She should’ve been able to hear the Emperor coming from a great distance, given how much it weighed and the drives required to keep it airborne. But pony lift crystals meant that it only burned for acceleration, which made far less noise. Even so, she could make out the thrum of the engine when they were perhaps a kilometer out, echoing off the various peaks that surrounded Motherlode. She wouldn’t have known which direction to watch, except that everyone had been told. It would come from the east, and settle down into a valley that was almost impossible to access by foot. It better work. If we lose the Emperor, the Storm King could remake Equestria in his image before we get the chance to rebuild.