I can't fly full speed with Irony on my back, but I relish the time in the air with her. Though, all good things eventually end. We flutter down to the aptly named, The Lodge, in Canberra. Irony and I are past the gates, and the humans haven't even begun to mobilize. Irony and I push through the doors and we finally end up in the office of the Prime Minister of Australia.
The man in question stands up from his desk, "May I help you…" He looks at Irony then at me, "Ladies?"
I smirk, "Yes. You can end your actions against the ponies."
He shakes his head, his smile never failing, "I'm afraid I can't do that. We don't want to deal with the pony problem. You were asked to come here to make them move."
I step forward aggressively, "They don't want to move. You don't have the right to make them."
He spreads his hands, "They don't have a choice, Miss."
I shake my head, "They are citizens of your nation."
His face grows dark, "They are ponies. They are not people."
"They are people just like humans, that has already passed the US Congress, and in other nations as well." I growl.
"None of that has any bearing on this nation, Miss Dust. You yourself are here for one reason only. That is to gather up those ponies that have cropped up in this nation, and get them to leave. We don't want them here. And you need to make them go with you. Or we will take action."
I growl and take a step forward, Irony stops me with a hoof on my withers, "Dust, this man has no interest in helping us. We will have to prepare the ponies to defend themselves. They don't want to move."
"That is your choice, but soldiers are on their way to gather the ponies up and get them on a plane today. We have a cargo plane ready for them to go away. And that is what's going to happen."
My ears fall flat against my skull, "You would use force against them?"
He nods.
"You son of a bitch." I shout at him, Irony's hoof restraining me, "My herd is there, my family. If any one of them is harmed, you will answer to me." I whirl around, dialing my phone as I gallop out the door and outside, Irony hot on my hooves."
A couple of rings, "Hello."
"Mindy, has anything happened while we were gone?"
"No, why?"
"Soldiers are on their way, and from what we've been told, this is not going to be them playing nice."
I hear a growl on the other end of the phone, "Put your hoof on Irony."
"What?" I say quizzically.
"Touch Irony with your hoof now, Dust."
I comply, "Okay, what now?"
"I'll bring you here."
Before I can utter another word, I feel like I'm being squeezed through the eye of a needle, and with a loud pop, I'm suddenly back at the farm, standing in front of Mindy."
I shudder, "Mindy, a little more warning next time." I feel my stomach churning from the teleportation.
She giggles and concentrates, her horn lighting, and with a soft pop, quite a bit of stuff appears on the ground in front of us. I smile and grab the armor that Irony had made for me.
"If soldiers are coming, let's show them ponies can fight back." She giggles again.
In moments Moon, Irony, myself, and Sparkler are all in armor. Sparkler nuzzles her mother, "We will help you, Mom. We will stop these humans."
I look around, "Are the ponies getting ready?"
She nods, "I told Tawny and Banana while you were getting your armor on."
"Where are they?"
"I think they will be here soon."
"Here they come!" A pegasus shouts from above.
Oh crap, this was a setup, I look at Mindy, "You gather up Helen, our stallions, and every noncombatant and get them inside, you protect them Mindy, I trust you with our lives, understand?"
She nods seriously and gallops off. I look at Irony, "We need to take care of these humans."
She nods and heaves her mace onto her shoulder, "We are going to have fun." I grin at her.
I look at the pegasus who called out, and rise to join her. I look around, these guys are going to be stupid I think. I flash down to Irony.
"Keep an eye out, they might try to flank us, just like the mercenaries did." I shout at Irony as I flash forward, I hear her call as I flash forward with my wingblades ready. I land along with a dozen or so pegasi as the military vehicles get close. They halt in front of us. A soldier exits one of the lead vehicles and saunters over to me.
"Turn around and go home. The ponies have decided they don't want to move. Leave in peace."
"I don't think so, pony. We are doing our job. We are going to take you ponies to the airport, and you are all going back to the United States. And out of our hair."
I shake my head, "No."
He smiles, "You don't have a choice." A soldier snaps up a rifle. I charge a wing and point it at him, the electricity crackling among my feathers.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you."
I hear a sound that chills my blood, I feel an impact on my chest armor. Compressed air, so something non lethal.
