The Visitor

It’s been two days since Princess Celestia revealed Professor Safon, and one day since the article he wrote was published in every national newspaper. Since then the bearers of the elements returned home to their lives and Safon has used his newfound freedom to go out and explore the city of Canterlot. As he took one of these walks to a nearby general store he saw ponies keeping their distance and talking about him.

“What do you think he’s doing out here?” A mare whispered to her husband.

“I don’t know, maybe he’s going out for fresh air”. He answered back.

Across the street a couple of earth pony workers were watching him and spitballing ideas to each other. “I heard that he brainwashed the princesses and is plotting our downfall.” The worker in the light blue shirt and vest said seriously.

His friend gave him a blank look before glancing over at the professor. “You can’t be serious.”

“No I swear it’s true I read it in a newspaper.”

“The tabloids ain’t a legitimate newspaper.”

“Shut up.”

Professor Safon didn’t mind these rumors, he enjoyed the freedom of being able to go out and explore the new world and took note of how familiar it was to him. This world was just like earth in the late 1800’s except dominated by ponies, but for now he was actually going somewhere. Last night he discovered he only had two cigarettes left and after some talking and borrowing some money from the Captain he was on his way to a general store.

“Hello anyone in here?” He called out as he walked into the store.

“Just a minute.” The shopkeeper yelled out from the back.

As he waited he started taking note of how it was an old fashioned one. Crates filled with hay and other goods getting ready to be unloaded, shelves with pieces of miscellaneous clothing, displays of fresh fruit and vegetable to the side with scales nearby and a counter with an ornate brass cash register on the counter. This store was also a little cleaner than most victorian general stores were, but he just wrote that off due to how close the castle he was and how nobles like living near royalty.

“Alright, how can I help you today?” The unicorn shopkeeper asked asked before freezing up at the sight of the Professor.

“Ah, hello there I just came here for pack of cigarettes.” Safon said deciding to break the tension.

“Uh ok.” The shopkeeper continued to stare at him as he walked backwards and bumped into the wall behind the counter, as he regained his sense of surroundings he walked over to the cigarettes. “Ok so what kind do you want?” He said uneasily.

“Hmm you know I don’t know what’s a good brand?”

“Uh well personally I smoke Duke Brand cigarettes, but a lot of my customers prefer Imperial.”

“Ok,” Safon said in thought looking at the cigarettes. “ You know what I’ll take both kinds.”

“Alright then.” The shopkeeper said as he levitated the two packs to the counter. “That’ll be two bits then.”

“Great here you go.” As he put the gold coins on the counter he noticed that the shopkeeper was still uneasy with his presence. “And for the record I’m not going to harm you.”

“Well um you see...” The shopkeeper stammered.

Safon looked at the shopkeeper with understanding eyes.“It’s fine. I know my presence is a great shock but don’t worry I’ll try and leave as soon as possible.”

“I’m sorry you’re right, I didn’t intend to offend you.”

Safon picked up the packs and looked at the shopkeeper. “I’m not offended.” As he walked toward the door he looked back to the shopkeeper. “Thank you for your service.” He said nicely as he walked out the door.

The shopkeeper looked at the door as he left. “Thank you and come again anytime.”

Chamberlain made sure that his appearance was impeccable, his light grey coat was nice and clean, slightly darker grey mane was slicked back with not even a single hair out of place,his black tail coat and vest were pressed and perfectly clean, black bow tie straight, pristine white shirt ironed and that his fob watch was accurate by the second all of which he viewed as the requirements of being a head butler. He has been under Fancy Pants' employment for many years, and over those years he had kept the manor was in tip-top shape, overseen the many servants that were hired on for important events and has even organized the annual garden party when Fancy Pants was unable too, and throughout those years Fancy Pants had shown immense gratitude for his service by paying him much more than other nobles would pay somepony of his position. As he made his usual morning rounds of the mourning he heard a knock at the front door. “Hello. Can I help you today?” He said in a welcoming manner before he looked up and nearly jumped at what he saw.

On the other side of the door stood Professor Safon in a grey three piece suit with a blue paisley neck tie, freshly shined black dress boots and a black fedora with a small red feather in the band. “Yes hello there as you likely know my name is Professor Henry A Safon the Second. I am here to see a Mr. Fancy Pants, Is this where he lives?” Safon said in a civilized tone.

The earthpony butler looked at the Professor before calming himself down “Why yes this is the home of Fancy Pants, Do you wish to speak with him?” He asked in a dignified manner.

“Yes I do, Is he currently available? If not I can always return when convenient.”

