Beyond Equestria

Chapter II

Assembling a Team is Step 2

Colts spent longer than he thought with Allora, but after a few days they had deck plans and ideas for a grand airship the likes the world had never seen. The real problem was that Allora would have to not only build the vessel, but build the means for the construction of the vessel. For now, Colts left his dream to the capable hooves of Allora Winds, Colts could finally focus on the important part. Getting a crew together, and first off he would need a first officer, with that in mind he knew the perfect mare.

***

"Dust... and so damn hot, how can anypony stand it here... and no work for me anymore with that peace treaty." sighed the fiery red hair mare in an old aviators coat. She sat under the wooden awning of a store in the cool shade to escape the sweltering heat of the desert. But her parched mouth was a reminder she could not escape the dry climate. With orange eyes she gazed the ponies of Appaloosa with interest, looking for anypony that would pay for a little help with troubles. She was a mercenary for hire, some muscle for the right coin. But since the peace treaty with the buffalo, there was simply no work anymore in this place, and the rest of Equestria was the same way for a mare of her talents.

Her eyes darted to the train station with the sound of the whilst and hiss of steam as the train screeched to a halt. Staring at the train she hoped to see somepony with a worried face or lost look, that usually meant money. Out of the few ponies arriving in Appaloosa one did catch her eye, but not for the aspect of earning some coin. A friend from long ago, when days use to be simpler. Her mind mumbled, "Colts? what in Tartarus is that crazy stallion doin' in this part of Equestria?" and with a shrug of the thought she trotted over to the old friend.

***

The hiss of the train and the clouds of steam greeted Colts as we walked off the train station's platform and into Appaloosa. He was following a lead, one to reunite him with an old friend and perhaps get the first crewmember. As he gazed around the city from the station his ears picked up a familiar voice.

"I don't know how, why, or what your doin' here. But it's both creepy, awesome and a little concerning to see you Colts." he turned and in view was a yellow Pegasus with the fiery red hair and almost glowing orange eyes.  And upon seeing her he laughed.

"That was waaay easier than I ever thought it was going to be... and kinda no fun at all. It only took me a day to track you down Firefly."

A curious expression fell on Firefly's face and with her raspy tough voice she replied. "Track me down, Colts why were you looking for me? That can't be good... What is it you want?"

"Straight to business, as always... again, your no fun." The grin on his face was hard to hide.

"Well, I want to hire you, as my first officer on my new crew."

She stood there and pondered the idea, "what ever Colts' wants probably isn't good... but I haven't had a job in over a month. I need the money, but part of a crew? I need to know more."

"Well?" Colts ask while raising an eyebrow. "What crew, and what for?" she responded.

They talked it over and Colts describe to her about his vessel and what he had planned. The conversation carried onto train and before there was any sort of agreement made with words, the two knew this was the start of a journey together.

***

Arriving in Canterlot wasn't a planned part of Colts' trip. A royal letter however had him deviate from his planned. Princess Celestia wished to discuss with Colts about his crew, She had a recommendation, rather, two.

Firefly spoke "We are really just going to take Celestia's recommendations? I thought this was all your idea and plan."

"I'll take all the help I can get right now, and Celestia is funding this project of mine, the least I can do is accept any ideas she has... To a point." he grinned.

Firefly stopped and gazed up to the peaks of the Canterlot towers. Against the sky the seemed to glisten with magic. Canterlot Castle was an Impressing place for even ponies who lived in it's shadow every day. With Firefly however, she had never been to the capital, she preferred to stay out of the main cities. In the outskirts or wild, those were the places Firefly preferred,  where life wasn't lived out of a silver trough.

"You ok Firefly?" ask Colts, breaking her from her gaze. With a shake of her head she replied. "Umm, yeah, I mean. I'm fine, forget about it. Come on we got to see the princess after all."

The two enter the main hall, Celestia again sat on her throne and Luna beside her. This time however Luna was atop her own throne. One decorated with the stars and phases of the moon in purple and blue. Luna herself had seemed to grow almost to the same stature as her order sister even with a magical aura infused into her mane. At the base of the stairs to the thrones stood two unicorns. The fist stood with pride and confidence. A young blue unicorn with neat and kept two-tone purple mane with what appeared to be a phoenix quill tucked behind one ear. Beside her was another unicorn, this one however stood in a quite and closed fashion with a short mane and a light pastel green coat, behind her lay a caged hawk.

"Captain Colts, welcome back, I am pleased to see you came as fast as you could to my summons." Celestia announced.

"Of course your majesty." Colts replied with a bow and Firefly quickly scrambled to bow as well.

"And who is your friend?"

"Firefly Blazemane your majesty, She will be my first officer in this endeavour." as Colts looked over to her he could she that for the first time since he met Firefly she was nervous. She whispered "Yo, Colts, what in Equestria am I suppose to say, I ain't got manners enough to talk to the Princesses."

