Anonymous in Nu-Questria

A lingering feeling of anticipation hangs in the air as the ship is prepared for launch the following morning.

Ponies don’t make ships with hand rails. You make do by leaning against the low outer wall near the top deck of the stern. You grip the edge of the wall, waiting for something to happen. The mooring cables to snap. The balloon's frame to collapse. The ship to suddenly lose power and fall.

Spanner Sparks, however, maintains her signature, professional composure on the ship. She is the only pony wearing still wearing a hard hat and that makes you nervous. She repeats a routine you’ve seen her do several times now. She places a level on the center of the deck. Then she leans down and stares at the small bubble inside with only one eye open for a few seconds.

“Hey, we’re still a little light on the port side, there, Hitch!” She shouts as she raises up her head.

Hitch trots up the gangplank holding another burlap sandbag in his teeth. He makes it to the port side and begins tying the sandbag to the bunch hanging just below the side wall.

Zipp has been fluttering around anxiously, checking various things on the ship. You see her lips moving like she’s rattling off a checklist in her head.

Izzy and Pipp are sitting on the opposite end of the stern from you. They seem relaxed and casual. Pipp keeps taking selfies with Izzy and looking at each one right after its taken. Izzy keeps making different poses and weird faces, eliciting some giggles from Pipp.

Hitch finishes tying the last sandbag and he walks towards Spanner. At the same time, Sunny crests the gangplank and steps onto the deck.

Spanner repeats her practiced routine. This time, she raises her head up and gives a confident nod.

“Is that it? Do we have everything?” Sunny asks excitedly.

“Well, yeah, I ‘spose so!” Spanner says and smiles at both of them.

“Aha! Yes!” Sunny says and does a little hop and spin.

Zipp swoops down and hovers.

“Now, Spanner?” She asks, still looking a bit anxious.

“Do it to it, pegasister!” Spanner says with a salute at her.

“Alright.” Zipp says with a nod. “Releasing front mooring cables!”

Zipp zooms around to the front of the deck. A few seconds later, the loose cables tied to the front of the deck hit the hangar floor with an audible clang.

The ship keeps hovering in place. It doesn’t list to the side or tilt. You realize you were holding your breath without thinking. You exhale.

“Back cables!” Zipp shouts as she flies past you in a blur. You hear two more loud clangs at the metal latches of the back mooring cables hit the concrete.

Zipp quickly swoops up and makes a graceful, weightless landing on the deck. She trots towards Spanner and gives her a nod.

Sunny looks back at the stern. “C’mon everypony!” She says with a wave of her hoof.

Pipp and Izzy excitedly stand and begin to trot up towards the front of the deck. You follow, trying to keep a sure footing as the ship underneath sways ever-so-slightly in the air.

The ponies all filter into the bridge. You duck in after them and stand in the control room. The floor-to-ceiling windows at the front look out into an expanse of beautiful, virgin sky. A thick shelf of sun-lit clouds extends into the faded blue horizon. The spires of craggy stone mountains poke through here and there.

You feel a shiver run down your spine. This is it.

Sunny walks up to the control panel. Iridescent light flows into it through glass tubes that come out of the floor. The panel is white and gold with green glowing accents on the controls.

She takes a breath, throws her braid over her shoulder, and reaches out a hoof towards the throttle.

She hesitates, then looks back at you and the others. The ponies beside you either nod or lean forward with anticipation. You feel nervous and put your hands in your pockets, yet all of you wait with baited breath.

Sunny grins. She turns. She gently pushes the throttle forward.

The quietly whirring engines of the ship raise in pitch and the ship begins to gently drift ahead.

You see sunlight begin to creep its way over the golden figurehead on the bow. Then it flows down the wooden floor of the deck. You glance to the side to see the massive open doorway of the hangar scroll past you.

“Ah!” Pipp exclaims as the airship clears the doorway and glides out into the fresh mountain air.

Izzy is bouncing with excitement. Hitch gapes and smiles as he looks all around. Spanner takes off her hard hat and and looks like she might be tearing up. Zipp can hardly contain herself, her wings splay out with fervent passion. Sunny confidently places her hoof on the ship’s wheel and tilts it to the port side.

The ship makes a slow, graceful turn. It points towards the morning sun. Sunny levels out the wheel and leans forward to check the heading.

“We’re on our way!” Sunny says. She spins and smiles wide. The ponies all cheer.

Zipp rushes out of the room and leaps off the side of the ship. She appears again as she circles around to the other side, spinning and twirling through the air with reckless abandon.

Pipp giggles and skips out to the deck, her puffy wings fluttering with every hop. Izzy rushes out at a near gallop, and Hitch follows suit.

You see Sunny step away from the control panel. “She’s all yours, Spanner!” She gestures a hoof at the controls.

Spanner walks up with a grin and immediately examines what appears to be a magic-powered altimeter. She starts fiddling with some dials to prepare the craft for its gradual descent.

“Thanks again for letting me do the honors!” Sunny says with a cheerful sway.

“Oh, don’t mention it. You ponies go enjoy!” Spanner says. “I’ll holler if anything comes up.”

Sunny walks towards the door. She glances up at you and flashes an excited grin as she walks past. She trots onto the deck, and you follow her, ducking through the doorway again.

