“The Thing,” copyright 1982, belongs to Universal Pictures.

“My Little Pony” and “My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic” belong to Hasbro, Inc. and Lauren Faust.

I make no claims of ownership of either of these intellectual properties. This is a non-profit fan-made fiction.

Last, but not least: reader beware! This fan-fiction is rated M for Adult Content, Adult Language and Graphic Violence. You were warned! =D

-Scriber

======================

In the far, desolate reaches of Equestria, there is a continent; a most inhospitable, arctic environment where only the land’s bravest souls dare explore...and settle. It is a land where temperatures on a mid-summer’s afternoon average somewhere in the ballpark of twenty below zero, with nights colder than the deepest reaches of most ponies’ souls.

Antlertica.

On this very continent, there lay three scientific facilities. On the morning of September sixteenth, 982 C.R. (Celestia’s Reign), those very facilities lay dormant, disconnected and dumbfounded...respectively.

Our story begins with the latter.

A thunderous, earth-shaking explosion rocks the frozen wasteland. Thick columns of snow and pulverized ice are propelled upward, plumes of smoke and soot their nebulous counterparts. From a fair distance, a small team of researchers looked onward, waiting for the dust to settle and the solid ice beneath their talons to stop resonating with the blast.

“Think we broke through to it that time?” a younger-looking griffon asked in their native tongue.

“No way to know for sure ‘till we get down there. Are we all set?” an older griffon male replied in a gruff voice. His question was met with a few murmurs of approval.

Cautiously, the group started toward the blast zone. The going was somewhat tough; the researchers, not entirely used to repeated daily tests of physical endurance, griped and muttered amongst themselves as they maneuvered around pony-sized hunks of ice and turf that had been haphazardly strewn about by the dynamite charge. They turned up the collars of their thick wool coats, shivering against the harsh and relentless antarctic breeze that swept across the lands. In roughly five minutes, the dozen or so griffons stood, silently, on the ledge that their explosive had created, peering into the depths below.

What they saw was neither believable nor terrestrial.

“...y-...you’ve gotta be fucking kidding me.”

-----------------------------------------------------------------

3 Days Later

First Equestrian Antlertic Research Station

0700 hrs.

Twilight Sparkle sighed, satisfied. The boxes were finally unpacked, the equipment was set up, the laborers had been paid and transported back to their settlement...

“Boy, that sure took long enough,” came a voice above her. Craning her neck upwards, there hovered an extremely bored-looking cyan pegasus mare, mane ablaze in a plethora of colors.

An orange earth pony, dressed in a red jacket and a brown cowboy hat set upon her golden mane, stepped forward. “Well, I reckon there was a good amount o’ boxes and such to unpack. Say, Twi’, where’d y’all get all this stuff, anyhow?”

“It’s on loan from the university, Applejack,” the purple unicorn replied. “Remember? The Princess explained it to all of us at the last gala.”

A white unicorn with a vibrant purple mane snorted. “Twilight, darling, please. From what I can recall, our good friend Applejack was far more fixated upon more...pressing matters.”

“Rarity, ah swear to Celestia, if you bring that up one more...I was drunk, ok?! It was an accident, and it ain’t gonna be happenin’ again, got it?”

A pink earth pony materialized from seemingly nowhere just out of everypony’s line of sight, then, somehow hanging upside-down, asked, “Oh, y’mean what she and Princess Luna-”

“AHEM!” Twilight interrupted. “Yes, I’m sure we can all remember what happened at the gala that evening. And, all distractions set aside, I’m sure we can all remember why we’re all here; or is it the case that Princess Celestia’s wishes are to be ignored? Refresh my memory, I can’t exactly remember.” Stunned silence for a moment; then:

“Um...Twilight? That...that was kind of mean...” Fluttershy offered in a barely audible whisper. The purple unicorn mare twitched.

“I’m gonna have’ta agree with ‘Shy, Twilight. That there was a little uncalled for. Are ya’ sure you’re feelin’ all right, sugarcube?”

Twilight sighed. “Girls, look...I’m sorry. You’re right, you’re right - that was a little out of line, even among friends. It’s just...I’m just so stressed! I mean, I’m glad you girls are here with me, and I know you’ll speak up if I start cracking up again-”

“-that’s kinda what we just did, Twilight,” Rainbow Dash interrupted. “No offense or anything.”

