Equestria Reborn

Part 5: On the Master Ship

"He's gone." Dawn said, after a while. She was looking out the window, watching the black, starry space fly past.

"I know." Dusk responded, not looking at her.

"...Yes," Dawn said, "Well... I have sorted out my thoughts and so I'll be about my way..." She got off of the platform of a seat she and Dusk had sat on since the ride began and started towards the door. The phoenix took note of this and started after her.

"No." Dusk said. "You just stay here."

"Dusk," Dawn paused, but did not turn around. "It's not like anything is going to happen to me... if that's what you're worried about."

"I said stay here." Dusk pressed, his voice cold.

"Dusk, we have nothing to speak about." Dawn said, "I will leave you, now." She attempted another step.

"Dawn. Stay. Here." Dawn didn't have to look at Dusk to know he was upset.

"I will not ignore you, brother." Dawn said, "But I have nothing to say to you." With her magic, she opened the door and she and her phoenix exited.

On turning to closing the door, Dawn looked at her brother. And, of course, he wasn't looking at her. He was back to looking out at space, his eyes the only voice of his anger.

"Oh, Dusk..." Dawn murmured, quietly. "Why do you take things so hard, like this?" Dawn watched as her brother's eyes - or at the least the eye she could see - begin to shimmer. Dawn saw a tear form... and then slide down Dusk's cheek. She sighed, shaking her head.

The door closed, then, and Dawn decided that she'd just leave her brother to his thoughts and explore the ship. With her brother behind her, and a huge, unexplored ship before her, Dawn couldn't help but squeal, as she tingled with excitement.

"Ye-hee-hee! This is going to be fun! Dawn gushed. She looked to the left, and then to the right; a hallway extended in both directions... "Which way to go?" she wondered.

Dawn turned her attention to the left and began down that section of the corridor. As she went along, she observed how well-dressed, elegant and beautiful the inside of the Master Ship was. It almost looked like a house, really - pictures hanging on the walls here and there, plants in pots, the corridor floor; covered by a soft, red rug - all accept the doors. They looked... strange - at least to Dawn, anyways. They were a dark-gray, with a sheen. They were metallic and had no knobs... The only thing she could see that might have something to do with one of those particular doors, which she happened to be standing before, was a pad-like thing with numerous buttons on it.

"Hmm... I wonder what this is for?" Dawn said, aloud.

I am not sure, Princess. Perhaps you should ask someone. The phoenix bird which had been flying about the hallways now landed on Dawn's head and peeked down at her.

"Hm?" Dawn looked up at the bird. "Did you say something?"

Well of course I did, Princess. Even I must have a way to communicate with you pony-beings.

"Oh, well... that's... wonderful!" Dawn exclaimed, "Now I can know exactly what you need and what you want, whenever you may need or want it! I was very worried about that..."

Is that really why you are so happy about my being able to communicate, Princess? The phoenix cocked its head to the side.

"Well... of course..." Dawn said, bringing her eyes back down into a more comfortable position, "Is... something wrong with that?"

Well no, Princess. The phoenix answered, It is just that I favor the way thy royal prince does think of me.

"Oh?" Dawn said.

True. The phoenix responded. And I appreciate that he does not see us as a mere pet.

"I see..." Dawn said, thoughtfully. "Then how may I think of you, phoenix? And while we're on the topic, what exactly is your name?"

May I see thy highness's face? The phoenix asked. Dawn extended a forearm and the phoenix fluttered down onto it.

Your majesty, I will have you know that I do in no way have an intention to instruct you on what it is you must do. I am your companion and shall remain so, until death. Call me what you will and think of me what you will; I have only to give you my friendship - nothing else - and shall ask nothing, in return.

Dawn looked at the phoenix, before her. "Well." She said, "For starters, I will name you Pheona - do you like that?"

Call me what you will, your highness. The phoenix began to scratch at her inner wings, with her beak.

"You say we are friends? Then I will act as such." Dawn said, "If I am to be your friend, then we are to live as equals... For it was once said that 'two friends are merely two souls in one body', and this I believe. So if you and I are going to be friends then we can do so, perfectly, as long as there is honest communication." Dawn waited for the bird's response.

I see. The phoenix said, Well I like the name thou hast given me, so you may then call me by it.

"Glad to hear that you like it." Dawn said.

And I understand what thou hast said, also. The phoenix, who was now called Pheona, flew up into the air and flew around. But now I must know; how shall I be with thee?

