Vesper knew on paper that they were traveling to the capital. This was the center of a nation, maybe the largest country in this entire world. It was bound to be impressive. But even knowing this on paper, she was completely unprepared for what they found.

As the Bright Hawk approached the city from below, she finally realized what she was looking at. This was a more subdued version of Mount Aris, where the city had been built into incongruous mountainside, somehow able to support itself despite the incredible gravity. The city spread below a vast palace, which took the peak of several closely-connected mountains.

At least near the peak, most of the structures were made of the same white stone, probably quarried from the very mountain they were built upon. The sky thronged with activity—hundreds, maybe thousands of ponies flew through the sky, along with dozens of different airships. Many resembled the one they were aboard, huge wooden structures without gasbags to match. But there were a few zeppelins as well, most forced to tether themselves high above the city.

When they were still miles off, a pair of uniformed pegasi arrived on the deck, escorting them though unseen lines of aerial traffic. "Welcome to Canterlot!" shouted one, waving an eager hoof to Blake beside the helm. "I assume you'll want a mooring. Short-term, or extended?"

Blake shrugged, though Jordan could see his casual attitude was entirely forced. His hooves gripped the wheel so tight that it creaked with every adjustment. Galena was nowhere to be seen. Shouldn't she be the one to sail them through this difficult part? "We're planning to stay more than one night, but less than three. Where's that?"

"Long-term," said the pegasus, turning back to the sky. "Follow my partner and I! Don't get off-course, or you might hit somepony. Canterlot has many lanes of air traffic." Then she was gone, leaving a panicked Blake at the helm."

He waited only a few seconds, long enough for the pegasus to fly off the deck. Then he leaned forward, speaking directly into Vesper's ear. "Can you please see if Galena will get up here and help? I don't even know what she's upset about."

Vesper nodded once, then turned to go. "Sure. Looks like you need the help." She hurried down the stairs belowdecks. At this point she followed her scent more than her eyes. Every member of the crew had their own unique smell, some more so than others.

Ryan's was among the strangest, though Galena's wasn't far behind. Predatory, dangerous somehow.

She wasn't lurking in the mess like she usually did, and she didn't smell Galena in her quarters either. That meant she was below.

Vesper followed her scent down the steps, then through another doorway into the hold. Finally she found her, perched on one of the upper shelves, lording over the empty cargo bay.

"Galena!" Vesper called, lifting into a low hover and gliding until she was right in front of her. If the bird wanted to hide up here, she would just get on her level. "I'm pretty sure Blake is having a panic attack at the helm. Don't you think you'd be better getting us to port in one piece?"

Galena didn't move, barely even opened one eye to watch her approach. At least she didn't lift her claws to fend her away. "Why should I? Sailing aboard the ship of broken promises... what concern is mine?"

She is mad about something. But what promises did we break? Hovering here was harder than in the world of dreams, particularly when the ceiling and walls were moving along with her. Every adjustment Blake made might smack her into one of them, if she wasn't watching carefully.

Vesper held herself in the air anyway. "Will you at least tell me what promise you think we broke? We haven't had the opportunity to make very many."

Galena sat up, staring. Her expression was an unreadable, predatory mask. "Do you remember our first words? You promised... when I helped fight beside you, you promised that there was a way for you to take me. Promised that we would leave this awful place.

"But now I learn that there is no escape—there is another world, but I may only visit. There will be no safety for me. You used me."

Vesper landed at the base of the shelf, just as they rocked violently to one side. Galena didn't seem to notice the motion. "We didn't know that, Galena. We still don't know what's waiting for us when we cross through a real Worldgate. All we know is what Janet told us."

"Is that supposed to make me forgive you?" Galena asked. "You cannot understand the risk I undertook. I am banished from my own kind for all of time, bat. If I am remembered, it will only be to find and kill me."

"Equestria seems pretty nice," Vesper said, gesturing up the steps with one of her wings. "I can't see much of it from down here, but the ponies in the last town treated us well."

Galena leapt from the shelf, landing with a painful thump on the wood in front of her. Claws dug into the wood, and she loomed over Vesper. "Such a clever little bat. Just live with the ponies here in Equestria, sure. Why did I not think of that?"

She jerked forward suddenly, baring her beak. But she didn't actually strike Vesper—this was simple intimidation, not an attack. "What I did cannot be forgotten, bat. This ship created victims. Families whose loved ones they will not see again. Our faces on wanted posters. I can keep my head down, stain my feathers as I have done. But sooner or later, someone will recognize me. Then I hang."

The griffon loomed over Vesper, more than a full head taller than she was. Those claws could probably rip her throat out without a thought. She had to consider every word carefully.

"We promised to take you with us," Vesper said slowly. "We can keep that promise. We do know of another world. We will take you." She hesitated—here she spoke with far less confidence. "But if you can't stay, that doesn't mean we won’t do right by you, Galena. We still don't know this world, or how travel between them works.

