With Time, and Aeronautics

Chapters

Part Two- The Fall
Part Three- Wreckage
Part Four- Aviophobia
Part One- The Rise

Part Two- The Fall

As the New Promise continues its journey through the vast blue above, it's view from Ponyville vanished. And so did Lavender Novas composure. She had been anxious of her family aboard the ship even in her view, but it was less worrying then.

'Oh no. I shouldn't have let them get on. Why did I let them?' She thought.

Questions starting to arise within her mind. What if they are late? Worse, what if something goes wrong? What if...the unthinkable happened?

Thinking logically and reasonably, she stopped. These thoughts would only create unwanted stress. Something she didn't need. After all, that is why she is down on the ground, and they are up there. To keep her thoughts occupied, she observed the mighty Timeless.

'Nah. Everything is fine.' She repeated in her head.

And indeed, everything was fine. Chromes mood had uprisen, so he and Iron were having a brilliant time, admiring the view and talking with their new friend Cornelian Kiwi. And with the thoughts of a new family member, the only way the experience could get any better would be if Lavender was there to share it with them.

"Ok, you won't get it this time." Iron says, playing the guessing game with Chrome again.

"Your number is eight." Chrome replies.

"Damn."

"When would we be going back to Ponyville?" Chrome asks Iron.

"...you want to get off already?"

"No, no I just wanted to know."

"Well, your guess is as good as mine really."

Chromes eyes once again had been drawn to the window. He watched as the ship glided over an unfamiliar forest. Not the Everfree, and gladly in his eyes, but still strangely unfamiliar. They must be further away from Ponyville than they thought.

"We must have to turn around soon" Continued Chrome. "because I have no idea where we are."

"Hmmm, neither do I actually." Says Kiwi. "It is a lovely forest we are above, though."

Giving a confused look to Kiwi, Iron looks down through the window. For a while, the forest that they steamed over was unchanging, until they passed a huge lake of water. It glistened, striking the panels and windows of the New Promise. From the lake extended a dirt path that traced to a small settlement, smaller than Ponyville, and just as unfamiliar as the forest it was buried in. The occupants of this settlement were standing by the lakeside, admiring this milestone in pony-technology. Had they even heard rumors of it's existence? This sight would have been quite shocking if otherwise.

They weren't frightened, as they happily pointed and waved at the ship. Chrome waved back, although they might not have seen this, which amused Iron and Kiwi.

"So are you planning to go back to Manehattan after we land?" Asks Iron.

"Unfortunately yes. Although I will definitely be coming back. Both for business, and because I want to."

"Alright. We should meet up again sometime, I could introduce you to Lavender."

"Lavender?"

"My wife, I mean."

"What a splendid idea! I will have to arrange some time off."

As Kiwi finished, the New Promise began to turn.

For a vehicle of its size, the New Promise turns quite efficently, to eventually be facing in Ponyvilles direction. Chrome became exited to see his mum again, even though it hadn't been long since he left her. The colt was buzzing to tell Lavender about the adventure.

"Mum is gonna be so happy to see us when we get back to her!" He says.

"We can tell her about our adventure too, she loves to hear about those." Iron replies.

"That is what I was thinking! Oh I can't wait to see her!"

They passed over the lakeside settlement once again. Just as before, ponys got out of there homes to witness the machine overhead. Some were pointing like last time, but they weren't waving. A detail Chrome was quick to notice, only to dismiss the thought.

The villagers must have spotted something at the front of the ship, because it jolted. And with it, Kiwis eyes lit up. Silence struck the ship, quickly broken by her concerns.

"Wh-wh-what was that?!"

"...I don't know..." Iron replies as calmly as he could. "Did a Pegasus hit us?"

"Doubt it. How could somepony hit us? We aren't disguised, or anything." Chrome nervously adds.

"Meh. I suppo-"

Another jolt interrupted Iron. This one more violent, making ponies unsettled. Kiwi was completely terrified, Chrome was motionless and Iron became concerned. A long of silence occurred, until somepony noticed smoke coming from the front of the ship.

Smoke began to fill the inside of the ship, making the young Chrome cry out of fright. He jumps into his fathers arms. Kiwis eyes were tight shut as she held her head in her hooves. The smoke quickly progressed to cover the entirety of the inside of the ship, sending ponys into hysteria. Chrome was held tightly in his fathers grasp.

"Don't look Chrome...just...don't look..."

The screams and cries of everypony were the stuff of nightmares for Chrome. He whimpered in Irons arms, as his father watched the panicking ponies run the lengths of the craft. The smoke had thickened, and a fire had erupted out at the pilots end of the ship. It looked like a candle flame through the dense black smoke, but the heat told a different story. Kiwi panicked and ran from her seat, seemingly vanishing.

"Kiwi? Cornilean?!" Iron shouts, upsetting the terrified Chrome.

A feeling of descending had made itself clear, to which Chrome shrieked.

"It's ok, it's ok Chrome, nothings wrong, just keep your eyes closed." Iron began fear for Chromes, as well as his own life.

The ship started to tilt forward. Flowerpots, bags and other small items rolled down the centre of the ship to the fire. The smoke was burning Irons eyes, but he kept them open to look over his son.

The windows had been blacked out, now there was no way of telling how close the ground was. The smoke had became thick enough to cause problems breathing.

With the ever increasing tilt, Iron and Chrome stumbled from their seat onto the one in front of them. Ponys began to lose their footing, and they shockingly fell towards the fire.

"...dad...dad what's happening..?" Chrome sobbed.

A loud metallic tearing sound coming from the front of the airship interrupted Iron Essence. A huge tear had opened up on the floor of the ship, taking out some of the smoke. Through the tear, the ground was visible, and it wasn't very far down. The fire had engulfed a large portion of the front end. The pilots had to be gone, nopony could survive that.

Over his own cries, Chrome couldn't hear the stress that had been put onto the chair. Neither could Iron, the bolts fastening the chair down started to creak. A sudden jolt forward occured. One of the legs had come from the floor.

"I don't want to die dad!"

"You're not, Chrome! Hold onto me!"

A second leg gave way, as Chrome screamed in terror. Another massive tear came from the front of the New Promise, the ship was twisting under the strain of the odd descent.

The floor underneath Chrome and Irons chair had split open, and they were sent flying to the front of the ship. Their grasp on each other had broken.

"Chrome!"

"Dad!"

Chrome couldn't make sense of what to do, he could only scream as he fell to the front end of the ship. Iron fell into another more secure chair, stopping his fall. Just as Chrome fell through a remaining layer of thick smoke, Iron used his magic to catch him. Crying with shock and light relief that he felt a grasp, Iron pulled out his son. But as he lifted him up, his heart broke.

