Author's Note

sorry for the delay between chapters. I make plushies and vend at cons for a living and got fairly busy with that. Excited to write more!

Hot Air Balloon Ride

King Calathea sat at the head of a long, golden table. Rubies lined the edge and along the entire surface was an intricately edged history of Skyros. It started on one end with an etching of an alicorn among the stars. Dragons, manticore, and other terrible creatures (according to the artist) below. The next image showed the alicorn landing on a star. The alicorn used his hooves to sculpt the star into a paradise that rose above all else. Fellow alicorn joined him in the land he created. They used their great wings to make a wind that kept the star traveling around the world. The penultimate image showed a thriving society blessed and chosen as the greatest. The final image was not as large as the others, being the most recent. It was added some millennia ago. It showed the alicorn that founded Skyros passing his crown to King Calathea. The king took his seat in front of this image.

The table was old, grand, and large. It could easily fit a hundred or more alicorn. Luna and Celestia took their seats at the right side of the king. If they had remained in Skyros, this would have been a place of honor they would have frequented. Luna took note their cutiemarks had already been carved in the seats with a raised eyebrow, a placeholder for a more permanent future fitting. Luna caught Celestia’s attention and motioned to it with her head. Celestia saw it and raised an eyebrow. Luna nodded and held out her hooves which was familiar to Celestia as an ‘I know, right?’ motion. She could not wait to be alone with her sister and Twilight to vent about everything later.

Speaking of. “Your majesty, where is Twilight Sparkle?” Celestia asked, looking around. Knowing this place, she hadn’t expected to see room for Twilight at the table, but at least in the same vicinity.

The King paused. “I had thought Opaline would have fetched that for you by now. I hope it hasn’t eaten all our good hay.” He stood. “Opaline!” He shouted above the chatter at the table.

“Yes, your majesty,” Opaline bowed.

“Fetch the purple one for us.” He clapped his hooves.

“When I went to seek her earlier, she was not where I left her. I suspect our customs and grand halls was too intimidating for the creature.” Opaline spoke plainly.

The King nodded. This made sense to him. “Well, there you are.” He said to Celestia and Luna as he took his seat. Luna and Celestia exchanged worrying glances. This was unlike Twilight. Had the treatment warded her off? Surely that couldn’t be it.

“Something isn’t right, sister.” Celestia whispered to Luna.

“Nothing is right in this place. Is this how we would be if we remained?” Luna sighed. “We can’t both leave to look for her. You have seniority here, you should stay while I give search., T’would be best for you to help the alicorn.”

Celestia nodded. “Handling day politics for so many moons, I probably have the better handle on things anyway.” Celestia laughed and Luna nudged her in playful annoyance. “Make haste, I have things under control here, and the sooner we finish,” Celestia looked to the carving on the chair, but didn’t finish her sentence.

Luna pranced off quietly. “Where is your sister going?” King Calathea asked, “We are about to begin!”

“Little mare’s room,” Celestia responded quickly, Luna shot her a dirty look. “That meal was quite more, uh, regal? than we’re used to down below.”

“Ah yes, it makes sense to me now,” he gave her a pitying look, placing a hoof on hers in comfort. “Well worry not, the two of you will be used to less mealy gruel soon enough.”

“Be seated, everyone. The meeting is to begin soon.” Blueregard held a bell above his head with magic, ringing it to get everyone’s attention. The room fell silent, eyes to the king.

“Every Alicorn, I’m sure you’ve seen our lost Sun and Moon have returned to us!” The table erupted into cheers and hoof stamping applause. “Yes yes, this is very joyous, BUT.” He stopped, looking around, pausing for effect. “We have received terrible news. Our beloved Skyros is no longer a shining beacon, a shooting star in the night sky to guide the peasants below, no it has come.” He took a shuddered breath. “Still.”

There was horrified gasps and a scream. “Say it isn’t so!” An aquamarine Alicorn with sandy hair cried out, tears streaming down her perfectly brushed fur.

“I’m afraid so. It’s how our beloved lost children were returned to us. Due to this even a risen commoner was able to reach our heights. Imagine what filth could come up here! Ponies wanting to see an ounce of our grandeur! And who could blame them? We are so magnificent.” The King sobbed.

“I am not quite sure that’s the problem here…” Celestia trailed off, rolling her eyes. More memories had begun making their way back to her and she found herself more grateful than ever she was raised on Equestria.

Outside Luna cantered through the halls looking about frantically. A light purple, almost pink alicorn with hair the color of the sun set low halted her progress. “Lady Luna, what are you doing here?”

Luna stuttered, “Uhh we were sent to retrieve our friend.”

She looked down the hall. “Oh you mean the foul smelling one? I saw her passed out in a room upstairs.”

“What!” Luna shouted. “You must take me to her immediately!” She caught herself and tried to regain her regality, “I mean please uhh, I’m sorry I didn’t catch your name.”

“It’s Sterling Bloom, but you can just call me Sterling.” She began prancing at an agonizingly slow pace.

