Mortal Equines

Chapters

Prologue
Chapter One: Word From The North
Chapter Two: Across The Wastes
Introduction

Prologue

Good evening everyone (I won’t have it said that I am racist, despite the incident with the Gryphons in the winter of ‘83. It was entirely their fault, race doesn’t come into it). My name, as you doubtless know, is Twilight Sparkle, Lady-Librarian of the fair city of Canterlot. Detailed in the following pages are the accounts of my journey across the Great Hunting Grounds, the discoveries I made, and the friends I found along the way, sometimes in the unlikeliest of places.

But before I dive into a retelling of my 'awesome adventures’ as one friend in particular might put it, perhaps I should explain a little something about my home, as it is entirely possible that by the time this tome is read, the pony way of life may have changed drastically. I have certainly realised by now that our methods of survival as communities is unsustainable, and others are also waking up to the fact.

I am what the people of my world call a ‘Tractionist’. I live in a great, lumbering creation, the converted city of Canterlot; a huge, mobile conurbation. The city is formed of three plate-tiers, like a metal and stone wedding cake, stacked atop the gigantic engine block, or ‘gut’, home to our refineries, smelteries, factories, and, naturally, the engines. Our city is propelled by means of advanced combustion, powering truly massive caterpillar tracks (that easily dwarf a dozen ponies stood atop each other’s backs, as I have personally seen) that haul my home onwards. Nestled at the front of my city are the gleaming steel ‘jaws’, used to capture smaller cities and drag them inside of disassembly.

Now, onto the tiers themselves. The uppermost tier of the ‘Canterlot cake’ is home to the Royal Castle exclusively, with all original wings, including my own beloved library, in accompaniment! Although I myself do not live there, the leaders of the Guilds have their own spacious suites. Flim & Flam of the Engineers Guild, guardians of our engines and the technology that holds us above those who live in static settlements. Star Swirl VIII (the direct descendant of both Star Swirl the Bearded and Star Swirl II, Mobiliser of Cities. Truly, a blessed family line, even if our current Star Swirl is somewhat lacklustre compared to those of the past) of the Magic Guild, although they have long been in bed with one another as the unofficial ‘Magitech Guild’. Lord Fancypants of the Merchants Guild, the current Lord Mayor Regent of Canterlot. Last, but not least, is the honourable Lady Daring Do of my own Librarians Guild. The Navigators lost their places on the upper tier as a sanction for incompetence decades ago, in the ambush of ‘27, but that is a tale for later (Birth and Death of a Town, by Sunny Harvest. I heartily recommend this book... as with all books).

Tier two is home to the nobility of Canterlot (of which there are a lot, some more worthy of space than others). This tier houses countless mansions, private forests and parks for the upper crust of society, and even a lake fed by the Canterlot falls themselves. Access to this tier is restricted to residents and invitees only, except on public holidays. The viewing galleries on the skirts of this tier are second only to the castle balconies in terms of the vistas they allow one to see.

Finally, there is tier three, home (previously) of yours truly. Tier three is by far the largest tier, and home to the most ponies. It is here that the everyday working and middle class families live, where crops are grown around the edges of the plate, in the sunlight, to feed the entire city. Canterlot is a rich traction city, both in monetary and cultural wealth, and it shows. Everypony is well off.

We may not have as many tiers as Manehattan, or defenses as capable as those of Stalliongrad, but our towers are without compare, unique, distinct. Relics from an era in which gods walked alongside us mortals.

...And the gut is the gut. I prefer to stay away from that area.

My story begins in the Autumn of ‘80, the six hundredth year of our glorious tractionist way of life...

Chapter One: Word From The North

Chapter One: Word From The North

“I don’t think the Princesses ever existed. I mean, sure, we have the castle, but if they existed... why would they let things become like this?”

The strange creature raised a clawed paw towards me and waved, a toothy grin written large across his features. Again. This dream again. I’ve been having this recurring dream for the last several weeks, every time I close my eyes to sleep. At first, the devilish being would cause me to wake in a cold sweat, with a tremble to my hoof and a terror in my heart.

As with every other instance of this dream, he merely sat on his tree stump, waving to me, with that smug, knowing look upon his face. It no longer scared me so much as it intrigued me. Who was he, and why did he watch me as I slept? The dream began to dissolve before my eyes. The serene blue sky melted into the soft green grass, the likes of which couldn’t have existed in the outside world anymore, and I was soon once again blinking up at the painted ceiling of my shared room, in the Librarians Guild bunkhouse, Cherryway Street, tier three.

