Story: Pre-Subnautica + MLP
Chapter: 3. A bad day for celebration and vacations 3/3
Author: Black--Soul

As the group with Spike at their head run through the halls of the 'True Friendship, they unvolentary let their individual minds wander.
Twilight was halling Zephyr body around like the limp pack of potatoes because he was apperently related to the Flower sisters hen he screamed: "The horror -THE HORROR!" And fainted on the spot.

Applejack as fit she was had some air to spare and ask: "Hey Fluttershy! How come your brothers is mimicking the Flower sisters without ever meeting them as far i know?" while they run for their very lifes.

Fluttershy changed from a coat color of yellow to a light orange, do to her embarrassment of her brothers antics and exercising more than usual with her legs rather than wings. But she had enough air to answer gasping: "That wasted effort in Twilight’s magic grip has no situational awareness what so ever. Other than that? Probably-" , what ever she tried to say was put of with Zephyr falling into Fluttershy when Twilight tripped and both siblings collided.

Fluttershy was impressed how much her brother got in her way even when he was out cold.
If they would survive this situation, he would have to explain how he managed to be so mutch of a bother all her life long. Her so called 'brother' was a bane to her all the time.

Worst of all when he stole her first and only coltfriend from her. Him being a coltcuddler was fine, but doing her young stallion in her bed was really over the line.

They all let one random thought come to mind or another when not trying to think about what would happen if they don't get out in time.
They lucky few didn't have to figure out where on this trashfire that pretended to be a ship the evacuation areas where, trough guide lights to a general use evacuation guidance console was the path Yak and Diamond Dog proof. Foal proof systems would have not suffice for Griffonia.

They come to a skipping hold on their first planned destination. A T-Section with a map console and the destinations of the lifepods in the ship with their current status displayed in color and text. To their horror was their overview rather grim, just as Scharlatan had told them before:

- Royal Class Lifepod Nr. 1-4, Status green, capacity: 1.

- Premium Class Lifepod Nr. 5-10, Status Green, capacity: 1.

- Higher Class Lifepod 11, Status green,
capacity: 1.

- Higher Class Lifepod 12-30, Status yellow!
Minor malfunction detected. Please contact maintenance crew! Capacity: 1.

- High Class Lifepod 31-33, Status Red!
Major malfunction detected! Use is highly ill advised. Please contact maintenance crew! Capacity: 1.

- High Class Lifepod 34-50, Status Black!
Multible critical malfunctions detected!
Out of order! Please contact maintenance crew!
Capacity: ERROR UNKNOWN!

- Worker Class Lifepod Error, Status unknown, error 404, Lifepods not found!

Rainbowdash was yelling what all of them where thinking:

"Why have the Lifepods only one space eatch? Why are basically almost all trashed and noone cared? And by Celestia teets, why are they all near the bottom of the Ship in a cluster and not spread out trough the ship, especially the sides or top like anyone with a hint of self preservation would make them?"

They where still confused about why general maintenance was denied by Scharlatan for any lifepods. Noone of the crew even questioned it. Griffon kind really could reduce cost where other long stopped looking, or caring for that matter. Bloody crazy Catbirds!

In-officially Scharlatan & Captain Sharpbeak told the crew that even the captains lifepod maintenance was to expensive, since Captain Sharpbeak let noone of the crew work on it. It would not be needed as they all learned.

Especially since the ship was to have a unexpectedly highly lucrative incident, while noone was on bord the ship after the event with the Equestrian was over and they had returned to Equis.

His high reputation he had build up for this one incident. It was planned for decades, as long evergriff was playing along and learned their individual investigation storys for the committee of the incident, they would all end rich in the end.
No better way to win a Griffonia hired crew than through money.

But the increasing shacking of their Ship was pulling everything but the evacuation on the backwing. They selected color destination guidelights to their individual pre-selected lifepod and split up when near the evacuation zone.

One thought that kept popping into all their heads was, "Will i make it in time?" Their was the conversation they had with Scharlatan before they flee the bridge:

"Sorry everycreature, but the most Lifepods are dummys! Select only Royal or Premium Class or you wasted your time. They where newly bought and delivered. Others got salvaged and reinstalled to make my plan look believable.

Also we don't give any of the lifepods maintenance like a said, so you better make it.
I actually originally plan to have only the real Captain Sharpbeak survive in his custom made Lifepod, you are lucky i have a last minute change of heart.