“Please Sterling, do you mind if we speed up? I don’t wish to miss more of the meeting than I already have.”

“Oh has that already started? Why didn’t you say so!” The two sped up the stairs.

“Twilight, I hope you’re okay.”
——

“Wow, that was a lot to talk about.” Hitch sighed, taking off his badge and looking at it longingly.

“You don’t have to come with us, Hitch. I know you have responsibilities here. Miss Cloverleaf will understand.” Sunny stood, pushing the hoof with his badge back toward his chest.

Hitch considered. “Maybe it’s been my friendship with you, but I’ve felt those some feelings of mediocrity and sameness everyday. I’m better at ignoring them, sure, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t there.” He set the badge on his desk and pushed it away. “It was nice being sheriff for awhile, but this badge can go to your head.”

Sunny stiffled a giggle, “Well, I wasn’t going to say anything, but you did yell at at a child for dropping a gum wrapper the other day.”

Hitch groaned, “Oh why did you have to remind me?”

“Well, I guess this is it! I’m going to get my things. I’ll meet back with you here as soon as I can.”

“Take your time, I need to find someone to take this up for me.” He motioned to the badge.

—

Izzy was marveling at all the drawings taped around the lighthouse. “Did you draw all of these?”

Sunny laughed, “Yeah when I was a foal. I can’t believe my dad kept all of these.” It was nostalgic looking through all of them. She looked out the window and noticed the firmament above shimmer. “It was right there all along and I never noticed. Then again, would I even know what I’m looking at?” She sighed looking through everything for anything that could provide guidance on their journey. She supposed none of this would really help in the outside world. She did grab her father’s journal chronicling everything he’d taken notice of during his life. Maybe it was pure sentimentality, but she felt drawn to it.

Izzy meanwhile was bouncing around and touching nearly everything she could get her hooves on. “Ohh this could make a nice fountain! Oh that would be perfect for a cape for Alphabittle. Oh and this could would be perfect for that stained glass window I could never get perfect. And this…oops!”

“Izzy!” Sunny turned when she heard a crash. Izzy had backed into a tarp covering a bundle of boxes.

“Sorry,” Izzy sheepishly grinned as she stood up, “I’ll fix it.” Most of them were boxes that held papers and odds and ends. There was also a wooden crate labeled ‘tax papers’. As she carefully picked it up with her magic, she found it was lighter than expected for a box of papers. This caused the crate to soar through the air and crash to the floor.

Inside was filled with straw. Sunny’s eyes widened as what looked to be an egg rolled out. “What is that?” The surface was a green crystal that glowed dimly.

Izzy gasped. “That’s a dragon egg! I heard about them from Alphabittle. They haven’t visited Equestria in hundreds of moons.”

“This had to have been up here for years. Did my dad have this the whole time?” Sunny trotted around it, examining every inch of it. She held the back of her hoof to it. “It’s still warm. How has it not hatched?”

Izzy shrugged. “Nothing really makes sense here in your home. Maybe Miss Cloverleaf will know more.” Sunny scooped it up and settled it into her saddlebag with the journal, a blue drawstring bag marked with stars filled with bits, and her rollerblades. It stuck out the top and the flap didn’t fully cover it. She draped a quilt over it.

“I guess that’s really all I need. There’s food out there, right? And water?”

Izzy laughed, “Of course there is. You’ve got a lot to learn about Equestria!”

—

Hitch met the two outside the sheriff’s office. “How’d the replacement hunt go?” Sunny asked, shifting the weight of the egg on her back.

Hitch placed a hoof to the old building. “I have a lot of fond memories at this place, even if it never felt right for me.” He turned and they saw his badge was no longer on his utility strap. Instead there was some rope, carabeaners, and pockets filled with various tools.

“Oh, Hitch, you worked so hard for that.” Sunny’s ears drooped as she touched her hoof to his.

“Yeah, well, it’s time to work toward something else. Put the Trailblazer in my name to the test.” He sighed. “Sprout is in charge. I couldn’t find anyone else. But there’s never any crime here anyway, so…” he trailed off, unsure. “He’s really the only unemployed pony around.”

“Well, I’m glad there’s no crime here because that guy seemed…” Sunny shot Izzy a death glare and she laughed nervously, “like he knows his way around an office. Heh heh.”

“Alright if everyone is packed, let’s go meet Mrs Cloverleaf!” The three trotted together at full pace toward the giant building. They saw the hot air balloon lulling lazily to the side. “I bet she’s there!” Sunny went faster in excitement.

“Hello my little ponies,” Mrs Cloverleaf beamed. “I never thought this day would come.“ She pulled a scroll from her saddle bag. “This is a map of Equestria as it looked when this place was created. Unfortunately it’s probably extremely outdated, but it’s the best we have.”

“Thank you, Mrs Cloverleaf,” Hitch accepted the map.

