March 16, 1825 AD
Mexico City, Federal District
As dusk approached for the ship and its crew, back in the capital business went on as usual under the midday sky. Far from the borders, skepticism still ran high despite the many news coming in.
The same could not be said at the National Palace, where the president Guadalupe Victoria at this very moment was in his room looking over the reports that had arrived so far.
Reports from the north were still few. The region was sparsely populated, and Apache attacks had impeded progress time and again. The south fared much better, being more populated, less hostile, and closer to the capital. As such, a more throughout account of the situation there was compiled.
But that wasn’t the object of his attention now. The topmost paper was a letter, received just that morning. It came from the port of Acapulco, and it read thusly:
“The Pacific expedition has returned ahead of schedule. Expect General Echávarri to arrive to the capital by the 18th with a full report.”
This had been surprising. This second expedition had departed days after the first. Its goal was to reach Hawaii; or at least, the general area should the island chain be gone as well. To be back this soon meant they must have found something worthy to report already. Whether that be, it would dictate the next course of action.
Now, to wait for the Atlantic expedition to come back…
Beach
The sun moved down to the horizon as all across the encampment fires were being lit. They had set up a bit away from the shore, a little beyond where the sand ended and grass now carpeted the land. Not everyone was on land, as a few had stayed on the ship.
Those that were on land were gathering in small groups around each fire, mostly to just talk between themselves to pass the time. Others were designated as the first watch, and thus were across the encampment edges that didn’t faced the beach. Lastly, since the majority of the crew had left the ship, the cook had decided to follow suit. As such, one last fire was being used to prepare supper.
Juan Álvarez was in one of the groups nearest the beach, gazing at the ocean, watching as the sun finally sunk below the horizon.
“Something the matter, sir?” One of the men asked.
“Does it has to do with what were you saying yesterday about the sun?” Another said.
“I am sure of it, gentlemen,” Álvarez replied, facing back to the small group. “Since a few days ago the sun seems to rise and fall faster than back home.”
“Has it? Are you not simply mistaken, sir?” the first man said.
“I don’t think I could notice something like that,” a third spoke.
“It is not just the sun,” Álvarez continued. His gaze now went to the opposite side of the beach.
Shortly afterwards, the moon began to rise over the eastward horizon.
“Ever since the rest of the world disappeared, it has always been the same thing. On some days you could see the moon even during the day, but now it only ever appears at night. And when has been the last time any of you has seen it as a crescent?”
The men began to briefly murmur between themselves.
“Truth be told, I have never put much thought into it,” the second man spoke.
“Not many would, I reckon,” the first man said. “We have been busy with the whole missing land matter, and now this,” he finished with a hand motion to denote their surroundings.
“Exactly. Not many would notice, or care, to put much thought into it,” Álvarez stated. “Or there are more pressing matters to attend to.”
“Well, in any case, I still wouldn’t dwell much on it,” the second man said.
“To each their own, I guess,” the third spoke. “Still, we are going to be more focused on surveying this land.”
“Yeah, I’m starving already,” the first man said. “I wonder when the food will be ready.”
And thus, the conversation had shifted to a more mundane topic.
Mountain Base
For the pegasi, the sun was already out of sight thanks to the mountain. Despite being airborne creatures, they had always camped at ground level during their journey. At most they only needed a sentry up-high, something that was tasked to Keen Eyes. But with the mountain and with how late it was, he was already down with the rest, as they gathered around a big campfire.
Landing near the fire, he got closer to take a seat alongside the other pegasi, a look of worry as he gazed at the fire.
“Should be we lightening it this early?” He looked around to the others.
“Couldn’t we have waited until it was more dark?”
“Oh, you worry too much, Keen Eyes,” one of the already seated pegasi said. “The mountain would block the light, and the smoke would barely be visible from the beach anyway.”
“Ah, let it be, Thundershock,” another pegasus said. “You know Keen Eyes here can be such a worrywart.”
The comment provoked a few chuckles from other pegasi, and Keen Eyes simply glared.
The laughter stopped, however, when Wing Shield finally showed up.
“Everypony, let’s not forget the important matter at hand,” he said as he took seat. “Those creatures right now are on that beach. What is their exact purpose? We don’t know. But I would like to find out when they’re still there, then to wait for them to find Equestria.”
The pegasi began to murmur between themselves. One of them rose a hoof.
“Yes, Thunderbolt?” Wing Shield said.
“Captain, if I may,” Thunderbolt said. “I don’t oppose to the idea, but should it be here and now? We could head back and report already, and have a bigger force prepared to meet them.”
“I wouldn’t mind that myself, personally,” Keen Eyes spoke in a low voice. Which didn’t pass unheard of to those nearest him.
“We get it already, Keen Eyes,” the pegasus named Thundershock said, a slight annoyance in his voice.
“Calm down, brother,” Thunderbolt said. “Let him be, he isn’t the only one worried here.”
“Which brings me to my proposal,” Wing Shield continued. “Thunderbolt, I have taken that option into consideration. I would like for one of you to head back to the castle and report to the princesses and Starswirl. But I do want to make contact as soon as possible.”
“But sir, would it really be safe?” Another pegasus asked.
“That I cannot be completely certain,” Wing Shield answered. “When we do meet them, I want for a few to remain up high on watch, so if things don’t go well, they can get away undetected and warn Equestria.”
He looked around to face them all.
“So now I ask of you. Who is willing to go through with this now?”
Promptly, this sent the pegasi on another murmuring spree.
“I don’t think we should do this.”
“We’re here already, the sooner we go through this, the better.”
“Just imagine, we can go down in history as the first ponies to meet up with creatures of another country.”
“Let’s make them reconsider if they think they can mess with Equestria.”
“We should head back.”
“You already know what I think of this.”
“Let’s not back down from this, brother.”
Soon the murmurs died down, and all turned back to face Wing Shield.
“Well? Raise your hoof if you think we should wait?” He asked.
A few raised them. But overall, they were the minority.
“And just to make sure… who wants to go through with this?”
And the majority raised their hooves this time. Wing Shield nodded.
“Then it’s settled. Tomorrow by midday, we will make our presence to them known.”
He looked around once more.
“Now, who volunteers to report back?”
“I’ll go, captain,” Thunderbolt said. “I am one of the fastest here, I can deliver the news as fast as possible.”
“I could doubt that,” a pegasus spoke up. “I’m sure I can get there first.”
“You think you can beat my brother, Scud?” Thundershock said. “Not a chance. He’s the fastest there is!”
“It might not be a bad idea if both of you go,” Wing Shield said. “Just in case.”
“Yes, captain,” both Thunderbolt and Scud said, though they eyed each other for a moment before breaking contact.
“I suppose it goes without saying, but Keen Eyes will be the one to observe from the sky,” Wing Shield continued, causing more chuckles at Keen Eyes’s expense.
“Yes, sir, I don’t object… much,” he said.
“And I expect it will at least remain as such. We’re counting on you in case something goes wrong.”
He looked over at everypony once more.
“You’re all dismissed, we have an important day tomorrow. Be sure to rest up.”
“Yes, Captain!”
They all saluted before rising and scattered across camp.
Wing Shield, however, remained seated by the fire. His gaze was over it, but his mind was elsewhere.
What if I’m making a mistake? They outnumber us, and we don’t know what sort of weapons or magic they use. I can only hope I’m worrying over nothing.
He finally rose.
No, I must not fall in doubt now. It’s a high risk to take, but I didn’t become captain for backing down at the slightest sight of danger. Besides, whoever they are, I doubt dealing with them could be worse than Discord ever was.
And with that, he too left the proximity of the campfire.