Author's Note

Fashionably Late here, and we got to Canterlot after ten chapters and the protagonist gets a name! I know I said I showed off my cards in chapter 8's Author's Note, but I hadn't written the chapter yet and I decided to change my mind midway through writing it. So, can I play the 'I have altered the deal' card? In any case, I decided to have another look at the original six frigates and found another name that, while it wasn't a one to one comparison, was interesting enough. Anyway, if you enjoy the story please leave a comment. Have fun.

Chapter 10: Repairs and Canterlot

I was bored. Turns out that I had a few more hours of repair time before I was finished. After finishing the demonstration and spouting off some half baked declaration of protection I had asked to finish my repairs at the behest of my chief engineering officer. Who was a fiery redhead fairy…who knew?

I didn’t even have the option to sleep or be rendered unconscious like last time. No electronics meant watching a movie and/or listening to music was off the table. Reading was out since I didn’t want to chance dropping my books into the bath and I had my fairies combing through my personal library for anything useful. Most of which was manga and comics with the occasional game guide. They only found another three books that were useful, Fighting Techniques of Naval Warfare, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, and Machines of War. Promising, but my own brief look through the books revealed that I would have to have my fairies duplicate the first book in order to correct some minor issues, like how the British Invincible class of battlecruisers were erroneously stated to have a dozen 12 inch guns compared to the ten 12 inch guns on Dreadnought when in reality the Invincibles had eight 12 inch guns or how SMS Blücher was designated as a battlecruiser when, as far as I could remember, the Germans were under no illusions about her capability when compared to the Invincibles and the armored cruiser simply served with the battlecruiser squadron. The last two books were being skimmed over for relevant information, the whole situation was bad enough without me having to share information about flamethrowers.

Ding

Although I apparently did have the option of taking a nap, my eyes snapping open as I looked at a line of blinking zeros that shortly disappeared. A quick chat with my bridge crew and engineering confirmed that I was back to combat readiness although logistics was, politely, suggesting that I replenish my stocks. With nothing else to do I crawled out of the tub and wiped myself down with a towel before opening the door and revealing half a dozen armored ponies in the hallway.

“Ma’am! Have you finished your healing?” Asked an earth pony wearing some fancy armor.

“Er, yeah. Thanks for asking.” I replied nervously.

“We were ordered to bring you to Princess Luna at your earliest convenience.” The pony nodded at one of the guards, said guard saluting before turning and galloping off.

“If those are your orders then ok.” I replied with a shrug, the lead guard nodding before turning to the other ponies and ordering them to form up around me before we all started to make our way off the ship.

Before we could walk off the gangway a voice called out and I turned to see Summer Rain galloping up to us.

“Thanks for waiting. I wanted to say thank you, thank you for helping us bring those pirates to justice and save the hostages, thank you for fighting off those ships that attacked us and thank you for saving Manehattan. I don’t know what we can do to fight against the Morgana, but I know you won’t have to face them alone, this I swear.” The crew of the Clearwave cheered and stomped their hooves in agreement with Summer Rain.

“You…you’re welcome. It’s been an honor sailing with you.” I started weakly before looking Summer Rain in the face and bowing to her. “I just want to say thanks myself. Thank you for picking me up and letting me repair and giving me lunch. If you hadn’t been there I don’t…I don’t think I could have fought off the Morgana cruisers a second time.” I declared, standing back up and gave her a small smile. “I’m happy to have sailed with you, your crew and the Clearwave. I hope we can sail the waves soon enough.”

“…Ponies!...Attention! Salute!” Summer Rain ordered almost breathlessly, the entire crew of the Clearwave following her commands without a moment’s hesitation. On each and everyone of their faces was conviction and resolve. Their display reminded me why I choose not to wear contacts.

I tried to copy their salute, nearly toppling in the process before righting myself. We held that position for a moment before dropping our hooves and I turned back in the direction of the gangplank with the guards keeping pace around me. I didn’t say goodbye, didn’t even bother to. I didn’t want to say goodbye.

The guards were silent as we walked through the base, a few minutes later we were standing at an open field. A nearly open field I amended upon spotting princess Luna discussing something quietly with a group of ponies along with a trio of chariots attended by a group of pegasi, one of the chariots containing a pair of boxes that was secured to the chariot by rope. I didn’t have to guess what was happening for long as Princess Luna noticed our approach and turned to greet me.

“Ah, it's good to see you up and free from your wounds.” The Diarch greeted me. “My sister and I have already considered how exactly we wish to make use of your strength. To that end, I would like to ask you to accompany me back to Canterlot where we can continue to plan for these Morgana.” Luna gestured with one of her wings to the waiting chariots, the pegasi beside them stopping what I just realized were preparations for takeoff.

