Her Majesty's Furtive Favour
To conceive such an impractical idea was insane. To act on it even more so.
That was all that crossed my mind as I listened out for the final call of the stationmaster. All the while being pricked by the shrubbery that concealed me..
"Last call for the final train to Horseshoe Bay!" The gruff voice cut through the dead silence of the night. Other than the stationmaster and the pony who had chosen to doze off behind the ticketing counter, there was nobody around to hear to that call. Well... almost nobody.
That's my train.
"Technically, it isn't."
Reminding myself that the superfluous voice of my Aura would be something I would have to get used to again, I pulled back the shrubbery, providing myself a clear view of the station platform and the colourful train that was soon to depart.
"All aboard for Horseshoe Baaaay!!" The stationmaster cried out once more, as if in hope that there would actually be somepony that would adhere to his commands.
"I wouldn't bother if I were you, friend." A lanky colt smart in a conductor's uniform alighted the sleeping locomotive, "These carriages are emptier than Appleloosa's old reservoir."
The stationmaster grunted, "Anypony who thought it was a good idea to leave 'sprobably gone by now." His gaze went the length of the deserted platform, "Wasn't this way a coupla' weeks ago."
With a tip of their caps, both ponies bid each other farewell. On a couple of echoed words, the railed machine groaned to life, puffing the smokey remnants of sleep from its metal snout. The stationmaster disappeared indoors while the conductor returned to the cozy carriages of an empty train. The sleeping ticket collector barely flinched and the platform was finally empty.
And it was a better time than any.
As the wheels of the railed beast squeaked into a slow churn, I allowed the ear-grating sound to cover my own racket; I dashed from the bushes and made for the rear platform, no more than a leap away from the last carriage. I chucked my backpack over the railing of the coach, preparing to take the jump myself.
I stopped.
In a second's hesitation, I spun round and took the extra step to the ticketing counter. Another few seconds' fishing for a ticket's worth of bits and placed them softly on the counter. Without waking the snoring colt behind the glass panel, I slid them under it.
I smiled to myself and my silly sentiment as I sprinted for the sluggish train, leaping for the last car of the final train out of Ponyville.
Ducking behind the shadow of the railing, I watched as the quaint little village that I knew too well shrunk in the distance, until it vanished behind the walls of the mountains. And for the second time, I was leaving my most familiar location in Equestria for new and unknown places. With next to no knowledge of what could be waiting for me. But I did have time to ponder it. I knew the shores of Equestria were quite a way from the mainland. It's a shame they had no planes.
The muffled hiss of the train woke me with a start, bumping my head for the third time that trip against the bed's fixtures. I left it to throb, as I stumbled for a window. With my breath against the glass, I looked out at the world, so different from the heart of Equestria; I watched the night creep towards the tip of an endless ocean. I saw the quiet waves throw themselves onto the shores and piers of a thriving trading town. Like an overzealous child, I grinned to myself. Horseshoe Bay was beautiful.
Given how there was nopony on board, I had taken advantage of the only conductor's laziness of leaving most of the train unsupervised and set up camp in the last boxcar. I kept my baggage in the overhead compartments and in plain sight. Living on a sandwich a day between two berths of a boxcar was not the greatest way to travel, and sleep did not come easily. The anxiety and excitement in me grew, along with the concern for the Mane Six. I even mulled over the possibility of them being on the return trip right now, perhaps even bumping into each other at Horseshoe Bay.
But that hope would quickly fade. As soon as the conductor set hoof off the train, I darted towards the docks.
Celestia's royal vessel was not one of the ships tied to the harbour; ships that were from another era entirely. Not those with multiple horse-powered engines but frigates that I knew carried cargo and cannonballs. They lined up next to luxury vessels, some of which I had learned had the ability to turn into an airship at the push of a button. But all were docked for the hard times, and none of them the gold-encrusted vessel of her Majesty.
The harbor itself was a sight to behold. Where I grew up, the beach was a rarity, and the liners always reeked of the smell of oil and machinery with nothing more than monotonous freighters passing by. But not here. Here, the water was a mirror for the stars and the moon, the harbour, curved in the shape of a horseshoe, was still packed with ponies, dressed so differently from those in Canterlot and Ponyville. The night was still young, as ponies dressed like what I deduced to be either merchants or pirates walked among their rich yacht-owning counterparts. Traders haggled over prices of the diminishing goods that were coming in, less and less each time. Every building and street corner was lit with the warm light of an oil lamp, shedding blocky shadows of the square stone houses that were built above them.
