Chapter 4: The Time Traveler
A falling mare didn't seem odd to Silvershot, since he saw random pianos fall from the sky because of Pinkie Pie's senses. Using his magical unicorn powers, he conjured up a mattress for Cookie Dough to land on top of. With a mighty thud, she fell on top of the mattress and giggled a bit from having too much fun from the fall.
"Thanks, Silvershot; I knew you would catch me," Cookie Dough said, thanking him as he helped her get up.
"It was no problem," Silvershot said back to her. "Just remember to bring a parachute, next time."
"Who is this Silvershot?" Applebloom asked her guardian.
"This is the famous cookie maker and seller, Cookie Dough. She's an old friend of mine."
"Ah shucks, stop flattering me you old goose." Cookie Dough blushed as she spoke.
"She kind of looks like Pinkie Pie, but Cookie Dough is brown. Are ya'll related?" Applebloom stared at Cookie Dough.
"We're cousins. Her father, who owns a rock farm, is a brother to my dad who owns a water treatment plant."
"But ya make cookies?"
"Yup, ever since I was a filly like you."
"Cookie Dough," Silvershot intervened in their small talk. "Sorry to interrupt, but what are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be heading to Ponyville to sell your world famous cookies?"
"I was but then Princess Celestia asked me to finance the trip for the Time Traveller and here I am."
Silvershot couldn't believe that Cookie Dough was rich enough to pay for the airship. In fact, Silvershot had never heard of an airship. He wondered how Cookie Dough could gain enough bits from selling cookies. Before he could ask how she could possibly pay for the trip to the Zebra kingdom, a lift lowered down from the side of the ship and offered Silvershot, Applebloom, and Cookie Dough a lift.
Cookie Dough got on the lift with a trembling and hesitant step; Silvershot and Applebloom stepped on as well and were whisked away into the hull of the ship. Applebloom was frightened by the sudden burst of speed and clung onto Silvershot's leg. He held onto her tightly as they were carried to a height of one hundred feet. The lift entered the inside of the ship as the two felt it slowing down.
When the lift touched the floorboards of the ship, the three ponies jumped off. Two of them were happy to get off of the dreaded moving machine. Silvershot looked around his surroundings to see what the ship looked like on the inside. Large moving cogwheels, wheels, and belts were powered by Earth pony stallions running on treadmills. Unicorns controlled the engineering factor of the ship by controlling the power output of the Earth ponies. The ship was being worked in perfect equilibrium with the races of the ponies, but where were the pegasi? Speaking of pegasi, where was Rainbow Dash?
"This is the engine room. Stallions and unicorns power the flying ship," Cookie Dough explained as she guided her friends along a pathway. "Everypony here gets a job to do so we'll find jobs for you two when we find the time. Let's go up these stairs to the deck!"
Cookie Dough, who was excited to show Silvershot and Applebloom the Time Traveller, disappeared in a cloud of smoke. A trail of it led to the staircase on the far end of the pathway, which led to the deck of the ship.
Silvershot and Applebloom followed this trail to deck of the Time Traveller and entered the busy deck. As they pushed open the door to the deck, carts carrying boxes whizzed past them and nearly hit them. He grabbed Applebloom and jumped out of the way of the pushed cart, landing with a perfect flip to the floor.
"Nice reflexes, Silvershot," Applebloom applauded.
"That was nothing. At least you are safe," Silvershot said.
Silvershot found out that the cart was pushed by a pony who carelessly forgot to apply the brakes. He yelled at the pony for not thinking straight until Cookie Dough stopped him.
"It's okay Silvershot," Cookie Dough said, calming his tirade down. After making sure he was calm, she turned to the irresponsible pony behind her. "Kitchen duty, one night shift, go!"
The pony wilted his head toward the ground and walked away to the kitchen under the deck. With the problem settled down and the other shipmates back at work, Cookie Dough took the role of the guide again and led Silvershot and Applebloom to the captain of the Time Traveller.
The captain did fit the description of an airplane pilot and a ship captain together: he had an aviator's hat on top of his yellow spiky mane and a sailor's medal of honor pinned onto his brown coat.
