The Free Skies

Entering the tavern, Twilight is greeted by the cozy warmth of a crackling hearth and the soft murmur of early risers. The interior is a curious blend of rustic charm and mechanical precision, with brass fittings and polished wood accentuating the sturdy construction of the airship. The walls are adorned with nautical maps and exotic artifacts collected from far-flung corners of the world, each telling a story of adventure and discovery.

The central hearth, crafted from rough-hewn stone, crackles merrily with flames that lend a cozy ambiance to the space. Above it, a collection of gleaming brass pipes and valves hint at the intricate workings of the airship's heating system, a marvel of ingenuity and craftsmanship.

The furnishings are a mix of sturdy wooden tables and chairs, their surfaces worn smooth by the touch of countless hands and the passage of time. Plush cushions in rich hues of burgundy and gold provide comfortable seating, inviting patrons to linger and enjoy the camaraderie of their fellow travelers.

At one end of the tavern, a stage awaits performers who entertain with music, storytelling, and feats of skill, their talents adding to the vibrant tapestry of sights and sounds that fill the air. Sitting on the stage was a light blue unicorn with an almost silvery mane and tail, her cutie mark a wand with a shimmery veil seemingly coming from it.

Above, a series of intricately carved wooden beams crisscross the ceiling, their craftsmanship a testament to the skill of the artisans who crafted them. Lanterns hang from their wrought iron fixtures, casting pools of warm light that illuminated the space below and lent a sense of intimacy to the tavern's atmosphere.

Behind the bar along the back wall cleaning part of the bar would be a familiar face. Unlike the last time she saw him, he was no longer a pudgy, short dragon. Instead he was taller than her, thin but with toned muscles under his purple scales. Green spines ran from the top of his head, between a pair of horns and down to the tip of his tail. Hearing someone come in he looks up saying, “Twilight. Nice to see you again.”

Twilight gives him a smile and nods, coming up to the bar and sitting on a stool. “Yeah, nice to see you too, Spike.”

Spike walks over to her, wiping his hands with the towel he was using to clean the bar. “So, what’cha here for?”

Twilight sets the old book down on the counter, causing the dragon to raise an eyebrow. “Well, I was hoping I could get some breakfast and maybe some stories you’ve heard recently?”

Spike chuckles as he turns to put an order on a ticket for Twilight. “Still fascinated, eh?”

“You can’t blame me for that, Mr. ‘I-want-a-story-for-bedtime’.” She leans forward against the bar, giving him a smile. “Had me telling the same one so many times I can still recite the whole thing.”

A cup clatters against the counter before Spike catches it and puts it back in its place. “H-had to bring up that embarrassment, did you?”

Twilight shakes her head saying, “I didn’t mean it in a mean way. Just a bit of teasing.”

Spike stood there for a few moments before sighing and turning to give Twilight a smile. “Still an awkward bookworm. Sure, I can share a few. Though can you stay for that long?”

“Given that I got rid of the lazy ones like Blueblood and Fleur, and have a schedule set up for the next seventy-two hours, I think the others can do without me for a few hours.”

“Yeah, I heard Blueblood complained, but Celestia shut him down with so much evidence of sloppy and lazy work he didn’t have any sort of defense. I assumed you had everything to do with that.” He shakes his head. “Can’t believe you’ve been Head Bosun for the entire flotilla for five years.”

Twilight smiles. “Speaking of which-”

“Yeah, yeah, I haven’t forgotten. I’ll pay you the hundred before the tavern makes its last call tonight.”

“Thank you, Spike. Now, about those stories....”

Spike chuckles and shakes his head. “Well, there’s been word that someone managed to steal a frigate from Griffonstone’s Agri-flotilla.”

“Impressive, but not really worth being a story.”

“Okay....” Spike paused, searching his memory, “A Scout was seen leaving Kludge Town towing a fighter with Storm King insignias on it.”

Twilight frowned. “That’s... more concerning than anything. Heard where the Scout was headed?”

Spike would shrug and continue, “The Everfree Flotilla got a new creature that they traded for from the Mt. Aris Agri-flotilla.”

She shakes her head and says, “That isn’t really a story.”

“I also heard that there was some sort of trouble from the Crystal Empire Agri-flotilla, though there hasn’t been any communications since then.”

Twilight dismissively waved a hoof, “Please, with all the Magicite that’s around there, it could be any number of mundane things.”

“Oh! The Discordian’s Tail Diver Class had some curious goings on during their last dive.”

“Oh? Like what?”

Spike smirked at that and continued, “Like shadows moving when they weren’t supposed to, secondary systems shutting off suddenly, several alarms going off for breached rooms, only they weren’t touched at all. Also, store rooms that had been filled from a certain area were found to be empty once the ship surfaced.”

Twilight, unknowingly, switched into a lecturing tone, “All of that separately doesn’t really mean much, I mean, they dive into the Storm regularly. Things going haywire are expected. Plus we don’t really fully understand the Surface Storm even though there have been people all over the world researching it, so shadows moving isn’t anything outside of what we think is possible while in the Storm.”

Spike waved a claw, “Ah, but there’s one eyewitness that changes the whole story. An Abyssinian by the name of Capper claims he saw a certain shadow through the Storm’s clouds. One that’s been presumed destroyed, yet no trace of it has been found.”

“Order up!” A call came from a window in the back wall, a plate of fried eggs, toast, and hashbrowns resting in the window.

Twilight sat in frustration as Spike went and picked up the plate, getting a glass of orange juice as well before setting the meal in front of her. “Terrible timing for that. What was the ship this Capper saw?”

Spike chuckles and hands over a fork and knife which Twilight takes in her magic. “We see the same shape every day.”

The fork would pause right in front of Twilight’s open mouth as she felt a cold rush go through her. I-It can’t be, she thought as she stared at Spike. After a few moments she shook herself and said, “T-that has to be a lie. I mean, wouldn’t the storm....”

“Hard to believe, but he was adamant about what he saw through the clouds with lightning lighting it up, even said that it came close enough that he could make out words on the side. ‘The Moon’s Shadow’.”

Another cold rush traveled down her back, her eyes moving to stare at the old book she brought with her. Among its pages she remembered reading the story of how Equestria’s second fleet and its flagship had been lost. “This has to mean that She was searching for something. Something from that area. Dammit, what could She be looking for?!”

Spike chuckles and pats Twilight on the shoulder. “Who knows, could just be something of sentimental value. Don’t worry about paying this time, I got it.”

Twilight barely heard and acknowledged what Spike had said, deep in thought as she ate her now cooling breakfast, her thoughts racing with this new information.