I look down, "What the fuck?" Three small darts are stuck into my armor. I swipe them off with a hoof and look up, "Big mistake." I flare my wings and take to the sky, I see the soldier who fired at me, a quick bolt has him on the ground, screaming. I risk a glance back and see over a hundred earth ponies and unicorns heading towards us. Sparkler, in her new armor that Irony made for her, in the lead of the Aussie ponies. I watch the pegasi flash down, starting to take out the dismounted soldiers. I see one, then two pegasi collapse to the ground, darts in them. I snarl as I fire a time displacement bolt at a truck, it flashes into nothingness as I continue forward.
I feel a pain in my lower jaw, I reach up a hoof to find out what's wrong. Oh no. It's those damned darts. They found my flesh. The tranquilizer starts to affect me almost immediately, I try to change direction, but my wings fold to my sides of their own volition, my mind starts to get fuzzy as I start to fall from the sky.
"Got ya." I hear a familiar voice tinged with a faint Australian accent. Somepony caught me. I smile as my consciousness flees.
***3rd Person. Canberra***
The Australian Prime Minister glares at his guest in his office.
"I haven't even notified the Parliament of the existence of ponies, at your insistence."
"And why haven't they been shuffled off to the US, so they can go through the portal and leave humanity alone?"
"I have only limited ability when it comes to the military, sir. I can't just mobilize the entire army and not have to explain why. And the ponies there have resisted all efforts to relocate them."
His guest slams his hand on the desk, "And you allowed Lightning Dust to come here? She has been very disruptive to me. She's gotten all of my US Government contracts cancelled, I'm on the run, and if they knew I was here, there would be an extradition order forthcoming."
"You have provided more than enough remuneration for me to not be reporting your whereabouts, sir."
The other man chuckles, "Yes, I would think ten million American dollars would be sufficient for you. But how are you handling the rumors of ponies, the RAN would at least be saying something with one of their crew members turning into that Daring Do character."
"She was shuffled off to the US and the entire crew was sworn to silence. They know that any mention of that pony will get them in some serious hot water. As to Lightning Dust, I asked the American President to quietly send assistance, hoping that one of the largest pony colonies in the US would be able to persuade their little struggling homestead to abandon their attempts and head to where they would be with other ponies. Apparently that pony, Lightning Dust, had other ideas. The group of soldiers that I sent should be able to gather up these ponies. They have tranquilizer guns, and will knock the ponies out. They will wake up on an American C-5A on its way out of our hair."
His guest stands up, "I sincerely hope your soldiers don't fail." He turns and heads out the door of the Prime Minister's office.
He heads down the hallway, and out to a waiting car. "Airport." He says curtly to the driver, who speeds off. The land down under is getting a little hot for his taste. Time to move on.
***1'st person, Lightning Dust***
My eyes slowly slide open, then closed. Damn it, I hate this! I force my eyes to open and then I look around, the room is empty, but judging from the peeling paint and the old furniture, I'm in the farmhouse. I notice nopony is in the room with me. I'm able to groan.
The door opens and Irony walks in. She has a bright smile on her face,
"I'm guessing we won?" I'm able to croak.
She chuckles, "Yes, we won. And you were right, they tried to be smart, and go for a two pronged attack. But we were ready for them. And we let them know that it is a mistake to mess with us."
I sigh, "How many casualties?"
She looks bleak, "Over a hundred of the Australian ponies are dead, nearly double that injured. Of our group, we didn't lose any, but several are nursing gunshot wounds."
That surprises me, but I'm still not in full control of my body, "They were using non-lethals on us."
She shakes her head, "At first they used tranquilizer darts on us. But once we started fighting back, they switched to their guns. The Aussie military is pretty damned tough. I'd put them with the Marines anytime. They were pretty fierce. But we won, we killed a lot of troops that were simply following orders."
I growl. That son of a bitch, "I'm going to head back to the Parliament in Canberra and give the Prime Minister a piece of my mind."
"You aren't the only one, Dust. But you need to wait until the tranquilizer has fully worn off. You are in no shape for flying."
I sigh, "You are right, Irony. As usual."
She smiles and hoofs my shoulder, "All part of the service. I'll have somepony get you some water."