“Ok, but can I ask what is in the box?” I asked while glancing at the boxes.

Honestly I was a bit worried about her declaration. They already considered how to use my strength and I was being sent to Canterlot? I mean, it would be nice to see the pristine capital atop a mountain, but that was the problem. It was atop a mountain at the center of the country. How was I, a battlecruiser, supposed to fight a naval war on the east coast from atop a mountain? Even if there was a canal leading from Canterlot to Manehattan or one of the other east coast cities it would take me a while to sail that distance, I figured.

Heck, they’ve never even met a ship mare, as far as I know. Sure I just gave them a demonstration, but that was only the tip of the iceberg! I still needed to explain that my abilities were locked in, unless I could undergo a refit. I was hoping that I could undergo one. I needed/wanted a refit similar to what the Standard-type battleships went through, although a 3 knot increase in speed similar to the Kongous would be appreciated. 5 inch AA guns, catapults and floatplanes, anti-torpedo bulges and the removal of my underwater torpedo tubes and replacing those damn cage masts with a more robust bridge structure and some fire-control directors and radar. Sigh, that’s the dream.

“Ah, the boxes.” Luna turned towards the box with a calculating look, snapping me out of my thoughts. “Inside them are artifacts scavenged from the ships that shelled Manehattan. Some of which were pieces of disturbing caricatures of my and my sister’s little ponies, mechanical in nature. There were also shining blue cubes that we’re splitting between Canterlot and Manehattan for research.” She explained.

Shining blue cubes? A certain game and anime immediately came to mind, and now I was giving the boxes an appraising look.

“Now let us depart!” Luna declared in a booming voice, the pegasi who had been watching our conversation jumping to attention before beginning to scurry about in order to finish preparing the chariots. I was quickly ushered onto one of the chariots. Looking over the sides and behind myself had me concerned on how open the damn thing was, but I just confined myself to the experience. They had to be the best in the business and so I didn't need to worry about my safety right? Besides, I’ve been on airplanes before, this was fine right?

…

…

Uh…

I nearly stumbled before being caught by Luna.

"Just take it easy. I've got you." Luna reassured me.

“Uh…dizzy.” I groaned for a moment as the horizon seemed to waver a little, head swimming. The fact that I was leaning against Princess Luna, co-ruler of Equestria and the mare responsible for raising and lowering the moon did not register as not vomiting fuel oil and sprawling on the ground was more important.

“Come, let us head inside the castle. Perhaps the kitchen can serve something to calm your stomach.” Luna led me past towers of white stone and precisely trimmed trees, bushes, and flowers and into a picture perfect fairytale castle. Which again, did not register as I just wanted to lie down.

“Welcome back dear sister, I trust your flight was…uneventful?” I finally registered Celestia, sitting at a table with a stack of documents nearly as tall as the alicorn herself and a yellow mare with an orange mane wearing a military uniform sitting across from her. A cart with an assortment of food and a pair of tea and coffee pots sat nearby.

“Not entirely, sadly our intention to use the Wonderbolts to rush her to the defense of the Morgana’s intended target will have to be shelved.” Luna said as she guided me to an open seat between the princess and the yellow mare, who I was starting to recognize as Spitfire, captain of the Wonderbolts.

“Uh, I don’t think ship mares and flying go hand in hand.” I groaned as Celestia passed me a tea cup filled with a sweat smelling drink. I didn’t even feel the heat emanating from the cup before taking a sip. Hm, flowery, oh, fruity, me likey. I drained the cup before setting it down on a saucer.

“Hm, that is the second time you’ve mentioned ship mares. What do you mean by that?” Celestia asked, filling my tea cup with more tea before taking a bite out of a sponge cake cut into strips with a jam filling.

“Oh, well back home…” I took another gulp of my tea, on one hand to compose my thoughts on the other hand I had no impulse control when it came to my drinks. “There are stories of strange beings attacking shipping lanes and wreaking havoc on countries that are dependent on imports. The only ones who can stop them are kanmusu, I think it translates to ship girl or fleet girl, but considering I’m a pony right now and everybody’s referred to me as female then I think ship mare applies here. Anyhow, the kanmusu are the spirits of ships given human, or again pony, form to fight against those strange beings.”

“What?” Spitfire blurted out, staring at me like I’d gone nuts…which I wouldn’t have argued against on day one.

“From our understanding of her situation.” Celestia began, getting Spitfire’s attention. “This mare is from another world populated by creatures never before seen in Equestria. They are called humans and by her own admission any that would travel to this world would be transformed into a pony.” She explained succinctly, in a way that I couldn’t.

I may be a coward by nature, but I liked talking. Probably because I didn’t get many chances to do so. I’d talk a mile a minute and stumble through my words, having to repeat myself again.