He wasn't holding onto Chrome. He caught a piece of twisted metal and wood that Chrome must have had knocked out of place with his fall.

"...no...oh Celestia no..."

As Iron dropped the twisted metal sheet into the abyss of smoke, the nose of the ship smashes into the forest, and scrapes along the floor. Luckily for the villagers, it didn't hit any farmland that belonged to the village. Trees snapped, and were torn from their roots, as the bulk of the ship comes close to impacting the ground. Iron was send further down the ship surpassing a thick layer of smoke, eventually smashing into the edge of one of the tears in the side of the New Promise. He was winded, and had no time to grasp onto the broken metal panel. He slipped from the belly of the burning ship.

After falling through the air, Iron struck a tree, knocking him unconscious. His damaged body fell from the branches, scarring him up badly. He hit the ground with a loud thump, dust and leaves swirling around him.

The New Promise finally hit the ground with all of its might. Leaving a very long impact trail across the ground, it eventually scrapes to a halt.

Iron woke up to the sensation of whiskers rustling past his face from a curios squirrel, and the piercing sunlight through the trees dotting his body. His ears were ringing loudly. With accompanying groans, Iron attempts to get up, but he couldn't. He slammed into the ship extremely hard, and it had made moving agonisingly painful. He could only lay on his side, making him cough. Sliding his hoof against his cheek, blood could be seen smeared over it. He was bleeding internally.

Dazed from being unconscious, Iron began to drink in his surroundings, and his predicament. The high pitched ringing had gone, and Iron could hear birds tweeting amongst the forest, along with a faint sparking sound. He could also hear hoof steps coming from behind.

Somepony had found him.

From amongst the trees, a Pegasus hovered over to the damaged Iron Essence. He didn't get up, or turn around to see who had come to his aid, probably because it would have caused enough pain to make him pass out, so Iron stayed still.

"Holy mother...are you hurt?" Asks the Pegasus.

"...yeah...badly..."

There was a pause of consideration, as the Pegasus notices breathing troubles from Iron.

"Alright. I'm just going to rest you up against that tree, ok?"

"...yeah...yeah, ok..."

"Ok now. Easy does it. One, two, three..."

The Pegasi lifted up the frail Unicorn. He was gently settled down upright against the tree.

"Dambit that kills!" Iron groaned.

Iron removes his folded hooves from his chest, to show a huge red and blue bruise straight across his chest, which was misshapen. He had fractured ribs, but too many thoughts raced through his head to focus on this.

"Celestia. You took quite a hit. If you can tell me, what is your name?"

"...Iron...Iron Essence..."

"I'm Summer Breeze. You're going to have to stay very calm for me Iron-"

"Chrome...my son, I have to find him!"

Summers jaw dropped.

"Oh my...you lost your son?"

Iron tried to get up.

"Woah, woah, Iron! You'll hurt yourself if you try to walk!"

"I don't care! I..." Iron grasped his chest. "I have to find him!"

He stumbles to his hooves, and step by step walks over to the destroyed path of trees giving way for the New Promise. Iron stopped, to see one of the ships two giant thrusters crippled, lying on the ground. Wires drooped from it's unrecognizable underneath, and laid messily on the ground, some of them still live, which explains the sparking sound. Further up was the bulk of the ship, ablaze, and bellowing black smoke into the sky. The sight filled Iron Essence with despair, he knew Chrome could well be in the inferno of the ship.

With that thought, Iron couldn't bare to see it's remains.

"Dude, please don't do this." Summer says nervously from behind Iron. "You're going to hurt yourself."

"But...but what if he is in there!?" Irons chest pains were agonising.

"I'm taking you to the others. There is a site of survivors, rescuers and doctors just on the other side of the ship."

Iron coughed, bringing him to his knees with a spew of blood from his insides.

"Oh no." Summer helps Iron up, and puts his hoof around his shoulder, supporting the frail Unicorn. "We have got to move, now!"

Part Three- Wreckage

With the aid of Summer Breeze, Iron made his way to the 'others' that Summer mentioned. In doing so, they slowly stumble past the broken thruster, and up to the bulked remains of the New Promise. Something Iron had wanted to do, but the sights he saw could have gone amiss. The twisted and burnt, as well as burning shell was a testament to the loss of life from this catastrophe. They tremble right up against the side of the wreckage, looking into one of the giant tears. Scanning for survivors, or the deceased, Summer could only see smoke.

Coming up to a second smaller tear, both the ponys skin crept. You could see inside, which revealed the destroyed insides of the ship, but a more scarring site could be seen. A blood-soaked metal panel, broken from the inside hull that landed onto an unfortunate stallion could be spotted on the ground. His body was crushed, but his head remained untouched, albeit with some minor scars. If he hadn't died from the initial impact, hr would have bled out. Whatever the way, he was gone.

After a few watery tears being shed, they continued their dreaded walk. Small slits in the weakened murky silver bodywork of the ship had been carved by the trees on impact. They leaked more black smoke, by now the whole surrounding area probably could see the clouds it had formed. A beacon for help, it would seem.

As the two walked over broken metal sheets, and snapped destroyed branches to get to the site of destination, voices and cries could be heard. They were getting close.

"You feeling ok, Iron?" Asks Summer.

"Getting...lightheaded..."

"Just hold on in there, the others are around this corner."

After some more dreary steps, they arrived at a section of forest with a lot of other injured ponys, doctors and ponys who had vouched to help out. Spotting Iron and Summer, one of the medics rushed over to them.

"You found a survivor! Good job Summer. Did you see any more injured or dead?" He asks.

"Only one doc. A stallion, in the ship."

"Alive?"

Summer shakes his head.

"...ok. You should get him."

"Yeah, I was going to."

Summer helps Iron down against a tree once again.

"Right, take it easy now Iron. What did you say the name of your son was?" Summer asks Iron.

"Chrome Colours. He has green...eyes and a...silver coat..." Iron struggled to breathe. "...and...gray...mane..."

"Got it." Before Summer could run to a group of ponys, Iron grabs his leg.

"...promise me...you will find him..."

"Oh Celestia..." Summer says underneath his breath. "...I promise."

Summer scarpers off to the group, realising the burden he had upon his shoulders. Iron watched him talk with the group.

"My name is Rose Bud, or Dr. Rose." The medic spoke.

"...Iron Essence."

"Ok Iron. This whole experience may be daunting to you, but please remain as calm as you can."

