A Skyrate Tale: Servant Betrayed

Chapter 4

Introduction! Tinkertown and Commander Hurricane

Nova yawned as she watched the land zoom by under the chariot. it had been a while since she had been on such a long trip and she knew it was only the beginning. "Tree...tree...tree...tree...rock...no wait that's a tree"

Her observations were interrupted suddenly with a loud squeak as Patches jumped onto her head. "Nova we have almost arrived at Tinkertown! Do you really think the captain will be there?" The doll asked before jumping off Nova and right off the chariot. "we did not know we could fly!"

Eyes widening as she saw Patches fall off she reached out and grabbed the doll in her mouth.  Wiping sweat from her forehead she put him down. "You can't fly silly so don't do tha again please" Really she had expected him to do this sooner. "and no I don't think the captain will be there, but I believe he'll be near by"

Hearing his daughter's explanation made him smile. Professor loved his daughter so much!  She was smart, bravec agile and just so cute. His Nova could have followed in his or his mother's hoofsteps and would have passed them both, but she had decided to take her own path. He was so proud of her.

Then he had an idea. Grinning to himself he would look back into the chariot and clear his throat. "Oh Nova I packed some of your favorite candy in my saddlebags, you can have it"  As expected his daughter's eyes grew large and she jumped for his saddlebags. "sooo cute..."  Turning back he could see Tinkertown in the distance. "Tinkertown dead ahead"

Some how comepletely vanishing into her dad's saddlebags, don't ask her how she does it she just does, she popped her head out with a mouthful of candy. "mmm apple my favorite!"  Apple flavored candy was perhaps her greatest weakness, she just couldn't help herself when it came to it.

Hoping out of the bags she trotted over and peered over the railing of the chariot.  True enough there it was or there it wasn't actually.  The town itself was inside a magical bubble that made it invisible to the naked eye, it was a precaution that was desperately needed for the town.  Despite the fact that the town itself couldn't be seen she could pick out a tall structure that was built just outside the dome.

The structure shot straight up into the sky about 30 or 40 feet and was remarkably similar to some of the towers in Canterlot.  At the top of the tower she could see a banner that was red with a white ship on it and several platforms.  To her surprise on one of the platform sat the Flickerjack. "No way...they're actually here" For several minutes she just stared at the ship making sure it was what she thought it was.

The Flickerjack didn't look like it had changed at all since she left to start her training.  On the deck she could see the giant cannon Fafnir or fafoom as it was so affectionately called by Xan it's operator. There were also several barrel and trunks sitting on deck, it looked like they had just come back from a major haul. Then she turned her gaze up to the balloon and spotted the crow's nest.  Rather it was the Nova's nest, she could still see her name stenciled on the side of the bathtub. A few memories flashed in and out of her head as she remembered her time spent in it.

"Hey dad let's not land on the ship, I wanna surprise the captain" There was a mischievous look on her face as she look at her dad.

Professor could almost sense what his daughter was gonna do. "Alright, I'll put us down in the town" The chariot took began to loose altitude as he lowered them towards the tree top so that any on the ship didn't see them coming.

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Moments later they felt a tingle over their bodies as they passed through the magical dome that kept the town hidden. In front of them a small town was laid out with it's back to the side of a mountain.  It was a small town, even smaller than Ponyville and was surrounded by a thick stone wall on all sides. In middle of the town sat the a large clock tower, just seeing it made Nova wince.

It had been here several years earlier that she had first became a skyrate.  Their goal had been to plunder an untouched tomb of it's splender. She couldn't help but chuckle when she remembered the tomb's name, it was supposed to be called 'The Tomb of the Definitely Dead' and had surprised the crew of the ship when they hadn't found a tomb but rather a town.  In truth it was a terrible time for Nova, but she had gotten over it a long time ago.

The chariot set down right outside Tinkertown's southern gate and they were promptly greeted by a group of guardponies.  A big burly grey earth pony trotted forward with his spear pointed at the chariot. "Halt! Drop all your weapons and state your business here civilian"

Nova jumped off the back of the chariot with Patches on her back and turned to see the guard pointing his spear at her.  "Stonehoof stand down, sheesh is this how you greet everypony?" The earth pony looked down and mumbled something. "Figured, no wonder this place hasn't grown" It also didn't help that it was also function as a skyrate base and that nopony can see it.

Stonehoof shook himself and tried to make himself look bigger. "You need to disarm you-" He was cut off as a dark purple pegasus passed over head and landed in front of him with a thud, this made the earth pony stumble backwards and drop his weapon. It also caused a few of his fellow guards to laugh at him.

"Lieutenant why are you pointing your spear at my granddaughter !" A voice boomed from the pegasus.. Nova couldn't help but snicker at poor Stonehoof, this happened everytime she came. "You know she's welcome here no questions asked!" He pointed his mechanical wing towards the gate. "Now get your flank into action and get back to your post before I court martial you NOW MOVE!" The earth pony took off running.

Turning with a chuckle. "Heh never get old does it?" His steel gray eyes looked over both Nova and Professor.

Shaking her head with a laugh. "Can't say it does Commander" She couldn't help but look over the commander, it still surprised her that he was alive.  He looked good, his nearly black purple coat was prim and proper and his silver mane was cut in it's usual way.

"Commander Hurricane we have an important message and package from her royalness Princess Luna" Opening the black hole that was his mouth, a large box would shoot from Patches mouth and land at Commander's hoofs. The doll trotted back to Professor and the two of them started unpacking the chariot.

