//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: Skyway Airfleet // Story: My Little Steampunk: Steam Power is Technology // by TheCyberneticAlicorn //------------------------------// The mechanical suited pony had his eyes on Syn as he approached the group. “ So you accepted my associates proposal, I see.” He said, letting out a burst of steam from his suit “Actually sir, I’m here to hear the proposal” Syn replied The mechanical suited ponies head shoot around to glare at the pony who had told Syn to come here. The earth pony slinked back a little from the ponies glare. “I thought I told you to explain this ahead of time.” The mechanical one said “Well, I figured he would listen better if he was here already” The pony said with his head down The mechanical pony let out a sigh and returned his attention to Syn. “Because of my associates incompetence, it seems I have to explain this” The mechanical one said, shooting the pony another glare “Let’s start with introductions, I am Gearshift Clockwork IV, forth descendent of Gearshift Clockwork, original leader of the Clockwork Dominion” “ I’m Syn Thysis, Alchemist-in-training “ Syn replied “Luckily alchemy will not be required” Clockwork said “Now, are you familiar with the Skyway Airfleet.” “The travelling sky city of the Pegasus? What about them?” Syn replied “Last week we received a communication of General Stormwing about a week ago” Clockwork said “They requested an audience with a representative of the Clockwork Dominion to discuss a proposition” Clockwork walked forward towards Syn with burst of steam with every step. “I’m still not seeing what you need of me?” Syn questioned “The Pegasus have already tried to get us to vacate this city so they could use it as a repair port for the Airfleet” Clockwork said with a glint in his eye “I’m sure this proposition is just their way of trying again” Clockwork looked out the window, where he could see the Airfleet reflected on the horizon. He turned back to look at Syn “Now the reason I called you here is that I want you to talk to the Pegasus” Clockwork said to Syn “ The Pegasus and Earth Ponies have had a rocky relationship since my great grandfathers days, but the leadership of both sides are generally accepting when a Unicorn shows up” “So, you want me to speak to General Stormwing and see what the Pegasus want” Syn said, he eyebrow cocked “Affirmative” Clockwork responded “I set up the meeting with Stormwing, so the Airfleet will be here shortly” “Wait, what do I get out of this, why should I get involved” Syn replied “Ah yes, of course we didn’t expect you to do this for nothing” Clockwork said “ Once you return, we’ll will provide you with anything you need for your alchemy, provided it is within our power to provide” “Alright, I will see what I can do then.” Syn nodded The was a banging sound outside a the Airfleet stopped over the city and a lift was extended to the ground. “It seems the fleet has arrived” Clockwork said looking out the window at the looming flowing city above “Go on” Syn nodded and walked out of the capital building. Waiting by the lift were a pair of Pegasus guards clad in light weight mechanical armor. Clockwork had apparently told them ahead of time a Unicorn would be representing them as the Pegasus merely motioned for him to step onto the lift. He stepped onto the lift and looked up as the at the looming city on top of a giant aircraft. Around the city, its protector, a giant steam powered dragon, flew circles around it. The Lift Climbed slowly to the top as Clockwork Dominion slowly grew smaller and smaller. His sight was shortly blocked by the interior of the airship. The lift kept raising through the dark interior before it came to an opening to the City of Skyway. The city looked like a giant factory with nearby towers producing the clouds and various other buildings that looked dedicated to other means of weather. The main focal point was a largest building that resembled an army barracks. Syn didn’t have long to look before another pair of Pegasus guards approached and motioned for him to follow. The lead him inside the barracks where Syn could see the guards in the middle of training against a three headed mechanical hydra. Syn was lead into the main office overlooking everything else and was told to wait there. Syn wasn’t waiting long before General Stormwing appeared. Clad in full armor similar to the guards, but with a helmet and cape, Stormwing looked very imposing. The general took the helmet to reveal that she was female around his age with a dark red mane and royal blue coat. She placed her helmet down and looked up at Syn. “Alright lets get to this, I assume you know who I am” She said getting straight to it “Has Clockwork given and answer to my proposal” “That’s what I’m here for, he told me to come here and listen to the proposal” Syn said with a confused look “ I clearly stated it in the communication” Stormwing said with a puzzled look “I told he that we would allow him to use the sky for airway transport to and from Clockwork Dominion as long as they let us dock from time to time for repairs” “Well from what he told me, the Pegasus were trying to force the earth ponies to leave Clockwork Dominion, I never heard anything about airway travel.” Syn replied still looking confused Stormwing’s eye lit up when he mentioned what Clockwork had said like a spark of fury had been lit in her heart “That lying snake!” she said in an irritated tone “So he is the same as his father was” She stated pacing back and forth. Syn merely looked on, trying to asses what was going on “Mother told me he father was a liar and it seems the apple does fall far from the tree.” She muttered to herself “The Clockwork family has always kept the relationship between the Earth Ponies and the Pegasus rocky ever since his great grandfather started the dominion.” Stormwing turned her head towards Syn to see he was still looking confused “Oh, Sorry I was going off on a bit of a tangent” She said with a sigh “But really, he lied out right and set you in his place so that he didn’t have to confront me”