I nod as she leaves. Though the effect is still pretty strong, a pony quickly comes in with water and I gulp some down, then I'm back asleep.
***
A few hours later, I'm finally back to normal. I'm itching to leave, but it being almost nightfall, Irony was able to persuade me to wait until morning. Though I'm looking forward to what's happening now, the semi-truck of tools and materials is getting close, I can see a speck flying in the distance.
Over several minutes, the speck resolves itself into being a semi-trailer, being pulled by a half dozen pegasi. Though my jaw drops in shock. I know the form riding one of the pegasi. My daughter, her entire body is glowing as the pegasi bring the trailer in for a landing.
I rush forward, "Hannah, what in the hell are you doing?"
She looks at me innocently, "Dust, Mayor Mare said she didn't think they had any unicorns strong enough to maintain the spell. And she was right." She giggles, "But I was able to handle it. And I cast a cloud support spell on everything when the pegasi were tired. It took us a long time to fly this far. But we were able to get it here."
"But, you were over the ocean, thousands of miles from help, what would have happened if..."
My daughter shushes me with a finger to my lips, my golden eyes meeting her purple ones, "I've been trained pretty well. And I know enough to know that I have a lot to learn when it comes to magic. But I knew I could do this, I knew I could help. So I did."
I open my mouth, only to get a stern look from my daughter, I change what I was going to say, "My own daughter..." I chuckle. She laughs and gives me a hug.
"Holy shit, you daughter can do magic?"
I turn and look at Sunset Shimmer, though my daughter is the one to answer, "Yes, I can, Miss Shimmer."
The golden mare stalks up to my daughter, then walks slowly around her, taking note of her cutie mark on her hand. She turns and looks at me, "I think I would like to stay around you ponies for a while."
I think for a moment, "I'm confused."
Sunset looks at my daughter, then at me, "I was thinking I would spend some time in your new pony town, but then I would go through the portal and go to Equestria. I don't think I'm going to do that now."
"And, why is that?" I ask quizzically.
"She needs more education."
Moon Shadow speaks up, "I have been teaching her, along with Mindy."
Sunset looks at her, "You are good with dream magic, right?"
Moon nods.
"And Mindy is... well, a lot like Pinkie Pie?"
We nod.
"I was Princess Celestia's prized student for many years, before I came to Earth the first time. I learned a lot directly from the Princess. I would be the most qualified to teach this human child, especially with the abilities she's already gotten."
Moon Shadow slides closer to me, "She has a point," she whispers in my ear, "Hannah is reaching the bounds of what I'll be able to teach her, and Mindy is running out of spells to teach her. Sunset, with her added knowledge, might be a wonderful tutor for her."
I look at Moon, then at Sunset, then finally at Hannah, "Would you like to be Sunset Shimmer's personal protégée?"
My daughter giggles, then teleports over to Sunset and gives her a huge hug."
Sunset smirks, "I think the answer is yes."
***
It's early afternoon, and we are on a chariot. Well, I'm not. I'm using my wings, but Irony, Moon Shadow, and Sunset are in the chariot that I'm keeping pace with. Irony developed a plan, this evening, our friend the PM will be addressing the Australian parliament, and we are going to have a little talk with him. Some interrogation of the soldiers sent to get the ponies illuminated a simple fact. The PM has not told Parliament of his actions. So, this is going to come down on his head. As we get close to the edifice, I spot a likely place for us to land. All we have to do is wait.
A few hours later, I watch a Mercedes come up, and I whistle for my friends. We watch as the Prime Minister of Australia is escorted into the building. I have to laugh, their security isn't anything near what the US Secret Service can do. I look around, "He's supposed to start his address in ten minutes, so we will get in there during his opening remarks. I look at Sunset, "Do you know where to teleport us?"
She nods, "I've been studying the blueprints, there is a cloak room near the dais where he will be speaking, I'll teleport us there, and you can talk to him there."
I grin, this is a time to destroy a political career. After we lost so many ponies, we are all seriously pissed off. Though I would really like to drag him somewhere to let him know exactly how angry I am. But the ponies, their security and safety, is far more important than my desire for physical vengeance. But who knows, I might be able to anyway. I can feel my body wanting to vibrate with anticipation, but I can't do anything yet. Irony is keeping time. I look at her, then at the building, then back at her.