"Just keep you head bowed and say 'A pleasure to met you, your majesty.' I'll do most of the talking." he whispered back.

She did as Colts suggested  and Celestia smiled "Firefly Blazemane, an interesting choice for first officer of your crew Colts. She isn't the type to follow authority, But neither are you."

Colts looked back at Celestia with interest, to him she appeared more mellow. Perhaps with Luna back in control of the night she was able to free some stress of leadership.

Luna piped in "WE ARE CURIOUS TO KNOW IF THE ONE KNOW AS CAPTAIN COLTS HASTH PICKED ANY OTHER MEMBERS OF HIS CREWTH YET?" Celestia glanced back at her younger sister. "My dear sister, times have change, I've told you can use a softer voice." with that, embarrassment seemed to fall upon Luna's face and she fell quiet.

Colts seemed to jump at the chance to reply to Luna, "Why your majesty Luna, I have only picked Firefly so far. If you have anyone in mind I would be happy to listen." The blue unicorn seemed to roll her eyes as Colts spoke to Luna.

Celestia replied as if the question was for her "Before you are two of my finest students. They are the best in their areas of study. For your trip will need the best if it is to succeed. May I introduce Starlight. She is in charge of mapping Equestria's lands and skies." The blue unicorn steps forward and replied with a single nod. "She will help you in your navigation and in the mapping of any new areas you come across."

When Colts heard navigation as one of her jobs he wavered a bit. "And this is Rosemary. She alone has done more in helping to understand the Everfree Forest than any other pony before her. She is the best naturalist we have, and I think it would be wise to have her aboard. With her help we could learn much." The unicorn step forward to be beside the other and nodded her head as well. Both seemed well mannered, educated, and loyal. Colts accept Celestia's recommendations to his crew and with that he ask to be dismissed to check on the progress of the vessel and find the last of the crew.

***

"Well I hope this Colts' fellow lets me chart as I please." Said Starlight as her and Rosemary trotted down one of the Caste's hallways. "I'm sure he will, If Celestia trust him, then I do." Rosemary replied. "I don't know, I sense some tension between her majesty and him, or it could have just been pegasus pride always getting in the way." The two stopped in front of a large window in the hall. Sunlight poured in and with the other windows flooded the hallway in daylight.

"Starlight, I think you should just trust him. After all, you two seemed to have one thing in common." She gestured to Starlight's cutie mark. "You both have a cutie mark related to navigation. I'm sure you noticed his cutie mark was a sextant, and I'm sure he noticed you have an astrolabe for your mark. So maybe you two can get along on common ground."

Starlight sighed. "That might be one reason we don't get along and mine is more for science then navigation. We will be fighting for control of maps and charts I can feel it. I also noticed his face when Princess Celestia told him I was in charge of navigation, he didn't seem to happy about it."

Rosemary looked out the window, "Well, however you look at it, this is a once in a lifetime experience. You will probably be the first pony from Equestria to chart parts of the unknown world."

"I guess you have a point after all. This is a marvellous occasion and you have something to look forward to as well. Think of the new plants and animals you would find dear." the two smiled and continued down the large hall.

***

"I don't like 'em. Do we have to take 'em along?" Firefly moaned as they trotted down the steps of the castle entrance. Colts smiled "I don't like it either. But I didn't have anypony lined up for those spots yet, and the faster the crew is together and the ship is built then the faster we can begin the mission."

Firefly stopped in her tracks. "Wait, what mission? You holdin' something back on me Colts?" she glared.

"Well, we have a mission first off, but after that we will be able to make our own calls." replied Colts as he looked back and firefly replied with a shrug "Alright". The spring sun shined down on the two pegasus as the continued down the road into the crowds of Canterlot locals.

Firefly followed close behind Colts as he navigated the streets with ease. She felt uncomfortable amongst the Canterlot crowds. Cities were perhaps the one thing that would phase this iron pony. Firefly could fight timber wolves without batting an eye and rocket high above the clouds with ease. She was tough, bold, and did what she wanted. She took no as a challenge and with her small town roots was at home in wilderness.

Suddenly a grey mare dived down into the street in front of Colts and landing with grace. "Mr. Colts?" she asked, Firefly and Colts stopped as most of the Canterlot crowed did as well while they looked at the mare in confused and appalled looks from the crazy aerobatic display. "Captain Colts, and yes?" He looked at her crossed eyes and wondered how she managed a landing like that with those eyes. "Oh sorry sir, it just say 'Mr. Colts' on the envelope and 'Urgent'. From a miss Allora Winds in Manehatten."

"Allora Winds? May I have it then? It must be about my project with her." He replied to the mare and she handed the letter and smiled "Have a good day Captain." And darted straight up into the sky with speed. Still confused the crowed just looked on, then one by one returned to their activities. Colts paned over the letters contents and with a snap turn to face Firefly said "Looks like our next stop is Manehatten."