Beloved adventurer and explorer Atlas Sky-Charter, is dead. He died in Baltimare the day before yesterday, taken by Tatzl-flu contracted in uncharted lands past the Dragon Kingdom.
He was one of the finest Equestria produced. In the history of exploration, he will hold a certain position of prestige and admiration. His many adventures have delighted both the public and the Crown. He had many friends, and he was the enemy of very few — if any. But his character and feats were too remarkable, and his chivalrous merits too indubitable, to pass from the stage with the simple announcement already given.
He will be mourned by many, including one daughter Blue Yonder, left in the care of her aunt.
Eight years later -
It wasn’t often that Blue Yonder found herself without excitement when landing in a new port. She could see the Vanhoover airship yard growing closer as the clouds drifted by and sighed softly, a sound of ennui. Looking down at The Freebird, Blue couldn’t help but remember her Aunt Vapid.
The young pegasus mare had stole away in the night and bought the airship in a desperate attempt to get away from her aunt in Canterlot. - “More like Can’t-erlot,” - Blue thought to herself. Now there was a place Blue was certain she’d never return. Escaping that crazy old mare’s clutches to search for the greatness she knew she was destined for, was an act that had gotten her denounced from Vapid’s care. Not that it mattered, she’d rather be bitless and floating to nowhere on her ship than be held prisoner by her Aunt, to be treated like a dress-up doll with no say in her life.
Noticing the distance between her and the shipyard rapidly closing, the pegasus carefully guided The Freebird into the city's mooring. The ship was heavy with supplies from the neighboring country of Yakyakistan. Supplies that, through careful trading, should net her enough bits to to fund a comfortable trip over the Celestial Sea all the way to Griffonstone. Firmly anchoring the airship in place, Blue hopped over the deck and headed off down the dock. Whistling a half hearted tune, the adventuress wondered what this harbour might hold for her.
Blue Yonder sighed softly and scratched behind her ear. She glanced from the bag of bits that had been shoved unceremoniously into her hands, back up at the earth mare who had put them there. The mare stared at her expectantly with wide, nervous eyes, her ears flattened against her skull.
“Puff is it? We have an extra room below deck you can stay in, though it's a bit cramped so pack light. It gets very cold when we reach peak altitudes and especially at night, so you’ll need an extra blanket or two.”
The earth pony nodded her head gratefully, staring up at The Freebird in awe.
“There is also limited space onboard in general, as you can see” – the steel blue pegasus gestured back towards the ship – ”The Freebirds a bit on the smaller side. I can take you to any destination you have in mind, provided you are willing to help around on board.”
Puff continued nodding her head, thinking about the near future instead of the rundown being given to her.
“We’ll also be leaving first thing in the morning. I expect you on deck and ready to go by then.”
The earth mare nodded one final time before waving goodbye for the day and wandering off towards a stall selling various items.
Blue yawned once, then twice before making her own way back towards her ship for the night.
Swiftly trotting between stall after stall, Puff couldn't believe her luck. Finally she had found a pony with an airship willing to take her aboard. Sure, there were the cruise liners, but those cost an arm and a leg. The other more private ships had turned her away either because of her lack of wings or experience helping equine an airship.
She had been staying in Vanhoover for quite some time now, arriving shortly after completing her schooling. The young mare had decided that she wanted to see more than just the town she was born in. She wanted to - no, needed - to paint the beauty one could only come across while travelling the world. Shortly after arriving in Vanhoover she managed to procure a hotel room - if it could even be called that - and sold some of her paintings off, making good coin.
Procuring the means to travel with said coin however, proved much harder. Happening upon Blue Yonder and her ship was pure luck. Soon, she'd be travelling outside the borders of Equestria, painting rare and exotic sights. Puff couldn’t stand the excitement of her thoughts and smiling wide, let out a tiny squeal. The vender in front of her coughed, quickly snapping Puff out of her reverie.
“Fine linens here! Saddle Arabian silks and cottons all the way from Somnambula, only fifty bits per blanket!” the stallion hawked from his stall. Puff snorted, fifty bits for a blanket!? Biting her lip she shook her head no and wandered off towards the next, hopefully more reasonably priced vendor. Happy she only had to stay in her dingy hotel room for one more night, she thought about buying some candied fruits as a thank you for the kind airship captain. Much to Puff’s delight, there was a fruit stand not far from the hotel.
“Hm, let’s see, some pineapple, dried mango, OH! And a whole jar of those cherries please!”
The vendor quickly nodded her head and started scooping the chosen items into tins while Puff placed some silver bits on the counter. Satisfied with her purchase, she made her way back to her room, humming happily along the way.
Hurriedly packing away all of her possessions before bed, Puff couldn't help but smile. The thought of a dream coming true would give her pleasant dreams all night, and when she awoke she was going to run back to that airship and never turn back.
Author's Note
This is my first time writing and I'm super excited to see how this goes. Please keep critism constructive :)
