of Shovels and Knights (Shovel Knight stories)

Propeller Knight, chapter 4 - Everything and nothing

- Oh, my petit blue friend. The sunset, it is beautiful, no?-

- Get down here and face me, you gyroscopic jester!!-

- Oh! So rude! My crew, they were not hospitable? My ship, it was not magnificent? -

- I'm not here to be entertainted! I must reach the Tower of Fate! -

- All business, no pleasure, such a shame. Very well then, en garde!!-

Finally a worthy opponent, finally something new breaking the usual, boring routine of short flights just to check on his collegues and the lands in general. However he wasn't fighting for his master; the more time it passed the less he cared about the order and her. It was just for fun, after all a captain has to welcome his guests.
He unfolded his sharp rapièr, laughing at him, and prepared to charge.
But when his weapon met the shovel, his confidence was stroke by a flahback.

- Captain! Our sentinels reported some flying machines coming towards us! I'm afraid we are about to be attacked!-

He interrupted his talking with Evelyn and ran to the closest open space, where unfortunately he had to agree with his second-in-command.

- Can we turn on another direction and gain time for the cannons? -

- Unfortunately not, we are surrounded.-

- They seem to know what we are carrying... Alright then, give the order to prepare the cannons, bombs will be necessary only if they get aboard. -

The girl was still standing on her place, while they started to talk in French so quiet and fast she could not understand. In the meantime, the airship got much busier, with Hoverhafts pushing down large wooden boxes and getting on their weapons, some jumping off the higher platforms and flying towards their position with the helics on the back.
She was still on her leather armour, but before she could think of anything a gentle yet firm hand held her shoulder.

- I don't want to stay and watch it all from the distance, without helping- -

- Sure you don't cherì, but I have to insist. You can't pilot yet and I refuse to send you charging up the canons , beside those are the first places where pirates hit, I won't allow it. -

- But...! -

- Evelyn I feel you, I really do, but I can't just let you go fight enemies none of us know yet!! It's not worth any serious injury or worse, do you understand?-

She bit her tongue before she let her feelings talk for her. He was right after all, they've been together for a long time but she joined the crew only recentely, and despite her quick progress she still had a long way to become a Hover pilot. Her will alone, for how strong, wasn't enough to assure her safety.

- But I won't hide in a room and wait for this to finish. I will help as I can until they come, okay?-

He would have wished to no, but after looking at her for a long, silent second, he agreed, letting his grasp.

- I can't and won't stop you, just be careful. Now go, perhaps someone near around would like an extra hand carrying the explosives, if you want. -

- I will, don't worry my dear.- she replied with a smile, lifting up his mood enough to keep thinking clearly.
Everyone was going up and landing on opposite platforms, bringing or leaving any kind of merch in a safer hidden spot, the air filled with the loud buzz of the crew and airship's propellers, somebody checking over the hot ballons and the many mechanisms; the place had become so busy in seconds he didn't even noticed when she left.
He had to prepare. The pirate's target after taking off the main ways of defense and offense is the cargo, and he would have been there, waiting for them or, even better, their captain to get in.
"A crew without its leader is lost."
Then a bang from the distance, coming from the back of the Flying Machine, broke through the noise, and immediately everyone was running or flying to the smaller ships. He quickly reached one of the canons lines and gave personally the order to fire back.