken teeth poked past burnt lips. Sections of the tan color that served as the body holding the eye, mouth, and protrusion together were smeared brown-red.

"What...is that?" whispered Rarity, backing away to Fluttershy's side. She forced herself to look away and turn to her friend. "What is that?" Rarity repeated.

"I-don't know," Fluttershy whimpered, shaking her head furiously. "I don't want to know, I don't want to know what it is, I want to go home."

Rarity swallowed. "Let's get the others and--"

A scream filled the forest meadow, and the two mares instinctively turned to the direction of the noise. Beneath her white coat, Rarity paled as she noticed which crater she was staring at. "Oh no."

"That was Rainbow Dash!" Fluttershy cried, breaking into a gallop past Rarity toward the biggest piece of the strange meteorite. Rarity followed her to the edge of the massive hole and stopped just as Fluttershy stopped. The pegasus shook violently, and the hoof she tried to steady herself with quaked as uncontrollably as the rest of her. Fluttershy flinched at Rarity's touch, but the gentle squeeze the unicorn gave her shoulder and the nod she gave calmed her, if ever so slightly. Fluttershy nodded back, and the two descended into the crater and pushed their way through the hole acting as the entrance into the suspicious meteorite.

"Rainbow Dash!" Fluttershy called, her voice bouncing along the chrome walls. Rarity barely registered the smooth feel of the floor as her hooves clattered noisily as she ran. Splitting paths led to dead ends or open areas holding trash or more of the large white statues with bubbles on their heads; Rarity shuddered at every "chubby" they came across. Wrappers and tubes and boxes littered the ground, threatening to trip the two mares as they made their way through what was beginning to look like a mysterious hovel.

"Rainbow Dash! Applejack? Twilight!" Rarity cried out. "Oh, how in Equestria is this thing so large?" she murmured as she struggled to catch her breath.

"Rainbow Dash? Anypony?" Fluttershy called.

"Here!" came a reply. Fluttershy and Rarity charged recklessly toward the source of the sound. Loose paper sheets flew into the air, caught in the gust of their trail as they thundered through archways into new halls. "Here!" came the voice again, clearer and louder, with the faint lift of a rural accent.

"Applejack!" Fluttershy exclaimed as the farm mare came into view. Applejack waved frantically toward Fluttershy and Rarity as the two approached the doorway she guarded. A large chunk of gray material with deep dents laid beside her, with red and yellow and white strings sticking out of the sides.

"What happened?" Fluttershy asked as she came to a sudden halt. "W-we heard screaming."

"Is Rainbow Dash alright?" demanded Rarity after she recovered from the sprint. The unicorn tried to stare into the area behind Applejack.

"She's...not hurt," Applejack answered slowly, chewing her lip before each uttered syllable. "We saw...we saw somethin' in there," she said, pointing a hoof through the threshold. "T-there was this thing blockin' our way." Applejack gestured to the dented slab on the floor next to her. "Twilight got it open 'cause Rainbow was buggin' her, then she and me decided to look around while Pinkie Pie and Rainbow went in there. We heard the scream, saw..." Applejack swallowed. "Don' know what we saw, think this room was blocked for a reason. Anyways, I heard you two scream, came out to find you."

"What about the others?" Rarity asked. "Where are they?"

"Must still be in there." Applejack swallowed again. "I-we should pro'ly try to get 'em out. Just, you know, try not to look at the...things."

Rarity and Fluttershy turned and gave each other a worried glance before following Applejack. A loud retching suddenly echoed past the mares; all three winced at the disgusting noise. "What do you think they found?" Fluttershy whispered. Rarity only shook her head as she continued to focus on the pony leading them. Applejack seemed to pale with each step she took, with a noticeable hesitance between each hoof fall.

Twilight Sparkle was the first in view, sitting in the center of the messy room. Steel strings snaked out of the peeling walls and through holes in the floor. Her back was turned toward the approaching mares, her eyes toward a pair of throne-like structures facing a massive cracked screen that covered most of the wall Twilight seemed to be staring at.

The princess's wing stuck out, covering something huddled beneath it. At the sound of hoofsteps, Pinkie Pie peeked out through Twilight's feathers. "Fluttershy! Rarity!" she gasped. Twilight turned around, shutting her mouth as Fluttershy and Rarity rushed toward them.

