#patchworks adventures

Sorry I'm not around much, college classes have successfully blocked my art making abilities. Bleh. I will probably not be around much this week, PonyIsland.net is having their tenth anniversary celebration, complete with Extravaganza and I will be attending. In between homework assignments of course. ;) If y'all are interested or are play already, my username is Patchwork. Big surprise, huh?

“Ahoy fair lass; we are in need of repairs and provisions. We are from the port of Horseshoe Bay looking for Ponyville. We have a special delivery for a Miss Twilight Sparkle, books for her library,” the pony who seemed to be in charge answered. Looking again, Patchwork’s fears were quelled. The ship was an official one, all the ponies aboard were finely dressed in official uniform and keeping the airship afloat as best they could. Her imagination had gotten the better of her again.

Or had it? Patchwork looked a bit closer at the captain of the ship – something wasn’t quite right about this. Then a flash of metal from beneath his uniform caught her eye. A weapon! But royal airship captains wear their weapons straight out, not hidden…this was very odd. Best not alarm the passengers, especially little Robin Wing. The adult pegs could easily fly to safety but she would have to protect the wingless filly in case of trouble, poor little thing lost her wings in a freak accident as a baby. Patchwork decided to feel out the situation without allowing the other crew to board her ship. No sense being tied down if escape was needed.

“What are you in need of, Captain? Captain Patchwork of the R.A.D.  vessel Marva at your service,” she shouted to the other ship. “What seems to be the problem with your ship?”

“Not sure entirely, she seems to want to continually veer left instead of tracking straight on course,” said a rougher looking crew member. Immediately Patchwork knew something was amiss as that was one of the most common issues and simplest fixes to an airship. What to do, what to do…their ship was pulling alongside Marva as she was desperately trying to think through an escape plan. She gently tapped a button on the floor with her hind foot that started the extra sails unfurling to catch a breeze and aid in their escape. She slowly walked over to the helm and turned it two bars to the starboard side so Marva would be facing away from the pirates.

“Aye, lass, would you be abandoning us in our time of need?” called the Captain.

“No, but rather saving our skins from the like of pirate scum like you!” she yelled back at the disguised pony while swinging into defensive mode. “Lightning Feather, keep an eye on those scallywags and tell me their movements. Starry Woods go below with Robin Wing and keep her safe and calm. Lazarus and Arrow, grab lines and help guide Marva away from their ship! I can’t start the engines until we’re clear of them!” The pony passengers rushed into action as the pirates were getting closer and closer.

“They’re getting closer Capt. Patchwork!” squealed the blue Pegasus. Patchwork was leaping around Marva’s deck unfurling sails and preparing for evasive action. To her it seemed like it took forever to get the sails out but really was about 30 seconds.

“Aye miss, you be underestimating us if you think you can outrun our vessel in that pretty little bird of yourn,” sneered the Captain as he threw off the white uniform to reveal his true trade. “A good chase is just what we be needin’ after a dry run o’luck.”

“So sorry to inform you, foul sir, but Marva isn’t just a pretty little bird,” Patchwork retorted as she started the engines and Marva began pulling away from the pirate ship. “You see, I had her outfitted with a few extras just in case we ran into the likes of you! Lazarus, Arrow, Lightning, get below decks! We’re about to go flyin’!” Patchwork squealed with glee at being able to give Marva a full out test on her first run. She pressed the red start button – and nothing happened. “Wait, what?! That mechanic said he’d installed everything just so and I was good for sailing the…” and just as she was going into a rant the engines kicked up and threw her off balance. Rolling across the deck Patchwork struggled to regain her feet.

“Stupid engine warm-ups,” she grumbled. She guided Marva toward Canterlot and drove the engines up to full speed, looking over her shoulder every few minutes to see the pirates falling behind. The captain’s face was priceless as they pulled further and further away. Apparently he had never heard of booster engines, it was the newest accessory for H-class airships that normally plodded along like an old cart-pony and made easy targets for pillaging. Patchwork had spent enough time in the Merchant Airship Corp to know about the latest and greatest gadgets and gizmos.

Patchwork set the autopilot on and went below to find three wide-eyed ponies staring back at her as Lazarus and Arrow were playing a game of darts.

“We’re safe now and headed toward Canterlot, we should be arriving in just a few minutes. Marva’s a bit faster than you thought, eh?” she smiled and turned to Robin Wing. “Hey little one, how do you like the flight so far? Are you alright?”

