The first morning on such a confining ship was anything but comfortable. AJ and I had one of the two rooms in the bowels of the ship, at the same level as the kitchen and bathroom, just like Armor and Cadance. The morning needs of both mares had taken this decision from us. Rainbow, Twilight, Fluttershy, and Rarity had each shared a room. Hawk and Star had also shared one, much to my surprise. Her captain had explained to me later that cohabitation as a pair was not allowed on any missions, but as this was not an official mission in Equestria, he didn’t care and so neither did I. Besides, he already had his wife. I still couldn’t wrap my head around the active Hawk with the almost constantly silent Star. On the other hand, I’m sure nobody thought I would be with AJ. Trixie had been placed with Pinkie in a room as punishment, so now two cabins were free.

After we had arrived from the pub to the ship, Armor had made both soldiers the first to scrub the deck, though it had not been necessary since it had freshly arrived from the dry dock. That had gone on deep in the night, and I had heard them arguing about whose fault it was. Worse was when Pinkie had woken us up at 6am, military style. Someone had actually given her a trumpet, and if I ever found out who it was…

“Move it, sugarcube! I want to get a shower some time today. “AJ and I pushed past each other. Now that the ship was moving, some of the corridors and walkways somehow seemed to be narrower. To pass one of the more petite mares was easier than to do so with Armor or Star. If either of them wore armour, it would be better to first let them pass. My armour was still in the castle as it had gotten damaged, though it should be ready after the hearing today.

“Excuse me!” I positioned myself in the kitchen where Cadance had made breakfast to allow AJ to pass into the bathroom.

“Is it just me or is it pretty narrow?” Cadance asked, occupied with slicing bread with her magic. At the same time, she washed some fresh fruit in the sink. She had forgone her jewellery, shoes, and crown and as such looked more down to earth yet still graceful.

“We’ll just have to get used to it.” I actually liked smaller rooms and houses. I had spent my vacations mostly in Austria or Switzerland in a rented mountain hut, and it had been worth every cent each time. I used to spend the entire day with my snowboard in the cold, spending the evening cosy by the fireside with some hot chocolate. Unfortunately, I was the only one in my family who preferred the winter sport over the warm sun and the beach. The fact that I was averse to the sun had been surprising. I gladly went for a walk during the night, loved the winter sport, and so on. Perhaps it was a bit odd for the son of the Sun Princess.

“Certainly. I am more than happy to be able to spend time with Shining Armor and Twilight. It has been a long time since the three of us were able to spend time together.” She placed the bread on a plate and the fruit on another. “Could you help bring me the things from the fridge to the table?” I nodded and got marmalades and honey from the fridge and followed Cadance to the commons. Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow were already at the table and were deep in a discussion.

“I want to see one of those jet things. If they really are as fast as Light said, they would be my next opponents,” Rainbow declared as I placed the glasses onto the table with my magic.

“We aren’t going to sightsee in this other world, darling. I would think helping its inhabitants would come first,” Rarity tried to reason.

“Still, would we be able to buy some cupcakes?!” At Pinkie’s question, both Rainbow’s and Rarity’s hooves planted themselves upon their respective faces. In contrast, Cadance only smiled and put their plates down.

“I think we should discuss this further after the breakfast farther," she said before she pulled out a stool and took a seat at the table. I followed suit and sat down next to Rainbow. "We can start already. The others will be here soon,” she said and took a slice of bread and levitated a knife to coat it with honey and banana. “What?" she asked as she saw the look on our faces.

After the first shock over the unusual breakfast passed, the others also came to the table, so the room was now well filled with ponies. I had my own discussion with Shining Armor about the hearing as the others formed their own little groups to talk.

“The objectives for the mission are as follows…” I once again stood in that room and faced my mother. Her vain advisors were out of sight as usual. The final question had been about how we were going to help free my world from the Nightmares. “We will search for survivors and gather as many as we can in new settlements. We will protect them with magic that will prevent the Nightmares from entering. We will try to do this in as many places as possible.” Murmuring went through the unseen audience. The light around the pony who had asked the last question went out, and a new one lit up on the other side.

“Is the magic fully functional? Is it certain to work?” a pegasus queried.

“The same magic has protected Equestria for more than one thousand years and was created by nobody other than Princess Celestia," I pointed out, which caused renewed whispers before the light changed again. This time it was a blue unicorn with a dark blue mane. He was Night Light, Twilight’s and Shining Armor’s father. I recognized him immediately. I was certain he was not enthused to see both his children endangered.