Looking at the package and rolling open the scroll that was attached Commander took a few minutes to read. "Seems you're in a bit of trouble Nova"  Nova sheepishly looked away from his gaze. "oh and I believe congratulations are in order Miss Lunar Guard, come we must celebrate!" Picking the package up with his teeth he trotted inside the gate.

"Celebrate? But Commander we can't I'm on a case that needs solving" Nova called after him as she chased him. "Dad, Patches come on we need to talk to him!"

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Princess Luna trotted back and forth impatiantly. The guards around here watched their Princess uneasily wondering what had her so impatiant.

"What is taking him so long to message me back? Surely it doesn't take this long to ready a party!" She heard a snicker from one of the guards and pointed to the door. "Out now! We don't need thy to protect us in our own room!"

The guards scrambled for the door and took off down the hallway, knocking over some royal guards in the process.

Luna slammed her door shut and went back to pacing. She wanted, hay needed to do something special for her friend before she began her quest. After a few minutes of doing so her horn lit up and a small spark shot forth.  The spark floated away and with a snap opened up into a swirling vortex.  Seeing the portal open she would clap her hoofs together with glee. "Time for a party" Concentrating on her horn, the Princess turned into a cloud of sparkles and flew into the portal.

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Nova sat outside of Tinkertown's inn chewing on a piece of apple flavored candy.  There was a look of pure happiness on her face as she enjoyed the candy, she had all but forgotten why she was in Tinkertown. "Who loves apple candy, Nova loves apple candy I do I do I do ooo" This drew looks from a couple ponies who were passing by. She didn't care though.

"Nova you can come in now" A voice said from somewhere, but she didn't hear it.

Popping another piece of candy into her mouths she would grab her mouth and groan. "ooo it's so good, it's like double apple flavored, it's soo good" Nova was so in her own world at this point.

Professor sighed as he watched his daughter go nuts from candy.  It was adorable but really weird. He should have known not to given her a bag of super deluxe gourmet apple candy. Putting his hoofs on her he would shake her silly. "Nova snap out of it!"

Shaking her head she would look at her dad. "Oh...Hi dad what brings you to" She looked around and noticed where she was and jumped up. "Can I go inside yet? I really need to speak to Commander it's important." Her dad took a step back and pointed to the door. "finally!"

"Really Nova how do you get drunk off apple candy?" Her dad asked.

"I don't know it just kinda happens" Was her reply as she stepped into a dark room. "why are the..."

"SURPRISE!"

Stumbling backwards Nova holds her throat as she chokes on the candy that was in her mouth. There was a roar of laughter from those gathered. "not...*gasp*...funny" Gasping a few more times she managed to swallow the candy. Then she took a moment to take in the room and her jaw hit the ground.

The room was completely decorated with banners and balloons. On banner said in big bright purple letters 'Congrats on becoming a Lunar Guard Nova!' and others in smaller letters said 'Lunar Guard Forever!' and 'Congratulations'.  There was even a large table with cake, drinks and other assorted things on it.   She also noticed all the ponies and other beings in the room. Spread through out the room there were ponies from the town, a few of her friends from the guards, her skyrate buddies (though the captain and night sky were missing) and there was even Pinkie Pie in the corner with Vinyl Scratch! Nova's jaw hit the ground hard.

"How do you like it dearest Nova?" Came Princess Luna's voice from behind her.

"Princess!" Nova jumped in the air and turned to face Luna and bowed to her. It was a natural reaction when she was in public with the princess.

Luna shook her head and chuckled. "There is no need to bow to us Nova, not when it's your party" With a nod of her head she pointed to Vinyl and the DJ Mare hit the tunes and cranked them up.

Everyone in the inn began to bob their heads and dance to the music, even Commander Hurricane was getting down with it in middle of the dance floor.

Nova didn't know whether she should cry or laugh at the sight of everyone coming together.  She hadn't expected a celebration let alone party after everything that had happened, she was truely happy. "Thank you everypony"

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Hours passed and the party only got wilder through out the night.  Nova found herself sitting off to the side with one of the skyrate crew. "Hey Nessy, don't see Jack or Night Sky here. Where are they?" She asked the pudgy mare, knowing them she could probably guess.

Nessy looked out over the dance floor and laughed when she saw Patches being used as a beach ball. "You know them, Jack trying to be romantic" The doll came flying over and Nova couldn't help but hit the doll back.

"Nova you betrayed us!" With a squeak he was hit again and was clearly laughing.

With a shrug Nessy continued. "Also knowing them something is gonna happen to break them up"

Grinning mischievouly Nova looked to the wall clock, since it was impossible to tell time by day light in Tinkertown due to the magical bubble. "I think I can do that" Trotting to the door she called over her should. "I'll be back everypony gotta go get a couple who are missing out"

Stepping outside Nova doned her Lunar Guard armor and finally got to put on her helmet.  She felt a tingle as the magical effects from the armor caused her normally brown coat to turn a pale yellow, the same color as the moon and her eyes turned from their normal starry blue to a more sinister green. "This is gonna be good"  Flexing her now bat like wings she took off into the sky and straight to the Flickerjack.

(Author's Notes: Sorry everypony that it took so long to get this out, was having writer's block worrying about my friend, now that he's back I feel that my block is gone and will try to release a chapter on a weekly basis, also it might be a few days before this is edited.)