The Skies Belong to us!by enamisChaptersChapter 1 - Sky Ho!Chapter 2 - TreePortChapter 3 - Shadows of the Past (1/2)Chapter 4 - Shadows of the Past (2/2)Chapter 5 - Waking WorldChapter 1 - Sky Ho!Chapter 1 - Sky Ho! “Mhaaaaaaaaaain!” A raspy voice hissed as the headwinds scattered the sound. A creature of gray whit eyes of bright green, dressed in a small red vest pulled back. Clutched in its giant claws was a big, bright amethyst. “OH, NO YOU DON’T!” A small purple figure shouted and leaped forward, tackling the gray creature. The two rolled forward across the deck and slammed into the door leading to the quarters. Another being burst through the doors whit its golden eyes burning whit anger. “What do you dumb-flaks think you’re doing?” The figure whooped and opened its brown wings out of instinct just to look more intimidating. “Heee ssssstarted it!” the larger being hissed in defense. “No I didn’t you hay-licker! That was mine since the last raid!” the smaller protested. “SHUT IT!” the third boomed. She folded her wings and ran a claw through her white feathers. It was odd seeing a griffon out of its pack, especially on a skyship no-less. This one was a unique specimen to say the least, whit a coat of warm, ochre brown and eyes whit a cold golden hue whit purple markings highlighting them along whit the tips of her ruffled feathers. She sighed and rubbed her temples. “Alright you pony manure, let’s take it from the top. What is this about?” the griffon snapped, her anger becoming very noticable. “Thissss pathetic excuse for gem hunter insssists that this is his, when its obviousssly mhain!” the larger being hissed once more. In addition to its ginourmous claws he had a large jaw whit jagged teeth meant to crush rocks or even bones. A tail resembling a spiked club impatiently swayed from one side to another. His sharp claws slowly scratched against the gem in impatience. In addition to the red vest he wore a simple collar lined whit sharpened diamonds and a bright alabaster gem signaling his rank. “Shut your hay-hole you stupid diamond dog!” The smaller creature spoke. Whit a body of purple and scales along its back in a shade of bright green the small dragon stepped in. From his back sprouted two awkward lumps that were supposed to grow into wings. The dragon cast a deadly gaze whit his green eyes. The diamond dong didn’t bother. After a moment of silence and intensive groaning, the griffon finally spoke. “Listen, I have enough migraines already and the weight of keeping this flying piece of buffalo-crap in the air doesn’t help. If you two dumbflanks dont shut it...” The griffon’s eye twitched as she stared down her two crewmembers. “I swear to Cadence I will throw you overboard once were in the STRATOSPHERE!” she shouted in all her griffon might as she placed her sharpened talon at the dog’s neck. “Now give me the gem and don’t utter a single peep or... It. Will. Be. Your. Last...” The diamond dog gulped and shakily handed over the amethyst and instantly skidded away as fast as its tiny legs could allow. The dragon just stood completely paralyzed. “Spike?” “Yes captain Gilda?!” the dragoon dubbed Spike shouted in terror and saluted in front of his captain. “Tell Rover to choke on a crap-bucket. And by that I mean he’s on poop-duty for the rest of the moon.” Gilda calmingly said as she turned around to walk inside. “My pleasure Captain!” Spike saluted once more as a devilish smirk formed on his face. His bud’ was soooo going to get it! “Oh and you’re on deck duty scalewad.” Gilda flashed a sly smirk before slamming the door shut whit her tail. Spike stood on the rickety deck whit a disappointed expression. Well… He thought to himself. At least I'm not stuck on poop-duty! He laughed and walked away to rub it in Rover’s face. “Mom what’s the matter, you look angry?” A small orange filly walked by and saw the griffon whit her head on the table. “Idiots…” Gilda the griffon groaned. “Oh… well then... I’ll be up at the crow’s nest, ok mommy?” “Go ahead squirt.” Gilda lifted her head to meet the filly’s pale purple gaze. She gently tousled the little pony’s fushia mane as they both smiled. The pony happily strutted away as anger had already lifted from the griffon. Something about those eyes… she just loved them… just like she loved her lil’ Scootaloo… “Cap’n?” A voice interrupted Gilda’s happy thoughts. She looked behind her and saw an equine whit a black chitin shell sporting a pair of arctic blue eyes whit no pupils and frail insecticide wings. The creature wore a pale black triangle hat whit a blue outline. Two large fangs poked from its mouth. “Sup’ Checks?” “Why did I allow myself to be named like that…” “Cuz we saved yer’ hole-ridden flank, that’s why! And besides, Checkers isn’t a bad name, it sounds a bit like ‘changeling’ doesn’t it?” The black creature sighed and seemingly rolled its eyes, but you couldn’t really tell. “So what’s up anyway? It’s not like I was having a midlife crisis or anything.” Gilda mocked. The changeling let out an annoyed sigh. “You sigh too much.” Gilda stated. Another sigh. Jeez… “So just tell me what do you want? I still need to do a thing or two around here.” “Our food’s running low, Gilda. Thankfully we stocked up on clear water back at the Valley, but we’re going to have to go on a raid soon.” “Sounds fun, anything on our way to Morr’ock?” “You mean Talos?” “Talos, Morr’ock, what’s the difference, it’s the same place.” Gilda closed her eyes and lay on her back on the long bench. “It’s preferred to call it Talos since the crew consists of mostly uneducated idiots…” “Sure their retards, but what smart pony would want to follow another to the end of the world and back?” Gilda smirked. “True.” The changeling sighed and sat down at Gilda’s feet. “C’mon Checkers, what’s wrong?” Gilda got up and sat next to her sad-looking first mate. “It’s just me and my morals Gilda, don’t bother…” “Oh? Those again? Geez, will you ever get over it?” Gilda added a chuckle to her arrogant smirk. Checkers looked in her eyes and the smile faded. “Listen Check’s…" Gilda stretched out her arm and notably placed it around the changeling's shoulders. "It doesn’t matter who you are or where you are or what you're doing and ether its right or wrong... because your whit a family. Your family... No one cares about anything and at the same time we all care… have you ever had a real family Check?” “You know how drones are born and raised…” “Riiight…” Gilda fell quiet. They simply sat there until a sudden flinch from the griffon. Gilda turned her head and laid a small peck on the changeling’s cheek in the speed of light. A blink of an eye later the door slammed shut and she was gone. Checkers sat there for a long time absorbing the delicious love that filled the air around him. Only for him… it something more than just food… “ALRIGHT SKUNKWADS LISTEN UP!” Gilda ran along the railing before jumping and digging her talons into one of the moorings that connected the ship’s hull and the reinforced balloon. That was her usual announcement point. She flapped her brown wings as she stood there for a couple of seconds. The crew quickly gathered. Scootaloo slid down the pole of the crow’s nest and crashed into Spike that was walking by. From deep within the engine room Sparkler and Dinky emerged whit a thin layer of coal dust covering their faces and bronze goggles hanging from their necks. Out of somewhere Rover peered out, you could practically see the stink-lines. Vinyl finally left her usual post at the front of the ship to join the crew. All that was missing was Checkers but Gilda didn’t worry about him that much. “Alright ya scurvy ridded sacks of flesh, we got’s a new assignment!” Gilda roared in her usual medium-loudness. The crew mumbled whit anticipation. “So, Check’ dropped me a note saying we’re gonna starve to death pretty soon.” The crew gasped. “Just kidding!” Gilda laughed. “But no, seriously, we’re gonna be out of food before we get to Talos so any of you dimwits know a good place for a raid?” The small pale purple unicorn filly whit a dirty-blond mane and an oil stain on her cheek by the name of Dinky pushed through the small crowd and looked up at her captain. “What up Dinkster?” “I’d say PonyVille I mean its on the way and-” the filly started. “DINKY!” Everybody looked back to see Sparkler whit a disappointed grin. “What did you promise mom, young lady?!” Dinky shrank in her shoulders a tad and looked away slowly dragging her hoof around and about the deck’s worn wooden planks. “No raiding PonyVille…” the filly mumbled. “That’s right Dink’s. No.” Sparkler looked up at Gilda and the look in her eyes ended that argument. “How about we just drop by a visit and not raid our hometown, eh? They practically shower us whit gifts anyway…” Spike suggested. Gilda rolled her golden eyes in slight annoyance. “It’s not going to be fun, but fiiiiiiine!” the griffon grunted. The crew smiled. “On one condition.” The smiles went away. “We get to raid the next town of my choosing.” The griffon smirked. “…Fair enough...” “...Yea I guess so…” “…I wonder what the CE are doin’?…” “…God, I miss home…” “…Mommy here I come!…” The mutual agreements brought a smile to the grumpy griffon’s face. She stretched out her giant wings and positioned herself head-down. “ONWARDS AND UPWARDS!!!” Gilda roared as the entire crew suddenly began to cheer. “Thunder and Lightning!” She continued as the entire crew took their positions. Scootaloo climbed back up to the crow’s nest and whipped out a brass telescope. Spike ran down to the engine room to ignite it whit his breath. Dinky took Checker’s place at the wheel and calibrated the course for their hometown. Rover, Sparkler and Vinyl ran to adjust the sails and ‘wings’ as they had grown to call them. “I SAID THUNDER AND LIGHTNING!” Gilda roared once more and took flight. She landed on the tip of the bowsprit and let the wind rustle her feathers. “WINGS AND STEEL!” The crew shouted back. Gilda smiled. “ONWARDS AND UPWARD CUZ THE SKY AINT’ OUR LIMIT!!!” she roared as the skyship gained momentum and sailed onwards. To adventure! Chapter 2 - TreePortChapter 2 - TreePort The wind brushed his sides as Checkers the changeling stood at the skyship’s bowsprit. They were on their way to PonyVille, a town his friends called home… except for him… A foreign traveler, outcast from his hive, nearly killed by his Queen the changeling had almost died of starvation… save for one griffon that stepped in and twisted the threads of fate. One griffon… by the name of- “Gilda!” Checkers turned his head to see the one who was breathing on his back. None other than the ochre brown griffon whit highlights of purple. “Geez, you scared me!” “Something’s on your mind Check’s... Come on, spill the dam beans already, I'm starving!” Gilda the griffon laughed and climbed right next to her changeling friend, dangling on the side of the bowsprit by her sharp talons in an awkward angle that nearly defied gravity. “I'm fine!” came an annoyed response. Gilda dropped her smile and looked at the changeling whit a bored expression. “I'm FINE. I just need to clear my head, is all.” Gilda rolled her cold-golden eyes. “If you wanna’ be like that, fine. At least do me a favor as the only other flyer of this dam ship and go ahead and make sure they don’t blaze us out of the sky, alright?” “‘Course…” Checkers sighed. “And get rid of your sighing problem. Now GO!” Gilda suddenly shoved the changeling making him topple off the bowsprit and into the wild blue skies. As Checkers regained his balance whit a pair of frail wings sporting a hole or two, he was accompanied by a round of cocky laughter… then a screech and sound of scraping wood. Gilda was never the one for balance. Checkers smirked and pressed onwards to a place he should call home. Checkers flew and flew, fields upon fields of apple trees, and ponies upon ponies picking them, rushed underneath as the changeling darted forward. His little insect wings buzzed as he weaved through the hoards of scattered clouds. Ever since the dawn of steam the pegasi no longer bothered and simply let the skies run wild. Checkers loved it. Just as he came out from behind a cloud he a saw a sight most exotic for his glacier blue eyes. A metropolis laid in the small valley at the foot of Sun’s Rising. Chimneys and factory exhausts stretched high into the sky as skyships and balloons marched onwards through clouds. The city below his hooves bustled with activity like ants in an anthill, reminding Checkers of his Hive. Cars and carts and ponies of all sizes and ages strummed in the streets. Checkers took a deep breath and flew onward. As he broke through a small cloud that coated him in droplets of cool dew, he was caught off guard by a congaline of magical flames. The small embers stopped him mid-flight and began circling around the changeling. Shades of blue, white and green twirled around him before a voice crackled like an intercom. “Formabat vicissitudinis Culex pipiens Equinae, identify yourself. Over.” “Checkers, last name-nugatory. Race: North-western Everfree changeling, unofficially non-hostile. First mate of skyship Equinox - series number: 44532-9-24325. All legal actions withheld in the airspace of the city via permission from Celestia of Equestria and Council of the Elements. Permission number: 89454448. Equinox requesting access to land at TreePort in roughly o-point-30-minutes. Over.” “Roger, roger, permission granted. Over.” “Confirmed. Over.” The flames stopped circling and suddenly blasted away thorough a thick cloud in another congaline. Checkers rolled his eyes and sighed, taking off into the city. He took a few deep breaths and dragged the tip of his hoof counterclockwise around the holes in the other. That had always relaxed the changeling, no matter the situation. “Curse this new technology…” He managed to mumble before his voice was overpowered by noisy machinery of the metropolis. Checkers bolted through the city avoiding forklifts, enormous cogs, the occasional carriage and other various objects he couldn’t even name. The deeper he went the more sky the city occupied. Reaching high beyond the clouds, skyscraper after skyscraper dotted the landscape. And to think - only four years ago this was but a measly town nopony (and defiantly noling) knew about, boggled Checker’s mind. In the speed of light he managed to duck under a moving bronze arm lifting something up into the sky. He cursed it whit words in his native tongue, but you knew the guy was bad to have your foals hang around. ‘Nazzachras’ was a cuss, right? Checkers flew onwards, taking loops and loops around every skyscraper he could see just to waste some time. He wasn’t in the mood to go back to Gilda, that griffon knew how to persuade him… And at the point where he was now, he didn’t want to spit out something he’d regret two seconds later. After all, besides the ship and the crew… he had