"What do you mean?" Dawn asked.

Am I to be here? Pheona settled down onto Dawn's head.

"I don't mind it." Dawn said. "It is alright as long as you're comfortable.... I know I'm fine."

Very well then.

~   ~   ~   ~

Not too much later, Dawn was still exploring the corridor. A pony approached her from the shadows.

"This corridor seems pretty long..." Dawn said to herself, said aloud.

"Well of course it might seem longer if you happen to have been walking in circles, your highness." A cream-white furred mare with long, wavy, dark-tinted and orange hair stepped out of the shadows, before Dawn. She wore a dark-green commander's uniform, for mares, a matching hat, and a black bow around her neck. She saluted Princess Dawn.

"I am Roxanne O. Range, 4th Commander of the Master Ship, Disciplinarian Extraordi-mare! Servant of the crown and her people, I'm currently on stand-by for her majesty as we may explore the Master Ship!"

Dawn, currently in mid-step and mouth agape, closed her mouth, and blinked several times. "Er... Nice to meet you -?!"

The mare grabbed Dawn's hoof with both of hers and shook rapidly. "A pleasure, honor and a privilege to meet you, your highness!" Stepping back, she bowed down and asked, "How may I assist you?"

"Er...I...I mean... uh, yes - yes! Assist me, how can you assist me?... uh..."

"Perhaps I can give you a tour of the Master Ship, m'lady." Roxanne suggested.

"Oh that's right, silly me." Dawn said, chuckling nervously, "I think that's what you said before, right?"

"Don't mention it, m'lady." Roxanne responded, nose still to the ground.

"You may rise." Dawn said, offering Roxanne a hoof to help her up.

Roxanne took it and then said, "Ma'am! Thank you, Ma'am!" Standing, she said, "Where to, m'lady?

"Well first off - where are we right now, exactly?" Dawn asked.

"We are in Hall A, Sector 1, m'lady." Roxanne said. "And you noticed that the Master Ship is as a sphere, right?"

"Yes." Dawn said, "But what of it?"

"Well, m'lady," Roxanne said, "Hall A happens to run all around the ship. It is parallel to the diamater, to be exact - but it is on the inside. Hallway Z, on the other hoof, happens to go around the entire diameter of the sphere - which we call the "main unit" - only on the outside. And even if you or I or anypony can't see it, these corridors are actually back to back, side to side -whichever way you wanna see it."

"Wait... what's the main unit, again?" Dawn asked.

"It is the actual sphere part of the ship, m'lady." Roxanne said, "But come, come; we have lots more to see and a whole lot more to discuss. I do not expect to take you all around the main unit if that is not what you wish... Is that want you want me to do?"

"No, that's fine! I've got time on my hooves, so I certainly don't mind doing a bit of walking..." Dawn said, cheerily.

"Yes Ma'am!!" Roxanne said, grinning, with a salute. Herself and Dawn began the long trip about the Master Ship, walking down hallway A. As they went along, Roxanne explained the Dawn that each picture was either of her majesty, the (Oracle),or any bygone superior under her majesty who would have qualified for this journey had they been alive.

Dawn's eyes fell on one certain portrait, which strongly appealed to her;  she recognized the young Oracle, but the faces of the others were vague.

(Lovely portrait-like picture By: VegaNya, Deviantart - Perfect!)

"And I doubt it not, your highness, that I, my self, would not be here had say only one of those individuals been alive enough to join the rest of you... So then I find it a GREAT honor and privilege to be here... especially with you, your highness." Roxanne looked back at Dawn, over her shoulder.

"Oh, uh... of course." Roxanne's voice had brought Dawn back from her thoughts, yet the picture lingered in her mind.

"Thanks for understanding." Roxanne said, "For I know that you would have had to go no matter what. We need a leader. We need leaders. I personal thank you and your companion for coming along... I am not sure what it would be without anypone to serve and protect... And all that training for nothing..." Roxanne muttered the last part, looking forward.

"Well, of course..." Dawn said, not trying to feed that conversation.

"Yes..." Roxanna said. "And by the way, your highness; want to check out a few of these rooms as we go along?"

"Oh, yes, of course!" Dawn said, excitement peaked her voice.

Tipping her cap Roxanne said, "With pleasure, m'lady." Dawn then watched as Rozanne went over to the nearest metallic door. She squinted at the number-pad that was set on the side of the door.