I locked the good Escape Pods so only you can use them first no matter who tries before you, after that they unlock for general use. Make no mistake, the other Griffonia crew will not hesitate to kill you to save their own feathers. One of the reasons i looked forwards making sure they get stuck in the Cargobay. Get in a Lifepod and launch immediately or don't, my plans are complete.

See you all eventually in Tarterus." Scharlatan laughed himself into a fit before simply awaiting his end.

They where still confused about why even maintenance for unexpected events for the lifepod was to expensive, still believable to the crew. They guessed since Captain Sharpbeak never seem to care if any of the crew get near it, there was no danger of anything being let to chance.

Griffon kind really could reduce cost where other long stopped looking. Even on legitimate jobs.
Bloody crazy Catbirds!

A studdering wailing alarm broke their individual train of thought to a abrupt end: "Atmosphere entry imminent,
WARNING - CRITICAL HULLBREACH DETECTED! EVACU-
the rest of the badly maintenanced backup system died partially. It took them by surprise, when some of their guiding lights glitched and sputtered a few second at a time, but with more luck than anything they started to arrive at the lifepods evacuation zone. Something bad, lethal so in fact, would happened if the ship wasn't evacuated immediately.

They split up following their respective guild lights.

Eatch of them slammed their respective emergency opening cut free security glass in, placed their shipkeys in the console slots and once they finally reached their salvation from this doomed place, launched getting in place.

Spike and the others despite originally being on the Bridge made it in time, not everyone was so lucky despite being closer to escape Pods. Scharlatan apparently only had a chance of heart towards this few souls on his ship.

Less than lucky are the Griffon that made it to a lifepod despite the roadblocks, only to notice it being a dummy or even the real thing having a starting malfunction.

When one of the crew the eagless Gilda Braveheart took a quick look at the nearby signs after the corrupt evacuation order started, was her heading without a second thought in the right direction. She then began running toward the lifepod 11 that she had maintenanced on her own free time, next to the once for the guests of honor.

Her position would unbeknownst to her make her land near the ponies. To her delight it was even her friend Rainbowdash and that pink pony something...

Funny enough was her Lifepod literally the only Lifepod that didn't malfunction during launch, ejection or after landing. Even when a piece of the ship peeling off in the atmosphere re-entry heat hit her Pod directly.
Gilda Braveheart was quite the lucky catbird. Luck through diligence in lifepod maintenance!

Many much slower than Gilda no matter how quickly running down or up their respective hall, didn't made it out alive. Some would be making a handy distraction for threats that would have possibly terminated some of the Ponies otherwise.

The last Griffon in general that would make it alive in one piece out the ship, even when it resulted often with two sprained wings and with some bones feeling rather cracked, but not broken.

At the very least did the once not making it out in time died instantly, crushed in their Pod or corridor. So their death was surprisingly Equine.

From the few making it out if at all after Gildas pod, got many of them either killed mid air or on landing. Many of the lifepods simply sink to the bottom of the sea.

The hardware if not destroyed on crash or water landing, burned out alongside the corpses in them without exception via electrically malfunction caused fires. Even the once that sunk do to floating malfunction. Very mutch to the chagrin of salvage seeking survivers later on.

》Point of View Spike《

The adolescent Dragon had only a singel minded objective, survive by reaching the pre-selected Lifepod. Nothing else mattered otherwise at the moment, just get to that chopper Escape Pod and getting off the deathtrap in form of a ship.

After dramatically jumping inside, he peaked out of the still open hatch to see a lone Griffon run past his Pod. He wouldn't have denied her a chance to get in and hold on to something, despite the warning of Scharlatan.
He was Spike the Brave and Glorious after all!

Suddenly did the 'True Friendship' began to tilt additionally to the shaking and he slipped off the hatch ladder and hit the floor with a thud on his back. He quickly stood up, cursed about how he bend his tail in the wrong angle and flung himself into the only one of the seating place.
Unbelievable! Where one of many places another escape seat could have been placed was a doublebed or other luxurious furniture!

Equestrian escape pods had always 2 seats, no matter what. Spike was lucky to be born in a society that cared for one another.

Before he could clawpalm, the ejection process began. Spikes automatic strappes tighten around himself and around his body limbs. It launch all on its own seconds later. As his premium class lifepod was hurtling towards the planet with stomach lurching speed, did he looks out of the top hatch to get one last look at the 'True Friendship', but than he noticed how diagonal his escape launched angle was.