Hitch, Izzy, Pipp and Sunny all lean out over the starboard side wall and gaze in blissful wonder. They cheer as Zipp rushes past again.

You make your way over and crouch near the wall. You look out over the Equestrian landscape through a window in the clouds. There are miniature hills, tiny trees and little fuzzy patches of flowers sprawling all around.

It’s beautiful. A little diorama of paradise. Yet it produces a powerful ping of nostalgia that hurts somewhere deep in your chest.

You glance at the ponies, their eyes still alight with splendor. For a moment, you feel a bit envious that you cannot take part in their little sightseeing excursion with nearly the same passion.

Ah, oh well. It’s good to see them happy.

You decide to hang out for a bit, just leaning against the wall for a while as the ponies get their fill of gawking at everything. They wander around the outside of the deck and lean out over the walls.

It will take a few hours to get to Bridlewood, the first stop on the one day tour. Then after that, it’s off to Maretime Bay, where Sunny is scheduled to attend a press conference in the late afternoon.

You might as well find something to do to pass the time. Maybe check out the galley?

You raise up and stretch a bit. You walk casually towards the back deck. The patchwork canopy ripples and shifts above you as the wind rushes past.

You feel something run into your leg and nudge you as you walk. You glance behind to see Sunny looking up at you with a tiny smile.

“Hey, Anon. Can I talk to you real quick?” She says.

“Uh... sure” You say. You rub the back of your head.

Sunny trots up to the door leading to the crew quarters and lower decks. She opens the door with a hoof. You grab the door and hold it open as she steps inside.

After ducking through the door, you follow her into a short hallway. A series of porthole windows lets in a generous amount of sunlight to the interior of the ship. The old, elegant wallpaper is peeling and ripped in some places. You close the door behind you, and Sunny turns around.

She has an expression of warmth and compassion on her face. Something about her sea-green eyes is very striking.

“Hey... sorry to pull you away from everypony else.” She says. “I just I wanted to tell you that... I’m really glad you’re here.”

Huh. You feel a twinge of elation.

“Ever since you came back to us, you’ve been an amazing friend. You’ve helped us so much with all you’ve done. And, well... I just feel like we should stick together, you know?” She says and smiles awkwardly.

“Uh... well...” You say.

You don’t really know what else to say. You expected her to ask you something about the ancient past, or to explain something you’d need to do. You didn’t think she’d... praise you.

You rub your arm. “Um... thank you, Sunny.” You say. You feel incredibly awkward.

Suddenly, you see a mass of lavender purple and cobalt blue appears in the porthole window just behind Sunny. Izzy presses her face to the window, her eyes bulging and her mouth hanging open.

You nervously glance at the window, then back to Sunny.

“Listen. If you ever need me... I’ll be by your side, okay? That’s my promise to you, hoof to heart.” Sunny says.

She leans back and places a hoof on her chest. You glance at Izzy, who is now fogging the glass with her breath. Ah, screw it. It’s just a friendship thing. You should be glad.

You place a hand over your own heart “I promise to do the same.” You say. You give her a small, genuine smile. “Uh... hand to heart.”

She smiles wider and stands up straight. “Alright! Great!” She says, “I’ll leave you alone now, Anon.”

She smirks and walks past you. “But be warned. I wanna see you on the deck when we get to Bridlewood!”

She giggles cutely as she opens the door and steps out. The metal door slowly closes by itself when she leaves.

You look back at the window. Izzy is gone. You sigh a breath of relief, but-

WHAM. The door slams open. Izzy’s hoof is sticking through.

“Ooh~!” She says as she trots into the hall. “What was that about~?”

You shake your head and cross your arms. “Izzy... please.” You say.

She suddenly rears up on two hooves, almost reaching your eye level. She leans a hoof against the wall and stands. She has a smug expression and a twinkle in her eye.

“Don’t.” You say curtly.

“Don’t what? Huh?” Izzy says, bobbing her head around. She pokes your chest with a hoof.

You purse your mouth and lift your chin. You look down at her over your nose. She crosses her forelegs and imitates your pose. A lingering smile creeps across her face.

“Don’t-”

“So you gonna fuck her or what?” She says.

“Ugh...” You groan, uncrossing your arms and slouching.

Izzy bursts out laughing. She holds her belly and leans back against the wall.

You turn away and try to ignore her, but you can’t help but smile a bit. She slides down the wall as she starts to calm down.

“You shouldn’t say ‘fuck’ Izzy... it’s weird.” You say.

“Well why not? You say it all the time! Fuck, fuck, fuck!” Izzy says.

You start to walk down the hall, and you hear her hoofsteps follow close behind.

“Yeah, but I’m not a pony. It sounds unbecoming of a pony to swear.” You say.

“What? Ponies be coming? That’s really lewd, Anon~...” Izzy teases.

You involuntarily snort. You let out a long, frustrated groan. Izzy giggles at this. Something tells you she won’t drop this topic for a while.

You turn the corner and continue down the hall to the back stairwell. Yet it’s strange. Something about the playful ribbing feels sort of... comforting. Like she’s telling you not to worry about it in her own Izzy way.

“If I make you a sandwich will you shut up?” You ask her.

“Depends! If I show you an orange doughnut will you eat it?” She says with a snort and a giggle.

Ugh.