"Is everypony okay?" Fluttershy asked, looking over the two mares for injuries. Slowly, Pinkie Pie nodded. The relief the pegasus felt from Pinkie's silent response was dampened by the lack of energy in the answer and the absence of Pinkie Pie's smile.

"We're just a little shaken," Twilight said, running a hoof against her foreleg. "But Rainbow, she--"

There was another loud heave, and everypony followed it to the corner where Rainbow Dash stood, crouching over a pool of vomit. "H-hey Fluttershy," she said weakly. She raised a hoof to wipe her mouth, only to recoil and throw it back down.

"Rainbow Dash," Rarity exclaimed as she slowly approached, keeping an eye on the puddle of the pegasus's digested breakfast, "what in Equestria happened to you?"

"F-funny you should say that," said Rainbow with a humorless chuckle.

"It isn't," murmured Pinkie Pie, pawing at a few small white sheets on the hard metal floor.

"Your hoof!" Fluttershy gasped, rushing forward and grabbing Rainbow's stained foreleg. A sticky coat of red covered the mare's natural blue. "T-this is, this is..." Fluttershy shook herself. "Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine," Rainbow snarled, pulling away. She turned away, refusing to meet Fluttershy's startled expression, but her features softened. "Sorry, I just, don't worry about, okay? It's not my--" Rainbow's cheeks bulged, and she leaned forward. Only air and loud gaseous sounds were expelled this time, but Fluttershy kept her hold around the heaving mare.

"Will somepony please tell me what's going on?" Rarity demanded, looking around the room. "Anypony, an explanation please."

"Rarity?"

"It ain't exactly the easiest thin' to explain," Applejack argued. "I mean, I don' know, see? I can't even get started."

"Perhaps you can begin with what startled Rainbow Dash into screaming so loudly the entirety of Ponyville could have heard," Rarity said. "Yes, let's begin there."

"Rarity."

"Well, that's the hard thing to explain." Applejack scratched her head. "See, I told you, we saw something--"

"Saw what? Saw what, Applejack? What did you all see?"

The farm mare threw her forelegs into the air. "I don' know! It was this weird thin' that...Twilight, a little help?"

Twilight lifted her head, as if jolted awake. "I don't want to make any hasty assumptions," she began, "but it wasn't anything I've ever read about. This isn't a meteorite, it's some sort of vessel, maybe a vehicle or a house or something." She drew in a deep breath. "I think we found--"

"Rarity!" Fluttershy screamed, shrinking as all eyes fell on her. "I-I think I know what they saw," she whimpered, pointing toward one of the thrones. Rarity followed Fluttershy's hoof, frowning when she saw nothing. She took a few steps closer to where the two pegasi sat together, squinting until she made out a long crooked branch on the floor.

"Oh dear," Rarity breathed as she found the rest of the body, covered in torn orange rags and blackish-red burns. It's shape was the same as the thing she and Fluttershy had encountered outside, though this one was much, much thinner. Shards of white stuck out of the smaller charred appendages while pieces of silver and gray jutted out of the body. Her gaze, as if no longer in her control, caught in disgusted fascination, drifted to the head hanging from a broken extension, and she nearly added to Rainbow Dash's pool of vomit.

Most of the it was horrifically burned, leaving nothing behind but an ashy texture, uneven ditches, two round holes where a nose should have been, and a single ball dangling from a pink thread out of a socket. The lips were missing, revealing a single row of rounded teeth. The other half of the mouth was missing, ripped or smashed off based on the fleshy tears left on the upper jaw's bottom. Red droplets slowly dripped out of the ruined mouth and onto the ground. Ivory seemed to peek through the burned skin, with an entire upper corner just naked bone, cracked and chipped and staring back at the terrified unicorn with its empty hole for an eye.

"Sweet Celestia," Rarity whispered, backing up until she bumped into the wall. "What happened here? What could have done this?"

"I-I didn't mean to."

Fluttershy and Rarity turned and stared at the mare who had spoken. She raised her stained shaking hooves. "I didn't mean to," Rainbow Dash repeated.

"Rainbow," Fluttershy began, "what are you--"

"He...she...it surprised me!" Rainbow yelled. "I-I didn't know it was sitting there, a-and when I saw it moving--"

"Rainbow Dash, it wasn't moving," Twilight said gently. "We saw it, it just fell."

