WARNING: Content of this story may include violence, gore, romance, same gender romance, ponies, references to several video games, and possibly PINKIE PIE! If anypony is offended by any of the content listed above, than please turn back now. You have been warned.
Story:
Terrarian Pony presents...
Subponica
Episode 2
4546B
...
The mission was simple. Send the supplies to an alien planet, while attempting go avoid the civil war that was currently happening. The allies were the Vortans, which Ruby explained were wasp-like creatures, who's enemies were the Agulorians, which were like four armed mantis creatures, who were currently ahead in the war, that is, unless the supplies get to the Vortan Queen and her people on time.
Ruby:" Remember, we're not trying to get into any combat. We're just dropping off supplies and leaving."
Sapphire:" I know, but wouldn't that give a bad impression?"
Ruby:" They only asked for supplies. If they wanted an army, they would have asked for InfiniStar to bring a ship. Besides, I don't think they want our help too badly. The Vortans are a very proud race, but sometimes too proud for their own good."
Sapphire:" Then why not help them, anyways?"
Ruby:" Because they'll take offense in that, then the Agulorians won't be their only enemies."
Sapphire:" That sucks."
Ruby:" I know, but what other choice do we have. We can't help others who don't want to be helped."
...
The life pod's radio began to tell them there was another message, and Sapphire and Ruby listened to it.
Radio:" Playing pre-recorded distress message."
Blake:" This is professor Blake of the Aurora crew Science Division! I'm stranded in life pod 4 and am in dire need of assistance! Something attacked the life pod, the floatation device has malfunctioned, and I am now at least 175 meters deep. My top hatch is blocked, and the bottom is jammed, and I am running low on oxygen. Please help!"
Jesse:" Message corrupted, uploading signal coordinates to PDA."
Sapphire:" Thanks Jesse. We should make O2 tanks."
Ruby:" Who's Jesse?"
Sapphire:" Oh, I just named my PDA Jesse. But we really should make oxygen tanks to go that deep. Hopefully professor Blake is still there."
...
After making Alterra-branded standard O2 tanks, they set off towards the coordinates. It was at least 1352 meters south, but they felt prepared. Sapphire was reluctant to bring Ruby along with her, since she isn't a very fast swimmer, but Ruby reminded her that she is the only current medical pony they had, and that she remembers to check the healing potion fabricator regularly, unlike Sapphire. As they approached, the destination came right under them.
Sapphire:" You stay up here, and I'll go check for life signs."
Ruby:" No way! I-"
Sapphire:" Ruby, that life pod is nearly 200 meters deep. Going past 100 meters without a rebreather is a good way to deplete your oxygen quicker. Let the faster swimmer go on her own."
Ruby:" Fine, but you better come back alive. With or without the professor."
Sapphire:" No matter what, I will live for you."
Sapphire kissed her on the cheek, and dove down towards the sunken life pod. As she descended, she saw she was headed into a ravine. She began to go deeper, and she past 100 meters.
Jesse:" Warning passing 100 meters. Oxygen efficiency decreased."
She saw it was just like the professor said. The top hatch was blocked by one of the walls of the ravine, and when she tried open the bottom hatch, it was jammed shut. She went over to the front side of the life pod and saw a giant gapping hole in it. Whatever attacked the life pod got in, and since there was no professor to be found, she assumed he was gone now. However, she did manage to find an abandoned PDA inside the life pod, along with a healing potion. There was an audio message on the PDA, and she decided to listen to it as she ascended back up to the water's surface, her oxygen depleting quickly.
Recording of Professor Blake:" It's hopeless... (heavy breathing) I've been waiting here for hours and no signs of help. (Intense roaring) Ah yes, and then there's the hostile fauna. If they don't get me, the lack of oxygen will."
Sapphire finally reached the surface, and lifted her mask.
Ruby:" Well?"
Sapphire:" The professor didn't make it. I think something ate him. There was a giant hole in the life pod he was trapped in."
