"As we continue to bring the base to full readiness, we've made some innovative advances in defense magic and technology. Working with Commander Sparkle, we developed a unique shield designed to prevent anything from rematerializing while not hindering the Stargate in any way. Using Commander Sparkle's calculations, this shield should prevent the Tlak'khan from launching any further attacks on Equus via Stargate in the future."

-Excerpt of a technical report sent to Princess Celestia

"Yea... my calculations... I did most of the work!"

-Twilight Sparkle's scribbled margin notes

"Hehe... Those Tlak'khan were bugs on a windshield..."

-Sunset Shimmer's scribbled margin notes

Chapter 6

A Bigger Galaxy

Firestar Base

Stargate Initiative Headquarters, Cascade Mountains

Equestria

Twilight went over Sunset's report for a third time. The idea that Ikana wasn't that different from Equus in terms of environment was amazing! Similar flora, breathable atmosphere... scientists would be studying this for years! And learning more about the economy thanks to Applejack's observations was a bonus as well. Observations that were backed up by Priestess Kora's first hand knowledge.

Speaking of Kora, Twilight had managed to sit down for a long conversation with the Ikana woman, and was able to learn quite a bit about the threat they faced. The Tlak'khan Empire was MUCH bigger than she anticipated, which made her worry. How could a single planet stand against an Empire that spans many worlds?

Still... they now had a way to bring teams home, a larger selection of planets to gate to, knowledge of the local economy, and... a means to translate alien languages. Kora had agreed to teach the Translator Spell to every Unicorn participating in offworld expeditions, and even to Twilight herself. Already the Stargate Initiative was paying off. Although...

There was still the fact that Rainbow Dash was down in the Infirmary.

During the escape from Ikana, a lucky shot struck her in the side, just under a wing. The dragonscale vest was able to take the hit, but according to Rainbow Dash, it felt like she got bucked by an angry Applejack. Which meant that while the energy was dissipated by the enchantment, there was still some significant force behind the Staff Blast. Other than a few singed feathers, the medical staff determined that Rainbow Dash had a cracked rib. She'd live. And with Zecora's healing brews, she'd be back on her hooves in a few days.

For now, Twilight decided not to send any more teams offworld until they had everything ready here at home. That meant more fortification of the Gateroom, a means to have EG Teams identify themselves so they will lower the shield, and... figure out their next move.

Daring Do bit her lip as she stood in the doorway of the Infirmary. Just as Twilight had said, Rainbow Dash had returned from that mission to SP-002. What was unexpected was the fact that she had been shot in the process. She wanted to go and comfort her, but she didn't know how Rainbow Dash would react. Would she accept her? Would her image of her be shattered, thus driving her away?

Fluttershy walked up to her, wearing her SGI issue lab coat, and rested a wing on her shoulder.

"Are you alright?" the timid Pegasus asked.

"Got a lot going through my head," Daring admitted. "How's Rainbow Dash?"

"Thankfully she'll be fine. Zecora's Zebra Healing Potions are helping, but... Rainbow's not exactly fond of the flavor."

Daring Do laughed. She herself had had to use a Healing Brew one time during her adventures. While they were just as potent as any healing spell, the taste left something to be desired. Taking a deep breath, Daring decided now was the time. She had to face her fear. As soon as Fluttershy retracted her wing, Daring walked over to Rainbow Dash. The athletic mare was reading a Daring Do book of all things, which made her resolve waver. She desperately wanted to tell her, but at the same time she didn't want to shatter Rainbow Dash's image of her. How could she accept that the adventurous, witty, confident archaeologist was her mother, and had been scared to death about what would happen if her enemies discovered the truth? Well... that and the fact that Daring was scared of what would happen to her daughter if she tried to raise her.

"Please tell me I don't have to drink another glass of that yuck?" Rainbow Dash asked without looking up from her book. Daring couldn't help but smile before raising a hoof and gently pushing the book down.

"Yea... Healing Potions aren't exactly pleasant, but they get the job done," she replied before taking a seat next to the bed.

"You should have seen me in action!" Rainbow Dash said, lighting up in the presence of her hero. "I distracted three Tlak'khan to help rescue the Ikana. Grabbed a wild storm cloud and used it against a larger group of Tlak'khan..."