nothing… The changeling sighed and spotted a clock tower. Whit an easy glide he found himself perfectly perpendicular to the tower. He smirked. That was his favorite advantage of being who he was. He could sit, sleep, or stand on any surface at any angle without worry. Fun. Checkers closed his eyes and took a deep breath of the stench of the city. You could argue, that too much fresh air was bad for you. He smiled for a moment before he let a frown stretch across his face as he loudly sighed, letting go of the air he was holding in. His brow furrowed just a bit as he lifted his hole-ridden hoof to his head. He lazily adjusted his pale-black hat and just as he was about to withdraw his hoof, it glided over a small stump on his forehead. Checkers sighed. He closed his eyes and began to draw circles on the spot where a curved, slick, black horn was supposed to be. It wasn’t there… “You are disgrace. Not a drone, nor a commander. You disgust me…” His Queen’s words ran in his head. Checkers clenched his teeth. An outcast… what else? He wasn’t even a changeling anymore, unable to transform: useless… His Queen had been right, then why had he resisted? A spark of rebellion, or was it something else? Maybe… l- “Hey Checkers!” Dinky greeted her black fried as he landed next to the ship’s wheel. The skyship had entered PonyVille airspace several minutes ago and was now steadily weaving through the skyscrapers to the heart of the metropolis. TreePort. “Hey Dinkster.” Checkers softly spoke and ruffled the filly’s mane. “Dinkster? Is that like my new name or something?” The filly giggled and pushed his hoof away. “Maybe.” Checkers smiled. “Seen Gilda?” “Nope. Maybe Scoot knows though? Oh, can you tell Vinyl we’ll be eating in town tonight, my poor gut cant handle anymore flowery grub…” the filly shuddered and flinched, accidentally twisting the wheel and making the ship sway to the left. She quickly managed to avoid collision whit a window-cleaner and get back onto course. She tugged a lever on her side and that opened the ‘wings’ on the skyship’s sides angling their descent. Dinky tapped on a small, spearhead-shaped gem on a small stand next to a collection of levers. “Spike. Do. You. Read. Me?” She spoke in a monotone voice. “I can hear you Dink- *HSHHH* -y, loud and clear.” The voice of the teenage dragon echoed through the gem. There was another hiss and a crackle of flame. “Spike, I want you to give a big burp and then come up, we’re nearly there and I don’t want to rip off another branch like last time.” Dinky tapped the gem and the light went out. “Well, well, young missy’s planning to take my place, eh?” Checkers joked. Dinky giggled in response. “‘Course I'm not Check’, I'm an engineer not a pilot!” The filly offered a heartwarming smile and giggle. Checkers smiled back and felt the warm feeling of a childhood crush litter the air around. He couldn’t help but lick his lips and take a deep breath. “If you eat so much love you're gonna get fat!” Dinky mocked whit a laugh. Checkers shook his head and chuckled. He tousled the filly’s mane one more. “You’re a sweet kid, Dink’s… Tell ya’ what, I’ll let you park the ship while I grab all the hoofs on deck.” “Right-o capt’n!” Dinky saluted whit another giggled and went back to the wheel as Checkers fluttered down to the lower deck. “Now, a little to the left. No, left! Ugh! Your other left!” Dinky shouted as the two flyers angled the ship at the dock. For a filly her age, Dinky had nearly stuck the landing whit amazingly little property damage. Though, it was still a little bit off… Rover made sure of it. The diamond dog was so eager to leave the ship, he’d jumped just as the branches of TreePort were in reach… those were just branches… The bloody idiot had nearly plummeted down to death if it hadn’t been for a quick thinking Gilda, who caught him just in time. Now the poor idiot was sitting in a corner shaking his tail off in fear. The ship’s hull gently bumped into something signaling that the parking was surprisingly successful. Just as that thought crossed Gilda’s mind two sets of feet heavily landed on the dock. Sparkler and Vinyl used their super-magical-unicorn-powers and quickly managed to tie the ship down. Spike pushed out a small footbridge and climbed down, followed by the rest. Gilda fluttered up to the dock and began a small march in her signature-‘obey’ way. “Alright. We’ll be in PonyVille for three days while me, Vinyl and Dinkster stock up on everything we need, alright? Ya’ll can go running around and do whatever, just for Celestia’s sake don’t make me pay jail fines this time.” Spike and Rover shuffled nervously. “Gilda, you know the dude stole my drink and Rover’s lady…” “First off, you were drunk, second, nopony believes that your technically 18, and thirdly, you didn’t have to sent the poor sap to Celestia via dragonfire.” Gilda facetalon’d. “Now, for the love of Twilight get lost!” Spike shrugged and walked away. “Oh, and I'm locking the ship’s fund.” Spike froze mid-step. “C-can I borrow three bits then? I need to buy some flowers.” “For what? Lil miss Wawity?” Gilda mocked, drawing a few shy giggles from the crew. “No.” Spike stomped his foot and clenched his claws. He glared back whit mixed emotions and determination gleaming in his emerald eyes. He whispered. “For Twilight.” Gilda’s face turned to surprise and then softened. The giggles came to a sharp stop. The crew gave a few sympathetic looks. “Oh… Well, umm… *Cough*…” She ruffled the feathers at her chest and pulled out a silver bit and two copper ones. She threw them over to the young dragon and gently smiled. “Get a big one.” So I have a small challenge for my readers. If you can figure out the code Checkers spoke of at the first half of the story you'll get a cookie. Hint: The numbers are letters. Chapter 3 - Shadows of the Past (1/2)A/N - These next two (maybe three) chapters will be mainly focused on how the crew got to this point, aka backstory time! This will be the main SAD bit of the story for awhile. Chapter 3 - Shadows of the Past Pt. 1 Gilda slowly climbed down the staircase lining the outside wall of the giant hollow tree, followed by her crew. Spike had run off ahead and the rest were a bit skittish about what to do, after all, it been nearly two years since they were home. Gilda gazed upwards. Staircases and drawbridges lined the upper-half of the tree, slowly winding down to ground level. Ponies, dogs, griffons and other beings filled the walkways, going about whit friends or carrying supplies or simply running around looking for loved ones. The entire area bustled whit activity like no place she’d ever seen before. Just as Gilda squeezed past a charade of diamond dogs carrying sacks and barrels of items up to the branches of TreePort she saw something very familiar. The griffon, took a few more steps forward before awkwardly tripping, but she was luckily caught by a pink hoof. She looked up and saw... a blue eye… still full of energy even after all this time. “Hey Gilda, long time no seen huh?” The dull pink mare spoke in a kind, swayed voice, whit a hint of sorrow and at the same time laughter, shinning through. She tilted her head as she helped the ochre griffon get up on her feet, and her straight pink mane fell over her face like heavy curtain. “A long time indeed… Good to see ya’ again Pinks’...” Gilda smiled and wrapped her talons around the pony into a tight hug. “So… where’s the party cannon, eh?” Gilda joked as she withdrew the hug. “You know I'm not that kind of mare anymore, Gilda.” The pony brushed her mane out of her face and smiled a serene smile. She began walking as her cyborgian hoof let out a hiss of high-pressure air whit every step. Unlike most amputees she seemed to treat the bronze attachment like it was her own flesh and blood. The spring let out a few squeaks and the small pressure dial dotted from one side to the other whit every step and hiss. The mare walked over to the group just as Dinky bolted through, right between Vinyl’s hoofs. The filly stopped just in front and began bouncing up and down, her goggles constantly smacking her in the chest. “Hi Pinkie!” she squeaked. “Pinkamena.” the mare corrected. “Sorry, Pinkamena. How’s mommy doing?” “Like always ya’ lil’ tyke.” Pinkamena tousled the filly’s mane with her one good hoof. She looked over to crowd and saw a familiar black figure and a familiar orange filly. She smiled and slowly blinked her blue and her blank eye before stretching her hoofs out for a hug. The orange filly squeaked and bolted forward whit her little wings buzzing. She rammed into Pinkamena and squeezed the mare tight. Pinkamena’s blue eye watered as the hug finally gave out, the little orange filly, Scootaloo, sadly smiled. “It’s good to see you again Pinkie…” Scootaloo whispered before walking over and nuzzling Gilda. “Yea… good…” Pinkamena whispered as she got up. She looked up at the crew and smiled. “You guys look starving. Head on over to Sugarcube Co, everything’s on me.” “You heard the mare, do whatever you want today. Tomorrow we’ll get going on the business end, alright?” Gilda gave an indirect command as she hugged Scootaloo a bit closer. Mutual nods of silence came from the crew as they began walking past Pinkamena, exchanging a small hug or a smile. The group cleared and all that was left standing was Gilda, Scoot and Pinkamena. The pink mare slowly nodded and Gilda lowered herself to Scootaloo’s height. “Moma’s gotta’ clear her head, kid. Go meet your friends, I'm sure the clubhouse’s still there. Pinkie’ll pull some strings, I'm sure.” The griffon smiled. “Alright mommy.” Scootaloo smiled and laid a small kiss on the griffon’s beak before tacking Pinkamena into another hug and walking away. Gilda smiled and spread her wings. Spike clutched the small boutique of flowers a bit closer. He had aged quite the bit since last time he was here. His claws had grown out and doubled in size and length, making him look a bit like an orangutan. The scales on his head and spine hand turned sharp and slick, his teeth had grown out and become stronger, more durable. He blinked his green eyes getting rid of the moisture at the very corners. He took a step forward. “Gilda?” The griffon stopped in the air just a few hoofs above the ground. A familiar voice came from behind. The griffon turned to see a chubby yellow figure whit a soft pink mane. The griffon shook her head and landed in front of the yellow pegasus, as her memories of the equine flooded back. “Oh! Hey uhh… Butterfly…?” “Fluttershy.” “Whatever, I never imagined seeing you here. Ever since four years ago I thought you’d be the first to leave, take off to like, Appaloosa or something.” “Oh, I considered it, but just couldn’t leave my home and I simply couldn’t take my little animal friends whit me. Besides, they’d buy my dear little cottage and tear it down for a skyscraper!” Fluttershy expressed her disapproval in her never-changing soft and shy voice. Gilda smiled. She still remembered the few moths in flight camp they had together. After all Fluttershy was the very best friend of Da- Spike walked along the thin gravel path. Both sides of the path were dotted with flowers of all kinds along with the occasional bench and rows upon rows of pale gray stones whit various engravings. He seeked only one. As he walked further, whit the boutique still clenched in his claws, he came to the bottom of a small hill. The teenage dragon looked up and took a deep breath. He lifted his foot and placed in on the lush green grass. “… and Sweetie comes by every day, I just knew she was going to be a wonderful singer!” Fluttershy smiled as she and Gilda trotted along the street. “I bet Scoot’s gonna be real happy to see her again, and that other filly, whatever her name was, too.” Gilda smiled before turning to a frown. She looked over to the pegasus and took a deep breath. “You feeling alright? It seems you’re having a hard time walking…” “I'm fine, Gilda.” Fluttershy smiled. “Oh! I completely forgot to tell you! Me and Mac are going to be parents!” “…And now! The world’s first flying unicorn!” she chanted and turned to face the crowd whit a beaming smile. She waved her hoof and stepped backwards- Spike shuddered. The words still rang in his head as he scaled the small green hill. Just as he reached the top he was greeted by the dying sun’s warm kiss. It was twilight, his favorite time of the day… and his bestest friend. Spike slowly placed the boutique of flowers in front of a pale gravestone. Chapter 4 - Shadows of the Past (2/2)Chapter 4 - Shadows of the Past Pt. 2 Gilda stood dumbfounded as she looked at her smiling friend. That had really caught her of guard and she had a hard time letting that information process. I mean, for a good observer it would’ve been somewhat obvious but Gilda was never the one for that sort of thing. The gentle (gentler) attitude, the ‘no fluttering even if you’re a pegasus’, the swollen stomach. It added up. Gilda shook her head. “Congrats.” She managed to muster up in her typical tone. Fluttershy just smiled and kept walking forward. “It’s nice to talk to an old friend, Gilda, but it’s not why I asked you to come along. I need a favor.” Pinkamena took her pale hoof off Scootaloo’s eyes. Just as the filly regained her vision tears shot up from the depths of her eyes as she saw a pair of fillies she hadn’t seen for well over two years. “GIRLS!” Scootaloo screamed and jumped forward tacking the two white fillies into a cluster of a hug. “Scoot’s! Oh. My. Gosh. How long has it been?!” one of the fillies cried out. “Yeah! It’sff been sof long!” the other added. The three giggled as the squeezed each other tighter. Next to Pinkamena, leaned against the far end wall sat another filly. Pale purple whit a dirty blond mane. Both of them smiled. “Do you think Scoot’s can breathe?” Pinkamena chuckled. “She’s been through worse.” Dinky giggled. “Hey, uhh, Pinkamena?” “Yea?” “I-I never asked… who made your leg?” Pinkamena lifted her blank eye’s eyebrow and looked at the innocently smiling unicorn. After a few moments she broke into a few dry chuckles. “I made it myself, kid. Rarity helped out a bit on elegance, but everything else was mine. Sure Twi’ probably could’ve made it better but… well you know the rest…” Pinkamena offered a small smile as the filly dropped her eyes. “Sorry for bringing that up Pinkie…” “It’s alright kid… I don’t mind tearing up a few old wounds for ya’. I have to say, I'm surprised you still haven’t got your cutie mark, a filly as smart of you could run for president.” Another round of dry chuckles. “She reminds you of her, doesn’t she?” “Who?” “Scoots.” “… Yea… yea she does… But I try not to dwindle on the past. I’ve done enough of that already…” Dinky slowly blinked a few times before resting her head against Pinkamena’s fuzzy chest. “I want my old mommy back…” “I want the better times back… but we can never have