“...oh. Oh. Right. That. Um...thanks?”

“Twilight, darling,” Rarity began, “you simply must stop worrying yourself over every single little thing that could or could not go wrong. I’ve seen you quadruple-check a checklist that you had just double-checked to make sure that you triple-checked it in the first place...even with my attention to detail, I must admit that I fail to see one’s unique organized chaos in something like that.”

“You know you can count on us, Twilight!” Pinkie Pie said, cheerily. “Besides, what are friends for?”

“...you’re right, girls. You’re right. I mean, come on...together, we’ve wielded the Elements of Harmony, defeated Nightmare Moon, outsmarted Discord and restored the entire planet from chaos...so how hard could setting up and administrating the most scientifically advanced research facility in the history of Equestria possibly be?”

Silence for a moment; then:

“Oh. Right. That.”

----------------------
1600 hrs

“All right, everypony, welcome! Welcome to the official sanctioning of the First Equestrian Antlertic Research Station! In just a short time, we’ll establish a direct feed with Canterlot. Please, everypony, make yourselves comfortable and help yourselves to the food and drink on the tables just across the room.”

“-ooh! Twilight! Tell them to try the super double-chocolate-frosting cupcakes!”

“...Pinkie, I’m sure they heard you.”

“Heard me what?”

“Ugh. At any rate, we’ll be live with the Princess in just a few minutes, so nopony mingle too far away from the monitors, ok?” There were a few nods of consent, and the group began to disperse throughout the room.

Twilight Sparkle stepped towards her friends, sighing. “Did it sound ok, girls? I didn’t stumble over any lines, did I?”

“Dear, you did marvelously,” Rarity reassured. “Now stop worrying and go mingle with your soon-to-be-co-workers!”

“Mingle?” Twilight deadpanned. “Have you even met me?”

There was a burst of static, and the monitor-embedded speakers crackled to life.

“All right, everypony, connection’s up!” A rather thin pegasus stallion’s voice rang out over the crowd. The monitors began to emit a dull glow, the lamps behind the glass screens warming up momentarily before coming to life. Distorted at first, but quickly gaining resolution a face - warm, loving, gentle. Regal.

“Twilight Sparkle, my most faithful student!” Her voice came clearly through the speakers and washed over the room, bright and full of life. Every pony in the room bowed instinctively.

“Princess!” Twilight replied, rising from the bow. “It’s good to hear your voice, Princess Celestia.”

“It is likewise good to hear yours, Twilight. How are the preparations coming along?”

“Wonderfully! Thanks to those laborers you recommended, we were able to move all the equipment to the labs a few hours ahead of schedule.”

“Ah, yes. The Elk are a hearty folk; a proud friend of the ponies, if not a tad enigmatic in their culinary tastes. Have your Engineers managed to set up the gemstone generator?”

A light blue unicorn with a red and yellow mane stepped forward. “Your highness, the installation went off without a hitch. Power levels are nominal, and as I’m sure you’re already aware, the arctic environment is ideal for low core-temp operation.”

“Excellent, Arcane Fire. Twilight, have you and Arcane Fire been properly introduced?”

“Oh-oh, yes! Yes, we have. We were introduced to one another on the pegasus carriage on the way over.”

“Good, good. Your departments will be working closely with one another in the coming weeks. That, of course, brings me to my main point.” Celestia paused, as if recalling lines of text from memory.

“The First Equestrian Antlertic Research Station is the first of its’ kind. It is equipped with state-of-the-art scientific and magical equipment, a fully stocked kitchen and food storage unit, three unused pegasus carts of varying size and cargo capacity, a magically-heated watchtower with spell-enhanced optical equipment, and yes...it even has a pool.” There were few cheers at that. “The research all of you will be conducting at this station is at the forefront of Equestrian science and magic. You’ll be working in fields that were merely theories on parchment a few short decades ago. You’ll be advancing the impact that the Equstrian race has on the rest of the planet, so do not doubt for even a moment that your work is not important. I am so very, very proud of you ponies; you have committed yourself to a goal greater than yourselves, and you have sacrificed a half year’s time away from your families and homes. Not only do you do a service to Equestria herself...but, ultimately, you do a service to myself as well. That is why I would like to personally thank each and every one of you for agreeing to be a part of this monumental undertaking. Good luck, everypony, and remember - your Princess believes in you.”