“Oh yes Miss Patchwork. I was scared a little but you got us away really fast. Thank you,” little Robin said. She was peeking out from behind Starry Woods as she spoke.

“Aright then, dear ponies, shall we go above deck and watch the view as we dock in Canterlot?” Patchwork was trying to make light of the situation and calm the nerves of her passengers. They followed her back above deck and made their way to their previous vantage points, Lazarus was especially happy because they were going much faster than before – with an airboard that makes for a totally awesome ride.

Without any ado they were able to pull into Canterlot’s airship dock and Marva was tied off. All the Pegasus ponies but Lightning decided to continue along to Tallahorsie with Patchwork despite the pirate incident.

“Thank you for the ride, Captain. It was…uh…memorable,” Lightning said graciously. “I would continue with you but I have to see somepony about something while I’m here…” He blushed a little.

“No worries, kind sir. Will you need a ride back to Ponyville? I can pick you up on the way back,” Patchwork offered.

“No…no thank you. I – uh – I mean – uh, I am not sure how long business will take me here,” he stammered and blushed a deep red.

“Well then, let’s be on our way then,” Patchwork turned to Lightning and whispered. “Just be yourself, she’ll love you for being true to who you are.” Lightning looked at Patchwork with wide eyes, questioning how she figured out he was here to visit somepony special. Patchwork just winked at him and leaped aboard Marva to continue her trip to Tallahorsie.

The air was ripe with adventure. Patchwork had just picked up the title to her new airship, Marva. Marva the Marvelous Airship! Patchwork giggled as she thought about the name.

“Now I must find some travelers to accompany me on my maiden run,” she said to herself. “Who will the lucky passengers be?” As Patchwork wandered around the base of the airship platform there were no takers. No one seemed even remotely interesting in taking a ride to Tallahorsie with her to celebrate her ship.

“FREE TRIP TO TALLAHORSIE! COME AND GET YOUR FREE TICKET FOR AN AIRSHIP TRIP!” Patchwork suddenly yelled, startling a blue Pegasus with orange mane as he walked by. “You sir, you look like you would be happy with a free ride on a brand new airship!”

“Well, I, uh…” stuttered the shocked stallion. “I...uh…guess so? Can you drop me off in Canterlot on the way past?”

“Absolutely!” Patchwork suddenly found herself surrounded by a dozen ponies wanting a free ride on Marva. “Now this is more like it! Four spots left, I’ll take you, you, you and you!” pointing to random ponies in the crowd that had gathered. As she let them aboard she looked at each one in turn. There was a red stallion with grey fade mane, a grey stallion with pale grey mane, a brown mare with multi-green mane, and a wingless foal of cyan with a brown mane. All of them were Pegasus ponies, too. Patchwork giggled again. It should be an interesting flight in an airship with all flying ponies.

“We are preparing to leave the airship dock, please stand back from the ropes and hold on tight!” Patchwork raced around the deck of the ship in record time, unhooking the tether lines and coiling them in one fell swoop. In less than ten minutes they were airborne and gently following the breezes toward Canterlot and the horizon. The ponies stood in a huddle in the center of the deck, out of the rushing mare’s way lest they end up coiled within the expertly stacked ropes. When Patchwork finished checking the rigging she encouraged the ponies to explore her ship.

“She’s made from the finest wood for her hull and only the toughest canvas for her ballonet and sails. The ropes are triple braided for strength and the…well, now. That’s one way to enjoy the ride!” she laughed. The grey peg had found her airboard and was catching some serious air as they picked up speed. The red peg was relaxing on the front of the ballonet, enjoying the air pillow as he watched the ponies below diminish to the size of ants as Marva rose higher. The blue Pegasus stallion had found her telescope and was getting a better view of the approaching pirates from it. Wait, what…pirates? Near Ponyville? This is absurd! Pirates are usually in the lesser populated areas Patchwork thought as her mind raced…what to do…what to do???

“PIRATES AHEAD, CAPTAIN!” Lightning Feather yelled.

“Aye, but what do they want so close to Ponyville?” Patchwork asked aloud in her best pirate-y voice. They were flying the white flag of truce, but she was a bit skeptical. She had seen pirates try to fake out ship owners under a guise of truce and then gain access to the deck and take over. She tried not to show concern on her face or let her voice betray her apprehension.

“Ahoy there, fellow sky sailors!” she called cheerfully to the approaching ship.