Dazed, and not paying his full attention, Iron saw the ponys Summer had spike with depart to different sections of the forest. He had probably told them about Chrome. One pony went to the wreckage with Summer Breeze, another to a generic area of forest, and more sadly, one to the where the bodies were put.

Irons attention snapped back to the doctor.

"...ok...ok."

"Tell me, where does it hurt the most?"

Iron removes his folded arms to show the now brown and red bruise covering his chest.

"...there."

"Right. Are you having trouble breathing?"

"...yeah, and it hurts...when I breath."

"Have you coughed up any blood?"

"That too..."

"Ok what I'm going to do for the minute is give you an injection of painkiller to take the edge off the pain, which will as well prevent infection in your insides. We will try to arrange a bed for you in the closest hospital as soon as we can, alright?"

Iron didn't answer, his attention was on a mare who had been brought in via wagon that would normally be used for apple-bucking. She was accompanied by doctors. The mare was screaming in pain, wailing her legs, and appeared to be bleeding profusely. Those sounds, they were horrible. The doctor had already injected Iron, but he hadn't noticed until he saw the needle get pulled out of his leg.

"Get a nurses attention if you feel anything weird or painful, ok?"

"Yeah...I will."

As Dr. Rose attends to another injured pony, the screaming from the mare diminishes to blood-curdled whimpers, then it stops entirely. Looking over to the wagon she was in, Iron witnessed doctors and civilians alike breaking into tears.

The mare had died.

Yet another doctor wheels the wagon away to a section of the field where the bodies are put.

As severely damaged ponys got rushed from the forest to the nearest hospitals, equally hurt ones were rescued and brought to the site. Along with much more heart crushing sights. They were bringing bodies.

More and more deceased were brought from the flaming wreckage of the new promise. What if Chrome was one of them?

They couldn't get many hospital stretchers to carry the bodies, so they had to get them into wagons, and when none of those were available, on the back of other ponies.

Iron looked around the forest, and saw a group of emotionally shaken stallions through the trees. They were tasked with carrying the dead. He focused on of the stallions, as he carried away an unlucky mare. The stallion was weeping, the sights he had seen, and the job he had been tasked was too much for his emotions to be contained. It had to be done, but it was horrible. Then the body caught Irons attention.

It was Cornelian Kiwi.

The entirety of Kiwis lower body had been singed. It appeared that she had suffered a sever knock to the head, as there was a blood-soaked gouge that dripped down her mane.

To think that not long ago, Iron was enjoying a conversation with her, alive and well. Now she is gone, just like that. Time is a cruel element.

Kiwi is taken to the field where the rest of the bodies went, for identification and space.

"You knew her?" Asked a broken voice from beside Iron who noticed him staring at Kiwis body.

"Did."

"...sorry 'bout that."

Iron turns his head to see a male Unicorn, his hoof in a cast, and a bandage around his right eye.

"She a friend?"

"...yeah. Yeah she was."

"That's a shame. Horrible way to go."

Another body passed on the back of a pony who tried to avoid attention of the crowd. The body was covered in a blanket, but it was the size of a fillie, or a colt. Could it have been Chrome? Iron could only hope not.

"...Chrome..." Iron quietly cried.

"He was only a young'en, poor fella. Had the whole-" The Unicorn next to Iron stops, as he sees him breaking down. "...oh no. You ain't lost a little one, have you?"

"...my son."

"...Celestia...I hope that weren't him..."

Iron struggled to keep it together, although he didn't have to.

"Pear Juice? Is there a Unicorn named Pear Juice here?" Shouts a nurse from amongst the trees.

"Well, that's me. Best of luck, friend."

Iron over watched the increasing amount of injured get called in. From ponies with cuts, bruises and other generally minor injuries, to life threatening ones, Iron saw it all. He would watch, speechless and crying as ponies, gushing blood out of their wounds came into the forest. Some of them it was already too late for. Seeing all this slowly decayed the thought of seeing Chrome still being alive and well. After all, he is only a colt. Putting hope over reality, Iron remained certain he is ok.

The pain in his chest had subsided. Mostly because of the injection, but also diminished by the emotional pain he was going through.

A nurse trots over to Iron. "Iron Essence?"

"...yeah?"

"You can get admitted to a nearby hospital now if you wish. There is a vacant room available, and you have waited long enough."

"No." Iron swiftly replies.

He wished to wait for Chrome. And seeing all the injuries around him, alot of them worse than what he is suffering, it seemed wrong.

"Give it to somepony else." Iron continues.

"But..but...are you sure?"

"Positive."

"Well...that's very considerate of you sir." The nurse trots through the trees, continuing her jobs.

As quickly as the New Promise crashed, word spread of the disaster. Like an infection, it passed from town to town, and from city to city. Ponyville was oblivious, still marveling at the majesty of the Timeless. Lavender listened to the gentle breeze through the trees surrounding the still active crowd. Even though a vast majority of them departed with the New Promise, quite a few still remained.

Lavender thought to herself about Chrome.

'I wonder if Iron has told him about the baby yet...' She thought.

Thinking about the baby, and Chromes excitement to see his mum again had distracted Lavender from what was going on around her, which had changed from the expected chitter-chatter to wondering whispers. A Pegasus, flying from the direction that the New Promise had departed, had the crowds attention. He seemed to be panicking, and shaking with the strides of his wings against the warm air. Celestia still remained at the site of take off. She wanted to see the ship return.

The aforementioned Pegasus landed in front of the Princess, sweating and still in a panic.

"My Princess." He says, accompanied by him landing, then kneeling.

"Rise, my little pony." Celestia replies.

"I come with news regarding the ship 'New Promise'."

"What news?"

The Pegasus took a long, deep breath. "Your highness, I bring...terrible news. It has...crashed."

Celestia took a step back, like a gust of wind hit her.

"I'm...I'm sorry? What?!" She says, hoping she misheard what the Pegasus said.

"The New Promise has crashed, Princess!"

"Crashed?! Where?!"

The Princess of the day was wide eyed, and dumbstruck. Without realisation, the two winged ponies had been speaking quite loud, and everypony was watching them, silent as mice. Meanwhile, Lavender was still lost in her little world.

'I wonder if the baby's eyes will be green like Chromes...' She thought.

Concerned voices echoed through the crowd.

"No need to be alarmed everypony..." Celestia says.

"...my best friend was on that ship!" A voice wept.

This erupted the crowd into panicked cries, as Lavender thoughts continued to explore her clouded mind and stayed far from the real world.

'...I know! I will think of some names for the baby! That'll kill some time!'

