The craggy scar of the earth was mesmerizing. Never before had Shiloh ever seen such natural desolate beauty. Along the horizon was a large thunderhead that frequently flickered with lightning as it hovered above the trees. She stood at the edge of a massive cliff with an ocean of trees below.
The beauty of the scene before her made Shiloh gasp in amazement. “So this is Ghastly Gorge.” She said aloud as she followed the river into the canyon. Minutes passed as Shiloh stood in complete awe of the grandeur of the view. The fog began to coalesce again and shrouded her sight once more. Shiloh carefully trotted to the edge and leaned her head over the cliff. Protrusions of rocks and branches litter the cliff face. Acting quickly to avoid losing sight of the world completely, Shiloh gently lowered herself over the edge of the cliff and onto one of the rocks that jutted from its side.
The rocks cut into her hooves as she began to descend the face of the cliff. Her heart was pounding as she lowered herself one protrusion at a time into the massive ravine. Several times she was forced to stop and calm her shaking body as it posed a threat to her grip. It took hours for her to completely make the descent, but only minutes for her muscles to begin to burn.
By the time she had made it to the bottom of the chasm her body felt as if it was on fire. Her breathing was heavy, and her adrenaline was rushing from the numerous times she had nearly fallen from the slippery rocks. She collapsed onto the ground and drew in the air in gulps as she tried to quell her shaking body. Too weak to stand to her hooves, she used her magic to lift the canteen from her saddlebag and pour the last of its contents into her parched throat. She took bag off of her back and set it onto the ground as she tried to keep herself from falling to sleep. The light from the sun was crimson as it slowly set into the horizon.
The roar of the waterfall was deafening, and the bottom of the chasm was littered with rocks. The air was stagnant and stale. The whole scene was desolate and devoid of life, save the few plants that could survive the perpetually dark canyon. “Hello?” she called out in a feeble voice. The rushing water trapped the noise and masked it with its own roar. Shiloh laid her head down onto the ground in desperation. How am I supposed to find the contact if I can’t even move? She thought to herself as she tried to stand. She fell to the ground and began to pull herself across the ground as she tried to distance herself from the deafening torrent. Her mind flashed back to the dry tunnel she had found the letter from Mach in. A firm resolve surged through her body. I must deliver the package. She thought as she painfully rose to her hooves and staggered into the canyon.
The crescent moon was overhead as Shiloh finally got far enough from the waterfall to try and call out one more. “Hello?” She shouted, her voice echoing off of the walls of the chasm and into the darkness. Moments later a dark figure rushed over the canyon against the dark blue sky. Shiloh readied herself as much as she could on the off chance the newcomer was an assailant. The form arced down into the canyon and rocketed toward the ground. The figure landed just a stones throw away from her with a thud. It was a pegasus.
A cloud of dust rose from the ground around the stallion as he absorbed the tremendous speed with his knees. He paused for a moment before looking at Shiloh and rising to his full stature. A dark leather vest was draped over his light blue coat. His grey mane had been teased by the wind, giving him a disheveled look. Shiloh met his stare and prepared to vanish if he attacked.
“Who are you?” Shiloh asked as she kept her distance from the pegasus.
“I could ask you the exact same question.” He responded with an unwavering expression.
Shiloh thought for a moment. How can I ask him if he is the ‘asset’? As she tried to devise a one sided question, the stallion spoke up.
“Do you have the package?”
“It depends on who’s asking.” Shiloh responded, still unsure if the stallion was part of the Solar Empire.
The stallion stretched his wings as he prepared to flee if his words would reveal too much. “I am an ally of the night. Luna may have referred to me as an ‘asset’.” He said as he closely watched Shiloh’s face.
“In that case, I do have a package for you.” Shiloh said as she lifted the paper package from her saddlebag and set it on the ground between them. I wonder if its contents have been broken? Shiloh thought as Blackbird knelt down and examined it. The brown paper that covered the container was torn, soaked, and wrinkled. His gaze shifted from the battered package to Shiloh. A concerned look was on his face.
“I sincerely hope it wasn’t much trouble to deliver.” Blackbird said.
Shiloh coughed to cover her laugh; nothing could be further from the truth. “There were some… minor setbacks along the way.” She said trying to downplay the torture she had endured through her journey.
Seemingly satisfied with her response, Blackbird turned his attention to the package and tore off the brown paper to reveal a brushed steel container with several deep scratches and dents. He looked at the latch that had been bent and contorted from the journey. With much effort he managed to pry the clasp free and gingerly open the box.
By now Shiloh’s eyes were riveted on the box she had nearly died to deliver. As Blackbird opened the box a layer of foam expanded out of the lid. He removed the protective layer and set it on the ground. Beneath it was a layer of dense shielding foam that had been cut to fit the contents of the box. In the largest partition rested a camera body. Next to it lay a massive telephoto lens along with at least a dozen rolls of film. A camera? Why in Equestria does he need a camera? She thought as she watched him carefully lift the body from the foam and attach the lens to it’s front.
Dear Asset
Included in this box is everything you need to accomplish your mission. Once it is complete, bring its results to me. Currently there is no pony with the kind of camera you possess. It has been retrofitted to withstand the extreme altitudes and velocities you will achieve during your mission. It is water resistant, and the lenses are hardened to resist cracking. Operation observer is go.
Signed, Luna.
Holding the viewfinder to his eye, he looked toward the distant mountains and turned the dial on the lens. His unwavering expression slowly turned into a grin as he zoomed in on the summit of the mountain. “Seven.” He said as he began to disassemble the camera and placed it back into the protective compartments of the box.
“I beg your pardon?” Shiloh asked.
Blackbird pointed to the white-capped mountain on the horizon. “Do you see that summit?”