"Hmm..." Faster than Dawn could see, Roxanne punched a few buttons on the number-pad. The metallic doors slide open, both ways.

"Wow..." Dawn said, staring at the door.

"Heh. That's nothing, m'lady." Roxanne said, adjusting her cap. Dawn only glanced at her and then walked inside.

"Well, here we are, m'lady. The lounge room... er - one of them, that is," Roxanne said."Would you like to explore in detail, m'lady?"

"Oh, yes!" Dawn responded. She then reached up on her head and took Pheona off of it. The pheonix was curled up, comfortably but when Dawn took her down, she rose her head.

Roxanne back up saying, "Your highness, I could never!"

"Huh? What do you mean?" Dawn said.

"Is this here bird for me?" Roxanne asked, pointing a hoof at Pheona, eyes large and sparkling.

Pheona turned her slender neck to look at Roxanne with fire-filled, glaring eyes.

"O-ho no, no, no." Dawn laughed, "Pheona is the royal pet - my pet... I don't think I will ever be able to give her away to anypony... I'm sorry."

Roxanne chuckled, "Heh heh heh... I was jus' foaling, m'lady. I am both a commander and a servant who knows her place."

Dawn chuckled nervously, "Alrighty then." Looking at the bird, she said, "Fly away Pheona; I fear you will not be comfortable, here... Go find a place to rest." The bird did as she was told, and Roxanne saw her out.

Turning back around, Roxanne said, m'ady, shall we begin?"

"Yes." Dawn said, still looking about the room, "Let us begin."

*   *   *   *   *

A little while later, Dawn exited another lounge area. She and Roxanne had explored, in detail, over a good few rooms. There were several 'holding spaces', which were used as minor storage rooms, 'the bunks', which served as actual rooms for most of the ponies on-board and Dawn had been shown a few secret passages which were designed for different purposes. Not all of the secret passages were used for ponies, though. A few were used for sending secret messages through out the ship by way of container - (and were basically just pipes in the wall.)

"Wow, I never actually thought about that." Dawn said, "Wow..."

"Yup. That's how it is m'lady." Roxanne said. "And there are a whole lot of other things I could show you - like this, for example."

Roxanne trotted over to a metallic door which had a blue streak going down its center and was flanked by two potted plants.

As Roxanne tampered with something on one of the flower pots, Dawn said, "Are... those plants real?"

"Why of course, m'lady." Roxanne responded, moving to the next plant. "They are all very well tended to, for they help with the oxygen supply in the Master Ship."

"Oh, how wonderful." Dawn said, gleefully.

"Mhm - yes ma'am it is." Roxanne said, returning to her former position. "Now then, about these..."

Dawn peeked over Roxanne's shoulder and saw one large, round button on both of the pots of the potted plants. "What are those?" She asked.

"These are what I like to call FB's." Roxanne said, wiping her nose with her hoof.

"Oh?" Dawn said, walking up next to her, "What does that stand for?"

"Aw well, as I said, m'lady; I just call 'em that. They aren't really called FB's." Roxanne said, rubbing a hoof against her foreleg.

"So what are they, then?" Dawn asked, observing both the large green and red button on both of the pots.

"They're Function Buttons," Roxanne said and then muttered, "Wonder who the genius was who created that name..." After a momentary pause Roxanne had her nose pressed to the ground, in a frantic bow. "Please forgive me."

"Uh... what?" Dawn said.

"I wan't supposed to say that..." Roxanne muttered.

"No, it's alright," Dawn giggled, "I don't mind it when others may speak their mind around me... I permit it."

Roxanne looked up the gigglng princess and then straightened herself. "Ehem... Moving on, we see that these buttons are used for a majority of things..."

She explained to Dawn the various functions of the buttons, statig the the numbers acted as "codes" for commanding the buttons their functions. "Like this," she said, "To simply open up the door, we - She pushed the red button.

"Oh - wait!" Dawn said, extending a forearm.

"Whatever's the matter, m'lady?" Roxanne asked, feigning innocence.

"Didn't...you... just say..."

"Heh heh heh - nah. The ship won't self destruct anytime soon, m'lady. That is only on special occasions." Roxanne muffled a laugh with her hoof. In the meantime, the door had slid itself open. "Here we-he are m - m'lady." Roxanne said, still stifling a laugh.

"....." Dawn said, walking through the door. She gasped when she saw what was on the other side - the place was huge!