"And got shot."

"Yeeeaaa... I got shot. But at least the armor held."

Daring sighed and closed her eyes. It was now or never.

"Rainbow Dash... I have something I need to tell you."

"You gonna write another book?"

"No. Well... yes... eventually. But... its... more important than that. And... personal."

Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow. What was going on with her idol? She's supposed to be this awesome, confident mare! What shocked her was when Daring actually asked about her mother. Admittedly Rainbow Dash didn't know much, if anything. Only that she had been a Weather Mare. For a moment Daring seemed to consider her next words.

"Well... I guess it makes sense he would say something," she sighed.

"What do you mean?"

"You're mother was not a Weather Mare."

"Did... did you know my mother?"

"Sorta. You see... I didn't know your mother. I... I am your mother."

Pinkie Pie was happily baking a cake in the biggest kitchen this side of Canterlot, humming a random tune when...

"WHAT?!"

The whole base shook. The sound even made Pinkie jump, her main and tail actually standing on end in shock.

"That... sounded like Rainbow Dash!" Pinkie said after recovering.

She expected some kind of reaction. Just... not like that. Daring closed her eyes and turned away.

"Its true," she said. "I... I didn't want to put you in any danger after you were born and... I... I was afraid and..."

Rainbow Dash just looked at Daring Do with eyes the size of dinner plates. This... was the biggest bombshell. Ever. Of all time. Daring Do, adventurer extraordinaire, archaeological genius... was her mother. After a moment to reboot her brain, Rainbow Dash reached over and patted Daring Do on the shoulder.

"I... I think I understand why," she said. "I mean... with all the dangers you faced... if somepony like Caballeron found out about me, he'd use me against you. But why didn't you tell me?"

"When we first met, I didn't know," Daring admitted. "But over time... a mother knows her child. And... I... I didn't want to ruin your image of me. You were happy and... I didn't want to get in the way."

Rainbow Dash looked Daring Do in the eye. Now that she really got a good look... what her father said about her was true. She did have her mother's eyes. It was like looking into a mirror in a way. With a wince, Rainbow Dash pulled Daring Do into a hug. The older mare blinked in surprise, but after a moment she relaxed and embraced her daughter. When they broke the hug, Daring Do felt better knowing that Rainbow Dash wasn't going to reject her.

"So... you found the Stargate in Saddle Arabia huh?"

"Well... I was only a student at the time, working under my old teacher."

"Dashing rogue with a fedora?"

"No... it was... well... Caballeron."

"No... way..."

"Well... he wasn't always a villain. But the reason he and I are enemies is because I was the one who discovered him smuggling priceless artifacts and turned him in."

"I... have the most awesome mother ever. You just got twenty percent cooler!"

After writing what was most likely the least professional mission report there ever was, Sunset Shimmer sat there looking at the letter she was trying to write. With everything that has happened, she felt it was a good idea to mend some fences she left broken when she basically exiled herself to the Human World. While it wasn't a letter to Celestia... it was still a very important one that scared her to death. She had some music she brought back with her from the Human World playing on a modified iPod she owned, currently listening to one particular track from the movie Pacific Rim, and remembering how she had to twist the arms of a couple of her friends to even try to watch it one time. In the end, they all enjoyed it, even Fluttershy. Even though the timid girl spent most of the movie hidden under a blanket because the Kaiju scared her.

"We have chosen not only to believe in ourselves, but in each other. Today there is not a man nor woman in here that shall stand alone. Not today. Today we face the monsters that are at our door and bring the fight to them!" she said to herself as she looked at her uniform draped over a nearby chair in her room, the SGI patch visible thanks to the way she just tossed it. The lines were from one of the two movie speeches she actually liked. The other was the powerful speech from Independence Day that still brought chills to her even now.

"Celestia... why is this so hard?" she sighed as she returned to her letter. Before she could try to write anything else there was a knock at her door. Using her magic, she opened the door, and found Applejack on the other side. With a smile, Sunset motioned for the Earth Pony to come in.

"What'cha workin' on?" the farmer asked.

"Its... actually a letter. To my... parents," Sunset admitted. "I kinda... made a mess of things when I originally left and... with this war with the Tlak'khan I..."

"Wanted t' set thangs right?"

