Beyond Equestria

Chapter 1

Getting of the ground.

A warm mid-summer's day surrounds Canterlot Castle. The ponies dressed in the latest fashions and discussing the newest ideas and trends scamper about in the streets below. They do not notice a ruff and ragged pony saunter off the train and into the streets among them. With his dirty cloths and messy mane he trotted down the streets as if to be  a normal Canterlot pony on every day busyness. Many ponies he pass began to take a second look at this strange scruffy pegasus with disgust, curiosity, and confusion in their eyes.

While at a cool tavern sheltered in the lower streets from the summer's heat. Ponies laugh and share stories as they drink. The atmosphere of the tavern then disappeared when the ragged pony appeared in the door way. With his hoof he brushed away his long uncut scruffy mane from his eyes and walked up to the inn keeper as most of the occupants watch him trot through. He cleared his throat and spoke

"I need a room, and to be also point in the direction of a Barber and tailor, oh and I would love some Sweet Apple Acre's Ciders of course." The Colt said nonchalantly and with a smile.

"Well, shave my mane and hang me by me tail" The old innkeeper said "Colts, is that you finally showing your face back here?" he sputtered

"The one and only, and that's Captain Colts now Rusty." he winked

"Captain eh? Get a job in da navy or somethin'? And were have ya be hidden after all these years?" Rusty the innkeeper cracked a smile upon his old and withered face.

Captain Colts replied " On Royal duty, for her Majesty. And no navy Rusty, something, more my pace. But I can only say to Her majesty." Colts winks again.

Rusty chuckles. " Well, arn't you a fancy Pegasus now? Working for the Princess all secret like, And room is free for ya, 2nd on the left after the stairs. After all, you were nice on those tips when you were a younger stallion trying to impress them fillies."

Colts let out a chuckles as the tavern returned to it's normal chatter.  After a couple ciders Colts trotted off to the barber then the tailor. He got his mane trimmed neat and tidy to something more military, and picked up some clean new cloths. When he finished his little errands it was late. Colts looked up at the moon and stars and noticed they look different, more organized, brighter, and bolder. It seemed in his travels the closer he came to Canterlot the more enchanted everything looked. He return to the tavern, now a dull quite place, where time seemed to stop after the other ponies headed home.

As he passes Rusty cleaning off the bar he causally said "The night looks different now, guess after 1000years Celestia is finally getting it right." He chuckles and Rusty laughs louder, "That's because she ain't doin' the night nomore. Didn't ya hear? Luna has returned to her night time throne." Colts stops dead in his tracks and pauses. "You're not pulling a fast on me are you?" the reply was made from a stationary Colts. A simple "nope" is all he got in return. He continues up to the rooms and entered the one rusty gave him. Venturing over to the window he gazed at the moon and spoke. "Good to have you back Princess, maybe your sister will finally hear me."

***

The next day Captain Colts put on his newly tailored cloths. A Simple white shirt with a green stripped vest. In one pocket with care he places a silver pocket watch. He bushes his newly cut mane and trots to the tavern below. There he sees Rusty passed out on top a barrel snoring away, a chuckle from colts, his snoring could wake an Ursa Major. He Smiles and heads out the door. A new bright and beautiful summer's day greets him as he trots up the streets heading towards the Castle. Now with his new cloths and cleaner looks he passes unnoticed to most of the Canterlot ponies who hurry around on they daily errands.

"This place never seems to change." He pauses as he thinks to himself "I think I would go mad if I had to live here!"

Colts was born in Vanhoover, and as a young colt, he was quite adventurous. His parents owned a home just outside the city, which they regretted after Colts was old enough to walk and fly. From a young age he wandered the woods close by, studying the trails and paths and with each new year going farther into the woods. His mind would soon dream up grand kingdoms just at the end of each path as he walked them.

Then, Came flight school. Colts may have been a Pegasus, but he hardly flew. For Colts, adventure was the thrill of the journey and not the destination. So when he was old enough his parents sent him to flight school in Cloudsdale in hopes it would make him a little more normal.