"It was moving! I know it was moving! And I...I panicked and--" Rainbow shivered and glared at her hooves.

"Sugar cube, any one of us would have done the same," assured Applejack. Slowly, she approached. Twilight and Pinkie Pie followed until all six mares huddled together against the wall directly across the body.

Twilight nodded as Pinkie Pie wrapped her forelegs around Rainbow. Rainbow Dash let her own legs fall back against her side, and she leaned closer to the pink pony. "She's right," Twilight said, "we all probably would have panicked. I might have done worse."

"Heh, maybe." Rainbow gave the princess a tiny smile. "You might have lasered a giant hole in the wall."

"Or blown something up," Pinkie Pie piped in with a giggle.

Applejack began to smirk. "So much for bein' careful," she said.

The mares began to laugh. The laughter began low and subdued, but slowly it grew louder and stronger until half-hearted chuckles echoed along the walls of the room. As soon as it died down, all eyes drifted back to the macabre scene, the body's empty sockets leering. Fluttershy, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie quickly averted their gazes while Rainbow Dash and Applejack tried to look past it, only to spot the second body sitting in the throne beside the first, burned just as heavily as the other. It's head, thankfully intact, sported a twisted frame piece which hooked around it's shriveled ears and circled around dull eyes.

"We should go," Twilight decided, jerking her head toward the exit. She rose, and her friends quickly followed suit. "Spike's probably up by now, and I need to send Princess Celestia a letter."

"Yeah, and I need a bath ASAP," Rainbow said, rubbing front legs together. "Ugh, and some mouthwash. And maybe a nap."

"A relaxing bath does sound nice right now," Rarity agreed, "though I have no idea how you plan on sleeping restfully today." The unicorn shook her head.

Pinkie Pie hesitated. "Wait," she said.

Applejack turned her head. "Uh, for what, sugar cube?" she called over her shoulder.

"Shouldn't we do something about, well, them?" Pinkie asked. She started to turn her head toward

Rainbow Dash frowned. "Like what?"

"I don't know, it just doesn't seem right leaving them like this," Pinkie explained. "I mean, if they were ponies, we'd do something, wouldn't we?"

"Not much we can do, Pinkie," Applejack said. "I don't think there's anything we could do to for 'em, 'sides havin' a decent burial. Sorry."

"Then let's do that."

Everypony stopped in their tracks, some in mid step. "Pardon?" Rarity said.

"Let's bury them," said Pinkie Pie, stomping her hoof. "We should give them a funeral, a nice one, something to let them know this planet isn't all that bad. Look, I found these in the other room." Pinkie Pie removed several thin sheets from her mane and laid them on the floor for all to see.

Each one was a different colored image, photographs. One had three odd creatures dressed in orange laughing as they stood in a white hallway. The one with long yellow hair leaned over the tall mustached one holding up two fingers in a V shape as the third one smiled and watched behind a pair of glasses.

The next photo was of the blond creature, wearing a pink dress with straps over the shoulders and a large summer hat, holding what was almost just a smaller copy of itself, wearing a similar wide brimmed hat that was much too big for it. The larger smiled as it rested their check against the smaller's forehead.

The third picture showed another long haired specimen, its features soft and its hair red. Its blue eyes were slightly narrowed as it smiled suggestively, running its tongue along her lips. A faded kiss mark encircled by a heart symbol covered the corner.

Five beings stood in the final photograph, all with brown hair and dark complexity. Three large ones, including the mustached one from the first picture, stood at attention with their arms against their back behind two gray haired and wrinkled individuals sitting in chairs. The one with longer hair and a leaner body smiled warmly while the other simply glared as sternly as the three behind them.

"Look," Pinkie Pie exclaimed, gesturing to the photographs, "they've got families, and friends, a-and they smile! They smile a lot here and here and, okay, maybe they could smile a bit more here," Pinkie admitted, her own grin faltering slightly as she set down the photo of five. "They smile just like all our other friends, like Spike and Cranky and Tank and Discord! Maybe we could have been friends too. Maybe they'd be mean at first, but then we'd get to know them and they get to know us we'd find out we're not so different and we'd have a great big welcome party, and they'd teach us new games to play and new words and party tricks." Pinkie took a deep breath. "If I can't say hi, I want to at least say good bye."

The rest of the mares looked to one another, speaking with their eyes and with glances. Rarity frowned as her gaze met Applejack, who bit her lip and turned to Twilight just as Rainbow Dash shrugged in response.