How was she so big? "You risked your life to free us, and other Equestrian prisoners. I bet we could get you a royal pardon. If I can talk to the princess again, I could ask. You saved a dozen lives—is that enough?"

Galena tensed, like Vesper had just struck her. She didn't answer at first, remaining silent for almost a minute. The Bright Hawk continued to rock unsteadily, as Blake struggled to navigate them into Canterlot. At least they hadn't crashed into anything yet.

"I don't know," she said. "I never took the life of a slave. But many suffered because they flew aboard this ship."

Vesper considered for a long moment—then reached up to touch one leg on her shoulder. That put her in close striking distance. There would be no escaping if the griffon wanted to hit her. Those claws were sharp as knives.

"We were wrong, Galena. Maybe Janet's wrong. But I made that promise to you then, I repeat it now. You're part of this team. You look out for us, we look out for you. We're not going to abandon you."

The griffon met her eyes, expression intense. "You believe the words you speak. I want to trust you. But ponies have never had much sense of honor."

"But I’m not a pony," Vesper said. And perhaps a little braver than she should've been—"Did pirates have much honor? Your captain promised to take us to Mount Aris, then enslaved us."

Galena started laughing, voice bitter. "I suppose not. It does feel nice to say." The humor vanished from her face, and suddenly she was stern again. "I will hold you to this promise, bat. If I tumble from these heights, I will take you with me."

Vesper shrugged. "Just so long as that means you'll help us prevent that in the meantime. We're trying to escape, not crash. And... I'll admit this possibility seems more distant than when we first thought. But we were hoping to take all this incredible news back with us. We thought we'd be rich and famous. If that ends up happening, you can be part of that too."

Galena laughed again, a little more enthusiastic this time. "Even you do not sound like you believe it."

Vesper shrugged with one shoulder. "It would be nice if it could happen that way. But I've lived this long by always expecting the worst. That way if something good ever happens, it's a pleasant surprise."

Galena didn't laugh, but that was fine. She went with Jordan back to the deck.

Blake hadn't crashed the Bright Hawk in their absence, though in the time she was below, another two navigator ponies had arrived to direct the ship, flying back and forth with panicked instructions. Blake practically slumped to the floor as he gave Galena the helm, nodding with relief.

"Good to see you," he said weakly. "Wasn't sure if... you were coming back up."

Navigating them in was practically effortless after that. They flew their way into the dock without much fanfare, and soon enough the Bright Hawk bumped gently up against its mooring.

They waved farewell to the navigation ponies, and Blake stepped ashore to speak to the dockmaster. By the time he returned, the other members of their group found their way onto the lower deck.

Blake didn't even have to say anything for Vesper to sense his nervousness. He thought they still hated him, after his explosion the day before. Without prompting, Vesper stepped up instead.

"So we have some idea of where we're going. Crystal Caverns under this city lead to our next destination. We don't even know where it ends up—but the name on the map sounds Eastern European."

"I think we should check out the city first," Ryan said. "Everywhere else we go, there's critical information in the city itself to point us in the right direction. Searching through an entire mine—that could take months. We might have them, but Janet doesn't."

"Neither does the bat," she said, adjusting her silly flag jacket. "The way she flings magic around, she'll have less time than me soon."

Vesper stuck her tongue out in response. Janet was probably right about the transformative and permanent effects of magic, there was no reason for her to lie. It just didn't mean she would change anything. I have a year. How much of those days are sacrificed every time I use a little magic? How much did Janet's friend use before he got stuck?

"I agree that looking around may be worthwhile," Janet said. "There is a touring company here, and the headquarters of the Equestrian miner's guild. If there was a Worldgate here, they would know. Though they might not share it."

Kaelynn pulled over a stool, slumping into it and glancing around at them all like she was still half-asleep. "Should we try to talk to the king? Or... queen? Whoever rules here... they might be sympathetic if we talk to them. Maybe they can just help us get back."

Janet laughed, bitter and angry, overpowering Kaelynn's feeble speech. "Not worth our time. The old princess was there the day I was trapped here. She knew I was doomed, knew I didn't belong here, and would be stuck forever if nothing was done. So what did she do?"

She gestured vaguely out over the horizon. "Gave me gold, told me Equestria would care for my needs. But every question of how I could be returned was ignored. Her power can move the sun, but it couldn't make a Worldgate. Waste of our time."

Replacement? That brought up Vesper's memories of searching around on the moon, and the strange blue alicorn she had met there. Princess Luna, she knew now. What could that princess have told her? If only they met, maybe she would know.

But they hadn't met, and might never. Their only meeting was an accident, after all.

"We'll search the city," Blake finally agreed. "Until nightfall. That would be the best time to make our move on the mine, if we're going to move."

"I'll go with you!" Vesper exclaimed. "Wherever you're going. I want to get out there and stretch my legs. Dreaming doesn't actually count as exercise."

Next Chapter: Chapter 48: Ryan Estimated time remaining: 5 Hours, 48 Minutes