“Are the Elements still actually necessary when this magic is the solution?” he asked and looked down grimly at me.

“The power of the Elements is need to work on the magic.” He looked immediately to Celestia, who nodded. “Even if they have no effect in my world, I need their presence." Immediately, the light changed.

“Are you trying to tell us that the Elements cannot even defend themselves?” I believe that was something I should have kept to myself.

“Unfortunately, no. Albia told me that, individually, the Elements will not function. It is a protection that prevents anyone from stealing them and using them in his or her world,” I told the dark stallion.

“Isn’t this exactly what you’re trying to do? Against the will of the Creator, carry the Elements to another world?” That was Twilight’s father again.

"She was the one who presented this solution. Besides, I plan to safely return with the Elements." Again there was murmuring, and I saw some outlines nodding.

"What assurance is there that you will return?” Although the light was not on him, Twilight’s father still carried on.

“Well, there’s the fact that my marefriend and I are expecting a foal, and I certainly want her to grow up in Equestria…”

“She’s travelling with them,” someone said from the dark. “She could be involved in this, even with her being a Bearer.” AJ, as the Element of Honesty, planning with me to help steal the others? In which world was I in? “You have no relatives here, and have no connection to Equestria or Albion.” He wanted a connection? First he accused AJ and me of being thieves, and now he wanted proof? He would get what he wanted.

“MY NAME IS BLUE LIGHT OF EQUESTRIA!” I had not used this voice in a long time. “MY BODY WAS PERSONALLY GIVEN TO ME BY ALBIA…” I changed into a pegasus “… WHICH MEANS I AM THE BIOLOGICAL SON OF PRINCESS CELESTIA!” I changed into an earth pony. “I may not be an alicorn, but part of their family stands right in front of you.” Once again, I thought I saw Celestia smiling at my speech. It could imagine that she thought of me as only a young stallion who wanted to use her greatest defence to save other worlds. “I have put my life on the line for Equestria already, and I would do so again, but now there is a problem on another world. There is life there, living souls who are suffering. We can help without sending an army, and the risk would be worth helping the lives of million.” None of my interrogators dared to cough, much less respond, as I firmly put forward that I knew who I was.

“I see the council has received their answers.” Celestia smiled and looked around. I was sure she was more than capable of seeing through this darkness. “I have also come to a decision.” Whatever murmuring there was silenced as her hoof pointed down. “I have trusted Blue Light for a long time, and I believe him more than capable of tackling this mission. However, I can also understand the concern of the council. Therefore, I will appoint Captain Shining Armor as the commander of both the Celestia and this mission.” Which he actually already was – it just hadn’t been made official until now. “Furthermore, I hereby limit the mission to three months. After this time, they must report back. However, if things are going well, and judging the success of the first one, then I am open to a second mission.” With that said, she banged her hoof on the podium again, and the light behind her went out. The door behind me opened, and I slowly walked out to where Cadance, Twilight, and Shining Armor waited for me.

“Nice speech.” Cadance giggled. “I’m sure it was heard all over the castle.”

“I have to give credit to Armor. He coached me on how to handle the politicians here.” The council functioned like a parliament. These representatives were chosen by the different pony races and dispensed advice to the princesses about various issues. The princesses, however, had the final say. Naturally, each tried to influence the princesses in order to achieve their own objectives, something Celestia and Luna were more than conscious of. “They’re not much different than us. You only need to shake them up a bit.”

“I believe their ears will still be ringing into next week." Celestia giggled as Cadance did as she joined us. “However, I believe it’s time we discussed something more important. How soon do you want to leave?”

“Tonight, Princess. Light reported a time difference of around six hours. If we leave around midnight, we should reach Earth at around sunrise.” Twilight reached into her saddlebag and got a parchment “I have here the runes for the portal." She handed over the piece of paper to my mother, who immediately began to read.

“Very good, Twilight. Everything seems accurate to the smallest detail. However, the most difficult part will be harnessing the energy of the Everfree.” Curious, I positioned myself closer to Celestia, and she held the paper lower so that I could see. Next to the arrangement of runes that didn't make any sense to me, I saw the part that she was talking about.

“We’ll use the chaotic energy to expand the portal so that the ship can pass through?" Both Twilight and Celestia nodded.

“The three of us would be just barely able to transport small groups to another world. It is still an enormous magic act to guard you all from the universe.” My facial expression to Celestia’s explanation probably said more than clearly that I had not understood a word.

