The Universe's Puppet

Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Twilight Sparkle sat quietly in their cabin as Celestia's personal airship made speed for their mysterious destination. Twilight and Fluttershy looked obviously excited, but Rainbow Dash looked anxious.

"How long did Celestia say we were going for?" Rainbow Dash asked with a unusual tone to her voice.

"A whole month!" Twilight answered happily, having missed the subtlety of Dash's tone. "A whole month studying a mysterious island that rose up out of nowhere! On top of that, this island is in a really good spot for trade, so we will probably get to see the birth of a city!" Twilight squeaked with obvious joy, but Rainbow Dash looked perplexed.

"You mean there will be more ponies there besides us?" Rainbow Dash almost sounded relieved.

"Yeah." Fluttershy answered, but she had noticed Dash's look. "Rainbow Dash, is something bothering you?" Rainbow Dash sheepishly rubbed the back of her head.

"I am now. It's just, Cadence said some dumb things about love, and a I was worried since both of you are..."

"dating?" Fluttershy and Twilight finished in unison.

"Yeah. I mean, I'm sure they aren't as awesome as me, but I don't like doing that to ponies." Rainbow Dash admitted.

"Don't worry Dash, I hear that there is a veritable city of people there now." Twilight comforted Dash with a hoof.

"Ohh... no." Twilight and Rainbow Dash shared a look as the turned to now comfort Fluttershy. The flight was okay once Twilight had told Fluttershy about the cute new animal scientists had supposedly found.

Vinyl Scratch and Octavia sat across from each other in a luxurious luxury liner cabin, graciously provided by the patron.

"I still don't understand why Fancy Pants wanted both of us on this new island." Octavia sighed luxuriously and reclined across the sofa.

"I thought it would be obvious Octavia, you are going to play for the scientists, while I'll play for the masses of workers flooding this supposed "trade heaven."" Vinyl looked up from their ledger to glare at Octavia. "What did I say about bugging me while I do our taxes."

"But Vinyl, I'm bored!" Octavia whined morosely.

"Go seduce a stewardess then." Vinyl retorted sharply.

"But Vinyl, they can't spank like you can." Octavia complained while trying to look seductive at Vinyl.

"Octavia." Vinyl growled, but set the ledger aside. Numbers could wait a little.

Sunset looked worriedly at the dragoness next to her. Her fur soft gray fur standing slightly, and her deep blue eyes twitching with anxiety.

"Kindle I'm worried." Kindle gave the Pegasi next to her a gentle kiss on the forehead, brushing aside some of the mare's dark blue hair with her red scaled claw.

"You said you wanted a daughter..."

"I know, but what if she doesn't like us, what if she won't see us as mothers?" Kindle just smiled.

"Sunset, the princesses said that the poor thing had been through a lot and that it had amnesia. I can't think of anyone better suited to help it than you, and I'm always going to be there to support and love you." Kindle reassured her wife gently.

"I-I... I love you Kindle." Sunset whispered as she stared into Kindle's soft green eyes.

"I love you too." They kissed.

Gilda growled as her maid/guard/leash holder read off a list of things to do and not to do on the new island.

"You will not try to marry a passing protitute, you will not steal, you will attend balls in formal gowns, you will not attempt to sneak back home, you will not marry a passing stripper, you will go on a date with the nice Minotaur your mother met, you will not attack that Minotaur, you will not fuck that Minotaur on the first date, you will not shit on that Minotaur, you will let the Minotaur pay for dinner-"

Needless to say, being a princess wasn't a picnic for Gilda.

Strongarm sat uncomfortably in his cabins chair. The suite had been made for ponies, but that xenobiology job had been really last minute. As a recent college graduate, Strongarm just couldn't pass up a chance to pay off some of the loans he was saddled with. Still, his dark brown hair rubbed uncomfortably in the faux leather seat.