//------------------------------// // 2 ~ In a far off land/Stowaways // Story: Propelling to the Unknown // by Doctor D //------------------------------// Princess Celestia trudged into the dining room. The sun had been risen but she was less than happy right now. Being woken an hour early was a definite annoyance and she had yet to shake of the drowsiness. Maybe coffee would help. When she entered she saw Luna already present, munching on a salad. Celestia forced a weak smile despite her bad mood, though from the look Luna was giving her it was clear her condition was apparent. “Are thou well, sister?” Luna asked. Despite Celestia’s attempts her younger sibling still had trouble letting go of those old and archaic words. The Princess of the Sun sighed and went to take her place opposite to her sister. “I just didn’t sleep well, that’s all.” “Does thou need our assistance if sleep is the issue? We would help most certainly.” Luna offered. Celestia just shook her head in response. “No, that’s not needed. I appreciate the gesture though.” She said before turning to the waiter who had magically appeared to take their orders. “The usual, extra strong.” Celestia added to the waiter, who nodded. “We demand our usual as well!” Luna placed her order for the morning  beverage, albeit a bit forcefully. Nevertheless, the waiter nodded, bowed and left to the kitchens. Celestia let out a stressed sigh, which  was not boding good considering she still had Day Court to sit through, listening to nobles whine about their petty squabbles. And then there was Blue Blood with his endless issues with life in general. Nopony cared about Blue Blood. “Are you sure you do not wish our aid, dear sister?” Luna asked one more time. Celestia smiled a tad at her sister’s worry. “No. I’ll find ways to deal with it on my own. I always have.” She said before changing the subject. “How was Night Court, Lulu?” Celestia could not help but chuckle a bit at the face and audible groan Luna made, which admittedly told more than enough of what she was thinking. “It was horrible! All those nobles with their whining and- and-” “Blue Blood, correct?” Celestia guessed. “I hate Blue Blood!” Luna stated in frustration, her glare intensifying. “That oaf spent hours complaining how his mirror wasn’t shiny enough, or that the birds outside his window were too loud! How can we possibly be related to that imbecile in any way, shape or form!?” Celesti held back her small snort, which for a Princess was most unbecoming. “I suppose life has it’s quirks.” “Blue Blood isn’t a quirk. He’s a big, selfish, narcissistic prick!” “Luna, language!” Celestia scolded her younger sibling but made no effort to hide her smile. We’d like to reiterate that no one likes Blue Blood. Luna looked very miffed, to say the least, but took a deep breath, held it in and blew it out. Already she was feeling calmer, though only a smidget “Apologies, sister. I don’t know what came over me. Blue Blood is just so… so...” “Insufferable?” Celestia suggested. “Yes, exactly that.” Luna said with a heavy sigh. “Why is this so much more difficult than I remembered?” Celestia felt for her sister, she really did. Gone for a thousand years and the world has changed. It was only recently that she had suggested Luna to start holding the Night Court and she knew that while not nearly as active as Day Court it could be just as aggravating. “You’ve been out of this duty for a long while and times have changed. You’ll get the hang of it eventually, Lulu.” Celestia consoled her sister. The Princess of the Moon took a deep breath and tried to smile. “Thank you, Tia.” She said sincerely, but wished to change the subject. “So, what kept you awake this night?” Celestia knew the conversation would go this direction. “A dream.” She said. “Oh, I like dreams!” Luna exclaimed, understandable as her duty as a Dream Walker and an expertise in the field. “What was it like?” “I don’t know.” Celestia admitted. “I can’t seem to remember much of it, but something in my mind tells me that it was important.” Luna hummed while thinking. “Mayhaps this were a prophetic dream? Such things are uncommon and rare but very possible.” She theorized. “Are you certain you recall none of it?” Celestia was silent for a while, as the waiter returned with a tray carrying two cups which he lay on the tables, in front of the respective Princesses it was meant for. Celestia and Luna thanked the stallion waiter and then excused him so they could continue their conversation. “Well, there is one thing… though it is very odd.” Celestia admitted. “And pray tell, what is so odd about it?” Luna asked, blowing into her drink to cool it down, eyes on her elder sister. “It was… a faint memory, nothing specific. I remember a most outlandish accent I have heard in a long while... ” Celestia paused as she began to vaguely remember another minor thing. “And I also heard… laughter. What could that mean, Luna?” Expecting an answer she took a sip of her drink, only for her eyes to open wide. What she was drinking had the aroma and taste of tea, earl grey to be exact. Then that meant her extra strong coffee was… Celestia glanced up to look at her sister, whose eyes were wide open and a huge grin was rising on her face. “... Oh, sweet Me.” Celestia muttered with a facehoof and prepared to initiate Protocol DeCaf to contain Luna to her quarters until her caffeine rush was over. Only when she looked again Luna was already skipping out of the room while singing a horribly off-key tune. “Lal lala laa~ Lal lala laa~ The colors fill the sky~!” Celestia quickly ran out the door, only to find no sight of Luna. She groaned audibly and turned to the one guard who