Chapters Here is a story that few know of.
During the battle with Nightmare Moon, Celestia was struck down, as she laid unconscious, an Earth pony stallion stood up to the Nightmare and fought her. Celestia soon woke and used the Elements of Harmony to Banish the dark mare in the moon.
After learning of the stallion's actions, Celestia became inspired to make him a defender of the nation, a Ranger of Equestria. But the stallion declined, instead he told her to use the idea with somepony else.
Soon after the stallion left, returning to his home. Celestia did just as he said to do. And so for the next millennium the solar princess chose pony after pony of every type to defend Equestria. There has been one, and only one, pony at a time as per the stallion's request. She chose them based on their personalities or their talent. Some she regarded as friends, others a bit more than that, some she disliked, and a few, very few, she's hated.
And so began the Equestrian Rangers.
Meeting the Princess (edited)
The training grounds. One of the locations the Royal Guard went to make themselves better. Several sparing rings surrounded the field where squads or squad would stand at attention for hours at a time, such as the this squad was doing right now.
"Listen up maggots!" The unicorn drill sergeant belittled as he passed the first row of Earth ponies. "Each and every one of you earth crawling, plant kissing, excuses for ponies will be expected to guard the castle." He paused in front of the only guard not wearing an enchanted breastplate causing him not to be white like his fellow Guards, but his natural brown. "Private Hammer, where is your armor?!"
"Nonexistent, sir!"
"And why is that?!"
"They don't come in my size, sir!" Private Hammer was several inches shorter than the average mare.
"That's right, private. The guard does not make armor for foals." The sergeant stated with the intent of insulting the young colt. The truth of the matter was that the smallest stallion's armor would not fit as it was too loose for a proper fit, and he was not the right shape for mare's armor, leaving him with mare hoof guards and helm.
Fortunately, before the Sergeant could continue, a messenger ran up to him. "Message from the princess, sir."
"Again? What does she want this time?"
"Her highness requests the presence of Private Hammer, sir."
"Well, she can have him when I'm—."
"Immediately, sir."
"Private Hammer get out of here." The Sergeant growled.
"Yes sir!" Private Hammer quickly fell in step with the messenger, who had retrieved him several times in the past, as they traveled to the castle. "What does the princess want, Post?"
"She did not say, Craft." Post Haste responded with her usual to-the-point tone.
"Oh, a private meeting. " Craft jested before scowling. "I don't like private meetings." The duo turned a corner down one of the many halls of the castle.
"What do you like?"
Craft paused to think about that, "Improvising."
"That's your talent, Craft." Post stated with a roll of her eyes.
"If a pony doesn't like their talent then why is it their talent in the first place?" Craft asked, looking back at his cutie mark, a hammer crossed with a scroll.
"I see why the princess likes you so much."
"And here I thought she liked me for my good looks." Craft struck a pose as he walked.
"And you're back to being an idiot." Post chided.
Before Craft could retort a new voice called out. "Craft is always an idiot, Post." A blue maned, white unicorn with a starburst shield for a cutie mark was waiting out front if the throne room.
"Shield's here too?" Worry working into Craft's voice. "Is this about the prank we played on Blueblood, last week?"
"No," Post said as she put a hoof on the large ornate doors. "She actually got a kick out of that." She sighed before continuing. "Something's bothering her."
Post shoved the large doors open revealing the full beauty of the great hall. On both sides elaborate and colorful Stained Glass murals depicted the history of Equestria. With the late afternoon sun mirroring the colors and patterns onto the floor, the chamber was cast with an almost ancient and mysterious glow. At the far end of the room, on a raised platform with stairs leading up to it, sat a rather simple throne. Next to the throne stood a tall, thin figure, pure white as fresh snow with a mane and tail made of the northern lights, she wore simple gold vestments. When she spoke, she spoke with a kind mothering voice, the kind that one would just sit and listen to all day.
"Welcome Craft Hammer, and Shining Armor." At that Shining ducked into a bow while Craft took a more creative response.
"S'up princess?" Needless to say that Shining hit the floor with his face, while Post faced hoofed
"You can't greet the princess like that!" Shining jumped up off the floor, shouting. "You have to bow!"
"Oh, right." Craft quickly bowed. "S'up princess? That better?" He asked turning to Shining, whose face had paled more than it usually was.
"You're a dead stallion."
"So what are your plans on pranking my nephew?" Princess Celestia interrupted before the young stallions could start an argument.
"What?" The duo asked shock and confusion on their faces.
"Everypony knows you two are his pranksters," Celestia giggled. "Everypony but him that is."
"Told you," Shining punched Craft's shoulder. "Now we're in trouble."
"Ow!" Craft glared at his panicky friend as he rubs his shoulder. "Are not!"
"Craft is right," Celestia spoke as she descended the steps to her throne. "I merely want to join in on the next one."
"What?" Confusion returning to their faces again. Earning another giggle from the princess.
"Craft you're wearing off on the princess," Shining said as he buried his face into a hoof.
"Am not!" Craft crossed his forelegs. "Don't blame me for her humor."
"Craft is correct, my humor is centuries in the making."
"Alright fine," Shining sighed in defeat. "But why do you want to prank Blueblood?"
"Who cares why she wants to prank him. I say let's do it!" Celestia only giggled at Craft's eagerness. "But how do we top turning him pink?"
"Well," Celestia kneeled down and used her wings to bring them into a huddle. "I have an idea."
"Wait." Shining cast a searching glance around the room. "Where's Sunset Shimmer?"
"Oh, she's been sick for the last few days."
"Ok, that sucks." Craft mumbled before turning his attention back to Celestia. "Anyway princess, what was your idea?"
