Day 13: Airship, Hoofaestus
Captain Gretchen cut an impressive figure, even by griffon standards. The golden feathers around her eyes and within her plumage shone in the morning sunlight, and her scarlet scarf billowed in the ocean breeze as she spoke with Starlight and Trixie in front of the Hoofaestus’ docking cradle. She cocked her head to the side as she asked, “You do realize this isn’t a passenger vessel, right?”
“We do,” Starlight replied, “but we’re on a tight schedule, and Heavy Sails said this would be the fastest way to get to Griffonstone.”
Captain Gretchen flashed a toothy grin. “Well, he’s not wrong there. Look, I’m happy to take your bits. Just be aware that there isn’t much in the way of creature comforts aboard the ship.” Her grin fell as she fixed them both with a glare. “I don’t wanna hear any moanin’ about airsickness or missing hot showers or any of that nonsense when we’re only two days out, got it?”
Trixie flicked her mane with an indignant huff. “The Great and Powerful Trixie has spent many a night sleeping rough on the road. A simple airship journey shouldn’t be any harder than that.”
The captain laughed. “You’re wrong, but you’ll learn. Come on, I’ll show you to your bunk.” She turned and flew up the loading ramp with a single beat of her wings.
Starlight and Trixie exchanged a glance before they followed.
The fascination with traveling on the bleeding edge of airship technology wore thin less than three hours after takeoff.
The lightning blasting from the electrical discharge rods caused almost continuous peals of thunder to wash over the ship. While it was rare for the massive ship to suddenly pitch in a particular direction, it constantly vibrated, at times badly enough to shake loose the mares’ earplugs. The cloud generator coils flooded the ship with a fine mist that clung to everything, particularly their coats. Their bunk was little more than a pair of hammocks bolted to the walls of a metal room barely big enough for both mares to turn around. The crew, entirely comprised of griffons and pegasi, spent most of their time flitting about their tasks, ensuring the ship properly discharged its static load and the clouds generated enough lift, and steadfastly ignoring their flightless passengers.
In short, the pair soon found that wandering the outer deck was a quick way to become damp and deaf. They were trapped on a steel raft, endlessly hurtling through a blank expanse where all sense of time ceased. There was only the noise, the wet, and the misery.
The airship’s one concession to sanity was a moderately-sized soundproofed cafeteria, just ahead of the crew quarters and just aft of the bridge. It was there that Starlight and Trixie soon planted themselves, playing cards and conversing with the Hoofaestus’ resident Artificer, a cream-colored pegasus named Stig.
“‘Stig?’” Trixie snorted. “What kind of a name is that?”
Starlight glared at her, but Stig waved the question away with a grin. “It’s short for ‘Stigglefeather’. The captain thought it was a bit of a beakful when she was barking orders, so she shortened it to ‘Stig’, and it stuck.”
A copper glint on the lapel of Stig’s flight jacket caught Starlight’s eye. “Is that a lily I see?”
“Indeed it is!” Stig’s grin faltered. “Haven’t you seen one before?”
“Well,” Trixie said, “not as a pin, but that lily keeps popping up everywhere we go.”
Stig’s expression switched to one of awe. “You’re from Equestria, aren’t you?”
The mares exchanged a glance. “Why do ponies keep saying that?” Trixie asked.
“It’s just… How else wouldn’t you know?” Stig shook his head. “The Artificer Guild doesn’t have much truck within Equestria, is all, by royal edict. Princess Celestia barely tolerates the steamships that visit Equestrian ports, and that’s only because she knows she has little choice if she wants to keep up with trade.”
Starlight frowned. “Why would she ban your guild?”
Stig shrugged. “She’s taken an irrational dislike, is all I know. Princess Luna, on the other hoof-”
There was a howl and a blast of thunder as one of the doors burst open. A ruffled red-feathered griffon bellowed from the doorway, “Stig! Get your flank astern! One of the primary rods ain’t dischargin’ its load!”
“Aye, I’m comin’.” Stig flapped his wings to hover over Starlight and Trixie as he donned a pair of tinted brass goggles. “Duty calls. I’ll see you ladies around!” Thunder boomed once again as he soared out the door, which the griffon slammed shut behind him.
Merciful silence settled back over the cafeteria. Starlight and Trixie breathed a quiet sigh of relief, and enjoyed a moment of peace.
Starlight gave a tight smile as she asked, “Wanna actually learn how to play Whist this time?”
Trixie snorted. “Well, without an audience, sure.”