Chapter 13.- All systems go!

At least, Twilight thought, Von Braunie seemed sincere about the issue.

- I'm afrrraid I have lost it -he explained, embarrased.

At the hearing of that, while Scootaloo was writing wildly on her notebook, poor Sweetie Belle fainted.

Four days before launch, Twilight had decided to take the Cutie Mark Crusaders to the Cape to finally confront the issue.

- I didn't know that was even possible -intervened Twilight-. What happened? It's because of the keystone?

- I don't know if it's possible orrr not Prrrincess -explained Von Braunie almost mumbling-. Only thing I know is one night I had it, and next morrrning it vas not therrre. I vould aprrreciate not publicity on the matterrr, younglings.

- Don't worry, sir -explained Scootaloo-. We're professionals. Cutie Marks are our thing. But you have to understand this is a first for us! Now... Have you noticed something unnusual? Maybe... You have became crafty at something you weren't before?

- No.

- Maybe you have became clumsier at other things? -asked Sweetie Belle while recovering.

- No.

- Ummhhh - thought out loud Scootaloo-... We knew about replacing Cutie Marks with magic...

- And the Cutie Pox -remembered Apple Bloom-. Nasty thing...

- But nothing like vanishing Cutie Marks! -exclaimed Sweetie-. You sure you didn't cheat to get yours in the first place?

- No! -answered Von Braunie's offended-. I von it vhen I vas a little foal, as anypony else. And now if you excuse me... I have a launch to prrreparrre!

Twilight watched Von Braunie's going back to the launching pad.

- Wow! You call that "diplomacy" Sweetie Belle? -asked angrily Apple Bloom.

- C'mon girls. We have to question Chokorolev -Twilight ordered.

- Well... - Chokorolev smiled awkwardly-. Truz is... I don't have a Cutie Marrrrk.

- You mean... Now...

- I mean all ze time.

Sweetie Belle fainted again.

- You didn't win your Cutie Mark when you were a foal? -asked Apple Bloom stunned.

- Yes, little fillies. You see... In East Equestrrrria is not norrrrmal, so zat is ze rrrreason I use a coat everrrrytime.

- There's nothing wrong with no having a Cutie Mark -pointed Twilight out-. Not here, not in East Equestria neither, Sergei.

- But it isn't normal -added Apple Bloom-. Let's get down to business! How did you know you had to make fireworks in the first place?

Chokorolev scratched his head.

- To be honest -he said-, I have neverrrr done any good firrrreworrrrk. I just was interrrrested in seeing zem going high and zen, coming back. Wizout exploding.

Twilight felt Pinkie Pie's eyes on her... Somewhere... Somehow...

- Wow! -exclaimed Scootaloo-. All your life without a Cutie Mark!

- Normally Cutie Marks come eventually -said Sweetie Belle-. The only reason not to come, as far as we know, is because you are not doing what you are supossed to!

- Trrrruz is when I was a foal -remembered Chokorolev-, I trrrried a lot of zings. When I trrrried making firrrreworrrrks, I knew it was my zing. But I didn't like to watch zem explode, you see?. I underrrrstand it's what zey arrrre supossed to, but I didn't like it. When you came to visit me -he finally added looking to Twilight-, I knew coming with you was ze zing I was supossed to do.

Twlight told the Cutie Mark issue to Rainbow Dash that same night.

- I don't think it's an issue -opined Rainbow Dash-. I know it isn't normal, but I don't see a risk in the mission.

Twilight was saying goodbye to Rainbow at Cape Cannonboneveral. The plan was coordinating everything from Ponyville. From the Cape, only the launch would be supervised. Chokorolev, Von Braunie and Starlight would stay there.

From the villages around the Cape, a good number of ponies would come to see the launch. They have prepared bleachers and seats at a safe distance. Twilight and Rainbow where in one on the steps, alone, only the night and the stars above them.

On the distance, the artificial lights focused on the launcher were brighter than the moon.

- You would say you don't see any risks even if I told you I think the keystone is going to explode! -grunted Twilight.

- To be honest -smiled Rainbow-, I'd have to be sure of that before cancelling.

Twlight smiled back. She was indeed the most stubborn pony she had ever met. After sighing, she informed Rainbow that the Equestria's Geographic Society have requested to carry a special camera inside the capsule: it turned out it was a unique opportunity to map accurately a very big part of Equestria. A feature never attempted before. "You had me at never attempted'", smiled Dash.