The Point on Hoof (edited)
To say that the last hour was interesting would be fairly accurate. Plans had been made to humiliate Blueblood the next time he steps out of line, probably the next day knowing him, but now it was time for the ponies to go their separate ways.
"I'd better get home, my mom's cooking and she does not like me being late to that." Shining spoke as he stretched his back after sitting so long.
"Your mom is an amazing cook," Craft said, his stomach agreeing with him.
"Yeah, she is," Shining paused trying to remember something. "Oh yea, she wanted me to invite you over for dinner."
"Oh, now she's bribing me with food," Craft cast a thoughtful glance around and saw Celestia's look before returning his attention back to Shining. "I'm busy tonight, maybe next time."
"She's not going to like that."
"Well it's not me she'll be annoyed with."
"She isn't like that." Shining glared before smirking. "See ya later Craft!"
"See ya!" Craft called after Shining and waited until the huge throne room doors shut. "What did you want, Celestia?"
"I've asked you to stop training with the guard." Celestia sighed. She walked to a hidden door behind the throne.
"You're not my mother," Craft grumbled as he followed her. "I can take care of myself."
"Yes but I'm still responsible for your wellbeing." Celestia reminded as they trotted down a narrow hall. "What about your education?"
"I don't need to study." Craft responded as the duo entered a larger corridor that lead to the living area. "At least not like everypony else."
"Yes, your photographic memory," Celestia rolled her eyes as she spoke. "That does not help with turning in your homework." Both ponies stopped in front of large doors.
"That's not what my report card says," Craft passed the princess and opens the doors.
"Oh, and where is this report card?" Celestia followed Craft through the doors and closed them behind her.
"On the fridge," Craft calls out as he disappears down a hallway. "Where I always put it!"
Against popular belief, Celestia actually had a living room and a private kitchen, the royal kitchen was more for special dinners with foreign diplomats and the rest of the castle or when nopony felt like cooking (Blueblood mostly). It was as close to a normal apartment as the royal family got, never mind that each room was a suite by itself.
Celestia made her way into the kitchen, specifically to the fridge. At one point it had crayon drawings by her nephew, Blueblood, on it, now it had the grades of three school going teens. Three report cards, one had every letter on it, another had As and Bs, and the final had all As, one of which was an A-.
Sighing Celestia left the kitchen with all three reports on her magic grip. "An A-?"
"Participation points," Celestia, startled, quickly turned to the speaker finding Craft on one of the couches with a book. "Only counts for like one percent of the grade. By the way that thirteen times I've spoked ya." Craft never looked up from his book.
"And tests, do you go in for those?"
"Ya, it's better than going in after school."
"What do you do in your free time?"
"You already know that answer," Craft looks up from the book with a thoughtful look. "I'm thinking about checking out that dojo on main tomorrow."
"No," Celestia held a stern face as she glared down on Craft.
"You finally goin' to do something about it?" Craft's left ear was the only part of him that wilted under Celestia's glare, the end result of receiving the glare several times before.
"Yes I am," Celestia started for the hallway. "Throne room. Tomorrow morning, 9:40. Do. Not. Be. Late." Craft watched the princess leave, before slowly raising a hoof and pumped it.
Hospital rooms, sterile white, plain rooms usually meant for recovery and healing. The slow and weak ping of a once strong and steady heart echoed from the heart monitor, that was hooked up to a stallion. The gray stallion with a blue mane, once the example of healthy, now he fought for breath as he lay hidden under a blanket.
The door creeped open letting a brown colt to poke his head in.
Bleep, Bleep.
"Craft?" The stallion weakly turned his head. "Craft, come here." He croaked. "I need to tell you something."
"Ok, dad," The younger craft slowly made his way to the bed." Ya?" His father chuckled.
Bleep, Bleep.
"Always willing to listen, never stop that," the stallion said with a smile. "Craft, you're going to be put in a tough spot here shortly."
"Why?" Craft asked, fear rising into his heart.
Bleep, Bleep.
"I'm not going to be able to help you this time," The stallion put a hoof on his son's head. "You're going to have to take care of yourself."
"Where are you going?" Tears started welling up in both of their eyes.
Bleep, Bleep.
"I-I'm sorry, but I'm g-going to meet your mom," The stallion did his best to keep from crying. "You need to build a better world."
"W-wha?"
"Build a better world, Craft."
"Why?"
"Because dark times are coming, only a hammer can build a strong hold. It placeses reinforcements… and fasteners to hold things… together," The stallion started coughing, the heart monitor became erratic. "They… work the forge… they break down…blocking things… t-they're fast… hit hard…" doctors and nurses rushed in to the room.
Bleedeep, Bleedeep.
"Dad!"
"Get the colt out of here!"
Bleedeep, Bleedeep.
"Got it!" A nurse grabbed Craft and tried to drag him out.
Bleedeep, Bleedeep.
"No! Let me go!" Craft cried, kicking and screaming he was pulled away from his father. "Dad! Daaad! Daaaaddieee!"
Bleedeep, Bleedeep.
____________________________________
"Dad!" Craft woke his heart racing, his breath erratic, his fur damp, his eyes wet. Looking around he saw that he was still in his room in the castle suite. Craft swallowed. "Haven't had that one in a while."
RING! RING! RING!
"HOLY–!" Craft fell off the edge of his bed and landed on his face. "Ow." Slowly he peeked over his bed at what had spooked him, then glared at his alarm clock. "Shut-up."
____________________________________
9:39AM
Celestia sat in her throne to her side was her scribe, ginger unicorn mare. Celestia sat glaring down upon the brown stallion, who has been bowing for the last five minutes.
"Rise." Craft did as commanded but remained respectful. "So you can do what you're ordered to do."
