Badlands
Midway point
Rail construction site (behind schedule)
3:17 pm
Gabor was currently resting in a hastily built canvas shelter. He had just left the meeting with the new Zebrican government. While his brother was healing in a prison hospital he would continue with his work release program for both of them; a sort of two for one deal where his working hours would also count towards his brother's release. This was due to them giving information about Balsam's secret trade routes, and information about the other warlords. The work was far from easy, but the harsher the work the less hours he had to endure. He pulls out a small drawing of him and his brother; it was a simple charcoal sketch that his brother Boipelo made before they were captured. Luckily he managed to get put into a small frame he found on the side of the tracks. Sadly, it seemed like his work was never finished because there was one problem though with his job.... they hadn't been able to work! The last few deliveries of tracks hadn't made it too the site. There had been a number of attacks on the railways causing derailments and even explosions from herbal explosives...there was also one attack on a ship that was carrying a large amount of materials and goods with traces of magic. He sat up from his cot and looked around the tent. It was fairly plain with a few other cots and a water bladder that was currently dripping a bit after he drank from it earlier. Only one more month of this, one more delivery of tracks, and he could head back to see his brother and get a cushy job as a janitor in the prison hospital.
"Hey Gabor! Guess what? They managed to get some rails en route to us! There handing out the tools now. Hurry before you get stuck with the busted equipment! Besides, the orderlies are watching..." He was warned by Zemi, a young Zebra. Unlike him, he was here to make some money for his sister back home. He wore a large straw hat and a tattered vest he hadn't taken off since they first arrived. It's green color had faded from it as the baking sun that had bleached it.
He rubs his eyes and stretches before getting up and slipping his own large straw hat onto his head. He quickly ties it under his chin, and slowly heads out to the line for tool requisition. This was gonna be a long day...
Equestria
Ponyville
Castle of Friendship
2:39pm
June 29th, two weeks before Victory Day
Twilight Sparkle was reading the latest newspaper in her throne room, a sad expression on her face. Apparently there had been a rise in what more and more ponies were calling organized crime at the hooves of Pegasi. There had been a number of attacks on earth pony businesses, both those selling Britainian goods and those who just sold local produce. Now the amount of self defense cases had swamped local guards stationed in towns to the point many of the cases were dropped. How could things fall apart between the two races? Never mind the pressure that many earth ponies were feeling as some of the nobility sent squads of goons to rough up shopkeepers to discourage them from buying Britannian goods (which tended to end with bloodshed)... Many unicorns and Pegasi even blamed the influx of goods from the south for the degradation of harmony, but was it really the cause? Was harmony really just the strict hierarchy where earth ponies struggled at the bottom while Pegasi and unicorns enjoyed the benefits of having extra appendages? It couldn't be true, right? Celestia would have never allowed such a system to exist right? Then why was it exactly what she was seeing?
It didn't matter in the end; the earth ponies had won the argument. Equestria needed trade with the southerners of Zebrica more then they needed bloated inefficient businesses. With the few letters she had gotten from the princess it gave her an idea of just how dire Equestria's supplies situation was. Without the trade from Zebrica many Equestrian villages and cities would collapse. Their country had little in the way of industrial grade metals, and their strict environmental laws prevented them from having many stone quarries or logging operations. This meant that they depended on trading their surplus of grain, fruits, vegetables, and enchanted goods (though now a-days they mostly sat in storehouses) for things such as stone, metal, wood, and exotic goods.
"Twilight! Derpy just dropped off a message from Zebrica." Spike's announcement shakes her out of her thoughts. He was frantically waving a letter about, jumping up and down in an attempt to get her attention.
She grabs the letter with her magic and opens it.
"Dear Princess of friendship/Element of Magic Twilight Sparkle,
As you may or may not know the completion date of the railway has been pushed back a number of times due to the loss of rails and materials because of industrial accidents and improper handling. Do not worry, as we have made arrangements to insure that this will not hinder your visit. After sending a correspondence with High Princess Celestia it was decided that another mode of transportation would be necessary. It has been decided that a R38 Airship that has been set up to have luxurious accommodations for a short day flight to Zebrica will be used. It will land in the open field in the center of the Whitetail woods to avoid scaring your subjects.