Ruby:" Dang. I was really hoping there were other survivors."
Sapphire:" It's still possible. There are other life pods out there. I know it."
...
Sapphire:" Hey Ruby, I just realized, I forgot to put your PDA contact number in my new PDA. You know... since I misplaced my other one."
Ruby:" Oh right. I could never forget your guilty face after the boss yelled at you."
Sapphire blushed, crossing her hooves, and scrunching her nose as Ruby tapped Sapphire's nose with her hoof.
Ruby:" Boop!"
Sapphire:" Hey Jesse, upload Ruby's PDA number."
Jesse:" Uploading PDA number 100-651-2388 to Jesse. Sending PDA number 100-879-9013 to PDA number 100-651-2388."
...
Sapphire:" Hey Jesse, help me start a log."
Jesse:" Recording..."
Sapphire:" This is Sapphire, passenger of the Aurora crew. The Aurora crash landed on planet 4546B, which is a planet entirely filled with ocean as far as I can see. The reason for this tragidy is unknown at the moment, but our mission was to try and figure what happened to the Pegasee crew 10 years ago. Well, we have not seen any sign of the crew of the Pegasee. When my life pod landed here, I was alone for nearly a day and a half, but the days seem shorter on this planet. Eventually I found my marefriend, Ruby, and we've been surviving together for a few days. It's now day 3 on planet 4546B, and we've already managed to survive a leviathan class predator attack. Night time is approaching now, but we've finally got some scanner devices. We'll be using those tomorrow to research the local flora and fauna."
Sapphire ended the recording, and went to sleep, right next to Ruby, who not to long after, began to lean against her shoulder.
...
The Aurora docked right next to a Vortan warehouse. The Vortans were waiting patiently for the supplies to arrive. The alien creatures in question were very bulky, wasp-like creatures. They seemed to click their insectoid tongues in order to communicate. It was a good thing Captain Katie, a yellow earth pony, with a brown mane, and a cutie mark of a pair of wings, and wearing a captain's uniform was carrying a translation device, specifically programmed to study the pattern of an alien language by simply hearing it, and interpreting what the alien is saying by spelling it out on the screen in Ponish. In this case, the Vortana speak using a certain number of tongue clicks, seperating each set of clicks to make a sentence, sort of like morse code, but slightly different in context. As they approached the Vortan queen, one of the royal guards began clicking his tongue. As he did so, words appeared on the screen of the translation device.
Vortan royal guard:" Our queen wishes to speak with your group leader."
Katie:" That would be me. I'm acting captain of the Aurora crew."
Vortan royal guard:" You may proceed. No weapons. Approach with caution."
Katie:" Very well."
Katie began to walk towards the queen, who was slightly larger, and bulkier than the rest of her people. The captain bowed her head to her before speaking.
Katie:" Queen Ezpica. Your highness. My crew brings supplies, to aid you in this tragic war between yourself and the Agulorians. I hope this fight brings you good fortune."
Ezpica:" Your gifts will come in handy my friend. We will use them to end this war once and for all. As a sign of gratitude, I bring a gift of my own."
Queen Ezpica motioned for her servants to bring over a gold, Vortan dagger, which took the shape of a curved spike.
Katie:" We will humbly accept this gift, dear queen. Thank you."
...
The next morning, Sapphire woke up to see Ruby sleeping in her lap like a puppy. She blushed bright red, trying not to move as to not ruin the sight.
Sapphire: (Sweet Celestia, she's so cute in this position! Should I wake her? Or I could just let her stay there for a while longer?) "No, as nice as that sounds, we got work to do."
Sapphire began to gently shake Ruby's shoulder with a hoof.
Sapphire:" Hey Rubes, time to wake up. Ruby, rise and shine."
Ruby's eyes began to open, and she let out a long yawn, as she began to stretch across Sapphire's lap. She then blushed seeing the position she was in.