Craft stayed silent, not wanting to blow what could be exactly what he wanted. Then again it could be the worst punishment he had ever faced, the last one crossed Craft's mind during his prolonged bow.
"Craft Hammer," The princess spoke as if she was a judge, and that's exactly what she was at this moment. "You have, even after I have told you not to on numerous occasions, participated in training with the royal guard using a forged letter with my signature, every time." Princess Celestia stood and descended the steps to her throne. "If you want to be a guard so badly," Celestia lowered her head to look Craft in the eyes, it took everything he had not to piss himself. "Then that's what you get." Celestia rose back to her full height. "Tomorrow You will be the personal guard to Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, as she meets with the coyotes of the south."
Craft stood frozen with shock. On the one hoof he had gotten exactly what he wanted, the chance to protect and serve. On the other hoof it was her, the love princess, not only can she manipulate the emotions of others into falling in love. She tried to do the same to him.
"Captain Edge will be briefing you on this assignment," Celestia sat back down in her throne. "Dismissed." The princess watched as Craft left in a daze.
"Hopefully this will bore him enough to scare him off."
"What if it doesn't your highness?" The royal scribe asked.
"Then he may just be another guard, Inkwell"
____________________________________
Captain Razer Edge had seen many things in her life, more than most ponies, being the captain of the guard made sure of that. This was not one of them, what the older mare was expecting was a stallion, a big one at that, not this colt, who needed to hit a growth spurt, sitting across from her.
"You're kidding, right?" The yellow mare had to look down at Craft.
"No mam," Craft stood at attention just like he was trained to.
"The princess sent a colt to guard her niece."
"Yes," Craft' eye twitched as he held back his anger. "…Mam."
"Very well, do you have training?" Razer asked with a sumg grin .
"Yes I do," Craft answered with a sumg grin of his own. "Hammer, Craft T."
"You?!" The shock clearly evident on Razer's face. "You're the teenager that has been forging Celestia's signature to train with the guard!?"
"Um, Yes?" Craft sank back from the captain.
The airship
Harmony 1, the flagship of Equestria's avian navy, just one of the many ships in Canterlot docks. Alongside Harmony 1 sat the Old Sea Hag, once a sailing vessel was recommissioned as an airship after it sank defending the harbor of Filly Delphia from griffin invasion nearly a hundred years ago.
The crew of the Sea Hag were preparing the ship for its departure later that evening, it's journey having been delayed by a fit of engine troubles, as such the engineer ordered the delay until she was satisfied.
____________________________________
Craft was not a happy pony, partly because of his assignment, but mostly because of the delay of launch. As the sun was getting low, Craft stood at the boarding ramp with another guard, waiting for the young princess and the engineer's say, he found that standing all day was rather boring and a bit painful.
"So damn bored, " Craft thought to himself. "Is she doing this to scare me off? "
"You alright there kid?" The other guard, an earth pony, asked. "You look like you're about to fall asleep."
"They train us to fight, and all we do is stand at an entryway." Craft shifted his stance once more. "This is not what I thought you do as a guard."
The older guard laughed. " I thought the same when I enlisted few years ago." He looked at Craft's hoode, an off duty garment. "No armor?"
"Have you seen armor this small?"
"Mare's." Ignoring Craft's groan he continued. "But not stallions. I'm steel, by the way."
"Craft. Should we be talking this much?" Craft asked making Steel laugh again.
"There no superiors here, no need to be at attention." Steel stated. "Besides it helps to pass the time."
"That's true."
"I've got a question," Craft rose a brow but said nothing. "What's it like living with the princess?"
"That's it?" Craft was a little surprised. "You're not wondering how or why I'm here?"
"The captain briefed me on that already."
"…Oh."
"Well?"
"I try to keep to myself. But it's not that different from a normal life, wake up get ready for the day, face the day, home in time for dinner at the kitchen table."
"Kitchen table?" Steel asked confusion evident on his face. "I thought the Princess ate in the dining hall."
"Just during important meetings," Craft had a thoughtful look on his face. "The royal kitchen really only cooks for the castle staff and guard."
"What about you guys then?"
"We take turns cooking. Well not Blueblood, he always orders from the kitchen anyways, he doesn't like my cooking, too simple," Craft paused to think. "But Celestia seems to look forward to my turns, I think she likes the simplicity." Craft stopped still thinking.
"No royal titles?"
"Blueblood's a dick, and I see Celestia on a daily bases. I Honestly think she likes having somepony around that isn't a total suck up."
"Doesn't Princess Mi Amore Cadenza live there too?" Steel asked. "I mean sh—"
"Yes I do," Both guards ponies jumped to attention at the speaker's interruption, finding that Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, and her current guard, had spoken.
"Princess," Both stallion saluted.
"Having fun boys?" She spoke kindly. "Hello Craft." Craft only gave a curt nod.
"This way your highness," Steel gestured up the ramp allowing Cadenza to board. After she had passed Steel shot Craft a questioning glance only for Craft to ignore it as he instantly followed Cadenza aboard.
The captain Immediately stepped forward. "Greetings, Princess, I'd like ta apologise fer the delay," he lead Cadenza below decks, to her quarters. "Like I said in my letter, our engineer found some loose fittin's on the boiler, but that's not the reason fer the delay, no, she went and checked everything."
"And our timing?" Cadenza paused in the corridor, nearly having Craft run into her. "The coyotes don't take kindly to tardies."
"No worries, I've taken the time ta map out a new flight plan," the captain lead on once again. "Unfortunately it means that we have ta take a more direct route, right over the Everfree Forest, and the Macintosh Hills just ta name a few instants, I'll be taking the wheel over the Everfree leg of this trip."