"Yea."

Applejack nodded as she took her hat off and pulled up a seat.

"Ah understand," she said. "Yer worried somethin' will happen t' ya, and don't want th' last thang they remember about ya bein' an argument or whatever."

Sunset smiled and nodded before returning to her letter and writing some more.

"I want this to go out with the next batch of mail," she said. "I just... I don't even know if they're still angry or... well... anything. I haven't had any contact with my family for years."

"Ah'm sure they'll understand, especially when they hear ya turned yer life around," Applejack said with a confident look on her face. "Anyways... Vinyl Scratch wanted t' meet us down in the Cafeteria fer lunch. Rainbow'd join us if she wasn't still recoverin'."

"Yea. Sure. Just give me a sec to finish up and I'll walk with you."

After a moment, Sunset finished and looked over the letter.

Dear Mom and Dad,

I know its been a long time since you heard anything from me... or about me for that matter.

I just wanted you to know that I'm alright, and... that I managed to turn my life around for the better with the help of some friends I made in my travels. One of which asked me to come back to Equestria to help with something major. I can't really go into too many details, but I can say that it is important and could make a difference in a lot of lives.

I know I wasn't always the best daughter, but... even when I was deep in that dark hole I dug myself into... deep down I still loved you both, and... I hope you can forgive me. And hopefully I'll be able to come out to see you when I get some leave.

You're probably wondering about my choice of words now. Well... I joined the Royal Guard on request of my friend, Princess Twilight Sparkle. She needed my experience for something and... well... I jumped at the chance to help. Its dangerous, but in the end knowing that what I do will protect my home and family means a lot to me.

Your daughter,

Sunset Shimmer

With a nod, Sunset slipped the finished letter into an envelope to go out in the mail before closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. After returning from Ikana, Twilight had tried to teach her that calming technique Cadence taught her. Sunset had to admit, even just the breathing helped to relax a bit. Although she had noticed Twilight using it a lot before and after EG-1 went through the Stargate.

"Well... that's done," Sunset sighed. "Now to just mail it and... hope for the best."

"Its all anypony can ask for," Applejack said as she put her hat back on. "So... food? Heard ah got a care package from Sweet Apple Acres, an' knowin' Granny Smith, she made enough food t' last a while an' ah feel like sharin' with mah teammates."

With a smile, Sunset got up and put her uniform on before pocketing the letter.

"Sure," she replied.

Stargate Command

Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado

Earth

"So... We're talking about a region of the galaxy the Goa'uld never controlled?"

Colonel Cameron Mitchell's question hung in the air as SG-1 sat around the conference table. The Tok'ra operative nodded as General Landry listened in.

"That is correct Colonel. However I should warn you about venturing into that region. The Tlak'khan are quite aggressive, and control the entire region. Although we have started getting reports of an internal rebellion against their empire. No details on who is fighting them as of yet. So far the reports are sporadic and... with very little detail. We believe that this rebellion is only just beginning."

"You also mentioned that the Tlak'khan use Staff Weapons," Dr. Daniel Jackson spoke up. "Did they take them from the Jaffa?"

"No. In fact we believe that the Goa'uld originally took the Staff Weapon design from the Tlak'khan."

"Well... Staff Weapons are the AK-47s of the Galaxy," Mitchell said. "They're everywhere, like Hydrogen, Stupidity, and TIE Fighter parts. But still... we're gonna have to be careful."

"Indeed," Teal'c said, raising an eyebrow at the Star Wars reference.

"Still... if the Tlak'khan have plans to fill the void left behind by the Goa'uld, that's going to put them into direct conflict with the SGC," Landry summarized. "We're going to need more information. Colonel Mitchell, I want SG-1 ready to go. As soon as the Tok'ra bring us a good planet to explore, you're going through the gate."

"As a matter of fact General," the operative said. "We DO have one world that we're confident you can explore without significantly incurring the wrath of the Tlak'khan immediately. Pandora. Its a major economic hub, and some would say a crossroads planet. Many traders from both within the empire and outside travel there. You should be able to obtain valuable information... as long as you're able to pay. Gold and Silver coins should suffice."

"We'll give it a few days first," Landry said as he stood up. "But as of right now, SG-1 is on standby."