A quick glance with sleep-blurred eyes over towards my roommate's bed confirmed that she was still here and asleep. No real surprise there, Angleberry could probably sleep through an attack on Canterlot, and that was why she was quite possibly doomed to be nothing more than an assistant until the day of her death. Of course, being a librarian, that would likely be many years in the future, unless an expedition were to be called by someone higher in the guild.

Until such a time, though, the pumice-coloured mare would be my assistant. And as such, she should be awake by now, I thought with a mental grumble, levitating a dusty old boot over to her flank and giving her a soft whack up the rear. Countless generations of tradition had proven this to be an effective method for waking lazy underlings, and as the other mare yelped in surprise more than pain, diving from her bed, I smirked. Practical knowledge, all part of being a librarian.

Suitably chastened, Angleberry had rushed off to get our breakfast ready in the canteen whilst I headed upstairs for the daily instructions. Most days were like this. Calm. Carefree. Canterlot had lurked in the south for the last couple of years, devouring the odd, pitiful static settlement while sending out various airships, mostly of the Merchants Guild to secure much needed supplies when necessary. The few Librarian expeditions had been small-scale, leaving ponies like myself to sort the mixed treasures they brought home.

I passed other mares and colts of my guild as I ascended, hearing the hushed whispers of my colleagues above the ever-present background hum of Canterlot’s powerful land engines far below. It was easy to tell that something had everypony excited, just by how animated some of the usually stoic ponies were. A chestnut stallion stopped as I passed him, quickly promising to catch up with his partner before calling out to me. “Hey, Twilight!”

I paused, one hoof raised, an ear cocked back towards him. A couple of minutes won’t cause any harm, I thought, turning to face him. “Ah, Lost Volume, good morning. What’s up?” I asked, stepping to the side to allow other ponies to continue unimpeded. Volume was hopping from hoof to hoof like a young colt on Hearth’s Warming Eve as he answered. “Didn’t you hear? Two Librarian ships came in this morning! There’ve been rumours coming down the line of an expedition into central Equestria! Not only that, some ponies are even saying that the whole city will be following behind! Oh my gosh, I’m so excited!”

I let out an amused snort. Volume was always looking for that ‘lucky break’ and had been trying his utmost to improve his performance scores enough to gain the attention of somepony higher in the guild hierarchy. And surely enough, here it came. “This is the lucky break I’ve been waiting for, Twilight! I’ve been summoned to tier one! I bet they want me in the expedition! No, leading the expedition!” That stopped me short. I hadn’t expected anypony to be summoned to the main branch, just like that. That wasn’t how things were usually done, so this had to be something important. It must have shocked others who overheard him, as another pony, this one a peridot mare, stepped forwards into the conversation, stomping a hoof down. “Stop spreading nonsense, Lasty! I’ve been summoned too, and we both know that I am far more qualified to lead than you. I’d hang around to gloat, but I don’t want to be late. Might give the wrong impression, y’know? Later, Lasty, Sparky!” she said, turning tail and swiftly descending the steps before either of us could even respond.

“I hate it when she calls me that... but she does have a point. I should go too. Take care of yourself, Twilight. And say hi to Angleberry for me, alright?” Volume said. I nodded, and he took off after Dusty Road, our green and somewhat abrasive ‘friend’, leaving me to continue on my way to the local head librarian.

I reached the office of my boss without further interruption, stepping into the wood-panelled room. As always, the room smelled like old books and dirt. I’m not sure if that was intentional or not, but so long as the bushy-mustached, aging unicorn stallion behind the oak desk had held his position here, it had always been like this. At the age of sixty-two, he’d had this office longer than I’d been alive.

Sunny Facade rose from his plush chair, the old wood creaking in protest as he did so, and gestured for me to close the door behind myself. “Ah, young Twilight Sparkle, delightful to have you here as always. Tell me, have you dug up any good books lately?” he asked, coming around his desk to shake my hoof as I closed the door with a soft click. Almost every day was like this. I think he’s losing his marbles, but he isn’t hurting anypony. I shook my head. “Sorry, Mr. Facade. I haven’t been on an expedition for over a year now.” I explained, ears splayed back slightly.

Sunny gave a sympathetic smile. “That’s quite alright. I know what that’s like, I’ve been stuck in this office for decades! But you, oh no, you’re lucky! Call just came down the vine, your presence has been requested at the main branch. Looks like you’re moving up in the world, eh?” he winked, his smile growing into a grin at his own little joke.

“R-requested?” I squeaked. “Not ‘summoned’ or ‘demanded’?” I asked, taking a step back uncertainly. The old stallion shook his head, and I could almost hear his bones creak at the movement. “Requested. And it’s about damned time, too. They can’t overlook such a talented young unicorn forever.”

I sat back heavily on my haunches, staring off into nothingness for a few moments. Sunny returned to his chair, settling into it carefully. “You’re expected there by midday, so you’re excused from your duties. Now, if it’s alright with you... I kind of have more work to do, if you wouldn’t mind being on your way?”

I found Angleberry busily munching her way through a bowl of plain, dry oats, an identical bowl beside her along with two glasses of orange juice. The other mare looked up, and promptly pushed the other bowl of oats over to me with a wing as I sat down opposite her. “Sorry, Twilight, but they didn’t have any fresh strawberries left by the time I got here. I managed to reserve some for dessert after dinner, though.” she smiled apologetically. I lifted my gaze from the stained, aging bowl, a spoonful of oats levitated before me. “I don’t think we’re going to be here for dinner, Angle. We’ve been called up to the castle. In fact, we’ll be leaving right after breakfast, so make sure you have your stuff.”

Angleberry swallowed nervously. “You don’t think we’re in trouble, do you?” I shook my head slowly. “I don’t think so. A lot of other ponies have been called up, too. Two airships came in this morning, and now everypony is talking about another expedition, so...” I trailed off.

The rest of the meal passed in silence.

The clock on the wall read 11:30 am. Almost time for me to meet with... whoever had requested my presence.

Only one problem... we were running late, part way between tier one and three, delayed thanks to a faulty motor bundle on the east municipal elevator, number three. Formerly of the pristine track record. That little fact did nothing to help my mood. I huffed, stalking back and forth in the space the other passengers had made for me when I started having a meltdown over the delays. It’s not as if they even understand, I thought testily, glaring out one of the recently-cleaned windows at the dusty mesas of the southern badlands. Some of the ponies sharing the elevator car with me had been summoned, but that was nothing compared to having one’s presence requested, and then being late! I stomped my hooves in agitation, mentally cursing the engineers who were meant to be tasked with keeping the machinery of the city is smoothly working order.

Just as my hooves loudly connected with the deckplate a third time, scuffing the metal, the compartment jerked into motion, rising steadily skywards while an apologetic young unicorn colt stuck his head up from the maintenance hatch, grinning sheepishly.

I turned away, ignoring him for the rest of the journey. As I was slumping back into one of the worn seats bolted to the floor, Angleberry settling in next to me, I started, turning to my helper. “Ah, that’s right. Volume said hi, I just remembered.” Angleberry stared back at me uncomprehendingly for a moment, responding with a simple “Ah.” of her own. After a few more moments, she finally asked “Was that all?” Another nod for today’s pile answered her.

We watched the passing wasteland for the rest of the elevator ride, taking in the details left on the world through centuries of tractionism. Here, a set of massive tracks trailing off into the horizon, perhaps from a city other cities decades ago. There, a hill half-eaten by some long-absent mining town, a wooden watchtower standing alone atop it. Dry riverbeds, tree stumps jutting from the dry earth in small patches like bones in a shallow grave. Airships began to rise past us, some ponies waving as we climbed higher above tier two. The elevator ground to a halt at tier one, and with a somewhat reluctant thanks from myself to the engineer, we stepped from the steel and glass construct, and onto tier one proper.

The grand sighs and soothing air conditioning of a Canterlot tier one station rushed forward to greet us. It was a blessing in the heat of the badlands, and I closed my eyes, savouring the cool breeze on my coat. I could hear the whispering ruffle of feathers from beside me as Angleberry likewise enjoyed this luxury whilst she could, and a smile tugged at the corners of my lips. Restrictions on flying varied in different areas of the city thanks to security needs and industrial hazards, so she rarely got the chance to properly stretch her wings. Despite that, she stayed with me rather than joining the Merchants, who would no doubt also value her skills. I still have yet to figure out why, exactly.

A unicorn was waiting to meet us, managing to look more impatient than I had felt for the entire elevator ride. The habitual labcoat marked her out as an engineer, and her irksome expression intensified as she stepped forward to meet us. “Twilight Sparkle and assistant, I presume? I was sent to guide you in an hour ago, you’re late. I hardly see why an engineer should have to play guide to a librarian, but far be it from me to question the wishes of our lords and masters. Hurry, now, we haven’t much time, and frankly I have more important matters to attend to.” she said, turning neatly on the spot, her unbuttoned coat flapping open.

Angleberry leaned in closer to me as the engineer took a step away, and whispered in a hushed voice so that only I would hear “I hate how those engineers do that... always knowing where everypony is, and where to intercept them... it’s creepy.” I rolled my eyes with a quiet snort, and began to follow the mare, struggling to keep up with the brisk pace she made through the small crowd of ponies. I’ll readily admit that I am not in top physical condition. I blame it on the inactive lifestyle of my guild, for the most part.

The other unicorn, weaving between other busy ponies, lead us from the marbled halls of the station, and into the unrelenting light of the midday sun over the badlands. Wild winds whipped at our manes and tails, quickly throwing them into complete disarray as we stomped our way over to a ground buggy waiting at the side of the faux cobbled road. Our guide wasted no time in clambering into the shelter provided by the cab, leaving us to follow her into the vehicle.

With a few sure flicks of her hooves, we were off with the engineer at the wheel, steering the bouncing buggy down smooth roads towards the main gate of the palace.

Our hooves hit the steps as we bounded up them two at a time, the other two ponies following behind as I rushed, barely five minutes from my appointment. Traffic had been light on the approach, and the security had been quick to wave us through, no doubt calling ahead to announce our arrival.

The large, ornate double doors opened ominously ahead of us, without the tell-tale glow of magic that normally accompanied them. I skidded to a halt a few paces over the threshold, staring straight into the barrels of a pair of earth pony engineer guards, their brazen armour glinting dully as they stared down at me disapprovingly. “Twilight Sparkle,” one boomed, his eyes never leaving me, making me acutely aware of just how uncomfortable I was feeling under their combined gazes.

“Follow us.” the other continued from his partner in a dry whisper, like a wind over the wastes far below. I nodded in understanding, unable to muster a verbal response. Their eyes flicked up in unison, pinning somepony behind my with their unwavering gaze behind me. “You also, Spark Welder.” spoke the first guard again. An annoyed huff from behind me signalled that our guide had heard. Angleberry was ignored as the guards executed a well-drilled about-face and began to march off towards an unobtrusive side-door.

Our newest escorts took us on the most efficient route, quickly bringing us to a halt outside a smaller set of doors, ushering us inside to see the occupants. A light khaki-coloured pegasus mare stood over by the desk, a small selection of papers held in one hoof as she inspected them intently. The other occupant of the room was an earth pony stallion sat in an overstuffed, frayed armchair by the roaring fire, whose gaze had switched to regard the timepiece on the mantle as we entered. Huh, why would they have a fire going in the middle of th- my thoughts were abruptly interrupted as he spoke up, his eyes returning to us.

"Seems they made it on time, just, Ms. Do. Looks like I owe you five bits." The pegasus looked up from the papers, only just failing to make her surprise seem natural. She was much more successful with the small smile that followed as she beckoned me over with the hooful of paperwork, the doors creaking shut behind us on hinges begging for lubrication. "Good of you to join us, Twilight. I'll get down to the matter at hoof, since the airship is waiting. We have an important job for you."

I took a few tentative steps closer, peering at the documents being waved in my direction. "An important job, milady?" my heart simultaneously swelled with pride for having been chosen, but was matched with an unexplainable sense of dread as the distance closed between myself and the two ponies in front of me, a sneer breaking through the stallion's facade so briefly that I had to question whether or not it was a figment of my imagination. The stallion reclined further in his chair as he answered for Daring Do, lifting his glass towards me in a brown-furred hoof as a particularly unpleasant smile graced his face.

“Yes, quite. A situation has... arisen, involving your guild. Given my seniority in my own guild, it has fallen upon me to... assist in the selection of a suitable candidate,” he said, a slight tone of smugness seeping into his voice. As he spoke, the pegasus by the desk glared daggers into the back of his head.

“What our esteemed guest means,” she nearly spat out acidly, her tone leaving no doubt as to her opinion on the stallion, “is that his guild is sticking its nose in our affairs, and has taken the choice out of our hooves.”

The stallion turned to give my guild master a reproving look. “Now now, Ms. Do, we don’t bring up inter-guild politics in front of our lessers.” he said, causing a hot flush of anger and resentment as he casually snubbed both myself and my superior.

I opened my mouth to give a scathing retort, but was cut off by a warning look from Daring Do. I slowly closed my mouth, silently bristling, as he turned back to inspect me like something he found on the bottom of his hoof.

“Let’s not beat about the bush, time is being wasted, and time is money. There is an airship waiting for you at the Librarian Airdock two. It leaves in an hour. Be on it. Your things, what little you have, have already been loaded aboard, as per my instructions. Leave now. You are dismissed, I have other matters to attend to today.”

Grinding my teeth, I turned and stomped from the room, a startled Angleberry hot on my heels. I didn’t wait for the guards.

Chapter Two: Across The Wastes

Chapter Two: Across The Wastes

“The way you say it suggests the Princesses had any choice in the matter. The old tales said they cared... do you really think they would choose to abandon us?”

A faint, lazy buzzing could be heard through the hull of the airship as it drifted along at a seemingly sedate pace a mile above the wasteland. We had been flying for the better part of two days in a northerly direction, the wind at our backs for most of the time. I was sat, staring out of a porthole in the cargo hold, watching Angleberry soaring outside. As much as we were both feeling resentment over being torn away from our comfortable lives, I was enjoying the rare chance to see my closest friend and personal aide flying free, a delighted look on her face.

Spark Welder, on the other hoof, was another matter. She had come aboard minutes before liftoff, muttering darkly to herself, and from what I had managed to gather before she stormed off down the passageway, the same stallion that had sent Angleberry and I off had ‘exiled’ her, as she had declared dramatically before resuming her torrent of quiet insults towards him. Now she was off goddesses only know where on this air freighter, sulking still, no doubt. I had yet to even see her in the humble little mess hall at meal times.

I reached out with my magic, a faint purple haze enveloping an eclair on the plate beside me, resting on a crate labelled ‘fertiliser’. Although the crew had been unable to tell me of my assignment, or even our destination, they had afforded us every possible courtesy, including ‘losing’ a few luxury food items, such as the eclairs I was steadily making my way through whilst watching my companion.

Speaking of the crew, it was just then that the circular handle on the hatch began to spin, screeching loudly, the high-pitched squealing of metal on metal grating at my ears. With a quick burst of my magic, the book beside me was flipped onto its front, hiding the title away from prying eyes. I scooted around on my wooden perch, looking towards the hatch as it slowly ground open, a fresh-faced young colt in service to my guild peeking through the entryway at me, innocent eyes wide.

“M-ma’am?” he stuttered, coming to what could charitably be called attention before stepping warily into the hold. “T-the captain sends his compliments, and w-wishes to inform you that our destination is in visual range, i-if you wish to follow me to the bridge?” he continued, hastily appending another “Ma’am” to the end of his question.

I gave him a slightly awkward smile, followed up with a brisk nod and a “Thank you,” in an attempt to ease his nerves. After a visible attempt to relax and an audible breath, he returned the nod stiffly and spun about, his gangly legs almost flailing in their movements as he all but fled the compartment to wait outside. With a slight snort of amusement, I got to my hooves to follow him, leaving my book and half-eaten eclair behind.

I had not been idle for the last day and a half. Although the had been either tight lipped or otherwise unable to tell me about our destination, they had made no attempt to hide any information that might help me find out for myself. Oh, they certainly hadn’t left any travel logs lying about where I could pick one up and browse it, but they had left the labels on all of the crates in the hold, and given me access, despite the area normally being off-limits on most freighters and passenger airships in the Hunting Ground and beyond.

The smooth, wooden floorboards of the passageway creaked as I stepped from the chilled, dim expanse of the cargo hold. The waiting rating had gone a bit red in the face since he stepped out, perhaps from hearing my snort, and gave a quick, choppy nod as he saw me, turning and scampering away towards the bow of the airship wordlessly, shooting glances over his shoulder once in a while to reassure himself that I was indeed following.

Illustrious Prophecy, the air freighter I had been sent off on, was an older model, and it bore the signs of its age with pride. Generations of ponies passage had worn through the original carpet, leaving only leaving hints of the fabric that was once as bright and blue as the azure skies it travelled through like some great whale. All that remained of the original, plush material was some threadbare scraps along the very edges of the passage, stained and faded from decades of service to my guild.

Besides being old, the airship had never been designed to be very grand in the first place, unlike the ships of the other guilds. It was more of an air tramp than an actual freighter, of a size the Merchant Guild would sneer at. At such a small size, it did not take us long to reach the bridge hatch. My young guide, Silver Spanner, as the other crewponies called him, immediately stepped up to the bulkhead door and rapped upon it quietly three times, before easing it open, his muscles visibly straining against the breeze pushing the weight of it against him and whistling through the gap. After a moment, the wind abruptly cut off, and a few brief words were exchanged, too hushed for me to make out over the incessant background hum of the quad engines powering our humble vessel onwards.

“You may enter the bridge now, ma’am” Silver said, turning back to me for a moment before rushing off, leaving me alone outside the hatch. I took a moment to compose myself, straightening my mane before stepping through into the bright, busy room. A few crewponies moved to and fro between weathered and worn instrument banks and consoles, keeping a careful watch on a large array of dials. In the midst of this small storm of organised chaos stood the captain, Iron Yoke, watching his crew, his family, through eyes brimming with love, care and pride. Weaving my way across the deck, I stopped at his side.

“Beautiful, isn’t it, Miss Sparkle? The fluid grace of a crew so familiar and practiced with their jobs and each other that they work as well as a well-oiled machine, each of them a perfectly fitted cog meshing with those around them.” he said, sharing his thoughts unbidden without moving an inch to acknowledge my presence beside him physically. A silence stretched out between us for a few moments before I realised he was waiting for a reply. By the time I had a suitable response in mind, it was too late, his head tilting towards me as an eye turned to scrutinise me. I couldn’t help but feel I had failed some sort of test as he spoke up again, his eye turning back to look ahead of the airship. “Hmmm, yes, well, I suppose that’s not why I invited you here. “That,” he said, lifting a hoof and pointing at a dust cloud ahead on the darkening horizon, “is our destination. I think we’re far enough from the jurisdiction of Canterlot now for me to name Ponyville, but you probably knew that already. She’s currently headed away from us at about 80 kilometers an hour, and we’ve established contact with her aerodrome. We’ll reach her by sundown, they’ll be slowing just for us to anchor on them. You’re more than welcome to spend the night onboard, and get a full night’s kip.”

I stood in thought for a moment, staring ahead at the ‘small’ traction-suburb. Ponyville... permanent population three hundred and eighty-five... mostly non-guild ponies. What’s there for me to do here? Even at this distance I can see there are no more airships... primary export is apples. I let out a small sigh, looking away from Ponyville on the horizon. “Thank you, captain. I think I’ll take you up on that offer, rather than risk getting lost at night.”

The captain nodded, and a knock came from behind us before the hatch creaked open once more to admit Spark Welder, a look of slight befuddlement on the face of the azure unicorn. “You called for me, sir?” she asked, looking about the bridge curiously. Captain Yoke half-turned to address her, his voice gruff. “Yes, our port of call is in sight. We’ll be setting down later this evening, and we’ve received orders that you are to disembark immediately. Somepony will be waiting to take you to your new post.”

Spark nodded, taking one last glance about the compartment, her eyes lingering on me for a moment, as if accusing me for her current place in life. “If that’s all, with your leave, captain?” she asked, her eyes moving from me to dart between Iron and the town in the distance.

With another nod and a grunt from Iron Yoke, Spark Welder ducked back out of the compartment, no doubt headed back to whatever cabin she had squirreled herself away in for the majority of the journey.

With everything done, I remained on the bridge for just a minute longer, admiring the view of the world below before making my own excuses and returning to the hold to collect my things. Well, almost all my things, I thought with a wry chuckle, the remainder of my eclair missing, a single pumice-coloured feather on my sitting box identifying the absent culprit. I picked up my book with a small trickle of magic, and returned to the room I shared with Angleberry.

When we stepped from our room the following morning, the ship was quiet. The droning of the aero-engines was gone, replaced with the deeper, stronger hum of city engines in the distance, bringing me a comfort I hadn’t realised I had been missing for the last two days or so. The gondola swayed gently as it was buffeted by the wind travelling over the air harbour.

Light shone in through dust-stained portholes as we moved down the passageway, Angleberry behind me, loaded down with our luggage as part of her standard duties. I hadn’t been comfortable with somepony doing all the menial work for me when I was first assigned my assistant, but she had been adamant about what her job entailed, even if she complained about it, like she was doing now.

“Faust damn those lazy crewponies, making me carry everything...” she muttered testily, her steps heavy from the load of personal belongings on her back. I looked over my shoulder, giving her a sidelong glance. I had already offered to help carry our things before we even opened the hatch to leave our room, but she had been quite stubborn about the roles of her station, refusing to let me even carry any of my own things.

On second thought, maybe I should just leave her to it as punishment for taking my eclair.

Letting out a weary sigh, I continued down the passage, leading the way to the boarding gantry, and our new home for the foreseeable future. And what a sight it was! Missing were the white towers or the light-grey stone of Canterlot’s three tiers of buildings, in their place standing the wasteful and far more extravagant in their own way domiciles of vibrant colourations, thatched roofs and gardens of bright flowers.

Of course, like any Librarian worth her salt, I had thoroughly researched every traction city with any historical link to my home city of Canterlot, but even all the books, with their mix of pictures, grainy to crystal clear and void-sharp, left me unprepared for the whirlwind of clashing colours before me, I only realised I was gaping like a little filly when Angleberry stopped alongside me, giggling at my expression. A suitably reproving glance set her straight, and I turned my attention to the bottom of the ramp as I made my way down.

Rather than the guard or low-level bureaucrat I had been expecting to find waiting, there stood only a battered old motor-trolley for our things with a bored-looking brown earth pony stallion attending it. He looked up from his dog-eared newspaper at our approach, folding it and getting to his hooves. “Welcome to Ponyville, friends! I’m here to take your things to the local library branch,” he said, snickering slightly at an unshared joke, “I’ll take your helper with me to get everything settled whilst you go and report to Mayor Mare. Any questions?”

“Just one,” I replied, giving him a friendly smile, “Could you tell me where to find the mayor? I’m afraid in my rush to leave Canterlot, I wasn’t given any instructions or directions.”

He smiled back at me, a warm, genuine expression. “Of course. The mayor should be in the town hall, smack-bang in the middle of Ponyville. All main roads lead there, as does the river. If you see apple trees, you’ve gone too far.”

With a brief word of thanks, we parted ways, the stallion and Angleberry heading off down a small road at a sedate pace, chatting amiably whilst I went towards a main road, passing by a motley collection of single and double-storey thatched-roofed houses, with flower boxes hanging from their window ledges. My senses were assaulted with the sights and smells of myriad varied flowers in bloom, lovingly tended by the looks of them.

I had not been strolling long when my nose was beset by the most heavenly scent I had ever smelt. My head reflexively turned to find the source, tracking around until I beheld the most bizarre building I had yet seen, and would likely ever see.

Before me stood what I can only describe as a monstrosity of baking. Two storeys of gingerbread house towered over me, roofed with frosting-edged chocolate that glistened in the morning rays, with an awning supported by dual candy-striped poles, and wedded to a tower of a further two storeys, looking for all the world like double-stacked cupcakes, with a trio of burning candles atop it all.

It was from the open downstairs windows of this hodgepodge construction that the delightful scents emanated. Despite myself, I found my hooves turning me towards the door, and carrying me up the front steps, through the open doorway. The smells of baking intensified as I advanced on the front counter, many sugared treats on display beneath the glass. A gawky stallion smiled warmly at me from the other side. “Something caught your eye miss? I haven’t seen you around Sugarcube Corner before, so you must be new. Go ahead, pick something, anything you want, on the house as a sample! I guarantee you won’t find better.”

I could hardly believe my ears or luck. Here I was, a complete stranger in a strange town, and I was being offered free food. This sort of charity was virtually unheard of back in Canterlot, where the majority of shop owners would turn their noses up at any pony who even looked like they couldn’t pay (as I had personally discovered once or twice. Those places never saw my business again). I eagerly stepped closer, running my eyes over the delectable tidbits, before turning my gaze upwards to meet the yellow stallion’s.

“Are you sure?” I asked, a slight tone of hesitance in my voice.

“Of course!” he responded cheerfully, the smile never leaving his face for a moment. “Please, I insist.”

Five minutes and three triple-frosted cupcakes later, I was back on my way to the town hall again, though several bits poorer. Now that my stomach had been attended to, I was more easily able to process and ignore the worst of the assault on my senses, the smell of baking and flowers sinking back to a pleasant background level, enjoyable, but not overly enticing enough to distract me anymore.

Birds were twittering peaceful melodies from the trees sparsely spaced about the town center as I trotted into the opening, a cool, comforting breeze blowing at the leaves, Several other ponies occupied the square, lounging in the shade of the trees, playing in the sun, or reclining by the small stream that meandered through the well-kept grass.

And in the center of this idyllic scene stood an almost imposing three storey building, circular in construction with a surrounding deck of wood. Beside the main doors to the town hall stood a pair of stoic ceremonial guards in the colours of the merchant’s guild, the chief financiers of Ponyville’s creation.

Surprisingly, the guards remained still at my approach, and allowed me to pass without so much as a word to slow me as I opened one of the doors with a small burst of magic.

As I stepped into the heart of Ponyville, I was greeted by pleasant, modest wooden panelling, underscored by simple, ungilded banners of all five guilds, including to my surprise the oft-scorned Navigator’s green standard. I was staring up at the banners hanging around the circumference of the hall when I was started by a young, smartly dressed mare with a clipboard pinned to one foreleg sleeve, her mane tied back neatly.

“Good morning, and welcome to Ponyville town hall. I don’t recognise your cutie mark from any of the local censuses, so you must be new. Are you being expected, here to inquire about moving to Ponyville, or just exploring?” she asked, barely seeming to stop for breath before adding “I’m Paper Swan, one of Mayor Mare’s aides and secretaries. Would you like a drink? I’m legally obliged to get you a drink if you’re thirsty. Or would you prefer an information pack for visitors?”

I took a step back, nervously eyeing Paper for a moment before shaking my head. “Ah, no, that’s alright, I had a drink before I left the airshi-” I started to respond, before almost unexpectedly being cut off mid-sentence.

“Oh, you’re from the Illustrious Prophecy? You must be the fancy new Librarian from Canterlot. Never been there myself, but the previous Librarian had all of these lovely photos, with the spires, and the waterfalls... oh, sorry. Assuming you are who I think you are, the Mayor is expecting you. Please, this way to the waiting room, then I’ll go and inform the Mare herself of your arrival.” she all but blurted out, seemingly untroubled with interrupting me, and heading off at a light trot without even waiting to confirm I was the pony she had assumed me to be.

I had been waiting outside the Mayor’s office for about five minutes now, whilst raised voices sounded from beyond the sturdy oaken door, muffled just beyond recognition by the thick, solid wood.

I tapped my forehooves together nervously as the raised voices reached a newer height, before abruptly cutting out, the doors creaking open without warning and a smiling, grey-maned mare trotted out, her eyes lighting upon seeing me waiting. “Ah, pardon my tardiness, I had an unscheduled meeting with the head engineer. Wish I could say it was to exchange pleasantries, but you know how it is when somepony smells the chance to get more bits and power... speaking of which, that’s exactly why you’re here. Thanks to your arrival, I don’t have to put up with anypony trying to advance the standing of their own guild anymore.”

I got to my hooves, and mustered my most pleasant answering smile. “May I ask why that is, Mayor Mare? I’m afraid I was packed off with such haste that I wasn’t told why.”

“Yes, that’s pretty typical of the main branches of the guilds, I’m afraid.” she said, her smile still in attendance, though seeming somewhat more whimsical. “Allow me to be the first to congratulate you on your new position as Head Librarian for Ponyville. You come highly recommended.”

Introduction

Once upon a time, in the magical land of Equestria...

...great, hungering cities, behemoths of steel, iron, bricks and wood, the offspring of Earth pony sciences and Unicorn magic, roam the once pristine, perfect continents of the world. Where once there was endless greenery, much of the land is now reduced to a dusty wasteland. Forests have been harvested to extinction for fuel, and the flames of war have flared and guttered in the countless centuries since the disappearance of Equestria’s diarchs. With the mobilisation of the cities and towns which once helped each other, Equestria has been transformed into the Great Hunting Ground. No city dares to call for aid, lest the ones they call descend upon them, forming a truce with other settlements long enough only to satiate their hunger for resources. Ponies watch the horizons with every waking moment for glimpses of smoke, the tell-tale sign of predators... or prey.

Not all ponies, however, took to the tractionist way of life. Many Pegasi chose to remain ‘safe’ in their cloud cities, far above the squalor of the Earth. Gryphons stuck to their high mountain peaks and aeries, where the cities could not climb to consume them.

And a few ponies opposed the evolution of their conurbations, seeking to live static, clean lives. Easy prey for the cities, or so most of them were, for a while...

Mortal Equines

A Mortal Engines x My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic crossfic.