“You know there can only be one person or object existing at the same time in the universe?" I nodded at Twilight. "Because you were exchanged with your counterpart, it was no problem for you. I was lucky during my first visit in that my counterpart was either dead or I was not there long enough. Anyway we can enter at no risk. We need to guard ourselves magically to make sure that nothing is erased by the universe.” I didn't have a clue how that was supposed to work magically, so I simply accepted it. The fact that the problem still existed continued to linger in my mind though. On the other hand, nothing had happened to me in the parallel Equestria.

“In that case…" said Armor and stamped a hoof "… I think it’s time we took our first flight with the Celestia. An adventurous sensation bubbled inside me, even though it was inappropriate. “We should head out to Ponyville, Princess." We all followed Armor and bowed before we made our way to the ship.

The wind flowed slowly yet constantly about the wide deck of the ship as Twilight and I brought one sail after the other into position with our magic. They were inflated by a soft breeze, which caused the ropes that connected the landing stages to expand to their maximum length. Rainbow had filled up the water tanks with some help of some rainclouds, while Trixie stood below at the lantern. She was the only one besides Shining Armor who knew how an airship was to be flown, wherever she had learned it. Armor stood at the top in deck and barked orders at us.

"Pull stronger, Light."

“Could you please pull a bit stronger, Twily?”

“How does it look down there, honey?" He finally called down to Cadance. She stood in the lantern and was at the control wheel. For some reason she seemed to know how to fly these ships, which I thought only Shining was able to do.

“Everything is already in order," she responded, a little bit absorbed by the glass. As a result, the ropes were enveloped in the well-known aura that belonged to Shining Armor and began to be undone.

“Then bring us airborne. Next stop, Ponyville!” The ropes were coiled and now lay on the deck. The wind did not take long to give us a boost, and we were quickly in flight. The ship easily made the curve and rose much higher once round the mountain. Rainbow flew from one of the portholes and accompanied the ship in its flight. Trixie, Rarity, and the others all came from under the deck to keep us company.

“A very pleasant breeze. I can understand why my parents loves to spend so much time on these ships," said Rarity with closed eyes and held her nose into the wind.

“Not as nice as the wind in our meadows and fields, but it is good," AJ added and positioned herself to the edge. "Ah! There’s Canterlot." Frowsty

Besides Armor, Star, and Hawk, who positioned themselves at the edge, we began to admire the city. I swallowed briefly and followed their example. Due to the fear I had, Canterlot in the evening was a sight that, up to now, had escaped me. It was breath-taking. I had already seen London from above at night. It had looked as though it was the night sky filled with stars, only on the ground. However, Canterlot easily proved to be a better view. The lights were all actual fire and flickered amongst the sea of darkness below, making them seem more like stars. A different colour flashed below, which indicated that a unicorn had probably just applied a spell.

Slowly we floated away from the city and above the open fields that lay between the capital city and Ponyville. The night was very quiet as most animals were already asleep. Generally we did not fly very high so that we could hear if someone called to us. This was also the reason why our friends and relatives already waited for us, and they wanted to waste no time to say goodbye. We would only anchor for about an hour before we would have to head to the Everfree.

“I would like to say again that I don’t want to force anyone to come. If anyone says that they’ve changed their minds, I will understand completely,” I said, breaking the long silence that had settled in our group. Different looks met me. Some rather sad, other depressed, but no one raised a hoof.

"Sugarcube, shut up," AJ merely said and started to admire the landscape again. The others joined in, and I knew that she had to feel similar like me. They would go to another world, uncertain as to whether they would return.

“Another word,” I gave voice to my thoughts. “A world that I’ll no longer recognize.” And despite that, I was still more than ready to undertake this journey. I had stumbled into this adventure called life faster than I would have liked. One always wished something exciting happened on an adventure. Now that I was in the middle of one, I only wanted it to end

“There’s Ponyville up ahead," called Rainbow who sat on the balloon. Farewells, goodbyes, and departure. Somehow all of these seemed wrong and right at the same time. Slowly the ship descended, the wings folding themselves nearer to the bow and soon we were low enough that we could enter the landing stage that would carry us into town.

"In one hour’s time, the princess will meet us in the Everfree," Twilight said to us as we looked to disembark. “Use the time wisely."

Author's Notes:

I can now proudly say that the story is now halfway through. Chapter 50 will start the second act, where we will begin our journey on the blue ball we call Earth.

Special thanks to JBL for translating.

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