First Night; [voice]

[raisethemoon]

Greetings! I am Princess Luna, of the kingdom of Equestria. [You can't see her, but she just sounds like she's posing.]

I seek compatriots to sail with me upon my newly purchased craft, The Stargazer. Your level of experience does not concern me - those forcibly brought here who cannot sail must be taught at some point regardless. I know how to manage the ship well enough, even without tidal control. If there are profits to be made, they shall be distributed evenly amongst the crew.

Any who are interested may contact me upon this device, or find me near the harbor. I intend to leave this place shortly. In addition, Pinkie Pie, please respond immediately if you receive this communication.

Comments

[raisethemoon]

I suppose so. Though they still look to me as if they shall overbalance at the slightest thing.

[Luna does not want to try being human. They are small and have no wings, and how do they stand upright like that? At least things like young dragons and Diamond Dogs have tails.]

[letteropener]

You would think so, but their spines are curved. It was surprisingly easy to stay upright, so long as I remembered I only had two legs instead of four.

[Live a little, sister! Of course, Celestia felt the press of ennui a bit more heavily, since modern Equestria and all in it were not shockingly new to her after a thousand years of absence...]

[raisethemoon]

Ah, like Discord? They seem straighter.

[In many, many ways.

Discord.]

[letteropener]

No, not nearly so dramatic. And their parts are assembled in a sensible and functional manner. [We were having a good conversation, sister, why did you have to say the D word?]

But humans are quite ponylike in many ways. You will find that out for yourself, though, as you spend time with them.

[raisethemoon]

[WHY DID YOU HAVE TO RELEASE THE D WORD HUH HOW ABOUT THAT]

They do at least seem friendly. The ones from other worlds moreso than the natives.

[letteropener]

[Because practicing what you preach is important, no matter how much they hate him!]

Very friendly, yes. Often insensitive, but they are no more used to seeing ponies than we are used to seeing them, so pay it no mind.

[raisethemoon]

[No one else wanted him out, they wouldn't have said anything.]

I have encountered quite a bit of that. But most are apologetic after. [She may have gotten tetchy with a few.] They simply insist upon calling me a "horse".

[letteropener]

[That doesn't make it right, sadly.]

[And yes, Celestia can well imagine her sister getting tetchy. Her own patience allows no such thing, but sometimes she wishes it did.] Most, at least, accept the gentle correction. And very few have held any bias towards me because of my different species, so I trust it will be the same for you as well.

[raisethemoon]

Indeed. Most have treated me kindly enough, and apologized for their initial rudeness.

[letteropener]

I have been here long enough that those people already on ships will likely be more used to ponies, as opposed to those who like yourself have just appeared here. So I hope you'll encounter little more of that.

[raisethemoon]

With any luck.

You are sailing with humans now, are you not? Which ones?

[letteropener]

I am with the Straw Hats, who are named after the headgear of our captain, Luffy. There are several others here who were, curiously enough, also pirates with Luffy on their own world -- Sanji, Zoro, Robin, and Brook. We also have Pinkie Pie, as well as a merpony, or rather a merhuman, named Keimi and another human named Elsa with powerful winter magic. And we have a bear named Bepo who I do hope you can meet sometime, you will quite like him.

[raisethemoon]

Oh? He speaks?

[Bears are awesome Luna wants five of them]

[letteropener]

He speaks, fights well, and is a valued member of our crew. He is a good companion.

[There are two reasons Celestia very quietly ships this, and how much Luna would like a bear who is also a good friend is one of them.]

[raisethemoon]

What sort of bear is he?

[This is exciting! Bears!]

[letteropener]

A hard question to answer, as he is unlike Equestrian bears. He is, I think, most like a polar bear?

[raisethemoon]

[Ooooooooh!]

I should very much like to meet him! Perhaps when I visit - I am told I may use the orb upon the ship for travel.

[letteropener]

I would be very happy to see you. [And that is a statement she can make without hesitation, doubt, or reservation. Her only worry, as she has occasionally expressed to others, is that Luna will fit in with the Straw Hats much better than Celestia herself does...]

[raisethemoon]

I shall make arrangements with my crew! I did intend to teach them how to at least hold a course as soon as possible - I do not care for being the only one capable of sailing.

[letteropener]

You are still better-equipped for the task than I. [Forgive a measure of pride in her sister, but imagining Luna aboard a ship she is confidently captaining makes her smile.]

[raisethemoon]

Perhaps.

[Luna's pretty sure she knows the ocean better than her sister, but she's never really done the solo leader thing before.

She isn't really concerned, though. It's only two people.]

[letteropener]

If I was in your position I would have run my ship aground by now. There is no 'perhaps' about it!

[Celestia laughs, because she isn't really joking. She still knows little of sailing a ship even after all this time. Though to be fair, Straw Hats are not big on finesse and have been known to occasionally plow the ship into a reef. Sanji.]

[raisethemoon]

It is not so difficult! And I have not even had to attempt weather interference during my trial sailing.

[Which is good - it'd be rather tiring to have to try to keep the wind up all the time when out on the open ocean. She may as well drag the thing.]

[letteropener]

[Celestia chuckles, low and warm.] Would you believe that my role here is the ship weather expert?

[raisethemoon]

But of course! If they cannot control it themselves, surely someone must.

[Relying on chaotic nature to get your ship to where it needs to be? How foolhardy.]