//------------------------------// // 19. Prime // Story: Radiance // by flamevulture17 //------------------------------// [Prime] “Okay up we go.” Stanley pulled with all his might, grasping Lucas' hand in his own right and Kate in his left. With two helping hands, he was able to stand up for moment before dropping. With his legs unable to support his much of his upper body weight (his uninjured leg aching bone to bone), his body slumped forward, caught up in trying to reduce the pain pouring over. Fortunately, Lucas and Kate were on either side on him, holding him up by both arms. His shoes barely hovered mere centimeters above the grass, but it was enough to walk by without much pain to bring him down. Within seconds, a new sensation surfaced, yet this one far more excruciating than he could bear on his own. Stanley's legs felt like they were injected with molten needles, burning his sensitive muscles in his left leg. Of course, this was his body's way to telling him his muscles had had enough turmoil for one day, squeezing every last bit of energy out of every fiber in his leg. However, it only hurt when significant pressure was applied to either leg independently. Using both would only render him inert, so he did everything to avoid a rapid jolt of pain that would shoot up his spine and assault his brain with screams. The best thing he could do to minimize further agony was to stay awake, stay alert, and stay together. Several grunts and whines slipped from the young man's mouth. “Alright, let's get going,” said Lucas. “We must hurry,” chimed Cadence, eagerness embedded with each word. “Hold on for a second, not so fast,” Kate began, slightly offput by the alicorn's growing worry that manifested through her new apprehensive tone. “Let's take it easy. One step at a time. This will only get worse if we push ourselves too hard.” It was unusually difficult for Cadence to accept the change in pace, slowing from a walk to a limp, then to a crawl. She was afraid they might not make it to their destination in time. A time fast approaching. A destination only she knew. She bit her lip and carried on, trotting down the hill. As the three humans took the first footstep, Stanley nearly fell over. If it weren't for the support of his friends, he would have taken a nasty tumble down the slope of the hill. It wouldn't have been a pretty sight, the man was already in dire need as is and he couldn't just flag down the Coastguard for risk of jeopardizing the existence and security of the ponies. He held onto that fear until there was no reason to quail. “Whew, let's try that again,” he said, brushing off his pain with a bit of laughter. Slowly, the three started at a reasonable pace down the hill. Careful not to drag their feet or trip on hidden stones, each step was less stiff and less of a hassle than the last. Stanley grew ever more resistant to the hurt poking at his thighs. It provided for some relief knowing that he'll recover, hopefully sooner than later. However, Stanley was unable to fight off the lightheaded feeling fizzling with each passing second, which in turn made him more drowsy. With the amount of blood lost from his wound, this heart had to work over time to pump the necessary cells to the part of his body that needed it, especially his brain. Every now and again, his vision would swell up, the environment around tainted with a kind of static seen on untuned television sets. By the time they reached the beach below, they took a five second breather before continuing their journey onward. Twilight trotted not too far ahead of them, stopping every once in a while to make sure the humans caught up in time. The purple unicorn kept herself useful by carrying two of the three backpacks they brought with them, having tied them by the handle and wore it over her back like a saddle bag. Cadence carried the third bag. - - - Speaking of the Princess, she was the only one who didn't slow down, doubling her step to a slow canter, now more than two dozen meters in the lead. She assumed the humans were close behind, waiting until she was too far ahead to turn around, and when she did, she froze in her apparent disgrace. A strewn frown infected the alicorn's expression. Not for her straggling friends, but for the realization of her apparent actions. She didn't know why she elected to run off like that. A strange feeling funneled throughout her thoughts, filling her mind with negligence, a concept equally foreign to her as the feeling of contempt. Both had not affected her in such a way before. There were still countless uncertainties flustering about behind closed doors, several of which were present while inhabiting Kate's body. Oddly enough, the new traits seemed to originate from the human, which could only mean that they have somehow transferred as a part of her. That may prove to cause long term difficulties with future judgments, but it may also possess a maiden compass to finally ameliorate—if not extricate—her of great woe. For years, the careworn sliver of a petty sort would rise like the shadows of a day's end. At first, she thought that maybe a flake of Kind Sombra's dark magic survived and slowly began to infect her, but after a while, she learned that was not the case. It came from deep within her own being. She could feel it. Hopefully this new development was the cure she's been looking for since