Land Hoe!!! Came the cry from the lookout who was perched high up in the ships rigging. The stallion's call was loud enough to wake Poppy who was asleep in her bed below deck. Upon hearing his call Poppy rose out of bed. Taking a moment to stretch her legs before going to fetch her bows from her vanity. Once her bows were tide into place, she sat down in front of the mirror. Glancing at her reflection, she resisted the urge to try and make herself up instead opting for her quick once over. Once she had finished making herself up, Poppy trotted out of the cabin making a quick pit stop at the ships galley to grab herself a warm cup of coffee. With coffee in hoof Poppy trotted up through the ship's gun deck before emerging through the trap door that led to the main deck.
As Poppy stepped out of the ship’s dark interior and into the sunlight Poppy was forced to cover her face as the bright light stun her eyes. After a moment for her eyes to get adjusted to the bright light she found the crew frantically scurrying around. Looking up and back towards the stern Poppy found the captain and commander barking out orders to the crew. The captain was the first to notice her. He smiled before trotting down to where she was standing.
“Good morning Mrs. Poppy.” The captain said.
“Good morning to you as well captain.” She replied.
“How far out our we captain?” Poppy asked as she turned back towards where the ship was heading. She could not see the island yet but knew the lookout had a much better vantage point than she did from the main deck.
“I would say at least another few hours so if I were you, I would get that hot flank of yours some breakfast down in the galley before we arrive.”
Poppy nodded ignoring the captain's rather crude remark. Turning back towards the trap door, Poppy trotted back through the ship's lower decks before arriving once again at the ship's galley.
The galley onboard the E.S Crystal Palace was massive with some of the best food found on the high seas. Since the ship was a royal vessel, it had the best of everything from the best crew and equipment to even fine dining.
Stepping into the galley Poppy found it deserted expect for the ship's cook who seemed to be pouting to himself. The poor stallion sat at the end of one of the long tables where the crew would eat.
“Good morning.” Poppy greeted cheerily to the chef.
Poppy nearly laughed as the chef almost fell off his bench. He had been so engrossed in thought that he had not heard her come in and had nearly fallen when he had heard her greeting.
Poppy apologized to the startled stallion who brushed it off with a wave of his hoof before getting up and taking his place behind the counter. Poppy wasn't starving but she felt bad that he had prepared all this food and she would be the only one to eat it. So, to be nice Poppy let him serve her a little of everything. The chefs beamed at her as he served her large helpings of everything.
As Poppy sat down to eat Captain Compasses voice bellowed down the hall leading to the galley.
“In Here!” Poppy answered back.
The captain appeared a moment later ducking his head in through the doorway. As Captain Compass sat down across from Poppy she looked up from her plate. The captain was in his standard uniform although it looked much cleaner than when she had seen it on the first day. She also noticed for the first time that he was wearing some light barding and had on his revolver that was strapped to his side. For once he truly looked the part of the stories about him as the heroic savior of the city of Vanhoover. His appearance stirred something in Poppy as she realized that he was quite dashing.
The captain took notice of her gaze roaming over his body and crisp uniform. The captain, always the one to have a little fun with her, used the opportunity to levitate one of her carrots into his mouth.
“Hey, get your own carrots” she yelped as he snickered before responding with a cheeky. “It’s Captains privilege.” Poppy just rolled her eyes at him. He laughed at the expression she gave him. As the two sat together in the galley they started discussing the day's itinerary. Poppy finished her breakfast and the two of them trotted out stopping at her cabin where Poppy hoofed her saddle bags and its contents over her back. Once she was ready the two of them rejoined the landing crew on deck.
The commander was still giving orders to a few ponies but the hustle of the that morning had slowed as the crew seemed to be waiting for them.
The first of the long boats was commanded by a Lieutenant Crow's Nest. Poppy watched as the lieutenant boarded the longboat. He was joined by several of the ships crystal guards, each of which was carrying a multitude of small arms. It was a wonder to her how they could carry so much with them. The soldiers were also accompanied by a few crew ponies who took up spots along the sides of the small boat, each grabbing a oar as they sat. The crew on deck winched the longboat down to the sea below. As the small boat hit the water it made a small slash. With the lieutenant's boat in the water the crew readied the boat. This boat was the one that the captain and Poppy were to board. The captain was the first to climb onboard. Once he had stepped onto the boat, he turned back to Poppy offering her his hoof.
“Would you like some assistance Mrs. Poppy?” He asked.
Looking at his outstretched hoof she swatted it away.
“No thank you captain I can manage on my own”. She said.
Poppy climbed on board the boat trying to ignore the captain's hurt expression. A tinge of guilt tugged in her mind for being so harsh with him.
Once the crew ponies had boarded the captain shouted to the quarter deck where Commander North was watching.
“You have command Mr. North.” He shouted.
The commander saluted back.
With the order given the crew lowered the boat into the water. The ocean was smooth as glass as the crewponies began to row.
