//------------------------------//
// New Shores Ahead 
// Story: Beyond Equestria 
// by Maladin 
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	Twilight looked up at the airship as excited as ever, ever since she lived in Canterlot, she always saw the airships coming and going, but she never actually go the chance to ride in one before.  
“Twilight, hurry up, you are going to be late for your goodbye party!” yelled an overly excited Pinkie Pie.  
“I’m coming I was just looking at the airship, It’s amazing some of the feats that we are capable of.” Twilight said mesmerized by the airship. 
Princess Celestia decided to hold the send off inside the airships main hall.  It was a beautiful scene, all of the decorations were a little childish since it was Pinkie Pie who took care of them, but Twilight knew that if anyone one else did it.  It just wouldn’t be the same.  
“Thank you all for attending this send off ceremony”  Princess Celestia took the stage to give the keynote address. “We are all gather here to say goodbye to Princess Twilight Sparkle and all who will join her on her quest.  I have selected several different ponies to go with her.  First for her protection I have assigned this honor to Phoenix squad commanded by Sergeant Weather Bane.”  Weather Bane stood up from his seat,  a little embarrassed  that the princess pointed him out.  This also did not make the threat given to him by Shining Armor any more comforting.  “Also I have assigned two of my top scholars from the school of gifted Unicorns to accompany Twilight on her journey, will Professor Honeytwist and Professor Cloud please stand”.  
Professor Cloud was one of the best teachers at the school, he also was in charge of the school’s archives, which includes what should be added to it.  Honeytwist had just recently been hired by the school, because of her youth, she was selected to join the expedition.  Plus it would be good field experience for her.  “And the last member of the group is Spike the dragon,  he will be joining the group so Twilight will be able to give us regular updates on how she is doing and what all she has discovered.”  
After about another hour of farewells from the ponies in the crowd it was almost time for Twilight to say goodbye to two people she had not seen in a very long time.  
“Mom, dad, it’s so good to see you” Twilight half crying, knowing she was about to say goodbye.  
“Twiley, I have missed you so much” said her mom excited that she was here.  
“I’m so sorry that I have to say goodbye again, sometimes I feel like that is all I have ever said to you since I became Celestia’s apprentice.” Twilight said trying to look dignified.  
“Now Dear” Twilights mom said kindly, “We have been nothing but proud of you ever since you left, I knew the second you left with Celestia you were destined for great things, and now look at yourself” said Twilight’s Mom Reassuringly.  “Not only are you going on some adventure, you are a princess, and I think I speak for both of us when I say, you couldn’t possibly make us anymore proud of you.”
Twilight finally realized she could not hold back anymore of her tears,  so she grabbed a hold of her mother and cried tears of joy.  After about another hour of preparations, the time had finally come for all of them to ship off.  Twilight, finally got a chance to say goodbye to all her friends. 
“I just hope I will get to see all of you again”  Twilight said worried.
“Oh come now sugarcube,  you know better than to think like that”  Applejack said reassuringly.
“Yeah, plus think of all the cool new things you will get to see.” Rainbow Dash said.  
“I’m already planning the welcome home party!” exclaimed Pinkie Pie.
“you’re right” Twilight said, “I don’t know what I was thinking as long as I believe in myself I know that I will make it back.”  
“We will miss you though” said a saddened Fluttershy.
“I will miss you all to, but I know now that I will return so don’t go replacing me so fast” Twilight joked.
After a group hug and a few tears her friends finally parted ways.
“Well Twilight, are you ready for another adventure” Spike said excited.
“I guess I am now” Twilight said, she was ready to go on a new adventure but she still was not ready to leave home. 
“Phoenix Squad reporting for duty princess” Sergeant Weather Bane said to Twilight.
“Please sergeant, call me Twilight, we are going to be gone for a while and calling me princess will get old eventually”. Twilight said trying to be nice, Twilight had always looked up to people like the Princess Celestia. She was not used to others calling her the same.  
Twilight started to walk away, but realized that Phoenix squad was still standing exactly where they were.  
“Umm, are you going to stand there the entire trip?” Twilight questioned.  
“You have not dismissed us ma’am” said Firestorm.
Twilight rolled her eyes. She understood that all of this rules in the military were to teach discipline to the soldiers, but she always found a lot of them to be silly and unnecessary.
“Fine, you’re dismissed” Twilight said a little annoyed.
“Hello, I am Sparkflash, I am captain of this ship” Twilight turned around to see a highly decorated pony wearing a airship’s captain’s hat.  “All I need is your OK and we will be ready to leave dock” said the captain.
“Oh OK, uhm I guess I am ready to go.” Twilight said.
“Good, I must say I am extremely excited about this journey, how are you feeling about all this princess?” questioned the captain
“Honestly, I’m not sure what to think, I will have to think about it on the way there” said Twilight.  
“OK princess, but from what I have learned from all of my journeys, it’s not the destination, but the journey there that really counts.  
Twilight thought about that quote for a while, she had never really thought of that before. 
“Well, I am gonna go get us squared away” said the captain. He walked over to a communication tube off to the side of the airship.  
“This is the S.S. New Tidings, requesting permission to leave dock”
“Permission granted, good luck” replied somepony on the other side of the pipe.
The captain motioned up to the bridge, Twilight felt the whole airship shift after it was uncoupled from the dock, and started to leave into the unknown.