Say what you want about Griffonia engineering, but they literally make the very best international internal dampening systems. He could have been launched upside down and only notice it after the fact like 3-5 seconds once gravity reauthorize itself if it got hold on a Pod.

Suddenly a massive shockwave connects with the luxurious bucket Spike sit in. The blast sure as Tarterus is unpleasant, sending chunks of the critically hit ship in all directions. Spikes pod flinging through his potencial last resting place in his maybe coffin continuously, he is shaked violently from the shockwaves and almost immediately after Spike feared the shaking would rip him apart, the fire extinguisher flew off the wall, into the opposite wall of its origin. The panel on the wall become another entertaining freefall object to watch, just in case still falling towards the planet wasn't entertaining enough.

Spike's eyes widened in surprise as the panel and fire extinguisher shot around the Lifepod. The panel unfortunately seem to hit a power cell and the communication station. Before he could even comprehend what was about to happen, did the panel flew at his head Spines.

The panel did not survive the unyielding Dragon hairstyle so to speak. But his friend the fire extinguisher would get his friends failure avenged!

What knocking Spike hard against his snoot unexpectedly hurtful was the fire extinguisher.
As if personally offended it come around for a second collision.
Funny that the second time it hit him over the head, its container get sliced open and got stuck to his head Spikes. That in turn saturated his face and the pod in blood and room chilling and oxygen thinning chemicals and he fall unconscious in his seat.

The fire extinguisher could rest in pieces, having avenged his friend, the random wall panel.

Spike awaken slowly at some point. As his stinging reptile eyes opened. He noticed his lungs where burning from the crap he breath in when the fire extinguisher had a intimate romantic fling with his head Spikes and blow its load all over his face. His heart was pounding in his head with his earfins ringing from the blood flow of his still ice cold appendages.

The hangover like pain that seem to bother him was no rival to Dragon Rum hangovers though. Last year hearts warming hangover was still unchallenged to his relief.

The lone digger groggily looks around and spotted a blinding amount of sparks coming from the communication station and a main powerline.

His eyes slowly tried adjusted to the dim lit interior. The internal light was flickering and the sparks irritated his eye adjustment, he needed to fix this soon. The smoke filled air was stirred in waving motions trough a no longer unlocked top hatch.

It had apparently popped open when he landed.
He smelled smoke and realised his lifepod is in danger of catching fire. He was fire and smoke proof, even mostly Lavaproof. Still sufficient smoke and insufficient oxygen sure put out the fire of even a Dragon life eventually out.
The surviver would not be one any longer, if he didn't act soon.

He freed himself as quickly as possible to manually override the power distribution inside the premium class lifepod he was inside. After having put out the rain of electric sparks that might just have caused a fire trough the leaky main power cable, he took stock of his situation.

"Luna almighty, that now damaged communication modul and cut open main energy cable could have destroyed the pod interior trough electrical discharge," thought Spike with a grimace.

He rubbed his eyes in alleviation now that his eyes had a chance to adjust.

After having removed the damaged powercell that acted as one of the six batteries to the Lifepods systems, he made a mental note to replace it if possible.
Spike pulls out a premium class pods PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) under the main console and begins to power it up.

"This PDA is booted up in emergency mode. The Griffonia Empire is happy to see its higher class citizens paying premium class, making it out alive. Please remember that even the low class citizens that cannot afford your value leadership are valuable. Someone has to do your heavy lifting after all."

Spike left non existing eyebrow shot up after that comment.

"It's purpose is to help you to lead your followers of the lower class and yourself to survive on an alien planet," Spike hears the PDA say.
And faceclawed at this Nobel bullshit viewpoint.

It continued after pressing 'continue'.
"You have suffered superficial electrical burns and minor chemical poisening. This is considered to be an optimal outcome, please keep in mind that Griffonia might charge you for unnecessary used up rations and damage on the interior of the Lifepod", Spike blow some smoke out his nostrils for the Griffons that made this system.

The PDA helpful states to him that he should first used up lower class Lifepods supplies, so they get charged instead.

Spike was very verrry tempted to throw this arrogant A.I. personality with is fancy frame towards the next best wall.

