//------------------------------//
// Chapter 2 
// Story: Lunar Diplomacy 
// by Verathuum 
//------------------------------//

	The sun had set long ago and the sky was completely black, save for the stars and the dim crescent moon. The airships hung lazily in the breeze, their passengers grateful for the strong tailwind pushing them in the direction they wanted. The airships had been airborne for about a week, traveling at about twenty miles per hour over the three thousand mile journey. They were carrying a very important diplomat to a very strange country: Princess Luna was on her way to try to make a treaty with the Geniocracy of Auflorsung. Everyone on board the airship had mixed emotions; Auflorsung was a very isolated country, always keeping to itself. No one really even knew what a Florian looked like, or if they still existed. Not even Discordia, Discord’s country of chaos, dared challenge the militaristic strengths of Auflorsung. The crewmen of the ship were trying to spot where the ocean stopped and Auflorsung began, but to no avail.
The Equestrian “experts” on Auflorsung had speculated that the Florians didn’t have any flying machines or even boats. Since they were always on their island country, it appeared they had no desire to explore; and therefore no means of leaving Auflorsung, such as a boat or airship. With this information, it seemed they would have no way of deterring the Equestrians from approaching via airship, so attempting to make a treaty with them seemed doable. The “experts” had warned that Auflorsung was filled with many dangerous animals which the Florians would have developed ways to combat strictly through technology; the crystals that produced magic weren't found anywhere near Auflorsung. It was unlikely they would use such weapons against an obviously peaceful Equestrian, but no one was sure. This was supported by many mainstream historians whose evidence led them to believe that the Auflorsung Island was home to some of the most dangerous creatures on Equus.
Suddenly, a blue flare arose out of what appeared to be fog, bringing Luna back to reality. “Well that fog explains a lot,” Luna thought, “But what does that flare mean? Surely they couldn't have known we were approaching, especially through such thick fog.” She pondered the thought for a while until she noticed several blue lights approaching, and they clearly weren't flares when they changed course and slowed down. The lights turned out to be just one object; whether it was organic or artificial, she was unsure.
“Look at that,” one of the crew members said, “Florians are pretty big.”
“That’s just one of their flying machines,” another said, “Look; you can see something piloting it.”
Luna looked closely at the flying light and indeed there was a creature on it, although it was somewhat hidden as it was clothed completely, even wearing a helmet that covered its face; most likely for safety reasons. The pilot looked like it was looking at the airship, although whether or not he was, was impossible to tell. The small craft flew forwards and above the ship at a safe distance; Luna watching the thing closely. It returned to the opposite side of the ship and remained synchronized with the airship's speed. He was close enough that Luna could see the details of his clothes: what looked like a single piece of black clothing with lights aligning the pilot’s arms and legs, as well as two strips of light on his chest. His helmet was blacked out and mirrored so she couldn’t see his face. He seemed to make eye contact with her for a few minutes until a red light flashed in front of him. He placed his hand down on the console in front of him and a blue hologram came up. Luna couldn't read it, but the Florian quickly turned his head to the airship then looked into the distance for a second or two before moving his left hand about the hologram. He furiously kept that up while periodically staring back at the ship.
Suddenly, there was a loud crack and a second later, the sky and ground lit up like it was day time. There was a long streak in the sky leading to the explosion, and the Florian was still up with the airships. Luna glanced back at the white explosion, careful not to harm her eyes. There was a ripple in the sky approaching quickly, and the air seemed to distort under the ripple. The “indestructible” ships about half a mile behind her were pushed around like ragdolls as the distorted air passed them. The two farthest back began to fall, then the same happened to the next two behind the Umbra. Finally, the ripple flew over the Umbra and the Florian, carrying the distorted air with it. There was a loud explosion, louder than anything Luna had ever heard and the Umbra buckled and wavered; the aluminum plating was ripping off the ship like paper as it plummeted towards the ground. Luna gave a final look up to the Florian who had disappeared. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw what looked like a man falling towards the ground. The explosion let up and the man disappeared into the darkness. Luna could do nothing but hold on tightly to the railing as the ship smashed into the ground with a thud.