His parents should have been happy with him wanting to walk. Because after flight school, now he just flew as far as he could, sometimes disappearing for a few days. Colts now thought of how he could use his wings to explore, that was all he wanted, finding new places was just a small bonus to venturing into the unknown wonders and horrors. But this constant exploring gave him great endurance and even his cutie mark. A golden sextant. For Colts learned after a few days and nights out, that the hardest part about exploring, is not getting lost.

"HALT!" A guard shouted as Colts neared the gates to the castle and pulling him back into reality from his daydream. He complied and replied  "I have royal business with Her Majesty Princess Celestia, I'm Captain Colts and I've returned to give my report to her Majesty." The guard gestured to the other and he entered the guard hut. A few minutes later the gates opened and the guard returned. "You may proceed, Her Majesty Princess Celestia, and Her Majesty Princess Luna are waiting." Colt's raised an eye when he hear Luna's name. Then ventured into the castle to the main hall. There upon her throne sat Celestia, and beside her quietly sat her sister Luna. She looked a lot younger and smaller then her sister Celestia and he mane did not flow with magic as Celestia's did. But she seemed more intrigued by this Pegasus now entering their presence.

"I am both disappointed with you and glad to see you Captain Colts!" Celestia announced. Before Colts could reply she spoke again. "How dare you leave your team behind and disappear without word! You always seemed to risk your life and abandon those whom you are left in charge of."

"My apologies your majesty, But if I may explain." "Go on" she interrupted with clear irritation.

"The reason I left my team behind was that they were not up to the task. They did not have the endurance or will to push the journey so I sent them back out of concern and explored the Northern Mountains myself."

"Still, your actions were wrong, but more importantly did you find it?"

"No...BUT, I did find something else as equally important. In my third solo week I came across a town know as Winterhoof. And within their library was a map over 1200 years old, it had it's location."

"Did the location differ from our own map of where it should be?" Celestia conveyed with great curiosity

"No. I manage to get to the location but only a tundra wasteland lay before me. May I speak freely?"

"You may." But Celestia seemed very disappointed by the news.

"I feel it would be easier to explore the North with a team..." "You had one, You left them, and now you wish to have another?" Celestia answered with annoyance.

"I meant more of a crew, and a Ship." Colts replied with a bit of Annoyance himself

"Remember your place Captain Colts. And what good would a ship do if you want to explore the frozen north?" Celestia replied with a mix curiosity and annoyance towards Colts

"Sorry your Majesty, and not a tradition ship, but a Airship, one that could hold a crew of specialist, and travel over the mountains, and oceans below with ease. It would need to be large enough to be on it's own for months at a time and with an Airship, all 3 races could be on the crew and travel faster then a pegasi scout team." Colts seemed to get more enthusiastic about the idea as he discussed it.

A smile appeared on Celestia's face. "Captain Colts, you have sparked my interest. As long as you promise never to leave your crew and truly lead them then you have my attention. What do you have in mind for this Airship?"

***

Colts had discussed his idea for the Airship for days now. And even made a point it could be used to reconnect the Kingdom of Equestria with it's old allies. Celestia and Luna would point out a minor problems and Colts on the spot countered them with a solution. Colts had obviously planned this out for a long time from the amount of confidence he displayed. Celestia seemed to be more swayed by Colts passion on the idea then the idea itself but granted Colts permission and royal funds for the Airship.

The weeks went on and on. And so far colts had nothing, though admittedly he had thought of this long ago, he did not possess the skill needed to design it and non of the draftponies thought it possible. Except one, well, not really. She believed it was a silly idea as well, but thought Colts would have more luck with the ship yards of Manehatten or some other industrial harbour city. So with that being his only option, he caught a train to Manehatten. Colts was starting to think his dream of an airship and adventure would never get off the ground.

