//------------------------------// // Fire vs Ice // Story: Night Patrol // by Foxgear //------------------------------// Night Patrol ch 26 By Foxgear “Is this necessary, sister? Surely we do not need to agree to these terms?” Luna pleaded with Celestia hotly debating Kira Perfecta’s situation in Nippon. The Moon Princess was adamantly opposed to the idea of forcing Kira to marry the Prince of Nippon. It had been her assumption that Celestia would share her view, thus clearing her conscious of the political fallout of refusing such an offer. However, Celestia's input has only worsened the matter, in her opinion. “What do you want me to do, Luna? Say no? If she’s willing to do it, then we should support her choice and get things moving. I understand your feelings, but you need to remember you aren’t forcing Kira to do this.” Luna grumbled under her breath. “What was that?” The Princess of the Night sighed, her brown in a sharp V of displeasure. “I said it doesn’t feel like it’s her choice. She knows how important this alliance is for Equestria. Kira understands what’s at stake. We don’t need to ask her to do anything, because there is only one logical choice. It is just one I happen to disagree with.” Celestia wrapped her leg around her sister, pulling her into a hug. “It’s unlike you to be so… emotional on such matters.” She pushed Celestia’s leg away, “I am not emotional! I’m simply… uncertain. These kinds of things don’t usually involve my friends!” And therein lays the problem. Celestia figured as much, had this just been some stuck up noble this would be an open and shut case. Adding in somepony you personally know complicates matters, making the lines blur. It was situation Celestia experienced herself many times in the past, which is why she’s distance herself from other ponies; it made things easier when things like this happened. “How about this dear sister, we write up the official papers for Kira but also include a note stating that if she truly doesn’t wish to marry. She is under no pressure to do so. The choice will be hers and hers alone.” “And what of the fallout if she refuses,” Luna pressed, testing Celestia’s will. “She will be forever shamed for turning down the marriage by ponies for the rest of time. Either way, she can’t win.” “I highly doubt Kira cares about such things. It’s not like she part of high society or society at all. She’d probably much rather prefer being out in the forest hunting monsters. Heck, I doubt she would even set foot in a town unless forced to.” Luna rubbed her chin, pondering Celestia’s words. She did have a point. Kira wasn’t really a social pony and probably wouldn’t care or even know if any rumors were spread about her. “I still don’t like it,” Luna conceded, “But none the less I will sign the papers and send a letter to Kira. Though I doubt my words could persuade her, I hope her choice is her own.” Celestia smiled, hugging her sister, “Agreed.” The matter finally settled. The sisters went to work drawing up the papers to make Kira Perfecta, Duchess Kira Perfecta. Doing so was a simple matter of some golden embroiled paper with some royal seals, written in golden ink. There was also a fee, which they paid. “This seems… like a very over the top method to grant nobility. I mean, we're writing with gold ink! Who thought of this?” Luna wondered aloud. They didn’t do this often, and after doing all this, maybe not often enough to realize that a lot of these trapping were unnecessary. “Why is there such a high fine too, and another thing where do these funds go? Really who wrote these rules?” “Let’s check,” Celestia cheerfully said, calling for the royal records. She really enjoyed researching, even if this subject matter was uninteresting to her personally, it was still fun to learn. Happily humming a tune, Celestia flipped open the book to the writer of the rules for awarding nobility, and the creator was… “Yellowblood’s grandfather…” She sourly said. “That certainly explains all the gold…” “I vote that after we finish Kira’s certificate, we amend this process with something simpler and cheaper.” “Agreed,” Nodded Celestia finishing the last of the details. Sealing the heavy paper with a red cloth and gold seal with both her and Luna’s marks on it. A messenger pony was called and took it, flying away at top speed towards Nippon, a three-day flight. Both sisters lay back in their thrones with a sigh of contentment. Their stomachs rumbled with hunger. Causing both of them to laugh, realizing they worked through dinner. “Pardon me, but might we get some food? Whatever left in the kitchen will be fine and maybe some cake?” “Really, sister, cake?” Celestia rose up to sit prim and proper with her chin in the air, “Yes, dear sister cake. In all of our adventures, I have yet to find a better-tasting treat in the world, so if you ever happen to find something better, be sure to share, but I’m certain you won’t.” “Very funny,” Luna chuckled as the servants brought trays of oaks and hay, plus