Across The Pond

"Is everypony here?" one of the royal guards asked Rainbow Dash.

"Yes we're all here can we hurry up and go find Twilight now?" Asked the very annoyed Rainbow Dash.

"Alright, everyone get on" came one of the guards as he motioned them towards the airship.

The five mares and one baby dragon started moving towards the ramp that lead to the deck of the ship. But before Spike could start the ascend Applejack turned to Spike and said "ah' think ya'll should wait here"

Spike could only blink at first, after the initial shock of the words had finally hit him he said "what! That's not fair!" He wanted to say more but he was still having trouble comprehending why Applejack would say something like that.

"Applejack is right, it's too dangerous for my Spikey Wikey" said Rarity, her voice was low but stern.

Spike just stared. Stared at Applejack, stared at Rarity. It was a long while before anypony spoke up.

"We really have to get going" said Rainbow Dash, stretching the word really as she did so. "Besides Spike we need you to do an important job for us" she continued.

"An, an important job" Spike said, looking skeptically but interested all the same. "What kind of job?" asked Spike.

"Yes Rainbow, what kind of job" Rarity echoing Spike's question.

"You don't know? It's only the most important job we have" Rainbow said with a grin

"Well what is it?" Spike said, struggling to hide his excitement and, to no avail, remain his composure.

"We need you" Rainbow started.

"Yes" Spike said eagerly.

"To keep watch over the Princess" Rainbow finally said.

Spike just stared and Applejack leaned over to Rainbow and whispered "that's the best ya'll could do?"

"Well you weren't gonna say something" Rainbow whispered back.

"Watch the Princess?" Spike asked.

"Why yes dear, she is so wrecked with grief at the loss of her faithful student. There is no doubt in my mind she is going to need all the help coping she can get' Rarity quickly said reassuringly.

"I thought you wanted us to hurry up?" asked on of the guards.

"Yeah yeah, keep your saddle on we just need another minute" Rainbow snapped at the guard who responded with an eye roll.

"Fine" Spike finally said, "i'll stay."

"Alright now everypony get on and we'll be off" said the guard. Everypony started to go on board the ship. A particularly large unicorn guard waiting on deck looked at his passengers. All had a suitcase in the teeth and a saddlebag to match. Each with their respective cutie marks adorning the latches of the saddlebags and suitcases. Everypony, except one. The guard walked over to Rarity and asked "Where is your luggage miss? Did you forget to pack?"

"No no, they are on their way up" Rarity said casually while pointing towards the ramp that lead up. The unicorn guard that had asked her looked over to see three of his men, each carrying a few cases, some cases large others small but all of them seemed to have their hoofs full.

"Is all that really necessary?" the guard asked with a raised eyebrow.

Rarity simply smiled and said "you never know when you'll have a fashion emergency."

"Very well then, let us be on our way" Said the Guard. As he said this the boat slowly started to rise and within a few moments they were off.

The guard who had been speaking then turned to the five and said "My name is Rain Step, and i'll be your captain for this flight."

They had been flying for hours but they were finally able to see the foreign land mass over the horizon. They were still about an hour away but at least they could see the destination growing closer now.

"So anypony know where to start to look for twilight?" asked Rainbow Dash.

"Well Princess Celestia said she was somewhere in the mid southern territory known as Elsweyr, we'll start there" responded Captain Rain Step, while looking at a smaller copy of the map Celestia had showed the group earlier.

"umm, girls" Fluttershy began. Everypony turning their heads to give her their attention. In response Fluttershy backed up a bit and lowered her head behind her hair before continuing. "Well, it's just that ..." Fluttershy said, pausing too often for Rainbow Dash's liking. "For the love of Celestia spit it out already Fluttershy!" Fluttershy flinched at the sudden intensity of Rainbow's voice before finishing her thought. "well what if we need to contact the princess?" Fluttershy said, the words coming out in a rush.

Everypony looked around. "Ah' reckon we didn't exactly think that one through, did we?" said Applejack, rubbing the back of her neck.

"Oh, I know what to do, I can go get him and then come right back and the problem will be solved" Pinkie said excitedly as she bounced toward the edge of the airship. Before anypony could stop her she reached the edge, everypony ran over to see where she had bounced but saw nothing. No splash from where she would have, she was just gone.

"What uhh, what did we just see?" asked Captain Rain Step.

Just as he asked he saw the familiar cotton candy mane coming up from the opposite side of the airship. He could only stair as she bounced back up onto the ship deck.

Captain Rain Step was speechless. So many questions raced through his mind but all he could do was stare in astonishment.

"Change your mind Pinkie?" asked Rainbow Dash. She was just as confused as captain Rain Step but she had known Pinkie for too long to bother letting it sit in her mind. Captain Rain Step wasn't so informed.

"How in Equestria did you bounce upside down?" now captain Rain Step was practically yelling.

"It's simple, I have suction cups on the bottom of my hoofs silly" Pinkie said, patting the head of the bewildered captain.

"But even then it wouldn't be possible!" Rain Step shouted.

"Ya'll ain't never met Pinkie Pie have ya?" asked Applejack. "Well let me give you some advice, save yourself the headache and never ask Pinkie Pie how she does something" Applejack said with a reassuring smile.

"But that is literally, physically impossible." Rain Step protested.

"Trust us, you'll be much happier if you never try to understand how she does what she does" Rarity told Rain Step.

"But girls, it was just the suction cups. Simple as that" Pinkie Pie told them

"Pinkie, it's never that simple with you. But you wouldn't be Pinkie Pie if it was" Rainbow said, smiling at her eccentric pink friend.

"Well I suppose I should just give in, I don't think i'll ever understand but if what you all are telling me is true then I should just leave it be." said Rain Step, sounding a little defeated.

"Ya'll accepted that much easier than Twi did, if that helps" said Applejack.

"OOH, we should throw a party to celebrate!" Pinkie said excitedly. "I mean we won't be there for a while and we could have a party for the safe trip and the silly captain's understanding and help. Then we'll find Twilight and we can have a welcome back Twilight party on the way back!"

"Where would we get the supplies" asked Rain Step.

"Right here!" Pinkie pulled out a large blue cannon from seemingly nowhere. But before she could get a shot off Rarity spoke up.

"Perhaps we should hold off on a party until we find Twilight" Rarity told her.

"I guess we can hold off and have one big party once she is here" Pinkie decided. "It won't take long anyway right?"

"I would be too sure about that" Rain Step told Pinkie Pie. "This is a big place and it could take a while."

Pinkie looked at the captain then over the edge of the airship towards the new land. She stared for only a moment before saying "I give it a week, tops."