"Pinkie Pie," Twilight began gently, "that's sweet of you--"

"I'm with Pinkie."

Fluttershy shrunk back behind her pink curtain of a mane as everypony's attention fell upon her. When no one else spoke and the silence grew oppressive, the pegasus brushed back a large lock of hair and said, "I think we should bury them too. I want to leave this place and go back home as soon as possible too, but I feel awful leaving their bodies out like this." Fluttershy picked up one of the photo, the one with the blond alien cradling its child. "I-I just, I can't--"

Applejack placed a steadying hoof on Flutterhy's quaking shoulder. "It's alright, sugar cube," she said before turning to the rest of the group. "I don' know about the rest of ya'll, but I think if I, well..." Applejack swallowed. "...if somethin' happened to me, somethin' like this, I'd appreciate it if somepony took care of what was left. Be'd awfully nice if they could get the news to my family too," she added, closing her eyes and sighing. "Maybe we can't tell their kin, but I think I'm with Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy, the least we can do is put 'em to rest."

"Rest in peace, huh?" Rainbow Dash snorted. "I'm not laughing or anything," she quickly said defensively as Rarity and Applejack started to glared. "It's just, I don't think I've ever got what that phrase meant. Guess it's just one of those kind of things you have to experience yourself first or something. Yeah, I'm in."

The two remaining mares shared a quick look. "Well, leaving out such a mess is hardly ideal for anyone," said Rarity with a sigh. "I'm hardly dressed for the occasion, but perhaps a small ceremony would be, well, nice might not be the right description."

"How 'bout appropriate?" Applejack offered.

"I think it's nice," Pinkie Pie piped in.

"A funeral, nice?" Rainbow Dash asked in bafflement.

Pinkie nodded. "Sure, like a small good bye party. I mean, there're still guests and a guest-of-honor sometimes there're decorations and maybe refreshments and cake and everypony gets up and remembers their fondest memories and gets to say good bye one last time and--"

"That sounds more like a wake," Twilight interjected. Her horn alit as she lifted the picture of the three aliens laughing together. She glanced back up at the five mares standing closely together, waiting for her to speak. "In any case, we've got some work to do..."

Three large mounds of dirt peeked out through the meadow's sea of grass. A space the size of about a hoof mark was between each. At the head of each mound stood chunk of the reflective gray material and one of the bowl like helmets that had been attached to the bulky white suits.

The ponies stood a respectful distance from the foot of the graves. Dirt and dust coated Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie's faces and legs. Both Rarity and Fluttershy carried wreaths made of weeds, daffodils, and dandelions. Twilight Sparkle wore a grimace as she leaned against Rainbow, making no objection to the dirt rubbing into her fur.

"You gonna be alright, sugar cube?" Applejack asked Twilight. The princess nodded weakly.

"Yeah, sorry you had to see that," she said. "I didn't think they'd feel like that through my magic."

"Well, at least I can say I'm not the only pony who threw up today," Rainbow said, inciting a soft chuckle from the group.

"I wish we could have done more," said Rarity, looking woefully at the uneven makeshift graves. She approached and set her flowery rings over the simple markers. Fluttershy followed, placing her wreath around the jagged piece of wall that had peeled off.

"Not much else we could've done, 'less you wanted to make some caskets yourself," Applejack said as she glumly kicked at the grass.

"Digging those things wasn't easy, you know," Rainbow grumbled. "It probably would have been easier with Spike. I think I would have traded my wings for a dragon's tail for that hour," she groaned as she reached out and stretched.

"I'm glad Spike decided to sleep in today. This isn't something I'd want him to see," Twilight declared. "Look, what's done is done, and we did what we could," the princess said, shutting her eyes. "I'm sure they'd understand that we did our best."

A few grunts or hums of affirmation were made in response before silence quickly filled the forest clearing. A soft cool breeze blew by, whistling as it passed. A bird, hidden deep within the trees, released a few haunting notes. The wind's whistle and the bird's song echoed out and over their little ceremony, like a quiet forgotten dirge.

"We should head back to town before ponies start to worry," Twilight said at last. "Does anypony want to say anything before we go?"