Celestia’s cake. As the silver trays were set beside their thrones, Luna couldn’t help but think of what Celestia had said about their adventures. To be completely honest, she missed that old life. Since becoming princesses, this was the first time in decades that they’ve not moved. She wondered what the world was like now, what new things there were to discover, and what secrets may be found. Maybe, just maybe they could go back to that life? They could pass on the throne and disappear into the world again. Perhaps they could be free once more. “Are you going to eat Luna?” With a nod, Luna dug into her meal just as the doors to the throne room swung open. A battered and beaten Crusader and Emerald Cutter entered dragging the corpse of a mighty beast behind them. One they had not seen in a long time, a chimera. Emerald Cutter approached the thrones and bows, “Night Hunter Emerald Cutter, along with Night Hunter Crusader and patroller Bright Rain reporting in. All other units are regretfully lost, along with the border village of Split Toe. The residents and their patroller guards were wiped out by the creature you see behind me. Also, Commander Crusader’s unit is wiped out safe for himself and the member Bright Rain. We are unable to recover their bodies out of fear of more of these creatures roaming the forest. We seek your wisdom in the matter of identifying the creature, my Princesses.” Stunned at the sight of the creature, Luna ignored her meal and hastily trotted down the steps of her throne. Looking the beast over thoroughly. She was absolutely sure it was a chimera. Not just any chimera, which was made of three animals, this was an uber chimera made up of three or more different animals. In this case five, lion, goat and snake, the usual blend, but there were two others; fire rat and wraith. That explains the steel wool-like skin and the claws. Chimera is not a natural creature. At least not at first, during Discord’s short rein of power, he created several variants of the beast for fun, and they thrived very well. They were a frequent problem she and Celestia dealt with in the first decade of their rule. Having all but hunted the creatures to near excitation. Their numbers were so few nowadays that they didn’t even bother to try finding the remaining chimera. As long as ponies avoid their territory, they would be fine. If this had been a run of the mill chimera, they would just leave it at that, but it wasn’t. Somepony either found it or made this crime against nature and then made it even more deadly. The only way to do that outside of chaos magic was through the ancient art of alchemy, and they just happen to know a group that dabbles in that field of magic. “I fear our old friend Hoofenstein is back in business.” The room went quiet, but the Luna could feel the anger seething from everypony in the room. It wasn’t that long ago they dealt with the ponies of Rainbow Factory, and the wounds were still fresh even after two years. They’ve looked everywhere and anywhere they could think of to track down the ponies that escaped and found nothing. If she was right, though, it seemed their enemy was going to come to them this time. “Are you certain?” Celestia inspected the beast for herself, it was clear nothing natural made it. Unless there was a pool of chaos magic somewhere, they didn’t know about, this was undoubtedly the work of Hoofenstein. The problem, there was no proof. No trail to follow back to the beast’s creator. Chimera, well not highly intelligent, did learn how to speak if they lived long enough. “I am one hundred percent, certain sister. Come, let us get this to Starwind so to see if he can discover anything we can’t.” Celestia was hesitant, “Actually, I thought perhaps we send the beast to both Starwind and Starswirl? I have been in contact with the old mage recently, and he seems interested in the world again.” (Starswirl, how I hate that stallion!) Luna ground her teeth, marching up to her sister, and spreading her wings a challenge. “That wayward bell loving buffoon refused to answer our calls when we needed him most! And now that he’s “interested” in coming back to the world again, we are supposed to just ignore his transgressions and give him a free pass? No, I say! He must learn, well, he is a valuable friend and adviser. He is NOT above our authority and cannot merely choose which orders he wishes to obey and which ones he does not! Since he seems so inclined to stay locked up in his lab, he can stay there!” Celestia reeled at her sister’s outburst, surprised, to say the least, that one had ever come. Starwind was brilliant, but by his own admission, he was not a biologist, he was an engineer. Starswirl was a biologist (among other things) and studied hundreds if not thousands of creatures over the years. Still, Luna did have a point. Starswirl had been less then reliable in the past if something didn’t pique his interest. He didn’t show up. “I understand your strong feelings of displeasure with