The Symbiote, Chapter 1; Beginning at the middle

by Mike

It was the same sort of day that Canterlot had seen for the last thousand years. As usual, there was not much wildlife to be found; the city protruded precariously from the sheer face of a mountain after all - generally only the ponies had any desire to reach it. Still, it was warm and sunny, and birds could be heard chirping off in the distance somewhere out of view. On most of the level ground left unoccupied by buildings there was a crowded, colorful open-air market where one could purchase anything from apple fritters to emu eggs, ornate cloth and earthenware to bee pollen and tambourines. The tent-draped market granted the city an appearance both rustic and regal; its sights, sounds and smells blended together into one continuous motion of experience which ebbed and flowed around the tall, decorated buildings just as it had for generations.

Into this scene stepped an unfamiliar figure cloaked in a dark robe.  Without stopping to rest, though the climb into the city was steep, the phantom mixed inconspicuously with the crowds of the market, and drifted cautiously towards Celestia’s palace, stopping here and there as if to take in the scenery. As the mysterious pony approached the large marble structure, the sun became tinged red, attracting the attention of many of Canterlot’s inhabitants… It was as their exclamations took on a worried tone that the robed figure snuck past the distracted guards at the palace entrance.

One of the guards along the palace wall took notice, and calmly stole after the invader, preparing to escort it out of the building. In a peaceful nation like Equestria, the guard had no need to think his target wouldn’t comply, but perhaps he should have: the vigilant sentry chased after the cloak-wearer one second, and the next he chased after nothing at all; the creature had vanished!

Celestia was discussing the logistics of providing goods to the frontier towns with somepony when it happened. “We should provide them with hay in exchange for apples so that…” suddenly; no sound!

Princess Celestia was jarred by the sudden change of pace: it looked as if the pony in front of her were frozen in place – in fact no one else in the room stirred except for herself, as far as she could tell. The sunlight had turned a dim red color, and held no warmth, as it usually did. Celestia pondered about this for a moment, then saw the strange robed intruder appear from the shadows. Needless to say, the princess was startled. Celestia rose and prepared to defend herself if need be, but something familiar about the pony in front of her kept her from being too frightened. She resolved to be ready for anything.

The strange pony stopped halfway up the stairs leading to the throne, and spoke unceremoniously:

“Huh, I guess I didn’t think I would get this far, but okay, here goes…”

“YOU?” Celestia shouted; more in surprise and recognition than in fear. She sank back to a more leisurely posture, and any ghost of doubt disappeared from her face. As she suspected, she did recognize the pony In front of her.

“Yes me. Anyways, I came to ask for a favor… I guess you could also count this as a warning, but anyways…” the cloaked creature trailed off into thought.

Celestia smirked; she wasn’t taking the not-so mysterious stranger too seriously. Frankly she was just glad that she could have a break from her repetitive schedule. “We have a deal: you’re not supposed to leave the Everfree Forest.”

“Well, desperate times call for desperate measures, and besides, you never backed that deal with any real force…” (Let’s just say the pony had a habit of trailing off)

‘Well, that much is true, I guess,’ Celestia thought to herself. “So: desperate measures, warnings? Just what exactly is on your mind?”

“We’re getting off this rock before it all goes to hell.”

This was a cryptic answer, even for Celestia, and she was peeved by the creature’s rudeness. “Well before I do a single thing for you, you’ve got to give me a better explanation than that.”

“Ok, ok: a few days ago the Symbiote sensed that a singularity was approaching this planet- on a collision course, actually- and that doesn’t happen too often. Once per planet I would imagine. Anyways we need a few unassuming ponies to help me gather energy and reset critical systems. Then we were… planning on leaving…” As the mysterious pony finished speaking this time, it shrugged as much as a pony could realistically shrug. (which is not much)

“This planet’s going to be WHAT!?!”

“Destroyed. You may want to start evacuating ponies to the moon. We’ve all got about a week.”

Celestia’s thoughts were jumbled. First, there was an imminent threat to the survival of every living thing she knew; that was shocking to say the least. But similarly shocking was the cloaked pony’s bluntness and apparent lack of interest in Equestria’s survival juxtaposed on its almost whimsical tone. She swore; she’d heard that voice a thousand years ago just as she heard it today; and she would never truly be used to it.

Seeing Celestia so distraught made the shady figure uneasy. “Well… I could power up the graviton manipulator and ride the wormhole rent in space by the destruction of this planet back into the past, then deflect the singularity off course…”

Celestia collected her thoughts and spoke. “I think we both know you don’t need anypony’s help to prepare for something like this. You’re planning on evaluating whether our civilization is worth protecting, aren’t you? “

“Well… pretty much, honestly… You know me, I’m all for protecting this planet, but the minds of the Symbiote are more focused on the goals… they’ll need some convincing.”

