Aquatica

Rainbow Dash

Aboard the USS George HW Bush

(ThunderChaser)

“So… what do you mean exactly when you say ‘Knight 2?’” I asked, gliding beside the ‘human.’ Twilight trotted below me him, her purple hair bouncing with each step.

“It’s called a callsign,” Nathan explained hurriedly, not really paying attention.

“So… it’s like a code name? That is so cool!” I quickly got excited, my voice rising in pitch. “If I had a code name, it would be… erm, Wonderbolt 7!” My voice cracked loudly.

Nathan made some sounds of dismissal, picking up a bit of speed. He ran across the deck near the edge, making the ground sway just the tiniest bit. Twilight had to gallop to catch up with him. “So… wait, are we rushing into battle here? Is that what this is? Are you going to attack?”

Nathan nodded stiffly.

“But why? Why would you do that? Just move the ships!” Twilight panicked. “That’s why you’re on these, right? So you can move away from any sort of danger! Isn’t that correct?”

Nathan stopped. He knelt down, gripping Twilight by the shoulders. “Miss, Sparkle, I am doing this for the future of my people. It is my duty as a Sergeant in the Aquatica Marine Corps.” He stood again, continuing his jog along the deck.

“That is… messed up.” Twilight said, starting to lose her breath.

“I’m not going to let you insult me!” Nathan fumed.

I scoffed. “I think you already did.” I had to dodge a punch thrown at me.

Nathan screeched to a halt, seeing a long metal box, hovering a small distance above the water. It had two sets of blades spinning infinitely fast, and the sound from it was deafening.

“What the hay is that?” I strained my voice over the sound.

“An MH-60S Seaknight!” Nathan called back, flagging down the vehicle.

“That literally went right over my head.” I said, honestly. “Isn’t it just a floating box? Why does it need such a long name?”

Nathan sighed. “Yes, it’s just a floating box.” He mocked. “But it’s a very specific model of a floating-- a helicopter!” He interrupted himself. “It’s called a helicopter. Now, with all due respect, shut the fuck up.”

I held up my hooves defensively. “Jeez. Didn’t mean to… piss you off.  Just asking an honest question.”

Nathan grunted.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Where do you think you’re going, young man?” came a gruff voice from behind us. There was a tall human standing there, his shoulders square and his frame demanded. His jaw was square, and the fleshy bit on the front of his face was rather large and crooked. His hair was brown, but dusted with grey, and his small eyes were a light blue. He was dressed all in white, with an odd little hat that looked a bit like he was wearing an upside-down bowl on his head. He was accompanied by a second human, wearing a grey and black dappled coat and pants. He also he a cap, but his had a small brim that shaded his eyes.

Nathan sighed dramatically, although it sounded a bit like a frustrated growl. “My duty. So leave me be to do it.”

“I don’t think so. I don’t want you out there with the Sun Horse just so you can… can throw your life away on childhood fantasies.” He fumbled for an appropriate reason.

“I’m a soldier, dad.” Nathan muttered.

For the first time, the human looked my way. “What the hell is that thing?”

“It’s a horse, dad. What does it look like?”

“It looks like a friggin six-year-old’s imaginary friend. What are you doing with it?”

“Well, we found it in a ship just over--”

“And you didn’t bring it in?” The man intervened.

“I just found it about a minute ago! Now would you please--”

“Hey!” Twilight stepped out from behind Nathan’s legs. “We are not ‘its!’ We are ‘shes,’ and we demand respect! I happen to be royalty.”

The man stared at us for a moment, then began to laugh heartily. “Is this for real? Son, did you really capture to little horsey queens?”

“We are ponies, first off, and second: I’m a princess.” Twilight corrected.

“Uh, Twi--” I murmured. “You might wanna--”

“Even better! Two pony princesses! Ha!” His laugh wheezed on and on, until the man next to him tapped him on the shoulder.

“Erm, sir? Regulation mandates they be taken in for questioning.”

“Do we have rules for pastel ponies?” The man asked again, laughing even harder at his own joke.

“Well… not specifically, Admiral, but they are intelligent beings, which means they could pose a threat, and are capable of defending themselves.”

“Oh, fine.” The Admiral agreed, coming down from his laughing spell. “Take ‘em in.”

The man next to the Admiral came at Twilight, grabbing her around the midsection and hoisting her to his shoulder.

“Hey!” Twilight screamed. “Lemme go!”

The man made a grab at me, but I dodged. “I’ll come with you. Nopony colthandles me like that.”

The Admiral laughed again, slapping his knee. “By god! It’s like they have their own language!”

I flew close to Twilight. “I-it’s gonna be fine. Don’t worry.”

“Rainbow, how can you say that?” Twilight hissed. “This is NOT FINE!”