//------------------------------//
// Across the Pond 
// Story: The Sun, Moon and Earth 
// by Spokes 
//------------------------------//

The hanger was one of the largest in the pegasi barracks and was a sight to behold for any who ventured inside. The visitor and personel enterance couldn't really look anymore inconspicuous, a plain wooden door situated at the end of it's own corridor away from the main lobby and the ditinctly more industrial looking wing of the barracks. It was what lay beyond that suprised visitors. The commanders and their captain had all been through numorous times before but still liked the contrast of the small and slightly cramped corridor with it's royal red carpet to the massive open working space that housed the finest airships in the Caballian military. And most importantly, the Prince's own persoonal vessel.The Venture was amarvel of Aerospace enginerring, a luxeury airship with an ornate armored envelope, duel level canopy and decorated with gold and the royal green. Opel couldn't help but smile at the ship, partially as she had cordinted it's construction but mostly because she could spend the next 6 hours in it's recently installed hotspring.
The Prince was being leadto the ship by it's pilot and his co-pilot, brother and sister unicorns who where egaly telling him of the recent modifications to wic e politly nodded. He was flanke by his two on duty guards and her fellow commanders plus her captain. 
"You got that new cider press installed yet?" At-arms butted in, intrurupting the captain from finishing his explination of the new turbine rotars.
The captain paused midsentance, giveing a look of annoyance at the comander. "Yes it was installed pur you request commander" He quickly added before turning back to the prince.
"Ahhh, but did you get the exact right, one" he added a smarmy tint in his voice.
The captain sighed "Yes, commander, we ordered the Pluck and Press Apple Press Compact Edition for your quarters in the ship, now if you don't mind...."
He was inturuptted by At-arms grimincing and breathing in through gritted teeth.
"Prrrrrety shore I asked for the deluxe model." he complainded in a drawn out tone.
The captain looked at him like he had just ben slapped. 
"That's quite enough commander" Terran cut in with a titter "I'm sure it will not stop you from enjoying the trip,  your beverages."
The commander grinned before politfully retreating back to the others while they aproched the gangway to the ship. The send off while still holding a sense of granduer about it, was more for formal reasons than a public display, the prince had made it perfectly clear to all his advisors addlegates that this was visit wsnoo become a major public event and was merely a social call to visit family, they were to keep the fact that he would be joined by the heads of his military and other soliders out of the press release. Caballus wasn't nearly as tranquil as Equestria but the Prince would still do all in is power to keep it as tranquil' as it possibly could, and that meant not letting his population know that him alog with all his military leaders where on an expedition to retrive the assistance of bearers of powerful magic to solve an unresolved problem.
The military leaders made the remaining way onto the ship, the feeling of the velvet carpet of the ship pleasant on their hooves. The Prince lagged behind to deal with some gathered officials just to the side of the ramp.
"Normal council limitations in place, this is still a peacetime visit merely with a slight military agenda." He swiftly instructed the diplomats. "Keep matters of a serious nature low key and rely serious developments straight to me, is that clear?" he finished more sternly.
"yes, sire." the diplomats quickly answered, they knew the Prince did not like to be away from his duties and was always Terry about leaving them in the hooves of others. This was not because he thought others incompetent with completing them, more he didn't think it was right passing on the burden and saw them as his to complete alone, especially his peace keeping duties. The brief encounter over, the Prince gave them a smile before joining the others on the Venture, his escort of guards now lining the sides of the ramp and giving farewell salutes.
The Prince joined the others in the central lounge area that acted as the main hub of the ship, the mansion like rooms accessible off of it. The commanders had all taken their favourite places in the room: Topaz was sitting idly by a window watching his personal platoon filing onto a smaller airship to accompany the Venture, Opel was flicking through a copy of Pony today while At- Arms was making good use of his new Apple press having dragged out from his room and, of course, Aegis stood to attention of to the side slightly awaiting permission to unwind from his Prince. Terran took his own seat at the head of the coffee table in the centre of the room.
The entrance folded back into the Venture behind the Prince as the flight personnel conducted their final checks. A sealed sense of silence decended on the group as the cabin pressurized, Terran took this as his cue to speak.
