trans_9 | Suddenly, Princess Celestia! [Open]

Celestia had lived a long life, but the past few days were the strangest she had ever experienced. She had awoken from a pod in a strange chamber, only to find herself whisked away to a strange maze soon after.

This maze had had her most concerned - as Princess of all Equestria, she had duties and responsibilities, after all. She could only hope that her sister Luna was managing on her own, and do her best to escape this maze and return to her beloved subjects.

Escape came unexpectedly though, when Celestia found herself suddenly dropped from the mess hall ceiling, where she landed on top of one of the tables with a thud, her hooves sending plates and trays and cutlery flying in all directions. Have a rather elegant pony - or perhaps a horse? - with a long horn on her forehead, graceful wings adorning her back, and a mane and tail that was a multicolour and gravity-defying sight standing on your table, diners, looking rather bewildered.

"Oh! I'm sorry. I hope I didn't ruin your meal," she said, with a chuckle. Then she looked around at her surroundings, her expression turning concerned. "Now this doesn't look at all like Equestria..."

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Her stalk eyes stiffened. What properties could possibly be imbued in that mane?

It wasn't worth thinking about without learning more of the physiology of this creature, if the sciences weren't one of Aldrea's personally pursued fields. Nor Esplin, for that matter.

< It's certainly a very... unique feature. >

It might prove the doom of them all! Or not. Esplin wasn't inclined toward being that dramatic, if Aldrea was delighting in poking at his control with an unending stream of observations on Celestia's hair. You'd wonder if the sparkles are created from something in the hair follicles themselves.

"Why thank you," Celestia said, chucking. "You have a beautiful tail yourself, Aldrea. I do love your colour."

Aldrea might have a deadly weapon as part of hers, but Celestia showed no signs of fear or unease at it. Equestria was home to many creatures after all, and some of them had natural weapons. Like her student's friend Fluttershy, Celestia knew that even fearsome creatures needed to be treated with dignity and kindness.

And of course, Celestia wasn't without the ability to defend herself if need be...

Something Aldrea and Esplin might not directly choose to test, but one presumes at the very least that single horn could be used with deadly efficiency. < Thank you, > she said, pride in her voice in a more subdued way than when she was younger. This felt more like a compliment game than an honest round of appreciation, if the sentiment remained that one should properly appreciate the merit of an Andalite tail.

It was such a dreadful shame when one lost it. Horrible, actually.

< May I ask if Princess is part of your name, or part of a title from your home? >

And they didn't even know about magic yet - Celestia had power beyond what one might except from a graceful, elegant creature like her.

"Yes, Princess is my title. With my sister, Princess Luna, I am ruler of the land of Equestria, and of all ponykind." Celestia's expression turned solemn, as she thought of all that was now lost. "I only wish I knew how many of my subjects survived its destruction."

Esplin had a certain fondness for elegant, graceful creatures... with power and might past the obvious. Still, a pony was no Andalite.

Aldrea could understand loss from a leader's perspective; Esplin found it pointless. You protected those who generally couldn't protect themselves, and if those in Hosts didn't meet muster, then they died.

If they weren't smart enough to escape. Outrage, anger, and disgust at his attitude toward the Hork-Bajir pressed with minimal consequence on his mind, fueled by Aldrea. < The records for who is held in Pod stasis should eventually be recovered. Once this ship has been healed enough, so some have said. > If she doubted this, she didn't let it communicate in her tone. Eye stalks curled back, a kind of wary shrug that likely made no sense whatsoever. < Many of us would like to know exactly who we're defending while they sleep. >

Many had hopes for exactly who was there, ready to wake.

"The ship requires healing?" Celestia asked. Perhaps she should see if she might assist in this - particularly it if would allow her to learn the fate of her ponies. She padded at the floor with one hoof and she thought.

"Even if we do not know who sleeps, we must nonetheless them, and those who have awoken. I hope that many more of my subjects have survived, but I know three that have been woken from sleep. They are what is left of Equestria, and it lives on in them. Their protection is my duty."

< There was extensive damage caused to its systems under prior leadership. > A more polite way of saying it, if "leadership" held a strong hint of condescension in tone. The pirates were no leaders, and the crew before them... well, their Captain had been degenerating in an all too familiar way.

Esplin laughed inwardly.

< Good luck to you, Princess Celestia. > May she have the same luxury -- may Esplin -- before too long.

"Thank you, Aldrea," Celestia said warmly. The sentiment was well appreciated. "And good luck to you as well. You must be missing the creatures of your world deeply as well."

There was a pause, mostly as one stalk eye considered Celestia before turning away. < Yes. I believe we all do. >

He missed an entire Empire. Aldrea missed hers, too. But she was the only one between them who missed the Hork-Bajir (and Arn, to an extent). Perhaps pitied the Gedd just a little.

Esplin saw it as a waste, but nothing that couldn't eventually be worked around. Or regained, given long enough.

"It has been lovely to speak with you, Aldrea," Celestia said, taking a few steps towards the exit of the mess hall. It was time that she saw more of this mysterious ship for herself. "Perhaps we will chat again!"

Esplin sincerely hoped not. Bobbing stalk eyes toward Celestia, Aldrea in the meantime gathered up her tray and proceeded on her way to the nearest trash receptacle.

Suddenly, Princess Celestia! [Open]

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