//------------------------------//
// Chapter 6 
// Story: Whatever Happened to Princess Sparkle? 
// by Algorhythm 
//------------------------------//


-6-


Quicksilver stared at the photograph in her hooves as the airship listed gently to the side. She was having trouble wrapping her mind around their task to essentially find and drag a unicorn back home. More dubious, is that they were not told what she took that was so imperative to retrieve.
The mare in the photo was relatively peaceful looking – she was of average build, maybe a little thinner than she should have been. A wide smile was plastered on her face as she played with the bottom end of a telescope. Her mane was lavender, with a stripe of light blue zig-zagging through it. Her tail was much the same, and both looked meticulously cared for. The cutie mark was a a star made from six diamonds, connected at one tip, placed over a swirl of wind.
"So... what are we after?"
Quicksilver looked up from the picture. The question came from one of her cabinmates, Willowisp. The batpony was laying on her bed, staring up at the empty bunk above her. Quicksilver placed the picture on the table and shrugged. "I wasn't really informed."
"Is that because you passed out?" Quicksilver blushed in embarrassment and she scrunched up her features into a scowl. Willowisp giggled. "Relax. I won't harp on it." Quicksilver raised an eyebrow. Willowisp rolled her eyes and set her gaze out the window. Her smile grew wider. "Much."
"It was the first time I've ever been in the presence of royalty! Aren't you the least bit concerned why we're doing this with barely anything to go on?"
Willowisp frowned. "Geez, they don't teach you apprentices much about following orders, do they?"
Quicksilver shot back, "From what I heard, you're quite the slacker."
"Am not! I was sabotaged!"
Golden Thread's head popped through the curtain covering the bunk above Quicksilver's. "Ladies, please be civil. This isn't a fast flight by any means and there is no need to get at each others throats."
Willowisp deadpanned. "That seems ironic coming from a seamstress. Why were you even included in the bunch?"
She raised an eyebrow. "If you must know, I was chosen for my perfect picture memory. It helps with my designs, as well as tracking down important ponies."
Willowisp stayed quiet at that. That was a useful skill to have. For their mission, it seemed like the appropriate decision to send her along. "I have Night Guard training under my saddle."
"I make potions?"
Willowisp paused. She scratched her chin softly. "Truth elixirs? Flytrap gum?"
"You mean can I make those?" That was absurd, of course. She had been trained to make all kinds of potions even on the fly – her mentor would be appalled at any assumption to the contrary. Her momentary confused look on her face turned to an excited smile. Quicksilver nodded. "Of course!" She levitated her personal journal out into the open air beside her. "I even have notes on minor adjustments and alterations I've discovered in practice. Well... Before I read the Advanced–"
Willowisp smiled and cut her off. "Good enough for me. Sorry about before."
Quicksilver set her book down and returned the smile. "Its alright. Although, if you get claustrophobic, maybe we should stay in a different room."
Willowisp looked at her funny. "Huh?"
"You seem to be having trouble keeping your cool – irritability – you have made frequent trips out of the cabin, and you had trouble sleeping last night. My best guess is that being in a space like this, especially suspended high in the air, makes you feel uncomfortable and trapped–"
Willowisp darted out of the room before she could finish. Gold looked down at the stunned unicorn below her.
"Next time, just offer her something."
"I... I was just trying to explain." Quicksilver blinked as a frown came across her face. Her ears flattened against her head. "Oh."
"Don't blame yourself. She'll be alright. Though I'm surprised that she has such a phobia. Batponies like cavernous homes."
Quicksilver looked up at her. "Did you study batpony history?"
"No," Gold said. She lay back on her pillow and looked over her hooves for chips or damage. "But  I did spend some time in Hollow Shades learning classical stitches."
Quicksilver nodded. She stretched out her forelegs and slipped out of her bunk. "Is that where you're from?"
"No, though I'm sure I wouldn't have minded. It has quite a vibrant culture and night life, for obvious reasons." Gold ran the same hoof through her mane and looked over at the picture. "It is probably one of the only places where most of the businesses are open all day and through the night. I think they just pamper their patrons."
Quicksilver giggled. "Where are you from, then?"
"Ponyville. Born there, raised in Canterlot. I've studied practically everywhere in Equestria, mostly before I became 'big'." Golden Thread dropped down to the floor and opened the door to the main hall. Quicksilver was right behind her, closing and locking the door to their room. "I found that Canterlot is my true home, although I visit Ponyville from time to time. It's a quiet town. I'm surprised it never became a city in all its years. Its certainly a popular destination for tourists and the like."
Up on deck, they noticed Willowisp flying around against the backdrop of the morning sky. She twisted and looped around some of the sparse clouds, occasionally kicking off of them as she passed by.
Quicksilver was particularly struck by how she was flying with her eyes closed. It was as if she was being led by blind faith and intuition alone to avoid her obstacles. It was concerning. If she closed her eyes in a flight, she was sure she'd be terrified. 
No, she thought. The danger that it constituted was too much for her to consider risking injuries.
"Dear?" Gold tapped her on the shoulder. "You can close your mouth. Willowisp simply has a knack for flying."
Quicksilver closed her mouth and cleared her throat. She blushed in embarrassment. Gold let out a little chuckle at the journeymare's expense, but Quicksilver figured it was good natured. They sat down on the deck of the ship and continued to watch their compatriot soar through the air above the ship.
Once or twice the Captain floated by, checking on the magical balloons on the sides of the ship. When he did, it drew her attention away from Willowisp. While most airships were designed with a large balloon holding up the ship by ropes, this one was designed to transport many ponies at once. Two large balloons filled with magically charged air sat beneath the hull of the ship along either side. Over the course of the trip it would let out tiny bits of the magic to push the ship forward. By the time they reached their destination, the ship would gently float down to the water, and coast into port. 
It was a rather ingenious design of Princess Sparkle, based on a magical fabric she and the legendary Rarity designed. This self repairing fabric fixed holes and cuts on its own and repelled water to prevent being bogged down by water weight. Combined with an initiative to increase global trade, Princess Sparkle helped to inspire regular airship travel all over the world. 
Of course, there were only official envoys and the pilots employed to the castle on this ship. One of three in the castle's fleet, this ship was top of the line, built by craftsponies at the height of their trade. Regular inspections kept them in pristine condition.
Willowisp passed by close to the ship, and she was shaken from her thoughts.
"It seems strange, doesn't it?"
Quicksilver jumped a little. She pressed a hoof to her chest before turning to face her companion. "What does?"
"Us? The three of us, I mean. We're so... different."
Quicksilver furrowed her brows. She couldn't stop her mind from drifting back to her earlier concerns. It was definitely strange if she continued to look at it as three random ponies sent on an unrelated quest. But, as they managed to figure out, there appeared to be reasons for them to be on this task. 
What was a little more concerning was the implication that they were an intended to be group. Almost like some friends out for a trip to France. She shoved that thought aside in her mind. She was too awkward to have that kind of relationship.
"We were picked for our talents, right? I suppose since that was the case, it wouldn't be that strange."
"Mmm."
They sat in silence for a moment longer, before Gold rose and brushed herself off. "I suppose I should see what Miss Cream Pop's cooking is all about. I think she's the lead cook on the ship today. I'm rather hungry after being shoved onto a flight so late last night."
Quicksilver nodded and watched her go down below deck. After a moment or two, she walked over to the banister and looked out at the ocean below. Horseshoe Bay was just behind the ship, which meant they had officially left Equestria.
She couldn't help but harbor some excitement along with her anxiety. She'd dreamed of going out in the world as a young child, absorbed in the stories in her books. But now? In spite of fulfilling her dreams, she was concerned on what she'd left behind.