what we want, kiddo… That’s just how the world works.” Pinkamena closed her eyes and let the filly quietly sob in her chest. We all want the better times back… Spike quietly sat on his knees as the sun died below the horizon of the lush equine plains and the city behind him lit up the night’s sky, rivaling the stars themselves. He never cried. Now was never. Tears slowly rolled down from his emerald green eyes as he stretched out his claw. He placed it on the top of the pale gravestone, stroking the lifeless rock like it was a newborn foal. He gently ran his finger through the simple engravings. A majestic six-point-star was etched on the plainest of stones and next to it was a single dot… waiting the other four to join… Spike nibbled at the moss of the stone before lifting his claw to his face and whipping away the tears. The cool night’s breeze rushed by, turning the straws of grass into a serene orchestra. A cricket chirped just as the very last rays of the golden sun vanished. He was alone. “You will never be a problem, no matter how big you’ll get… Because… One day eventually… You will live as a dragon and fly away… But don’t worry… B-because I’ll still love you…” “Spike?” The dragon flinched and turned his head around to see a pale, slender figure. The figure smiled and its clear blue eyes shined through the darkness. It-she, took a step forward as her short, ruffled mane fluttered in the wind. “You came to see her before you came to me…” The figure spoke in a hushed voice. “Sorry, I just couldn’t… I had to-” Spike began before a soft white hoof pressed against his lips silencing the apology. “You made the right choice…” The figure softly spoke before removing her hoof and leaning in for a kiss. Spike weakly smiled before brushing the figure’s purple mane out of her face and locking their lips. The mare of his dreams… Rarity… Checkers had laid his head on the table hours ago and he hadn’t moved since. Opposite of him sat none other than Sparkler and slowly munched down cupcake after cupcake. The changeling had watched day dwindle into night as the ponies of the city went about their lives. Even if Sugarcube Co was on every other corner, this one was special… It used to be the original. Used to... Checkers sighed and looked upon the stack of sweets in front of him. The advertisement hadn’t lied, the special ingredient really was love. Sugar flavored love… he hated sugar… “It was nice of Pinkamena to treat.” Sparker sparked up the first conversation in hours. “Yea… it was nice of her… more generosity than laughter in my opinion.” “You know everything fell to pieces four years ago… then again you weren’t there… nether was I…” A veil of silence fell over the two. “Why didn’t somepony save her? Why didn’t she save herself?” Checkers lifted his head and looked into Sparkler’s lavender eyes. “Somepony tried… and she didn’t succeed… She used her last spark to save her… to save my mum…” Sprkler clenched her eyes shut. “She didn’t do a very good job then…” Checkers mumbled. “No… no, she didn’t. She gave me and Dinky a lifetime of misery… But I don’t blame her… not the slightest bit.” Sparkler looked back up at Checkers arctic blue eyes. For once in a long time, a smile didn't grace her lips. Spike sat alongside Rarity as they looked upon the stars from the small green hill. Somewhere behind them, behind the metropolis, the moon climbed the sky. Spike had his claw on Rarity’s white hoof. They hadn’t broken the bond since the kiss. The first kiss in two years… Spike sighed and leaned against the mare’s shoulder only to find something cold and hard draped around her neck. “What is that?” He quietly spoke as he ran his claw through the engravings of the golden object. The neckpiece ended with a large heart-shaped gem right at Rarity’s chest. “Don’t you remember? It’s the very same fire ruby-” “-I gave you… yea… yea, I remember… I didn’t think you would…” Spike looked up, his emerald eyes glowing in the dark. “Element of Loyalty, dear. So I can have a piece of you with me… always…” Rarity smiled and her blue eyes glimmered in the darkness. They slowly placed their foreheads together and closed their eyes. “I miss her Rarity, you have no idea…” “I believe you Spike… No matter how close Flutters and I were, she was always my best…” “…” “They say one mare can’t change the world… Guess who proved them wrong.” Rarity smiled. “Was the cost worth it…?” “She will go down in history, dear, she started a new era, a new dawn… quite opposite of her name…” Rarity quietly giggled and looked up into the sky. Just as that a single comet whizzed by, burning up the atmosphere in seconds. Beautiful. “Remember how we went stargazing so many years ago?” Spike smiled and skidded a bit closer to the pale mare. “How could I forget? I wished that my most successful fashion line would be a one-hit wonder… it was…” “Yea? Well I wished that I could get a kiss from you.” Spike smirked. “Guess that wish came true tenfold.” Spike turned to Rarity and the mare kissed him on the forehead. He smiled for a moment, before fading into grieve once more. “So much, so very much, has changed…” “Oh Spike…” Rarity sighed and leaned forward slowly bonking her forehead against the dragon. Small tears ran down his cheeks. “Look at it, look at PonyVille… where is that simple little town where we came, to make friends? The town where everypony knew everypony… the town where TreePort was just a library…” “Things change Spike…” “Not the way their supposed to!” Spike snapped and shot up on his feet. He kicked the ground before walking over and sitting against the pale gravestone. He sighed and laid his head against the cold stone while slowly running his claw across the engravings. He didn’t have to read them… he knew them by heart… Twilight Shinning Sparkle Element of Magic, Celestia’s First & only Protégée Savior of the Known World, trice A wonderful friend & genius mind Bringer of the Era of Dawn, an Era of Innovation 984 NM.M. - 7 R.o.L. “You simply can’t put the sum of her life on a rock..." Rarity walked over to the pale gravestone and sat next to her love. "It’s too great and too long for it. No matter how many biography books they’ll write about her, none will ever due justice… and once the rest of the Elements fade… there’ll be none to tell her story…” Rarity sniffled as her mascara ran down her cheeks. She shuffled a bit closer to Spike and looked at bright and bustling city. “Things change Spike, I can’t say I like most of them but… you just have to make do with what you’ve got…” “And what if you don’t have anything anymore…” “… Then you make something out of nothing, dear… That’s the magic of this world…” “…” “Let’s head home Spike, shall we…?” “I don’t feel like going back to Equinox…” “I mean home Spike, home, not ship, home…” Rarity smiled. Spike got up on his feet and serenely smiled. He turned to help Rarity on her hooves and gave one last look at the stone. “I love you Twi’… don’t forget that without your number one assistant around…” Spike whipped away a tear before turning around and simply walking away. Vinyl slumped down the street, her head hanging low, as she dragged along an empty cup of hard cider. She’d left her shades back at the ship and just kept trudging forward. This used to be her home… still kinda’ is but…! OH, WHO the heck was she kidding!? This was no longer her home, she didn’t have a home… ponies always asked why she ditched her fame for a life in the skies she didn’t belong to… FAME?! That wasn’t fame it was hell! Deep within Vinyl’s heart a turmoil showed its first flame. The mare snarled at herself. She was nopony but a washed-up DJ that's who... “I hate you! I don’t want to see you anymore!” Her voice still rang in Vinyl’s head. She stiffened her jaw desperately holding back tears. She used to tell herself that every single night, that she wasn’t worth it, that she, herself, deserved better… always before crying herself to sleep… She was a failure… On their own, Vinyl’s hoofs stopped before a place she used to come to every single day and night, sitting, staring at the small, elegant statute spewing water downward in an endless loop. Her bright red eyes didn’t want to look up… they still did… “You always run, you never want to just sit and stay put for more than a millisecond!” Before her stood a life-sized statue made from gray stone. A mare whit an elegant mane and a small bow around her neck holding a cello… Vinyl slumped forward resting her chin on the cold, stone wall of the water basin. She looked forward to see hundreds of coins shimmering under the water. “It feels like you don’t love me anymore…” “I do…” Vinyl whispered to her memory. “I still do Ink's…” Vinyl sniffled as tears ran down from her bright eyes. She closed them. “It just isn’t working out, ya' know… and I… I can’t say I'm the Element of Honesty when it comes to love…” She opened the door. “I won’t say I’ll miss you... But at least now, you don’t have anywhere to run… Goodbye Vinyl… I still love you.” The door closed. “I love you too.” Vinyl turned away from the lifeless rock that reminded her so much of a living, breathing being… still out there, probably not even remembering a particular white unicorn… “To the end of the world and back… just to get you Inky… You’d be worth it…” Vinyl whispered before lifting her hoof to her tear-soaked face. A tiny red streak lined the bottom… it had come from an instrumental string… Unwittingly Vinyl felt herself falling into unconscious, right there at the statue. A single glimmer shone in the night… a golden plaque red: Inkarella Octavia Philharmonica Pie, Greatest Cello player of the Era. Loving wife of Vinyl Scratch, To prove the world that loving another mare isn’t a sin. Chapter 5 - Waking WorldChapter 5 - Waking World Gilda leaned against a small post just on the edge of the worn dock of TreePort. Night had befallen on the metropolis, a glimmering starlight, like diamonds, lit the void above. Gilda breathed out. In her talon was a small emerald satchel, not even bigger than her knuckle, tied shut whit a fake golden string. As Gilda tossed it in the air just to catch it on its way down, the small bag let out a jingling sound as if it was filled with simple coins. It wasn’t. Gilda took another deep breath. The warm early-summer’s wind was rushing its way through TreePort, gently rustling the leaves creating a wondrous, unrepeatable tune. The griffon smiled. A small lantern hung above her, casting a weak light on the dock. An enchanted Blank Crystal was quietly sizzling and flickering from time to time, struggling to keep itself alive. Oh, how easily those petty enchantments wore off… Gilda closed her eyes and smirked. Just after the airborne satchel landed back in her talon she head hoofsteps. Gilda turned her head to the darkness of the dock as her golden eyes glimmered. A large figure was slowly moving towards her. Before the figure could notice, Gilda hid the satchel in the ruffled feathery storage on her chest. After a few moments of ominous silence the figure came into the weak circle of light. Tall, massive, wearing a red jacket and carrying a white pony over its shoulder… “Rover…” Gilda spoke in her usual tone, only a bit more quiet than usual. “I was wondering where you went.” Gilda smirked. “No police this time? Have you lost your edge ma’ man?” Bright neon green eyes gave a skeptical glare. “No. I wasss at tah bar when I saw te white one at ground of stone pony.” Rover replied in his usual, gravelly voice. “You mean… statue? Was it the one with the cello?” Gilda gave him an unimpressed look. “Wood thing with strings ya, ya. Can go to bed now?” Gilda sighed, but more compassionately than out of annoyance for the first time in her life. “Yea, get lost, you reek of rum. Just in the name of Celestia put Vinyl in her hammock, kay?” The hound grumbled in response and climbed onto the ship just to disappear in the hull, seconds after. Gilda sighed and mumbled. “Oh Vinyl… is there anything that could help you? Oh Luna, give me a sign...” Gilda looked upwards, into the night’s brilliant sky. Just as that, a meteor whizzed by, burning up in the atmosphere in seconds. “Well that was cliché…” Gilda laughed. She reeled back her head with smile just to see another figure approach from the shadows. “Stargazing?” came a cynical voice. “I'm not that kind of griffon.” Gilda smirked. “That’s my line.” “Are you a griffon then?” Gilda laughed as her eyes met with a blue and blank one. Pinkamena, a dull pink mare with a heavy, straight mane and a bronze leg that gave off a dose of high pressure stream with every step, stood before the tomboyish griffon. “You’re a bit late, arnch’ya?” Gilda smirked, but her eyes radiated warmth, even her cold golden hue had become softer, warmer. “I couldn’t tear her away from her friends just like that. And the other one latched onto me like an adorable little leach.” Pinkamena smiled and turned so Gilda could see the two softly sleeping fillies on her back. “Oh, come here big girl…” Gilda whispered as she lifted sleeping Scootaloo of Pinkamena’s back and placed the filly in her wing, like a cradle. “Can you help me take Dinkster inside?” “Sure, but then I have to run. I still need to get Twist back home and then I have to make a few tabs on how much Sparkler and Checkers ate.” “Oh… so they weren’t supposed to have take-outs?” Gilda looked surprised. After a round of silence the dull pink mare chucked in the same dry way she did hours prior. “Let them have it. You guys deserve it after all you’ve been through.” Pinkamena softly smiled and walked towards the ship whit the sleeping filly still on her back. Morning came with the adorable squeaks of a yawning filly. Gilda blinked her eyes open and was greeted by the early rays of Celestia’s sun. Curled under the griffon’s wing was a small orange pegasus filly with a fuchsia mane, commonly referred to as Scootaloo. She turned over on her back and took a long look at the griffon. Her smile radiated off from her pale purple eyes. “Good morning mommy.” She softly spoke. “Morn’n kiddo. Sleep well?” Gilda smiled and give the little pegasus a friendly nuggie. Scootaloo giggled and pushed Gilda’s talon away. “I haven’t slept this good in ages.” The filly beamed. “Well then how about a good sugary breakfast, hmm? Check’s accidentally snatched a wingfull of cupcakes from Sugarcube’s.” “Checkers would never do that!” Scootaloo laughed and rolled off the bed. Gilda cramped her talons on the wooden frame and leaned forward giving Scootaloo a ridiculous, yet serious expression. “A pony can change on an instant...” For a second Scootaloo’s face flashed a hint of doubt, but after that second she gave sly smile. “I’ve been with you for a long time mommy, those tricks don’t work on me anymore.” Gilda gave a satisfied grin and lifted herself off the bed whilst bonking her head on the wooden ceiling. She stretched out her massive wings and