Ruby:" O-oh. Hey Sapphire. I-is this uncomfortable?"
Sapphire:" No, heh. It's actually kinda nice. But as much as would love to have you lie in my lap all day, purring like a kitten, we're still stranded on an ocean planet with very little amount of resources. I also want to research some of the local wildlife."
Ruby:" That sounds lovely. Did you bring your waterproof camera as well?"
Sapphire:" No, we aren't allowed. But we do have a camera on our PDAs. We can take pictures with those."
Ruby:" Oh yeah. Who would have thought that such a small device would have so many functions?"
Sapphire:" Right?"
...
The two of them then went out. Sapphire found another peeper, and decided to scan it. Scanning took a little long since it was an indigenous life form, though. She could only imagine what it would take to scan a leviathan class fauna. Now wouldn't that be a joy ride?
Sapphire:" Hey Ruby! I found a fragment for a seaglide! We can use the scanner device to make a blueprint from it's salvage."
Ruby:" That's a bit concerning. If it's made by the same company as our PDAs, shouldn't that blueprint already be in our PDA's database?"
Sapphire:" This is an alien planet, remember? I had to calebrate my PDA to scan the planet's materials to make a different blueprint from the original."
Ruby:" I mean, I guess that makes sense. I didn't know you were that tech-savvy."
Sapphire:" I got a part of the schematics for the sea glide, but the seaglide itself is so damaged, my PDA needs more info to go off of. I need more fragments to scan."
Ruby:" Well, let's..."
Jesse:" 30 seconds."
Sapphire:" Right, let's head up for air."
...
Eventually, they found another seaglide fragment to scan, and their PDAs made a full blueprint.
Ruby:" Let's see, we need... a battery."
Sapphire:" Check."
Ruby:" Lubricant."
Sapphire:" Check."
Ruby:" Copper wire."
Sapphire:" Copper wire... uh... I think we need more copper."
Ruby:" Last ingredient is titanium. So it looks like all we need is copper wire."
Sapphire:" How many copper ores is that?"
Ruby:" Just two for each of us."
Sapphire:" Be right back."
...
Sapphire came back with four copper ores, and some garyfish. Ruby cringed at that.
Ruby:" I hate eating fish. It's unnatural, and it feels like murder."
Sapphire:" I know, but this is survival. There aren't enough edible plants around, and we need them for materials."
Ruby:" *Sigh* I know. I'm just a bit cranky, I want to go home."
Sapphire:" Me too."
Ruby:" I wish you didn't have to be stuck here with me."
Sapphire:" What do you mean?"
Ruby:" I told you this job was dangerous, but you wanted to come anyways."
Sapphire:" I needed a job, Ruby. I couldn't find anywhere else."
Ruby:" You didn't need a job for me to love you, Sapphire!"
Sapphire:" Okay, okay! Listen..."
Sapphire hung her head low.
Sapphire:" I didn't get fired."
Ruby:" Wh-what?"
Sapphire:" I didn't get fired from the coffee shop, okay! I... I quite."
Ruby:" B-but Sapphire... why? I thought you loved that job. I thought coffee and swimming were really important to you."
Sapphire:" They were... but, you're important to me, too."
Ruby scowled at her.
Ruby:" What are you saying? That you only quite because you wanted to be with to me at my job?"
Sapphire:" No. I mean, I did, but that's not the reason."
Ruby:" Then what was the reason?"
Ruby was now crossing her front hooves.
Sapphire:" I wanted to protect you."
Ruby's gaze softened thoughtfully. She should have known Sapphire had worried for her.
Sapphire:" You have such a dangerous position, going into space, talking to people on different planets. I wanted to be there to save you if anything went wrong. I gave up something I love for somepony I love even more. I made a vow that I would never let any harm come to you. If not for me, that reaper would have killed you, and at that moment... I..."
Ruby saw a tear escape the blue pony's eye.
