3rd place in Everfree Northwest's Iron Author challenge.
Star Gazer never liked the ocean. After being assigned to guard a merchant on his journey to the Vaneightian Islands, he finds that his presence was needed more than he thought.
So, to explain:
The Iron Author contest was a test for everypony to start a story, and finish, within a two hour deadline. They gave us the prompts:
-A brief, shining moment
-a voyage
-Masks
So this is what I came up with in those two hours. I didn't have enough time to edit upon submission, so this is the story, as is.
Surprisingly good for an unedited two hour short. Personally I think you should smooth it out regardless, but I can see why it placed third.
Two hours? This? Wow, very good! Imagine the stress of having to write something very good in the time of two hours.