popped a few joints before folding them back down and fluttering a few hoofs to the ground. With that the two exited the captain’s quarters and joined the crew out on deck. “Soup’s up…” Vinyl groggily mumbled as she used her cobalt colored magic to place bowls on the makeshift table they’d always set up on deck. Half-beaten bowls of stuff somewhat reminding oatmeal and flower slid across the table, stopping just before every occupant. “Floury slop again!? For Goddess sakes we’re in EQUESTRIA, PONIES! Can’t a filly have a nice breakfast for once?!” Dinky cried out before pouting and chugging her spoon across the deck. Sparkler rolled her eyes and slumped on her seat. “I make do with what we’ve got Dink’s…” Vinyl replied with no emotion in her voice before placing her hoof against her temples and closing her bag-rimmed eyes. “Good grief, I am never drinking again… Goddess flipping dam hangovers…” she muttered before crashing her head onto the table with a loud bang. The crew shrugged. At least they knew Vinyl had a sweet tooth, she always made everything with sugar, and sugar could make ever the biggest mess edible. This time it wasn’t the case… Just as every creature had taken a spoonful of the mushy breakfast… a shower of spit and oats rained upon them as everyone began to rub their tongues and gag. “Grade A emergency, everyone evacuate to the nearest café or restaurant, that’s an order!” Gilda managed to shout out before scratching her tongue with her sharp talons trying to get the vile taste off her taste-buds. “Vinyl you idiot, you’d put slat instead of sugar in this horrid mess!” Gilda fumed before sticking her tongue out in the air with a grin. “Wha?” Vinyl lifted her head with a yawn. “What did I miss? Where’s everypony?” Gilda’s eye twitched. “You know what? Forget it. Scoot?” Gilda turned to see the filly licking wooden pole that hosted the crow’s nest. “What in the world are you doing?” “Splinters taste better…” Scootaloo mumbled. “Come on Scoot, let’s go…” Gilda muttered before grabbing the filly and pulling her away. “But… splinters…!” Scootaloo mumbled before being dragged off the skyship. “Good grief, close your mouth kiddo, we’re in public.” Gilda laughed as she watched Scootaloo stuff her mouth full of cupcakes and muffins and loudly chew whilst constantly opening her mouth, raining crumbs all over the table. “Youmf shure youff don’t wanst anyh?” Scootaloo managed to mumble, spraying pieces of bread all over. “Nah, I don’t feel like it after that horrible, horrible mess…” Gilda shuddered and sipped some espresso from an ugly, pink, porcelain cup. “I thought you had some sweets back at the ship.” The two turned to see none other than Pinkamena. The mare had her usual, sly smile and her curtain like mane fell over her blue eye and made her look somewhat ominous. “Yea I thought so too but apparently one of these idiots was sleep-eating.” Gilda chuckled and flicked a crumb off the table. “I heard about the salt incident, thought you’d be the one pulling it off, not Vinyl.” Pinkamena smirked. “Hangover’s girlfriend, they do the craziest things to you.” The two creatures giggled and Scootaloo looked clueless. She swallowed hard and spoke up. “I don’t get it?” “You’ll get it when you're older.” Gilda smiled and ruffled the filly’s mane. Pinkamena smiled for a moment before getting serious. “Can I have a word? Gilda?” “Uhh… sure. When you’re done find Checkers, kay Scoot?” The filly nodded with her mouth full, and attacked another, rainbow colored, cupcake. Gilda walked away smiling. Pinkamena went through the employee door and into the kitchen where she pointed to a large freezer room. Gilda shrugged and followed the mare. As they went it, Pinkamena closed the door and just stood still as the griffon looked around in awe. Ice cream and frozen batter and frosting lined the metal shelves, next to stacks upon stacks of ice blocks. “Cool…” Gila muttered before turning back to Pinkamena, her breath making small clouds of frost as she spoke. “So what is this about Pink’s?” “You know me, Gilda. I'm just concerned about Scoot… You know that Dashie and I were best friends… If it hadn't been for you she’d be...” “And if it wasn’t for Dashie, neither of us would be standing here talking to each other.” “Who said a single mare can’t change the world…” Pinkamena slowly shifted her weight before looking back up at the griffon’s golden eyes. “We both knew two…” Gilda whispered. Pinkamena smiled and turned to open the freezer’s metal door. “Scoot’s in good hooves… I just needed to make sure.” Pinkamena pushed open the door with and hiss of air. “Four years Pink’s. I haven’t changed.” Gilda regained her arrogant tone and smirked. The mare shot a look back and let out a single chuckle before simply walking away. Gilda walked back out into the café just to find Pinkamena long gone. She shivered just to shake off the cold feeling of the freezer. She looked around for a moment to spot a group of her crewmembers. At one table, sat Checkers, Sparkler, Dinky and Scootaloo who were fighting over a muffin. At the other, sat Rover and Vinyl with about seven cups of coffee and bottle of aspirin. And… Spike. Gilda flashed a devilish smile and walked over to table number dos. In a matter of seconds the griffon lurched forward and slid onto the couch just next to Spike, pushing the dragon against the window and making him fling his doughnut in the air. The other two flinched and Vinyl nearly crushed her paper coffee cup between her hooves. “Miss me?” Gilda arrogantly smirked and caught Spike’s doughnut before it was on the floor. As the dragon tried to push her away she simply placed her claw behind her head and relaxed, using the struggling dragon as a pillow. But Spike was smarter than that. He stopped struggling and jumped aside letting Gilda fall backwards. Just as that, the small dragon twirled in the air and sat down on her chest and nipped his doughnut back, while smiling just as arrogantly as Gilda. “At least training you wasn’t a waste.” Gilda smirked with a huff before pushing Spike off her and sitting upright. She reached over and snatched one of Vinyl’s coffee’s to which she replied with a hiss. “Mine!” “Shut your yap Vinyl.” Gilda casually pointed out and sipped some coffee. “Dear Celestia, this thing is awful.” Gilda grinned before taking another long sip. “Horrible, horrible.” She sipped again. “Worst, in the world! Geez…” She emptied it out and threw it on the table, before turning to Spike. “So, where were you last night, scalewad? I was up till forever to make sure Scoot got home, didn’t see you.” “Oh, me? I was uhh… I went to the graveyard and I met Rarity there, so we talked and then I went to her house to sleep on the couch.” Spike quickly ended with a forced toothy smile. Gila raised her eyebrows with a small smile. “Ya-huh. Nice try but I can see the hickey on your neck. I’ve been to flight school, kid, I'm pretty sure I know what that means.” Gilda’s smile widened a bit while Spike’s pupils shrunk to the size of crumbs. He stretched out his neck to try to get a look while the table dipped in silence. A few moments past as the dragon’s eyes darted from one crewmember to the next. After that the other three exploded with laughter. All of them fell over, banging their claws and hoofs against the table, whipping away a stream of tears of laughter. Spike just sat there as red as the Gildedale flag. Vinyl was the first to regain composure. She took a few raspy breaths and forced out a sentence through a veil of laughter. “So… so-so-so! What did you do? Bwahahaha! So, so what did you do? Need any help on that front, me and Inky used to do some nasty stuff, I can give you a few tips if ya’ want! Bwahahahahaha!” She managed to push out before laughter overtook her. “How many rounds did you and pony go?” Rover spoke up after most of the laughter had died down. “Me and bloodbrothers used to compete on how many bitches we could nail-” “Rover!” Gilda threw an empty paper cup at the diamond dog. “Watch your tongue, we’re in a café not a bar!” she hissed. “Whaaat? Bitch is female hound…” He just shrugged. Gilda gave him a stern look before turning and looking behind the back of the large cushioned seat. Just as she peeked over the back, she saw a pair of ponies and small colt sitting between them, all of them hosting a confused expression. Gilda gave an awkward smile before sliding out of view and slumping down on the seat. “Ok, all of you seriously need to learn some manners, kay?” She gave a single glare to each of the crewmembers before looking around to find half of the occupants staring at them with mixed expressions. “Alright you know what?! Let’s go!” Gilda notably got up and pulled out a couple of bits from the bulk of feathers on her chest and threw them between the empty paper cups of coffee, before grabbing the three and pulling them away to the other table. “Alright-o, chop, chop get off your flanks and let’s get a move on!” Gilda clapped her talons startling the rest of her crew who were casually sitting around. “Right, then… Checkers?” “Yes Gilda…?” “Here…” Gilda dug around in the feathers on her chest and pulled out a piece of paper and a pen and then threw them both over to the changeling. She turned over to Dinky and Vinyl and continued. “Both of you, make a list for what you need, roughly a week’s worth of food and any ship parts we can get on the cheap. We’re going to Talos baby!” She snapped her fingers and turned an 180° to Rover and Spike. “You're coming with us.” “What! Why?” The two of them shouted in union. “Just cuz, I'm captain, do my bidding.” Gilda smirked. “Also Rover’s a walking forklift and that’s the only reason I keep him around.” She added. The hound opened his mouth to argue but was stopped by a pat on the kneecap. He turned to see Spike slowly nodding. “She has a point you know…” Rover grumbled but said nothing. “Ok, for the love of Celestia tell me what else you can stuff in those feathers.” Sparkler mumbled as she walked by Gilda’s side down the industrial alley. The griffon had already produced a notebook’s worth of papers, a quill, two pens, a few pins, a flint and steel, about a 100’s worth of bits, a few screws, a tiny screwdriver and a tiny vial of 300 bit worth of perfume which ‘wasn’t hers’ from the ominous feathery-storage on her chest. “Ya’ know… I think its Pinkamena’s doing. Some of her crazy, physics-defying magics’ may have rubbed off on me, so it’s better not to question it if you don’t want the universe to implode.” Gilda spoke while calmly patting Sparkler on the head which received an annoyed growl. “Mom?” Scootaloo peered out from Sparkler’s back. “Why do we have come along?” Gila looked at the filly. Then at the rest in front of them. Spike and Rover were arguing as usual and Dinky and Vinyl were circling Checkers like vultures trying to get the poor changeling to write down everything they were saying. “Good point Scoot…” “Gilda?” “Yea, Sparkler?” “Cant I just take the girls somewhere? Like… I dunno to see Sweetie or whatever.” “Sweetie has lessons…” “How didya know?” Scootaloo butted in. “Oh, I… I ran into Fluttershy yesterday, she told me all about what the Crusaders Extended were doing.” The griffon smiled. “Will I be able to see them again before me go?” “‘Course you will, Scoot.” Gilda turned forward. “How about you and Sparkler go get some ice-cream and head to the park, hmm?” “What about Dinky?” Sparkler spoke up. “Have you even heard Dinky taking about all those gears and parts she needs? Medium this, four inch that, seven hooves in diameter that, BAH! Half the time all I can make out is ‘steel’, ‘bronze’ and ‘need’! We can’t go shopping without her, alright? But the kid doesn’t mind… she loves it… I’ll make it up to her alright Sparks? Pinkie promise.” The griffon smirked. Sparkler blew her mane out of her face before saying anything. “Fine.” “Alright-o then!” Gilda clapped her talons before reaching into her chest and producing a talonful of copper bits. The mare took the money with her raspberry magic and turned down the next alleyway while Scootaloo energetically waved goodbye’s to her mom. “So? We all set?” Twilight was among the crew of Equinox as the streetlamps of the city lit up whit a buzz. The entire group was burdened with various supplies collected from all around the merchant district. As the odd bunch trudged how they were greeted with various looks. Most likely for the fact that a ten-year-old filly was walking amongst a griffon with obvious carnivore and militarily-clan type of markings and a seven hoof tall diamond dog, and all of them were carrying notable equipment mean for the skies. In short-term: swords, cogs, and food - probably not mean for children under fifteen… “Hey mom!” Out of nowhere an adorable, squeaky voice appeared right in front of Gilda. The griffon flinched and stumbled backwards into Spike, knocking him over into a pile of bags and boxes. The innocent, discordant child just smiled and stood there as Gilda got back up on her feet. Both her wings were stretched out like giant cradles hosting various objects like ropes and boxes of small fragile thing-a-ma-bobbers Dinky had described as ‘ignobleness, quinquangular quantum defibilator escalators’ whatever the hell those were… “Scoot you little devil, you scared the coffee out of me!” Gilda hissed at the filly. She, however, didn’t even flinch, and just kept a satisfied smile. The griffon let a single chuckle before turning around to see a pile of stuff that once was Spike. “Come on scalewad, I want this on deck before nightfall.” The pile stood still. “Scalewad?” … “Spike? You alright?” … “I think he’s dead.” Scootaloo innocently poked the pile of junk. Just as that the objects shifted and large purple claw burst through, raining nuts and bolts all around. “GAH ZOMBIE! SAVE ME DASHIE!” The filly screamed and jumped backwards for cover, drawing a few laughs from the rest of the crew. “Look who decided to join us.” Gilda slowly clapped her talons as her voice flashed a tint of mock. The purple dragon slowly emerged from his tomb with a scowl. “Hardy-har-har, Gilda, very mature of you… Now help me get all this junk back together!” the dragon grumbled and turned around to the pile of bags and boxes. “Why do we need all this stuff anyway? We’ll be in Talos in a week…” “Stuff’s cheaper here than in the Black Market, alright? Besides… I have something planned for youz’ guyz’.” Gila smirked and walked over to help Spike with the supplies. “Hey Vinyl?” “What? I kinda’ have my hooves full.” The DJ mumbled at her captain. “I know, I know, but can you whip out your records?” “Why in the world would you need to-” “Remember that one trick that one ibex nomad taught you?” “Yea…?” “Use it, genius.” After a long pause the DJ sighed and closed her eyes. Her horn lit up bright cobalt and three big record disks popped in existence. Within seconds she used them to scoop up the pile of supplies without even breaking a sweat. A sly smile graced her lips.