Starswirl’s past behavior, and it is something that needs to be addressed. That said, I think present matters are far too foreboding to keep him away when we really could use his help, especially when he is willing to help.” “Fine,” Luna growled out harshly, clearly not happy about having to ask the old mage for help. “So help me if he runs out on us like last time because “something tickled his fancy” I will personally banish him to the moon!” “A bit harsh, but agreed, I’ll pass along the message and the body. If I may get some help to please? This looks awfully heavy.” Several unicorns come to the princess’s aid and together carried the corpse away to Starswirl’s lab. Emerald Cutter stood beside Luna, watching Celestia and the unicorns disappear from sight. Personally, the green rinin would dispose of the thing that killed her comrades, but such feelings were unfounded. If Hoofenstein was indeed back, they would need everything they could get their hooves on to track the bastard alchemist down. Still, her faith in this Starswirl was very lacking from the rumors she heard of the stallion. “Are you really ok with this Princess?” The frown on the princess’s lip was a solid enough answer. “No, no, I am not. Starswirl has lost my trust many moons ago. Still, Celestia’s point remains true, he is very well versed in monster biology. If he is proving himself difficult, then I will have some words with him.” “Scary.” “Indeed. Now on to other matters, what is Applejack’s estimated time of arrival? I want her on this as soon as she gets back.” Emerald rubbed her chin, trying to remember what the flight schedule had said. All airships kept track of the other's flight path in case a rescue was needed. “I think they're scheduled to arrive later today, really late though, close to midnight. If you want, I can join the investigation right away and give a situation report to Commander Applejack when she arrives. Fierce Fury and Overheat are with her. All of the Commanders are scattered right now.” “I’d prefer you to get some rest. This will be your third mission in the last two days nonstop. Why don’t you and Crusader go rest for a few hours and I’ll assign the investigation to Sixes and Nightingale, and perhaps Topaz Slicer if he’s not busy.” Emerald saluted, a yawn escaping her mouth, making her blush, “Sorry about that, I think I’ll take that leave time. Come on, Rookie, let’s hit the hay.” “Right ma’am,” Crusader saluted, warily he looked at Luna uncertain of what to do. “I umm… good day…. Princess.” He half-hearted saluted. Luna couldn’t help but frown, watching the white rinin trot away. Wishing there wasn’t such an air of awkwardness between them. Alas, it was something that would have to take a back seat until this was all sorted out. On the bow of Twilight Dusk, Applejack wrapped up tight in the heaviest coat she could find shivered. The weather had taken a turn for the worse, and it was cold, freezing even! It was so cold in fact that they were overheating the engines just to keep the ship from freezing up! With the wind pushing against them as hard it was, they would be delayed by at least a day from their scheduled arrival time in Canterlot. The strange thing was is that this time of year didn’t have this kind of weather… at all. This was the badlands, it was supposed to be hot! Shaking the gathered snow off her coat, Applejack peered ahead into the fog. She could see nothing, nothing but white, they reduced speed and climbed to a higher altitude to avoid any peaks or mountains that may pop up. The equipment was on the frizz, so they had to rely on lookouts to navigate. It was a miserable job. “Time for the shift change,” Overheat chimed cheerfully. He was the one pony that didn’t mind the extreme cold. Being made of fire really helps. “Glad you’re so cheerful, gain some new friends?” Applejack pointed to the group of huddled ponies surrounding the other night hunter, mostly mares from what she could see. Overheat chuckled as the fire flickered across his skin. “What can I say? I’m the hottest stallion around, and I mean that both literary and metaphorically.” “Yes,” Applejack dryly observed. Her eyes narrowing on the red stallion, “I can see that, and I’ve also heard you’ve been getting around lately and getting frisky. Really frisky if the number of rumors going around is anything to go by.” “Well, if you really want to know, I have been feeling…” “Wah, don’t want to know! Lalalala!” Applejack sang, flopping her ears down as she trotted away, leaving Overheat and his herd behind. Chuckling loudly, Overheat waved goodbye to the blushing mare, “Stay warm, Commander. I think you ladies should go inside too. I may be hot as a furnace, but I do have a job to do, and so do you.” “Aww…” The mare’s collectively sighed, detaching themselves from his warmth one by one. Now alone, Overheat stared ahead into the oncoming blizzard. Wondering if he could fire a beam of fire or something, like the reindeer in that heartwarming story. What was