Day 1: Airship, Heavensward
The enormous envelope of the airship Heavensward was painted with the ochres, umbers, and violets of a glorious sunset. The creak of the rigging that lashed the main body of the ship to the envelope was accompanied by the quiet thrum of the propellers as the airship gently backed out of its mooring. Starlight and Trixie marvelled from the rail of the top deck as the Canterlot Sky Harbor fell away. The colorful ponies that roamed the streets of the city shrank to the size of ants before vanishing altogether amidst the backdrop of twisting streets.
Once the airship was clear of the city, the engines cut and three pairs of long booms swung wide to the sides. Glimmering telekinetic fields from the crew lowered the massive violet sails, which promptly filled with the autumn breeze and carried them away. Canterlot became an island of carved stone and polished domes, surrounded by a sea of clouds.
“Is this how pegasi feel all the time?” Trixie asked, eyes wide and shining.
A pleasant, husky voice with a lilting cadence to it replied from behind them. “Most o’ the time we take it for granted; hard to marvel at the sights when y’gotta watch where you’re goin’.”
The pair turned to see an emerald green pegasus stallion with a shaggy cyan mane, a little older than they, wearing a golden scarf fixed with a sapphire brooch. He bowed with a warm smile. “Apologies for my rudeness; Heavy Sails, at yer service.”
Trixie’s right ear flicked. “Is that a western Griffish Isles accent I hear?”
“Well spotted, miss! I do have the distinct honor o’ hailing from the Fair Isle’s shores.”
Starlight returned his smile. “You’re a long way from home, then. What brings you to Canterlot?”
“I had to fly in to renew my shipping license; I’m one o’ the primary importers of raw materials from Griffonstone.” He adjusted his wings as he spoke. “Who might you lovely ladies be?”
“Oh! Well, I’m Starlight Glimmer, and this is–”
“The Great and Powerful Trrrixie!” Trixie cut in with a flourish of her cloak. “World-renowned stage magician; Starlight here is my Great and Powerful Assistant. Charmed, I’m sure.”
Recognition dawned behind Heavy Sails’ eyes. “I thought I reco’nized that hat; I caught one o’ yer shows a few years back. You put on quite the performance!”
Trixie positively radiated glee at this, but reined herself in as she took a bow. “You’re too kind, sir.” Starlight smiled as she did her best not to roll her eyes.
Heavy Sails beamed back at Trixie, then asked, “So, what brings you ladies to Manehattan? Scoutin’ locations for your next tour?”
“Oh hey, there’s a thought,” Trixie mused as she tapped a hoof to her muzzle, “But no, we’re actually travelling around the world!” She gasped. “Say, you know your ships – what’s the fastest way to get from Manehattan to Griffonstone?”
“Ah, on a tight schedule, are we? Well, the fastest way would be through Trottingham – steamships leave fer Trottingham from Manehattan Harbor almost every day. As for Trottingham to Griffonstone—” he pulled a small pocketbook from the folds of his scarf “—ah, good – the Hoofaestus will be on approach to Trottingham by the time you get there. She’ll be able to take you straight to Griffonstone proper, without having to hoof it from Griffonstone Station.”
“The Hoofaestus is an airship, then?” Starlight asked.
“Hoho, she’s not just any airship. You’ll know her when you see her.” Heavy Sails winked.
Trixie gave a small frown. “I thought griffons didn’t like airships docking directly in town.”
“They don’t like passenger airships docking in town – part of their territorial nature. But the Hoofaestus is a cargo hauler. In fact, the idea for her came from the griffons themselves – they were tired of lugging cartloads of ore down the mountain for shipment to Trottingham.”
Starlight’s eyebrows knitted together. “A cargo hauling airship, though?”
Heavy Sails chuckled at this. “Like I said, you’ll know her when you see her. Tell Captain Gretchen that H. S. sent you and she’ll let you on board… fer a nominal fee, at least.” He pulled a silver pocketwatch engraved with a lily from the folds of his scarf. “Right, well, I’m headed below decks fer a bit o’ summat to eat.”
“Oh, would you like an apple?” Starlight Glimmer levitated one out of her bag. “Sweet Apple Acres’ finest.”
“Cor, who could say no to that?” Heavy Sails happily accepted the apple and took a crunchy bite. “Mmm. That’s the stuff. Y’know, the first job I took working for me da’s company was runnin’ a steamship full o’ Zap Apple Jam from Baltimare to Suet. Y’never saw ponies make such a fuss when we docked.”
Trixie ignored Starlight’s sidelong glance as she asked, “Are there any airship routes from Griffonstone to Saddle Arabia?”
Heavy Sails shook his head. “Nah, the winds howling out o’ the Abysmal Abyss knock anything an’ everything out o’ the sky all the way to Suet – the only ways to Saddle Arabia are either by land or by sea. And I wouldn’t go by sea, if half o’ what I’ve heard is true.”
“Oh?” Starlight raised her eyebrows. “Is there dragon trouble? I thought Dragon Lord Ember’s been keeping raiding in check for the past few years.”
“Aye, the young Dragon Lord’s kept ’em all to heel, and shipping down the Griffonstone Seaway has ne’er been better. But I’ve been hearin’ nasty things about pirates all along the Saddle Arabian coast these past few months. Best stick to land, if y’can.”
“We will! Omigosh, thank you so much for all your advice!” Trixie grinned.
“You’re certainly welcome, ladies. Take care o’ yerselves, now.” With that, he trotted away, leaving Trixie and Starlight to enjoy the view of the rolling countryside below once more.
After a minute or so of quiet contemplation, Trixie asked, “What do you suppose he meant by ‘steamship?’”