Chapter 1 - Sky Ho!Chapter 1 - Sky Ho! “Mhaaaaaaaaaain!” A raspy voice hissed as the headwinds scattered the sound. A creature of gray whit eyes of bright green, dressed in a small red vest pulled back. Clutched in its giant claws was a big, bright amethyst. “OH, NO YOU DON’T!” A small purple figure shouted and leaped forward, tackling the gray creature. The two rolled forward across the deck and slammed into the door leading to the quarters. Another being burst through the doors whit its golden eyes burning whit anger. “What do you dumb-flaks think you’re doing?” The figure whooped and opened its brown wings out of instinct just to look more intimidating. “Heee ssssstarted it!” the larger being hissed in defense. “No I didn’t you hay-licker! That was mine since the last raid!” the smaller protested. “SHUT IT!” the third boomed. She folded her wings and ran a claw through her white feathers. It was odd seeing a griffon out of its pack, especially on a skyship no-less. This one was a unique specimen to say the least, whit a coat of warm, ochre brown and eyes whit a cold golden hue whit purple markings highlighting them along whit the tips of her ruffled feathers. She sighed and rubbed her temples. “Alright you pony manure, let’s take it from the top. What is this about?” the griffon snapped, her anger becoming very noticable. “Thissss pathetic excuse for gem hunter insssists that this is his, when its obviousssly mhain!” the larger being hissed once more. In addition to its ginourmous claws he had a large jaw whit jagged teeth meant to crush rocks or even bones. A tail resembling a spiked club impatiently swayed from one side to another. His sharp claws slowly scratched against the gem in impatience. In addition to the red vest he wore a simple collar lined whit sharpened diamonds and a bright alabaster gem signaling his rank. “Shut your hay-hole you stupid diamond dog!” The smaller creature spoke. Whit a body of purple and scales along its back in a shade of bright green the small dragon stepped in. From his back sprouted two awkward lumps that were supposed to grow into wings. The dragon cast a deadly gaze whit his green eyes. The diamond dong didn’t bother. After a moment of silence and intensive groaning, the griffon finally spoke. “Listen, I have enough migraines already and the weight of keeping this flying piece of buffalo-crap in the air doesn’t help. If you two dumbflanks dont shut it...” The griffon’s eye twitched as she stared down her two crewmembers. “I swear to Cadence I will throw you overboard once were in the STRATOSPHERE!” she shouted in all her griffon might as she placed her sharpened talon at the dog’s neck. “Now give me the gem and don’t utter a single peep or... It. Will. Be. Your. Last...” The diamond dog gulped and shakily handed over the amethyst and instantly skidded away as fast as its tiny legs could allow. The dragon just stood completely paralyzed. “Spike?” “Yes captain Gilda?!” the dragoon dubbed Spike shouted in terror and saluted in front of his captain. “Tell Rover to choke on a crap-bucket. And by that I mean he’s on poop-duty for the rest of the moon.” Gilda calmingly said as she turned around to walk inside. “My pleasure Captain!” Spike saluted once more as a devilish smirk formed on his face. His bud’ was soooo going to get it! “Oh and you’re on deck duty scalewad.” Gilda flashed a sly smirk before slamming the door shut whit her tail. Spike stood on the rickety deck whit a disappointed expression. Well… He thought to himself. At least I'm not stuck on poop-duty! He laughed and walked away to rub it in Rover’s face. “Mom what’s the matter, you look angry?” A small orange filly walked by and saw the griffon whit her head on the table. “Idiots…” Gilda the griffon groaned. “Oh… well then... I’ll be up at the crow’s nest, ok mommy?” “Go ahead squirt.” Gilda lifted her head to meet the filly’s pale purple gaze. She gently tousled the little pony’s fushia mane as they both smiled. The pony happily strutted away as anger had already lifted from the griffon. Something about those eyes… she just loved them… just like she loved her lil’ Scootaloo… “Cap’n?” A voice interrupted Gilda’s happy thoughts. She looked behind her and saw an equine whit a black chitin shell sporting a pair of arctic blue eyes whit no pupils and frail insecticide wings. The creature wore a pale black triangle hat whit a blue outline. Two large fangs poked from its mouth. “Sup’ Checks?” “Why did I allow myself to be named like that…” “Cuz we saved yer’ hole-ridden flank, that’s why! And besides, Checkers isn’t a bad name, it sounds a bit like ‘changeling’ doesn’t it?” The black creature sighed and seemingly rolled its eyes, but you couldn’t really tell. “So what’s up anyway? It’s not like I was having a midlife crisis or anything.” Gilda mocked. The changeling let out an annoyed sigh. “You sigh too much.” Gilda stated. Another sigh. Jeez… “So just tell me what do you want? I still need to do a thing or two around here.” “Our food’s running low, Gilda. Thankfully we stocked up on clear water back at the Valley, but we’re going to have to go on a raid soon.” “Sounds fun, anything on our way to Morr’ock?” “You mean Talos?” “Talos, Morr’ock, what’s the difference, it’s the same place.” Gilda closed her eyes and lay on her back on the long bench. “It’s preferred to call it Talos since the crew consists of mostly uneducated idiots…” “Sure their retards, but what smart pony would want to follow another to the end of the world and back?” Gilda smirked. “True.” The changeling sighed and sat down at Gilda’s feet. “C’mon Checkers, what’s wrong?” Gilda got up and sat next to her sad-looking first mate. “It’s just me and my morals Gilda, don’t bother…” “Oh? Those again? Geez, will you ever get over it?” Gilda added a chuckle to her arrogant smirk. Checkers looked in her eyes and the smile faded. “Listen Check’s…" Gilda stretched out her arm and notably placed it around the changeling's shoulders. "It doesn’t matter who you are or where you are or what you're doing and ether its right or wrong... because your whit a family. Your family... No one cares about anything and at the same time we all care… have you ever had a real family Check?” “You know how drones are born and raised…” “Riiight…” Gilda fell quiet. They simply sat there until a sudden flinch from the griffon. Gilda turned her head and laid a small peck on the changeling’s cheek in the speed of light. A blink of an eye later the door slammed shut and she was gone. Checkers sat there for a long time absorbing the delicious love that filled the air around him. Only for him… it something more than just food… “ALRIGHT SKUNKWADS LISTEN UP!” Gilda ran along the railing before jumping and digging her talons into one of the moorings that connected the ship’s hull and the reinforced balloon. That was her usual announcement point. She flapped her brown wings as she stood there for a couple of seconds. The crew quickly gathered. Scootaloo slid down the pole of the crow’s nest and crashed into Spike that was walking by. From deep within the engine room Sparkler and Dinky emerged whit a thin layer of coal dust covering their faces and bronze goggles hanging from their necks. Out of somewhere Rover peered out, you could practically see the stink-lines. Vinyl finally left her usual post at the front of the ship to join the crew. All that was missing was Checkers but Gilda didn’t worry about him that much. “Alright ya scurvy ridded sacks of flesh, we got’s a new assignment!” Gilda roared in her usual medium-loudness. The crew mumbled whit anticipation. “So, Check’ dropped me a note saying we’re gonna starve to death pretty soon.” The crew gasped. “Just kidding!” Gilda laughed. “But no, seriously, we’re gonna be out of food before we get to Talos so any of you dimwits know a good place for a raid?” The small pale purple unicorn filly whit a dirty-blond mane and an oil stain on her cheek by the name of Dinky pushed through the small crowd and looked up at her captain. “What up Dinkster?” “I’d say PonyVille I mean its on the way and-” the filly started. “DINKY!” Everybody looked back to see Sparkler whit a disappointed grin. “What did you promise mom, young lady?!” Dinky shrank in her shoulders a tad and looked away slowly dragging her hoof around and about the deck’s worn wooden planks. “No raiding PonyVille…” the filly mumbled. “That’s right Dink’s. No.” Sparkler looked up at Gilda and the look in her eyes ended that argument. “How about we just drop by a visit and not raid our hometown, eh? They practically shower us whit gifts anyway…” Spike suggested. Gilda rolled her golden eyes in slight annoyance. “It’s not going to be fun, but fiiiiiiine!” the griffon grunted. The crew smiled. “On one condition.” The smiles went away. “We get to raid the next town of my choosing.” The griffon smirked. “…Fair enough...” “...Yea I guess so…” “…I wonder what the CE are doin’?…” “…God, I miss home…” “…Mommy here I come!…” The mutual agreements brought a smile to the grumpy griffon’s face. She stretched out her giant wings and positioned herself head-down. “ONWARDS AND UPWARDS!!!” Gilda roared as the entire crew suddenly began to cheer. “Thunder and Lightning!” She continued as the entire crew took their positions. Scootaloo climbed back up to the crow’s nest and whipped out a brass telescope. Spike ran down to the engine room to ignite it whit his breath. Dinky took Checker’s place at the wheel and calibrated the course for their hometown. Rover, Sparkler and Vinyl ran to adjust the sails and ‘wings’ as they had grown to call them. “I SAID THUNDER AND LIGHTNING!” Gilda roared once more and took flight. She landed on the tip of the bowsprit and let the wind rustle her feathers. “WINGS AND STEEL!” The crew shouted back. Gilda smiled. “ONWARDS AND UPWARD CUZ THE SKY AINT’ OUR LIMIT!!!” she roared as the skyship gained momentum and sailed onwards. To adventure!
Chapter 2 - TreePortChapter 2 - TreePort The wind brushed his sides as Checkers the changeling stood at the skyship’s bowsprit. They were on their way to PonyVille, a town his friends called home… except for him… A foreign traveler, outcast from his hive, nearly killed by his Queen the changeling had almost died of starvation… save for one griffon that stepped in and twisted the threads of fate. One griffon… by the name of- “Gilda!” Checkers turned his head to see the one who was breathing on his back. None other than the ochre brown griffon whit highlights of purple. “Geez, you scared me!” “Something’s on your mind Check’s... Come on, spill the dam beans already, I'm starving!” Gilda the griffon laughed and climbed right next to her changeling friend, dangling on the side of the bowsprit by her sharp talons in an awkward angle that nearly defied gravity. “I'm fine!” came an annoyed response. Gilda dropped her smile and looked at the changeling whit a bored expression. “I'm FINE. I just need to clear my head, is all.” Gilda rolled her cold-golden eyes. “If you wanna’ be like that, fine. At least do me a favor as the only other flyer of this dam ship and go ahead and make sure they don’t blaze us out of the sky, alright?” “‘Course…” Checkers sighed. “And get rid of your sighing problem. Now GO!” Gilda suddenly shoved the changeling making him topple off the bowsprit and into the wild blue skies. As Checkers regained his balance whit a pair of frail wings sporting a hole or two, he was accompanied by a round of cocky laughter… then a screech and sound of scraping wood. Gilda was never the one for balance. Checkers smirked and pressed onwards to a place he should call home. Checkers flew and flew, fields upon fields of apple trees, and ponies upon ponies picking them, rushed underneath as the changeling darted forward. His little insect wings buzzed as he weaved through the hoards of scattered clouds. Ever since the dawn of steam the pegasi no longer bothered and simply let the skies run wild. Checkers loved it. Just as he came out from behind a cloud he a saw a sight most exotic for his glacier blue eyes. A metropolis laid in the small valley at the foot of Sun’s Rising. Chimneys and factory exhausts stretched high into the sky as skyships and balloons marched onwards through clouds. The city below his hooves bustled with activity like ants in an anthill, reminding Checkers of his Hive. Cars and carts and ponies of all sizes and ages strummed in the streets. Checkers took a deep breath and flew onward. As he broke through a small cloud that coated him in droplets of cool dew, he was caught off guard by a congaline of magical flames. The small embers stopped him mid-flight and began circling around the changeling. Shades of blue, white and green twirled around him before a voice crackled like an intercom. “Formabat vicissitudinis Culex pipiens Equinae, identify yourself. Over.” “Checkers, last name-nugatory. Race: North-western Everfree changeling, unofficially non-hostile. First mate of skyship Equinox - series number: 44532-9-24325. All legal actions withheld in the airspace of the city via permission from Celestia of Equestria and Council of the Elements. Permission number: 89454448. Equinox requesting access to land at TreePort in roughly o-point-30-minutes. Over.” “Roger, roger, permission granted. Over.” “Confirmed. Over.” The flames stopped circling and suddenly blasted away thorough a thick cloud in another congaline. Checkers rolled his eyes and sighed, taking off into the city. He took a few deep breaths and dragged the tip of his hoof counterclockwise around the holes in the other. That had always relaxed the changeling, no matter the situation. “Curse this new technology…” He managed to mumble before his voice was overpowered by noisy machinery of the metropolis. Checkers bolted through the city avoiding forklifts, enormous cogs, the occasional carriage and other various objects he couldn’t even name. The deeper he went the more sky the city occupied. Reaching high beyond the clouds, skyscraper after skyscraper dotted the landscape. And to think - only four years ago this was but a measly town nopony (and defiantly noling) knew about, boggled Checker’s mind. In the speed of light he managed to duck under a moving bronze arm lifting something up into the sky. He cursed it whit words in his native tongue, but you knew the guy was bad to have your foals hang around. ‘Nazzachras’ was a cuss, right? Checkers flew onwards, taking loops and loops around every skyscraper he could see just to waste some time. He wasn’t in the mood to go back to Gilda, that griffon knew how to persuade him… And at the point where he was now, he didn’t want to spit out something he’d regret two seconds later. After all, besides the ship and the crew… he had nothing… The changeling sighed and spotted a clock tower. Whit an easy glide he found