Harmony 1, the flagship of Equestria's avian navy, just one of the many ships in Canterlot docks. Alongside Harmony 1 sat the Old Sea Hag, once a sailing vessel was recommissioned as an airship after it sank defending the harbor of Filly Delphia from griffin invasion nearly a hundred years ago.
The crew of the Sea Hag were preparing the ship for its departure later that evening, it's journey having been delayed by a fit of engine troubles, as such the engineer ordered the delay until she was satisfied.
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Craft was not a happy pony, partly because of his assignment, but mostly because of the delay of launch. As the sun was getting low, Craft stood at the boarding ramp with another guard, waiting for the young princess and the engineer's say, he found that standing all day was rather boring and a bit painful.
"So damn bored," Craft thought to himself. "Is she doing this to scare me off?"
"You alright there kid?" The other guard, an earth pony, asked. "You look like you're about to fall asleep."
"They train us to fight, and all we do is stand at an entryway." Craft shifted his stance once more. "This is not what I thought you do as a guard."
The older guard laughed. " I thought the same when I enlisted few years ago." He looked at Craft's hoode, an off duty garment. "No armor?"
"Have you seen armor this small?"
"Mare's." Ignoring Craft's groan he continued. "But not stallions. I'm steel, by the way."
"Craft. Should we be talking this much?" Craft asked making Steel laugh again.
"There no superiors here, no need to be at attention." Steel stated. "Besides it helps to pass the time."
"That's true."
"I've got a question," Craft rose a brow but said nothing. "What's it like living with the princess?"
"That's it?" Craft was a little surprised. "You're not wondering how or why I'm here?"
"The captain briefed me on that already."
"…Oh."
"Well?"
"I try to keep to myself. But it's not that different from a normal life, wake up get ready for the day, face the day, home in time for dinner at the kitchen table."
"Kitchen table?" Steel asked confusion evident on his face. "I thought the Princess ate in the dining hall."
"Just during important meetings," Craft had a thoughtful look on his face. "The royal kitchen really only cooks for the castle staff and guard."
"What about you guys then?"
"We take turns cooking. Well not Blueblood, he always orders from the kitchen anyways, he doesn't like my cooking, too simple," Craft paused to think. "But Celestia seems to look forward to my turns, I think she likes the simplicity." Craft stopped still thinking.
"No royal titles?"
"Blueblood's a dick, and I see Celestia on a daily bases. I Honestly think she likes having somepony around that isn't a total suck up."
"Doesn't Princess Mi Amore Cadenza live there too?" Steel asked. "I mean sh—"
"Yes I do," Both guards ponies jumped to attention at the speaker's interruption, finding that Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, and her current guard, had spoken.
"Princess," Both stallion saluted.
"Having fun boys?" She spoke kindly. "Hello Craft." Craft only gave a curt nod.
"This way your highness," Steel gestured up the ramp allowing Cadenza to board. After she had passed Steel shot Craft a questioning glance only for Craft to ignore it as he instantly followed Cadenza aboard.
The captain Immediately stepped forward. "Greetings, Princess, I'd like ta apologise fer the delay," he lead Cadenza below decks, to her quarters. "Like I said in my letter, our engineer found some loose fittin's on the boiler, but that's not the reason fer the delay, no, she went and checked everything."
"And our timing?" Cadenza paused in the corridor, nearly having Craft run into her. "The coyotes don't take kindly to tardies."
"No worries, I've taken the time ta map out a new flight plan," the captain lead on once again. "Unfortunately it means that we have ta take a more direct route, right over the Everfree Forest, and the Macintosh Hills just ta name a few instants, I'll be taking the wheel over the Everfree leg of this trip."
Stopping in front of her quarters, Cadenza giggled. "With you at the helm, I feel safer already."
"Thank ya kindly, Princess," The captain, with a smile, paused as he went to turn away. "The mess hall is open if ya need a snack before night fall."
"I'll pass," Cadenza looked over her shoulder at a annoyed Craft. "But my guards might need something." With that she slipped into her room.
Craft took position by the door with a stoic stare. His ear twitching at the chuckling of Steel and the captain.
"Boy, there are only five crew and one other guard on this ship," the captain snorted with amusement. "Ya don't have ta stand by the door." Sill snorting as he left. "Now, I have a ship ta launch."
"He's right kid," Steel lead the flushed faced Craft away from the door. "Everypony here has passed multiple checks and tests. Let's get something to eat before turning in for the night."
