Beneath the Surface

"Filthy pirates." Sky answers shortly as she slowly continues her walk to the bridge, leaving door open for Quimia if she wanted to come in.

"I... see." Quimia sees the open door as an invitation and follows Sky. "It is a beautiful night outside, is it not?"

"It is indeed." Sky says as she inserts her horn into a hole in the controls and all the machinery lights up again. "There we go. Now we just wait for everyone else to get comfortable." She says and sits down in the captain's chair.

"Indeed." Quimia says quietly, then falls silent. her gaze shifts to the machinery. "Interesting form of control. How does it function?"

"Complicated." Sky says, smiling. "Best thing is, it won't function if I'm not present. Not a single other unicorn, not even the princesses can operate it. Perfect anti-theft system." She adds.

"Intriguing." Quimia murmurs. "I wonder what kind of magic is so powerful that even the Princesses are unable to control it..." She pauses. "I take it your ship is still capable of sustained flight despite its damage?"

Sky grins "Nothing but a scratch. They thought it's only made of wood, seeing it's hull. They did not expect that the ship is actually made purely out of metal, wood is just for nicer looks." She says, still waiting for the rest of the group to come up before she starts the engines.

"Ah, clever indeed. So these are only superficial wounds, then." Quimia hesitates and falls silent, wondering if she has anything else to say.

"Pretty much. Some slight dents in the metal, but that can be easily fixed once we get back." Sky says and then looks around the bridge. "Uhh... Want some tea? Some beer? Anything?" She asks.

"If it's not too much trouble..." Quimia says. "Perhaps a little tea? I haven't drunk much besides health potions since coming to this desert."

"Certanly.. heh." Sky says as she runs to the heater, putting a kettle filled with water on it and turns it on. "Anything else?"

"I do believe that will be all. My sincerest gratitude, again." Quimia pauses. "So, if I may inquire, how much is Ician paying you to function in your current capacity for the Guard?"

Sky thinks a bit "...I'm not sure, he hasn't named the price yet. But then again, I'm mostly doing it because I just like helping out the Royal Guard in any way possible, even when I'm not a part of them."

Quimia raises an eyebrow. "Indeed? I find it rare to come across somepony who helps from the goodness of their heart, nowadays. It is... refreshing to see an exception." She nods. "Is there any particular reason you enjoy assisting the Guard in particular?"

"Apart from their kindness for my assistance? Maybe that my father would yell at me if I refuse to.." Sky giggles.

"Your... father?" Quimia cocks her head to one side in curiosity. "Does your father have a close relationship with the Royal Guard?"

"He does indeed. He's the Royal Guard's main engineer. He's the reason I even have this ship." Sky says, taking the kettle off the heater and putting some tea in it.

"The engineer..." Quimia muses. "... I'm sorry, what was his name again?"

"Crescent Gear." Sky says, pouring the tea into a cup. "Here." Sky says as she gives Quimia her tea.

"Thank you." Quimia accepts the cup. "Crescent Gear, you say? He is... actually, I am afraid I do not know much about him." She gives Sky an apologetic smile. "But from what I have heard he is quite apt at what he does."

"He is indeed. He helped me fix this girl when she was more-or-less a pile of scrap. Now look at her." Sky point at the rest of the ship.

Quimia raises an eyebrow as she surveys the damaged ship. "Now it only appears to be a pile of scrap." She smiles. "I jest."

Divine sits down on Ician's bed, having been transferred to the ship by Ruby. "Are we on that damn boat again?"

Ruby smiled. "Eyup~"

"Yes, yes, we are." Ician wanders about the ship, searching for Sky. He finds the bridge and enters. He notices Quimia and gives her a brief bow. "High Alchemist." He turns to Sky. "Ah, Sky. Nice to meet you again."

"And where is Ician, leaving me all on my own with you?"

Ruby giggled. "Well, that might not be a bad thing~"

Divine blushed. "I need an adult."

"I am an adult."