She looks at me, "You are showing your impatience, Dust," she smirks.
I sigh, "Yes, and I would rather have ambushed him at home."
She puts down her phone and looks seriously at me, "If we had done that, the people of this nation would be against us. This way, we expose him for what he's done to us, and we get far better revenge. People like him are sharks, and the other sharks will notice the blood in the water."
I growl, "It's more fun for us to take matters in hoof."
She shakes her head, "I know, I agree. But we have to be smart about this."
I duck my head, "I know." I moan.
She looks at Sunset after a minute or two, and nods. Sunset Shimmer charges her horn, and we are in a small room, all bunched up together. I smile, it's go time.
I slam the door open, seeing exactly what I want to see, the Prime Minister is standing at the podium, teleprompters in front of him, he's speaking like the politician he is. I am at a canter when I come into view of the chamber of the Australian House of Representatives. I hear a collective gasp from the Australian lawmakers as it becomes obvious that a turquoise pony is heading to the Prime Minister. He turns and looks at me, his face a comedic look of surprise.
I take to the air and tackle him from the podium, "You son of a bitch!" I scream into his face as he puts his hands up to fend me off. I use my greater strength to hold his hands down, "Over a hundred of your citizens are dead, in addition to nearly two hundred of the soldiers you sent to gather them up."
"What the hell are you?" A man shouts, several of the lawmakers are surging forward, in addition to security personnel. Sunset is ready, any gun brought out by the security team is flashed away by her magic. Irony stands between me and the oncoming men.
I turn and look, "I'm Lightning Dust, and I was sent from the US to help the ponies here."
A confused look on several faces, one of the lawmakers decides to step forward, "But we were told that the pony problem was all rumors, and that there were none here."
I snarl at him, "You were lied to." I look down at the man I'm holding down, "By this son of a bitch."
Sunset Shimmer looks at all the cameras, she then steps to the podium, rearing on her hind legs to be visible, she places her hooves on the podium.
"Hello to all of you. My name is Sunset Shimmer. I don't know how many of you have watched the cartoon show that depicted a good portion of our lives. But a surprising amount of that show was true. We are living proof of that. We have popped up all over the world, tens of thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands of ponies are currently living all over the world. Many have made it to the various places of safety that we have set up in the US. I am one who has just joined a group in the state of Montana. Some of us have been simply trying to live our lives, and want to go home. We know of the way home, but it is only open a very short amount of time. But a good number want to stay, we have forged a life here. We have started families."
Tears start to form in her eyes, "Some families that have been torn apart by the abomination known as Discord have been reunited. I'm pleased to say that I've found a family that will accept me the way I am. But you all need to know, there are ponies here in Australia, several thousand of them. And that man," She points a hoof at the man who I am holding down, "sent soldiers to their home some hours from the capital here in Canberra. Those soldiers were directed to gather up the ponies and send them on a plane to the United States. The problem is, most of them don't want to go." She looks around beseechingly, "How would you feel if you were as intelligent as any other person, but because of your skin color, or because you had a certain color hair, you were forced to leave your home? Well, that seems to be the case when it comes to the ponies. We have been thrust into your society, unwillingly."
I look around, her words are resounding with the lawmakers in this building. Very many faces have thoughtful expressions as she continues, "And yet, we are driven creatures. The pegasi among us are driven to control the weather, the elements around us. The earth ponies are driven to grow food, to be craftsmen, to build, to grow. And the unicorns are just as driven. We can help humanity, we are already helping at our homes in the US. Let us help you here. Even though some of the ponies will decide to leave this world forever, there will be a lot of ponies here. Earth..." She trails off for a moment, letting the tears spill down her cheeks, "this Earth, this reality. This is home for many of us. And we will be staying, but for now, we simply need your acceptance. We are no different, we may walk on four hooves, but we can talk, we can think, just like you. Please, we need the same rights that you have by virtue of your birth."
She relaxes back onto four hooves, and comes to me, she murmurs, "Let's go."