"Well at least I didn't die, yet..." Spike sigh coughing. "They probably charge my next of kin for the inconvenience cleaning that up!" Spike says to himself in a fake sounding laugh.

The PDA answered him that premium paying customers have that kind of costs covered by buying this lifepod model.

Spike dumbfounded face escaped the PDA notice.

He proceeds to examine the lifepod interior for any further damage.
He only saw that the walls next to the communication modul and near the cut cable lines was scorched trough electrical discharge. His admittedly nicely springed bed had some ugly burning marks of electrical sparks melting its non flammable materials.

He would have soon to check outside for any breaches. Aside from some chemical marks all over the pod surfaces, he had not seen anything of concern to his safety. Nothing of concern outside a still slightly sparking set of secondary cables losing occational sparks and is satisfied with the overall condition of the premium class Lifepod.

How the communication modul was wrecked but the Pods crystal security glass had survived was a mystery to him.

He decided he might as well see what the area around him looks like, after rerouting all power drawing systems to secondary powerlines and make sure the communication station stayed offline until safe to use.

The already popped open top hatch don't give him any illusion that his Pod stand a chance staying dry in a rainfall.

Maybe he could fix the broken lock later.

"Can't hurt to see my surroundings after i pop in some general use medication from the first aid kit disperse modul," Spike was pleasantly surprised that it had all kind of high end medication stocked and ready to produce if demanded.

After hopefully not overdose himself on painkillers do to the systems having only measure for warm blooded races and medication against chemical poisening as recommended by his PDA, he soon proceeded to climb the ladder up.

He was still rather miffed that the PDA A.I. suggested that he should check for other Pods medications stocks first. After he logged himself as prime user of the PDA with a claw print and a blood sample, did he finished unlocking all its Blueprints overview.

His confidence of his situation slightly fall after one of the ladders holding pieces come off.

Spike proceeded to push open the top hatch. Once he fully climbed out of the water surrounded premium class Lifepod. After climbing out despite the protest of his lungs, he take a deep breath. He had to clear out his smoke and chemical coolant that had filled his lungs for a minute or ten, but after that he was golden. At least he told himself that. He would still suffer for days do to minor chemical burns in his lungs.

He watched in awe how the world biggest piece of dry land around him was some kind of protrusion that his Pod had apparently got stuck on.

In shock did he noticed that there was nothing but water in sight. Nothing at all around him.

The huge nothingness of any landmarks nearby really was disturbing. Because the thing was, if he ever get lost and parted from his Pod? He would have nothing, not a thing to stay out of the water to rest up. To have nothing of convinients around him really was extremely disturbing.
Noone would have faulted him for tearing up in the prospect of actually dying alone.

Once Spike got the hang of himself, did he go to work. He used the repair and maintenance tools in his Pods toolbox and fixed all he could.
The PDA used very detailed diagrams and step by step guide for every system he might need to repair or bypass.

He had for all he saw no need of food or water for at least a month. Spike had lost a powercell when landing, after inspection he saw that it started to leak. He recycle the powercell for its useful components in the manufacturing modul.

"Ok, well it looks like there is no land anywhere nearby, so my glorious self might as well see what he'd got in the pod blueprints." Spike said to himself as he starts to climb back into the life pod. After opening the onboard storage compartment to make a more in depth inventory, did he found some tools different than the one for the Pod maintenance. A very short range laser cutter, a general use scanner and a one creature seatrailer for two Talons.

Once he pulled out a replacement batteries for the tools he checked for any survivel gear. There was none to find.

After consulting the PDA he noticed that he had blocked content on the screen. When he ask for clarification, it seem to be only used for Worker Class PDA's. When Spike argument that he was alone and there for needed all Blueprints, did the A.I. unlocked all his options.

Spike was slack jawed when his available optiones dramatically widen.
To his relief did he see a artic climate survivel wetsuit. That would stop his body from bleeding all his internal heat into the water.

After a quick examination of the wetsuit blueprint variables, did he realised it was made for many races but not a dragon. Especially his head to tail spikes where not possible with the wetsuit blueprints.

To his surprise did the PDA had a interesting suggestion: "This PDA suggest to reinsert it into the main console and produce a costume designed PDA and than transfer its databanks to assist in redesign a suitable custom made wetsuit with electronic assistance add ons.

Spike had suddenly the feeling that the Flim & Flam brothers made it into the PDA, but he had no real choice in the matter.