her induction to princesshood. A remedy that may illuminate the dark corner made of uncanny attrition in the back of her mind. If a human is able to face chagrin and contrite, then maybe she can, too. There were so many things she didn't understand about humans. Having only spent a few hours as their company and as one of them, they proved to be a very fascinating bunch, despite their flaws. With only three of them, that is not much of a statistic to properly judge their entire species based on that low a sample. From what the atlas tome depicted in the highly detailed passages Twilight had flipped through back at the station, there were millions, if not billions of humans spread throughout the world, with a plethora of cultures, regions, and personalities. It would be like defining all art by looking at just one piece. It could not possibly be done. But even so, she would give anything to open a relation with such intelligent creatures. The first teleportation to this world was an accident, but maybe she could replicate a more stable spell and return. It would pose new insight into humans. The idea far exceeded her ability to consider it fully. … Her mind drifted again, disturbing her senses with each thought gone astray. She barely realized that she was staring abroad, out into the scope of the ocean's touch, standing motionless, tentative, and silent. A certain part of Cadence had been searching for an explanation for the new qualms swelling inside, while the other part was busy coming up with an excuse to defend her impatience. Wasting no more time under the influence of temptation, she snapped out of a perturbing reverie. It wasn't the best time to forebode coming attractions. The likelihood of it taking hold against her will would only rise if she let it. Cadence did a double take, exchanging glances between the humans and the fairly large floating craft sticking half out of the water. The only path that could make up for her simple mistake was walking her way. She took a long breath, tucked in her wings under the bag on her back, and trotted to their aid. It was the right choice. - - - With a change in terrain, the coarse flat of sand actually helped to soften the strain on Stanley's legs, especially that of his injured one. Keeping just shy of the shallow waves creeping up the beach, the irritating slate beneath their feet dug into the sand under their collective weight, slowing their pace to a moderate limp. The slower their trek became, the more they fought to pick up their feet. It's like Cadence said, they needed to hurry. But why? Lucas asked numerous times in his head. That's the question, isn't it? Why rush this along now that we're clear of any danger? At least for now. That danger being the Coastguard. Sure, he never really liked to admit his mild resent for their aid based on a past encounter a year ago while down in a marina south of the island on a short excursion with Kate, but does she really have to push them this hard if time was now on their side? The sun's defined rays shined on through a crack in the clouds that began to form in the west, high above the mountains. A quarter of the way to the boat, Lucas looked east. Over his cousin's shoulders and towards the shifting sea, darkness climbed across the horizon. The clock ran down, second by second, minute by minute, stealing the light of day as a cruel climate blew around them. Though, the Earth's shadow that towered beyond was far from total darkness, allowing for a few more hours for the crew to sail off to their still undefined destination. The question of the functionality still remained. Whether the boat was able to run again was a top priority, but not of primary concern. That award was given to Stanley's health. Lucas was too exhausted to speak, along with his two colleagues. Each of them shared the same level of lethargy, which was diminishing with each step. Having to carry Stanley a couple hundred meters was no easy task, especially with the whistling winds blowing the every which way and a timeline to beat. They were almost halfway to the boat now, just another leg up from how far it's been. They needed to keep going, the Guard weren't too far behind. Hopefully the raided condition of the station would keep them occupied for god knows how long. Lucas didn't come this far to fall shy of their goal. But some things are to heavy to bear. Right as Cadence trotted back to regroup, Stanley made a short swizzle motion with his eyelids and fell unconscious. The fight was over, he lost the battle. “Whoa whoa whoa, Stanley!” Lucas quickly shrilled. He shook his cousin's arm, trying to jerk him awake with no success. “Can you hear me?” Not a flinch, nor a twitch. The young man had finally slipped into the plane between life and death. His head hung rolled loosely on his neck, “He's lost too much blood,” Kate noted in panic. “We need to get him to the boat now! I have some medical stuff that will help him.” Lucas thought for split-second on what to do, and within a small amount of time, he had an idea. He double checked his cousin's pulse, placing two fingers over a major artery on his neck. His heart rate was definitely below average and weakening. “Okay, I'll run ahead and—“ “Wait wait wait,” Kate interrupted. “Do you really think that's a good idea?” “I have to make sure the boat still runs. There's a good chance it will. If