"Thank you all for being here on time as usual" He began with a common pleasantry "before we set off, there are a few trivial technicalities I need to get out of the way in regards to our trip to Equestria." He took a professional and very brief look around to catch and hint of response on his subordinates faces, finding none he quickly continued. "My sisters country is similar and very different to our own in certain ways, the distinctions have to be made clear as to make sure there are no...diplomatic mishaps."
"This applies more to the commanders more than it does my fair captain." Terran continued,gesturing with his hoof at Aegis.
"At, I forget, your a Trottingham lad ain't the?" Opal said with a coy smile.
Aegis returned it with a slight bow of his head. "Born and raised, Commander Onyx." He confirmed in his rich Trottingham accent. 
Terran gave a brief nod to words the pair before continuing. "Since our kingdoms have essentially been cut of from one another due to the *ahem* turmoil in our kingdom for the last 3 years, it is more than likely that you have all become disconnected with our neighbours 'innocence'." 
"Erm, correct me if I'm wrong" At- arms began with a chuckle and a thoroughly unconvinced smile "how can an entire kingdom, over a million citizens in Canterlot alone, be ' innocent'" At- Arms finished.
Terran twittered slightly. "More easily than you think, each time I visit the ponies naivety manages to surprise me in some way."
"Try me." At- Arms replied test him.
"Well they don' t have femented cider and any alcohol in general." He said, answering swiftly, gesturing to the cider press At- Arms was still operating.
At- Arms jerked his head back slightly in surprise. He then fully processed what his Prince had just said and he began stareing into space with his mouth hanging open. 
Open leaned over to him and waved her hoof in front of his face repeatedly. 
"I think yur brook him sire" she giggled.
Topaz, who had been looking out the window and at the others in careless fashion perked up at this and with a grin on his face, went over to the dumbstruck earth pony. He grabbed his halve full cider glass (his fourth already) and splashed the remainder of the drink on his face. This snapped the commander awake imediatly shaking his head of the liquid and taking a retaliatory lunge at Topaz. The mute commander gave his raspy laugh as he flew out of his reach back to his place by the window. The rest of the group enjoyed the spectacle as well and even Aegis produced a polite smile.
"Are you serious sire?" At- Arms said, drying his ears with a towel Opel had given him.
"Very much so commander." He replied calmly.
At- Arms momentarily paused drying himself. "Well buck me" he muttered, throwing the damp towel over Opal' s head.
Aegis immediately became serious at this language and glared at the commander who was still unintentionally ignoring him, pondering this development still.
"That's another thing" Terran chimed in clearing his throat slightly at the 'outburst' "they hardly ever swear."
At- Arms eyes swiveled in their sockets to lock on with the prince's. 
"You' 've gotta be buc......"
"Hold your tounge commander." Aegis suddenly said sternly maintaining his glare. Aegis always showed the up most devotion and respect for the Prince and hated it when others didn't do the same. And although over the years he had been lenient with what At- Arms could get away with, accepting it as part of his personality, he could still only tolerate so much from him.
"Calm yourself Captain" Terran said firmly. The captain reacted immediately softening his stare and letting out a breath he didn't notice he was holding.
Terran turned to the commander. "Yes they have very clean mouths commander, and so will you while we stay there."
"What' s the worst I can get away with?" he asked honestly.
"Oh, erm ' sweet Celestia', I think." answered the Prince.
"So that will.be quite enough of the foul tripe that gushes from your mouth commander" Aegis snapped, saying commander like a school teacher while hardening his stare slightly.
The Prince hung back slightly, gauging the rightfulness of At- Arms reaction at Aegis s continued provocation.
He deemed the loud and deliberately crude raspberry that he blew at him appropriate and smiled as his Opal and Topaz both burst out laughing. Aegis obviously frowned at the immature behaviour with reserved contempt. He glanced at his prince for support. Terran returned it with a upturned eyebrow.
"Oh lighten up captain." He said somewhat merrily nudging Aegis as the others continued to laugh. "And for Mother Gaias sake sit down, you look stiff as a board and besides your not going anywhere."
Aegis resigned to the informality of the situation on a cushion and with a brief sigh.
The Venture eventually began its journey across the northern sea, that which separated the kingdoms flanked by to armoured battle blimps. The group eventually made their way to their own quarters to get what little rest they might need during the long trip over the sea.