Celestia was relieved. She knew exactly who to send to make certain the Symbiote would choose to defend Equestria. “Well why didn’t you say so? Ok, you need ponies to ‘help you’ with something or other. Sure, I can do that. I think we both know how this will end, don’t you?”

“Not exactly sure… I have an idea, but we’ll see… Look Celestia, I’ve known you a long time, and I know you’re perfectly capable of surprising me, but you really need to bring your A-game for this. As I said, you may want to start evacuating to the moon…”

Celestia was caught off guard. “Where’s all this fear coming from? It’s not like you.”

“The Symbiote’s minds have resolved that it is our duty to do what we can to perpetuate our own species… It’s not looking good… Get me those ponies, ok?” The grim-cloaked quadruped promptly galloped out the door.

After a moment, the sunlight became warm and yellow and time began to flow normally again, and Celestia continued her daily routine; forcing the strange conversation and the excitement it had brought into the back of her mind for later, when she’d write a letter to Twilight Sparkle. The pony she’d been talking to before the intruder’s interruption became animated once more.

“… Hay is cheaper and more versatile than apples- they get some surplus cash and some starchy food to keep them in good physical condition; we get the apples for our growing population in Manehattan…”

A Surprised guard ran into the throne room, looked around for a moment, and then left with a dumbfounded expression.

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“Tell me again how you managed to drag me into this ---” Rainbow dash was exasperated: it was a nice day and there were a thousand other places she would rather be than at the CMC’s tree house, watching a terrible stand-up routine and trying to explain to the fillies that they just hadn’t found their calling.

Rarity replied with an emphatic “Oh, I don’t even remember darling...”

This much was true: Rarity knew that she and Rainbow Dash had been tricked into this somehow, but she couldn’t recall the details. Any other day she would have welcomed the chance to instill confidence in the young fillies, but she had deadlines to meet at her boutique, so at the moment she was just quietly going along with the CMC’s antics and hoping they would be done soon. She looked longingly out the window for a minute, as Rainbow Dash had been doing for the last ten.

“Rainbow Dash, ain’t you goin’ to give us some constructive criticism?”

Applebloom looked up at her with manipulative puppy-eyes, but Rainbow Dash wasn’t moved. “No, this sucks. Comedy just doesn’t suit…”

Rarity cut her off, holding her hoof up between Dash and the crusaders. “Now now Rainbow Dash, they’re just fillies, don’t be too harsh to them.”

“What about you Rarity? What did you think of our act?”

“Well, I…” Given enough awkward silence she could have thought up an appropriate response but this time around she didn’t have to answer- Twilight knocked on the door. “I’ll get it!” said Scootaloo.

“Hello there, are Rarity and Rainbow Dash here? Pinkie Pie said they would be.”

“Um, no...” Scootaloo said quickly. Rainbow Dash gave her a harsh glance and she quickly decided to change her story; “I mean yes!” Sweetie Belle giggled at Scootaloo’s sudden trepidation.

“Well that’s good to hear, I have…”

Twilight was cut off by an ecstatic Rainbow Dash. “Ohmygosh Twilight thanks for saving us! LET’S GO!”

“To tell them something…” she narrowed her eyes at the smiling Rainbow Dash for a moment before turning to address the rest, smiling again. “Spike got a letter from Princess Celestia of the most urgent nature. Spiiike! Care to read?!” she yelled out the door in no particular direction.

“I told you already, It’s a long letter; I’ll read it when we’ve got everyone together!” Spike walked into view from behind some shrubs, looking mildly peeved. “And stop assuming I’m going to follow you everywhere: I was actually going to stay at the Sugarcube Corner until I found out…” he zoned out mid-sentence and stared at Rarity, who once again proceeded to ignore him. After snapping out of this brief daydream, Spike changed the subject: “Anyway, nice tree house Applebloom, I like what you’ve done with the place.”

Twilight rolled her eyes at the baby dragon and smiled.

Applebloom smiled humbly. “Aw, it wasn’t that tough, ya just gotta know a thing or two.”

Taking advantage of the few moments of distraction, Rainbow Dash slipped out the door, and waited impatiently at the base of the tree.  Seeing this, Rarity started to make her way to the door as well.

“Well, I guess my work will have to wait then, if it’s for a note from Celestia. Come on, Twilight, we really must be on our way. I don’t want to fall too far behind with Hoity Toity’s orders: he gives good business! Oh, and fillies, keep up the good work, practice makes perfect!”

“But we wanna come too!” The three members of the CMC said in unison, shuffling on over to the door as they did.

“And how do you expect to become great comedians without hard work? ... ”; Twilight stepped over to the doorway and tried to diffuse the situation: “Uh, we could use a favor though. Why don’t you three take a quick break and go tell AppleJack to meet us at Sugarcube Corner – oh, and tell her to some bring apples too.”