Sapphire:" I was scared that I would lose you. I was so scared, I rushed over as fast I could, hoping that whatever happened there was a chance for me to rescue you. I knew that whatever I did, I couldn't let you down."
Tears began to stream from her eyes as Ruby sat on the other side of the life pod quietly.
Ruby:" I-I never realized you really cared that much for me."
Sapphire:" I would give anything to keep you alive. I know it's selfish, but I can't help it. I made a promise to you. As long as you live on, I can live on knowing that I am fulfilling that promise."
Ruby smiled slightly.
Ruby:" Heh... I've always known you to take a promise so seriously."
Ruby slowly walked over to Sapphire's side, and sat down to hold her. Ruby nuzzled her marefriend's cheek with hers, and they just sat there, together.
...
Ponies were unloading the cargo off of the Aurora now, using the new prawn suit vehicles that Simon invented. Some ponies, however, were getting agitated over the complex controls of the prawn suits, and one of the workers accidentally damaged the exterior of his mech.
Simon:" Hey! Those prawn suits are hard to create! Be! Careful! Amateurs."
Worker 1:" This isn't as easy as you made it sound!"
Simon:" Perhaps you weren't paying very good attention when I was showing you, now were you?"
Worker 2:" Put a sock in it, Simon! You're always worried about your precious machines."
Simon:" Oh yeah, you spend twenty four hours a day for five days trying to simply draw a schematic, and then spend eight days building it and see how you like it!"
Sapphire:" Chill Si. You're getting worked up over nothing."
Simon:" Ponies today just don't appreciate the art of mechanics."
Suddenly, there was a loud, screeching sound coming from Queen Ezpica, alerting everypony and every Vortan to see what she was screeching about. The Agulorians were here, and they were here to assassinate the queen.
Katie:" They're heading for the queen!"
Some ponies, and some of the prawn suit operators came aid, but five Agulorians blocked their path. The queen and the captain were trapped on the other side with all the Agulorians, and barely any troops to protect them. One of the prawn operators, Clover, a green earth pony mare, with a dark grey mane, and a cutie mark of a shield, stepped forward with her prawn suit.
Clover:" Are you kidding? Lemme show you losers how overpowered technology like this works!"
Simon:" W-wait a minute! Those prawn suits aren't yet ready for combat use!"
Clover threw a punch at one of the Agulorians, whom had caught the flying claw arm before impact, so she aimed lower, landing a painful blow. The mantis-like alien screamed, as it's brothers were being attacked as well. Clover smacked it in the face, and it collapsed on the ground. One of the Agulorians came directly towards the queen, smacking away her guards with ease. He raised his sharp spear, and threw it towards Queen Ezpsica. Clover caught it with the claw arm, just before it reached the queen, and threw it right back at it's owner, killing him in a single blow.
Clover:" Sorry your highness, I understand you have your pride and all, but we protect allies at any cost."
Some of the larger, bulkier Agulorians began to attack Clover now, and she became overrun.
Clover:" Captain! You and the queen get to safety! We and the Vortans will try to beat them off."
Katie:" Those aren't your orders!"
Clover:" I don't care! Get to safety!"
One of the Agulorians managed to punch through the enamled glass protecting Clover inside the mech, and grabbed her.
Simon:" Clover, no!"
Simon threw his survival knife at the mantis creature's eye, and it screamed, dropping Clover. Simon went over and caught her in his hooves.
Clover:" S-simon?"
Simon:" You stupid girl! You and I are going to have harsh words later about that mech! Now come along!"
Clover:" I won't retreat!"
Katie:" That is an order Clover! The Vortans are winning because of you anyways."
Clover:" Fine!"
...
In the middle of the night, Jesse had informed the two mares that a signal had been found. Sapphire woke up to hear it. A male voice came through.