himself perfectly perpendicular to the tower. He smirked. That was his favorite advantage of being who he was. He could sit, sleep, or stand on any surface at any angle without worry. Fun. Checkers closed his eyes and took a deep breath of the stench of the city. You could argue, that too much fresh air was bad for you. He smiled for a moment before he let a frown stretch across his face as he loudly sighed, letting go of the air he was holding in. His brow furrowed just a bit as he lifted his hole-ridden hoof to his head. He lazily adjusted his pale-black hat and just as he was about to withdraw his hoof, it glided over a small stump on his forehead. Checkers sighed. He closed his eyes and began to draw circles on the spot where a curved, slick, black horn was supposed to be. It wasn’t there… “You are disgrace. Not a drone, nor a commander. You disgust me…” His Queen’s words ran in his head. Checkers clenched his teeth. An outcast… what else? He wasn’t even a changeling anymore, unable to transform: useless… His Queen had been right, then why had he resisted? A spark of rebellion, or was it something else? Maybe… l- “Hey Checkers!” Dinky greeted her black fried as he landed next to the ship’s wheel. The skyship had entered PonyVille airspace several minutes ago and was now steadily weaving through the skyscrapers to the heart of the metropolis. TreePort. “Hey Dinkster.” Checkers softly spoke and ruffled the filly’s mane. “Dinkster? Is that like my new name or something?” The filly giggled and pushed his hoof away. “Maybe.” Checkers smiled. “Seen Gilda?” “Nope. Maybe Scoot knows though? Oh, can you tell Vinyl we’ll be eating in town tonight, my poor gut cant handle anymore flowery grub…” the filly shuddered and flinched, accidentally twisting the wheel and making the ship sway to the left. She quickly managed to avoid collision whit a window-cleaner and get back onto course. She tugged a lever on her side and that opened the ‘wings’ on the skyship’s sides angling their descent. Dinky tapped on a small, spearhead-shaped gem on a small stand next to a collection of levers. “Spike. Do. You. Read. Me?” She spoke in a monotone voice. “I can hear you Dink- *HSHHH* -y, loud and clear.” The voice of the teenage dragon echoed through the gem. There was another hiss and a crackle of flame. “Spike, I want you to give a big burp and then come up, we’re nearly there and I don’t want to rip off another branch like last time.” Dinky tapped the gem and the light went out. “Well, well, young missy’s planning to take my place, eh?” Checkers joked. Dinky giggled in response. “‘Course I'm not Check’, I'm an engineer not a pilot!” The filly offered a heartwarming smile and giggle. Checkers smiled back and felt the warm feeling of a childhood crush litter the air around. He couldn’t help but lick his lips and take a deep breath. “If you eat so much love you're gonna get fat!” Dinky mocked whit a laugh. Checkers shook his head and chuckled. He tousled the filly’s mane one more. “You’re a sweet kid, Dink’s… Tell ya’ what, I’ll let you park the ship while I grab all the hoofs on deck.” “Right-o capt’n!” Dinky saluted whit another giggled and went back to the wheel as Checkers fluttered down to the lower deck. “Now, a little to the left. No, left! Ugh! Your other left!” Dinky shouted as the two flyers angled the ship at the dock. For a filly her age, Dinky had nearly stuck the landing whit amazingly little property damage. Though, it was still a little bit off… Rover made sure of it. The diamond dog was so eager to leave the ship, he’d jumped just as the branches of TreePort were in reach… those were just branches… The bloody idiot had nearly plummeted down to death if it hadn’t been for a quick thinking Gilda, who caught him just in time. Now the poor idiot was sitting in a corner shaking his tail off in fear. The ship’s hull gently bumped into something signaling that the parking was surprisingly successful. Just as that thought crossed Gilda’s mind two sets of feet heavily landed on the dock. Sparkler and Vinyl used their super-magical-unicorn-powers and quickly managed to tie the ship down. Spike pushed out a small footbridge and climbed down, followed by the rest. Gilda fluttered up to the dock and began a small march in her signature-‘obey’ way. “Alright. We’ll be in PonyVille for three days while me, Vinyl and Dinkster stock up on everything we need, alright? Ya’ll can go running around and do whatever, just for Celestia’s sake don’t make me pay jail fines this time.” Spike and Rover shuffled nervously. “Gilda, you know the dude stole my drink and Rover’s lady…” “First off, you were drunk, second, nopony believes that your technically 18, and thirdly, you didn’t have to sent the poor sap to Celestia via dragonfire.” Gilda facetalon’d. “Now, for the love of Twilight get lost!” Spike shrugged and walked away. “Oh, and I'm locking the ship’s fund.” Spike froze mid-step. “C-can I borrow three bits then? I need to buy some flowers.” “For what? Lil miss Wawity?” Gilda mocked, drawing a few shy giggles from the crew. “No.” Spike stomped his foot and clenched his claws. He glared back whit mixed emotions and determination gleaming in his emerald eyes. He whispered. “For Twilight.” Gilda’s face turned to surprise and then softened. The giggles came to a sharp stop. The crew gave a few sympathetic looks. “Oh… Well, umm… *Cough*…” She ruffled the feathers at her chest and pulled out a silver bit and two copper ones. She threw them over to the young dragon and gently smiled. “Get a big one.” So I have a small challenge for my readers. If you can figure out the code Checkers spoke of at the first half of the story you'll get a cookie. Hint: The numbers are letters.
Chapter 3 - Shadows of the Past (1/2)A/N - These next two (maybe three) chapters will be mainly focused on how the crew got to this point, aka backstory time! This will be the main SAD bit of the story for awhile. Chapter 3 - Shadows of the Past Pt. 1 Gilda slowly climbed down the staircase lining the outside wall of the giant hollow tree, followed by her crew. Spike had run off ahead and the rest were a bit skittish about what to do, after all, it been nearly two years since they were home. Gilda gazed upwards. Staircases and drawbridges lined the upper-half of the tree, slowly winding down to ground level. Ponies, dogs, griffons and other beings filled the walkways, going about whit friends or carrying supplies or simply running around looking for loved ones. The entire area bustled whit activity like no place she’d ever seen before. Just as Gilda squeezed past a charade of diamond dogs carrying sacks and barrels of items up to the branches of TreePort she saw something very familiar. The griffon, took a few more steps forward before awkwardly tripping, but she was luckily caught by a pink hoof. She looked up and saw... a blue eye… still full of energy even after all this time. “Hey Gilda, long time no seen huh?” The dull pink mare spoke in a kind, swayed voice, whit a hint of sorrow and at the same time laughter, shinning through. She tilted her head as she helped the ochre griffon get up on her feet, and her straight pink mane fell over her face like heavy curtain. “A long time indeed… Good to see ya’ again Pinks’...” Gilda smiled and wrapped her talons around the pony into a tight hug. “So… where’s the party cannon, eh?” Gilda joked as she withdrew the hug. “You know I'm not that kind of mare anymore, Gilda.” The pony brushed her mane out of her face and smiled a serene smile. She began walking as her cyborgian hoof let out a hiss of high-pressure air whit every step. Unlike most amputees she seemed to treat the bronze attachment like it was her own flesh and blood. The spring let out a few squeaks and the small pressure dial dotted from one side to the other whit every step and hiss. The mare walked over to the group just as Dinky bolted through, right between Vinyl’s hoofs. The filly stopped just in front and began bouncing up and down, her goggles constantly smacking her in the chest. “Hi Pinkie!” she squeaked. “Pinkamena.” the mare corrected. “Sorry, Pinkamena. How’s mommy doing?” “Like always ya’ lil’ tyke.” Pinkamena tousled the filly’s mane with her one good hoof. She looked over to crowd and saw a familiar black figure and a familiar orange filly. She smiled and slowly blinked her blue and her blank eye before stretching her hoofs out for a hug. The orange filly squeaked and bolted forward whit her little wings buzzing. She rammed into Pinkamena and squeezed the mare tight. Pinkamena’s blue eye watered as the hug finally gave out, the little orange filly, Scootaloo, sadly smiled. “It’s good to see you again Pinkie…” Scootaloo whispered before walking over and nuzzling Gilda. “Yea… good…” Pinkamena whispered as she got up. She looked up at the crew and smiled. “You guys look starving. Head on over to Sugarcube Co, everything’s on me.” “You heard the mare, do whatever you want today. Tomorrow we’ll get going on the business end, alright?” Gilda gave an indirect command as she hugged Scootaloo a bit closer. Mutual nods of silence came from the crew as they began walking past Pinkamena, exchanging a small hug or a smile. The group cleared and all that was left standing was Gilda, Scoot and Pinkamena. The pink mare slowly nodded and Gilda lowered herself to Scootaloo’s height. “Moma’s gotta’ clear her head, kid. Go meet your friends, I'm sure the clubhouse’s still there. Pinkie’ll pull some strings, I'm sure.” The griffon smiled. “Alright mommy.” Scootaloo smiled and laid a small kiss on the griffon’s beak before tacking Pinkamena into another hug and walking away. Gilda smiled and spread her wings. Spike clutched the small boutique of flowers a bit closer. He had aged quite the bit since last time he was here. His claws had grown out and doubled in size and length, making him look a bit like an orangutan. The scales on his head and spine hand turned sharp and slick, his teeth had grown out and become stronger, more durable. He blinked his green eyes getting rid of the moisture at the very corners. He took a step forward. “Gilda?” The griffon stopped in the air just a few hoofs above the ground. A familiar voice came from behind. The griffon turned to see a chubby yellow figure whit a soft pink mane. The griffon shook her head and landed in front of the yellow pegasus, as her memories of the equine flooded back. “Oh! Hey uhh… Butterfly…?” “Fluttershy.” “Whatever, I never imagined seeing you here. Ever since four years ago I thought you’d be the first to leave, take off to like, Appaloosa or something.” “Oh, I considered it, but just couldn’t leave my home and I simply couldn’t take my little animal friends whit me. Besides, they’d buy my dear little cottage and tear it down for a skyscraper!” Fluttershy expressed her disapproval in her never-changing soft and shy voice. Gilda smiled. She still remembered the few moths in flight camp they had together. After all Fluttershy was the very best friend of Da- Spike walked along the thin gravel path. Both sides of the path were dotted with flowers of all kinds along with the occasional bench and rows upon rows of pale gray stones whit various engravings. He seeked only one. As he walked further, whit the boutique still clenched in his claws, he came to the bottom of a small hill. The teenage dragon looked up and took a deep breath. He lifted his foot and placed in on the lush green grass. “… and Sweetie comes by every day, I just knew she was going to be a wonderful singer!” Fluttershy smiled as she and Gilda trotted along the street. “I bet Scoot’s gonna be real happy to see her again, and that other filly, whatever her name was, too.” Gilda smiled before turning to a frown. She looked over to the pegasus and took a deep breath. “You feeling alright? It seems you’re having a hard time walking…” “I'm fine, Gilda.” Fluttershy smiled. “Oh! I completely forgot to tell you! Me and Mac are going to be parents!” “…And now! The world’s first flying unicorn!” she chanted and turned to face the crowd whit a beaming smile. She waved her hoof and stepped backwards- Spike shuddered. The words still rang in his head as he scaled the small green hill. Just as he reached the top he was greeted by the dying sun’s warm kiss. It was twilight, his favorite time of the day… and his bestest friend. Spike slowly placed the boutique of flowers in front of a pale gravestone.
Chapter 4 - Shadows of the Past (2/2)Chapter 4 - Shadows of the Past Pt. 2 Gilda stood dumbfounded as she looked at her smiling friend. That had really caught her of guard and she had a hard time letting that information process. I mean, for a good observer it would’ve been somewhat obvious but Gilda was never the one for that sort of thing. The gentle (gentler) attitude, the ‘no fluttering even if you’re a pegasus’, the swollen stomach. It added up. Gilda shook her head. “Congrats.” She managed to muster up in her typical tone. Fluttershy just smiled and kept walking forward. “It’s nice to talk to an old friend, Gilda, but it’s not why I asked you to come along. I need a favor.” Pinkamena took her pale hoof off Scootaloo’s eyes. Just as the filly regained her vision tears shot up from the depths of her eyes as she saw a pair of fillies she hadn’t seen for well over two years. “GIRLS!” Scootaloo screamed and jumped forward tacking the two white fillies into a cluster of a hug. “Scoot’s! Oh. My. Gosh. How long has it been?!” one of the fillies cried out. “Yeah! It’sff been sof long!” the other added. The three giggled as the squeezed each other tighter. Next to Pinkamena, leaned against the far end wall sat another filly. Pale purple whit a dirty blond mane. Both of them smiled. “Do you think Scoot’s can breathe?” Pinkamena chuckled. “She’s been through worse.” Dinky giggled. “Hey, uhh, Pinkamena?” “Yea?” “I-I never asked… who made your leg?” Pinkamena lifted her blank eye’s eyebrow and looked at the innocently smiling unicorn. After a few moments she broke into a few dry chuckles. “I made it myself, kid. Rarity helped out a bit on elegance, but everything else was mine. Sure Twi’ probably could’ve made it better but… well you know the rest…” Pinkamena offered a small smile as the filly dropped her eyes. “Sorry for bringing that up Pinkie…” “It’s alright kid… I don’t mind tearing up a few old wounds for ya’. I have to say, I'm surprised you still haven’t got your cutie mark, a filly as smart of you could run for president.” Another round of dry chuckles. “She reminds you of her, doesn’t she?” “Who?” “Scoots.” “… Yea… yea she does… But I try not to dwindle on the past. I’ve done enough of that already…” Dinky slowly blinked a few times before resting her head against Pinkamena’s fuzzy chest. “I want my old mommy back…” “I want the better times back… but we can never have what we want, kiddo… That’s just how the world works.” Pinkamena closed her eyes and let