Stopping in front of her quarters, Cadenza giggled. "With you at the helm, I feel safer already."
"Thank ya kindly, Princess," The captain, with a smile, paused as he went to turn away. "The mess hall is open if ya need a snack before night fall."
"I'll pass," Cadenza looked over her shoulder at a annoyed Craft. "But my guards might need something." With that she slipped into her room.
Craft took position by the door with a stoic stare. His ear twitching at the chuckling of Steel and the captain.
"Boy, there are only five crew and one other guard on this ship," the captain snorted with amusement. "Ya don't have ta stand by the door." Sill snorting as he left. "Now, I have a ship ta launch."
"He's right kid," Steel lead the flushed faced Craft away from the door. "Everypony here has passed multiple checks and tests. Let's get something to eat before turning in for the night."
The ship jerked as it was freed from its restraints and the propellers kicking in gear. Craft froze after the ship settled down from the launch.
"You alright there kid?" Steel asked with concern in his voice.
"I just realized how far up we are."
"You'll get used to it."
"It's not the height I don't like, it's the fall." Craft said, still frozen in place. "The fall's what kills you."
____________________________________
"And that's how I got my cutie mark!" the brown colt proclaimed, throwing his forelegs into the air.
"I don't believe you," Steel deadpanned. " I mean what does a scroll and a hammer have to do with improvising? All you did was build a bridge."
"More than you'd think," Craft took a sip from his drink before continuing. "My special talent is twofold, the scroll represents knowledge and learning. A hammer, more importantly a claw hammer, like the one on my mark, is used in construction."
"I still don't get it."
"Let me finish. Now back to me, I am a quick learner and notice thing most ponies don't. I use that information to plan and then use my skills, to do that plan, mostly making something with stuff on hoof."
"And you say improvising because?"
"I am pretty fast at the planning part," Craft shifted in his seat. "And it's faster to say." Opening his mouth to speak, Craft paused when his ear twitched toward the mess hall door.
"What's up?" Steel asked only to be ignored by the younger colt, as he looked at the door. When no one came in Craft spoke.
"Are you just going to Stand there like a creeper?" A small 'eep' was all he got in response. "Come in already, then."
A pink winged unicorn mare sulked in like a foul that got caught with a hoof in the cookie jar. "Oh, it's just you." Craft dismissively stated.
"I'm sorry Craft," Cadenza started with a guilty look on her face. "I just wanted your opinion on something and heard you talking about your cutie mark. I just—"
"Just know a few things about me," Craft said with a sigh.
"Yes," Cadenza looked away. Steel looked between the two of them before speaking
"I'm, um, goin' to go hit the hay," He said a he made his way to the door. "G'night."
"Night, Steel," Craft biding him before turning to the Princess. "What crafting and/or building thing could be bugging you on an airship?"
"How did you know what I wanted?" She paused before giving a slight, hopeful, smile. "You're not angry at me."
"That's all you need when you talk to me." Craft deadpanned, before scowling slightly. "And no, I don't hate you, I just don't like you."
"Oh, um, I ah-"
"Sit. What did you want?"
A blushing Cadenza quickly sat across from Craft and took some deep breaths, while he took a drink. "Sorry, it's just what the captain said about the engine."
"The loose fittings on the boiler," Craft said adopting a thoughtful look. "What about it?"
"Well aren't steam engines supposed to be unstoppable?"
"No," craft snorted with amusement. "A steam engine is just a super water heater that turns a turbine. In our case the turbine is attached to the gearbox of the propeller. The only things it's made of are the well forged steel, nuts n' bolts, and the skill of an engineer."
"Then, what would cause the loose fitting?"
"Vibrations from the gears could do it."
"On the boiler?"
"The heating and cooling of the boiler could do it too." He paused to take a drink. "Though the bolts would do the same as well, I think."
"What if it was intentional?" Craft's chuckling became a nervous laugh when he caught sight of Cadenza's scowl.
____________________________________
In the bridge the captain stood at the helm, staring into the rapidly darkening sky ahead of him. Looking down at the gauges he notices a needle has climbed into the red. The captain tapped the gauge only to have the needle jump farther into the red.
"Damn it," he reached for the speaking tube. "Bolts."
"Here cap," a mare's voice replied from the tube.
"Check the presser on the boiler, I've got a red up here."
"On it cap," down in the engine room Bolts, a dark green unicorn mare, quickly ran to the boiler gauge. "Shit, what's wrong now?" She then ran to the boiler itself doning thermal gear on the way. The boiler was creaking and groaning when Bolts arrived. "Safety valve," she quickly skirted the boiler around to the the valve finding it compromised. "Shit! Light! Get a wrench!" No reply. "Damn it!" Bolts tried to snatch a wrench from the tool rack with her magic, only to grab air. "What?! Where?" Running to the tool rack, realisation dawned on her face. "Light you little sh—!" A bolt burst from the boiler, rickasaded off of a pipe, and went through bolts' head.
Outside the engine room a shard of burning metal pierced the wall, as the entire ship shook from the boiler exploding. A ball of fire came out of the smoke stack and lit the hydrogen balloon on fire as well, a second explosion quickly followed the first. The Old Sea Hag was sinking again, only this time it was several miles in the air.
Creeaak, Creeaak, Creeaak,
"Stop moving the floor," Craft mumbled against the rocking floor. "I'd like to get off the ride." The floor did not comply with his wishes, instead it continued to sway Craft's body, to his left then to his right, to the left to the right, left then right, left to right. "Screw you too," Lifting his head earned him sharp pain in his ear. "Ow, ow, ow! O.k! I'm not sick any more."