I was far from inconspicuous, strolling into town. But I couldn't care less about it as I tried to take it all in, keeping in mind I had to swiftly make a departure.
"A boat." I said to myself as ponies continually distanced themselves from me, "I need to find a boat."
But not all ponies had this silly xenophobia. Apparently, I had earned a name for myself among Equestrians. Hushed whispers followed me down the twisted streets to the seaside.
"That's 'im! The last human in Equestria!"
"I thought they were all myths and legends!"
"He's friends with a lot of important ponies, you know."
"I heard this one talked to a dragon once! Sweet Celestia!"
I could feel my face grow redder with each comment. I quickened my pace for the harbour station, just overlooking the rows and rows of boats that barred the view of the sea. There, a pony with a heavy load on his back as well as accent squabbled with a cranky old colt behind a counter. I waited my turn, overhearing some comments about restricting travel to and from Horseshoe Bay. It all ended quickly with the opposing party spitting a big blob on the damp counter and countless cusses of unknown origin.
I took my turn, taking care to have a nicer tongue with the colt.
"Excuse me-"
"Wha'dya want, bloody upwalker?" The colt with a thick grey beard snorted without even looking at me.
"I'm looking for the harbour master." I persisted.
"Yer lookin' at 'im. So whad'ya want?"
"Are there any ships heading out to sea soon? Preferably to... Avia?" I gave a nervous grin.
The old pony froze, locking steely eyes on me. A glare of anger and disbelief spread quickly across his wrinkled face.
"You what?!" He spat.
"Yeah... to Griffin country." I kept smiling.
"Are you mad? Or 'ave you just lost the will t'live?" He chuckled, "Either way, there's nothing I can do for you, two-legger. Harbours closing off tonight."
"What?!"
"Can't you see the ships?" He gestured at every single boat that blocked any sign of water, "Do they look like their going off anytime soon?"
"I'll make it worth your while, even to Griffin country." I calmly persuaded, trying not to draw attention of a crowd.
"Oooh, on any other day, maybe." The pony leaned over the counter, inches from buttiing his snout into my face, "But the Princess surely wouldn't like that."
I stopped breathing, "The... The Princess?"
"That's right. They're locking up Equestria snug. The Godess of the Night is out and about as we speak." He proceeded to point of into the distance, "So if you've got a problem with commands from royalty, I'd suggest taking it up with them, sir."
My face was no longer red. All colour had drained from it. I looked down the path to see a tall dark Alicorn, flanked by two Royal Nocturnal Guards walking down the bay. They were here.
I bolted, leaving the harbour master to chuckle at himself. Without hesitation, I darted through through the harbour town, twisting through more alleys than I cared to count, hoping so dearly that the Princess had not seen me.
Stiff and out of breath, I dove into a shadowy corner, ducking behind two barrels. I almost prayed that she would go away, but I soon learned in Equestria that praying was a surefire way of letting Gods know where you were, let alone use magic to hide.
I didn't budge from my spot, not knowing when it would be safe to move, yet in the end I did not have to move at all.
"Surely," came a resounding voice from down the alley, "A Godess can see past mere barrels?"
Knowing that voice all too well, I felt like every idea built up to this point was torn down in seconds.
Not wanting to disrespect the Princess, I cautiously rose from my hiding spot trying to avoid eye contact, fearful of what an omnipotent being could do to anyone who disobeyed them. Luna, whose power obviously prevailed at night, look down at me, bearing with her an ominous aura.
"P-Princess Luna..." I greeted sheepishly, thought not moving from the wall of protective flimsy barrels between me and her, "What a coincidence meeting you here, your highness."
"I am inclined to ask you the same, Conway." Her stern expression pierced right through me.
"I... can explain... though you probably already know why I'm here..." I kept my head down, unsure whether my face was pale with fear or red with embarrassment.
"It does not take a Goddess to reach that conclusion." She retorted.
I looked around the alleyway, half hoping to find a means of escape. But no, I had run right into a tight dead end without so much as a sewage hole. But her guards were no longer present, and I could at least be thankful for that. Tonight was obviousI wly not the night to convince the Princess, yet at the same time I was determined not to give in and go back home. I was so close to making it off Equestria scot-free! I was not ready to give up just yet, even if it meant disobeying Luna. I put on as straight a face as I could under the circumstances, swallowed my shame and returned Princess Luna's firm gaze. I was not going to willingly go back now, and I made sure she knew it.