Their leader’s words had a profound effect upon all present to hear them; some were moved to tears while others simply grinned with satisfaction, knowing that their purpose was indeed sound. Twilight Sparkle, falling into the latter group of ponies, was just about to turn to her friends and offer some genuinely appreciative words of thanks for agreeing to help her with this project.

“Oh, Twilight?” a voice came from her side. She turned, facing the monitor.

“Yes, Princess?” Twilight replied, taking a few steps toward the console.

“Could I have a few words with you in private, please? You’ve been informed of where the Director’s quarters are, correct?”

“Oh, of course! I’ll activate the monitor in the office once I arrive. Shouldn’t take a minute.”

“Excellent. I shall remain on hold until then.”

Twilight excused herself, turning away from the group of some two dozen ponies chatting amongst themselves in the rather spacious rec room/communications station. As the din of the crowd died around her, she stepped into one of the station’s two long, single-file hallways. On her right, she passed two doors labeled “Genetics Laboratory” and “Arcano-Tech Development Wing.” The facility itself was constructed from hard, insulated metals that had cost a small fortune to import from overseas. It was roughly three times the size of Ponyville’s town hall, if said building were lain end-to-end. Twilight passed an open door on her left, gently whirring machinery emitting the occasional flash of a green LED or two. After passing a few sets of lockers, she rounded a corner and came upon a solid wooden door, the engraved placard reading the words “Twilight Sparkle - Director” in gilded lettering. Horn glowing faintly, she wrapped her magic around the door handle and pushed the heavy door open. It swung inward to a mostly darkened room, the only light lit situated on a neatly organized wooden desk. Again using her magic, Twilight lit a few brand-new candles that she had placed about the room in intervals when unpacking her belongings.

A photograph, sitting in a glass frame on the left-hoof side of the desk, held a picture of an adolescent dragon with purple scales and green spines. Twilight’s heart twanged ever so slightly when her eyes passed over it, already missing her ‘number one assistant.’

“Spike...” she sighed softly, absentmindedly cradling the picture in an outstretched hoof. Even if Spike had wanted to join her and her five friends in Antlertica for six months - which he did - the cold climate simply would not agree with his cold-blooded physiology. Even if he were to remain in the heated facility, she had explained to him, the stress of the pegasus flights towards the newly constructed facility would more than likely be harmful to the young dragonling.

“Twilight? Are you there?” a voice rang out. Twilight jumped slightly, having been shaken from her brief trot down memory lane.

“Princess? Is that you?”

“Indeed, Twilight Sparkle, though all I can see is a chair. Do I have the right connection?”

“Yes, yes of course! Just let me-” Twilight took a few quick steps toward the illuminated monitor situated on the far side of the desk, cursing silently under her breath when she rapped her foreleg rather sharply against the side of the accursed furniture.

“Twilight?” the Princess asked with a touch of concern in her voice as the purple unicorn hastily shuffled into view. “Are you all right? I heard a bump.”

“Fine, Princess. I’m fine. I’m just not used to working in this space yet, that’s all.”

“Don’t worry, my most faithful student,” the alicorn reassured, eyes smiling. “If anypony is up to the task, it’s you. I have the utmost confidence in your organizational and leadership abilities.”

Twilight blushed. “T-thank you, Princess. I won’t let you down, I promise! Now, there was something you wanted to discuss in private, right?”

The alicorn paused, eyes dimming ever so slightly as her voice took on a touch of concern. “That’s what I like about your work ethic, Twilight Sparkle. Always straight down to business, as it were. Yes, Twilight. There is something we need to talk about, and I apologize in advance for what I’m about to ask you to do.”

“Apologize, Princess? What do you mean?”

“What I’m about to tell you cannot be repeated, unless under...extreme circumstances. Not to your co-workers, not to Assistant Director Arcane Fire...not even to your friends, your fellow wielders of the Elements. Do I make myself clear, Twilight Sparkle?” Though the question was addressed as such, Celestia’s tone of voice made it clear that there was to be no misunderstanding.

Twilight gulped. “B-but...not even my friends?”

Celestia nodded, her flowing pastel mane flat and two-dimensional over the small monitor. “Not even your friends. Again, I am sorry, but this is just the way that it has to be.”