--*--

A thousand years was a long time to be patient. Fifteen hundred years, had tried his insatiable will to no end, but now, after almost two thousand years, it had finally reached a boil.
Frustration was only an intermediary sensation. He had won once, long, long ago, and that dream that came crashing down when his pawn took control of the power it had been granted. Then opportunity came again, and once again, another thwarting that wrended it into two separate parts. 
Anger, he felt after he sensed that distant half succeed briefly, only to be utterly destroyed and scattered among the stars. The unbearable pain lashed upon it only festered that anger. But, yet... he continued to be patient.
Then came the destroyer – the ender of his certain place in this world. She ripped parts of him away  leaving him in agony he'd never imagined was possible. As his last home seemed inevitably destroyed, he was released to see the stars once more. 
The half of him that had been split away began to return to him, until the destroyer put a halt to his view.
"I think another piece will make this a sufficient find."
He slithered across the crystal darkness towards that horrible stench of light. That... pony creature had returned again to the caves. 
A low hum filled the caves as he shuddered. How he so desired to take him as his vessel, but he was unsuitable. He had tried to pierce his dreams, but his will was disturbingly well built. Trying any further would have alerted the four limbed being of his presence. He was too close to his goal to risk it.
The sound of a pick against the crystal brought momentary pain to him. The crystals in the cavern vibrated with ambient noise – unfortunately, pleasant to the pony's ears.
Again the pain. And again. Mercy was the creed of these things, yet here was one who had no such love.
"Dew, you have found perhaps the most pristine one in the bunch. This will last for quite a while," the pony said in the darkness. Since he was alone, it was safe to assume that was his name.
That recognition was fleeting as he felt the crystal containing a small part of him break away from the bunch. He writhed about, but this... Dewpony seemed to not care or notice.
"Come my sweet," said Dewpony. Even in his agony, the dark creature noted that a strange liquid was dripping from his mouth. "I have several potions with your name on the ingredients list. It will be a shame to have to grind down one as sweet as you."
Dewpony seemed happy to slide the chunk of crystal into his bag, unaware of the creature's rage building beneath the castle.
As Dewpony trotted back down the established path, the creature returned its focus to the task before him. But he swore that once he was Sunpony, he would destroy Dewpony and every other offender to his existence.
He would start with Dewpony. That was for sure.