Title: Captain Anonymous - Chapter 9 - The Meeting Author: somewritefag Pastebin link: http://pastebin.com/mkbfNe44 First Edit: Sunday 9th of August 2015 10:07:47 AM CDT Last Edit: Last edit on: Sunday 9th of August 2015 12:18:18 PM CDT                                         Captain Anonymous - Chapter 9 - The Meeting -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   >Twilight remains silent for several minutes as you continue to stroke her neck, really digging your fingers into the base of her mane, massaging and scratching it thoroughly, taking an ear between your index finger and thumb and rubbing it thoroughly as you plant another kiss on her forehead at the base of her horn. As the tension in her body eases and she finally begins to relax as a result of your ministrations, she finally speaks up.   >"I'll gather everypony up then," she says, turning to walk away from you.   "I'll be right here whenever you're ready," you reply.   >Once again you're left alone in the castle, without anything to do. You can't get out right now, you just promised Twilight you'd still be here when she got back, though you have no idea how long she'll be gone. You head back to your bedroom, flopping down on the bed with a sigh, resting your hands behind your head and simply staring at the ceiling for a while. It's not long before you’re overcome with boredom. You take a seat at your desk, pulling out some paper, making stupid little doodles before balling it up and tossing it toward a waste bin, repeating this over and over, moving the waste bin further away each time to challenge yourself a little more.   >Finally your eyes come to rest on a pile of electronic components and whatnot, strewn about haphazardly on a tray alongside your radio. A though passes through your mind as you walk over and pick it up: If you smash this stupid thing to bits in front of all of her friends, maybe it'll be proof to them that you really do love her; that you consider your place in the universe to be at her side and nowhere else; that this is home to you now. You nod in silence to yourself, surely such a gesture would earn you some kind of credibility or recognition. Your mind is thoroughly made up, you're going to show them one way or another what Twilight means to you, even if it means completely abandoning the one link you still have to your home, and to your past.   >Another hour or so passes before Twilight finally returns, walking into your room and simply nodding, indicating that all her friends are here now, and waiting for you and her to go talk to them. You pocket the radio without Twilight noticing and walk alongside her to the meeting room. Once there, you take a seat directly next to Twilight, getting as close to her as you can manage, drawing a variety of different looks from the other ponies in the room as you do so. You clasp your hands together and rest them limply on the table in front of you, making eye contact with each pony one by one with a completely neutral expression on your face.   >Twilight takes a deep breath before addressing her friends.   >"I'm sure you're all wondering why I asked you to come. Some of you may already be aware, but I know some of you aren't," she hesitates, "of certain circumstances regarding my personal life."   >The rest of the ponies don't take their eyes off of her as she speaks, their ears perked up in interest. Applejack simply rolls her eyes, Rarity places a hoof over her muzzle in giddy anticipation, both of them already knowing exactly why they're here.   >"Though what I'm about to say is very personal in nature, it's not something I should have kept from my closest friends for so long. We should have had this meeting a long time ago, but I was afraid. Afraid of what you all might think of me. Afraid some of you might even turn your back on me. I let that fear get in the way of the truth for too long, and I apologize to all of you for that. I know each of you well enough by now to know that the bond we all share is strong enough to survive anything, and that none of you would ever let something like this get between us or jeopardize our friendship."   >Twilight rests a hoof on your hands before continuing.   >"I know some of you are still unsure about Anonymous, and that's why you've kept your distance from him for so long. I also know some of you are concerned by our friendship, and how strong it's grown. Take my word for it, trust in me as your friend when I say Anon is no threat to any of us. I haven't been manipulated or coerced in any way by him. We've grown very close since his arrival here," she hesitates again, glancing up and looking into your eyes briefly before continuing, "and that's why I've called you all together."   >She falls silent, finding it difficult to continue. You take her hoof between your hands as a reminder that you're right there at her side, rubbing it gently, encouraging her to continue.   >"I suppose the best way to go about this is to be blunt and not dance around the issue. Anonymous and I... we're... we're... we're in a relationship. A romantic relationship," she looks up at you nearly in tears as she continues, making and maintaining eye contact with you, "what we have has progressed beyond friendship, we're in love with each other. We have been for quite some time now. That's what I wanted to tell you all. That's why we're all here right now."   >Dash speaks up in a harsh tone almost immediately, taking flight and hovering several feet over her seat.   >"What the HAY do you mean 'in love?' you CAN'T be serious, please tell us this is some kind of prank, Twilight... a sick joke... you could have any stallion you want, you know that right? He's a freaking ALIEN for Celestia's sake!"   >You remain calm as you continue holding Twilight's hoof, even as her ears flatten in shame. Rarity quickly speaks up on your behalf.   >"Now Rainbow Dash, while this may be a bit unconventional, if it's what makes Twilight happy, we should support her, regardless of how we may personally feel about the situation. We're her friends, we're the last ponies that should be judging her or making her feel ashamed."   >Applejack is the next to chime in.   >"Rarity it ain't right and you know it. Yeah, we're her friends, and as her friends we also have the responsibility to be honest with her and to protect her from making bad decisions, even when it hurts her feelings."   >Twilight scowls at Applejack.   >"It wasn't a 'decision,' Applejack, I never chose this, it just happened. I don't know how or why, but it happened, and I can't fight it. You can't help who you fall in love with, surely you understand that."   >"Twilight if it were a pony Ah wouldn't care WHO it was, but this is different. Don't you wanna be a mother someday? Settle down and have a family? Have a foal or two? Anonymous can't give you none of that.   >You object quickly.   "Hey, we don't know that for sure, there might be a way. We might be genetically compatible somehow, or we might be able to have foals together using some kind of magical spell. If not, we could adopt a filly or colt, give them a loving home, love them and treat them as our own."   >Applejack grumbles, begrudgingly agreeing to some extent that you're right.   >Twilight chimes in as well, "Applejack, none of us can say for sure what the future holds. All we can do is live in the moment, and right now in this moment, THIS is who I want to be with. IF and WHEN any problems come up, we'll just have to cross those bridges when we come to them."   >Applejack sighs in resignation and shakes her head.   >"Ah guess if this is REALLY what you want, Twilight..." her voice trails off as she looks away in disappointment. There's a long, awkward silence before anyone else speaks up. Pinkie finally says something with a half-hearted smile and her ears laid back.   >"I'm... glad you found a special somepony, Twilight. Just... are you really really really really really REALLY sure he loves you? That's all that matters to me. I don't wanna see you get hurt... BUT hey, if you're sure, you know I'll be there to throw you the best wedding party EVER! Even better than Cadance and Shining Armor's!"   >Twilight becomes flustered and ruffles her feathers at the mention of a wedding.   >Fluttershy also speaks up meekly.   >"Um... I suppose that love really IS the most important thing... I mean... if you think so... I don't know if I would ever... oh... I just don't know what to say. I guess... I guess if you're happy, I'm happy.”   "I DO love Twilight, with all my heart. She's been there for me through a lot, and she's very special to me. I could never hurt her. AND, I'm not going to give her up for anything. Anything at all. Even if every pony in the world was against us, I'd still stand proudly by her side and loudly and unapologetically proclaim my love for her."   >There's a brief pause before you continue.   "As her best friends, I also want you to consider ME your friend. I don't want this ridiculous tension between us any time we make contact with one another. Trust Twilight's judgement, give me a chance, I've been here for a long time, if I was going to hurt any pony I already would have. If you won't give me a chance for my sake, do it for Twilight. If you really want to be there for her, at LEAST make the attempt to accept me. I like all of you, a lot, and can clearly see why you're her best friends. But honestly it hurts me that after all this time we still barely know each other."   >Applejack speaks up again.   >"Talk is cheap, Anon. It's gonna take a lot more than a speech for us to buy what you're tryin' to sell."   "Well, there's one way I can think of to show my intent," you say, pulling the radio from your pocket. You begin tossing it up in the air and catching it, incrementally tossing it higher and higher.   "You all know what this is by now," you say, catching it and tossing it up in the air again, "this device right here is my ONLY chance of ever leaving this planet."   >All of the ponies listen and watch curiously   "EQUESTRIA is my home now. I belong with Twilight, there's no doubt in my mind. She's MINE, and I'm HERS, PERIOD." You begin tossing it high enough that failing to catch it will cause considerable damage. "And to prove to you just how seriously I take our love, I'm going to break this stupid thing, shatter it to pieces. Now if this isn't proof," you toss it as high as you possibly can, fully intending to let it smash into the ground and break into pieces, "then I don't know what i-" you're interrupted by the radio painfully bouncing off of your head, the power switch toggling on as it then slides across the table, coming to rest in the middle.   >Bleep.   >Bleep.   >Bleep.   >Bleep.   >Bleep.   >Bleep.   >You sit there stunned as blood begins to trickle from the top of your head. Twilight rips off a piece of your shirt and uses it to wipe the blood from your face and apply pressure to make the bleeding stop, completely ignoring the radio as she does so. The ponies look at the radio then back to you several times, none of them knowing what to say. Satisfied that the bleeding has stopped, Twilight finally asks about it.   >"Why is it making that noise, Anon? That's the first time I've heard it make that particular noise. Does that mean it's broken now?" Twilight asks as she levitates it back over to you.   >You swallow a lump in your throat.   "It... it's a transponder signal, Twi... it means there's either a Confederate starship in orbit or escape pod, probe, or other piece of Confederate technology nearby..."   >Her eyes widen in surprise and fear.   >"Do you... do you think they've finally come to take you home?" she asks, immediately worrying that she may lose you and trying not to panic.   "I doubt it, they would have made verbal or physical contact with me one way or another by now," you reply, still in shock.   >Dash quickly speaks up. "Well go on then, smash it! If you love Twilight so much then do what you said you were going to do, if Equestria is your home now then it doesn't matter what that thing is. Go on, Anon, break it, show us how much you REALLY love your dear princess!"   >You take the radio in your hand, not moving or saying a word as the rhythmic noise of the transponder signal continues to cut across faint static over the radio. Twilight looks up at you fearfully with her ears laid back.   >"You... you don't have to break it, Anon. I know you love me, and that nothing will ever tear us apart, and that’s all that matters."   >You place the device on the table, turning to give Twilight a reassuring hug, pulling her into your lap as you squeeze her gently.   "Of course we will, Twily," you say to her hesitantly, "but I need to know what this is..." you continue.   >"Ah knew you didn't mean what you were sayin," Applejack interrupts with a snort, "go on, skedaddle, go find your precious... whatever the hay it is, the sooner you leave the better." She hops down from her seat, leaving the room. The rest of her friends slowly begin silently filing out one by one until the two of you are alone together. You sit together wordlessly for nearly an hour, still hugging her tightly as she rubs her head against your chest.   >"Promise me you won't leave," Twilight says at one point, clinging to you tighter.   >You stroke her back and kiss the top of her head.   "I promise I won't leave you my sweet Twily. You're my everything, and I love you with all of my heart, you know that. But Twi, I have to know what this is. I know this is asking a lot of you, and all I can do is promise that I won't hurt you. Will you help me track the source of this signal? We'll search for it together, and deal with whatever it is however we have to whenever we find it."   >You kiss the top of her head again.   "I love you Twilight, I always will. I understand if you don't want to, I won't be upset with you at all."   >There's a brief silence before she replies   >"I can't ask you to give whatever this is up without at least knowing what it is first. Besides, I'm kind of curious myself. As long as I know I'm not going to lose you, then I suppose I can help you find it, if it’s important to you."   >You take your time giving her a long, slow, passionate kiss after she says that to you. When you finally break your embrace you make your way out of the castle together, the radio acting as a compass, allowing you to change direction as the signal grows stronger or weaker, Twilight occasionally flying overhead to scout ahead of you before returning to your side. After nearly two hours of searching, you can make out a small crater surrounded by burnt foliage and soil in the distance.   >"There it is!" Twilight exclaims excitedly, resisting the urge to race ahead of you, instead returning to your side as you pick up your pace, the two of you eventually running toward it together. Whatever it is, it's nearly as large as a shuttle, and there's a door on one side that's badly damaged from the impact. You begin to pull at the door with all your strength, but portions of it have been melted to the body of the object. Twilight's horn glows and she helps you pull as hard as she can. Eventually the two of you manage to peel the door away just enough so that you can slip inside.   >On the inside there are various compartments and readouts, surrounding a central monitor. You toggle a switch to deactivate the transponder signal. As you do, an automated message begins playing on the display. You gasp as you see your former first officer's face as he sits down in front of the display, looking like he's seen far better days, wearing civilian clothing that's singed and torn, hair disheveled, face battered and bruised. You can tell he's on the bridge of some kind of starship, but none of any class that you recognize, the display's resolution is insufficient to make out any of the background details. You and Twilight watch in complete silence as he begins to speak.   >"Captain. If by some miracle you're seeing this message, then we were successful," he turns his head briefly as sparks erupt from a nearby console and the ship shakes violently, using his hand to shield his face before continuing.   >"It also most likely means that I'm dead by now," he continues, "but that's not important."   >"The Confederacy is in danger, captain. Our encounter with that race of... 'ponies' caused a great deal of upheaval and consternation within the Council. Many of them fear that they pose a significant threat to us. Some of them went through a lot of trouble to cover it up but the details of our encounter eventually went public, causing mass protest and demands for answers from civilians as well as other government officials across nearly every planet in the Confederacy."   >He gives another worried glance at a nearby off-screen display before continuing   >"They've begun to split into factions, the admirals commanding each of the fleets are starting to choose sides, loyalties are shifting."   >He hesitates with a look of grave concern on his face.   >"We're on the brink of civil war. No more deep space expedition vessels have been constructed, all of the shipyards in the Confederacy have shifted to battleship and heavy weapons production only, and have doubled their output. The strongest faction is enforcing a strict blockade of that sector, destroying anything and everything that passes through its border. They're also jamming all comms frequencies throughout the quarantine zone with the exception of short-range emergency transponders. Me and some of the rest of our former crew managed to steal one of their new frigates, but they've been hounding us relentlessly since we took possession of the ship. We've been successful in evading them for several weeks now, but we've had a few skirmishes that have taken their toll on the ship. Repairs have been difficult, we have little more than a skeleton crew. I don't know how much longer we'll be able to keep them off our trail. Some of our men managed to discretely make contact with a Karnarian cargo ship and arranged to have this package delivered to you. We never would have made it anywhere near the border ourselves."   >"The Confederacy needs you, Captain. Most of the members of the Council still have a great deal of respect for you, as do the admirals, but part of the cover-up story was that you were killed during the initial encounter. Few of them believe you're even still alive, and the ones that do don't want you coming back here, as you'd pose a threat to their attempted coup."   >"Within this capsule you'll find all the critical components you need to build a small quantum tunneling drive. Assuming you're on friendly terms with the ponies, you're going to need their help in sourcing the rest of the materials you need and constructing a small ship with the capability to leave orbit. We've included all the schematics you'll require, and crammed the computer banks with every last bit of data we could force into them. You're going to need to jump straight to sector Terra, as soon as you're detected leaving the surface and entering orbit of the pony homeworld a warship will be knocking at your door, and I can promise you they won't come bearing gifts."   >He pauses briefly before continuing.   >"It's also important that you know this. If power continues to shift in the direction it has been, that entire world may be in danger. There have been shrill cries from some calling for the invasion and subjugation of that world that are starting to garner attention from people powerful enough to have the capability to answer them. It may be only a matter of time, and if those ponies are a peaceful race as you believed them to be, you need to warn them to begin arming themselves and preparing for an attack. If the way they reacted to our ship is any indication, they'll have the ability to defend themselves, but there will most likely be massive casualties on both sides if those in power here decide to throw everything they've got at them. The ships they're building these days are unlike anything you've ever seen, Captain."   >The ship rocks again violently and an alarm begins sounding. He looks away momentarily before speaking his final words.   >"I have to go now. Good luck and Godspeed, captain."   >The display goes blank and shuts off. Both you and Twilight sit stunned, mouths agape.   >"They wouldn't really do that, would they Anon? Your people, they wouldn't try to harm us would they?"   >You look at Twilight with fear in your eyes.   "I trust my fi--- former First Officer. I have no doubt that everything he said is accurate..." your voice begins to trail off.   >"What are we going to do?" Twilight prods nervously.   "I don't know, Twilight. I really don't know."   >You both sit in quiet contemplation for several minutes, Twilight finally breaking the silence.   >"Well, whatever we do, I think we're going to need help."   "Yeah..." you nod simply