I grin and grab the struggling human around his chest with four legs, my wings lifting us both in the air. His panicked screams filling the silence as I fly with him away. As I leave the chamber, I hear Irony's voice, "He will be fine, we need to talk to him."
Fine, which means he will be alive when I'm done with him. I can live with that.
The prime minister howls as Sunsets magic teleports us to the Lodge. His residence. I find a chair, which Sunset binds him to. I plant a hoof in his midsection, getting a loud "ooof," out of him. My heavy hoof crashes into his face, he spits out a tooth and glares at me. His face is starting to show bruising very quickly, and his nose is bloodied.
He groans, "Why?"
I get in his face, "Why? Are you fucking serious? Why? You caused the death of over a hundred ponies. If I had my way, you would be dead right now, you fuck." I punctuate that with a hoof to the midsection. Then another across his face. Blood splatters onto my face. I rear back to hit him again.
Irony puts a hoof on my withers, "Love, he's had enough."
I shake her off, "Death is too good for him." Then I look at the blood speckling my fur. That stops my attack immediately. I sit on my haunches, looking at the blood. My ears fold back.
"Dust, we don't execute, what is the penalty in Equestria for murder?"
I look back at her, "We haven't had a murder in decades before Discord." My blood is still boiling.
She nods, "But the law is on the books, you were a Wonderbolt, which is an extension of the guards. You know the law."
I sigh, "Banishment." Irony's words are having an effect on my, my breathing is starting to return to normal.
She nods. I look back at him, "We may not be in Equestria at this point, but I think I've made my point."
Sunset comes up and scans him with her magic, "I'm certain you have Dust, you've broken three ribs, the right orbital bone, and four teeth."
I growl, "He deserves more. He should be set in the middle of the bush with a single canteen of water."
Irony growls, "Dust, I know how mad you are, I'm just as angry, but we don't let anger determine us, now do we?"
I look down, "No, we don't."
The human is trying to speak, I think the broken ribs are making it a lot harder to get enough breath to speak. He's panting, but I can make out an attempt to speak.
I look at Sunset, "Can you heal some of his injuries, let him talk, he seems to think we should know something."
She lights her horn, and teeth re-grow, in addition, much of the bruising fades before my eyes. She looks reprovingly at him, "I could do more, but I won't. I'm easily as angry as Dust is. But you had better tell us something interesting, or I'll let her have her way with you again."
"Spectrum." He pants.
Irony steps forward, shifting on to two hooves, her massive hands gripping his skull. "Spectrum, as in the Spectrum Group?"
He nods, and Irony lets him go.
He's able to whisper, "He was here."
My eyes widen, "That son of a bitch?"
He nods, "He paid me ten million American dollars to shelter him, and he told us to get rid of the ponies here, so they could go back through that portal you have back in the states, so you can just go away, and leave humanity alone." He coughs. Moon Shadow floats a glass of water to him.
I'm vibrating with anger now, Irony can see that, she shifts and gathers me up, I'm shaking so badly. Sunset looks at me, then at him, "Now, this is what you are going to do, you are going to push to give ponies the same legal rights as any person in your nation, and that ten million dollars, you are going to donate that to the colony of ponies here in Australia."
Irony nods, I can feel it, but I can't see anything, my vision is filled with what was done to me. I shudder in her grasp, tears starting to flow. After a few minutes, I'm able to whisper to Irony, "Please, get me out of here, love. I can't handle this."
Irony takes me from the room, but I hear the human promising to do as told to Sunset. She finally sets me down in the hallway. After a few minutes, Sunset joins us.
She grins at me, "I think a lot of the problems that the Aussie ponies are having have just been resolved." She moves forward and kisses me.
*pomf*
She pulls away, "Thank you, Dust."
I shake my head, "I'm not complaining, Sunset, but what was that for?"
When I said that I found a family that accepted me for who I am, I saw you nod."
Her words take a moment to actually register, "Are you saying you want to join us? Not just as Hannah's teacher?"
She nods, "I know this isn't the exact best time to talk about this, Dust. But I want to court your family, I want to join you, Moon Shadow, Irony, Mindy, and Helen."
I look at her for a long time, I'm really floored, "You could take your pick of almost any mare or stallion on this world, why us?"