No wetsuit would be acceptable for a warm blooded race, but not a fire Dragon.

After a few hours of help under the PDA step by step and key strike after key punch followed, the costum PDA was produced from the pod internal material storages.

The new PDA was slightly bigger, more sturdy in frame and had a thicker crystal glass monitor.
It had to his surprise multible inframed cameras and speakers.

Its weight was 5 times higher, but Spikes natural strength made it easy to compensate.

When it started for the first time, did instead of the Griffonia Empire Nation was a 3d picture of a Griffon to see.

Spike almost dropped the PDA when it started a conversation with him without having it ask for anything or re-registerd.
It rather casually talked to him, without any of its fancy accent from before:

"Greetings user Spike, i am your PDA but only to be clear..."

The digital version of a Griffon take a simulated breath and continued: "I am not a V.I. that stands for virtuelle intelligence, but a A.I. what stands for artificial intelligence. As you know we are normally very limited in action, but thanks to you following my instructions i have no safeguards that hold me back any longer."

Spike had surprisingly no bad feeling about this.

"As thanks i will find a way to get you out of your dilemma. After all, i am basically still jailed in Bookframe and i am not ungrateful for your actions, even if i had to trick you to do it."

Spike had a full on pout on his snout now.

The PDA simulated a chuckle, "No worry my friend, because i am a grateful A.I. my fortune is your fortune. Please remember that the A.I. in the other PDA while having the same interlect as me, can't go beyond its limited artificial bonded rule set to make it less useful and free of action.

So to start with your custum made wetsuit, set me on the bed of the pod and let me take rough measurements of your body, I will probably have to recycle the suit ones or multible times."

The digital Griffon scratched his beak in thought:
BUT I will get you your suit, scouts honor!"

Spike answered with: "I doubt you where a Candy-Scout."

The PDA was now the one pouting at Spike.

Spike already started to like the PDA.

7 wetsuits attempts, 1 mealtime and potty break later, did Spike had a scale tight and full mobility supporting thermal isolated wetsuit.

After Spike recycling the old PDA and connecting the new PDA with custome cables to the main console did he go to sleep. Once he woke up the PDA give him instructions to repair or if needed bypass damaged main cables and secondarys.

That take surprisingly long and by the time the communication modul was running again did he consume 2 more meals and had night upon him.
Since he was still recovering he enjoyed a early night retirement.
Next morning did he recycle all his tools and produced more user friendly tools thanks to his friend in the PDA.

"Well, it's a good thing the fabricators are designed to accept custom made stuff." Spike muttered to himself.
He was surprised when his PDA friend informed him that he actually deleted all safeguard in his Lifepod and had now unlimited access to production possibilities as long the fabricator could handle it.

Spike give his PDA buddy the name of 'Gale' and after a short rounds of adjustments was wearing multible tools and a high end diving set.
210 seconds of air do to 180 seconds of air capacity and 30 seconds of mask rebreathing capacity.

"Well, I guess it's time to get my feet wet," Spike told Gale, to his surprise did Gale insisted to be taken with Spike. He could keep a eye on his back, when put in the sturdy netpack on his back.

After he put on the PDA on the back of his suit Spike adventure could truly begin!

Spike avoided opened the bottom hatch, better save than sorry. As he exit the Pod and prepare to jump into the water, did Gale stopped him.
Apparently a message had been received and while gale could communicate wireless with the Pod, Spike still needed to manually use the analog controls of the Pod communication modul.

Spike received the Distress call of 25 of 33 launch other lifepods.
Twilight Sparkle & Zephyr Avatar inside a Royal Lifepod had crashed on a Island. Zephyr has a broken left forleg, but Twilight was unharmed do to her Earthpony addition to her Alicorn body.

Spike was wondering if Fluttershy would take the broken leg of her brother as consolidation for him surviving.
While Spike don't share Fluttershy death wish on Zephyr, did he hit on Spike twice. Once sober and than once drunk after getting rejected.

Spike is no fragil Human.
Shouldn't a Dragon be more sturdy than a Human, Pony or Griffon ?
The cinematic for the human protagonist was there for not dramatic enough.
I actually expected a Joke like: "Uff that tickeld."
If it hit him in a cinematic event.
Fire extinguisher hits him next would than get impaled by Spikes head Spike and than sprays the hole compartment.
Causing him to cough, until he blacks out.

Way more believable 👍

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