the filly quietly sob in her chest. We all want the better times back… Spike quietly sat on his knees as the sun died below the horizon of the lush equine plains and the city behind him lit up the night’s sky, rivaling the stars themselves. He never cried. Now was never. Tears slowly rolled down from his emerald green eyes as he stretched out his claw. He placed it on the top of the pale gravestone, stroking the lifeless rock like it was a newborn foal. He gently ran his finger through the simple engravings. A majestic six-point-star was etched on the plainest of stones and next to it was a single dot… waiting the other four to join… Spike nibbled at the moss of the stone before lifting his claw to his face and whipping away the tears. The cool night’s breeze rushed by, turning the straws of grass into a serene orchestra. A cricket chirped just as the very last rays of the golden sun vanished. He was alone. “You will never be a problem, no matter how big you’ll get… Because… One day eventually… You will live as a dragon and fly away… But don’t worry… B-because I’ll still love you…” “Spike?” The dragon flinched and turned his head around to see a pale, slender figure. The figure smiled and its clear blue eyes shined through the darkness. It-she, took a step forward as her short, ruffled mane fluttered in the wind. “You came to see her before you came to me…” The figure spoke in a hushed voice. “Sorry, I just couldn’t… I had to-” Spike began before a soft white hoof pressed against his lips silencing the apology. “You made the right choice…” The figure softly spoke before removing her hoof and leaning in for a kiss. Spike weakly smiled before brushing the figure’s purple mane out of her face and locking their lips. The mare of his dreams… Rarity… Checkers had laid his head on the table hours ago and he hadn’t moved since. Opposite of him sat none other than Sparkler and slowly munched down cupcake after cupcake. The changeling had watched day dwindle into night as the ponies of the city went about their lives. Even if Sugarcube Co was on every other corner, this one was special… It used to be the original. Used to... Checkers sighed and looked upon the stack of sweets in front of him. The advertisement hadn’t lied, the special ingredient really was love. Sugar flavored love… he hated sugar… “It was nice of Pinkamena to treat.” Sparker sparked up the first conversation in hours. “Yea… it was nice of her… more generosity than laughter in my opinion.” “You know everything fell to pieces four years ago… then again you weren’t there… nether was I…” A veil of silence fell over the two. “Why didn’t somepony save her? Why didn’t she save herself?” Checkers lifted his head and looked into Sparkler’s lavender eyes. “Somepony tried… and she didn’t succeed… She used her last spark to save her… to save my mum…” Sprkler clenched her eyes shut. “She didn’t do a very good job then…” Checkers mumbled. “No… no, she didn’t. She gave me and Dinky a lifetime of misery… But I don’t blame her… not the slightest bit.” Sparkler looked back up at Checkers arctic blue eyes. For once in a long time, a smile didn't grace her lips. Spike sat alongside Rarity as they looked upon the stars from the small green hill. Somewhere behind them, behind the metropolis, the moon climbed the sky. Spike had his claw on Rarity’s white hoof. They hadn’t broken the bond since the kiss. The first kiss in two years… Spike sighed and leaned against the mare’s shoulder only to find something cold and hard draped around her neck. “What is that?” He quietly spoke as he ran his claw through the engravings of the golden object. The neckpiece ended with a large heart-shaped gem right at Rarity’s chest. “Don’t you remember? It’s the very same fire ruby-” “-I gave you… yea… yea, I remember… I didn’t think you would…” Spike looked up, his emerald eyes glowing in the dark. “Element of Loyalty, dear. So I can have a piece of you with me… always…” Rarity smiled and her blue eyes glimmered in the darkness. They slowly placed their foreheads together and closed their eyes. “I miss her Rarity, you have no idea…” “I believe you Spike… No matter how close Flutters and I were, she was always my best…” “…” “They say one mare can’t change the world… Guess who proved them wrong.” Rarity smiled. “Was the cost worth it…?” “She will go down in history, dear, she started a new era, a new dawn… quite opposite of her name…” Rarity quietly giggled and looked up into the sky. Just as that a single comet whizzed by, burning up the atmosphere in seconds. Beautiful. “Remember how we went stargazing so many years ago?” Spike smiled and skidded a bit closer to the pale mare. “How could I forget? I wished that my most successful fashion line would be a one-hit wonder… it was…” “Yea? Well I wished that I could get a kiss from you.” Spike smirked. “Guess that wish came true tenfold.” Spike turned to Rarity and the mare kissed him on the forehead. He smiled for a moment, before fading into grieve once more. “So much, so very much, has changed…” “Oh Spike…” Rarity sighed and leaned forward slowly bonking her forehead against the dragon. Small tears ran down his cheeks. “Look at it, look at PonyVille… where is that simple little town where we came, to make friends? The town where everypony knew everypony… the town where TreePort was just a library…” “Things change Spike…” “Not the way their supposed to!” Spike snapped and shot up on his feet. He kicked the ground before walking over and sitting against the pale gravestone. He sighed and laid his head against the cold stone while slowly running his claw across the engravings. He didn’t have to read them… he knew them by heart… Twilight Shinning Sparkle Element of Magic, Celestia’s First & only Protégée Savior of the Known World, trice A wonderful friend & genius mind Bringer of the Era of Dawn, an Era of Innovation 984 NM.M. - 7 R.o.L. “You simply can’t put the sum of her life on a rock..." Rarity walked over to the pale gravestone and sat next to her love. "It’s too great and too long for it. No matter how many biography books they’ll write about her, none will ever due justice… and once the rest of the Elements fade… there’ll be none to tell her story…” Rarity sniffled as her mascara ran down her cheeks. She shuffled a bit closer to Spike and looked at bright and bustling city. “Things change Spike, I can’t say I like most of them but… you just have to make do with what you’ve got…” “And what if you don’t have anything anymore…” “… Then you make something out of nothing, dear… That’s the magic of this world…” “…” “Let’s head home Spike, shall we…?” “I don’t feel like going back to Equinox…” “I mean home Spike, home, not ship, home…” Rarity smiled. Spike got up on his feet and serenely smiled. He turned to help Rarity on her hooves and gave one last look at the stone. “I love you Twi’… don’t forget that without your number one assistant around…” Spike whipped away a tear before turning around and simply walking away. Vinyl slumped down the street, her head hanging low, as she dragged along an empty cup of hard cider. She’d left her shades back at the ship and just kept trudging forward. This used to be her home… still kinda’ is but…! OH, WHO the heck was she kidding!? This was no longer her home, she didn’t have a home… ponies always asked why she ditched her fame for a life in the skies she didn’t belong to… FAME?! That wasn’t fame it was hell! Deep within Vinyl’s heart a turmoil showed its first flame. The mare snarled at herself. She was nopony but a washed-up DJ that's who... “I hate you! I don’t want to see you anymore!” Her voice still rang in Vinyl’s head. She stiffened her jaw desperately holding back tears. She used to tell herself that every single night, that she wasn’t worth it, that she, herself, deserved better… always before crying herself to sleep… She was a failure… On their own, Vinyl’s hoofs stopped before a place she used to come to every single day and night, sitting, staring at the small, elegant statute spewing water downward in an endless loop. Her bright red eyes didn’t want to look up… they still did… “You always run, you never want to just sit and stay put for more than a millisecond!” Before her stood a life-sized statue made from gray stone. A mare whit an elegant mane and a small bow around her neck holding a cello… Vinyl slumped forward resting her chin on the cold, stone wall of the water basin. She looked forward to see hundreds of coins shimmering under the water. “It feels like you don’t love me anymore…” “I do…” Vinyl whispered to her memory. “I still do Ink's…” Vinyl sniffled as tears ran down from her bright eyes. She closed them. “It just isn’t working out, ya' know… and I… I can’t say I'm the Element of Honesty when it comes to love…” She opened the door. “I won’t say I’ll miss you... But at least now, you don’t have anywhere to run… Goodbye Vinyl… I still love you.” The door closed. “I love you too.” Vinyl turned away from the lifeless rock that reminded her so much of a living, breathing being… still out there, probably not even remembering a particular white unicorn… “To the end of the world and back… just to get you Inky… You’d be worth it…” Vinyl whispered before lifting her hoof to her tear-soaked face. A tiny red streak lined the bottom… it had come from an instrumental string… Unwittingly Vinyl felt herself falling into unconscious, right there at the statue. A single glimmer shone in the night… a golden plaque red: Inkarella Octavia Philharmonica Pie, Greatest Cello player of the Era. Loving wife of Vinyl Scratch, To prove the world that loving another mare isn’t a sin.
Chapter 5 - Waking WorldChapter 5 - Waking World Gilda leaned against a small post just on the edge of the worn dock of TreePort. Night had befallen on the metropolis, a glimmering starlight, like diamonds, lit the void above. Gilda breathed out. In her talon was a small emerald satchel, not even bigger than her knuckle, tied shut whit a fake golden string. As Gilda tossed it in the air just to catch it on its way down, the small bag let out a jingling sound as if it was filled with simple coins. It wasn’t. Gilda took another deep breath. The warm early-summer’s wind was rushing its way through TreePort, gently rustling the leaves creating a wondrous, unrepeatable tune. The griffon smiled. A small lantern hung above her, casting a weak light on the dock. An enchanted Blank Crystal was quietly sizzling and flickering from time to time, struggling to keep itself alive. Oh, how easily those petty enchantments wore off… Gilda closed her eyes and smirked. Just after the airborne satchel landed back in her talon she head hoofsteps. Gilda turned her head to the darkness of the dock as her golden eyes glimmered. A large figure was slowly moving towards her. Before the figure could notice, Gilda hid the satchel in the ruffled feathery storage on her chest. After a few moments of ominous silence the figure came into the weak circle of light. Tall, massive, wearing a red jacket and carrying a white pony over its shoulder… “Rover…” Gilda spoke in her usual tone, only a bit more quiet than usual. “I was wondering where you went.” Gilda smirked. “No police this time? Have you lost your edge ma’ man?” Bright neon green eyes gave a skeptical glare. “No. I wasss at tah bar when I saw te white one at ground of stone pony.” Rover replied in his usual, gravelly voice. “You mean… statue? Was it the one with the cello?” Gilda gave him an unimpressed look. “Wood thing with strings ya, ya. Can go to bed now?” Gilda sighed, but more compassionately than out of annoyance for the first time in her life. “Yea, get lost, you reek of rum. Just in the name of Celestia put Vinyl in her hammock, kay?” The hound grumbled in response and climbed onto the ship just to disappear in the hull, seconds after. Gilda sighed and mumbled. “Oh Vinyl… is there anything that could help you? Oh Luna, give me a sign...” Gilda looked upwards, into the night’s brilliant sky. Just as that, a meteor whizzed by, burning up in the atmosphere in seconds. “Well that was cliché…” Gilda laughed. She reeled back her head with smile just to see another figure approach from the shadows. “Stargazing?” came a cynical voice. “I'm not that kind of griffon.” Gilda smirked. “That’s my line.” “Are you a griffon then?” Gilda laughed as her eyes met with a blue and blank one. Pinkamena, a dull pink mare with a heavy, straight mane and a bronze leg that gave off a dose of high pressure stream with every step, stood before the tomboyish griffon. “You’re a bit late, arnch’ya?” Gilda smirked, but her eyes radiated warmth, even her cold golden hue had become softer, warmer. “I couldn’t tear her away from her friends just like that. And the other one latched onto me like an adorable little leach.” Pinkamena smiled and turned so Gilda could see the two softly sleeping fillies on her back. “Oh, come here big girl…” Gilda whispered as she lifted sleeping Scootaloo of Pinkamena’s back and placed the filly in her wing, like a cradle. “Can you help me take Dinkster inside?” “Sure, but then I have to run. I still need to get Twist back home and then I have to make a few tabs on how much Sparkler and Checkers ate.” “Oh… so they weren’t supposed to have take-outs?” Gilda looked surprised. After a round of silence the dull pink mare chucked in the same dry way she did hours prior. “Let them have it. You guys deserve it after all you’ve been through.” Pinkamena softly smiled and walked towards the ship whit the sleeping filly still on her back. Morning came with the adorable squeaks of a yawning filly. Gilda blinked her eyes open and was greeted by the early rays of Celestia’s sun. Curled under the griffon’s wing was a small orange pegasus filly with a fuchsia mane, commonly referred to as Scootaloo. She turned over on her back and took a long look at the griffon. Her smile radiated off from her pale purple eyes. “Good morning mommy.” She softly spoke. “Morn’n kiddo. Sleep well?” Gilda smiled and give the little pegasus a friendly nuggie. Scootaloo giggled and pushed Gilda’s talon away. “I haven’t slept this good in ages.” The filly beamed. “Well then how about a good sugary breakfast, hmm? Check’s accidentally snatched a wingfull of cupcakes from Sugarcube’s.” “Checkers would never do that!” Scootaloo laughed and rolled off the bed. Gilda cramped her talons on the wooden frame and leaned forward giving Scootaloo a ridiculous, yet serious expression. “A pony can change on an instant...” For a second Scootaloo’s face flashed a hint of doubt, but after that second she gave sly smile. “I’ve been with you for a long time mommy, those tricks don’t work on me anymore.” Gilda gave a satisfied grin and lifted herself off the bed whilst bonking her head on the wooden ceiling. She stretched out her massive wings and popped a few joints before folding them back down and fluttering a few hoofs to the