I can get it started by the time you get there, I can put it in reverse and we'll be on our way. See look,” Lucas pointed at the stern. “More than half the boat is still in the water. If the propellers are strong enough to pull it back, then we can get sailing much quicker.” The captain's explanation was enough to satisfy. Kate nodded. “I guess that could work.” Lucas nodded back and released his grip on Stanley's limp arm, gently letting it dangle freely. “Besides, you owe him this favor.” Lucas grinned. It was funny how Stanley was the one that needed to be carried across the beach this time instead of her. What an interesting turn of events. He turned to face Twilight and Cadence. “You, stay with them. You, come with me.” “O-of course,” the Princess replied. As the human readily walked past the pink alicorn, she gave on last look at Twilight, noticing the change in Lucas' tone. Either it was from worry to anger, or vice versa, they were unsure. The purple unicorn understood what Cadence meant through a communicative gesture by a tilt of the head. She winked back, a secret code of confidence. As Kate watched the unlikely duo speed off to the boat, she knelt a bit and put her other arm under Stanley's legs, picking his whole body off the ground. Contrary to what most people that knew her believe about her, she had enough strength to stand. Born into a family whose job was to do both tedious manual labor and finances was quite rare among the population. She was lucky to have a way with certain qualities that benefited her on more than one occasion, but this was a first for her. She never thought she'd have to carry Stanley a fair distance to save his life. Twilight Sparkle remained quiet, but vigilant. If she was ever needed to remove certain obstructions from Kate's path, be it the wind or the waves, she'd be on it without a moment's hesitation. Their pace was slow, but because Stanley was no longer awake to slow them down, they made greater progress than when he was forced to walk on an injured leg. This was actually more effective than when he dragged his feet along the uneven terrain of the beach. It didn't take long for Kate to realize they were missing someone, or rather, somepony. The only one who hadn't said a word since making their way across the beach. Little did she know, there was a good reason for that. Kate paused a twirled her head in all directions. “Where's Rainbow Dash?” - - - Up ahead, Princess Cadence walked side by side with Lucas. For the first few minutes he said nothing, she glanced up at him to read his face to make out his emotional state. She got no further than a hint in disappointment strictly directed at her. They way he ignored her sent the message that he was doing his best to remain indifferent and/or stoic. As they approached the starboard side of the boat, Lucas stopped and looked up. “So you said you can help us with the boat,” he finally said. “How exactly do you intend on doing that?” “Oh—um,” Cadence cleared the sinus from her throat. “I was going see if I could handle the mass of the boat as a whole.” “What the hell does that mean?” He gave a quizzical look along with confusion. It was the way he spoke that which she could tell the declaration of distraught present in his voice, as if it wasn't clear enough before. “I thought it would help if I attempt to levitate the boat out of the sand in back in the water.” Lucas' heart jumped to his throat, choking on surprisingly thin air. “The entire thing!?” he yakked, emphasizing his word by gesturing to the boat before them. “This thing is like ten tons of wood, steel, and glass. You're pulling my leg here! Oh wait, never mind, it's all magic.” A growl crackled as he finished. “I am most capable of moving large objects with my magic, for I do have the necessary reserves for such a task!” she responded with more force and fury. It began to annoy her how he regarded an alicorn such as herself as a cheat who fixes everything with magic. Lucas didn't retort from her change in tone to match his own, ignoring her defense. He humphed and jumped to the rope ladder and began to climb to the deck. After vanishing around the corner, he didn't return to lend her a hand. How rude. Cadence thought of her own way to board the vessel as quickly as possible, one of which turned out to be a method of teleportation that used less magic than the conventional teleport spell. She couldn't fly, for her wings were still sore, incapable of carrying her any more than a few feet airborne before it became too strenuous. Blink teleportation was the best option. Fluttering her eyes to prepare, she lit up her horn and blinked. The next thing she knows, she is on the main deck of the ship, looking over the edge to where she was just a second ago. Looking around, the boat was somewhat different from known designs of equestrian vessels built by ponies, and even that of gryphons. It certainly had the right elements, along with several unfamiliar contraptions, presumably the parts need for fishing, hence the net. Lucas was nowhere to be found. He couldn't have just disappeared or ditched her behi—well...the latter was somewhat true. At the front of the boat stood two openings to different areas of the boat. One led underneath the deck, and the other stood on an elevated platform, no doubt the captain's bridge. Both quite small in size, barely enough