"There is one problem, though," Pinkie thoughtfully pointed out.

"Huh? What would that be, Pinks?" asked Applejack, fiddling with the many gadgets attached to her suit. She paid most of her attention to the shoulder-mounted rifle in particular. Her helmet had a visor that she often liked to flip up and down for the sake of it being retractable, and it also digitally displayed various information such as ammo count, suit health and Flankbook updates.

"Well, if we're going to go look for our friends, where do we start? I mean... We have no idea where we even are!"

"Good question - "

"I have a solution, ma'am," a stallion at the table quickly spoke. "In the middle, there is a Xel'Naga artifact."

"Huh? A Xel-whatnow?" Applejack asked, feeling very much confused. "And the middle of what?"

"The Xel'Naga artifact. You know, the - "

"Is it this?" Pinkie budded in, pointing to an out standing mark at the very center of the map on the table. The mark was a roughly drawn eye shape, the only blue symbol on the map itself. "Come on Applejack, I thought you played the campaign!"

"What campaign?" asked a curious mare officer.

"Er uh, no, Pinkie. But yeah, Ah see that thing-a-ma-jig in the middle there. What does it do?"

"Yeah. I suppose you are unsure of the situation here, newcomer?" the stallion questioned.

"Eh, yeah Ah guess. Um, mind briefin' me on what... Everything?"

"We are stationed in this base as a strategic point between the Zergs and the Protoss, who are stationed in - for some reason - very similar positions throughout the valley. And there is a Xel'Naga artifact in between each base; if one were to approach the artifact, they will gain a sort of mind-omniscience view of the majority of the valley."

"Omni-wha?" Applejack hopelessly asked.

"You know, the ability to see and know everything. Like in a fiction: a third-person perspective is considered omniscient because the viewpoint is from an outward figure! The veil between the audience and environment in the story is called the fourth-wall, which - "

"That's sure to help! Come on, Pinks, let's get a move on before sundown!" Applejack cut the babbling pink pony off, for the safety of the author and readers.

"Wait! It's only going to be you two?" asked the mare at the table.

"Yeah, is something the matter?"

"Uhm, you see, it's placed in the exact middle of all three bases. No-pony's land," the mare told Applejack.

"...So?"

"Come on Applejack, I thought you were good at Ponycraft!"

"Ah keep forgettin' this is a video game, alright!"

------

"So, you're sure you'll be alright?" asked Rainbow, lifting her shades with one of her back-protruding mandibles.

"Yes, I should be fine," responded Fluttershy, squirming slightly.

"Well, okay then. Let's get to it, partner," announced Dash as Rainbow lowered her shades.

"Wait!" spoke the yellow worm.

"Yeah?"

"Maybe our friends are in this... place, too. Maybe you could look for them, while you are out there?"

"Oh, yeah. Of course - but I think the Xel'Naga artifact could help us with that," Dash said, eager to get going.

"Oh, that thing that lets you see a lot, right?"

"Yep."

HURRY UP.

"Shut up!" Dash yelled into the air. The two cyan Zerglings turned away and began to run in the direction their Zerg-instincts pulled them towards.

Running past the many bio-organic Zerg buildings, Rainbow and Dash couldn't help but run their curious eyes over everything. Small groups of Zerg drones ran about while the many Zerg soldiers kept a lookout: flocks of Mutalisks patrolled the skies, groups of spine-shooting Hydralisks were stationed at perimeters and dozens of Zerglings stood ready for a quick charge. But perhaps the most intimidating sight was the occasional behemoth of an Ultralisk; giant Zerg creatures the size of buildings with four massive razor-sharp mandibles at their mouths, which were lined with dozens of sharp teeth and mounted on powerful jaws. Rainbow and Dash held comfort knowing such monstrosities were on their side, but they kept their distance nonetheless.

The last Ultralisk they had seen on their way, however, was a grey-ish colour with two glazed over eyes... Feeding on muffins.