Pinkie Pie stepped forward. "Wish we could have gotten to know you better," she said, her voice once again subdued and without its natural spirit. "Maybe I could have even thrown you a party, a big one, to welcome all of you to this planet. Everypony loves my parties, maybe you would have too. Then maybe, maybe we'd become friends, and we'd tell you all about Equestria and this world and you'd tell us about your world and what it's like to explore outer space. I bet it's pretty cool.

"It's not fair," Pinkie suddenly cried. "It's not fair! You all just got here, and I have to say good bye before I even got to say hello, before I even got the chance to know you. It's not fair at all!" Pinkie Pie sniffed and wiped her eyes, smearing her dusty cheeks with tears. "Good bye, whoever you are."

"Whomever," Twilight said. "S-sorry," she quickly apologized as attention was drawn toward her.

"It's okay, Twilight," Pinkie Pie sniffed. She took the handkerchief Rarity offered and blew her nose loudly. "I think I'm ready to go home," she said, smiling, "unless anypony else has anything to say."

"I'd say you did well enough for all of us," Applejack said, grabbing Pinkie's shoulder and giving it a gentle shake. "I sure can't think of anythin' else to say."

"I doubt I could have spoken any better than you did, Pinkie," Rarity praised as she leaned forward and cleaned off the dirt from Pinkie's face.

"You really think so?" Pinkie Pie asked.

Rarity answered with a nod. "Oh absolutely, dear."

"So I guess we're finally ready to head back home," Rainbow said with a yawn. "I'm not much for long good byes anyways, so uh..." The pegasus tapped her front hooves together awkwardly and turned to the dirt mounds. "...bye, I guess. What about you, Fluttershy?" she called out to the yellow pegasus sitting in front of the middle grave.

Fluttershy jumped at the sound of her name. "What? Oh, no," she said, shaking her head. "No, I don't think I have anything to say."

"You sure?" Rainbow asked, tilting her head slightly to the side. "'Cause look like you've got something to say."

"It's just..." Fluttershy sighed. "I'm just a little confused."

"About what, darling?" asked Rarity.

"About why they came here," Fluttershy said.

"It could have been for a dozen reasons," Twilight replied. "Maybe they're just exploring new planets to study. I mean, if we had that sort of technology, wouldn't you take that opportunity? Think of all different amazing things you'd learn," she said excitedly. "New ecologies, new geologies--"

"And all the new friends you could make," Pinkie Pie added.

"Going out into uncharted territory and discovering what's out there definitely does sound pretty awesome," Rainbow Dash said. "Like Daring Do, only way larger."

"But it's so dangerous, Look what happened here," Fluttershy argued, gesturing toward the graves. "They had loved ones back where they came from, and now they'll never get to see them again. They're friends and families might never know what happened. How could anypony or anyone do something so risky?"

Another moment of silence arose as Fluttershy's question was considered. "Sometimes," Twilight began, breaking the silence, "sometimes they just have to. If you'd ask all the royal guards the same thing, a lot of them might say it's to protect Equestria and their families. It's something they have to do, like how the founders of Equestria had to go out and search for a new home, like how we had to use the Elements of Harmony. I..." The princess grew quiet and frowned. "I guess I never really thought about how dangerous our adventures were and what we had to lose until, well..." Twilight's gaze slowly drifted to the buried bodies, and she quickly turned away.

"I think that's enough heavy thinking for one day," Rarity huffed. "Come along now, Ponyville awaits."

Everypony nodded and voiced their agreement, and slowly they moved away from the burial site, throwing an occasional glance over at the graves or at the wreckage within the craters. Conversations slowly broke out between mares, and slowly a sliver of the light-hearted atmosphere from earlier was retained. As Twilight smiled and chatted with the rest of her friends, Fluttershy made her way to her side. "Um, Twilight?" Fluttershy asked.

"Hmm?"

"I just wanted to say, I think I get what you meant," Fluttershy said. "I know what we have to do is sometimes scary and dangerous, but it's still something we have to do, and I'm kind of glad we went through it all together. And, well, if you need me on some other dangerous mission, I just wanted to say I'll do my best. But, um," she added, lowering her head and her gaze, "I think I'd like it better if we didn't have any dangerous adventures for a while or maybe not as many."

"Sorry Fluttershy," Twilight said, embracing the yellow pegasus with her wing. "That's not really up to me, but believe me, I don't like risking any of our lives even when we have to, and if there really was a choice, well, I'd astro-not."

Author's Notes: