Two ponies sat across from each other in the floating gondola, wrapped in red cloaks and staring into the distance at the floating island ahead that was their destination. The stallion, a pegasus with black coat, white feathers, and white mane shifted nervously in his seat while the mare stared confidently ahead. Her coat and mane were the opposite of her companion's with the coat being white and her mane and feathers being black. Both of their cutie marks consisted of drama masks, the mare's looking happier while the stallion's had a frown on it.
As for where they were, the many islands surrounding them seemed to float as an endless sky stretched on forever above them, looking like the sky does after a rainstorm with many mixes of blues and greens above with a sea of clouds below. The island that was their destination held a palazzo with beautiful marble columns and such, but they both stared disdainfully as if the beauty hid something ugly.
"How much longer do you suppose before they spot us?", the mare piped up.
The stallion shook his head and grunted, "I dunno Blank...it feels a little too quiet to be honest...". Indeed he was correct that there was absolutely no sound but their talking and the wind, the palazzo staying eerily silent.
Blank huffed, "Then I'm going to assume they're expecting us Silk....what I don't understand is if we have been spotted, why haven't their mages blown us out of the air yet....?". As she said this the clouds below seemed to rumble as something gigantic stirred beneath them. "What in Tartarus is that?!".
As Silk looked over the side he smirked, "That looks like our welcoming committee....". Drawing a small gladius from his robe using his wing, using the feathers to securely grip the handle. Your average pegasus wouldn't be able to do this, but both ponies had received special training allowing them to use their wings’ feathers as "fingers" in a pinch. Blank did the same, only drawing three curved and wicked looking throwing knives.
"I think we may be out of our league here, Silk. If that's what I think it is then our only bet is getting to the island and hiding before that thing catches us....", Blank said. The roaring grew louder until a mechanical dragon soared above the gondola, making the two ponies duck in place. Blank had to admit it would have been a truly fascinating thing to watch if it hadn't been giving her and Silk a death glare with its blazing yellow eyes. The entire beast was constructed in the form of a Neighponese dragon made entirely of polished copper and bronze, glinting in the sunlight.
"I think that's our cue to bail, sweetheart!!", Silk shouted as he took to the sky, abandoning the gondola. A gout of fire boiled up out of the dragon’s throat, driving Blank after Silk in a panic.
"Hey! Don't leave me behind you brainless git!!", she shouted as the gondola exploded a mere ten feet behind her. The two Pegasi made their way towards the island at breakneck speeds, trying to outrun the mechanical monstrosity in pursuit of them. Blank’s training overcame her panicked state and she flipped over so she looked like a backwards swimmer, using her wings to backpedal. She alternated wings to throw a few knives at the dragon, but despite her best efforts they all bounced harmlessly off it's armor. "Dammit! The armor is too thick!".
The palazzo was coming up fast, but the dragon even faster, close enough to spout more fire. Blank and Silk tried their damnedest to avoid all of it’s attacks, but Silk caught some bad luck as some of his primary feathers were set ablaze. "B-Blank!!!! Help!!!!", he shouted. As Blank turned and saw what was happening she quickly flapped a gust of air at him that put the small blaze out, leaving his white feathers a little black and charred. "Thanks, I owe you one!"
The mare let out a hearty laugh as she soared around more fire pillars, "Many more than one, my sweet!", she shouted over the wind. Finally flying over the small bit of land before the palazzo they landed in some bushes, hoping to hide. The dragon stopped sharply at at shore, perhaps forbidden to fly over the land.
With a roar of frustration it descended into the clouds to wait for another meal to fly by. The two Pegasi panted in the bushes as they lay in each other's arms, breathless from the chase. Blank was the first to speak up, "Lucky I was here or your goose would have been cooked. Quite literally." she giggled as she squeezed the stallion tight.
"At this rate I'll never be out of your debt." Silk wheezed as he fought to catch his breath.
"Good thing you're stuck with me forever, or else I'd never be able to collect in full." the mare giggled as she planted a gentle kiss on Silk's lips, shifting her wings so the golden wedding bands at the base of each were visible to him, emphasizing her point.
Gladly returning the kiss, Silk peeked from the bush, "So what do you suppose that accursed clockwork is building in there?", he whispered. "I'm guessing it's something big if he can send a creation like that at us with the flick of his hoof."
"I don't know sweetie....I guess we will find out...." Blank said as she sat up, giving Silk room to follow suit. Making sure the coast was clear, she climbed from the shrubbery, yanking her mate with her.
Silk stared at the house and tilted his head, "Why would a clockwork want to live in a comfy house in the middle of nowhere? Especially an insane one like this?", he asked.
Blank stared sternly at Silk. "It's not our job to ask questions Silk, it's our job to get in there and smash him open so we can get his memory chip for the boss. Tartarus only knows what Silent Shiv wants with it, but we owed a favor so we are paying it. Knowing her, she could've made this a whole lot harder."
"As long as it gets us a step closer to sending these clockworks to the scrap heap, then I suppose this is worth the trouble", Silk said. "So how are we getting in? Do we knock?", he chuckled.
Blank rolled her eyes. "Very funny, but we don't have time for games now. Our entrance will be through some catacombs below. There should be a passage at the end that will take us to a grate in the floor of the library, which is where our sources assume the metal head spends most of his time tinkering with spare parts and magic. Now let's find that entrance, it should be somewhere over here I think..."
Silk followed Blank's lead and began to say, "This place is pretty big… how-", but was cut off after he tripped over a rock, making it fall over and revealing a hole just big enough for a pony to squeeze through.
Blank shook her head, "I swear you're more clumsy than my uncle Francesco....but kudos for finding the entrance.". She stared at the hole for a few seconds, "It's a tight fit, but I'm sure you can squeeze your fat flank down there", she giggled.
"With all that cake you've been eating lately I'm more worried about you getting YOUR butt down there", Silk retorted with a snicker, much to Blank's embarrassment.
"At least you'll get a good show watching me", she said with a mock sultry tone, shaking her rump at her mate and causing him to blush and stare at his hooves. "Now c'mon, let's get this job done so we can go home. I believe you owe me cuddles after putting me through that training session yesterday.". She squeezed down the hole, unfolding her wings when it widened into a passage.
"Yes your Highness...." Silk chuckled.
"What was that Silky?! Didn't hear you!", Blank called out with feigned anger.
"Y-yes ma'am!", Silk spluttered as he hurriedly squeezed down behind her into the shadowy depths of the catacombs below.