“I do believe so, but let me check with him first. In the mean time please come in and have a seat and I will go and see if he would like to speak with you.” He said gesturing a hoof to the foyer.

“Thank you.” Safon said as he came in and took off his hat.

“Can I take your hat while you wait sir?”

“Yes and again thank you for your assistance.” After Safon handed his hat to the butler to be put on a nearby hat stand as he walked over to a nearby chair and took a seat taking a time to admire the fine architecture of the manor.

Chamberlain walked upstairs into the manors private dining room where Fancy Pants and Fleur Dis Lee were eating their breakfast. “Master Fancy Pants.”

Fancy Pants put down his tea and looked over to his butler. “Yes Chamberlain what is it?”

“You have a guest down in the foyer who would like to speak to you.” Chamberlain told him not knowing what exactly to say.

He looked over to the clock and raised an eyebrow. "I do? Now who could it be this early in the morning?”

"Well you see sir it appears that the strange creature from the news is here and wants to speak with you about something.”

A look of shock was suddenly share across the couple's faces. "Are you sure Chamberlain?” Fleur asked with concern.

“I am quite sure madam.”

“Okay then.” Fancy Pants said as he thought for a few second. “Did you ask him what he wanted to talk about?”

“I fear I did not sir.”

Fancy Pants thought for a few more seconds before standing up. “Well I guess I will find out what he wants.”

“Are you sure dear?” Fleur asked concerned for her husband's safety.

“Yes I’m sure honey. After all it would be rude to not at least find out what he wants.” He said as he made his way to they foyer.

Professor Safon continued to sit in the foyer patiently waiting for Fancy pants before he saw Chamberlain return with a very regal looking white unicorn with a blue mane split down the center and styled in a very regal manner wearing a tailored black morning coat with a sky blue vest a matching blue cravat with a gold floral design around his neck and a pristine white shirt with gold buttons and a wing tip collar, and unlike Blueblood this pony had an air about him that Safon liked.

“Hello there!” He said getting up and walking to the pair. “ You must be Fancy Pants! I am Professor Henry A Safon the Second.”

“Greetings and why yes I am Fancy Pants!” Fancy Pants said introducing himself to his guest. “Now Chamberlain here tells me that you wanted to speak with me.”

“Yes I wanted to speak with you. You see our mutual friend Miss Rarity told me that you could assist me with my needs.”

Fancy Pants raised his eyebrow. “Ah Miss Rarity sent you, I see.” He thought for a second. “How about we take this conversation to my office.”

“That would be perfect.”

Fancy Pants’ office was just a imacitantly decorated as the rest of the manor if not more so, the whole room was decorated in dark rosewood furniture consisting of book shelves against the left and right walls a coffee table and chairs set in the center and a desk and chair centered toward the back wall, a dark green floral carpet on the floor, a fireplace on the right wall with a few military looking awards and a photo of Fancy Pants in an officer’s uniform above the mantel and a large window overlooking his private gardens on the back wall.

The two sat in the center chair set as Chamberlain set a tray of tea on the table. “So Professor is it?” Fancy Pants asked as he took a sip of his tea. “What is it that I could assist you with?”

Safon took a sip of his tea and set the cup and saucer down. “Yes it is Professor and I will just get to the point for you. As you have heard in the newspapers I am stuck in this world.”

“Yes I remember.”

“Well you see to return to my home I need to rebuild my machine.”

Fancy Pants waited for him to continue not knowing where he was going with this.“I see.”

“Now to rebuild my machine I am going to need funding for materials.”

“Ah now I see, but as you may know I am a business-pony and I can’t just give you money for your personal project and not get anything in return.”

Safon chuckled a little bit. “ I understand completely, because you see with the new freedom of being able to leave the castle I have been able to get a feel for your world, and as I got a better understanding of this world I figured something out.”

“And what was that?”

“Simple your world is 100 years behind mine in terms of technology. So I am here with a business opportunity for you. Your company is currently branching out into the new home appliance market with the other products you produce and possible military contracts you have. I was thinking that I could supply you with patents for new inventions in exchange for money to fund my experiments and to live off of.”

Fancy Pants sat in his chair in as he thought carefully. “Do you have anything in mind right now?”

Professor Safon smiled as he looked Fancy Pants in the eyes. “Why infact I do. During my walks in the city I looked up and saw a few airships flying in the air, and looking at them they look like nothing more than a hydrogen filled balloon carrying a boat below them with cables. Why if the lines were to get cut by accident then everypony could die.”

“I see what you mean there have been a few reports of accidents on them and long flights on them get very cold being that high in the air.”