Shifting his body, Craft got his hooves under him. "What is on my ear?" Moving his left hoof up to his ear gave Craft a solid thump on something big. Feeling up the offending mass as best as he could. Finding some sort of crate, Craft came to an impasse. "The corner's on my ear, no way to hold it up and too heavy to move," as he thought outloud, Craft failed to notice the rocking had slowed to a stop, as well as something else.
"I can't really move, so… COLD!!" Craft yelped as his rump got wet and tried to pull it out of the water. "Wait, water, what's that doing-, and it's rising fast." As the water rose Craft found that his head was higher than his rump, but not by much. Craft started throwing hits at his inanimate offender. The water was already at his jaw, forcing Craft to twist his head upward to keep water out of his snout. "Shit, shit, shi~et! I don't want to do this!" Shifting his forehooves one again as water forced his left eye to close, Craft took a deep Breath and exhaled. "Do or drown, Craft, well… shut-up, three… two…—GGAAAAHHHH !!!"
Craft jolted up into a sitting pose, his forehooves whipped to his ear. Now missing half of his ear, he sported a right angled nick. Whimpering as a warm liquid ran down his neck, Craft sat, with watery eyes, as the water rose higher.
"N-need to move," Craft whimpered as he stood and trudged through the darkness to swallow water. Before he could make any headway, light flooded the room, blinding Craft.
"Craft?!" A ragged looking Steel cried out "What are you doing down here?"
"Bleeding," Craft sniped as passed the armor less Steel to get out of the room he was in. "Sorry, where are we?" Without his enchanted armor, Steel was a green stallion with a silver mane and a steely grey helm on his flank.
"Just outside the cargo hold," The green stallion took notice of Crafts ear. "Damn, let me take a look at that, kid." Taking ahold of Craft's head, Steel started bandaging his ear. "What happened? Half your ear is torn off."
"Got caught under a crate or something, cargo probably." A scowl took over Craft's face. "Water was rising too fast to wait for help. Ow!" Craft winced as Steel tied a bandage around his head pinning the ear down.
"Sorry," Steel stepped back from Craft, surveying his work. "Alright kid, we need to locate other survivors and get them off the ship."
"Problem," Craft rose his hoof. "The ship is taking on water. Do they even put life rafts on airships?"
"If not, then we'll have to make one," Steel turned and made his way up the sloped floor of the hall. "Let's find ponies first, then we'll worry about that."
"Right behind you," Craft followed Steel up the wrecked hall. "Do we know what happened?"
"No," Steel grunted as he lifted debris out of the way. "I felt two explosions, one was the balloon. Don't know about the other."
"Makes sense," Craft said as they worked their way around rubble to a wrecked stair way and climbed up to the next level.
"We should start checking rooms now," Steel motioned to a door in the hall.
"Right." Craft moved to a splintered door and shoved it open and checking the messed room. "Nothing here."
"Same," Steel called from across the way.
"Two explosions," Craft muttered as duo moved to the next doors.
"What's that?" Steel asked, looking into a room that had its door ripped off.
"Two explosions," Craft repeated. "One was the balloon, that had to be the second."
"Right, we started falling after that," Steel paused and looked at Craft. "The first may have been an attack."
"Unless pegasi placed a bomb on deck. I think we would have noticed."
"Then what are you suggesting?"
"Look at the facts," Craft starts pacing the hall. "Loose fittings this morning, causing a delay, and crashing just now. You tell me."
Steel pondered on that thought. "Can you tell if the engine was tampered with?"
"No," craft stopped pacing and moved to another door. "I've only got an idea of how a boiler works. Besides you'll need a forensics lab."
"You don't know? I thought that you–!"
"Of course I don't know," Craft pulled his head out of the room he was checking. "I'm only fif–." Craft snaps his gaze to his right as his ear twitched, and raised a forehoof to cut off Steel. "Did you hear that?" Whispered Craft.
"What did you hear?" Steel whispered back. His eyes searching the hall as well.
"Don't know, was talking," Craft started creeping down the hall. "Don't think it was the ship though."
"H-help." The cry was barely more than a whisper.
"That's somepony!" Steel whisper shouted as he started running . Both guards ran down the hall, slamming into the door that they heard the soft cry come from. "It's jammed." Steel's hooves scraping on the floor as his tried to force the door. "Hello? are you in there?"
"Yes! yes! I'm here! Thank Celestia," a mare's voice rang out. "The door, it's stuck."
"Okay, what's your name?" Steel looked around the area for something to use on the door.
"M-my name's Cakemix," The mare said. "Can you get me out?"
"Yes, we will get you out of there," Steel assured the mare. "Cakemix, are you injured?"
"I-I think my foreleg is broken," Cakemix responded.
"I'll take a look at it when we get you out okay?" Steel said, after not finding anything to bust the door open with.
"Okay," Cakemix whimpered
Steel turned to Craft and saw that his eyes were scanning the wall. "What are you looking at?"
"A crack in the wall," Craft turned his eyes to Steel. "It goes right to the doorframe."
"A crack's keeping the door closed?" Steel deadpanned.
"Yes," Craft returned the deadpan. "Actually it is." Craft pointed at the crack in the doorframe to show that the broken wall had shifted and was wedged against the door.
"…Oh," Steel said, rubbing the back of his head. "The cracked wall is."
"Yep," Craft went to the door and started pushing on different spots on it.
"What are you doing?" Cakemix called though the door. "Please, just open it."
"Don't worry Cakemix," Craft called back to the mare. "It was Cakemix, right?"
"Yes it is," The mare confirmed.
"I'm just finding the right place to hit the door," Craft pressed a diffrent spot.
"Right by the doorknob," Steel throws in. "Like we were trained."
"Ever tried opening a crooked door?"
"You have to push on a different spot," Cakemix said.