It is also important to tell you that any luggage that weighs more then 30 pounds will not be taken due to the nature of the vessel. It will land on June 29th at around 12:20 AM. Fancy and Blueblood have also been notified during my correspondence with High Princess Celestia. I look forward to having you and you friends over at my embassy for a meal and some tea.
Signed,
Ambassador Ivo Andric"
Twilights eyes widened. She threw Spike onto her back and ran out of the room.
Equestria
Ponyville
Sweet Apple Acres
2:44pm
Applejack sat on her haunches as her brother worked on their small *fleet* of submarine stills that were hidden below an old abandoned storehouse on their property. Also helping it stay concealed was that it couldn't be seen from the air thanks to the thick foliage surrounding it. She looked around the dug out shelter they made just under the old building; the walls were made from rough sawn boards from there own orchard with a number of oil lanterns lighting up the room. A little dirt would fall though the gaps in the walls and a little water would leak though the floor boards above them but for the most part the structure was sound. The stills worried her a bit, since Celestia often spent a large amount of tax payers bits for a threat campaign of the dangers of stills and fermenting but in the end the risks were outweighed by necessity. She then turned her attention to her brother who was climbing down the ladder after fixing the copper cap and cooling coil. He sighs and nods for her to start the fire below the still.
"Are you sure I should go along with Twilight down south? Didn't you say that you needed me here to help with the farm?" She asks her brother, her attention on the slowly growing fire beneath the vat.
Big Mac puts the letter on the table, before turning to her."Yes. I have a contact in the south who is interested in buying our moonshine and fermented cider in considerable bulk. This trip is the perfect cover for you to head down south to hammer out the details of the deal without arousing suspicion. We need this deal; it will ensure that our family never has to be in debt again." He eases back into a wooden chair they brought down earlier creaking under him.
Applejack nods and nearly jumps as one of the warning bells they set up rings, signaling that someone opened the front gate of sweet apple acres.
"That must be Twilight here to remind me that we are leaving for Zebrica...if you're sure about this Mac then I trust you." She adjusted her rough mane and trotted out of the underground distillery through a secret entrance hidden in a hollow oak tree and ran to the farmhouse, not wanting to be seen anywhere near their project.
Equestria
Ponyville
Fluttershy's cottage
3:00pm
Fluttershy sighed as she knocked on her guest room door for the eighth time waiting for the Rainbow Pegasus to respond. She heard a long groan and the clopping of hooves, before a click signaled the door was unlocked. After hearing the covers and pillows rustle she slowly opened the door. She sighed sadly, seeing the messy rainbow mane sticking out of the covers as she pulled them over her head. After her incident at Twilight's party she was placed in her care using Twilight's authority. Fluttershy gently laid a bowl of soup down on the dresser.
"....I'll just leave the soup on the dresser..." She trots out of the room and into her living room.
She trotted over to her couch and sat down with Angel, who looked up at her.
"Oh Angel, are you sure that you can handle everything while I'm gone? I mean I don't think it would be much of a bother if me and Rainbow stayed behind", The small bunny shook his head and pointed repeatedly at the two bags she had packed for her and her friend.
"I guess you're right...I mean I already packed...and maybe a change of scenery would be good for her." She rests her head on the end of the couch and looks around the cottage. Her brief moment of peace is interrupted by knocking at the door.
Equestria
Ponyville
Sugar Cube Corner
3:11pm
Pinkie Pie hoped around the bakery happily as she looked at the renovations. The bakery was actually being expanded instead of just updated. She was a little sad she couldn't bring down the cake twins, since apparently letting them play with tools is a bad idea, but she couldn't wait till they opened. She would make up her absence at the grand opening with a big party as soon as their trip was done! She hopped into the new and improved kitchen that was hidden behind the store front and looked over the massive gas oven that they bought from Filthy. It was already hooked up to the gas tank around the back of the bakery and she spent the last few days seeing just what it could handle compared to their old wood fired enchanted ovens and she wasn't disappointed; not only did it cook the sweets evenly but she found she could pump out nearly four times as many cupcakes then she could normally bake.
While she was looking over the kitchen a crash sent her running into the unfinished storeroom, only to find the twins playing in some flour and cooing when they saw their favorite playmate. She just shook her head, wondering how they got down here after she just put them down for a nap.