"Gentlecolts, mares, please clap your hooves together for our honorable captain, Captain Finnegan Fantasma!" Cookie Dough said as she thrust her hooves towards the captain.
"Please, Cookie Dough," the Captain begged. "Just call me Finn. Silvershot? Is that you?"
He nodded in response to Finn's question. Finn smiled at him and dropped the steering wheel to go hug him. He hadn't seen Silvershot since he attended Aviation school when they were colts. Silvershot was happy to see his old classmate again. He expected Finn to be with the Wonderbolts because of his high grades and flying abilities during Aviation school. He wasn't expecting him to be piloting a cargo ship.
"You already know how I'm doing, but I'm wondering about you. What are you doing here on my fine ship?" Finn asked Silvershot.
"I'm here, with this little one Applebloom," Silvershot said while pulling Applebloom close to him, "and a mare named Rainbow Dash who is somewhere near here, to go to the Zebra kingdom to look for an answer to the mysterious virus."
"I'm just pulling your leg man. You don't have to be so formal, King of Venturia. Just say the word and we'll head off."
"Preferably now would be best."
"Good, I hated just sitting here and doing nothing." Finn, with his wings that were on his sides, rang a bell next to the large wooden steering wheel. "All hands on deck. It's time to blow this popsicle stand."
Silvershot could have sworn he heard that saying before. It was something somepony said in his past. It could've have been Armonia's past and not his. For him, it was hard to differentiate between the memories because they were too real.
Armonia leaned on the railing of the Time Traveller as it sailed across the sky. The wind whistled in his ear as he continued to think about his next plan of attack. He was headed to the Zebra kingdom just like Silvershot, except it had a different name back then; it was called Afriki. The element of sacrifice was around his neck again but its color shade was different. The gold color of the necklace began to fade like rust.
"Armonia," a voice called out to him.
"What do you need?" Armonia said quietly. "Can't you see that I am trying to think here?"
"Maybe you'll let me help you then." The pony stood beside Armonia. "What are you thinking about?"
"How would I get rid of this dreaded weapon? The only solution I can think of is to use zebra potions in hopes to destroy it. The element of sacrifice is impenetrable to magic and blunt force."
"I may know something that would help." The pony removed his pirate captain hat off of his head to give Armonia a convincing gleaning smile.
"What do you got in mind?"
"Look, the more you use it the more its own power is drained. Do you understand me so far?" Armonia did not flinch to look at him. "I'll take that as a yes. Anyways, just keep using the necklace until it is rendered useless."
"I don't think it will work. I have to use my own energy to activate it at all. As far as I am concerned, I am the only one to activate the element of sacrifice."
Armonia stepped away from the railing and walked toward the center of the ship, leaving the pony alone. The pony followed him to keep the conversation going. He was determined to talk about the element of sacrifice for some odd reason. The pony stood next to Armonia and swung a leg over his neck.
"Maybe it's for the best that you die for Equestria," the pony offered an idea to Armonia. "Everypony will honor your sacrifice."
"I have friends and a family you know. I am not just going to leave them in the dark like that, Finn," Armonia said while throwing his arm off his neck. "Now do what you do best and fly this ship. You're not the best pony to give advice."
Armonia trotted to his cabin under the ship and slammed the door behind him. He didn't want to die, not so far away from home. Armonia's cabin was nothing special but at least it wasn't the like the crew members' cabins. There was a finely crafted bed made out chicken feathers in the mattress, a desk made out of mahogany wood stood below a window, and a brass oil lantern that illuminated the room. He went to the desk and took out a parchment and pen. He placed them on the table, levitated the pen into the air, and began to write a letter to his family.
Saluti family. How is home? I am sorry that I had to leave so unexpectedly. Some matters came to my attention and I wish I had told you guys sooner about it. I don't want drag any of you into this because this is a personal problem I must deal with. I will not seek help from you at all but just remember to pray to Celestia that I return safely. May luck grant me great fortune in this endeavor. I only wish that the girl I love back home in Venturia is safe. I'll see you around my friends. Signed, Armonia Fuoco Cavallo
As he wrote to his friends- to him, his brothers and sisters- somepony was spying on him. An eye looked over the rim of the window sill to see what he was writing. The spy should have been doing his job, but he wasn't, and for a good reason. That reason was for Silvershot to find out.