Snapping back into reality, but still unaware of what had happened, Lavender turns to see a bush of roses, bluebells, and some lilies. Taking a moment to let her creative mind wander, she concludes her search for the perfect name.

'Got it!' She thought.

Turning back around, Lavender finally notices the uneasy crowd.

"Wait...what..." She stutters, confused at the sudden change in the crowds emotion.

"Everypony! Please remain composed! I'm sure the situation is under control!" Celestia shouts. She turns to the Pegasus who brought the message. "Are there any doctors, or nurses taking care of injured?"

"Y-yes Princess. They g-got there as soon as they c-could." The Pegasus trembled before the concerned, and somewhat angry Princess.

"Where did it crash?"

"Right next to the village of Oldtail, in a forest your Highness."

"...you may depart."

And as soon as he arrived, the messenger was gone.

Lavender was still bewildered at the crowd. Too many voices could be heard to listen in, and Celestia stood like a statue, staring at the ground.

To avoid getting knocked over, Lavender slowly escorts herself from the frantic crowd, but quickly gets her attention taken by a crying mare to her left. She was sat on the grass.

"Is everything alright?" Cautiously asked Lavender, although the answer was most definitely yes, and about whatever the crowd was panicked about.

"Of course not! Didn't you hear the Princess!?" She wept.

"No, I didn't. And I was hoping somepony could tell me."

"The ship crashed! The New Promise crashed! And my brother was on it!" The mare breaks into a crying fit.

The moment the words came out of her mouth, Lavender was speechless.

She was right. She shouldn't have let Iron and Chrome onto the ship after all. Lavender stumbled back, caught herself, then lowered down to the ground. As her flank rested upon the grass, all the Pegasi in the area took off, like a flock of startled pigeons, to find the crash site.

Lavender faced the ground, the regretful tears rolling down her face to fall from her nose and cheeks, landing between the grass blades.

Part Four- Aviophobia

As the light from Celestias sun begins to diminish, Irons hopes of seeing Chrome hadn't changed. As he slumped his head on the tree behind, Iron thought. He thought about what would be worse, ponys finding Chrome dead, or not finding him at all.

Irons mind was in pieces. The things he saw, and the possibilities that swirled through his mind were enough to turn the calmest of ponys to a crazed panic, but Irons physical injuries prevented him from moving to full potential. When a bad thought or memory struck his mind, he twitched, and tried to move, which caused him pain, which in tern distracted him from the thought. A very painful cycle, which meant one thing.

The injection was waring off.

Irons chest was throbbing in sync with his heartbeat. The bruise that crossed his body didn't look good either, as the torn skin and hair around the bruise could be seen oozing tiny droplets of red blood.

But still, Iron waited. He waited for any sign, or any news about his son. If he could, Iron would be out searching for him, but the injuries he had obtained prevented that.

Time continued to roll on, bringing with it more injured, and dead. It was becoming dark, one could think the smoke from the New Promise had engulfed the area, blocking all light. Enough had leaked out of the ships interior to turn that from a stupid remark, to a plausible consideration.

The flow of time continued its ever saddening path. Iron still watched bodies being brought in however they could.

Iron became sensitive to the slightest saddening thoughts that happened to fill his mind. Like the fact that some complete strangers are searching for his son, and not himself, disregarding the solace of having someponys willing to even look for Chrome.

More serious thoughts gave way for terrible moments of grief, like how Lavender would react when she found out about the whole crash, and about Chrome, and his fate.

And most worrying of all, the fact that Irons unborn baby girl may grow up without her brother. Seemingly all because Iron couldn't hold onto Chrome tight enough.

"...it's all my fault..." He quietly wept.

He sheds tears of huge remorse. Iron didn't blame the crash. He blamed himself.

"...it's all...my fault..."

Interrupting his thoughts, and catching his attention, Iron spots Summer Breeze, accompanied by somepony. Assuming they were walking to him, Iron had a rush of adrenaline. As swiftly as he could, Iron gets up from the tree he rested upon.

"Did you find him?! Please sa-" Iron stumbles over a broken branch, falling onto the forest floor, landing right on his chest with a huge groan of pain.

"Iron!" Shouts Summer, once again rushing to his aid.

He desperately tried to get off his chest and giving his lungs space to breath, but the trip had temporarily immobilized him. All around the forest, ponys watched the broken Iron get lifted from the ground. He was the centre of attention. Doctors rushed over.

"Doc, have we got any free spots at a hospital?" Says Summer, gently helping Iron upright.

"I'm sure we have a space at..." The doctor flicks through a sheet of papers he had used to write down information. "...aha! There is a hospital at Ponyville with two spots available, but the trouble is getting there..."

"Have we any pony-drawn carriages?"

"...no...I must...wait..." Murmurs Iron.

"...I think there should be one by those trees." The doctor points to some trees behind Summer and Iron.

"...no!" Iron shouts, causing more pain in his chest.

"Take it easy, Iron. Thanks doc, we need to get going."

"I best go with you. He is going to need somepony to watch over his condition."

Iron began to weep. He could not stay and wait any longer. With that, they ever so slowly stumbled past the trees to the carriage. Climbing in, Iron sat next to a window, with the doctor in the seat in beside him. Summer had decided to stay in the forest and help out with gathering more injured. Just before the carriage could race off to Ponyville, another injured pony gets carried aboard by a doctor. Iron recognised the doctor, it was Rose Bud. The injured was a mare, and she was unconscious.

The carriage carefully darts through the woodland, passing the wreckage of the New Promise, a sight Iron didn't want to see.

"Are you having any trouble breathing?" Asks the doctor.

"Just...a little..."

"Any pain?"

"Yeah..."

"We will be at the hospital soon, there we can get a better understanding of your condition."

Iron kept quiet, watching the horrible sights that raced past the window. One sight was exceptionally heartbreaking. Two ponys had the task of gathering debris. One such panel was being lifted, and to their horror, there was a body underneath.

As quickly as it burnt itself into Irons memory, it vanished from sight. But quickly catching Irons attention once more, the doctor was checking for his patients pulse. The doctor soon started to proceed with CPR on the mare, Rose Bud and Iron watching over him. The shakiness of the carriage wasn't helping, but the doctors efforts weren't helping anything. A pulse wouldn't return. And Iron had to watch.

Sadly, a pulse never returned.

The night had fully taken over the sky. And as Luna's moon peaked above the trees, they arrived at Ponyville hospital. Iron stumbles with Rose into the hospital. He glances back, to see the body of the mare get taken from the carriage.