to fit no more than half a dozen ponies total, and possibly even less humans. The human was probably where she'd expect him to be, piloting the ship. Cadence cautiously stepped over the polished hardwood floorboards riddled with a disarray of rope and over to the captain's bridge. Slowly opening the stained glass door, a stale yet stuffy smell rushed at her, dashing to collide with the fresh air exposed through the open door behind, trapping her in a swirling mixture of foul gasses, causing the mare to cough. After the horrid stench faded, replaced by the overwhelming cool wind, Cadence shivered by means of astringent instinct, a quick brush of goosebumps bubbling up under her skin. It was a sort of feeling normally associated with the creeps. She felt and unnatural vibe swamp over her, then vanish quicker than it appeared. Vanquishing the thoughts speeding to make sense of it, she recollected her composure with a sigh, the air still too vile to take a long breath. She resumed her exploration of the bridge. It was empty. No Lucas in sight. A majority of the room was alien to her. Three glass panels, one at the center and two on either side at an angle provided for a one-eighty degree view of the forward section of the boat. An old setup of a number of gadgets and gizmos, most of which appeared highly advanced technologically, though it also contained some traditional components like a conventional wheel for steering and a chair. A single chair. The captain's chair. Made of a shiny brown leather worn from age and extensive use, complete with a head rest and armrests made of the same material, it was anchored with metal bolts with a cylindrical pole as its only leg. The pink alicorn walked closer to inspect the chair. From her current position, she was hardly tall enough to see above the consoles to peer out over the bottom of the windows, but if she were higher up, she could see everything. Cadence looked at the chair again. She second guessed herself on whether or not it was a good idea to sit on the thing. Then again, there was an inner child curious to experience what it's like to be play captain. When all was quiet, she hopped on the chair and sat down. The chair squeaked and spun from her forward momentum. It spins too, her inner child squealed. If only there was a cheesy hat to go with it, thus completing the image of a brave naval sailor, or maybe even a pirate hat for the same reason. For the minute she stared out the windshield to view the trees over the edge and through the woods, she began to think. Some made her smile, some wiped it away. Some where silly, some were of utter importance. Swimming in a fluid of thoughts, she lost track of time. Time gone to waste as she sat alone on the captain's chair on the bridge of a human fishing boat. That last thought brought her back to reality. She nearly forgot what she was supposed to be doing, staring off into space like she had time to kill. The fact was just the opposite. Cadence looked down at the wheel in front of her, cocking her head at the different levers and buttons. Most—if not all—of the controls displayed a variety of words and numbers for certain functions, explaining which gauge was which, none of which she understood. There was also a small black box with a spiraling cord attached to a black device, like that of a microphone. With a series of knobs and numbers on the side, she could only guess what it could be. The instrument in question intrigued her with the utmost curiosity. Cadence unconsciously reached out to grab the black microphone. “What are you doing?” “Ah!” Cadence flinched with a jolt, instantly retracting her hoof away from the device. Her heart rate shot to panicked levels, the chain reaction of chemicals in her body causing a cold shiver to course through her blood stream. Twirling around, she found Lucas standing in the doorway look at her with a flashlight in one hand and a red toolbox in the other. Another moment of surprise came when he smirked. She expected something different, mainly an angry barrage of shouts, or maybe something less severe and more believable like a disappointed objection of her actions. Yet, neither anticipation came. Lucas looked at her with an amused—almost sinister—grin. “You don't want to touch that,” he said, shining the flashlight on the black box. “O-oh, o-of course, I'm sorry.” Cadence was a bit shaken up to be caught red-hoofed, but got over the shock with a puzzled look. “What is that device?” “It's a radio, and like I said, you don't want to mess with it. We already know what it can do to you, so I advise you stay away from it.” Cadence smiled reassuringly. “I will.” “Why are you in here anyways? And more importantly, what are you doing on my chair?” The pony could sense a bit of tension surrounding the man, the stress apparent in his anxious voice. Although she had noticed it a while back, it began to affect his behavior to the point of indulging in untamed suffering. It pained her to watch it tear him apart from the inside, but there were not much she could do to alleviate some of that stress without knowing the root cause, so she decided to use a tactical approach to find out. Passively, persuasively, and slightly poetic. She hopped off the chair, planting her hooves on floor, squishing pockets of water from the thin, damp carpet. “I sincerely apologize. I know it was wrong