Felt like writing a short thing here based off of the Austraeoh series. An alternative shipping between Props and Roarke, two major characters of the story. Pretty off the cuff, I wrote this on the spot at nearly 2AM. Hope it's a good thought for what it's worth.

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Props was alone in the engine room of the Noble Jury. Or "Nancy Jane's Womb" as Floydien referred to it as. She sat there, her gaze looking upon a certain book that was within the glowing red threshold. Her eyes laid transfixed upon the book's ruby red glow, along with the methodic humming of the ship's engines. Props had been staring into it for a few minutes.

Realizing she had left a wrench on the floor, she'd snap out of her gaze to grab the wrench in her mouth. Props always carried her tools in her mouth, despite the fact that she could just use her saddlebags for it. For whatever reason, it made her happy. A slight giddy sensation washed throughout her as she would gently place the wrench into the toolchest she kept all her wrenches in.

"I see you've been spending a lot of time to yourself, lately." a sudden harsh voice spoke from behind Props.

Props would turn to see Roarke standing there behind her, leaning up against the wall casually. Roarke's lenses would focus upon Prop's eyes deeply. Her lenses zooming in and out ever so slightly, the various shades of gold glinting in the window's light. 

"Yeah...I suppose I've been thinking about a few things lately." Props would sigh in a nervous fashion. Roarke always intimidated her to be truthful.

"Those things being?" Roarke would ask passively as she'd lean forward, looking to Props in an intent manner. She'd stride close to Props, standing over the smaller Earth Pony - who recoiled slightly at such an intimidating display.

"U-umm...w-what do you want with me?" Props would ask meekly as her front two hooves shuffled a bit as she avoided Roarke's gaze.

Roarke would smirk somewhat in a predatory fashion as she'd meet Props's eye level and look deeply into her eyes. "I know you've been thinking about me. Whenever the rest of us are doing things together, you always seem to avoid me..." she said calmly, yet within her calm tone, there was a hint of power. "You dance around every question I ask you, you avoid eye contact..." she said, her words flowing calmly.

"W-well um...I-I...like you..." Props said to Roarke, as if she was admitting a terrible secret. Roarke would straighten up upon those words, and a knowing smirk came across her face. 

"You like me, hm?" Roarke asked in a more sly manner as she looked down at Props in a more sultry manner. 

"N-Not just like...I love you...I don't know why I feel this way, maybe it's because you are the strongest one here and I am the weakest link among us. I'm just a small Earth Pony who can't d-defend myself...but, you are so mysterious, you never tell us much about yourself. I've always like a mystery...and I've always liked mares...s-so..." she spoke in a nervous manner, letting her words trail off.

Roarke chuckled gently and stroke closer to her, putting her hoof onto Props's shoulder and giving her a slight pat. The smaller Earth Pony shook a bit at the physical contact, then her back arched slightly - almost like a cat. It was instinctual. Roarke then would meet Props's eyes again.

"I thought Rainbow would have feelings for me - but I guess not." she said, her eyes narrowing as she remembered how Rainbow never wanted to be with anyone ever again because of the pain it caused her. "But you on the other hoof? I've always liked you, Props." she chuckled again as she continued to speak, "You are small. Inventive. Creative..." she said, her words also trailing off.

Props's eyes would widen a bit as Roarke moved in front of her - their snoots almost touching. "You are the perfect Prey..." Roarke said, showing her teeth. Props would jump back a bit, looking quite scared. Then all of a sudden, Roarke would pat her on her shoulder. "Always the scaredy cat of the bunch, are you? You are perfect, Props. But not perfect enough..." she said, as she gently stroked Props's shoulder.

"W-what do you mean? Am I not g-good enough for you?" Props asked nervously, her ears lowering again as if bracing for an answer she didn't want to hear. Roarke's grin grew wider. "Come, Props, I have much to teach you..." she said, extending a hoof to her. Props would take Roarke's hoof nervously, and Roarke would lead her out of the engine room.