"What did auntie Pinkie tell you two about trying to skip your naps? Without them you get all grumpy grouchy and unfun to play with" she giggled, nuzzling them for bit.
She lifted them onto her back while the two foals yawned, showing they still needed there nap. After taking them upstairs and setting them in their crib she sat there, watching them fidget and turn.
Equestria
Ponyvilles
Carousel boutique
3:32pm
Rarity continued to pack her numerous trunks for the trip, having just managed to work her wardrobe down to only five trunks. This was no small feat, considering just how many different outfits and hats she had. As she looked over her shop she decided that now was a good time to make sure that her affairs were in order; after all one couldn't be too careful with Diamond dogs, no matter what form they came in.
She trotted over to her sewing table and sat down, enjoying a cup of carmel tea she poured for herself earlier to help calm her self down. She had some flashbacks to her previous experiences with diamond dogs... Despite what Twilight had told her about the Britanians she couldn't help but imagine the filthy mongrels that caught her. After taking another long sip of her tea, she heard a knocking at her door. She sighed and slowly made her way over to the door. When she opened the door, a frantic Twilight nearly bowled her over as she ran into the room.
"Rarity we're being picked up tonight by airship. You're going to have to pack one bag that is under 30 pounds they won't take anything more then that." She huffed out, likely having just run all over Ponyville to tell her friends about the change in plan.
This however was not good news for Rarity, who spent the last few weeks trying to bring her luggage to a quaint five trunks, only to be told she would have to cut it down further to only a few outfits."Surely there's some leeway! I just spent the last few weeks deciding what outfits to pack into my trunks! Now you tell me I will have to make do with one half filled bag?" She sighed, stressed out.
"Sorry Rarity, but they were very clear about the weight limit...surely you can cut down on your packing?" Twilight said as diplomatically as she could. Rarity left to reorganize her backs.
She started opening the trunks and pulled out an old bag she was given by her parents years ago. In comparison to her trunks it was minuscule, but it would have to do..unless she could fit a bit more? She smirked; the mongrels wouldn't expect it...
Equestria
Whitetail woods
Parasite meadow
11:31pm
Twilight paced in the meadow with Spike resting on her back as they waited for their (late) transport. Luckily it was summer, so they weren't freezing as they all sat on the soft grass. Fluttershy spent most of her time picking some of the flowers while Rainbow spent most of her time grumbling quietly as she leaned up against a tree. Applejack was resting on her back, close to Pinkie, who was rolling in the dandelions. Rarity was clutching her bag close to her, hoping no one would notice how uncharacteristically large it was. All while glaring at the a certain blond and white coated stallion who stayed close to his mentor and friend Fancy Pants. There escort consisted of one portly Solar Guard knight and a Lunar Guard thestral who seemed to be sharing stories and laughing.
That's when they heard a loud buzz in the air that echoed through the meadow. It was nearly deafening as it continued to get louder and the group of ponies who looked around frantically, trying to figure out where the noise was coming from. That's when they all looked up to see the stars vanishing in the sky as a massive object hovered into view. It sat there for a few moments, before the piercing noise begins to lessen in intensity.
None of the ponies knew what was going on, as they were suddenly bathed by search lights.
"Ah! You must be the the six mares and four stallions we were sent to pick up, yes?" A loud voice declares as a number of rope ladders are dropped from what they can only guess is their transport. A wicker basket is also dropped alongside the ladders.
A number of Diamond dogs climb down the ladders and approach them. A noticeably tall and decorated mastiff in a thick leather uniform leads them, giving the group of ponies a sense of unease. His eyes center on Spike for a few moments as they narrow into a quick glare before shaking himself out of it and smiling at the group of ponies.
Twilight manages to shake herself out of her shock and nods before speaking."Yes, we are. I'm guessing you're our transport to Zebrica? It's wonderful to meet you, what is that thing I have never seen an airship like it before!" Her voice begins to speed up near the end, eliciting a chuckle from the tall mastiff leading the group. While the small group of stallions approach the tall dog aswell and looking shocked at Twilights outburst.