The unicorn nodded. “I understand, Princess. I trust you. And if it’s so important, I’ll be sure to honor your wishes and keep it a secret unless under... ‘extreme’ circumstances? What did you mean by that, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“That will be explained shortly. Twilight, are you familiar with the history of this particular end of Equestria?”

“Oh! You mean, like, the geography and history and things like that? Sure, I’ve read dozens of books on the subject!”

“As I was certain you would. Then surely you are familiar with Antlertica’s original inhabitants?”

“You mean the Elk? A largely nomadic people, they’ve settled Antlertica since as far back as...well, as the books I’ve read have recorded, in any event. Since there’s not a whole lot of indigenous plant life, they’re omnivores, and they sometimes hunt the wild animals that inhabit the tundra.”

“Which is why you need a well-stocked armory to ensure the safety of not only this facility, but the lives of all those who dwell within.”

“Right, a well-stocked...hzzaawhat?!”

“An armory, Twilight. A place to store weapons.”

“...w-weapons? Y-mean...do you mean that the native Elk population is...hostile?”

Princess Celestia laughed, a mirthful, mellow sound that made Twilight’s jaw hang open.

“Hostile? Oh, good heavens, no! Why, last I visited the Elken Elder Council, they were most hospitable!”

Twilight let out a breath. “Ok. Right. So the local population is friendly. Well, they seemed friendly enough when we boarded that pegasus carriage-”

“-No, what you’ll need to be worrying about is not the native Elk population...rather, you need to be aware of the native animal population. Polar bears, Ice Serpents, herds of wild Mammoth. That sort of thing.”

“...oh. Right.”

Celestia smirked. “Don’t look so worried, my student. Rest assured, this is only a precaution. The amount of field work that will be required of this facility will be limited - and it’s best to remember that the facility itself was constructed from solid metals, not to mention the fact that your location is rather secluded. The most trouble I anticipate is the occasional passing Ice Serpent or two, but they can be friendly, provided you don’t antagonize them.”

“...and if they aren’t?”

“If they aren’t, the matter is simple; you will log on to your personal console, activate the Security Panel, and enter the passcode ‘Smartypants.’ That passcode will unlock a trap door to a hidden compartment underneath your desk, fully stocked with the latest and most reliable in non-lethal weaponry.”

“Non-lethal?”

“Correct, non-lethal. Some may pack a bit of a wallop, but none have the capacity to take life. It was a...personal touch I gave to the project, I suppose. I had long considered your reaction to an armory, and ultimately decided that this course of action would be the most logical to take. Did I disappoint?”

Twilight stirred, making direct eye contact with the console. “Not in the slightest, Princess. I appreciate you taking my thoughts into consideration. It’s...it’s a relief. Really, it is. I’ve been so stressed these past few days - between the anticipation of the long trip all the way out here and the silent dread that something was going to go wrong during the move-in, I’ve hardly slept a wink!”

“Now Twilight,” the Princess chided, “you and I both remember the last time you allowed your...propensity for expediency get the best of you, do we not?”

Twilight gulped, laughing nervously. “Y-yeah...I mean, yes. Yes, I remember. You make an excellent point, anyhow - I’m just glad I have my friends by my side this time. It’s good to have somepony to confide in when things aren’t going as smoothly as you might have imagined.”

“An excellent point in itself, my faithful student. You’ve learned well.” Twilight beamed. “Well, now that you’ve been made aware of the aspects of the facility that are decidedly ‘less than public knowledge,’ I’ll take my leave. I cannot always guarantee that I will be able to answer immediately - such is life when one rules a kingdom - but should you have any questions or need any advice, please do not hesitate to contact my console in Canterlot directly.”

“Thank you, Princess. I will. And...thank you. Thank you for this opportunity. This is one of the most exciting scientific endeavors I’ve ever had the pleasure to embark upon, and it’s all thanks to you. I won’t let you down, I promise!”

This time, it was the Princess’ turn to beam. “And I am confident that you will deliver amazing results, Twilight Sparkle. Take care, and do remember to keep in touch. Ta-ta!”

“Good night, Princess.”