On exiting through the door, one would walk out on a balcony. The balcony went around the entire mane unit, but it was the space between, below that was so amazing. There were many ponies who sat, working with various machines and devices. Some seemed to be working on some sort of paper work, while others ran about, in and out of rooms. A few disappeared under the balcony so that she couldn't see them anymore, so she suspected that there were rooms beneath her.

"Wow..." Dawn marveled, looking about,"It's so huge!"

"Inevitably, Princess." A warm and quiet voice said.

"Hm?" Dawn turned her attention to a grey-white, short-haired, blonde-mare who happened to be standing right next to her.The mare wore a navy blue uniform. "Oh! I didn't see you there...sorry..." Dawn said.

"Please don't be, Princess." The mare answered, softly.

"Ms. Sharri, introduce yourself!" Dawn looked over at Roxanne, who was saluting her, yet addressing the mare.

"Of course," the mare said, as softly as ever. She stood up straight and brought her right hoof up, before her head. "I am Sharri L. Contortworth, Sub. 3rd Commander of the Master Ship and Assistant Fighters' Commander. I am a proud servant of the crown, my people, and I am currently on stand-by for her majesty as we may explore the Master Ship... your highness."

Dawn smiled at the mare, "Glad to meet you, Ms.Contortworth."

"It is an honor, a pleasure, and a privilege to meet you, your highness." The mare responded, bowing down.

"...." Dawn knew she had heard thatsomewhere, before.

"Excellent! A mare after my own heart!" Roxanne declared, from somewhere behind Dawn. "Carry on!" She turned and headed back through the door.

"Oh, um... thank you." Sharri said, as the door closed. Roxanne waved at her from the other side until it closed, shut.

"Now then, your highness." Sharri said, "May we continue with your tour, or...?" She paused, mid-step, looking back at Dawn.

"Yes!" Dawn said, trotting after Sharri, "Where to?"

"Nowhere, really, Princess." Sharri said, "As instructed, I will walk her highness around the balcony and point at the different stations, below. I will explain them, in detail, if her highness wishes, but will not if she does not care for me to. Furthermore I will do my very best to see to her needs as we go along and will seek help if/when necessary... Any further issues will be addressed, accordingly."

"Oh, uh... very well, then." Dawn responded, politely, yet she couldn't help noticing how robotic Sharri sounded, as though she had had to recite those lines over and over again, at one time.

They soon continued on with what had turned into Dawn's official tour of the Master Ship. But it was no big deal, this part. All Sharri did was what she said she would; she simply lead Dawn around the top - and pointed out different stations and rooms, below. She described what each station was for, what a pony here or there was doing, and what significance each task held.

"And sometimes the ponies who operate the machinery down there have to sleep on mats, just in case if anything were to happen." Sharri said.

"Oh..." Dawn said, looking down at the many busy ponies. It seemed unlikey that any of them would ever sleep, acting like that.

"But please don't feel sorry for them, your highness," Sharri said, rather bluntly, "They do not deserve to be here, therefore deserve every least bit of a trial that comes their way... humbly speaking, I am no different." Sharri turned towards and looked at Dawn. "I suppose you want to punish me, right? For being so arrogant as to speak these words,before you?"

"Oh, no." Dawn said, "I permit others to speak their minds, before me."

"Rats." Sharri muttered, turning from Dawn, "Well anyways, I have to go, now. My turn is over."

"Oh, um, alright then." Dawn said, watching the mare walk away. She watched as Sharri walked towards a metallic door and watched as the door opened to reveal another mare who looked exactly like Sharri.She wore a beige uniform and cap. Both mares saluted each other and then the mare that had just left Dawn, turned in Dawn's direction, saluted and then moved her hoof down to tip her cap. She exited through the doors as the other mare trotted over to Dawn.

"Your highness." The "new mare" bowed down before Dawn.

"...Sharri?" Dawn said, raising an eye-brow.

~   ~   ~   ~

Later on, Dawn was introduced to another pony who was to take her on the tour of the Master Ship. She learned that Sharri and her sister Sherri had switched places sometime during the time Sharri was showing her around. It was why Sharri didn't sounded like herself, during the end, there... Of course, there was a reason for their switching places - which was that the fighter-crafts on the outside of the Master Ship were in formation for a switch, as well. Dawn was still being informed about the whole thing -

"So that's why, you see." The pony concluded, "Every now and then, the fighter-crafts which are used to protect the master ships - formation B and A - the pilot's and crew members switch places with different ponies that are on the Master Ship. Sherri is the true commander of the Fighters and Sharri, her sister, is assistant Fighter Commander... Of course, I am sure you were informed off all of this information before, your highness."