By the time the crew had landed ashore and pulled the boat up onto the beach it was late afternoon. The contingent of Crystal guards was first up the beach. The guards created a small semicircle each with their rifles pointed up the beach towards the jungle.
Poppy's boat was next ashore. The crew pulled the boat up the beach until it was sitting on the sand. Captain Compass was next up. He took a spot next to the lieutenant. Poppy could hear him giving the lieutenant orders to create and secure a perimeter around the camp site area. The lieutenant saluted before relaying orders to his troops. Poppy watched the guards execute the lieutenant's orders with precision. Once the guard had expanded the semi-circle surrounding the landing site the lieutenant hollered from his position that the perimeter had been secured.
The captain nodded towards the lieutenant before turning to the Crystal Palaces air wing Commander. Poppy had not even noticed the commander until now. She had not been on any of the longboats. Poppy had noticed the mare during the party the first night they were onboard the Crystal Palace. The captain ordered the commander to get her ponies in the air for a survey of the island. The Commander nodded at his command before spreading her feathered wings. The commander took a few powerful flaps and leapt into the air. She was immediately followed by the five other pegasi. Poppy watched as they broke into groups of two before flying off into the distance.
The captain watched with Poppy before turning his attention back to the beach. He took a moment to survey the beach. More crewponies had arrived from the Crystal Palace and were unloading supplies from the longboats. The captain turned towards the new arrivals ordering them to set up the camp. With their orders the crew started to prepare the site for the camp. The place where they had chosen to setup up was about twenty yards from the high tide line.
With curiosity Poppy had been watching from where she had disembarked from the long boat. With the crew beginning to set up and feeling safe enough, Poppy grabbed her gear from her long boat. Flinging the bags across her barrel Poppy started towards the tree line. For the first time since boarding in Portmareland Poppy felt like she was finally in her element and contributing to the expedition.
The vegetation line was lush with many plant species, many of which she immediately recognized. Beyond the initial line of vegetation, the jungle rose in thick vines and low hanging branches. Finding a spot on the sandy side of the vegetation line Poppy sat down on her haunches. The spot she had chosen was next to patch of lupin. Using her teeth to pluck one she brought it up close to examine it. While Lupine was native to most of Equestria this sample appeared to be different than its Equestrian counterparts, however. This lupin lacked the tall stems that ones in Equestria had. Her examination was cut short when she heard the panting of Captain Compass who had run over to her from where he had been supervising the camp's construction.
“Mrs. Poppy” he said please stay away from the tree line until camp is set up and the guards have had a chance to sweep the surrounding jungle for any dangers. Poppy looked up at the captain indigently. Who did he think he was, she thought. Securing the lupine in one of her specimen jars, Poppy stood up looking the stallion right in the face.
“Excuse me Captain but I am not a filly.” She said angerly.
“I don’t need you to foalsit me I am a grown mare and perfectly capable of caring for myself.” With that she stomped her front hoof in the sand throwing some up at his legs.
Captain Compass moved closer to meet her gaze Hid eyes looked with hers before turning to look her over. His gaze roamed across her barrel and landed on her toned flack.
“I can see that you are not a foal because I sure had never seen a filly with your looks before, but a sexy flank is not enough to keep you safe so until I give you the ok, I need you to stay near the camp.”
Poppy harrumphed and flicked her tail at him before trotting back to the camp. The nerve of that Stallion she thought. How dare he look at her like that and treat her in such a way.
By the time the crew had finished constructing the camp Celestia's sun was setting over the ocean and the temperature was beginning to drop.
Though Poppy had been confined to the camp for the day she had still managed to gather some specimens. With the cold now setting in Poppy decided to get one final sample from an orchid. The orchid unique as far she could tell. The flowers were purple and white, both of which seemed to grow from the same root system. This, as far she knew, made it one of a kind. She had spotted the orchid growing out of a small rocky out cropping just outside of camp.
Poppy placed the specimen into a small glass vial before sealing it with a cork to help keep the flowers preserved. Once the vial was sealed Poppy very carefully placed it into her saddle bag. With the specimen safely stowed away Poppy jotted down a few final notes in her field journal. Once her notes were finished and the journal tucked back into her saddle bag, she decided that it was getting just a little too cold for her to continue. As Poppy reentered the camp, she found her sleeping bag already rolled out near the fire. Settling down on her sleeping bag Poppy looked around the camp. Most of the crew was already starting to turn in except for the guard who was keeping a watchful eye on the jungle. Poppy watched the rhythmic marching of the guards as they marched in and out of the fires light. Snuggling into her sleeping bag Poppy used the fires light Poppy to write in her journal.
Day 5:
Our crew has landed on a yet to be named tropical island. The captain has decided not to name the island and instead give the right to the princess as a gift. The flora and fauna are abundant on this island and that is only from what I have seen on the beach in land I expect to find even more things to study. I have managed to gather a few specimens and have sketched out several others. The crew is in high spirits and the captain said we can start to venture out into the jungle tomorrow. I have talked with the captain and Commander Contrail about what she had found during her scouting mission over the island. According to the commander there is a hot spring a few miles from the camp. In most cases hot springs have some unique plant life. After some convincing the captain has agreed to head to the hot springs tomorrow.