“I’m glad the girls could convince you to come along. It’ll be good for you. You’ve always been too good for this place,” Mrs Cloverleaf smiled fondly. She turned to Izzy. “This is a charm for a unicorn horn.” She placed the leather strap with blue beads over Izzy’s horn. “I’m not sure what it does, but we have no need for it here. Please keep our earth ponies safe, dear.”

“You can count on me!” Izzy saluted.

“And Sunny—“

“Oh, actually, I found something.” She motioned to her saddle bag. “If you want to peak.”

Mrs Cloverleaf raised an eyebrow suspiciously and then did as she was told. She gasped and stumbled back. “Oh my! I’m guessing your father had this?”

“Yeah, we found it when I was looking for anything to bring with us.”

“Well, keep that hidden. Honestly taking that with you isn’t the worst idea, it does no good in here, but you need to be careful. Something like that could attract the wrong attention.”

“What is it?” Hitch asked, puzzled.

“Tell ya later,” Sunny whispered to him.

“Alright as I was saying, Sunny, this is for you.” Mrs Cloverleaf handed her a telescope with a green gem as the eyepiece. “It’s a magical item that will help you see the stars even on the cloudiest of nights. This belonged to your mother.” Sunny held the item, taking it in with quiet adoration. Mrs Cloverleaf opened the door on the basket of the hot air balloon. “It’s time. Be safe. Please help Equestria.”

The three climbed on board and Mrs Cloverleaf untied the rope from the ground. As the hot air balloon rose, Sunny looked down to see the town watching in awe as they flew through the sky. She saw Dahlia and Posey below looking up, mouths agape. Sunny waved and they waved back. Hitch and Izzy waved too. Everyone waved and stomped their hooves in a rhythm that caused a swell of courage. Any fear Sunny may have had left dissipated at the encouragement from the only home she ever knew.

The balloon was soon beyond the fields and approaching the wall of fog. As they pressed against it, Sunny could feel resistance, but the balloon broke through. The fog felt cold against her coat. She shivered, seeing nothing but grey in all directions. The moisture of the air stung her eyes. She closed them until she felt a light warming her.

“There it is!” Izzy cried excitedly waving at the two to look over the side of the basket. “Welcome to Equestria!”

Below them the grass stretched for miles. There were lush forests in the distance and what looked to be a settlement to their right. The sky was so clear and bright even if the colors of the grass was duller than Sunny had seen. Trees dotted the landscape including a giant one with a white trunk and purple leaves.

“Woah! Cool air balloon!” Sunny jumped at the voice. She saw a purple Pegasus taking in their transport as she flapped her wings to maintain altitude.

“Uhh thank you!?” Sunny said grinning awkwardly, trying to remain normal.

“Hey Izz, you know if Alphabittle is in?” The Pegasus asked.

“No clue, Aeri. I’ve been away exploring.” Izzy shrugged.

“Far out. Alright later.” The Pegasus drifted back to the ground and trotted at full tilt.

“WASTHATAPEGASUS??” Sunny gushed. Hitched laughed at her reaction.

“Yeah of course! I forget you’ve never seen one before. Aeri is pretty chill, but I don’t know her super well to be honest.”

Sunny watched her purple form disappearing as it grew further away. “You weren’t kidding about magic being weak. I’m guessing that’s why she had to run and not fly?”

Izzy nodded. “Yeah and it’s why I can’t do much magic.” Izzy shot a sea of stars out of her horn. “Oh my glitter!” She gasped. “I’m doing magic like I’m still in your world!”

“Do that again, I wanna see something.” Sunny asked. Izzy nodded and shot out a purple stream of stars that she danced across the sky. The beads on the leather strap lit up as did so. “I thought so.”

“What’s up?”

“The beads light up when you do magic. Maybe this charm will let you keep casting spells as if you were in Maritime bay!”

Izzy laughed in pure glee, painting the sky around them with colors and glitter. “Oh Sunny, meeting you is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.” She hugged her new friend and Sunny hugged her back, agreeing.

“So Sunny,” Hitch interrupted the moment. “What’s this in your bag?”

“Oh right!” Sunny pulled off the quilt and showed him the dragon egg. Hitch’s eyes lit up as he looked upon it. “It’s a dragon egg! My dad had it this whole time.” She noticed the egg glowing brighter than it had back at the lighthouse.

Hitch put a hoof to it. “That is so cool. And I agree with Mrs Cloverleaf, keep that hidden.“ he pulled out his map. Izzy glanced over his shoulder at it and giggled. “What?”

“Wow she wasn’t kidding about that thing being dated. Half of these places don’t even exist anymore.” She squinted around taking in there surroundings and then placed her hoof over a town called Ponyville and pointed toward sweet apple acres beside it. “This is where we would be, I think. That doesn’t exist anymore. Around there somewhere.” She pointed forward toward the settlement. “And that would be Ponyville. I’ve never actually been there before.”

“Well, I guess it’s a day of firsts for all of us. That seems like a good place to start for supplies!” Hitch steered the hot air balloon forward.