“Yes.” Shiloh said, not understanding where he was going with his train of thought.
“There are seven mountain goats battling for the peak.” He said as he looked back at Shiloh.
Her eyes grew wide. “Could you see that far with the camera?” She asked, astonished at the power of the lens.
“That and more.” He said as he picked up the box and began to trot into the canyon. “Long live the Princess of the Night.” He said as he spread his wings and prepared to begin his mission.
“Wait!” Shiloh yelled, catching Blackbird mid down stroke.
Blackbird looked back at her with a raised eyebrow as he hovered off of the ground. “Is there something else?”
Slightly embarrassed Shiloh asked, “Do you think I could get a ride out of this canyon?”
“Absolutely.” Blackbird said as he flew over to Shiloh and hovered above her. He picked her up by the shoulders and lifted her a few feet into the air. He gave the package to Shiloh. “Hold the camera and brace yourself, this will be marginally intense.” He said as he began to pump his wings. Blackbird’s forelegs cut into her as they rocketed into the air. The ground raced from her hooves as they quickly ascended out of the canyon. As the treetops raced below her, a wave of dizziness struck Shiloh as they arced toward the ground.
As their hooves touched the ground, Shiloh collapsed and let out a laugh. Blackbird stifled a snicker as she tried to stand again, but only succeeded in falling to the ground once more. She rolled herself over and stared into the sky. “Give me as second for the world to stop spinning.” She said with a laugh.
“Where are you headed now?” Blackbird asked as he sat himself down on the grass next to Shiloh.
“I was told to lay low in Appleloosa until Luna needs me again.” she said as she slowly sat herself up and shook the dizziness out of her head.
Blackbird frowned in confusion. “Appleloosa is almost a hundred miles south of here.”
“There is a train that runs once a week from Ponyville to Appleloosa.” He said as he looked toward the bridge that spanned the gorge in the distance. “If I am not mistaken, it should cross the bridge in a few hours.”
“Does it stop for stragglers?” Shiloh asked as she laughed at the mental image of a train stopping for her as she stood on the tracks.
“That’s the tricky part.” Blackbird said as he met Shiloh’s inquisitive gaze. “You’ll have to jump onto the train.”
Shiloh played the situation over in her mind. After a long pause she responded, “Sounds doable.”
“If you would like, I can fly you over there, but after I drop you off, I’ll have to leave.” Blackbird said. “My orders were to conduct the mission as soon as I received the package.”
“What is your mission exactly?” Shiloh asked as she tried to figure out why she risked her life to give this stallion a camera.
Blackbird cocked his head at Shiloh’s translucency. “I’m sorry,” he started as a look of disbelief crossed his face. “I’m not allowed to divulge that, as it could endanger the life of several others.”
“Oh, right.” Shiloh said as her cheeks flushed red from embarrassment. A long silence followed before Shiloh worked up the nerve to speak again. “Can you take me to the bridge now?”
“Sure.” Blackbird said as he picked her up by her forelegs and flew, this time much slower, over the canyon. The trees rushed below her, passing what would have taken hours to hike in mere seconds. The two were silent as they raced toward the trestle. Blackbird began to slow to a hover, and then descended gently, out of courtesy to Shiloh.
Once her hooves touched the ground, Shiloh turned to face Blackbird. “Thank you.” She said as she looked at the pegasus.
“You’re welcome.” He said as he looked toward the crescent moon. “But I must go now. Maybe one day we will see each other again, but until then, long live the Princess of the Night.” With a powerful down beat of his wings, Blackbird rocketed into the air and disappeared into the darkening sky.
“Long live the Princess of the Night.” Shiloh echoed in a whisper as she wondered where he was off to. She trotted over to the trestle and laid her saddlebag on the ground beside her. I wonder where he’s going in such a hurry. She found herself thinking as she waited for the train to come. What if he is a spy, and is taking the camera back to Celestia? Her mind began to come up with many differing thoughts as she tried to decipher what he might be doing. Is he spying on a city? Is he just taking scenic pictures for Luna’s ship? She shook her head to dispel the rogue thoughts that whizzed by in her mind.
A loud train horn awoke Shiloh from her state of restfulness. Bolting to her feet she quickly tightened the saddlebag around her waist and prepared to board the moving train. She looked in the distance to see a faint star hovering over the tracks. That must be my train. She thought to herself as she stretched her legs. As it neared her she could make out the large black cloud of soot that loomed over the train, carrying flecks of orange burning charcoal into the air from the furnace deep within the train.
As it neared the trestle its brakes squealed as the engineer slowed the train to a crawl as it prepared to cross the chasm. Shiloh could feel the vibration of the train through the iron frame of the bridge as it entered the other side of the trestle. Hiding herself behind the thick steel beams that supported the framework, Shiloh waited for the engine to pass her. Moments later the massive black engine that pulled the rest of the cars sped past her. She pushed herself off of the metal and began to canter alongside the train. Shiloh began to lengthen her strides, as the train seemed to begin to slow down beside her.
Taking a fleeting glance behind her, she realized the caboose was almost beside her. Breaking out into a gallop, Shiloh prepared to make the jump onto the train. As the caboose passed her she used her foreleg to reach out and grab hold of the yellow railing on the tail end of the caboose. With her muscles screaming at her she took one final bound onto the running board of the caboose.
Shiloh took several deep breaths before she worked up the nerve to let go of the railing of the caboose. The wooden ties blurred together as the sped from beneath her. She looked toward the front of the train to see nothing but desert before them. Breathing a sigh of relief she pushed her saddlebag off of her back and sat down with her legs dangling off of the running board. She leaned her head back and rested it on her saddlebag. So this is what it feels like to be a hitchhiker. Shiloh thought to herself as she closed her eyes and smiled. I wonder what Appleloosa will be like.