//------------------------------//
// The world I saw 
// Story: My Skylight Hell 
// by Mr_Anderson 
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My Skylight Hell



“And bless this meal Father Washington,” said my mother, concluding our prayer. I sat down with my family for supper as maids brought out the food. I smiled as I looked around the table at my family. This was the first dinner we had eaten together in a long time.
My father, Ramiel Notelock, was to be let off work early by his boss Jeremiah Fink for two whole weeks. He said it was given to him as a reward for all his hard work at Fink Manufacturing. His job was being the vice president of Fink Manufacturing, which was the lead producer of all mechanical items sold and used in Columbia. I would would always see signs around the city bearing the words “Fink Manufacturing! The thing that makes Columbia float!” He was home, and that meant the first family time in months.
I wasn’t the only one pleased about it either. A warm atmosphere surrounded the table as my mother, father, and two younger brothers began to eat their food.  
“So Alyssia, How are your studies going?” asked my father.
“Good, I am currently receiving A’s in all subjects including my piano lessons,” I said.
“That’s what I like to hear darling, it makes me very proud of you.” He smiled. “Anything else going on in your life?”
“Not much other than the fact that I took up a slight interest in mechanics,” I said shyly.
“What?!?” my mother and father said in unison.
“Yeah, didn’t I tell you guys last week that I drew up a design for a better skyhook?”
“Wow Alyssia I never would of thought that you would ever have an interest in mechanics!” My father exclaimed happily. Heck I’ll take you for a tour of factory if you want to!”
“Honey, its only a minor interest don’t get too far ahead of yourself,” My mother scolded.
“Actually dad, it would be nice if I could talk to professionals about the subject matter, I think it would good to enlighten me about the subject in greater detail.”
“Great! I’ll take you sometime this week to the main facility where we can get you… ‘enlightened’ on the subject matter,” He said.
That’s when I noticed I was staring at him.
“Alyssia? He waved his hoof in front of my face and snapped me back to the present.
“Sorry dad, its just I just realized how much I love talking to you that’s all, after being out of the house for so long…” I stammered.
Its okay darling, I understand, and do you mind if you could play me a song on the piano? It’s been a while since I’ve heard you play for me.
“Sure thing, dad.” I walked over to the piano bench, lifted up the cover and began to play a peaceful tune that filled the entire manor.
The rest of the dinner went very well. Dad told us about his coworkers and his daily life over at the factory. It was fascinating to hear about the handymen and the different vigors that the factory produced each day. He had even brought home some samples of Bucking Bronco for us to try out. As dinner closed up and I got ready for bed I went upstairs to the balcony floor.
The vast Columbian skyline greeted me as I breathed in the cool night air. I often came here when I need time to think about different things that were on my mind. This was a great day in all but I couldn’t help but feel stressed as I stared across the vast floating city. The multiple lit up floating islands turned the sky a dark yellow as multiple thoughts raced through my head.
What’s it going to be like now that dad is home? Are we going to do anything fun together? What if he doesn’t like my designs?
All these things that shouldn’t have worried me were eating at me like crows.
I guess the only thing I can really do is wait and see what happens.
“Alyssia, you up here?” called my father from the bottom of the stairwell.
“Yes dad, come one up!” I called back not really sure what to expect.
After a few thuds, my father appeared at the top of the stairwell and walked out on to the balcony with me.
“Brrrrr, aren’t you cold out here Ally?” He shivered. “I can call you by that name right?”
“Yeah that’s fine by me, my friends at school started calling me that and the name just stuck.”
“That’s good, your mom told me to call you that,” he sighed in relief.
We both stood there in silence and stared at the floating city for quite sometime before my mom came up and told me to get in bed. We said goodnight and I drifted off into a deep sleep in which I had the most terrifying nightmare.
A massive building was lit aflame with oily black smoke billowing out of the flaming structure. The smell of burning flesh clogged my nose and the screams of the dying filled the air like the most disturbing harmony you’ve ever heard. But the worst part was that I was frozen. I couldn’t move, I couldn’t speak, I could only watch in horror as the building slowly burned to the ground.
The dream turned to black and the next thing I knew I could hear Columbia’s Gayest quartet coming through my radio alarm.