Another brief crackle, and the monitor fell silent as the glow began to dim. Now that the room was once again darkened, a lingering whiteness hung in front of Twilight’s eyes as her eyes re-adjusted to the low light. She blinked a few times in an attempt to dismiss the troublesome afterimage, allowing herself a moment’s respite in the comfy chair she had hoof-picked for her office. Her body aching, she stretched her weary muscles outward, joints popping and cracking as her overworked limbs each lodged a complaint from being overworked. The day had been long...to be truthful, the past few days had been long, perhaps verging on grueling. The trip from Ponyville was not an undertaking to be scoffed at, not in the slightest - two solid days of carriage by hoof across a vast swath of Equestria and then another three in a series of pegasus carriages that took them over sprawling deserts and glittering ocean waves.

Now that she was finally there, now that she was finally alone for more than five minutes, Twilight Sparkle was able to relax. Glancing to her right, she spied a curtained window on the far side of the room. Collecting a deep breath, she brought herself to her hooves and trotted toward the window, parting the grey cloth from the center with her magic. She gazed outward onto the seemingly never-ending canvas of white which lay before her, virgin and untouched by hooves. A steady breeze swept across the landscape, bringing with it wispy curls of powdered snow and depositing them in zigging and zagging swirls. The sun, a distant glowing orb obfuscated by translucent grey clouds, hung high above horizon, its warm radiant light diffused through the veil.

She glanced at the clock on the desk behind her.

“Hm. Only 4:16...and the sun’s still gonna be out for at least another ten hours,” she remarked aloud to nopony in particular.

“Ten hours?” A shrill, bubbly voice called out to her. Twilight turned, eyes taking in a mass of pink standing in her doorway. “That’s just silly!” Pinkie Pie giggled.

Twilight chuckled in reply. “That’s not just silly, it’s science! You see, the planet isn’t just floating through space on a straight line - even though Celestia raises the sun and Luna raises the moon, the planet itself sits on an axis.”

Pinkie Pie turned her head to the side. “An axis? What’s that?”

“It’s simple, really! Here, let me show you.” Twilight scanned the desktop for something she could use as an example; her eyes landed on a fresh apple, one of the many that had been imported from Sweet Apple Acres at Applejack’s insistence.

“Imagine that this apple is the planet.”

Pinkie Pie nodded eagerly. “Right! So, the planet is an apple. Gotcyha.”

“No, Pinkie, I don’t mean that the actual planet planet is an apple.”

“Well, duh! I mean, that wouldn’t make a whole lot of sense! How would I have been able to farm rocks when I was a filly if there was a gigantic, super-huge apple skin instead of dirt?”

“No, I didn’t mean - never mind. Ok, so, here’s the planet.” Twilight tilted her hoof at an angle, the apple along with it. “The planet sits a little bit to the side, which means that the sun and the moon don’t shine on every square inch of the planet evenly. That, in turn, means that there are certain parts of the planet - like Antlertica - that might get a lot more sun or a lot less moon certain times of the year. Fascinating, isn’t it?” Twilight asked. Pinkie, however, had taken an extreme interest one of the candles Twilight had lit moments ago, giggling absentmindedly as she blew softly on the dancing lit flame.

Twilight sighed. “Ugh, forget it. Why do I even bother?”

“Hm?”

“Were you even paying attention, Pinkie?”

“Right, modified day/night UV distribution due to supra-arctic latitude and seasonal phenomena. Got it!”

“....wha...”

----------------------------
2 km from the Gryphonian Paleontological Society, Antlertican Outpost

2100 hrs

A single dog fled across the tundra.

Illuminated by the muted glow of sunlight, the single, four-legged figure ran purposefully through the frozen terrain, through the biting snow and brutally cold ice. In the distance, a silhouetted form approached, sailing through the bitter air. It passed to the right of an impressive series of mountains and peaks before coming into view unhindered, growing in size as it gained on the dog. The flying cart was relatively small in size, but built for speed; streamlined wood and sleek metal lined its aerodynamically-designed frame, a single gryphon attached to the front of the device by twin strips of fabric. A second occupant sat in the passenger’s compartment, hawk-like eyes fixed on the landscape below.

“Where do you think it got off to?” The pilot yelled back, struggling to keep her voice above the swirling winds that whipped around the cart.

“I see movement up ahead!” The passenger cried out in reply, pointing forward with a wing. Following the gesture, the passenger whirled her head back forward and narrowed her eyes, eventually spying the small, black moving speck below.

“Got you. We got you this time. You’re not getting away again, you...you...thing.”