ground. With that the two exited the captain’s quarters and joined the crew out on deck. “Soup’s up…” Vinyl groggily mumbled as she used her cobalt colored magic to place bowls on the makeshift table they’d always set up on deck. Half-beaten bowls of stuff somewhat reminding oatmeal and flower slid across the table, stopping just before every occupant. “Floury slop again!? For Goddess sakes we’re in EQUESTRIA, PONIES! Can’t a filly have a nice breakfast for once?!” Dinky cried out before pouting and chugging her spoon across the deck. Sparkler rolled her eyes and slumped on her seat. “I make do with what we’ve got Dink’s…” Vinyl replied with no emotion in her voice before placing her hoof against her temples and closing her bag-rimmed eyes. “Good grief, I am never drinking again… Goddess flipping dam hangovers…” she muttered before crashing her head onto the table with a loud bang. The crew shrugged. At least they knew Vinyl had a sweet tooth, she always made everything with sugar, and sugar could make ever the biggest mess edible. This time it wasn’t the case… Just as every creature had taken a spoonful of the mushy breakfast… a shower of spit and oats rained upon them as everyone began to rub their tongues and gag. “Grade A emergency, everyone evacuate to the nearest café or restaurant, that’s an order!” Gilda managed to shout out before scratching her tongue with her sharp talons trying to get the vile taste off her taste-buds. “Vinyl you idiot, you’d put slat instead of sugar in this horrid mess!” Gilda fumed before sticking her tongue out in the air with a grin. “Wha?” Vinyl lifted her head with a yawn. “What did I miss? Where’s everypony?” Gilda’s eye twitched. “You know what? Forget it. Scoot?” Gilda turned to see the filly licking wooden pole that hosted the crow’s nest. “What in the world are you doing?” “Splinters taste better…” Scootaloo mumbled. “Come on Scoot, let’s go…” Gilda muttered before grabbing the filly and pulling her away. “But… splinters…!” Scootaloo mumbled before being dragged off the skyship. “Good grief, close your mouth kiddo, we’re in public.” Gilda laughed as she watched Scootaloo stuff her mouth full of cupcakes and muffins and loudly chew whilst constantly opening her mouth, raining crumbs all over the table. “Youmf shure youff don’t wanst anyh?” Scootaloo managed to mumble, spraying pieces of bread all over. “Nah, I don’t feel like it after that horrible, horrible mess…” Gilda shuddered and sipped some espresso from an ugly, pink, porcelain cup. “I thought you had some sweets back at the ship.” The two turned to see none other than Pinkamena. The mare had her usual, sly smile and her curtain like mane fell over her blue eye and made her look somewhat ominous. “Yea I thought so too but apparently one of these idiots was sleep-eating.” Gilda chuckled and flicked a crumb off the table. “I heard about the salt incident, thought you’d be the one pulling it off, not Vinyl.” Pinkamena smirked. “Hangover’s girlfriend, they do the craziest things to you.” The two creatures giggled and Scootaloo looked clueless. She swallowed hard and spoke up. “I don’t get it?” “You’ll get it when you're older.” Gilda smiled and ruffled the filly’s mane. Pinkamena smiled for a moment before getting serious. “Can I have a word? Gilda?” “Uhh… sure. When you’re done find Checkers, kay Scoot?” The filly nodded with her mouth full, and attacked another, rainbow colored, cupcake. Gilda walked away smiling. Pinkamena went through the employee door and into the kitchen where she pointed to a large freezer room. Gilda shrugged and followed the mare. As they went it, Pinkamena closed the door and just stood still as the griffon looked around in awe. Ice cream and frozen batter and frosting lined the metal shelves, next to stacks upon stacks of ice blocks. “Cool…” Gila muttered before turning back to Pinkamena, her breath making small clouds of frost as she spoke. “So what is this about Pink’s?” “You know me, Gilda. I'm just concerned about Scoot… You know that Dashie and I were best friends… If it hadn't been for you she’d be...” “And if it wasn’t for Dashie, neither of us would be standing here talking to each other.” “Who said a single mare can’t change the world…” Pinkamena slowly shifted her weight before looking back up at the griffon’s golden eyes. “We both knew two…” Gilda whispered. Pinkamena smiled and turned to open the freezer’s metal door. “Scoot’s in good hooves… I just needed to make sure.” Pinkamena pushed open the door with and hiss of air. “Four years Pink’s. I haven’t changed.” Gilda regained her arrogant tone and smirked. The mare shot a look back and let out a single chuckle before simply walking away. Gilda walked back out into the café just to find Pinkamena long gone. She shivered just to shake off the cold feeling of the freezer. She looked around for a moment to spot a group of her crewmembers. At one table, sat Checkers, Sparkler, Dinky and Scootaloo who were fighting over a muffin. At the other, sat Rover and Vinyl with about seven cups of coffee and bottle of aspirin. And… Spike. Gilda flashed a devilish smile and walked over to table number dos. In a matter of seconds the griffon lurched forward and slid onto the couch just next to Spike, pushing the dragon against the window and making him fling his doughnut in the air. The other two flinched and Vinyl nearly crushed her paper coffee cup between her hooves. “Miss me?” Gilda arrogantly smirked and caught Spike’s doughnut before it was on the floor. As the dragon tried to push her away she simply placed her claw behind her head and relaxed, using the struggling dragon as a pillow. But Spike was smarter than that. He stopped struggling and jumped aside letting Gilda fall backwards. Just as that, the small dragon twirled in the air and sat down on her chest and nipped his doughnut back, while smiling just as arrogantly as Gilda. “At least training you wasn’t a waste.” Gilda smirked with a huff before pushing Spike off her and sitting upright. She reached over and snatched one of Vinyl’s coffee’s to which she replied with a hiss. “Mine!” “Shut your yap Vinyl.” Gilda casually pointed out and sipped some coffee. “Dear Celestia, this thing is awful.” Gilda grinned before taking another long sip. “Horrible, horrible.” She sipped again. “Worst, in the world! Geez…” She emptied it out and threw it on the table, before turning to Spike. “So, where were you last night, scalewad? I was up till forever to make sure Scoot got home, didn’t see you.” “Oh, me? I was uhh… I went to the graveyard and I met Rarity there, so we talked and then I went to her house to sleep on the couch.” Spike quickly ended with a forced toothy smile. Gila raised her eyebrows with a small smile. “Ya-huh. Nice try but I can see the hickey on your neck. I’ve been to flight school, kid, I'm pretty sure I know what that means.” Gilda’s smile widened a bit while Spike’s pupils shrunk to the size of crumbs. He stretched out his neck to try to get a look while the table dipped in silence. A few moments past as the dragon’s eyes darted from one crewmember to the next. After that the other three exploded with laughter. All of them fell over, banging their claws and hoofs against the table, whipping away a stream of tears of laughter. Spike just sat there as red as the Gildedale flag. Vinyl was the first to regain composure. She took a few raspy breaths and forced out a sentence through a veil of laughter. “So… so-so-so! What did you do? Bwahahaha! So, so what did you do? Need any help on that front, me and Inky used to do some nasty stuff, I can give you a few tips if ya’ want! Bwahahahahaha!” She managed to push out before laughter overtook her. “How many rounds did you and pony go?” Rover spoke up after most of the laughter had died down. “Me and bloodbrothers used to compete on how many bitches we could nail-” “Rover!” Gilda threw an empty paper cup at the diamond dog. “Watch your tongue, we’re in a café not a bar!” she hissed. “Whaaat? Bitch is female hound…” He just shrugged. Gilda gave him a stern look before turning and looking behind the back of the large cushioned seat. Just as she peeked over the back, she saw a pair of ponies and small colt sitting between them, all of them hosting a confused expression. Gilda gave an awkward smile before sliding out of view and slumping down on the seat. “Ok, all of you seriously need to learn some manners, kay?” She gave a single glare to each of the crewmembers before looking around to find half of the occupants staring at them with mixed expressions. “Alright you know what?! Let’s go!” Gilda notably got up and pulled out a couple of bits from the bulk of feathers on her chest and threw them between the empty paper cups of coffee, before grabbing the three and pulling them away to the other table. “Alright-o, chop, chop get off your flanks and let’s get a move on!” Gilda clapped her talons startling the rest of her crew who were casually sitting around. “Right, then… Checkers?” “Yes Gilda…?” “Here…” Gilda dug around in the feathers on her chest and pulled out a piece of paper and a pen and then threw them both over to the changeling. She turned over to Dinky and Vinyl and continued. “Both of you, make a list for what you need, roughly a week’s worth of food and any ship parts we can get on the cheap. We’re going to Talos baby!” She snapped her fingers and turned an 180° to Rover and Spike. “You're coming with us.” “What! Why?” The two of them shouted in union. “Just cuz, I'm captain, do my bidding.” Gilda smirked. “Also Rover’s a walking forklift and that’s the only reason I keep him around.” She added. The hound opened his mouth to argue but was stopped by a pat on the kneecap. He turned to see Spike slowly nodding. “She has a point you know…” Rover grumbled but said nothing. “Ok, for the love of Celestia tell me what else you can stuff in those feathers.” Sparkler mumbled as she walked by Gilda’s side down the industrial alley. The griffon had already produced a notebook’s worth of papers, a quill, two pens, a few pins, a flint and steel, about a 100’s worth of bits, a few screws, a tiny screwdriver and a tiny vial of 300 bit worth of perfume which ‘wasn’t hers’ from the ominous feathery-storage on her chest. “Ya’ know… I think its Pinkamena’s doing. Some of her crazy, physics-defying magics’ may have rubbed off on me, so it’s better not to question it if you don’t want the universe to implode.” Gilda spoke while calmly patting Sparkler on the head which received an annoyed growl. “Mom?” Scootaloo peered out from Sparkler’s back. “Why do we have come along?” Gila looked at the filly. Then at the rest in front of them. Spike and Rover were arguing as usual and Dinky and Vinyl were circling Checkers like vultures trying to get the poor changeling to write down everything they were saying. “Good point Scoot…” “Gilda?” “Yea, Sparkler?” “Cant I just take the girls somewhere? Like… I dunno to see Sweetie or whatever.” “Sweetie has lessons…” “How didya know?” Scootaloo butted in. “Oh, I… I ran into Fluttershy yesterday, she told me all about what the Crusaders Extended were doing.” The griffon smiled. “Will I be able to see them again before me go?” “‘Course you will, Scoot.” Gilda turned forward. “How about you and Sparkler go get some ice-cream and head to the park, hmm?” “What about Dinky?” Sparkler spoke up. “Have you even heard Dinky taking about all those gears and parts she needs? Medium this, four inch that, seven hooves in diameter that, BAH! Half the time all I can make out is ‘steel’, ‘bronze’ and ‘need’! We can’t go shopping without her, alright? But the kid doesn’t mind… she loves it… I’ll make it up to her alright Sparks? Pinkie promise.” The griffon smirked. Sparkler blew her mane out of her face before saying anything. “Fine.” “Alright-o then!” Gilda clapped her talons before reaching into her chest and producing a talonful of copper bits. The mare took the money with her raspberry magic and turned down the next alleyway while Scootaloo energetically waved goodbye’s to her mom. “So? We all set?” Twilight was among the crew of Equinox as the streetlamps of the city lit up whit a buzz. The entire group was burdened with various supplies collected from all around the merchant district. As the odd bunch trudged how they were greeted with various looks. Most likely for the fact that a ten-year-old filly was walking amongst a griffon with obvious carnivore and militarily-clan type of markings and a seven hoof tall diamond dog, and all of them were carrying notable equipment mean for the skies. In short-term: swords, cogs, and food - probably not mean for children under fifteen… “Hey mom!” Out of nowhere an adorable, squeaky voice appeared right in front of Gilda. The griffon flinched and stumbled backwards into Spike, knocking him over into a pile of bags and boxes. The innocent, discordant child just smiled and stood there as Gilda got back up on her feet. Both her wings were stretched out like giant cradles hosting various objects like ropes and boxes of small fragile thing-a-ma-bobbers Dinky had described as ‘ignobleness, quinquangular quantum defibilator escalators’ whatever the hell those were… “Scoot you little devil, you scared the coffee out of me!” Gilda hissed at the filly. She, however, didn’t even flinch, and just kept a satisfied smile. The griffon let a single chuckle before turning around to see a pile of stuff that once was Spike. “Come on scalewad, I want this on deck before nightfall.” The pile stood still. “Scalewad?” … “Spike? You alright?” … “I think he’s dead.” Scootaloo innocently poked the pile of junk. Just as that the objects shifted and large purple claw burst through, raining nuts and bolts all around. “GAH ZOMBIE! SAVE ME DASHIE!” The filly screamed and jumped backwards for cover, drawing a few laughs from the rest of the crew. “Look who decided to join us.” Gilda slowly clapped her talons as her voice flashed a tint of mock. The purple dragon slowly emerged from his tomb with a scowl. “Hardy-har-har, Gilda, very mature of you… Now help me get all this junk back together!” the dragon grumbled and turned around to the pile of bags and boxes. “Why do we need all this stuff anyway? We’ll be in Talos in a week…” “Stuff’s cheaper here than in the Black Market, alright? Besides… I have something planned for youz’ guyz’.” Gila smirked and walked over to help Spike with the supplies. “Hey Vinyl?” “What? I kinda’ have my hooves full.” The DJ mumbled at her captain. “I know, I know, but can you whip out your records?” “Why in the world would you need to-” “Remember that one trick that one ibex nomad taught you?” “Yea…?” “Use it, genius.” After a long pause the DJ sighed and closed her eyes. Her horn lit up bright cobalt and three big record disks popped in existence. Within seconds she used them to scoop up the pile of supplies without even breaking a sweat. A sly smile graced her lips.