his name again? Rufus Rednose or something like that? Whatever the case, this was no doubt going to the most tedious part of his day. Well, he’s already had the most exciting part earlier with… what was her name again? Ever since the battle at the factory, he’s been feeling, in Applejack’s words, frisky. Not that he was disinterested with mares before, he just… well, he was busy, and he didn’t make time for such things. Now he did whoever where ever he could, which has gotten him in a bit of trouble from time to time. That time in the kitchen with the chief where Princess Luna walked in was probably the worst case. Still, that didn’t answer the burning question on his mind, why was he so… turned on all the time? He sat on his rump to ponder, the heat of his body melting the snow around him quickly as he continued to stare ahead. No answers came to him throughout his entire shift when Fierce Fury came to relieve him of his post. “Hey, Fury?” “What?” The other red stallion growled, snorting out a burst of hot flame to keep warm. “Have you been feeling more… ah… frisky since dating Nightingale, specifically after the battle at the factory?” Fury turned to him with pinprick sized eyes, “What in Tartarus are you on about? Also, why in Luna’s name would you ask me that! I don’t ask about every mare you take into the closet, so don’t ask about what I do with my marefriend!” Slowly Overheat backed away from the enraged Fury, really he should have known better than to ask Fierce Fury such a thing, it’s in the name after all. “Right, right, sorry, I’ll just be on my way.” Fury huffed, puffing out a cloud of smoke and groaned, “Hold up, I might have an answer.” Overheat stopped in his tracks turning around to face the feathered rinin. “Mind you, it’s just a theory, so don’t go taking my word like I’m some professional. Now you started feeling more frisky or horny whatever, after the battle of Rainbow Factory, correct?” Overheat nodded. “And you had a pretty tough battle there, correct?” Overheat blinked in confusion, uncertain of where this was going, “Yeah, I fought the steel pony Redblood, it was closest I came to dying. Never fought an opponent that didn’t take more than a few hits to go down, but what does this have to do with my… perniciousness?” (Do I really have to spell it out?) Fury wondered, “You came close to death for the first time that changes a pony, it shakes them down to their core. You start to think about things differently. In this case, I would say, subconsciously at least, you’re afraid of dying alone.” “Dying alone? I highly doubt that.” “Really now, then you explain why you’re going after every mare that lifts her tail in front of you? Sure there isn’t just a hint of a desire to have… oh, say a legacy?” Overheat narrowed his eyes at Fury, “Legacy… you mean offspring, aka foals?” “Foals, a mare to remember you in case you fall in battle, whatever eases your mind. That’s just my take. If you aren’t satisfied, go find your own answers.” Fury turned back to the front of the ship, indicating the conversation was over. STOPONING POINTS Feeling, well, Overheat wasn’t exactly sure what he felt trotting back to his cabin. He wasn’t afraid of dying if he was, he wouldn’t be continually putting himself in danger. Though Fury may have a point, maybe he was scared of being, well, forgotten. Really Sixes had Crusader to carry on his legacy despite how poor their relationship… (Oh… Fury may be more on the mark then I gave him credit for.) Reaching the door, Overheat couldn’t help it and took a bite of some snow. He always enjoyed the taste of it, especially when he added fruit juice to the mix. He’d have to name the drink someday. However, as wonderfully tasty as this snow was, something was different about it, like there was something in it besides frozen water and random minerals. Why he would almost say, he could taste… magic… this wasn’t natural snow! “Fury!” It was too late. The ship came to a sudden halt as sheets of ice climbed up the sides of the boat like wild vines, keeping them rooted where they were. All around them, the sound of battle horns played a haunting melody as the ship was forced lower and lower to the ground. The boat shook, coming to a stop, frozen in a giant mountain of ice. “Ugh wasn’t going on?” Applejack demanded swaggering out of the cabin, her world spinning from the crash. A haunting whiny brought her to her senses quickly as three intangible white ponies circled the ship, trails of icily snowflakes fluttering in their wake. Her mouth refused to work, recognizing the creatures of legend, the bane of Equestria since its founding, wendigoes. “Wendigoes! That’s not possible! They can’t be here!” “What the hell is a wendigo?” Overheat barked, jumping to Applejack’s side. He looked unimpressed by ice creatures doing another lap around the ship. More and more ice built up with each pass. Braking off a piece of ice, Overheat took a bite of it, confirming his suspicions, the ice had the same taste of magic