???:" This is Morning Rise, of trading ship Lunaray. Aurora, do you read? Over. Still nothing. These Alterra ships. They run out of engine grease, they send an SOS: you offer to help, they don't pick up. Aurora, I'm on the far side of the system, it's going to take more than a week to reach your position, do you still need our assistance? Over. I'll try them again tomorrow. See what the long-range scans pick up in the meantime. Dang charter's going to have us wasting our profit margin running errands for Alterra."
Sapphire ran over to wake up Ruby not even halfway through the message. They were surprised that a rescue ship was coming.
Ruby:" I can't believe it! We might even finally get off this planet!"
Sapphire:" I can't wait for us to get back home!"
Ruby:" It's official. When we get back there, we're taking a looooong vacation."
Sapphire:" Definitely!"
Jesse:" Distress signal found."
Sapphire:" Another message? Maybe more survivors!"
Ruby:" Sounds like we're becoming pretty popular."
They both listened to the message.
Radio:" Incoming distress message from high-priority passenger --Katie Long. I said Katie! Why do I have to record this anyways?-- Patching in message."
Katie:" This is Captain Katie Long of the Aurora crew. I'm in life pod 12, with two other passengers, Clover and Simon. We are doing everything we can to survive. There is... water, and creatures everywhere. Our life pod is afloat, for now, but underneath us seem to be some aggressive fauna. We're thinking of setting up near a nearby island, just west of here, but we are hoping to catch more survivors before we go, so we have better chance of getting there. Please, if you can hear this, send help. Captain Long out."
Sapphire:" Bleh, Simon and Clover, those goofballs again."
Ruby:" Yeah, but did you hear that? Captain Long is alive. We have to go after her. She can help us survive long enough until the Lunaray gets here."
Sapphire:" Yeah, I guess you're right. Come on, we should be able to catch them if we go now."
Ruby:" But it's the middle of the night."
Sapphire:" We can craft the seaglides to swim faster. They should have flashlights built into them, too."
Ruby:" Y-yeah. Okay."
After making the seaglides using the fabricator, they departed from the life pod.
...
When they got close enough to see the life pod, all they saw was a wreckage of it. The life pod's floatation device was inoperable, and the hull was damaged, and there was a giant gaping hole in it, just like the last one, except this time, there was a body. Captain Long's. Ruby gasped, and hid her face in Sapphire's chest. There was fresh blood floating around the body, and it seemed like the captain had a leg wound, as well as a very large wound to the chest. Sapphire went closer to examine the body, as Ruby went to the surface so she didn't have to look at the gruesome scene. Sapphire saw the captain's PDA, which had a recording on it. She took the captain's hat, and placed it in her waterproof bag, then listened to the recording.
(Playing recording)
Clover:" We aren't leaving you here, captain."
Katie:" You have to. I won't survive, even with these healing potions. Spare them for yourselves. Head to the island we saw."
Clover:" But--"
Simon:" This isn't up for debate. We're going."
Clover:" No! Not without the captain!"
Katie:" You have tremendous loyalty, Clover. I'm sorry I've never commended you on it before, but please, just this once. Listen to me, and go. That's an order."
Clover:" I-I'm sorry captain... I have failed you."
Katie:" No Clover. You have enlightened me."
Simon:" Clover... let's go."
Clover:" You really think it'll carry two of us?"
Simon:" Your regular seaglide tows a mass of 80kg at over 30km/h. The power cell I rigged to this one should double that."
Clover:" You think there's something out there faster?"
Simon:" Oh, sure. And that's assuming it doesn't overload three meters from the lifepod."
Clover :" You're calm about this."
Simon:" I'm seeing the engineering problem. If I stop seeing the maths, I'll be terrified."
(Recording stop)
Sapphire reached the surface of the water, and saw Ruby lofting about. She placed a hoof on her shoulder.
Sapphire:" Hey, are you alright?"
Ruby:" Y-yeah..."
Sapphire:" Katie said there is an island to the west. Sun's rising. We should check it out, maybe Simon and Clover are there."
Ruby:" Okay."
TO BE CONTINUED...