Iron gets admitted to a room down a short hallway. Upon entry, he sees Lavender, seated beside a hospital bed. Once she had noticed them, you could ser a smile about to adorn her face, but after seeing Chromes absence, she becomes even more sad than before.

"...Lavender? How did you..."

Lavender remains silent. Without further question, Iron walks to the side of his bed, and slowly rests on it.

"Where is...Chrome?" Asked Lavender.

Iron didn't immediately reply, instead tried to hold back the incoming emotions. With a deep breath, he answers Lavenders question.

"I...don't know..."

As the night rolled on, Lavender and Iron trembled in there spots. Like Iron had felt for long enough, Lavender had to endure the horrible feeling of being incapable of help. Only hope. Chrome was still in the cold, twisted hooves of fate, not in the warm, loving embrace of his parents.

Lavender reached over to hold Irons hoof, as he wept in his hospital bed.

"...honey..." Lavender says, failing to draw Irons attention. "...Iron, please don't think this is your fault..."

"...I didn't hold him tight enough."

"You did all you could..."

There was a brief pause, as Iron stares at the door in front of him.

"...I...I just want to...hold him again..." He whimpers.

Another pause takes a hold of the nervous room.

"...Iron...I just want you to know if they don't find him..." Lavenders voice breaks. "...or if...or if they find him dead...don't blame yourself..."

Iron and Lavenders eyes meet.

"...we will get through this..." Lavender cries. "...me, you...the baby..."

Iron had no words to say. He rested his head on his pillow, and closed his eyes. He didn't sleep, but his injuries had tired him out, and it was the dead of night after all.

The night rolls on. And the hospital was surprisingly quiet. Did they stop bringing in anypony?

Iron thought behind his closed eyelids. If they found Chrome, would they know to bring him to Ponyville hospital?

Lavender watched over Iron, seeing the tears fall from behind his eyes. They were both, however, interrupted as the sound of a carriage whizzed past the window, making Iron open his eyes. They listened as ponys brought in another injured.

There was a lot of commotion coming from down the hallway. Echoing voices could be heard.

"Where is Iron? I need to find him!"

This made Iron sit upright. That wasn't Summer Breeze, was it?

"I'm sorry sir, but you simply cannot see any patients at the moment."

"But it's important, doc!"

"It's important that you do not disturb him, sir. Here, let me take that colt off your hooves-"

"No! Not yet!"

Galloping hoofsteps could be heard through the hospital, getting closer to the room Iron was in. Iron started to breath faster, and faster. His mind raced at a million miles an hour.

Darting past the room Iron was in, whoever it was slammed his hooves to the ground, like brakes. Slowly walking back to the frame of the door, who the pony was became clear. Just like Iron had assumed, but doubted, it was Summer. He was carrying a colt on his back, kept stable by hid two wings, making a soft platform for his head. He quickly enters the room.

It was hard to see who the colt was from Irons angle, but Lavender was trotting over to Summer to inspect the young pony on his back.

"I got here as quickly as I could."

"...you...found him..." Iron says.

"I think so."

By the time Lavender reached Summer, so had the doctors.

"Sir, you simply can't..." One of the doctors says, stopped by the sight before him.

Lavender looked down upon the young colt, his mane and coat was messed, scars covered his body, and he had a huge bruise on his left hind leg. He was also shivering. The state of the young colt would tear anypony apart.

As Lavender rested her hoof on the colts chest, she felt how cold he was. As the warm hoof glided across his body, the colt slightly opens one of his eyes.

Although Lavender already knew who this was, the eyes confirmed her thoughts. His eyes were green, and were crystal-like.

"Is it Chrome?" Asked Summer.

Lavender took a few steps back, and looked at the doctors.

With that, the doctors snapped back into their normal selves. They take the colt from Summer, and rush him to treatment.

"...was it Chrome?" Asks Summer again.

Lavender swiftly grasps Summer. "Thank you so much for finding him!"

"You found him?!" Shouts Iron from his bed. "Is he alive?!" He had no way of knowing, his view had been mostly obscured.

"Yes he is!" Replies Lavender, practically suffocating Summer with her hug. "He is alive!"

"...you...you found him!" Shouts Iron.

"Yeah...I...did..." Whines Summer from the grasp of Lavender.

She lets go, running over to Iron. They would have shared a hug if Iron could.

"Everything is going to be ok! He found Chrome! He is alive!"

"Summer, thank you so-" Iron abruptly stops his thanks, Summer had disappeared. Did he just leave? Why? Iron had so much to thank him for, his sons life, and his own. But he had gone.

As Chrome is assessed, all Lavender and Iron could do was wait. Which they did for days. With more luck gracing them, Iron and Chrome got better surprisingly quickly. Well, with the medical advancements that came with the airships, that was guaranteed.

The three were glad at fates generosity, and Summers heroism. Chromes fate luckily didn't go with the New Promises, and many unlucky others.

There was only one thing to do now. What should be done with the Timeless?

Eventually, it had a sealed fate of its own. The sister ship was to be sent to Canterlot, and be locked away. Even though the ship is theoretically dangerous, they didn't see any justice to destroying it. It was a superb piece of engineering, towering over anything else pony-made. It needed to be remembered. The dead of the New Promise needed to be remembered.

The brave pilots who remained on the ground now had the task of flying the Timeless to Canterlot, which unwillingly they did. The sounds of the mighty thrusters were once a promising roar. They now strike as a haunting echo.

The Timeless cruised over to its new location: A huge hanger on the far side of Canterlot. It had been built for storage of these ships, but who new it would be used this soon?

The hangars mighty roof had been open since it had been built, giving the mighty Timeless an entry. As the huge landing gear touched the cold ground, the engines slowly, but surely, wind down to a silence.

Just outside of the huge hangar, peering inside were the remaining pilots and aeronautic scientists. They stood in silence, lost in their own thoughts on what to do.

Some thought they hadn't built a machine, they had built a death-trap. They had killed, and injured so many innocent ponys.

Others thought about possible improvements, and even why the New Promise crashed in the first place. Maybe it was the pilots fault, not the machines. Maybe with time, and some more aeronautics, they could try again. They knew, however, that the damage was done, no way would anypony want to see one of these flying again. So they kept their thoughts to themselves.

But what they all did was watch. The machine they once looked upon as the future, now remains bound to the past.

With their varying thoughts filling their heads, the roof of the hangar began to close. The sunlight that shone through was diminishing into a smaller, and smaller beam of light. Eventually, the only light the Timeless was graced with came from the front, but that was getting smaller, too. The huge hangar door was closing.