She smiles, "Because you are interesting, and you are driven. You are dedicated to protecting any pony you can. I've talked with Irony, I've talked with Mindy, and Helen. You are the lynch pin of this family, and I want to join you."
I look at Irony, who smiles at me encouragingly, then back at Sunset, "Sunset, I don't know what to say."
She kisses me again, "Say yes."
I smile, "Of course, yes. We are glad to have you. Hannah's going to be so thrilled."
She giggles, "I think she will."
***
We are getting ready to go home, nearly a week in Australia after our encounter with the Prime Minister has been interesting, he did what he was told to, and most of all, he resigned after pushing for legislation for personhood for the Equestrian ponies. I guide my family onto the chariot that will take them to Sydney. Some of the Australian ponies have decided to join us in the US. Among them is Sparklers family, they all board the bus, since the chariot can't take them all. The bus slowly turns around, and rumbles off into the distance. I give Irony a kiss as she board the chariot, "I'll see you at home."
She looks at me quizzically, "You'll see me at the airport, right?"
I shake my head, "No, I'm going to fly home."
She frowns, "That is a really damn long way."
I nod, "I'm going to island hop, and I can catch fish along the way. If I get tired, I'll sleep on a cloud. But I want to check some populated islands, see if there are any ponies there."
She sighs, "Dust, are you ever going to just take time for yourself?"
I nod, "I already did, I was months out of the action."
"Yeah, while you were recovering from some serious injuries."
"That was the very definition of me time, Irony. Time to get back into the mix."
She sighs again, "Well, remember to plan family time too."
I waggle my eyebrows, "Oh, I won't forget family time. When we get home, we are going to have a big date with Sunset." I look at the golden mare talking animatedly with Banana Muffin, "I've talked to her, we are going to have fun together."
Irony's face colors, I smile, I can feel the heat in my own face, I know her mind ran right for the gutter the moment I said that. I hop into the air and then lean down and give Irony another kiss, "Love, I shouldn't be more than a couple of days. And I'll give you a call before I get there."
She nods as Sunset hops aboard, along with a couple of pegasi from the Aussie farm that are staying. They will pull the chariot back once our group is dropped off. A very full plane will be heading back home. I take a long look at my family, then flash forward and give the rest of the family kisses. I even give Sunset a kiss as well. I enjoy watching her face redden as I pull away. Hannah gets a hug from me, and I take off like a bullet, heading east and north.
***
Three days of flying from island to island. No ponies, but I'm sitting on a cloud, enjoying raw fish. The theories about pegasi evolving to live like this have to have some merit, I was never a fan of raw fish, but this time, it's excellent. I swallow the last of my meal and take off.
After about an hour of flying, I'm a few hundred miles from the Big Island of Hawaii. And then I'm buzzed by a fighter jet, it catches me unawares as it streaks by me at nearly the speed of sound. I wasn't pushing my speed, only a couple hundred miles an hour. I swivel my head and notice a second jet, it's keeping pace with me. I move closer and notice the type, an F-35 Lightning 2. The pilot is gesturing to me. I see the first jet has taken up position in front of me and to the other side. I have two options, accelerate and leave them in my dust, or follow them. I think for a moment then decide on the second option.
After a bout ten minutes, I see an aircraft carrier ahead. I look at the pilot to my left, he's pointing at the carrier. I flash forward, outstripping the fighters and then as I get overhead, I kill all of my forward momentum and drop like a stone towards the carrier deck, folding my wings I flip so it's a full on dive. Flaring my wings at the last second, I land on the carrier, far easier than any airplane can do the job. I trot around, folding my ears flat against the din of an aircraft carrier performing flight operations. A man in a purple helmet comes up to me, I can't hear him, but he points at a hatch in the island. I trot towards the hatch as the first of the planes that intercepted me come in for a landing. I look around, noting the CVN-76 on the superstructure. I'm not certain which ship this is as of yet.
As I get through the hatch, a naval officer comes up to me, "I'm Commander William Riggs, I'm the XO of the Ronald Reagan." He extends a hand, I reach out a hoof and he shakes it. "I'm pleased to meet you."
I look at my hoof, then at the human, "You were expecting me?"