"Mmm - somewhat." Dawn said, thoughtfully."

"Oh, I see." The pony said, "I am glad to have filled in the spaces - that is, if I have - I mean you did say somewhat so I kinda of thought -

"Give it a rest, foal." A voice behind them stopped Dawn and the colt beside her, in their tracks. Dawn noticed the colt's ears straighten - one twitched.

"Roxanne O. Range at her majesty's service, once again." Roxanne said, trotting up besides Dawn, bowing once. She then narrowed her eyes and glared at the colt beside Dawn.

"Oh, um... Hello again." Dawn said, glancing at the colt, then Roxanne, back again, and then at Roxanne.

"Of course, your highness," Roxanne said, "I will always protect her majesty from push-over-wanne-be, foals like this one." She pointed at an accusing hoof at the colt. Dawn backed up a bit.

"Um..." The colt said, looking nervously at Roxanne's pointed hoof.

"What are you saying, Ms. Roxanne?" Dawn asked.

"Your highness!" Roxanne said, "Did this foal even introduce himself?! How long have you been touring with him? Do not you tire of his ramblings?!" Roxanne brought her hoof down hard onto the floor, causing the colt to flinch.

"Er... no and no and.... I don't think so." Dawn said.

"Exactly!" Roxanne said, "It is his responsibility to know - as soon as the question was asked, he should have immediately produced the answer!" Roxanne glared hard at the colt. He gulped.

"Um... I'm sorry?" He said.

"Not to me you foal! Her!" Roxanne jabbed a hoof at Dawn.

"Uh - er - right!" The colt said, turning to Dawn. "Please forgive me, your highness... As soon as Sharri gave you to me -

"Incorrect!!" Roxanne said, loudly. The colt flinched.

"But I -

"Enough!" Roxanne said, "You are wasting precious time - Attennn-tion!!" The colt immediately stood at attention. "Salute to and know your princess!" Roxanne commanded.The colt saluted, and stared directly at Dawn.

"Um, Ms. Roxanne - " Dawn began.

"Now! Roxanne said, "I will introduce you to her majesty." Roxanne went and stood beside the colt. "And here we have Tobi Tumble, 5th Commander of the Master Ship and Supply Overseer. Says he's a humble servant of the crown and zealous protector of his people, ready to give his life whenever, wherever." After a short pause, Roxanne added, muttering, "Personally I think he is just a push-over wanna-be who has no right to play this part - an unworthy speck in the universe." The colt flinched at the last of her words and began to lower his hoof.

"Stay at attention, Wanna-be -and salute!" Roxanne ordered Tobi obeyed.

Roxanne trotted over to Dawn[/color, "I beg you, have patience with that one," she said, "He is already low and unworthy - we don't need him to disappear under the rug."

Before Dawn could respond, Roxanne trotted off. "I will see her majesty, later. For now I leave her in what are somehow capable hooves..." She muttered something inaudible to Dawn, as soon as she was out of earshot.

Dawn watched her go, over her shoulder. She then turned to the colt whose name was Tobi. He was looking at the floor.

"Um... Tobi?" Dawn said.

"Yes, your highness?" Tobi said, not looking up.

"You can look at me, you know." Dawn said, approaching him.

"Can I?" Tobi asked, "I am just an unworthy speck in the universe..."

"Oh...well... we are all just specks, Tobi..." Dawn said, "Besides, I -

"Forgive me for the interruption." Tobi said, "But I will not pity myself, at this time. This time is your time, Princess, and I have wasted enough of it, as is. Please, just let us continue...."

"Fine." Dawn said, "But I still would rather you look at me." She walked passed Tobi who turned and follower her.

~   ~   ~   ~

Minutes later, Dawn and Tobi stood at the entrance which would lead them to the lowest part of the ship. Before the lie was a stairway that led down into darkness.

"Uh..." Tobi began. "I'll just -

"Let's go!" Dawn began to prance down the stairs.

"Um... your highness..." Tobi followed, but not before taking a quick and nervous look over his shoulder.

Dawn's horn began to glow brighter and brighter, as she headed down into the darkness. "It's fine," Dawn said, "I don't mind doing this."

"No! No... No, I... I just have to flip the switch... Its here, somewhere." Tobi raised himself up on his hind legs and began to feel about the wall, with he fore-hooves.

