//------------------------------//
// Lost in translation 
// Story: Fleur de Lis and her traveling companions (Maud and Cream Pie) visit the City of Lights 
// by Uncle Knot 
//------------------------------//

The skipper of the airship ‘Argyle’ adjusted the controls as the craft made a final approach to the airfield.  His 3 passengers stood at the rail peering down upon the city of lights.  The city certainly deserved her name for in the early evening hours every window shared a warming light and the streetlamps illuminated each boulevard for miles about.

The 3 passengers at the rail ‘oh’ and ‘awe’ with approval at the sight below, even though one was a native.  Fleur de Lis had ‘borrowed’ the airship and her crew from Fancy Pants.  Her two companions were an unlikely mismatch; the dour Maud Pie and her cousin Cream Pie.  Whatever had prompted Fleur to bring them along on an impromptu shipping trip completely baffled the skipper of the Argyle.

Fleur, Maud, and Cream hailed a taxi upon touchdown.  Then checked into a ‘little’ hotel in the 12th quarter, called La Belle Maison.

“Belle Maison, doesn’t that mean pretty house?” 

“Oui Maud” responded Fleur

“But it is so big” said Cream

“Zat’s because it is a four star hotel, we can eat dinner in ze restaurant or order room service to bring some zing up to ze room”

“Really, I think the restaurant sounds okay” said Maud “We are just too excited to stay in our rooms and sleep”

“Great, I would like omelets au fromage”

“Ohm - lettuce - oh - fro - marge?” asked Cream.

“Oui, ‘omelets au fromage’” repeated Fleur “but don’t say zat in the catacombs tomorrow.  I accidentally did last time and a secret door opened unexpectedly.”

“Cat combs?”

“Catacombs, the city of the dead beneath the city” said Maud “I think your pet will like it Cream”

“City of the dead, with cats?  Luna doesn’t like cats”

“No cats, the catacombs were built to keep the dead cool until a burial could be arranged, many never got buried because there were more dying from the plague than the grave diggers could handle.” said Maud  “So this is why the catacombs keep getting bigger and bigger.”

“Why did you name your pet ‘Luna’?” asked Fleur  “In honor of the princess of the night?”

“No, I got the idea for the name before Princess Luna returned.  I just thought that Luna would be a great name for a bat.  But wait till you hear what Maud named her pet rock”

“Bolder” interrupted Maud

“Because he is fearless and brave?”

“No, because he is a rock”

“Oh” said Fleur

“So do you, Fleur, have a pet?”

“Oui”

“Some kind of puddle, right?

“No”

“What’s its’ name?”

“Fancy Pants”

“Wait, What?”

“You named your pet after Fancy Pants?”

“No, Fancy Pants is my pet.  I have taught him all sorts of tricks, like ‘lay down’, ‘beg’ and ‘roll over’.  I give him treats when he is good, and scold him when he is bad.  I take him out for walks to social functions and art galleries and he gives me spending bits”

“So you are like his pet too?” asked Cream

“Do you put him on a leash?” asked Maud

“When you fillies get stallions of your own, I promise to tell you” answered Fleur