He nods, "We've got a pony here, she's been on board for a few months. But during our extended deployment, we've not been able to get back home. And she refuses to take a greyhound home. She said she wants to stay with the ship."
I shrug my wings, "If she doesn't want to go back shoreside, why do you want her gone?"
He looks down, "We actually don't want her to go. She's been invaluable as a member of the crew. Even after her change."
I cock my head to the side, he continues, "She was originally one of our fighter pilots, and once she started changing, she turned into a unicorn. Her magic has been very helpful aboard ship."
"Really?"
He nods as he heads off, me walking next to him, "I was surprised at how useful a unicorn can be to have around."
I snicker a bit, "Yeah, I've heard."
We continue chatting until we get to a conference room. A unicorn is sitting at her ease in one of the chairs. Her light blue coat and midnight blue mane really catches my attention. Quite pretty, I take a look at her cutie mark, ocean waves. I'm thinking she would have naturally been drawn to the navy as a human, since a lot of our pony personalities come through as humans.
I step forward, "I'm Lightning Dust."
She smiles at me, "Blue Lagoon."
Nice name, I smile back, "So, I don't know how, but apparently you were expecting me."
She nods, "I received an email, saying a pony was going to come and visit me."
"I didn't send any emails." My ears flatten as I think.
"Well, I was told to be on the lookout for a unicorn."
That makes me stop and think, "A unicorn? Out in the middle of the ocean?"
"Well, we are pretty close to Hawaii, was thinking they would messenger out here."
I hop up into one of the chairs as the XO of the ship bids his leave. I look around, "So, I've been told you were an invaluable addition to the crew."
She nods, "My special talent, I can control the currents in the ocean."
I cock my head to the side, "Huh?"
She laughs, "I can get the water to do what I want, I remember some of Equestria, I was a weather mare, specializing in coastal weather. I could generate the water needed for Cloudsdale or the other weather cities by myself, without the use of a pegasi generated tornado."
That gets a low whistle from me, "In Equestria, were you tested for strength."
She blushes and nods.
I wait patiently for her to continue, after a moment, "Class five?"
She blushes even more and nods again.
My wings drop to my sides, "You are among the most powerful of unicorns, there are only a few hundred in all of Equestria with that kind of power."
She nods, "Yeah, Princess Celestia wanted me to join her school, but I declined."
My jaw drops, after a moment, "But why?"
"I wanted to stay near the ocean, not be shorebound in Canterlot. That would have required years away from the ocean, with only a few rivers or fountains to play with. I visited, but it didn't appeal to me."
I have to shake my head, this is a unicorn that could best almost any unicorn that I know, with the possible exception of Sunset Shimmer. Mindy and Moon Shadow, as high class fours, would be mere playthings under this unicorn's power.
I clear my throat, "I'm guessing you won't want to leave the ship?"
She shakes her head, "I've been accepted by the crew. By the captain, by everyone here, I am happy here."
I shake my head, "Well, I won't try to make you. But I am very happy to meet you, Blue Lagoon." I go on and tell her about our sanctuary, all of the ponies there, and I finally finish up with, "You are always welcome to visit."
She smiles, "Not very likely, Lightning Dust. I am drawn to the deep currents, to the water. And whenever I want to fly, I can create a cloud platform and fly with it. I was a pilot, and I guess as part of me loving to fly is because my herd moved to Cloudsdale when I was young, I was the only unicorn of a family of pegasi. We moved there once I was able to perfect casting the cloud walking spell. I spent most of my younger years living on the clouds."
I'm amazed, a unicorn that thinks like a pegasus. I like her.
We are interrupted by a knock at the door, a human in a khaki shirt comes in, I see an eagle on his lapel.
Blue Lagoon hops off her chair and salutes the captain of the USS Ronald Reagan.
He looks at me, "So, you have met our resident pony."
I nod, "You have an amazing unicorn here."
He nods, "Yes, she's helped us with some sticky situations, she's even dispelled a storm that was making flight operations rather hairy. We had an F-18 that was dangerously low on fuel, and after two wave offs, she stood on the bridge, and I've never seen anything like it, in seconds we were in clear sky, and the plane was able to land without incident. I hope you aren't planning on taking her away from us."