The last sight of the Timeless became obscured by the door, which was followed by the leaving of the scientists.

The future of aeronautical travel is practically in ruins. Even using simple tried-and-true methods like hot air balloons made everypony shiver. The whole event had scarred everypony from anything aeronautical.

With today being the day the Timeless getting locked up, it was also the day Iron got admitted out of hospital. Chrome and Iron were holding hooves, as Lavender was telling Chrome once again about the medicine he had been prescribed.

"-and that's the medicine you have to take, ok Chrome?" Asks Lavender.

"I know, mum."

After taking a few more steps, Lavender lets her mind wander.

To think that this very moment could have happened, but without Chrome. Instead of telling Chrome to 'remember to take his medicine', she could be walking with Iron. And only Iron, weeping on each others shoulders. If Summer had never found Chrome, he could still be shivering in the forest Iron told her about.

Letting het thoughts get the best of her, Lavender slows her pace of walking, eventually stopping, and stares at Chrome. Chrome notices this, and walks back to her.

"...mum?"

"Lavender? What's wrong?" Iron says, watching Lavenders eyes fill with tears.

All of a sudden, Lavender quickly reaches out to Chrome for a tight hug, and nests her head in his fur.

"...I love you so much, sweetie!" Lavender muffles through Chromes coat, breaking into a cry. "...I love you...so much!"

"...I...I love you too, mum." Chrome return the hug by wrapping his hooves around Lavender. All in all though, Chrome had no idea what to do.

As gently as he could, Iron joins the two in the hug. After letting go, they continue their walk home.

After getting home, and enjoying a well deserved meal, Lavender walks past a window, with a bush of lillys brushing it in the wind.

She remembered a similar bush when she was thinking of names for the baby. Iron walks past her, as she says "I have thought of a name for her..."

"...who?"

"Y'know..." Lavender rubs her slightly protruded belly. "...the baby."

Iron smiles, then leans over to Lavender, so she can whisper the name into his ear. "...hey Chrome?"

"Yeah dad?" He replies, taking a dish over to the sink.

"You know we haven't got a name for the baby..?"

Chrome nods, and Lavender smiles.

"How does...Metallic Lilly sound?"

"That's a cool name. Metallic Lilly..."

Part One- The Rise

A new age of technology has struck Equestria, giving way for improvements in everyday life. Everything pony-made you can imagine has either been improved, is getting improved, or is being debated on whether or not it should be improved.

With the populations of towns and cities in Equestria drastically increasing in the last three years, and technologies improving evermore quickly, new methods of transportation have been tested, with fairly good results. One of these being bigger boats and ships, to get to scattered islands on the coasts of Equestria, with extremely slim chances of sinking. Trains have also had a major boost in development, with more environmentally friendly prototypes being built, in replace of their steam-engine counterparts. Although these new ideas are all well and good, there is section of development that is miles more ambitious:

Air-travel.

Using old methods, you could only get three to five ponys in the air at one time via hot-air balloon, Pegasi-drawn carriage, or even just magic. Any more ponys on board than that, and you would struggle getting off the ground. This was an issue...an issue that was to be resolved.

A team of aeronautic scientists and mechanics are being considered to be the pioneers of aviation with their new project. Based on works of science fiction, and the math of science fact, they were going to develop an airship to conquer the skies. With all of the Princesses opinions and approvals, they made haste with their plans.

They called it, based on the promise of a new way to travel, the New Promise. With a considerable amount of math, tests, sparks money, and other numerous inputs it was finished.

It looked like something straight from the imagination of a child. It was comprised of two long thruster jets, mounted on top of either corner of a long steel body, pointed at the end. This is where the passengers and crew would stay. Underneath, there was a ln array of slightly smaller square thrusters for upward travel, and beside them lay three landing treads the behemoth stood upon. Along it's body were mounted red metal sheets for further protection and looks, shining when the sun struck them. Glass windows for admiration of the view dotted the craft. The back of the ship was flat, to give way for a huge red panel, that adorned the tag:

'New Promise: 001-001

One for all, glory be ours.'

To keep prying eyes from unveiling it, the test launch sites were in a remote desert somewhere. Many launches were initiated, for tests like overall flying, performance in bad weather, flying with the equivalent weight of about 350 ponys, and some being a mixture of them all. Each being as successful as the last. This got the team thinking. If they could build a second ship with the same techniques they used on the New Promise, then it should be as reliable.

So they got to work. And with haste, too. In an astonishing amount of time, the team had built their second ship. They didn't have to worry about the aeronautics as much as they did on the New Promise, because as long as they used exactly the same layout and design, it should turn out to be exactly alike.

And so, it was finished. Named the Timeless, because it was built so quickly, it stood next to it's sister in pride. The only differences between them were the colours, and their tags. The Timeless was blue where the New Promise was red, and it's tag read the words:

'Timeless: 001-002

Side by side, we ascend the skies.'

The same test were conducted, and all passed.

With some final adjustments, and numerous checks for safety, the ships were complete. Word was leaked of the ships, and everypony from the four corners Equestria wanted to see them. The decision of where to fly them though was brought down to one place. Ponyville. A good choice, as it's population isn't massively big. From there, one would journey over miles and miles of brightly colours hills, small settlements (and larger ones alike) and over bodies of water. Eventually returning to Ponyville, for the second ship to do the same journey. And after that, the two ships probably wouldn't stand in the same place again, seeing as the whole world would want to see them. That would mean more ships would need to be built, too.

With time, that isn't just possible, but probable.

It was decided that today would be the day to unveil the ships completely.

Celestia was being flown to Ponyville in her traditional Pegasi drawn carriage. She would be the one to announce the news. As the ponys on the ground saw her gold and white craft fly overhead, and Celestias flowing mane in the wind, their minds were drawn to it's destination, a small field just outside of the main town. As royal matters are important, everypony who saw her made their way to the landing site.

In a matter of minutes, a large curious crowd had gathered around Celestia.

On the far side of the booming crowd stood a family of three Unicorns. A tall standing father named Iron Essence, the slightly overwhelmed mother called Lavender Nova, and their son, Chrome Colours. Iron Essence had a spiked, dark gray mane and tail, with a murky gray coat and medium blue eyes. Lavenders mane was jet black, combed backward and curled a little around her ear. Her coat was a deep lavender, and her eyes were yellow. Chrome Colours was a mixture of the two. He had green, crystal-like eyes, dark gray spiked hair in a similar fashion to his father, but shorter, and his coat was silver with a lavender tint where sunlight struck.