of me to intrude on your property without your permission.” Lucas quirked an eyebrow while she spoke, still uneasy about the over-compassion. “I must say I admire your position to operate the boat. It's looks fun. I've known many ponies in similar position, several of them my friends, all good souls. I have the utmost respect for your kind. Humans fascinate me to no end. Though, it can prove to be a stressful job for a single human, especially with a large responsibility for safety of those on board hovering over their shoulders.” Lucas was not that clueless to recognize how nice she was being. Too nice, and strangely deceptive. “What are you trying to say?” “I just want to ask if you're alright?” “What do you mean if I'm alright?” He looked outside to window. “I'm fine.” “I know that's not true.” Lucas lifted his head at the accusation, stealing a glance at the equine Princess. She took a step forward to be more direct. “I have noticed by the way you speak and by certain actions and gestures that you are not well. It can only guess as to what you are dealing with personally, but I have a feeling you might be taking your anger out on me. If it's affecting you, please, don't let it.” Lucas' eyes went wide, full of a dying remorse and temper rising. “Is that what you think I am? Angry?” “Are you not?” “I'M NOT!” The human's sudden shout, however, was a direct contradiction. Cadence recoiled back an inch or two, cringing from being yelled at. It was a first. Even Shining Armor didn't go that far. She remained still, the silence on her side. For the seconds the two were quiet as the wind brewed a gust that flustered Lucas' clothes, a stalemate ensued. Cadence however, was using the momentary silence to her advantage, waiting for the human to realize his mistake. A sigh passed over the captain's lips. “I'm not,” he repeated softly. “Clearly something is bothering you. If it's not too much to ask, you mind telling me what it is?” “You really want to know?”The pony nodded. Lucas sighed heavily, not believing what he was about to do. “I'm scared, okay. That might not sound odd to you, but it does to me. And I'm a little stressed out.” Cadence grimaced at that last part, contorting a dissatisfied look. “Okay fine, REALLY stressed out.” “What are you scared of?” she said, now looking at him sympathetically. “I don't know, everything I guess.” Lucas' frown mirroring his words. “All the chaos that happened recently; like crashing this boat for one, almost getting fired for it, the Coastguard, Stanley's leg. Not to mention you and you're pony friends, magic spells, crystal hearts, body swapping and what not. It's been one hell of a day and I don't think I can deal with it all.” He had a point there. Given recent events, it would come as a surprise if any of that didn't affect him. Lucas paused to rub his forehead with a wrist and walk past the alicorn. He put the toolbox down and took a moment to take a seat on the chair that gave him purpose. “Maybe what I'm really scared of is the future,” he concluded, slumping in the comfort of the leather brushing against his back. Their respective gazes met halfway, with Cadence pondering the implications of his fears. For so long she had not been able to talk to someone who incurs a life of promise and sacrifice that can be defined by a simple idea. The idea of being afraid of what to make of one's self, not being able to see the light that will allow them to move on. There were only two words the Princess could say to that. “I understand.” A scowl rose as a response. “I don't believe you do.” “On the contrary, I do. While you may see me as a powerful princess with unlimited magic and authority who rules over a great nation of loyal ponies for whom they look up to, praise for nobility, and bow before my hooves, there are many misconceptions about me. I'll have you know that I have my share of distress, sorrow, and angst in my days. Ponies feel melancholic at times. Often, actually. My case is no different. I am not automatically free of dread, fear, even regret, just because I am a princess. My ascended status is not nearly enough to rid me of my inherent ability to be sad. “Fear is found within us all, it's a normal reaction to the world around us, which in your case, two worlds. I can't begin to tell you how sorry I am for forcing you into this situation. I am doing every I possibly can to fix this, but I need your help to do that.” If there was any indication that this was news to Lucas, it showed. He shifted in his seat, biting his lip and looking down bashfully. Although his intent was to act like he wasn't interested in what she had to say, it didn't stop him from listening. If pretending to ignore her words wasn't bad enough, they seemed to hit him head on, sinking in, further imprinting the strong feeling of empathy, anxiety drying up. Lucas couldn't tell whether Cadence was doing some mind trick on him, getting up in his head and whispering the calm words of a sad song, or his inner being was just naturally vulnerable to reason. The longer he stared at the alicorn while her eyes stared back, the more he trusted her. A kind of trust that he never got the chance to give to anyone. He was beginning to regret taking his frustration out on her. It was wrong to blame her for his misfortunes, but it always came down to him and him alone. No one was at fault but himself. If