***

Cool salty air wafted passed Colts' nostrils as he departed the train from Canterlot. The young captain had been many places, and seen many cities but this was his first trip to Manehatten. before his eyes lay a large and tall city bustling with more ponies then ants in an ant hill. This was nothing like Canterlot. Manehatten was the largest city and it showed. In the hectic confusing he managed to hail a cab and head down to the dockyards. From the window of the cab his eyes viewed towers of steal and massive brick chimneys billowing with smoke. Iron frames surrounded large ships under construction. Ships big enough to travel the seas and oceans, but only went to the southern ocean and it's island paradises with there many riches. For the Age of steam was fairly new to the ponies of Equestria and thus they did not risk adventure with these expensive ships.

"This be it sir, the largest ship company in Manehatten, Hoofington Yards. That'll be 16bits sir." the Cabbie held out his hoof for the coin of his labour.

"Thank you, here you go." Colts dug into his pockets and gave him the coin. Then proceeded to trot up to the doors of the shipyard office.

"Whadda be yer business with us?" The doorpony gestured to Colts as he trotted up. "I have been sent from Canterlot on royal business and have an appointment with your boss, Madam Allora Winds." The doorpony stumble as he fixed his posture and opened the door with a nervous smile. "Oh, sor...sorry sir, Get a lot of trouble makers around this area. She be waitin' for ya." Colts smiled and entered the reception room, from the old decaying brick façade outside, Colts did not expect to see a marvellous office space ahead. The walls were adorn with dark spruce wood with ornate carvings with forest green wallpaper. A rug of the same forest green stretch from the door to the front desk and lay upon black and white checker tiles.

A young mare unicorn sat behind the desk and peered over her glasses to Colts admiring the room's details. She raised an eyebrow "You must be Colts? Princess Celestia's representative?" "Captain Colts. And yes." with a gesture of her head she pointed to the door behind her. "She's in her office, and waiting." Colts smiled and trotted by her. He hated to admit it, but he liked being that important pony that everyone seems to want to be or meet even though he was the one who set up this appointment."

The office of Madam Allora Winds was just as ornate as the reception area. A large imposing desk lay in the center, it's massive size and ornate wood carvings where not enough to hide the imposing larger than life Allora Winds. The pale golden unicorn sat behind papers piled high. With small reading glasses on her face and her dark brown hair tied back in a bun. She sat with an aura that seemed to demand as much respect as Celestia herself.

She eyed the stallion entering her office with curiosity as to why he was here. "Captain Colts I presume? What was so important for Celestia that I had to give up and entire day to wait for you?"

"Madam Allora Winds, I have a task that most say is impossible, but you have a reputation for building the impossible."

While a light laugh and smile she replied. "And what may I ask is this impossible task? Building the Royal yacht for our beloved monarch?"

Colts was thrown off by this reply, it was harsh and brash, he expected to receive a more professional question. "Not exactly, but if your not up to it, I understand. I guess your rivals would have been a better start. And the task required was more of a ship like no other for a task like none before. Also I take it you do not approve of her majesty?"

"Not when she insist I free a day just for this meeting instead of asking for a day that would work from me, I have deadlines to meet and clients I now have to reschedule. And I am no fool, I can see when some pony is trying to play me. Those tricks don't work with me. You don't own the best ship company by being an gullible. Now that we have our pleasantries out of the way, on to work so this meeting can be over with. What is this vessel you wish to contract to my company."

"An Airship, larger than one of your ocean going trade vessels. But able to soar above the clouds and travel to the edges of the known map. For we wish to re-establish Equestria with the rest of the world. And if you agree not only would you profit from the building of the vessels, but be the first to send your new steamships around the world to ports unknown."

Allora sits in her chair and pounders the idea, the office fell silent as she thought  and Colts waited, only the ticking of the clock echoed within the room. "It wouldn't be easy... but.... with steam....magic....and....science....it might work. This offer is not what I expected and we have little dealings with airships, so I might have to outsource. However I like the sound of it. Tell me the details and we'll see what we can come up with. You have a deal Captain Colts." A large grin appears on Colts' face, "Thank you!" he says as he shakes hooves. His dream was finally taking flight.