The ship jerked as it was freed from its restraints and the propellers kicking in gear. Craft froze after the ship settled down from the launch.
"You alright there kid?" Steel asked with concern in his voice.
"I just realized how far up we are."
"You'll get used to it."
"It's not the height I don't like, it's the fall." Craft said, still frozen in place. "The fall's what kills you."
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"And that's how I got my cutie mark!" the brown colt proclaimed, throwing his forelegs into the air.
"I don't believe you," Steel deadpanned. " I mean what does a scroll and a hammer have to do with improvising? All you did was build a bridge."
"More than you'd think," Craft took a sip from his drink before continuing. "My special talent is twofold, the scroll represents knowledge and learning. A hammer, more importantly a claw hammer, like the one on my mark, is used in construction."
"I still don't get it."
"Let me finish. Now back to me, I am a quick learner and notice thing most ponies don't. I use that information to plan and then use my skills, to do that plan, mostly making something with stuff on hoof."
"And you say improvising because?"
"I am pretty fast at the planning part," Craft shifted in his seat. "And it's faster to say." Opening his mouth to speak, Craft paused when his ear twitched toward the mess hall door.
"What's up?" Steel asked only to be ignored by the younger colt, as he looked at the door. When no one came in Craft spoke.
"Are you just going to Stand there like a creeper?" A small 'eep' was all he got in response. "Come in already, then."
A pink winged unicorn mare sulked in like a foul that got caught with a hoof in the cookie jar. "Oh, it's just you." Craft dismissively stated.
"I'm sorry Craft," Cadenza started with a guilty look on her face. "I just wanted your opinion on something and heard you talking about your cutie mark. I just—"
"Just know a few things about me," Craft said with a sigh.
"Yes," Cadenza looked away. Steel looked between the two of them before speaking
"I'm, um, goin' to go hit the hay," He said a he made his way to the door. "G'night."
"Night, Steel," Craft biding him before turning to the Princess. "What crafting and/or building thing could be bugging you on an airship?"
"How did you know what I wanted?" She paused before giving a slight, hopeful, smile. "You're not angry at me."
"That's all you need when you talk to me." Craft deadpanned, before scowling slightly. "And no, I don't hate you, I just don't like you."
"Oh, um, I ah-"
"Sit. What did you want?"
A blushing Cadenza quickly sat across from Craft and took some deep breaths, while he took a drink. "Sorry, it's just what the captain said about the engine."
"The loose fittings on the boiler," Craft said adopting a thoughtful look. "What about it?"
"Well aren't steam engines supposed to be unstoppable?"
"No," craft snorted with amusement. "A steam engine is just a super water heater that turns a turbine. In our case the turbine is attached to the gearbox of the propeller. The only things it's made of are the well forged steel, nuts n' bolts, and the skill of an engineer."
"Then, what would cause the loose fitting?"
"Vibrations from the gears could do it."
"On the boiler?"
"The heating and cooling of the boiler could do it too." He paused to take a drink. "Though the bolts would do the same as well, I think."
"What if it was intentional?" Craft's chuckling became a nervous laugh when he caught sight of Cadenza's scowl.
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In the bridge the captain stood at the helm, staring into the rapidly darkening sky ahead of him. Looking down at the gauges he notices a needle has climbed into the red. The captain tapped the gauge only to have the needle jump farther into the red.
"Damn it," he reached for the speaking tube. "Bolts."
"Here cap," a mare's voice replied from the tube.
"Check the presser on the boiler, I've got a red up here."
"On it cap," down in the engine room Bolts, a dark green unicorn mare, quickly ran to the boiler gauge. "Shit, what's wrong now?" She then ran to the boiler itself doning thermal gear on the way. The boiler was creaking and groaning when Bolts arrived. "Safety valve," she quickly skirted the boiler around to the the valve finding it compromised. "Shit! Light! Get a wrench!" No reply. "Damn it!" Bolts tried to snatch a wrench from the tool rack with her magic, only to grab air. "What?! Where?" Running to the tool rack, realisation dawned on her face. "Light you little sh—!" A bolt burst from the boiler, rickasaded off of a pipe, and went through bolts' head.
Outside the engine room a shard of burning metal pierced the wall, as the entire ship shook from the boiler exploding. A ball of fire came out of the smoke stack and lit the hydrogen balloon on fire as well, a second explosion quickly followed the first. The Old Sea Hag was sinking again, only this time it was several miles in the air.