“Okay, so she’s an alien. Got it. So what’s her name, and what does she mean about ‘being referred to as female’ thing?” Everybody was looking at me now.

“I can’t remember my name and…I used to be a guy.” I admitted, gulping down another cup. When did I get a refill?

“Woah woah, time out. You used to be a guy?” At my nod, Spitfire whistled. “That must be an adjustment huh?”

“I’m just trying to ignore it.” I replied, getting another refill.

“And you can’t remember your name?” Spitfire pressed on. At my nod she continued. “Then why don’t you make up a name for yourself, right now.”

“I can’t just make up a name on the spot. The US never commissioned any battlecruisers and human names don’t make for good pony names like Alfred Thayer Mahan.” I replied to everyone’s confusion. I sighed. “The country I came from is called the United States of America and the US is one of many nicknames for it. Battlecruisers are a ship type that I happen to be and the US never managed to build any of us, or atleast never built any of us as a battlecruiser. And finally Mahan was a US naval officer, historian, and possibly the most important American strategist of the nineteenth century.” I finished with another drink. How much tea does that pot still have?

“Excuses excuses. Just make up a name right here, right now!” Spitfire stomped her hoof on the table, earning herself a look from the princesses.

“Ok ok, jeez.” I leaned back and thought quickly.

The Alaskas were out, they were officially ‘large’ cruisers and I wasn’t going to call myself Philippines. Lexington and Saratoga were commissioned as aircraft carriers, Ranger was reused for an interwar carrier, naming myself after my country left a bad taste in my mouth and was a challenge to the sea which was just bad luck, and there was only one USS Constitution and she was one of the first six frigates built for the us navy and was one of, if not the,world's oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat. She wasn’t some unwanted battlecruiser design that got herself ambushed at night by some cruisers. Her sides were made of iron for crying out loud! …one of six frigates huh? Wasn’t there a US frigate that was pressed into British service? I mean, I’m not being forced into Equestrian service, but if an angry yellow pony is glaring at me and demanding that I name myself right now…

“Chesapeake!” I blurted out.

“Chase A Peak?” Spitfire sounded out to which I shook my head.

“Chesapeake. She was one of the first US frigates built for the US navy and she was pressed into British service. Uh, Great Britain was the country my country fought against to earn our independence.” I explained.

“Well jeez. When you put it that way it sounds like we’re the bad guys.” Spitfire rolled her eyes and leaned back away from me.

“Nevertheless, we can officially call that matter resolved." Luna resolved. “Back to the matter at hoof, captain Summer Rain has stated that your knowledge of the Morgana was limited, but during your announcement in Manehattan Harbor you extended your proclamation to include the sirens and abyssals. Are we to assume that you know of the sirens that Starwhirl banished and possess knowledge of the sirens' attempt to invade Equestria?” She asked initially to my confusion before I understood what she meant.

“While yes, I know about the sirens Starswhirl banished to the mirror world, they aren’t what I meant. I was talking about another group of strange beings that are like the Morgana…and if those cubes you recovered from the Brandenburgs are what I think they are then they might be relevant.” I said, hoping that Luna would show me what was inside the box.

Luna took one glance at Celestia who nodded her assent before putting the case on top of the table and opening it, revealing three blue cubes that shined and twinkled like stars. It was breathtaking honestly and sadly confirmed that the sirens might be involved. Ships from the freaking future that should not be in Equestria considering the two belonged in different franchises and we’d seen future Equestria in G5 and…ok, maybe there was some issues there that could use some fixing now, but did we really need to imply time travel!? That stuff got really confusing real fast!

“Well?” Luna brought me out of my funk. I nodded.

“Yeah, it’s siren technology.” I confirmed before taking a gulp from the neverending tea pot.

“What does it do?” Spitfire leaned over the table, nearly laying her head on the table.

“Oh so, so much. Despite being a black box, the Wisdom Cube is mostly used to create kanmusu similar to me. Actually, considering my shipself only existed as a paper design and the damn things can bring to life USS Constellation, a ship that was laid down but never launched in the first place, that might explain my ship half, but not the human half.” I muttered the last half angrily to myself before realizing I had an audience. “Anyway, Wisdom Cubes have so much power that you could create just about anything from kanmusu, ship equipment, mass produced ships, pocket dimensions, and on the other hand destroy cities and even whole countries.” The second I finished everyone was alarmed and Spitfire tore her head away from the cube.

“You mean those things could destroy Equestria!?” Spitfire yelled, shocked.

“If misused then yeah I guess.” I shrugged despite the newly formed tension.

“In that case I will have to send a warning to Manehattan stressing the utmost importance of caution. In the meantime, I can think of a hoof-full of ponies perfect for studying dangerous objects.” Celestia said with a smile before taking a sip of tea.