Silvershot had no idea where he had woken up. His face was covered in a shroud and his vision was blocked. It was a blanket cover, and it was comfortable to boot. He ripped the blanket off of his face and sat upright on the cushion bed he was on. The bed had feathers in it; they were the same as Armonia's bed. Beside him was a three-legged nightstand with a small lantern glowing on top of it. Applebloom sat across from him in a wooden chair where she had waited for over an hour for him stir. She nearly dozed off into a sleeping state from watching him too long.
"Applebloom, sweetie, how long have I been asleep?" he asked his companion.
"A little over an hour, Silvershot," Applebloom responded. "After we set sail for the Zebra kingdom, ya collapsed to the floor faster than an apple falls after it got bucked. Cookie Dough and I carried you to your cabin soon after."
"That's sweet of you. Did you already eat?"
"I haven't yet, not since this morning." Applebloom's stomach growled when she looked down at it.
"How about I bring you to the cafeteria and we can go eat?"
"Sounds like a splendid idea, Silvershot."
Silvershot, after hearing Applebloom's cheery response, stood up from his bed and opened the cabin door on the far side of the room. Applebloom trotted behind him and went into the hallway. He closed the door and headed down the hallway to the cafeteria. Applebloom still had a smile on her face as she walked with him, but she was thinking that something might be wrong.
"Silvershot," she began. "Do ya think ma sis is going to be fine?"
"Of course she is," he assured her. "I'm going to make sure she is okay."
"Thanks, Silvershot."
He had to make sure everypony was safe as well. His wife, Fortress who was sitting on a bed at home, waited patiently for him to return home. Unaware of what was going on at home, he had to carry on with his task at hoof.
Fortress Crimson, spouse of Silvershot, sat uncomfortably on their bed. She could not sleep the last few hours because of her worry for Silvershot. She worried that he would not come back in one piece, or come back different again. Her belly ached from eating too much of the food that Spike had graciously prepared for her, and her eyelids were heavy from staying awake so long.
Something was wrong, something was terribly wrong, though. The underside of her belly felt uncomfortable and she had made sure she wasn't sleeping on that side this time. When she was completely sure that the uncomfortable feeling was just a feeling, she called Spike to come to her.
"Spike!" Fortress called out to the hallway. "Spike, I need your help!"
Scampering footsteps jumped across the floor in a hurried rush. Spike, the small baby dragon, entered her bedroom with an exhausting breath. A flight of stairs was hard for a tiny dragon to climb.
"What's wrong, Fortress?" Spike asked. "Do you need anything?"
"Call Nurse Redheart," Fortress grunted as she tried to get up from the bed. "I think the baby is coming."
"Now?" Spike realized how important this was. "Now!? Don't move Fortress!"
A whole grain sandwich sat perfectly still in front of Silvershot. His eyes stared at it for the longest time, unmoving from its spot. He had been thinking about Fortress the entire time he and Applebloom had been inside the cafeteria. The way he made his sandwich was the way Fortress would have made it; with tender loving care. He looked to his side and saw Applebloom munching on some fries that Chef BQ made especially for her. She enjoyed the fries very much, and he was happy to see her happy. But a real smile he wanted was Fortress'.
Captain Finn stood behind Silvershot and stared at him as much as he was staring at the sandwich. He was thinking of telling him something, but it would be too complicated to explain. He approached him and sat down next to him.
"Silvershot," Finn said to him. He turned to his side to look at him. "We need to talk."
"No, you need to talk," Silvershot said. Uncontrollably, he lifted his hoof to Finn's face. "Why do you know Armonia and how have you managed to live this long?"
"The real question is 'Why do you have his swords?'"
Silvershot saw his magic horn glowing without his command. He was casting a magic spell but what was it? His magic was levitating two objects, and they were nothing he was expecting to lift. They were the swords that had belonged to Armonia.
"What is this?" Silvershot quivered. "Why is this happening?"
"Armonia is trying to tell you something," Finn started. "He's trying to tell you about his past and the element of sacrifice."
A/N: I apologize if everything is everywhere at the moment. I hope this isn't bad. Thanks for your reading my fans!