only he could take back his outburst and 'not-so-subtle' conduct while in her presence, then things would be better. But no. Impotence and insolence reigned supreme over his conscious effort to suppress an overwhelming flood of envy and dander. Only little snippets of cheer and what little laughter he had left in him opposed that negativity. There was break between an appeal to reason and an appeal to emotion. This time, reason was more appropriate. Some things take time to develop, other are just temporary distorted reflections of the real thing. Whether or not his trust in her was either of those things, it mattered little. “Now I know we may not entirely see things the same way, but please, it would be best if we do not let our emotions get the best of us, no matter how corny that sounds. We don't have much time to go over our differences, so let's set them aside and focus on fixing your boat.” Lucas could only nod. “My offer to help still stands,” Cadence added. “I will be able to lift the boat from the beach and set it back in the water, but my magic is limited for such a large object. It won't take very long, but it will deplete my magical reserves. Don't worry, my magic will recharge en route.” “Okay,” the captain finally responded. “So what are you waiting for?” “Our friends of course.” “Oh yeah,” he croaked as if he forgot. “Is this boat ready to go once we're all aboard?” “W-well, that's what the toolbox is for.” He pointed down at the red metal case at his feet. “I need to rewire a few things in here, which will only take a minute, and make sure the ignition for the engine is not completely shot.” “I'll leave you to it then.” Cadence smiled before exiting the small space that was the bridge, leaving him to his work and something to think about. It took a few moments for the rest of his body to catch up to what his brain had gone through, a short pep talk and moral support from a colorful pony princess from a fantasy dimension. Any other day, he'd laugh at the idea, but right now, it had a profound impact on his state of mind. Discarding against further distraction, Lucas went to work. - - - Kate was only a few paces from the boat now. After a little scare from the missing blue pegasus, they were back on track. Minutes earlier, Rainbow Dash was busy making herself useful. She had secretly flown westward to collect a few clouds that formed as an atmospheric marine layer by close proximity to the shore and dropped them on top of the hill they teleported on. Rainbow took the liberty to create a thick wall of mist and vapor in attempts to further decrease the risk of the 'rescue' humans spotting them. The white curtain was unrolled high into the sky by skill of weather manipulation, even spreading it out over the cliff and out on the water for greater coverage. Throughout the gradual—yet simple—procedure, Dash proceeded with caution with the quiet and delicate operation by means of stealth flight. After her everything was done, she admired her work and flew back to help her friends. Now a towering white brume divided the shore north and south, the station on one side, the beach and boat on the other. It was an effective barrier providing for much needed cover in case their luck changed. This long exposed out in broad daylight was too high of a risk. Trotting close behind, Rainbow decided to save her wing power after noticing a significant drain in energy the longer she stayed in the air. By the time she finished her little protection project, she could swear her body was much heavier than she remembered, like gravity increased by a tiny bit. She couldn't have gained a few pounds. Rainbow Dash does not gain weight. It probably had something to do with the physics of this odd world. Maybe that's why she gets so tired while flying fast, and for an extended period of time. Yes, it was probably physics. That's egghead stuff. Twilight would know. Finally reaching the side of the boat, the three of them halted their slow trudge and arched and briefly examined the ship in their path. Looking up, a rope ladder hung freely from the over the edge of the deck. A sigh left Kate. “How am I gonna get him on board?” “I'll help with that,” Dash said, jumping in the air at the first opportunity and hovered inches above the unconscious human in Kate's arms. “Give me his arms, I'll carry him.” Kate released her grip on Stanley's limp legs, lifting his upper torso higher for the robust pegasus to grab hold. She wrapped her forelegs under the man's arms and beat her wings as fast as a humming bird. “Careful now.” “Don't worry, I've got him.” The mare pulled Stanley skyward just like she did when he fell off the cliff a few hours earlier. He was pretty heavy, but nothing the mighty Rainbow Dash couldn't handle. Clearing the top of the ship, she set him down on deck, panting at her efforts. Not two seconds later, a flicker of white flashed a few feet away. Twilight had easily used her limited supply of magic to blink teleport aboard. “You're here!” A harmonious voice chimed from the bow of the ship. Cadence quickly trotted to them, careful not to slip on the damp floorboards. “Where is Kate?” It was right then that a hand rose from out of sight to grab hold of the railing on the edge of the boat. Kate climbed the rest of the way with ease, jumping over the metal poles that were locked in place. She dropped to her