Finally reaching the exit of the base, their goal came into view: the Xel'Naga artifact. Even though it was far off in the distance, they could easily pick it out from where they were standing due to its out of place nature. It appeared to be a lone pillar with runic-like carvings, accompanied by debree made of the same material that floated around the main pillar. It rested atop a lone hill amidst a vast valley, dotted with many thick forests that stood between Rainbow and Dash.

Nodding to each other, the two began to sprint. However, as they left their base, they found that the distinctive purple goo which coated the ground was limited to the base itself. Stepping onto the solid dirt, the two Zerglings found it slightly harder and less comfortable to run. But despite the sudden change of the ground beneath them, they did not stop their efforts.

------

"You know, I used to think this outfit on me was a bit garish, but I've been growing on it... So elegant!" sung the pearly-white unicorn with her distinctive curly purple mane.

"Rarity, I think we have more important things to worry about," said Twilight Sparkle, helplessly following her now leader around the base of the massive Protoss Carrier airship. "You know, like find out what happened to our friends. Let alone, how to get back to our world."

"Oh, I know, dear. But I do support you! I am not one much for, you know, meddling with dimensions."

"I didn't mean for it to happen! I think one of the pinecones flew in front of the beam of energy from my horn, distorting the connection between me and the microwave," Twilight desparately tried to justify the accident.

"Um, well, what exactly was it, that you were trying to do again?" Rarity asked, admitting her obliviousness to the reason Twilight called them all to the library.

"I found a spell that would make the microwave know exactly what you put in it, so it heated it up perfectly well."

"How did that get us into Ponycraft?"

"I don't know!"

"Madams...?" came an ethereal voice from the entrance of the room. A female protoss servant had entered the room.

"Oh, hello," Rarity greeted, bowing her head slowly.

"High Templar Dyn would like to speak to you," the servant spoke, as the High Templar entered the room. This one looked very much like the one who escorted Twilight to Rarity, but instead this one was female.

"Greetings, Rarity. En Taro Tassadar," the High Templar spoke, bowing very slightly as she floated in mid air.

"Oh, uhm. Greetings High Templar Dyn. En Taro Tassadar," Rarity struggled to keep her composure, unused to Protoss customs as she bowed in return.

"I have come to inform you that our scouts have detected activity from the Terrans and the Zergs."

"W-what? Oh my, I should have seen this coming. But, nothing bad's going to happen? They are not attacking, are they?" Rarity began to panic, the gory virtual animations of violence displayed in the video game flashing in her head. "What do we do? WHAT DO WE DO? MASS UP EVERYPONY, MAKE AS MANY CARRIERS AS YOU CAN! No, how many resources do we have?! Maybe we should make Stalkers instead! DO THEY HAVE AIR UNITS? WHAT - "

"RARITY!" Twilight screamed, snapping Rarity out of her fit. "Let her speak!"

"Um... Yes..." High Templar Dyn nervously said. "It appears that each faction has sent out two soldiers, and only two, in the direction of the Xel'Naga artifact. Nothing big, however - two Zerglings and from the Terrans, two footsoldiers."

"That doesn't sound aggressive at all," Twilight wondered. "I wonder what it is they want?"

"Well, that is why I have come to you, Miss Rarity. What do you say we shall do about it?"

"BLOW THEM ALL UP!"

"AHAHAH, Rarity, you are so silly sometimes," Twilight covered up. "Uhh, I say we should do the same? I am her advisor, after all. Right Rarity?"

"Oh... Yes. When she's not sending us to other dimensions against our will, Twilight is a very trustworthy advisor."

"Very well. I will make sure to see you two off with fully charged energy cells," the High Templar turned to leave.

"Um, what?" asked Twilight.

"It was your idea, was it not? Is that not the policy around here - to enact your own contributing ideas?"

"Oh... yes, of course! Ahahah, I can't believe I forgot about that..." Twilight twitched, feeling very empty in the gut. The Templar quickly exited the room.

"WHAT?! We're - I'M going out THERE?! TWIIIIIILIIIIIIIGHT!" Rarity whined, fainting quickly afterwards.

Next Chapter: Chapter 4 Estimated time remaining: 12 Minutes