"Exactly," Craft praised. "Thought so." Craft mumbled to himself, having found the spot to hit. "Cakemix, could you stand back?"
"One sec," The sound of shuffling came from the room, along with a whimper of pain. "O-okay, I'm ready!"
"Never thought I'd get a mare to say that," Craft mumbled to himself before clearing his throat. "Alright, Steel, you need to hit right here." Craft pointed at the door next to the crack.
"Not strong enough to get it, kid?" Steel smirked.
"You're a bloody mountain of a pony, I'm not," Craft said with a twitch of a brow. "Hit the door." After Craft moved out of his way, Steel turned his back to the door. " you're going to want to aim high." Steel's only response was a grunt. Quickly, Steel bucked the door as hard as he could.
The door flew open with a groan of protest as it ground against the fractured wall. When the door got to be perpendicular to the wall, it snapped from the shifting of the wall, earning an ‘eep’ of fear from Cakemix. The ship, as it shifted along the crack, splintered and tore apart as the wall and the ceiling rain bits of wood, dust and metal on the ponies. After the ship had settled Steel spoke up.
"Everypony alright?"
"Well, I'm not stuck under anything, so yeah, I'm good."
"I-I've been better."
____________________________________
The Old Sea Hag, despite it's small crew, was rather large, having been designed to be ran by a minimum crew of five to seven if need be. And as a result of the Sea Hag's size, the halls were a mess. Some halls were almost untouched, while others had cracks just waiting to slip and tear.
After retrieving Cakemix from her room and setting her leg, the trio continued through the ship. As the trio climbed through the halls, avoiding the cracks as much as possible, Craft had taken point.
Looking over his shoulder, Craft suppressed a chuckle at seeing the light purple unicorn mare, who was not so much leaning, but pressing up against the buff green earth pony known as Steel while keeping her sky blue eyes on the floor.
As Craft was distracted by the two ponies, he barely heard the floor creak ahead of him. Craft, turning his head to investigate, ducked as a wrench swung right over his black mane. Reacting quickly, Craft reared up, using a foreleg to pin the wrench to the wall and the other to smack the minty attacker's face, knocking him onto his rump.
"Wait!" The mint pony cried, forehooves on his muzzle. "Wait! I'm the assistant engineer! I can help you!" Opening his pinkish eyes, he saw the wrench being pointed at his face.
"Steel?" Craft asked over his shoulder.
"He's one of the crew," Steel said with Cakemix nodding in agreement, her pink mane bouncing. Craft pulled the wrench away from the mint pony and offered a hoof.
"Thanks," The minty stallion took Craft's hoof and pulled himself up. "Can I have my wrench back?"
"No," Craft pocketed the tool in his hoodie. "You tried to take my head off with it, Minty."
"It's Light," 'Minty' protested. "Besides I missed."
"Do you even know how much damage a wrench can do to a pony!?" Craft yelled. "You could've killed me!"
"I was aiming for a taller pony," Light said before waving a hoof at the other two ponies. "With how heavily you trot you should be the size of… Steel? Over there." Not quite recognising the guard without his armor.
"Light!" Cakemix spoke up before Craft or Steel could. "That's not the point!" Taking a breath to calm down. "You could have seriously hurt him. Apologize."
"Fine," Light rolled his eyes, as he ran a hoof through his gray mane. "I'm sorry for aiming at a taller pony."
"Why you–!" Craft made to tackle the mint pony.
"ENUFF!" Steel yelled, commanding the attention of every pony. "Light! Stop antagonizing the kid."
"Ki–?"
"Craft!" Steel turned his glare to the younger guard. "You are a guard, keep a level head."
"Yes sir," Craft recognized Steel's tone, the tone of a superior officer, and stood at attention. Seeing Craft defeated, Light opened his mouth and promptly shut it when steel turned his glare to him.
"Have you seen anypony else?"
"No one living," Light let out a sad sigh. "I went up top after finding Bolts. The captain and Nav are dead too."
"Did you see where we are?" Craft cut in before Steel could ask.
"Some forest lake," Light informed. "I think, I saw Mt. Canter."
"So we're still in Equestria," Steel spoke up. "That's good we'll just have to wait for a pegasus to fly over."
"Fly over? We're in a forest, Light said with some disbelief. "They can't see us!"
"A forest lake," Craft countered, raising a hoof. "Lakes can be seen in a forest from above…" Craft trailed off into thoughtful mumbling. "That could be bad. Hey Steel, do you remember what the captain said about the route we were taking?"
"Yea," Steel paused to think back to earlier. "He said that we'd have to take shorter course over the Macintosh hills and the Ever… free… forest. Shit."
"That's just great."
"We need to leave the ship," Light stated, as he and Steel sat across from each other at a table in the mess hall. "If this is the Everfree forest, we need to get out!"
"No," Steel narrowed his amber eyes. "The ship is a safe zone." Looking around the room, Steel continued. "Besides we still have to find the princess."
"You sent that kid to find her," Light flipped his mane. "You going and finding her would be faster."
"That ‘kid’ is pretty clever," Cakemix called out from the kitchen. "You could try to be nice for once, Light." She limped into the mess hall carrying a tray of food in her magic grasp.
"Whatever," Light huffed, and turned his head. "The sooner we find the princess, the sooner we can leave."
"We're not leaving the ship," Steel turned his attention to Cakemix as she placed the tray on the table. "What's it look like in there?"
"My kitchen is a mess," Cakemix declared as she gingerly sat with the stallions. "But the food has surprisingly survived." She took a can of soda in her magic and popped the tab. "The stove is another story, but I can cook over a fire."
"We have provisions for a month and shelter," Steel turned back to Light. "Why do you want to leave?"