knees and began the process of picking Stanley up again. “We need to get him inside,” Kate pressed on, her haste in full swing. Nearly dragging her feet across the hollow floor, she paused at the stairtop leading to the small living quarters below. She stole a wincing glance at the three ponies standing in line. “There's not enough room for all of us in there, so I need one of you to help me out.” “I'll come with you,” Twilight volunteered, putting the bag down where she stood. “Follow me.” Kate blinding descended every step until the cabin door stared her in the face. “Can you do me a favor, Twilight, and open—“ before she could finish, the door opened on its own, a glowing purple nimbus hazing the doorknob. “Thank you. Stay close.” With each step came a squishing sound from a soggy rug flooring the cabin and a sticky smell. They picked up their feet, for the corridor perturbed with a dark and dusty atmosphere, almost like walking into a walk-in closet from a horror film. The only light source was ambient and the only way to get past the mess on the floor was with more light. Kate's hands were full and the flashlight was missing from the— A peculiar glow pulsed from behind. Kate turned to discover a violet orb surrounding Twilight's horn. “Thanks again.” Now they could see where they were going. The two carried on. “Can you pull out the first aid kit from that cabinet there,” Kate gestured with a knee as she wiggled her way down the narrow isle of the cabin. Twilight did as instructed and open the wooden cupboard. Inside was a white plastic box with a red cross painted on top. She pulled it out with her teeth and followed after the woman. They entered an even smaller room at that back end of the cabin just enough for the three of them to fit inside while enough elbow room to spare. Kate gently set Stanley down on the soft velvet sheets of his bunk, careful not to jab at his left leg in any way possible. When all was set and done, she began working on removing the makeshift bandages and used the sterile new ones in their place. Opening the health kit Twilight placed by her feet, she unwrapped the roll of bandages, made of perfectly woven nylon threads for maximum efficiency to absorb the blood seeping from the gash on Stanley's leg. The injury itself was in terrible shape, a large open cut across half his lower leg, needing more than a few bandages. After finishing with the patch work for the wound, Kate fastened the fabric in place with tape and covered it with extra cloth, wrapping the entire lower half of his left leg. Admiring her work, Kate glazed a hand over the navigator's forehead, radiating with heat. With a fever to add to his plight, just another step back after taking two steps forward. Without proper medicine to give him, there was one last thing she could do. Kate leaned close to Stanley's ear and whispered. “Hang in there, you're gonna be just fine.” After covering his body with more layers of blankets to warm him up, including her on coat jacket, she slowly rose to her feet. “Let him rest.” With one last glance, Twilight and Kate made their exit, keeping the door open to allow enough fresh air for him to breathe, which as it turns out, his breathing was dangerously weak. Returning to the surface, Twilight stepped aside while Katherine stumbled her way to the captain's bridge. Upon entering the small compartment in control of the boat's maneuvering functions, she found the man she was wanted to see, digging around under one of the control panels wired to the engine block to the rear. Click, clangs, and clanks echoed as Lucas bypassed a blown fuse used for the ignition. “How's it's coming?” she asked, making her presence known. “Perfect timing,” he replied, pulling out from under the console. “I'm done. The engine is fine, only the ignition was shot. Had to rewire a few cords, but it was a piece of cake. We're good go!” Lucas ended by throwing the wrench and pliers back in the toolbox. “Wow,” Kate almost stammered. She was beginning to like the new Lucas, with more charisma and confidence to amend his competence in engineering. “Good job. Remind me to give you a raise.” Her proposition ended with a smile. “Right!” Lucas perked up. “Tell the others we're ready.” She nodded, but before she could exit the room, he asked, “By the way, is Stanley alright?” “Yeah, he's fine, I patched him up and let him rest on his bed in his quarters,” she said, the assurance spilling with her reply. “He's gonna need stitches sooner than later, so I might as well try it myself if I want to learn how. I'd like your help with.” “Okay.” As Lucas considered the option of the minor medical operation, Kate left him alone to think about it. Ten minutes later... It was finally time to head home, the engine ready to go, the crew waiting to sail, the ponies prepared to travel with the humans, and the time counting down the seconds. But, there was still one problem. “You see, when I channel enough energy, a certain type of perpetual energy derived from mana-space itself, I am then able to see the natural signatures of the world around me. The respective densities and types of energy charges differs from object to object and varies among identical objects that share the same image. So while while my horn is active...” Cadence went on and on. While explaining technical gibberish regarding levitation magic to Lucas and