- So am I like Featherweight now? -exclaimed Rainbow-. Planetary level!

- You can take the opportunity to photograph the stars too -Twilight proposed-. Fluttershy says it's actually beautiful.

- I guess it is -thought out loud Rainbow. She turned her eyes to Twilight, suprised by the silence-. Wait... Do you think I'm doing this for the sights?

Twilight felt her right eyebrow rising. A lot.

- I thought that was the point all along! -she exclaimed-. You said it was beautiful up there!

- And it is! But not that kind of beautiful! -Rainbow replied.

- Would you mind to elaborate on that? -asked Twilight, confused.

- Maybe when I get back.

Twilight sighed. Again. Rainbow was looking at the launcher with a mix of hope and awe.

- Have you decided the capsule's name at least? -smiled Twilight after shrugging.

- No -confessed Rainbow-. It's a hard choice! It has to be something cool enough! Any ideas?

The launch day finally arrived.

It was a clear morning, both at the Cape and Ponyville. Ponies from all Equestria had heard about the adventure and wanted to share the moment. At the Cape, they filled the bleachers, and the seats, and a meadow nearby. At Ponyville, the ponies that were not involved in the mission, had arrived to the City Hall to see the launch in a magic screen.

The launcher was a magnificent and strange view. The first stage was composed only of stringers an tubes, covered with black and white fabric. The second stage, a very big firework, was ended up by a drop-shaped capsule. Around it, a complicated wooden structure was in charge on keeping everything on site.

Meanwhile inside Twilight's castle, the Cutie Map room have been adapted into a mission control center, with stations (just tables, actually) where Twilight and her friends were trying to coordinate ponies coming and going with parchments, last minute calculations, and weather reports from the pegasi at the Cape.

In order to distinguish the coordinators, Rarity had distributed white shirts among them.

- And a vest for the Flight Director -she smiled to Twilight-. Not the best of designs, I know, but we were in a hurry.

Twilight put on the vest over her shirt. The chocolate glasses Pinkie have given hours ago were long gone. Everypony was eating them altogether with the peanuts Derpy had brought in bowls. Nervous, as a little foal, Doctor Hooves was here and there cheering everypony up.

Twilight thanked Rarity; then, she checked the clock. No more time for doubts, suspicions and missed Cutie Marks. It was time.

- Ok everypony! All systems check prior to launch! -voiced Twilight-. Give me a "go" if everything is alright!

Everypony went silent immediately. Twilight checked the magical communicator before talking to the Cape.

- Launch? -she asked, clearly.

- Go! -said Von Braunie and Chokorolev at once, from the Cape.

- LCOMM!

- Go! -answered Starlight from the Cape.

- Go! -answered Spike from Las Pegasus.

- ELS!

- Go, my dear! -said Rarity.

- Sensors!

- Go high in the sky, Flight! -answered Applejack.

- Trench!

- We... Have... a go... I think... Flight! -exclaimed Fluttershy.

- GNC!

- Go Flight, go already! -hopped Pinkie Pie.

- Astropony!

The comms were silent for a second.

- Before saying 'go', I must inform Flight the capsule's has already a name -answered Rainbow, from the Cape.

- Will it be "Falcon" or "Daring Do"? -smiled Twilight.

- It will be "Friendship" -informed Rainbow-. And I inform "Friendship" is go, Flight!

- You have heard the astropony! Friendship is go! All systems go! We are going for launch! -said Twilight unable to control emotion in her voice-. Launch at the Cape, control is yours! Count down! T minus 15!

- 15! 14! 13! -Matilda started to shout, a chronometer in her hoof-. 12, 11...

The count from ten was shouted by the public, at Ponyville, at the Cape, all over Equestria, breaking their voices up to the sky

When everypony said "one", the keystone finally activated and started to lift the launcher.

And all Equestria hold her breath while seeing the first pony reaching for the outer-space.

(CUE TO MUSIC. END OF CHAPTER)

Edit: I know "Friendship" is maybe cheesy, but it was the same name John Gleen chose for his capsule. All acronyms and systems will be explained in the next chapters.

Edit2: Lots of mistakes corrected! I'll try to finish the next chapter in a week. I hope...