"It's the Everfree forest!" Light through his forelegs in the air. "The most dangerous place in Equestria! Ring any bells?!"
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"Bloody hell is her room," Craft grumbled under his breath, as he wandered the ship. Not having memorized the ship's layout, he was next to lost. "Aaaand that's the mess hall, again." Turning around, Craft took a deep breath and dug into his Recent memories. "Okay, it was left…" Pushing past debris, he took the turn. "Keep straight…" Craft maneuvered down the hall, before turning down another.
As Craft navigated the ship, he paused. "What is that?" Bringing a hoof to his chest, Craft felt short of breath, like something stirred in his heart. "What?" His confusion deepened when a scent came to him. "Citrus, no, better than that." The scent come from his left. Turning to look, Craft found a door. "Oh… ‘kay, I'll bite." Gently pushing the door open, Craft snuck in, never realizing the smell had left.
Like the rest of the ship, the room was wrecked. A mattress lay against the wall, it's bed frame shattered. A trunk had burst open, spilling its contents across the room. As Craft poked at the personal effects, he found a damaged, simple tiara with a purple gem on it. Craft started searching around, He quickly noted that the mattress was not laying flat on the floor.
"Found you."
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
After scolding Craft for his arrogance, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza retired to her room. 'How can he be so smart and be that stupid?' Cadenza took her tiara in her magic and examined it a purple gem sat in the center of the golden face while another one stood proud on the middle point rounded like a marble.
"I don't get what she sees in him," Cadenza placed the tiara on her nightstand, before removing the rest of her regalia. "He's a bit rude." Climbing into bed, Cadenza tucked herself in, and nuzzled into her pillow. Cadenza used her magic to pull a thin comic book, with a kimono clad pony, who had green eyes and a headband, on the cover, out of her travel case. "She should find somepony like my ninja warrior." Letting out a sigh, Cadenza placed the comic on her nightstand. "Ronin, find me…" She mumbled as sleep took her.
~~~~~>
Waking was filled with pain. Cadenza's skull ached and her wing was in agony and whatever was on top of her did not help.
"Found you," The voice was muffled and right after they spoke, the mass on top of her was lifted way. It didn't matter if the mass was moved gently, it still dug into her injured wing. "Gaahha!" The pain fogged up her vision.
“Shit,” Then a pair of green eyes entered Cadenza's view, the deepest, forest green eyes she'd ever seen, and they sat just under a white headband.
"Ronin." Cadenza breathed. "You've save me." She leaned forward with puckered lips, only for her rescuer to pull away.
"The buck are you doing?"
Cadence, after taking a few seconds to register who the voice belonged to, Blushed. Hard. "Craft?" Real hard.
"Yes," Craft was quickly examining the princess for open wounds while avoiding her wing. "Can you stand?"
"I think so," Cadenza slowly rolled onto her stomach, her blush quickly fading, as she got her hooves under herself. Craft moved to Cadenza's good side and helped her up.
With her left wing hanging down to the floor, Cadenza leaned on the shorter Craft as the room spun for her. “Wa-what happened?”
“Something exploded,” Craft paused to help Cadenza out the door. “Then the balloon popped.”
“So I was right.” Cadenza murmured as Craft lead her through the wrecked hall. “Somepony did something to the engine.”
“Can't rule out an accident.”
“Why's that?”
“Assumptions make you look like an idiot.”
“Pardon?”
“Something my dad used to say.”
“Used to– oh,” Cadenza worked her mouth like a fish, trying to find something else to say. “Well, I'm–.”
“Say it and I'll ditch,” A near growl left Craft’s throat. “I don't need to hear that every time he's mentioned.”
“I was going to say ‘I'm glad that you're keeping his wisdom alive,’” Cadenza replied with a glare.
“Sorry,” Craft’s free ear folded back. “I thought that…”
“You made an assumption.”
“Yes I did.”
“So…” The glare on Cadenza’s face was replaced with a smirk.
“Yes I am,” Craft grinned back.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
“Somepony will fly over and spot us,” Steel struggled to keep his voice level. “We can wait.”
“It's the Everfree!” Light yelled yet again waved his hooves. “Who flys over that?”
“Dare devils and glory seekers,” At the looks of confusion from Light and Cakemix, Steel explains. “The guard gets several reports a month.”
“What's wrong with ponies?” Light’s face pales.
“You should hear some of the nobles in court,” Another mare’s voice answered. “One of them wanted to tear down half a hospital, just so he could have a clear view of the valley.” A pink mare trots into the mess hall next to a shorter brown stallion.
“Princess!” Steel jumped to his hooves and rushed to her side. “Let me take a look at your wing.” Craft moved to the food tray and started speaking with Cakemix. Light got up and left the room.
“Where are you going?” Steal called after the retreating pony.
“To get some air!” The mint pony shouted back.
“Thank you Steel,” Cadenza regained Steel’s attention and winced as Steel gently spread her injured wing. “Report.”
“The ship has settled on a forest lakeside shore,” Steel gently folded Cadenza’s wing by a small fraction, and earned a hiss. “Sorry, Craft, could you find me a sturdy, straight piece of wood I can use as a splint?”
“One sec,” Craft called back, before he moved away from a blushing Cakemix.
“I believe you broke your ulna.”
“Thank you,” Cadenza noded. “Do we know what forest we're in?” Steel hesitated,
“We're in the–.”
Crack!
Snapping their heads to the source of the sudden noise Cakemix, Steel, and Cadenza found Craft with a busted table leg. “What?”
“Do you know how much that was?!” Cakemix cried out.
“It's made of Birch,” Craft tossed the leg aside before pulling out the thinner crossbeam. “I'll say, no more than a hundred bits.”