My eye’s quickly fluttered open and I rolled out of bed on to the floor. After the shock of hitting the ground snapped my senses awake, I stood up and got ready for the upcoming day.  I hopped into the shower and wiped away the morning from my face. Exiting, I began getting dressed and combing my short blonde hair as I struggled to fit my arms into the plain school uniform. After I was done, I walked down stairs where my mother was just finishing her breakfast.
“Good morning mother,” I said cheerfully.
“Ah Alyssia, good morning to you as well. The maids have prepared breakfast, as always so hurry along so you’ll be ready for school on time. In the mean time I’m going to wake the boys.” Said my mother as she walked up stairs to wake my younger brothers.
“Where’s dad?” I asked.
“He left for work about fifteen minutes ago,” She replied. “Anything else?”
“That’s good for now, thanks,”
I quickly ate breakfast and headed out the door for school. I was immediately greeted by the smell of hotdogs and wild flowers that grew in the garden next door. children ran after each other playing in the morning sunlight. I quickly walked down the cobblestone street towards the nearest airbus station. I made my way down to the fountain square and waited at the protruding dock for the airship to pick me up. After about five minutes the ship arrived and I got onboard the crowed vessel and began my usual trip to school.
After about ten minutes the bus arrived at the station and I walked directly across the street into a large church. Multiple rows of candles lit the room with a warm glow as classical music played through a gramophone. I walked along the side of the building until I reached the back exit. After a few narrow paths I reached my destination. Lady Comstocks school for girls, it was a midsized private school, which my mother went to when she was my age. My friend’s Luminance and Topaz waved to me as I joined up with them and continued to my classes.
The rest of the day was smooth, pretty much routine work. That was until school was let out. Luminance and me were walking towards the front gate when we the loud hum of an airship. Not like that was anything new to us but this one flew right over our heads. It was painted blood red and had a large poster on its side portraying a black woman reaching out with her hand and large black letters that read: DAISY FITSROY HEARS YOUR VOICE! JOIN THE VOX POPULI! There were other smaller messages that scorned the leaders of Columbia and poverty. But that was only the icing on the cake, for the bay doors of the airship opened and hundreds of small red letters poured out covering the next two blocks.
Many of the girls around me screamed, others ran for cover, but I just stood there and watched the papers fall to the ground like snow. The world around me seemed to faze out like I was in a trance. Slowly, I knelt down and picked up one of the red slips of paper. Its message was very similar to what was on the airship but without the picture of the black lady.  
“Ally… ALLY!” My friend shook me back to reality. “Are you okay?! What the heck was that!?
“I’m fine Lumi,” I said getting back up.
Lumi and I watched as the Red airship disappeared behind a building. A few minutes’ later three police crafts landed outside the school. Teachers were still running around trying to assess and organize the situation when a squadron of cops hurried into the courtyard. The leader of the squad walked over to the nearest teacher and began asking about what happened.
“I don’t know!” stammered the teacher. “It all happened so fast! There was an big red air ship that flew right over our school and dropped all these bits of paper on us. At first we didn’t know what they were so a bunch of us just panicked. Can you please tell us who those people were?”
“Hey boss! We got Vox propaganda! The whole place is covered with it!” one of the officers yelled.
“Vox!? Damnit! Okay everybody!” Yelled the head officer. “If you picked up one of those red slips you’re gonna have to give it to us!”
About a dozen girls came forward and handed over their red slip. As for me I quietly slipped mine into my pocket before anyone else could see that I had one. After the cops left, a clean up crew was sent in to deal with all the red slips of paper and I quickly headed home.
As I entered the house I was immediately bear hugged by my mom and some of the maids.
“Oh my gosh sweetie thank Father Comstock that you’re alright!” My mother said. I heard about what happened at school. I was worried sick! I’ve informed your father but he wasn’t able to come home due to work.”
“Thanks mom, I’m fine now. I’m not sure who those poeple were but it was certainly scary.” I reassured her.
“That’s good, I had the maids prepare your favorite chocolate ice cream, brownies and all. Do you need anything else? “
“Thanks mom, you’re the best.” I gave her a hug and went to eat the ice cream that was waiting for me at the table.
As I sat down and began to eat the delicious frozen treat I pulled out the red slip of paper and took a better look at it. Vox Populi, Daisy Fitsroy, who are all these ponies? I need answers, and I knew exactly where to get them.
“Hey mom! I’m heading out to the library!” I called upstairs.
“Okay honey! Just don’t be gone too long!” She called back.
I grabbed my backpack and walked out the door.