"In that case, your majesty, you should also know that I have no intention of going back."
Then came a moment of utter silence. In the alley, it felt like the busy streets behind the Princess had completely emptied. Not a single murmur rose from the street corners or houses and the clutter hustle and bustle seemed to have ground to a halt. In that moment, it felt like only me, challenging the orders of the Goddess that stood before me. I knew this spell all to well. Along with their celestial auras, the Princesses could make the bravest of ponies shrivel up into a cowardly heap with just their presence if they so desired. It was indeed intimidating, but with a unique aura of my own, I could be aware of it.
And then slowly, her corners of her mouth rose. The intimidation quickly lifted and to my utter surprise, Luna let out a small dainty chuckle. This was more jarring to me than first crossing paths with her here at Horseshoe Bay.
"Oh, Keith," she approached me in a much more friendly manner now, "That is as much your intention as it is mine."
"Uh... pardon me, Princess?" I asked, slightly confused. Behind her, I noticed the town come back to life. Such was the power of an Alicorn's gaze.
"'Tis true what the harbour master said. I am here on official business." She turned back towards the busy streets, beckoning for me to follow, "But I'm here for more than that reason alone. Fear not, you will soon come to understand."
I hopped over my cover and followed suit, returning to the roads of a closing harbour. It was only then that I noticed that, on either side of the valley, the two Royal Nocturnal guards stood. And just as we set hoof and foot into the open, the ponies fell on their knees in greeting of the Princess. And although I've been in the presence of important ponies long enough to have grown accustomed to this gesture, I was still not used to it.
"With our ports closing off, many of our valued resources and goods will become quickly scarce." Luna spoke quietly to me, nodding for her subjects to take leave, "It will be living like the days of Equestria's disunion; a dark time for our land. It unsettles nopony as of the present, but soon... very soon, it will."
I quietly kept pace beside the Princess, heading towards the shoreline. Her guards not too far behind.
"We must put an end to this soon, Keith Conway, or there'll be more repercussions than even we can manage."
"I whole-heartedly agree, your majesty." I said, "And I plan on doing something about it."
"You?" The Princess paused in her trot, "The last known human in Equestria? Human, I know for certain that you have barely spent a season under Sir Rook's training, you have yet to fully control your mysterious form of magic and you are very often swayed by your friends and feelings to do what is right!"
"With all due respect your highness, you make it sound like I never survived that way before at all." I smirked.
"You leave me wondering whether your brashness is due to valiance or cheekiness." The Princess carried on, shaking her head, "Still, I feel that there is something you can do. Something that even my sister cannot know about."
Tonight was just full of surprises for me, "Me, your majesty? How so?"
The two of us stopped walking at the edge of the harbour. There were few ponies here, and it had the last open docking space for a vessel. However, none have even tried to take the spot, and there was a good reason why. Engraved on a a gold plague by the side read "Princess Celestia's Royal Vessel".
"My sister knows little of your activities of late." Luna went on, "As far as she knows, you are still at your home in Equestria. Fret not, I shall not tell her of your presence here either."
"And what does that mean for me, Princess Luna?"
"It means," she turns to me, speaking lowly and seriously, "that you still have plenty of time to embark."
The feeling of relief rushed over me as a grin spread across my face. Was a Princess not only allowing my actions, but encouraging them? This was far beyond what I originally expected! Or perhaps that was what she meant when she last spoke to me at Canterlot...
"Lun- er... your majesty, are you telling me..."
"You should know by now that I often disagree with many of my sister's political choices. It is admirable of her to be so disciplined in her following of the laws of our ancestors. Yet sometimes, I fear she is not hasty enough to make the most important decisions. And when she finally does, it often leaves Equestria in a worse state than if it were done sooner." She smiled, "That is why I intervene. And this occurs more often than you think."
"Princess Luna, I had no idea." The thought of two godlike omnipotent beings disagreeing never occurred to me. To my knowledge, it only happened once, and that ended up with one of them on the moon.
"So, here is what I foresee, human." The alicorn strode confidently in the moonlight, "I do not know what you will do beyond this land beneath our hooves, nor do I have much control of it. But both of us are certain that your utmost wish is to save or protect your friends. Nonetheless, I wish to ask of you one last thing."