"This wonderful product of Britanian engineering is known as a R38 zeppelin. If you want specifics I would be more then to happy to tell you the non classified information about it later. But first we must weigh and load your baggage." He says while the two stallion escorts take note of that. He notices the white mare gain a nervous look as he said this. Two of his men took out portable scales and began to weigh the group's bags. Everything was fine until they reached Rarity's bag, which went beyond the scale's meager weighing capacity.
"Sir, this bag is nearly five times the limit!" The small tan mutt yells over the sound of the engines before opening it and releasing a comical explosion of clothing into the air. Rarity turns away, a deep blush adorning her face. While Blueblood chuckles seeing it and getting a dirty glare from her.
"You can leave them or be left behind miss, what will it be?" The masstif says smugly to Rarity as she puffs up her cheeks and gets ready to have a tantrum... until Twilight gives her a look and shakes her head. She just snorts and leaves some of the clothes in the meadow, removing a number of outfits until the mutt with the scale nods and places it into the basket. He gives a signal for it to be lifted up.
"Now that fiasco is finished with, will any of you need help getting up to the gondola? We have a harness system for those who feel uneasy climbing ladders or aren't gifted with natural flight." He says as a a few harnesses are lowered and the gondola doors open.
Rainbow snorts and flies up to the door, while Twilight follows her with Spike to keep an eye on her, with the thestral following close behind chuckling still at what happened to the white mare. The others are hooked up to the harnesses with Applejack and Pinkie going first as they are slowly pulled up. A grumpy Rarity and a (surprisingly) terrified Fluttershy follow afterwards, with the Solar Knight being squeezed into the harness with some difficulty.
The inside of the zeppelin was fairly plain compared to Equestrian airships, lacking the wood and rope in their construction and instead using metal and steel cables with countless rivets holding it all together. Blueblood and Fancy remained quiet and simply marveled at the construction and size. Already Fancy was trying to figure out just how many Equestria could afford with there current budget, while Blueblood imagined what he could go with such a wonderful craft after getting rid of the comparatively primitive vessels his company used. They looked around and saw a number of strange barrel shaped balloons above and around them them. Just seeing such large balloons made Pinkies eyes widen in wonder, while Twilight was fascinated with the science behind it.
"Ah, this must be your first time on a zeppelin yes? I remember my first time, just seeing all the balloons and steel wondered how such a thing could possibly work!" The group of ponies turn around to see a Caanan Diamond dog with tan white fur dressed in dark clothing and a small black flat cap on the back of his head.
"Yes....I mean I have been on Equestrian airships, but I have ever seen anything like this before! It's incredible! How does it move? What keeps it afloat if not hot air? What powers it?!" Twilight shouts before calming down. Pinkie meanwhile amuses her self by poking the balloons.
"Stop!" He shouts loudly pulling the Pink mare away from the balloon frantically. Rainbow pumps up her wings in anger.
"What's the big idea huh?! She was just looking at your stupid balloons!" She shouts in his face while a number of the crew members release their held in breath.
"Those balloons are filled with an explosive gas known as hydrogen, and they are VERY temperamental" He says calmly, trying to defuse the situation knowing the crew wouldn't be much help as they chuckled, watching him deal with the ponies.
Suddenly Twilight's eyes widen as Captain H.C Irwin walks in, with the two escorts looking nervous as he looks at the mare who was currently assaulting one of his own. The young Cavaan dog gives him a quick salute.
"At ease." He directs his attention to Twilight. "Now mind telling me why you're assaulting your tour guide? After all, he will be guiding you on your trip to Zebrica. It's not a good idea to rough him up so early. " he chuckles, as Twilight pulls Rainbow off the poor dog using her magic and holds her back.
"Um...we were just told about your use of...lifting gas" Fancy interjects before Twilight could while the other ponies and the small drake looked around worriedly at the balloons that were attached to the inner frame of the airship.
"Well then there is little to worry about! We just had our old balloons replaced, and I will have you know I have them checked constantly both before and after take off. As long as your small drake avoids breathing fire during our trip we should be fine. Now, if you would be so kind Mr.Yosef to show them to their bunks? I feel that I should also remind you that the two guard stallions requested to bunk with the crew. I must take my place at the bridge." He says walking away before Twilight and Blueblood could ask if she could see the rest of the ship.