Chromes eyes were glancing to and from his surroundings, frequently landing his gaze onto the crowd.

"Honey, you know I get uncomfortable around...crowds...can we stay back here...?" Lavender quivered.

"Relax Lavender, just stay close to me. You know Chrome is going to want to get as close as he can to the Princess." Replies Iron.

Chrome was oblivious to his parents conversation, as he was captivated by the equally captivated crowd.

"Dad, what is everypony doing?" He asks, as his line of sight lands firmly on his father.

"I actually don't know. But it must be important, so lets find out." Iron replies.

"Do you think it's about the airship?!"

"Don't be silly, Chrome."

"Aww, but that would be so cool!"

With Lavender cautiously holding onto Iron Essences hoof, they enter the swarming crowd of ponys. As Chrome climbed onto his fathers back to see, Celestia started to speak.

"Ladies and gentlecolts...quiet everypony." Silence struck. "I can see you are all very curious as to why I am here, and not announcing this in the usual podium at the town centre." That little detail had slipped everyponys mind. "Any way, I come bearing good news! I'm confident in assuming you all know of the airships in development?"

Hushed voiced beaming with excitement swirled through the crowd.

"I knew it! I told you, dad!" Chrome whispered. He always had a strange way of guessing things right.

Celestia continued. "Well I, my sister Princess Luna, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, and Princess Twilight Sparkle have decided Ponyville would be the perfect place for their first journeys." The crowd was buzzing, they had no idea there was more than one, and they would be visiting Ponyville. "Remain calm, everypony. As this is their first journeys, Pegasi and Alicorns alike are not allowed to use these airships until further notice."

The winged ponys were annoyed, but they stayed in the crowd. As the audiences volume slowly increased, Lavender Nova slipped her way out, giving out a huge sigh of relief. Her heavy breathing didn't subside though, as the ground began to very slightly rumble. The crowd fell silent, and one by one they stared up to the sky. Celestia, knowing the direction of the ships decent, turned away from the crowd to spot them. An atmospheric humming noise could be heard over the occasional chatter of the crowd.

"Look! Above the hills!" Shouts a voice from the audience.

And there they were, peaking above the hills. Their metallic bodies glistening in the sunlight, as it streaked down every panel. The fiery sheen, deflecting red light off of the New Promise, mixed with the dark mystic blue aura of the Timeless caused by the same effects lit the surrounding sky up like stained glass. They graced through the sky as silhouettes, their auras tinting them with pride of accomplishment.

The humming of the engines had increased into a gentle purr. Celestia stood proud on the rickety podium, as the amazing sight came ever closer to her. The purr of the four humongous engines had escalated into a roar, as the ships descend to land in front of the crowd. The pointed fronts of the ships had passed over Celestia, and began to cover the crowd. The Princess took a few small steps back, and who would blame her? Everypony else did, too.

All their eyes remained glued to the giants that floated in front of them. Dust and small, loose tufts of land flew from underneath the behemoths, as their landing gear sank into the grass blades.

"Wooaahhh...." The young Chrome was was lost for words.

Celestias mighty wings extend out of joy. "Behold, my little ponies, the Timeless, and the New Promise!"

With that, the crowd cheers to the heavens. Lavender had stayed at the back of the crowd, but she preferred it that way. The ships were too big to miss anywho. Chromes crystal-like eyes reflected the glistening panels of the ship.

The engines subsided to light hisses, and the ships were completely still, giving way for the crowd to swarm around them. All but Lavender, who remained content from her spot. Iron and Chrome had made their way over to her.

"Now, remain as calm as you possibly can around these aircraft." Celestia spoke. "Today, a vast majority of you will get the chance to ride in one of these. The New Promise, which is the red craft, will be the first to depart with its passengers. Once it arrives, the Timeless will depart with the rest of you. Upon its return, the ships will leave Ponyville to venture the entirety of Equestria."

"C'mon Lavender, lets get a seat." Iron says.

"Uhh...I think that wouldn't be best for you-know-who."

"...who?"

"Y'know..." Lavender rustles her fur of her belly. "...the baby..."

"Oh! Right, her. Sorry." Iron blushed.

"What was that dad?" Chrome asks.

"Nothing, bud."

"You should tell him about his sister." Lavender whispers.

"I know. I'm gonna."

"He is going to be so happy!"

"Mum, dad! Come on! We are going to miss it!"

"I have to..." Says Iron, gesturing over to Chrome and the New Promise.

"Yep! Go right ahead!"

As Iron runs over to Chrome, whom is running for the ship, Lavender shouts

"Stay safe you two!"

"We will!" Iron childishly replies.

A neat queue had formed either side of the New Promise. Iron and the exited Chrome were quickly next to board.

As the lucky ponys climbed aboard, they were greeted by a long wooden interior accompanied by one long red mat stretching to each end of the floor. The inside was also decorated with nicely cut roses in pots beside the corners. The interior was bathed in sunlight coming from the numerous windows. Looking down to the back of the ship, a staircase leading to the newly discovered second floor. Iron Essence had always appreciated and loved to wonder at interior design, as that is his job, but his attention was taken by Chrome, tugging at his leg.

"C'mon dad! Lets get a seat by the window!"

"Alright, alright! Lets go." Iron chuckled.

Getting a window seat, like Chrome hoped, he quickly settled down, and Iron joined him by his side. The two sat opposite a mare Earth Pony, who smiled at the sight of the excitable Chrome.

"You don't mind if we sit here, do you?"

"Not at all." The mare replies.

"This is the first time I have flown in anything...Is flying...scary?" Chrome asks Iron.

"Not at all. In a hot air balloon that is, but I'm sure this is just as safe."

Chrome, as any son might, completely puts his trust into his dad, and takes his word.

"Why didn't mum want to get on with us?"

"Well, she has a fear of heights..." Which was true. "...and one other thing."

Chromes eyes landed on Iron.

"What other thing?"

"...you're going to have a little sister."

"Really?!"

"Yep. She didn't want to be all scared about what might happen to it on the flight, so she stayed on the ground."

Chrome couldn't put a sentence together in response, so he sat in his chair, dazed at all that was happening.

"I apologise for overhearing you, but congratulations!" Says the mare in front of them. She had turquoise eyes, matching the streak in her puffy cerise mane and tail. Her coat was an icy white.

"Thank you! And it's no problem at all." Iron replies.

"That's quite alright then. These airships are absolutely sublime, are they not?"

"Yeah. They did a good job on this one, that's for sure."

The engines of the New Promise once again bellowed into life. All around the nicely decorated interior, the soothing vibrations from the engines could be felt.