as before. The wendigoes passed by the third time. More ice growing on the ship's rails, spilling over the side onto the deck. Applejack pointed with her hoof, “That, that’s a wendigo! They’re monsters born from the hate and strive of ponies fighting. They feed off the negative energy and use it to freeze the land! They’re supposed to have been banished by the Clover the Clever at Equestria’s founding!” “How much conflict does there need to be?” Fury asked, standing beside the two. “I just saying there has been more than enough of it to go around.” Applejack pondered the question tapping her hoof against her chin in thought. “Well last time it was a full-blown race war between the three pony tribes, so it’s kind of hard to judge off a that, but I’d say they shouldn’t appear now when they didn’t appear during the Crystal War or the Rainbow War.” “Fair point,” Overheat shrugged, “Well, whatever the case fire melts ice, and I’m fire, so I think I got this in the bag.” Before any pony could stop him, Overheat jumped off the side of the ship and landed ablaze in his flaming skeleton form. Snorting hot steam Overheat sucked in a deep breath and unleashed a stream of white-hot fire at the wendigoes. The blast hit the wendigo in the back of the pack; it shuttered and screamed, falling to the ground half melted. Stepping over the ice beast, Overheat finished it off with another blast of fire, laughing at how easy it was. “See, I told you, got this in the bag!” Applejack yelled, “Look out!” Confused Overheat looked back at the surrounding fog just in time to catch the shadow of a massive creature barreling through the fog, it was big, it was hairy, and it had tusks! “Die Equestrian!” The creature bellowed, swinging its tusks at him. Overheat jumped back, barely avoiding the lethal ivory wrapped in barbs. The beast fully emerged into his vision, revealing its armored form, Overheat was very surprised to discover his attacker was a mammoth! Dodging a massive iron-clad foot, Overheat blasted fire at his attacker just in time for another mammoth to barrel out of the mist, equally as angry as the first. “I don’t know what’s going on, but if you want to keep breathing, I’d suggest you STOP!” He roared unleashing a stream of fire, igniting the mammoth’s fur beneath his armor plates. The beast howled with pain, its entire body erupting into a giant flaming hairball. The mammoth fell to the ground, trying to roll and put out the fire. The weight and bulkiness of its armor made him drop like a stone in the fresh snow leaving him stuck while one half of him burned. The other mammoths weren’t looking too pleased seeing their friend die and stampeded towards Overheat with tusks angled for the kill. “I could use some help here!” “Got you covered!” Applejack swooped down from the Twilight Dusk, slamming a powered up boot to a mammoths’ heads. The blow split the steel helm and sprayed blood into the air. The mammoth swayed and crashed into the mammoth right of him, breaking their charge. In the sky, Fury lead of squad of pegasus to harass the remaining mammoths. Forcing them to retreat. Breaking off his attack, Fury dropped in between Overheat and Applejack. “Well, this took a strange turn, any idea why these guys are attacking us, Applejack?” “Do I look like a historian?” “Well, it’s not like Overheat, or I studied history.” Applejack sighed exhaustively as the mammoth reorganized their line. What the farm mare knew about mammoths was limited to what Luna taught her. They were one of the last nomadic tribes with a warrior culture. Far in the past, part of their migrating routes went through Equestria until they were forced out. Their constant warmongering caused their numbers to dwindle to the point they were on the verge of extinction. “What is your quarrel with us?” She yells to the mammoths’ battle line, her voice carrying over the sleet and snow, which seemed to grow worse by the minute. A long brown-furred mammoth stepped forward to answer. “We are here to reclaim our ancient homeland, which was stolen by you ponies many moons ago in the war between the ponies and griffins. With the might of new friend, we will rebuild this barren wasteland to its former icily glory!” Overheat exchanged confused looks with Applejack and Fury, “So… you're replacing a hot, barren wasteland with a frozen barren wasteland. Well props for being creative, at least, still were not going to let you do that. Besides, there already one frozen wasteland in the north with a vacancy.” “You dare to insult us? Your ponies are always too arrogant! Attack!” Both sides charge head-on at each other. The fighting was brutal, ponies were crushed and swatted away by the mammoths’ massive feet and tusks shattering their bodies into broken lumps of flesh. In contrast, the ponies ran circles around the arctic beasts, lighting them aflame with fire and lightning. Applejack was shining above the rest, taking on the hairy elephants in close combat, matching their incredible strength with