"Follow me please...." Yosef says as he leads them to a group of small but well furnished rooms with portholes, curtains, small but comfortable bunks, and small fold out desks for meals and work. As they all got settled in there small rooms Yosef leaves with the two escort stallions leading them down to the crew quarters.
While Blueblood placed his bags in a compartment below the bunks he noticed he was being watched by a certain angry white mare.
"Yes?" He turns around to look at her while Fancy sees fit to relax on the upper bunk watching.
"What are you doing here?!" She shouts loudly and angrily not being able to contain her anger at him any longer.
He sighs having prepared for this for awhile."I came in the interest of trade for my family's company and to support my longtime mentor and friend Fancy." He says calmly and plainly to her.
"What would a spoiled disgrace of a prince like you know anything about business?! From what I have heard all you do is drink and plow every mare that you can!" She shouts at him while he just chuckles which only infuriated her more.
"Let me guess you read all that in the cheap illegal tabloid newspaper that every mare seems to read right? The same tabloid that says that I'm the nephew of the princess? The same on that says that all the mares of Canterlot practice female circumcision? Or my favorite one that me and my sister who has been dead for years have been in some sort of sick incestuous relationship? Well let me tell you, you sorry excuse of a gold digger none of it is true it's all bull crap that they make up so that gullible mares like you would eat it all up." He says right into her face evenly letting it all out ofter having to deal countless mares coming to him believing themselves to be his true love and then having to deal with the fallout when he said he wasn't interested with all the hate mail and stalking mares who just wouldn't take no for an answer.
Rarity just stands there after he slams the door in her face while she try's to over come her shock. Before stomping her way back to her room with Twilight who opens her mouth for a moment before closing it thinking for a moment after her embarrassing incident with her bag and having to deal with Blueblood who just called her a gold digger and a fool for believing in those cheesy newspapers she used to swear on she likely didn't want to talk.
The white mare just climbed into her bunk and burred her pillow and screamed while Twilight curled up on her bunk a over her with Spike looking down trying to process what just happened. She pulled out one of his comics that she bought for him for the trip while she pulled out a journal she had bought for herself for the trip and started writing.
After watching the fiasco Fluttershy closed her door and went to her own bunk seeing that rainbow was asleep already. Applejack and Pinkie had settled in there bunks with the orange mare pulling her sisal over her eyes and started snoring softly, while Pinkie sneezed some confetti having already fallen asleep sprawled out on her upper bunk.
Over Equestria
R38 Zeppelin
Crew quarters
11:57pm
Knight Summers and Lunar Guard Pumpkin Patch stood in the fairly Spartan crew quarters mostly consisting of hammocks that hanged off the metal supports on the ceiling and small lockers. Light was scarce consisting of a few of those strange magicless lights that glowed evenly with out a noticeable flame or glow worms. They couldn't help but sweat a bit as a few of the crew members stared at them as they relaxed in there own hammocks.
"Um.....how's the weather?...." Pumpkin said while they are greeted with silence before a few of the mutts chuckle a bit making his sensitive ears twitch.
"Oh fine u suppose all things considered that we have had fair weather in Zebrica despite lacking weather control like Equestria. If it wasn't I would have had to relive the time when I was a green back on this Zeppelin when it was docked during a fairly windy day! You should have seen it the Zeppelin was perfectly vertical resting on its tip on the mooring mast! Tools were falling right through the hull while the rest of the crew hanged on to what ever they could find!" A young black mutt with some white splotches chuckles pulling out a photograph of the incident while the two stallions stared at the photo with gaping mouths.
"Hey wait a minute....I recognize you two!! You were in the papers when you got caught by the zebra militia! Can you two sign this article? I bet it will be would countless pounds someday!" A younger tanned furred diamond dog with pointed ears pulls out a newspaper clipping and a pen.
"Um....sure I suppose it would be big news if a scouting force in there land." Summers says as he signed the paper with his magic before passing it to Pumpkin who signed it a bit messily.
"Now have you two ever tried rakfisk? We have a few cans we have been saving after borrowing them from the officers" A burly diamond dog with his tool belt still fixed around his waist smiling when the two stallions shake there heads while the rest of the mutts start pulling out the cans from lose panels on the floor.