"Hm?..." Dawn turned to Tobi and immediately the corridor was full of white light. Dawn eyes seemed to shrink in the brightness. She covered her eyes with a fore-leg, until she sensed that the brightness had faded.

She watched as Tobi took off a blindfold, "Sorry, Princess." He said, "Perhaps - no. No, I should have warned you... I'm so very sorry -

"It's alright." Dawn said, her attention now turned towards the corridor ahead, "Let us keep moving."

"At once, your highness." Tobi feel into step beside Dawn as they walked down the corridor, leaving the stairs behind.

~   ~   ~   ~

Dawn and Tobi were soon out of the corridor, which led them to an open space. After the lights were turned on, in that area, Dawn saw many crates, boxes, and large refrigerators.

"Wooow..." She breathed, "What is this place?"

"This is the storage area." Tobi responded, "Or "the place", as some call it. It is the area we keep all of the food supply and a good few miscellaneous items.

"I see." Dawn said, walking about and observing the countenances of every crate and box she could. "So... you're in charge of all of this?

"Well I wouldn't say in charge,Princess, but I do have some kind of authority over - most of this stuff." The last part was said with a good bit of force - as if it were a cough - and so much so that Dawn had to stop and look at Tobi.

"Everything alright?" She asked.

"Everything is fine, I assure you." A voice said.

Dawn turned her head back to the direction she and Tobi were headed. Before her she saw a grey, white-haired stallion who wore thin-lensed glasses and a white - what looked to be a - lab coat.

"He's just surprised to see me... Aren't you, Tobi?" The grey-stallion asked, smirking.

Dawn looked back at Tobi who nodded, taking a few steps back.

"Hold on their Tobi, you don't want to - the stallion's voice stopped abruptly just before a large crashing sounded echoed throughout that area. Tobi's eyes widened and he looked down at his rear, right hoof.

"Oops..." He said.

The stallion sighed and then sat down on his rear. He removed his glasses and after wiping it on his coat, replaced them. "My dear, dear, Tobi." He said, "Everything you do do seems to turn out so wrong, does it not? I mean. Not one day goes by without you messing up some kind of way." The stallion tsked, "But ah well. What can we do when our best just isn't good enough?"

Tobi opened his mouth to answer but then decided against it,cautiously removing his hoof from the crate.

"And Princess," the stallion said, "Please allow me to apologize if this was the performance of my dear subordinate, Tobi, here... He's... not really the type to be - well. Let's just get introductions over with, shall we?" The grey stallion motioned to Tobi, "Clean this up, won't you? Then be about your way. I'll take things from here." Without giving Tobi a chance to respond, he turned and said, "Follow me, Princess."

"Alright." Dawn said. She looked back at Tobi as she moved forward. He had placed a white commander's cap on his head and was turning to do as he was told. "Thanks, Tobi - for showing me around." Dawn said.

"A pleasure and an honor, your highness." Tobi responded, bowing, sightly.

"Be sure to clean it all up, Tobi - and check for anything that might have been severely - or in the least bit - damaged," the grey stallion called over his shoulder.

"Sir!" Tobi said. And Dawn guessed that he was saluting.

~   ~   ~   ~

Dawn and the grey stallion swiftly went over introductions:

"Yes, and to not bore you with the typical protocol - my name is Sideus Colt, 1st Commander of the Master Ship. I oversee the more important matters - as I am sure you can tell."

"Oh! So you are thee commander, then?" Dawn asked.

Sideus chuckled, "No. I am not thee commander. Thee  commander happenst o be Commander Zero., who is not me and never shall be."

"Oh..." Dawn said, "Pray tell... where is he, now?"

"Aren't you supposed to know that, already, Princess?" Sideus cocked an eye-brow at Dawn, over his shoulder.

"...I suppose I should -

"You should, actually, Princess," Sideus said, "There is no supposing about it. And tell me this - does his highness know who the Supreme Commander is, here?"

"I... I am not sure." Dawn said, causing Sideus to stop in his tracks.

He turned and looked at her, "Really..." He said, "Because I was under the impression that -

"Yes, and be sure that it is done, immediately." A voice beyond Sideus said.

Sideus' ears twitched. He looked over at his shoulder a cream-colored mare. Her hair mane was tied up in a bun, with a few curly strands down the side of her face. She had a black dot near her mouth and wore square, black glasses. She wore a navy-blue suit with a red scarf about her neck. Not the winter scarf, though, the other kind... She seemed upright and proud, her face set in what was not a smile, but not a frown, either.