her own. Still, the losses on both sides piled on, and the storm grew worse as the wendigoes continued to circle overhead. --break A third party observed the battle with a veiled smirk. The being in question was Equestrian, her coat matching the snow perfectly, hiding her entirely within the snowstorm. A transparent veil hung from her longhorn, hiding her face. A long heavy cloak covered the rest of her body. Everything was going according to plan. With this much conflict, the wendigoes would have this entire area frozen once again. A bright glow caught her attention, curious, she wandered closer to investigate and found to be the fiery pony that had started the battle. He was quite the scorcher, the heat of his flames pushing against the storm like a mini sun. She fancied him. He was her complete opposite. In fact, she wanted to dance the dance of death with him herself, but that would go against her orders. On the other hoof, she didn’t care. She wanted to fight him! No, she needed to fight him! “You there!” She called out, the storm’s power increasing with the sound of her voice. Calmly she waded through the battlefield forcing friend and foe from her path via an ice bolt from her horn, leaving her victims frozen solid. “I like you, you seem like you’ll be a good challenge for me.” Overheat looked curiously at the veiled pony, uncertain of her alliance. Though the rinin could safely deduce, she was not a friend, nor did she seem to be an ally to the mammoths. ( A passing third party, maybe? Whatever the case, she’s bad news!” Overheat could feel it in his bones. “Who might you be?” “Lumi, my name is Lumi Winter. Let’s have some fun!” A beam of ice magic shot from Lumi’s horn, Overheat trotted sideways, breathing fire to counter the attack and rushed in. The mysterious unicorn ran over the snow efficiently as solid ground. She caught up to him with ease, body-slamming him to the ground. A massive burst of steam-exploded as their two elements clash. “You’re not going to put me out that easily!” Overheat taunted, trying to grab Lumi with his front legs, his claws blistering as they made contact with her frozen skin. Her body was so cold that it burned him! “And you’re not going to melt my heart at this rate. Really I was expecting so much more than this.” Overheat chuckled darkly, “Oh, trust me, I never leave a mare unsatisfied.” “I’m sure, but they're a first time for everything,” She said coyly licking her lips. “Will you two fight or get a room, please!” Applejack yelled from atop a dead mammoth, her body covered in brain matter, her leg stuck in her victim's broken skull. Ignoring the momentary distraction, the two elemental ponies got back into it, throwing fire and ice in every direction. However, Overheat began to notice that as the fight dragged on, his flames seemed to grow… duller. He stopped short, Lumi stood a ways away wearing a smirk that he didn’t like. “Finally, notice what’s happening?” Overheat blew out a breath, it was cold, he was cold! That wasn’t possible! “What did you do?” “Wouldn’t you like to know?” She said coyly. The storm grew in intensity. Behind them, the Twilight Dusk roared to life the ship's cannons firing with all barrels, blowing away the ice holding it down. Ponies ran for the boat, the mammoths, and the cold chasing them down. Wendigoes fell from the sky freezing the retreating ponies, and Overheat found himself alone in the icy fields. “Come on, we gotta go!” Applejack yelled, covering the retreating ponies. “Overheat, come on!” Warily Overheat looked between the ship and Lumi. Slowly he stepped away, but she made no moves to stop him. He broke into a full gallop, fighting the ice and snow every inch of the way, with barely any heat left in his body. “I’m sure we’ll meet once more, my dear little firestorm! As a gift, I’ll show you my face, I’m sure you’ll rather like it.” Lumi flipped up her veil, Overheat couldn’t believe what he was seeing; he knew that face… Applejack yelled from the ship, “Hurry up! We need you in the engine room!” “I’m coming!” Overheat leaped onto the ship’s deck, braking past the scrambling ponies as they try to push back the advancing mammoths. He ran down to the deepest part of the engine room and took up position beneath the master gem generator. “Turn off all the cooling units, we won’t need them.” He barked as the engineers followed his orders. Psyching himself up, Overheat summoned his flames and force them into the ship's main gen generator. The big red crystal glowed and began to spin again, generating power. More importantly, heat, a heat that spread throughout the entire ship, thawing the ice and freeing the airship entirely. The ship lurched and rockets into the sky. Ablaze of cannon fire covering their escape as the mammoths cry out in victory. Lumi quietly smirking watching the airship fly away. “This is just the beginning.” She dropped her veil once more and called for the mammoths to follow her. “Come, let us return home as well. We have much to do.”