"...surprisingly quiet, too." Iron adds.

"Indeed. My name is Cornelian Kiwi."

"I'm Iron Essence, and this is my son, Chrome Colours."

"Pleased to meet you both...so what brings you aboard?"

"Well Chrome, mostly." Iron chuckled. "Nah, I generally enjoy flying, and what better way than in a state-of-the-art airship?"

"Very true. I don't fly much, as I prefer train or carriage, but exceptions can be made. Like...now."

The vibration had got slightly more intense.

"...I don't suppose that means we are lifting off of the ground..."

"Look! Dad look we are taking off!"

The three ponys watched out the window as the grass the ship rested upon began to distort with the engines turning on. And with a sudden roar of power erupted from the thrusters on the underneath of the new promise. And with that, they began to hover. Everypony in the ship was cautiously silent, amazed at the happenings. Well, all except Kiwi, who was shaking in her hooves.

"...not a very good flyer, huh?" Iron asks.

"To say the least. I hate taking off in any kind of aircraft." Kiwi quivered.

"I'm sure it's perfectly safe."

Chrome was silent, observing the scenery of Ponyville from the best possible angle. The town began to get smaller as they ascended further. The thrusters for forward movement began to power up, and just like that, they were moving. They still gained elevation, but now with more of an angle. The very few clouds that surfed the bright blue sky were just mere metres above the New Promise. With more elevation amassed, the clouds were level with the airship, and suddenly a very light rumble came from the front of the ship that engulfed it's way down. They had pierced through a giant cloud. The ponys on the ground saw it like a knife, sliding through a giant pillow. Back inside, the white mist covered every window, as silence once again struck. The interior of the ship became dark, and rain began to streak down the glass. The droplets of water sounded like pellets striking a surface. Cornelian Kiwi was noticeably frightened.

"It's alright Cornelian, it's just a rain cloud." Iron spoke amongst the anxious silence.

Iron took tranquility from the rain. Whenever it struck the window of his house, he would always take a seat next to it and listen. It was calming to him, and now was no different. Besides being in a revolutionary new airship, of course. The rain bounced off the panels as sun pierced the cloud, making a small rainbow outside the craft. The light rumbling returned as they exited the cloud. And with the return of sunlight, came the return of Kiwis composure.

"You wouldn't think clouds are that big, would ya?" Asked Iron.

"Nope. They look so small from the ground." Replies Chrome.

"Say Kiwi, I don't think I have seen you around here. Are you visiting?"

Kiwi took a moment to catch her breath. "I was actually on a rather important business meeting here in Ponyville. I will be returning home to Manehattan once we get back."

"Really?"

"Yes. It's only for fashion, probably not anything of interest to you two." She continued regardless. "The owner of the Carousel Boutique back at Ponyville has always got something going on with fashion in Manehattan, so it's my job to schedule events between the towns."

"Makes sense, somepony has to do it. Me and the family haven't actually been here long either."

"Ah. So how are you finding this place?"

"I like it. It's peaceful, and has a nice, cheery atmosphere."

"True, true. How are you finding Ponyville, Chrome?" Kiwi had noticed Chromes eagerness to get in on the conversation.

"I like it because it's colourful, and everypony here is so nice and friendly."

"Have you made any friends?"

"Uhh...there is this girl at my school named Scootaloo that seems to like me. I don't know why though."

"It's 'cause your a charmer." Iron chuckled, nudging Chromes shoulder.

"Excuse me for a moment, I just need to check something." Kiwi finishes, she probably needed reassurance of safety Iron thought.

As Kiwi leaves, Iron continues the conversation. "So how is school, Chrome?"

The young colts head slumped, but he remained fixed to the window.

"...fine." Chrome groaned.

"You sure?"

Chrome slowly nodded.

Iron knew Chrome never liked school, so this didn't seem strange to him. Kiwi returned to her seat.

"Sorry about that, now where were we?"

"We were discussing our thoughts on Ponyville."

"Ah yes. So Chrome...?"

Chrome was unfased.

"...Chrome?"

Still no response, he stared down at the ground beneath the New Promise through the window.

"Is something up, buddy?" Iron asks.

Kiwi saw tears roll down Chromes cheeks.

"Aw, you're crying..." Kiwi says.

Iron put his hoof around his sons shoulder.

"Hey, hey what's up Chrome?"

Chrome wraps his hooves around Irons chest as Kiwi watched.

"...the kids at school keep bullying me..."

"They...bully you? Why?"

"...they bully me because I don't have a cutie mark..."

Chrome nests his head in his dads chest.

"They keep calling me names...names like blank-flank...and they make fun of me because I don't have one..."

"Well they should know better than that. It's perfectly fine not to have one, you just need some time to figure out your special talent."

"But I don't have a special talent..."

"But you do! Let me think...you are good at magic!"

"...every Unicorn in my class is good at magic..."

"...ok then...you are good at guessing what ponys are thinking."

"...that's not a good talent." Chrome remarked.

"I beg to differ. Kiwi, think of a number between one and twenty. I will too. Chrome, you try and guess it, ok?"

Chrome took his gaze from the floor, and landed it upon Kiwi.

"Have you got a number?" Chromes less than enthusiastic voice says.

"Umm, yes?"

Taking a brief moment to observe Kiwis facial expressions, and the look in her eyes.

"Sixteen."

He looks at Iron.

"Five."

"Did he get your number right?"

"...y-yes, he did."

"Likewise."

Chromes spirits remained unchanged.

"How...how did you guess?"

"You couldn't think quick enough, so you glanced over my dad to see the number sixteen on a panel on the ceiling. And for my dads number, that was obvious."

Iron looked at Kiwi with shrugged shoulders.

"He never tells me, either."

Chrome returns his gaze to the passing scenery outside the window.

"Cheer up, bud. There is plenty of time to figure out your special talent. It isn't a race."

"I guess. It wouldn't bother me if it wasn't for the kids at school."

"We will do something about that when we get back on the ground. For the mean time, lets enjoy ourselves."

With that thought, the three gaze out the window. Remaining droplets of rain streaked across the panels onto it. This was a mere failed attempt at a distraction, as the view was astounding. Hills cast ghostly shadows on their smaller counterparts, mountains acted like the walls of a coliseum, blocking certain entrances to Ponyville and other small settlements, trees lined sections of farmland that supplied towns rushed beneath them, and Celestias sun illuminated it all. The view of the New Promise from the ground looked amazing too. Like a huge metallic dagger drifting the endless sky. The first said dagger of hopefully many.