With the light grounding the flyers Poppy found the pegasi starting to gather around the campfire. It reminded her of moths being attracted to a flame. The pegasi began to preen themselves in the fires light. For a pegasus normally this would been a very intimate act but being in the military meant forgoing many public norms to keep in peak condition. Turing her gaze back towards the journal in her hooves Poppy began to sketch some of the vegetation she had seen that could not be taken back to the empire.
Putting her journal down Poppy pulled out one of the flowers she had picked near camp. Bringing the flower up close she rotated it back and forth examining its design. The flower was a variety of menzies. Poppy had found it at the highwater line where it was growing behind a piece of driftwood. The flowers were a bright yellow with small green leaves. Poppy uncorked the sample vial bring it up to her nose. As Poppy inhaled to take a sniff of its fragrance, she felt a guest of wind on her back. Turing around she found Commander Contrail. The commander was looking intently at the flower. Poppy cleared her throat trying to get the commander's attention. The commander finally seemed to notice that she was being watched.
“Oh Sorry. Mrs. Poppy I was ah... Just looking at the flower you were holding its quite beautiful.” The commander said as little redness creeped up on her face in embarrassment.
“It's quite alright Commander. If you would like to join me. I just finished updating my field journal and just starting to go through a few of the specimens the captain let me collect. The commander seemed to hesitate as Poppy padded the spot next to her. Ultimately the commander sat down next to her but kept a measurable distance away.
“May I see some of the flowers you collected. I would love to see them. If you don’t mind.” The pegasus asked. Nodding Poppy hoofed over the flower that she had been looking at. The pegasus took the flower from Poppy. Grasping the flower gently with her yellow wing, she admired the flower. Poppy was surprised to find that the commander seemed to be generally interested in the flower, especially one from the guard.
Poppy gestured to the commander for the commander to move a little closer. The commander hesitated for a moment before closing some of the distance between the two of them. Sitting closer Poppy watched as the commander smelled the perfume of the flower. She smiled at Poppy handing the flower before hoofing it back.
“Thank you, Mrs. It smells beautifully.” The commander said bowing her head a little bit.
“It's alright commander would you like to see any of the other flowers I collected?” The commander shook her head no.
Although the commander did not ask to look at any other flowers it was nice that she had shown an interest. The two mares sat in silence for few minutes before the commander asked if it was ok for her to preen her wings. Poppy nodded. The commander hesitated for a moment still trying to decide if she wanted to. The commander finally made her decision, splaying her right wing while being careful not to hit Poppy in the face with it. Poppy marveled at the mare's wing. She had always found pegasus to be beautiful with their lush wings and smaller more toned bodies. Poppy could not help but admire the commander, she fit all those categories and more.
Commander Contrail was careful as she preened each of her primary flight feathers. Taking time to straighten each one. The process was slow, and Poppy enjoyed every second of watching the commander. She felt embarrassed to be staring but the commander seemed to enjoy having her watch. At one point the commander's eyes met Poppys and for a moment before the two looked away both mares face turning red.
The commander moved her wing closer to Poppy with the earth pony mare finding the wing in her lap. She looked back to the commander who simply nodded. That’s how Poppy found herself slowly caressing the commander's wing. Poppy realized just how intimate this moment was and she enjoyed it. The mare in her hoof was beautiful and she began to feel flushed as she began to carefully preen the commander's wing. Poppy tried her best to not touch any of the pegasus sensitive areas along her wing. Poppy was doing well but she began to make a few mistakes as she moved closer to the base of the commander's wing. Moving lower along her wing where the feathers ended and fur began, Poppy made a motion that caused the other mare to let out a low guttural moan. Poppy stopped, frightened that she had hurt the commander just as the wing in her hooves became rigid. Looking up to the other mare's face Poppy looked at her trying to see if she had hurt her. Instead, she found the mare looking as if she flown a marathon. Her muzzle was flushed and her breathing was rapid. Stammering an apology Poppy let go of the wing.
“It's alright.” The commander said as she tried to catch her breath. “It's just been a long time since another pony had helped me preen and I guess I got to a little caught up in it. My Apologies.” Poppy nodded but decided it was best to not continue preening the commander's wing. She felt guilty as the commander moved her wing back alongside her barrel. A sad smiled appeared on the commander's face.
Trying her best to cheer up the other mare, Poppy began telling her stories of some of her other expeditions. Soon the two mares began chatting like lifelong friends. The embracement of earlier quickly forgotten.
The two mares soon discovered that they were both from the same small village near Canterlot and had even gone to the same school although Poppy had graduated a year earlier than Contrail. As the days exhaustion began to catchup to her Poppy had to stifle a yawn with her forehoof. With another yawn escaping her mouth Poppy soon found herself in the commander's feathery embrace. Poppy froze, turning to look at the commander who only continued looking into the fire. Smiling Poppy decided to snuggle into the warm wing.