apparently was guarding the dining area, looking quite confused. “Tell Captain Shining Armor that he needs to initiate Operation Mooncatcher. He will know what that means.” “Uhh- I mean, yes, your Highness!” The Guard said with a salute and ran off to find his commanding officer. Celestia sighed wearily and returned to the dining table to at least finish the coffee Luna had accidentally gotten. She brought the cup, which was more like a mug, over with her magic and looked at it. It was empty, not even a drop left. “Horseapples!” Celestia cursed. That waiter was so fired. There was a great amount of hustle onboard the Flying Machine. The uninteresting and insignificant mooks that acted as crew ran all over the place, keeping the flying vessel in working condition. Yes as all this was going on Propeller Knight was at an unforeseen impasse. While his vessel flew over the endless ocean at a great speed, the trip felt… dull. He admitted to have been expecting this if he were to fly across the ocean by himself but it didn’t make it any less… well, boring. He could have looked over maps, but those were no good as they didn’t go very far before details became useless. The Mooks could take care of everything the ship needed to do. As a captain all he could really do was… loiter around. “... This situation, it is most frustrating,” Propeller Knight said, once again setting to pace in circles in his quarters. “M’yes, quite a pickle,” Said Mr. Hat while sipping tea in front of Propeller Knight’s mahogany table… Wait, what? Propeller Knight stopped on his tracks and looked at his table, and the occupant dressed in the most dapper overcoat ever seen and a brass helmet. In his armpit was positioned a wooden cane with a medium sized ruby for a handle. And the two stared at each other, the overcoated gentleman sipping his tea slowly. “... You, trespasser! Why are you intruding my vessel?” Propeller Knight calmly asked the dapper gent. To his credit, Mr.Hat seemed cool as a popsicle stand, sipping his tea one more time. “Why, good sir, I am the fantastic Mr. Hat! I just followed my Hat Senses that simply beckoned me to this fair vessel this very day.” Mr. Hat told the understandably wary Propeller Knight. Under his helmet Mr. Hat was intently looking at Propeller Knight’s Heli-Helmet. “My, what a glorious hat you have. Surely my Hat Senses were not lying. The mere sight makes my head itch.” He commented, sounding a bit overly excited about it in a very bad way. “Pardon my rudeness, but my Debonair is no mere hat  but a proud helmet I wear!” He said in a mildly offended manner. A helmet was a Knight’s pride and joy and to compare it to a mere hat was just… UNACCEPTABLE! “Hmm, I am sensing a great dejà vu at this time. My Hat Senses warn me, you are a most capable warrior.” Mr. Hat said, not making any sense to poor Propeller Knight. “Perhaps I will come to find a most grand hat in this blue chest here.” Propeller Knight had had just about enough of this. “This room, it is mine. I am afraid I’m going to have to...” Propeller Knight stopped. “Pardon, but what blue chest?” Mr. Hat simply gestured towards the bed with his foot, or rather the end of the bed where there lay a large blue chest on the ground. Propeller Knight was very sure it had never been there before. In his surprise he stepped back a few paces, coming close to the door. “W-what is this? Where did that come fro-” Just then the door slammed open and knocked him from behind and sending his body crashing at the blue chest. He took the impact mostly to the gut. “Sheesh, this place is a maze, Hee~! How is anyone supposed to walk around here?” A higher pitched voice said, a voice Propeller Knight would never wish to hear onboard his ship. He turned around his head to the short, white beak faced figure “Plague Knight, I demand to know why you’re- UGH!” His words fell flat as the air got knocked out of his lungs as the blue chest shot open, landing painfully on his behind. Out the chest popped a certain adventurous merchant. “Psst, hey! Don’t tell no one but I found a real nice piece from this here chest. It can be yours for 1000 gold.” The dreadlocked merchant named Chester said, showing off a bag filled with… something. “Top of the morning, sirs.” Mr. Hat greeted the newcomers, sounding very disappointed that whatever was in the chest was not a hat. “Greetings, Hee~!” Plague Knight greeted in his somewhat manic manner. “Sup.” Chester said with a peace sign. Propeller Knight sat on his arse, looking at the three stowaways in rapid succession. “What is happening?!” He screamed at the ceiling, unable to comprehend this situation. Right outside the door, watching as the chaos ensue was a very unsubtle hulking man peeking inside. “That’s two. Two of those no good Order of No Quarter clowns… I’ll show them...” Said a very irritated and extremely petty Knight only in name(and not even that). “I’ll show you for rejecting me!” Muttered the Baz (Knight) and “sneakily” trudged off to hatch plans. Underneath, in the break lounge. “Jeez, the Cap’n is really noisy today.” Muttered one of the numerous Green Propeller mooks who wore green cloaks and had propellers on their backs. “Eh, sounds like he ain’t alone, tho.” Replied one of the Blue Mage mooks who, well, wore blue robes. “Shut yer traps!” Shouted one of the Propeller Soldier mooks, who also had propellers on their backs, but wore green armor. “Now, anyone got any sixes?” “Go fish!” Both Green Propeller and Blue Mage said, gaining a frustrated growl from Propeller Soldier. Above them a Propeller Rat squeaked and flew around the place with no care in the world. Except falling. Or getting any actual control over it’s life.