//------------------------------// // An Encounter with the Equestrian Navy // Story: My Little Pony Destroyers are Magic. // by CommonDash //------------------------------// Spy Glass is sitting aboard her ship. The Rolling Waves, it’s a small Cutter which is one of 80 ships in the Equestrian navy. “Sir!” A earth pony shouts running into the captains quarters. “Yes False Alarm Is something wrong? Are the griffins attacking!” Spy Glass asks “No sir, we found a stranded pony.” False Alarm replies “This far out in our patrol route? They are lucky to be alive? Have we fished them out yet? Maybe it’s a Pegasus from a flat top we can trade for ice cream.” Spy Glass says “No sir it’s an earth pony… she’s floating on the water sir.” False Alarm replies “Floating on the water? Of course ponies float until we sink! Get her out and check the logs to see if any of our commerce ships were in this area within the past few days.” Spy Glass orders marching out of her quarters to get a look for herself. =================== Meanwhile out at sea. “Hey!” “Noo, I wanna slep.” Taylor mutters “Hey!” Taylor suddenly stands right up as general quarters is called. “Hey what’s the big idea?” Taylor asks “Hey, hey!” “Contact? Have they fired… is that a sailship? You woke me up for a sailing ship!” Taylor shouts in mock outrage. “Hey!” “Fine fine, I’ll see.” Taylor says squinting her eyes at the ship in the distance. “Do they have ballista? What is this the time of the Roman Empire?” Taylor asks before going still. “Air contact!” Taylor shouts as her CIWS begin to spin up. “Hey!” “What do you mean they aren’t answering radio contact?… wait you think they have a radio aboard that dingy? I’m more concerned about the…” Taylor says focusing on the air. “Are those Pegasi? Not zero’s not jets, not even a flying parahuman but Pegasi!” Taylor shouts winding down her CIWS. “Hey!” “What the hay are riggings?” Taylor asks looking at her sides as the construct disappears. ‘How on earth? Am I still on earth? Right focus on first contact weird metal parts later.’ Taylor thinks “Miss are you okay?” A Pegasus shouts hovering just near by Taylor. “My name is Douglass Dauntless, what’s yours?” The Pegasus asks “I’m Taylor… I’m having trouble remembering my last name.” Taylor says Afterall her human memories were well over shadowed by 71 years worth of ships memories. Some of the engagements she’s been in have had the effect of making minutes feel like hours aswell. Douglass of course looks very worried at that statement. “Taylor Fletcher works for now.” Taylor says ‘It was He something… I mean having the brain damage from before I merged with that destroyer probably didn’t help.’ Taylor thinks “Hey!” ‘You know what fine let’s see the’ Taylor thinks “Hey!” ‘ I’m a tinkers wet dream. I’m gonna have to look over this in depth later.’ Taylor thinks looking over the extensive list of modifications that have been done to her hull. “We’ve got our ship on the way if you want a ride back to Equestria… your not even a unicorn how are you managing the water walking spell?” Douglass asks intrigued “I just am I guess… can unicorns cast magic?” Taylor asks ‘I’m in a fantasy world aren’t I… I honestly didn’t know that gates from doorkeeper could go to places like this.’ Taylor thinks “How would you not know that?” The Douglass asks “Well, I’ve been gone a while. Which way is your ship again? I’ll start making my way there.” Taylor “Okay, it’s just this way.” Douglass says darting off in a direction. “We have our heading.” Taylor mutters. “Hey!” =============== “Pony off the Port side!” Shouts the spotter. Spy Glass makes it to the railing to see the dull metallic silver pony with the black mane approaching the ship leaving a wake behind her. “She’s easily making 36 knots!” Spy Glass says in wonder. “Fast approaching!” Shouts the spotter. Suddenly the pony turns to the side sending a small wave which rocks the cutter they are on. “T-that’s insane.” Spy Glass says “Hello! Permission to come aboard!” Shouts the mare? filly? from below. “Permission granted.” Spy Glass says back in shock. The crew behind her start to lower a ramp the the waters surface. The wooden plank which was tied to the ship fairly securely. The pony steeps onto the ramp and the whole board creaks loudly before it’s pulled into the water over the port side of the ship. ====================== Taylor watches as the gangplank is lowered. She carefully puts a hoof on to it trying not to trip since she’s not yet used to walking on four hoofs. Crack Snap Splash “ oops.” Taylor mutters “Did you all not secure the ramp properly!” Shouts a voice from above. “Hey!” “What do you mean I weigh 2800 tones.” Taylor mutters “Hey!” “Oh? I can flip it off?” Taylor mutters mentally doing so. “You okay down there!” A pony shouts from the ship. “Yes! I’m fine!” Taylor shouts back. Here grab on we’ll hoist you up!” Is shouted as a rope lands in front of Taylor. ================== Back aboard with Spy Glass ‘We finally got the filly aboard.’ Spy glass thinks The dull silver pony is struggling to stand in front of the crew she obviously doesn’t have her sea legs. “Welcome aboard!” Spy Glass says “Thanks for having me, I’m Taylor Fletcher.” Taylor says introducing herself, “I’m Lieutenant Junior grade Spy Glass. Acting captian of this ship.” Spy Glass says introducing herself. “I can’t remember my officer rank exactly…” Taylor says looking away awkwardly. “Hey” ‘Wait your a rear admiral? Actually what even are you we never discussed that.’ Taylor thinks “Hey” ‘Wait you can hear me think!’ Taylor thinks panicked. “Rank? I don’t recognize you are you even in the equestrian navy?” Spy Glass asks “Equestrian navy no? I served my country under direct orders of a rear admiral.” Taylor responds “… that’s pretty high up we’ve only got two in equestria.” Spy Glass says “I mean if you’ve still only got wooden hull ships then that would make sense. It’s still small though in the age of sail the Empire had a massive navy.” Taylor says referencing books in her onboard library. Which empire was left unsaid however Rule Britannia. ‘Wait, I can just read any book in my library at anytime? Like I know it subconsciously?’ Taylor “Hey” ‘Cool but annoying, if it was active memory it could help a lot. Though subconscious memory is nice for history and tactics.’ Taylor thinks “llo? Hello!” Spy glass shouts “Huh sorry? The lack of sleep is getting to me… what year is it?” Taylor responds “1004 of the celestial era? Why?” Spy Glass asks “It’s not 2013 of the… what did we call the era we were in again…” Taylor says looking off into the distance. ‘Play the pony out of time, that Pegasus confirmed there’s magic so time travel or being sealed for years can’t be too far fetched.’ Taylor thinks to herself. “I think we can spare a hammock.” Spy Glass says “Really thank you!” Taylor says her headache from being shot had started to sting again.