"I wouldn't dream of it, Captain. If she's happy, I'm happy for her."
The captain extends a hand for a shake, I put out a hoof, he goes on, "Well, I would like to extend you the invitation to spend some time with us aboard ship. We are due in San Diego in nine days. And I know that you ponies are pretty social creatures. That's the only thing I've really noticed wrong when it comes to Blue over here." He smiles at the sad look on the pony's face, "She gets a bit lonely, her shipmates all really like her, but she needs some of her own kind here."
I think about his words for a minute, "I would happily stay, but I have a family at home waiting for me, so I'll just stay a day or two. But I know a few pegasi who were originally members of the US armed forces. Perhaps a few would like to join your crew."
I see the blue unicorn brighten immediately, a huge smile splitting her face. I continue, "I think things can be arranged, the President's daughter turned into a pony, and we actually communicate with him directly from time to time. I think some bureaucracy can be pushed past and have a half dozen or so ponies assigned to the Reagan. But no guarantees."
The captain moves over and puts a hand on Blue Lagoon's withers, and she looks up at him. That look really interests me, she really likes the captain. They both look happy, Blue Lagoon speaks up, "She can bunk with me."
He chuckles, "That's what I was thinking."
***
It's getting late at night, and after catching her up on things back at home, I ask her, "So, you really like the captain?"
She blushes, but I don't think she's aware of it, "Yes, he's always been a wonderful officer. A great teacher, and a very strong leader."
I get a sly look, "What were you before you changed?"
"A woman, why?"
I chuckle, "So, you've been crushing on him before you became a pony?"
She shakes her head really quickly, "What? No. I respect him."
"And you love him." I say loudly, "Come on Blue, I can see it written all over your face."
She ducks her head, she's silent for a long time, "Do you think he knows?"
I chuckle, "He's male, and I used to be one. He's as oblivious about such things, just like other men."
She looks surprised, "You were a man before you became a pony?"
I nod.
Her ears flatten, "And you are pregnant now?"
"I'm not pregnant. I was tortured for months, I was almost lost. I can't bear foals."
She smirks, "Have you been having morning sickness?"
I shake my head, "No, occasionally I'm queasy in the morning when I wake up."
"Dust, I have magic, and I can tell. There are subtle changes when a pony is pregnant, and I can tell."
I shake my head even harder, "There are times I wish that were true, Blue. But I can't be pregnant, one of our stallions is a doctor, he told me I was unable to bear foals after my torture."
"I suggest you talk to him when you get back." She looks seriously at me. I scoff as I pull the blanket over my body and yawn loudly.
I think for a moment as sleep starts to overtake me, I can't be pregnant, I have too much scar tissue, too much damage back there, it's impossible.
***
I sit up and bang my head against the bunk, "Owww." I whisper, rubbing my head with a hoof. I look over at Blue Lagoon, she's snoring softly. I look around the dark cabin.
The sound that woke me up repeats, it's unmistakable, a soft hoofstep. Another pony!
I hop off the bed and onto the decking, my new horseshoes quiet on the deck. Though through the cracked hatch, I can hear a soft gasp, and the sound of a pony at a gallop. What the hell? I stick my head through the hatch, and see the glimpse of a dark tail as it rounds a corner. I flash down the hall, it's pretty damned hard to fly in these narrow corridors, but I manage a stumbling wing assisted gallop. I slide around the corner, there is no pony there. I rush down the hall, I can hear hoofsteps in the distance. Then a yelp. I accelerate and make it to another corner. Two enlisted navy men are standing there.
"Was there a pony here?"
One of them nods, "Yeah, it came around the corner, yelped, and then disappeared in a flash of light."
"Stallion or mare?"
Both shake their head.
"Coat color? Mane Color?"
Again, two heads shake.
I sigh, "Anything distinguishing?"
One of them speaks up, "On the flank, it looked like a star."
"How many points? The color?"
He spreads his hands, "I'm not certain, a lot, more than the typical five pointed star, but the color, it was inky black. That's why it stands out, I've seen a lot of that show, I've never seen a black cutie mark like that."
I thank the two men and walk back to the cabin I am sharing with Blue Lagoon, who is this pony, and why don't they want to be found?