“Ok!” the three fillies said again in unison. They left in a hurry; reinvigorated, with a goal in mind.

And so Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, Rainbow Dash and Spike left in the direction of Fluttershy’s cottage.

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Applejack busted through the swinging door of Sugarcube Corner with a powerful kick and ran in. “I came as soon as I heard, is everypony ok?” It was only after she said this that she noticed with some embarrassment that except for the candy coated walls, the startled salesclerk, Mr. Cake, and his wall-eyed customer, Derpy, there was no one else there.

“What in tar-nation... Uh, have you seen Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash an’ the rest?”

“No, can’t say I have…” A smirk appeared on Mr. Cake’s face for a moment, but Applejack missed it. She turned to leave and muttered “Oh, darn it Applebloom…” It was already late afternoon; Applejack wondered whether her little sister had taken too long to find her, and her friends had made their plans and left already.

Applejack was halfway out the door when she thought she heard giggling.

“SURPRISE” Pinkie Pie burst out from behind the counter with a corresponding explosion of streamers and anomalous sound of noisemakers. The other ponies followed her lead; walking out from behind the counter.

“GOT YOU”

“Ya sure did Pinkie.” Applejack said, face re-lit with a smile. Everyone was there; Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Fluttershy.

Twilight Sparkle took the opportunity to explain “It was taking quite a while for you to get here, so we… used the extra time to get all our things ready.”

Rainbow Dash gave AppleJack an annoyed look and floated restlessly about. “We still had enough time left to hide behind the counter and do the whole ‘Pinkie Pie’ routine!”

“Yep, I figured… so are we goin’ somewhere then?”

“Yes we are. Celestia gave us some instructions” Twilight turned to address the group, and Derpy snuck out the door with her daily purchase of muffins. “Spike, everyone’s here now, go on; read that letter!”

“Ok. *ahem*

‘To my most faithful student, Twilight Sparkle, and her friends,’

‘It has come to my attention that, even as I write this letter, the clock ticks toward the end of Equestria as we know it. Despite this I know that we have little to fear, if you take it upon yourselves to go on a mission of dire importance in my stead. You must travel deep within the Everfree Forest, into relatively uncharted territory, and meet up with an old friend of mine.

Time is of the essence, but Knowledge will serve you just as well on this journey, so I will tell you all I know.

Soon after Luna and I created Equestria, a cacophonous fireball fell onto our planet. We assumed it was a meteorite, but something about it just wasn’t right. I left Luna’s side one day and went to see the impact crater I assumed the object would leave behind and found, much to my surprise, that there wasn’t one: there was no massive chunk of metal either, just a strange greenish object. It appeared plantlike, but it looked as if it were both designed and grown, in a way. I approached the object slowly at first, but then decided that it seemed inert. I looked it over, as a passing curiosity; tried using magic, brute force, anything to get a response from it, but all methods failed. It wasn’t buried deeply in the soil and overall it didn’t seem much larger than me, but I found I was unable to lift the object, so I left it there, and returned to my duties. In just under a week, while my attention was diverted, this object sprouted like a seed; creating what we know of today as the Everfree Forest. Luna and I were startled by the hostility and tenacity of this forest, so I again left Equestria to inspect the impact site.

While I was there, I met this ally of mine, the one I’ve asked you all to find, plus a strange pony with a ponderous blue box. I’ll focus on this misadventure of mine: it will be particularly useful to you…’

Twilight interrupted Spike, levitated him onto her saddlebags, and with a slightly anxious voice, said; “You know what everypony? We know which way to go; Spike can keep reading the letter as we walk.”

… The other ponies were quiet for a moment. Perhaps they feared what might lay before them. Most of what had been read seemed fairly benign, but ‘the end of Equestria as we know it’ hung over their heads like a dark cloud. Mr.Cake had closed shop for the day and left at some point while Spike had been reading, so Sugarcube corner seemed deathly quiet. Only the dust in the gleaming rays of sunset stirred…

“Aw yeah this is going to be just like old times!” Rainbow Dash flew about the room, kicking at the air as if confronting the anxiety in the room head-on.

Applejack caught hold of Dash’s tail and brought her back down to earth again, more by instinct than reason. “Don’t get too full-o-yahself now; we hardly know what we’re in for.”

At the thought of something terrible enough to destroy Equestria, Fluttershy had sunk behind the counter; in part to hide, in part to help Rarity organize and decorate the supplies. (A pursuit which merited all of Rarity’s attention, considering her perfectionist tendencies)

It took a few long, quiet minutes, but eventually the ponies gathered their material possessions and mental stamina, and were ready to go. They marched out of the shop, through the bustling, sweet-smelling town, and off in the direction of the Everfree Forest; accompanied by the setting sun, an evening breeze, and a story.

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