"Princess," I began, feeling a new wave of excitement come over me, "are you, the almighty Goddess of the Moon, asking I, the one and only human in Equestria, to carry out a favour for you? I, a human being that is incomparable in strength to even a filly, let alone a Griffin?"
"I trust in your judgement and actions, human. You've proven yourself to be much stronger in... other areas of expertise."
"'Usage of opposable digits' is not an area of expertise, your highness."
"You jest now, but there's a power within you that even us Alicorns fail to comprehend. But let us not digress."
With a nod towards her two guards, they dart off into the night, camouflaging perfectly in the starry sky.
"Keith, how did you intend on departing from Equestria?"
"Honestly, I was hoping I could just hitch a ride on a boat." I blushed, "And if needed be, I would have stolen one. But I would have paid for it, I swear!"
"One cannot simply go around paying and thieving forever, silly human." She mocked, "And any form of ship will take far too long. It would take you a week at least, given that the winds favour you. No, this will not do."
"Well, I see no alternative Princess. And in light of what you just told me, I'm sure you wouldn't stop me."
"On the contrary, dear Conway." And for the first time ever, be it on television or in real life, I saw Princess Luna give the most mischievious look an Alicorn could give, "Perhaps I could suggest an alternative..."
Within twenty four hours, I had made it to Avia. Never in my life had I felt the temperature drop so quickly in an open chariot. A chariot, which I had the privilege of saying, was pulled by Princess Luna's personal night guards.
At a speed which felt like it could rival a plane, we made it. Greeted initially by a white wall of snow and hail, the outermost borders of Avia was where we made our descent. There was not much to make of it, as our vision was cut down by the howling icy winds. Already, I wished I hadn't underestimated what Gilda said about Avia, because Avia was beginning to look a lot like Hoth from Star Wars.
With some amazing skill on the Royal Guard's part, we landed somewhere in the blinding white, the wheels half submerged in the snow right on impact. Shivering on the brink of having a seizure, I hopped out of the Goddess of the Night's Royal Chariot, the last symbol of Equestria I would see. I trudged around front to the guards who didn't say a word the entire journey.
"Th-Thank you, Anvil. Th-Thank you, Hammer." I stammered my appreciation.
"The Princess would very much appreciate it if you and hopefully your friends returned alive, human." The one I assumed was Anvil replied. He turned his head to retrieve a sizable package from his saddlebag, wrapped in a piece of nightly-hued violet rag. He chucked it into my hands, all the while appearing at ease with the cold around him.
"Thanks, but... what is it?" I muttered, fumbling with the strange, wrapped, irregularly-shaped object.
"Her Highness, Princess Luna, gave us orders to bestow it upon you when you arrived. 'Til we meet again, human."
"I hope so too." I replied. And with a final bow from me to them, they turned unhindered by the thick snowy veil and darted off in the direction I assumed was Equestria. I stared off after them, gulping hard at the last sign of Equestria I would see in a long time. It was literally yesterday that I was walking among ponies on a warm coastal sea town.
And now here I was.
In the middle of a perpetual snowstorm.
I chucked the last minute package into my bag. Right now, the main priority was to get my bearings and find shelter. I instantly regretted not asking Anvil and Hammer about anything regarding Avia. I spun around to survey my surroundings and concluded that all my surroundings looked the same, and that I was completely and utterly lost. It really was a fool's errand to take this on alone.
SQWUAAWK!!
Suddenly, a faint sound was carried by the wind. A little screech that pierced the endless winds. I froze in more ways than one and wondered whether I should be relieved or worried if someone hostile actually found me. It grew closer, its high pitched notes careening through the icy walls around me. With a shivering hand, I placed a hand on the hilt of my sword, just in case.
FWOOOMP!!
An explosion of ice, sending chunks of it flying onto my face and clouds, as if I was not getting drenched enough. I quickly wiped the stinging water from my eyes to meet my attacker, fumbling for my weapon.
But there was no need.
Out of the veil came a Griffin, as I expected, but not just any Griffin. A Griffin with a small purple plume of feathers on her chest and a tint of it above her eyes. A Griffin it was, but I was extremely relieved to see this one.
"G-G-G-GIlda?"
"You chillin' out there, hairless monkey?"