Kate, Cadence got confused looks in return. After seeing their faces contort every few seconds, she abruptly stopped talking and looked at them with a blank face. “You have no idea what I'm talking about, do you?” All the human did was shake their heads. Cadence brought a hoof to her face. “Okay, let's try this again, how—“ Twilight obnoxiously cleared her throat, cutting the Princess off. “Oh right, sorry. So, anyway, do I have your permission to go ahead with this plan?” Kate and Lucas exchanged a long, comprehensive glance at each other. They each shrugged after silently coming to an agreement. Even if they didn't know the specifics of magic, they knew what she was talking about in terms of practical use of levitation. “Sure,” Lucas began. “We're waiting on you.” “Oh!” Cadence chirped, somewhat dumbfounded. “In that case, I suggest you hold on to something.” One after the other, Lucas, Kate, Twilight, and Rainbow Dash grabbed hold of the railings attached to the outer walls of the captain's bridge they were leaning against. Within seconds, Princess Cadence activated her unicorn horn, glowing with a neon blue hue. For a moment nothing happened. The four spectators looked around, waiting for something to happen. Feeling a bit awkward watching Cadence stand at the very center of the main deck of the boat, Lucas felt like expressing his concerns. “Are you sure you know what—“ *screeeech* A piercing sound scratched, like metal against metal, cutting Kate's words short. Not a second later, the ground began to shake. What felt like a mini tremor, grew into an unstable earthquake that felt like the ship was ripping apart. At first, the uneven shaking startled her, forcing a tighter grip on the railings, but after it faded in moments, she took a breath of relief. Next, the environment beyond the boat began to sink below the bottom of the boat, but after close inspection, it was not that Earth itself was moving by an obvious margin, but the boat itself, living off the ground, foot by foot. The entire hull and exterior became shrouded in a thin mask of a neon blue, like that of the halo of Cadence's magic. The alicorn was the only one unfazed by the moving boat. Her head was craned skyward, horn spiraling vertical, and eyes elegantly closed. Her spell was going perfectly, no hiccups or breaks in her magic. A good sign of good health. With such flawless precision, she used just enough magic necessary to do the job, saving the remainder of her reserves for later. At a safe height hovering above the ground, the boat started to move again. This time, horizontally. Over the white waves, beyond the tall tides, above the pearling perfume of saltwater dripping from the polished underbelly, the boat hovered. A flying boat...who would have known? It was by this time that any word Kate had were now lost. She could not accurately describe how the experience of riding a flying boat. That fact that that it was hers made the feeling even more thrilling. As the vessel soared through the air, backing up to a safe distance from land and clear of the seabed, Cadence's magic held strong. The integral welding of the boat was holding steady. The boat stopped moving for a second, and then gently descended to the water underneath, several bolts and screws rattling under pressure from the magic that moved it and kinetic stresses of immense tension. Thankfully, the Princess' concentration on all aspects stabilized all moving part aboard. One thing to mention, gentle was not gentle in the common conception of gentle. Unlike a slow touch on the surface of water with a hoof or finger, the size and weight difference was a large factor that contributed to the added stress of having to levitate it by powerful magic. Mere meters from the ocean surface, Cadence released her magical grip on the boat, letting it safely drop into the water. *SPLASH* A white mist sprayed from either side of the boat as the boat hit the water. It may have been loud, but they were far away from anyone to hear it. The chopping ocean current and sloshing waves kicked in, pushing the vessel side to side. For Twilight, the rocking motion differed from any other moving carriage they've been on before. More sway than blimp or flying chariot, but more flexible than a pony drawn carriage. Cadence already grew accustomed to the motion, keeping proper balance with certain adjustments to her body movements. As for Rainbow Dash, she wanted off the boat immediately, not at all comfortable with the flustering feeling of seasickness. Rainbow couldn't take it, even after a minute of holding her swelling gut roaring at her to fly. That's just what she did. The pegasus jumped in the air and hovered six feet in the air, wiping her forehead with a hoof as a flood of relief washed over her. Even looking at the deck below, shifting to and fro, made her dizzy. Once they were sure the magic boat was floating on its own, Lucas and Kate started laughing. “That was quite something, huh?” The captain noted. “Like some Yoda magic, but in real life.” There was only one word the boat's owner that managed to roll off the tongue. “Wow.” Lucas carefully walked back to the bridge to start the engine, the others following close behind. Lucas sat in his chair, cracking his knuckles and popping his finger joints. Now on to their prime directive. “Let's get out of here before any more helicopters show up.”