Cherry Berry
“Wow,” Scootaloo muttered as she stared at one of the large guns on the battleship we stood on.
“Cool, right?” I said with a smirk as Sunset peered into the large cannon.
“What ship is this again?” Silver Spoon asked as she leaned against the railing to peer down at a fighter jet. “I know that over there is a destroyer, that’s a submarine but what is this one?”
“USS Little Rock,” Berry Punch answered as she lifted Ruby up to her shoulders and held onto her legs. “Cleveland class light cruiser. One of twenty seven completed for the navy during World War Two but wasn’t completed in time to see combat.”
“Became part of the Atlantic Reserve Fleet in nineteen forty nine,” Minuette picked up. “Rebuilt in the sixties into a Galveston class guided missile cruiser. Served in the Mediterranean, often as a flag ship for the Sixth Fleet.”
“How on earth do they even name the ships? Just pick a name at random?” Diamond asked as Cheerilee and Sunset shook their heads.
“Aircraft carriers are named after presidents with the exception on the Stennis and the Vinson, battleships are named after states, cruisers are named after cities and submarines also named after states,” Sunset explained as we walked along the ship. “Used to be named after fish.”
“Excellent, all of you!” Cheerilee exclaimed as I smirked. “I didn’t know you paid attention in history class, Berry.”
“Most of school was stupid,” Berry agreed as Cheerilee gave her a flat look. “But history was cool. And math helped me understand some of my business.”
Cheerilee and I each raised an eyebrow as we looked at each other before focusing back on Berry.
“Okay, you two helped too.” Minuette raised an eyebrow as Berry groaned and I hid a smirk. “Okay, Minnie helped too.”
“That’s more accurate,” Cheerilee commented as she patted Berry on the shoulder with a smug grin. “Sunset likes history too, remember?”
“When I first got here, I had no idea where I was or anything about this place. History books helped with all of that. And I’m still learning new stuff everyday,” Sunset said as she stretched her arms. “Science is pretty fun too. As long as it isn’t math. Hate that stuff.”
I could relate. I hated math with an absolute burning passion. I only really understand the basics of it. Cheerilee, Silver Spoon and Minuette were the main three of the family to truly understand and like it.
“Come on, selfie time,” Minuette said as I joined the others standing around her and wrapped an arm around Sunset with a smile. “Excellent, now come on. We have so much more to see.”
I honestly wonder where she gets all this energy. It’s like she mixes red bull with her coffee. I actually hope she doesn’t, that sounds dangerous as all heck.
At least I convinced the others to go on a helicopter ride. Freaking loved aviation. Convincing Sunset was surprisingly hard. Probably afraid of heights as well as needles.
“This looks like a death trap from the outside,” Sunset said as we sat in the back of the helicopter together. I adjusted her headset a bit and gave her a thumbs up.
Cheerilee had to stay on the ground because Ruby was too young and small to go on the helicopter so she was going to swap with me after we landed.
“It’s not that bad,” I said as we slowly lifted off the ground and Sunset grasped her seat tightly. “I’ve done this at least a hundred times.”
Sunset nodded as the ground got further away and I looked out the window and grinned. Flying was probably my favorite experience. It was freeing, in a way. Best way to describe it.
“I’ve never flown before,” Sunset answered as I looked over at her.
“Ever?”
“Never. Unicorn back in Equestria, remember? Spitfire took me up in the sky once to the roof of our house a few times but that was the extent of my flying experience,” Sunset answered as the pilot gave us a quick confused look which we both ignored.
“Right,” I said as Sunset glanced out her window and gulped. “A bit of turbulence is normal. Just like a plane. Morning is usually the best time for a helicopter ride so we kinda screwed up that part.”
“She’s right,” the pilot said as I nodded. “Fly often?”
“I run my own small airplane company. Mainly taking people up for flights but we mainly do hot air balloons, not planes,” I explained as he gave a grin my way.
“Nice.”
“There’s a bucket if you need it,” I gestured with my boot. I had advised the others to wear heavy clothing and preferably dark clothing. I also didn’t tell her that flying in a helicopter was more dangerous than an airplane.
“How often do you go flying?” Sunset asked curiously as she relaxed her grip and took some pictures from the helicopter, including a selfie with me and her.
“Oh all the time. The hot air balloon is actually where Berry and I solved our family issues,” I admitted as I smiled for the pictures. “Just relax.”
“I’m still insulted they weighed us before we got on,” Sunset scoffed and folded her arms as I snickered. We were all super thin in the family, Sunset especially.
“Three hundred pound weight limit. Gotta have it for paperwork,” I explained as Sunset shrugged. “I weigh people before they get in my balloon.”
Paperwork was probably my most favorite part and I know that’s weird to say. But it’s the routine I like. Weigh the person, take them up, take them back down and spend the next thirty minutes doing paperwork.
When I first met Sunset, she helped out a bit with some paperwork I brought along. She was surprisingly good at it all, even the stuff I hardly understood. If I could, I’d have made her my permanent assistant but Cheerilee was like, heck no.
“Are you having fun these past few weeks?” I asked expectantly as Sunset nodded enthusiastically.
“Hell yeah. It’s always nice to get away from town. I was surprised mom lied to the school and said we all were sick just to go,” Sunset said with a smirk as I grinned back. “But yeah, it’s fun. And I get to go all over these places with you guys. Still gotta get Octavia a souvenir and we will be good.”
“Good. I’m glad you’re having fun.”
Together, we looked out the window as we flew over the Falls.