She stopped, dead in her tracks, when she laid eyes on Sideus.

"S...Sideus... -

"And just what are you doing down here?" Sideus asked, Dawn becoming a speak on the horizon as all attention was diverted towards the mare.

"Well, I was just checking to see that everything was running smoothl -

"I don't want to hear that from you." Sideus said, coldly, "You know as well as everyone else that my job - our job - is overseen, perfectly, by myself, and I am capable of "checking" when necessary... You know we don't need you, for that."

"Ah - I see..." The cream-colored mare said, nervously rubbing a hoof against the other foreleg.

"Yes, so I would like you to -

"Oh!" The cream-colored mare dashed past Sideus and fell into a bow, before Dawn. "Princess," She said.

"Uh..." Dawn was still processing what had happened, but the cream-colored mare did not give her a chance to speak. She popped right back up and took one of Dawn's hooves in her own, kissing it, tenderly.

"It is an overwhelming pleasure to meet you, your highness!" The mare said, here yes large and shining. She kissed Dawn's hoof, once again.

"O -Oh my..." Dawn began to blush, "R-really, you don't need to, um..."

"Oh, but I must!" The mare insisted, "No worthier hooves have touched this floor since Princess Staris!!"

"So why are you dirtying them wth your lips?" Sideus asked, clearly annoyed.

"Oh, um, yes - well..." The mares words trailed off as she wiped her mouth and then rubbed the back of her head.'E-excuse me, I get.. you know, worked up, sometimes..." She chuckled nervously.

"Uh..." Dawn looked at her hoof.

'P - please forgive me!" The mare said, bowing her nose to the ground, "But if you may charge me with criminality, then my name is -

"You foal," Sideus said, "Why would she do that? I wouldn't let even you sink so low as to address the princess under these circumstances... Stand up!"

The mare did as she was told, not lookingSideus.

"Now..." Sideus took his glasses off, again, but this time he used his magic. The mare's ear pricked immediately.

She turned her head to him, "Sideus! How dare you! You know better than to - Sideus cut her off by placing a hoof under her chin and turning it, sharply, back to Dawn.

"Your Princess is waiting," he said, bluntly.

"Oh..." The mare said, "Princess. My name is Prunella Penmare and I am the 2nd Commander of this Master Ship. It is a duty, honor and privilege to hold such a high position, where I am able to over see the general well-being of the ship, making sure that everything goes smoothly... But it is the highest honor to make your acquaintance." The mare extended a forearm towards Dawn.

Dawn took it and they shook.... and shook... and shook... Dawn let the mare's hoof go and they stood there, a few moments, none of them saying anything. Dawn glanced beyond her, at Sideus. His eyes seemed menacing as he gazed at the mare and Dawn could just feel the uncomfortable atmosphere. Between these two... something was wrong...

"Sir, can we get your assistance, back here?" An older stallion called from within a room, beyond Sideus.

"Why, of course," Sideus said, "But first. Why not say hello to your princess, hm? We wouldn't want her thinking she's invisible, now, would we?"

"Of course not!" The stallion exclaimed. Looking at Dawn he said, "A great honor, your highness." He bowed and then headed back into the room.

"Aww," Sideus said, "And he could have done so much better, too... Princess, forgive them."

"Forgive... who?" Dawn asked, finally finding her voice.

"Both of them,' Sideus replied, simply. "This sorry excuse for a '2nd Commander' and that... whoever he was."

"I would rather you not speak about them, that way," Dawn said, "Please. There is nothing to forgive."

Sideus chuckled, turning from Dawn, "I see... Well, forgive me then." Dawn did not like the way he said that. It sounded more like a dare then anything else.

Sideus walked over to the doorway of the well-lit room. "Come, Princess, I have much to discuss with you." And without turning around, he said, "And Pen? Get lost, will you?" He disappeared into the room, leaving Prunella quiet and Dawn somewhat shocked.

~   ~   ~   ~

Later on, Dawn and Dusk met with all 10 commanders. From 1st to 6th and a couple subs - plus Commander Zero.

The royal highness'  got their positions straightened out and made it clear that from then on, they were truly going to take their potions seriously and actually try to be as they were supposed to.

From then on, they were the true heads and what they said, went.

(Alicorn base By: NinjaProperty, Deviantart)