“And I can remedy both of those problems.”

Fancy Pants took a final sip of his tea as he thought one last time. “Well Professor If you can give me a design by this time tomorrow I will accept your deal!”

Safon got a large smile on his face as he stood up. “I can do you one better for you see in my world the kind of improvements are so common place that I have a design memorized, meaning that if you give me a team of engineers and the materials. In two days I could possibly have a working prototype for you!”

Fancy Pants got a look of shock on his face. “ You can do that?!?” Safon nodded his head. “Well if you can do that then you are free to you the airship yard my company uses and I will get my best team to assist you in the construction.”

“That would be perfect.”

“Capital!” Fancy Pants said excitedly as he got up and walked to his desk. “I will write you a letter for the foremen telling him what is going on and if you wait downstairs Chamberlain will have a carriage take you there.”

“Wonderful I will not disappoint!”

Two days later Fancy Pants’ carriage approached the airship yard to see whatever it was the Professor had in store for him. When it got to the gates and Chamberlain opened the carriage door Professor stood there wearing the same outfit from a couple days ago but he took off the coat and tie and unbuttoned his vest revealing the suspenders and belt holding his trousers up. “Hello there Fancy Pants! Are you ready to see what I have.”

“Well it would be rude of me to judge before I gave you a shot!”

“Great! Now follow me!” Safon said in excitement as he lead the entrepreneur to the yard.

As Fancy Pants followed the yard came into view and he saw what Safon spent the past two days on. The balloon was a simple design with rigid structure but unlike other airships there was no deck because instead of the ship part of the airship being suspended in the air by cables attached to the balloon, it was instead attached directly to the balloon, the ship part was also different it had one floor with large windows for viewing, a flat base and instead of wings that would flap it had rigid wings with engines in the middle with propellers pointing back.

“Well what do you think?!?” Safon said as he opened the door to go inside.

Fancy Pants looked at the airship with wonder as he climbed inside with Safon. “I must say I’ve never seen anything like it!”

“I thought you would say that!" You see this is a common design in my world for this type of craft with a few additions I've observed in other worlds and some adaptations for equine use. Now would you like to take a flight?”

He looked a Safon with glee. “Of course! I couldn’t pass a chance like this up!”

The interior was bare bones with only items necessary for flight being in it such as various tools and wiring while things like carpeting and furniture where left out. When they got to the control room Fancy Pants noted the controls were mostly the same as a normal airship but with a few differences. “You see with the ship and balloon fused together it is a much safer craft and with it being inclosed the harsher temperature of the high attitude won’t get the ponies inside. Also with it being enclosed and safer you can use these for things like transportation of ponies and goods.”

Fancy Pants nodded as he watched Safon fiddle with the controls and the airship started to release water from the front. “What is the water for?”

“The water adds weight, there are two tanks one in front and one in the back they weigh the ship down as we’re docked and it lowers by releasing some hydrogen from the top. So when it’s docked it will need both refilled but that's not a big problem.”

“I see.” Fancy Pants walked over to the controls and pointed to the levers. “So if I’m reading the labels right then this one releases the water from the front tank and this one is for the back?”

“Yes I had the other engineers label the controls for me so I can show you how to fly it.” As Safon pushed the levers to close the tanks the ship started rising. “And this here.” Pointing to the lever next to the steering wheel. “Is the control for the throttle, the farther forward you push it the faster it’ll go.” As he said this he gently pushed it forward causing the propellers to start spinning and the ship to go forward.

As they started to fly around Fancy Pants looked out the window to the engines attached to the wings on the side. "I say are those boat engines attached over there?"

"Yes they are. Those are really there as a proof of concepts really. They were quick to get and when I have the time I'll redesign them to be more aerodynamic."

Fancy Pants eyebrow raised "When you say more aerodynamic, What do you mean."

"I mean that I'll streamline them more so they'll put up less wind resistance and thus make it go faster," Safon said not taking his focus from flying the craft.

"Alright and now when you say faster, how fast are we talking?" Fancy Pants asked eagerly.

Safon stroked his chin in thought"Well with the right conditions and the craft is in perfect working order I would say 50 miles per hour to about 70,"

At this Fancy Pants gave Safon a look of shock. “Really?” Safon nodded and Fancy Pants got a bust of excitement from the possibilities that Safon could provide. “Why that is fantastic! Professor Safon I think we got ourselves a deal! When we land I’ll take you out to lunch and we can discuss the details of our deal.”

“Well then I’ll land this thing and we can talk, partner.” He said with a smile on his face.

“That sounds like a capital idea, partner.”