“Two hundred,” Cakemix shot the dirtiest look she could at Craft.
“You overpaid,” Craft gave the soon-to-be splint to Steel.
“Thanks,”
“Welcome,” Craft turned back to Cakemix. “I could make a better quality one for that much,”
“He's not always like this, is he?” Steel whispered to Cadenza.
“I'm not sure,” Noting Steel’s raised brow, Cadenza explained further. “He tries to avoid me.”
“Aren't you a guard?” Cakemix asked Craft.
“Yes, and?”
“Shouldn't you be guarding a door instead of making tables?”
Craft turned to the side to show his cutiemark. “See this hammer?” He accented the question with a hoof pointing at said cutiemark hammer.
“Yes?” Cakemix confusedly answered.
“Do you know what it means?” Cakemix shook her head. “It means I can make quality shit.”
“What about the scroll?”
“I know how to make said quality shit,” everypony took varying looks of confusion.
“Wait, didn't you say–?” Steel started but Craft cut him off.
“Same thing,” Craft sat back down at the table. “Don't you have a bone to set, Steel?”
“Don't push your luck, kid,” after getting a grunt in response, Steel returned his attention to the princess’s wing, and his report. “The Captain, the engineer, and the navigator died during the crash.”
“And the forest we're in?” Cadenza reminded.
“Right,” Steel paused to bind the splint to the wing and wrapping it to the young mare’s side. “We believe that we're in the Everfree forest.”
<~~~~~
After grunting his response to Steel, Craft grabbed some bread and cheese from the tray and chowed down.
“Hungry?” Cakemix asked as she watched Craft devour his food. Craft swallowed what food he had in his mouth.
“It's been an active few hours,” Craft took another bite of his food. “And I'm a teenager.”
“I know that,” Cakemix sighed in defeat. “About what you said earlier.” A rosy tint came back to the purplish mare’s cheeks. “Could you, um… you know?” Craft raised a brow as the mare lightly pawed at the tabletop then looked past him. Following Cakemix’s gaze Craft saw Steel wrapping Cadenza’s wing onto her side.
“What!” The princess’s cry made Steel flinch away and cover his ears.
Light troted down the halls of the ship, sticking to the clear ones as much as possible.
“Damn ponies,” Light mumbled as he rounded a corner. “Damn sensible ponies, the ship crashes in the most dangerous place in Equestria. Of course they're going to stay in the safety of the ship.”
Shoving a door open, he entered the engine room. Looking at the twisted shell of the boiler, Light spoke again. “This was a stupid plan.” He uprighted a stool and sat on it. “Let’s raid the ship near the badlands! We can take the princess and blame pirates!” Light brought a hoof to his face and rubbed the bridge of his muzzle. “I must have did something wrong when I delayed launch.”
“I need to get the princess to the meeting spot, but how?” Looking at the deceased body of Bolts, Light lamented. “How do I get ponies out of a safe zone?” Letting his gaze drift across the room, Light caught sight of a can out of the corner of his eye. He smiled as he focused on it. “Burn them out.”
After gathering as much canned grease and oil as he could carry, Light stopped by Bolts’ body. “Too bad you're dead. I really wanted that ass, Bolts.” He whispered into the deceased mare’s ear, before straightening up and leaving.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Having decided to follow Steel’s plan of waiting for help, Cadence and the rest of the ponies made the mess hall into a base camp. The damaged tables and benches were dragged out while a few mattresses were brought in. Only one table sat in the hall with a few benches around it, around that lay the mattresses enough for everypony to sleep on, as Cadence was now doing.
“Cakemix,” Craft yawned as he lounged on a bench, upside down. “What are you cooking?” Across the hall, resting on a mattress next to the one holding a snoozing princess, Cakemix raised her head.
“I'm not cooking,” Craft let his head fall off of the bench to look at her.
“Then what am I smelling?”
“I can smell it too,” Steel spoke up from across the table, a scawl on his face. “Kid, wake the princess, tell her what's up.” Steel hopped off his bench and left. Rolling off of his resting place, Craft landed on his hooves, and made his way to the slumbering princess.
“Wakey, Wakey,” Craft cooed, as he nudged Cadence’s shoulder. Getting no response, Craft whispered into her ear. “Ronin’s here to save you.”
“Ronin?” The princess woke with a snort. “Uh? W-what's going on?” Cadence asked with a yawn and a smack of her lips.
“We've got a strange smell, so Steel went to investigate,” Craft sat down before the princess.
“Gas?” Cadence yawned as she stretched out her legs.
“No,” Cakemix sniffed at the air. “It smells more oily, but not something I'd cook with.” She turned to Craft as she spoke. “Why did you need to wake the princess?”
“Precaution, incase we need to leave quickly,” Craft then smirked. “You know, i'm surprised that you're not worried for Steel.” Cakemix sputtered at that remark.
“You said you wouldn't tell!”
“No I didn't, but I didn’t say that I wouldn’t help,” Craft smugly remarks. “Besides, love princess here is now chomping at the bit to help you.”
“You're an ass,” A faux upset Cakemix huffed and turned away.
“I'm a little confused,” Cadence looked between the two of them. “Who–?”
“The cook has a crush on your guard.”
“…You?”
“WHAT? NO!” Both Craft and Cakemix cried. Before anypony could say any more, the doors burst open, letting smoke billow in and cling to the ceiling.
“Craft! Grab Cakemix and follow me, make sure the princess stays ahead of you,” Steel stood in the glowing haze of the hallway.
“Yes sir!” Craft turned to Cakemix and nudged her side, prompting her to rise as he slipped under her. Turning to the princess, unaware of Cakemix’s blush, he ushered the royal out of the mess hall.