Chapter IV: Miracles and only
Part III: Abnormal banditism
Revolutionaries got deeply inspired by such promising news. Since they are not bottomless - this is a friendly hive! Almost like in Hoofgrad, but even better! And the help was offered not just by someone, but by a referent of this very collective mind. In combination, a friend.
Companions barely left the hamlet's borders, and the long-antennaed bug already hurried the team. Even earys, slowly bouncing towards the feast, outraced the group of friends without a problem. Yet, one cannot argue with health - Dalliant and Sunshine barely moved. It was certainly a miracle in Hub, that took the further strength from them.
— ..Listen, so how did you think of that trick with the serpent? - wondered Sunshine.
— Killers had to be distracted, stopped. - witted Gambit - We tried doing so.
— But, how? You haven't said a single word to each other, yet you screeched together!
— We, just.. understood each other. - explained Ommatidia - Like how they say in Mareland - female solidarity. He buzzed, I heard the noise in few places at once, understood and repeated. And when I got that two of us are not enough, I called over my kind. We didn't want to bring the boa, it just so happened!
— But how haven't you hit each other with this screeching? It's so ear-tearing!
— You do not hear your snoring. - insectoid giggled a bit - Probably the same.
Solar pony already wanted to ask if that was true or not, but dropped the silly thought in time, seeing it as a joke. And even though this joke had a big bit of truth, friends understood each other and were not at all upset. Too good the mood they had - the purple hive will aid them!
— So why are you helping us? - orange pony could not stay silent - You don't even know what we want to do!
— But you're nice! And you are my friends! - the advisor has not doubted adventurers one bit - You want to get rid of evil, how can we not help?
— You do understand what all this will cost us, right? After all, we'll be going straight to Canterlot!
— Come on, we've got numbers!
The referent trusted her new friends. Even after a reminder of an upcoming war and possible deaths, the shapeshifter has not rushed to change her mind. Ommatidia believed that Sunshine could convince the big changeling. She believed that orange pony will correct everything in the world!
Everything is ready - it is time to be friends, drop the fear and make amends! And it does not matter that it will be harder further down - friends could take anything life throws at them. They completely forgot that they will have to deal with demigods and many unicorns. Yet, maybe the adventurers have not even taken them seriously? Who would?
— You saw this very Celestia?! - big-whiskered bug admired - How does she look? Who is she in reality?
— Very big and silly pony! - resented the long-eared horse - White, with a huge cutiemark, wings and a horn. Can't talk properly, acts insolent and audacious, behaves as if the whole world circles around her! Statues of her everywhere, and she's wearing tasteless gold! - suddenly, the pony strangely interrupted - ..And platinum. Like Luna.
— You think what I think? - Gambit remembered Curiosity's tales - Magic?
— Yes. But what actually is it? Maybe.. - red-eyed mare confused in her own legs while thinking - It may be literally anything! Simple spell enhancement, or like.. Wait, what if they are changelings?
True, one could simply morph into an aught from legends, but can this someone live for so long? Princesses existed for more than Sunshine's parents, and so it means they have different artefacts. Perhaps, even more powerful and unpredictable, than the house of Sunrise ever witnessed.
— Changelings don't live long. - advisor moved with her antennas - We.. are two times less longevous than you, ponies. Only twenty five years if everything goes smooth! Well, except for queens, of course..
— We cannot know what those items mean, before we get to them. - insect refrained from speculating - We have too much work ahead.
— But we must at least imagine what we'll have to meet! What if they are actually gods? Somehow they-
— Purple hive first. We are already there. - the bug pointed at a cave where Ommatidia went - ..And what is a gods?
While the solar pony explained all the things in the world to her chitin friend, they were led further into the grotto. Light from mushrooms reflected from the walls inside, like from hive walls, and the hidden home showed itself in a few moments. All this cave masked the insect habitat with itself.
Inside, under a small hill, there was a quite small hideout, compared to one yellow brethren has. Those bugs have not kept hostages, their clutches smaller, not that many workers around.. But there were more of them, where are they all sitting? Behind same hidden walls, just like the entrance was?
— Welcome! - a big purple bug came off of the wall and sat in front of the guests - What brings you here? No, don't answer - I see that you were brought by.. Ommatidia. Want hugs and love? We always want that!
The queen spread her legs out, and only now that the company saw as many as six limbs. Sunshine was not at all scared by the amount and jumped right into the hooves of other creature, which surprised everyone around. Counting the insect mother herself.
— Such.. emotions! - purple bug attentively looked over everybody, but the bugs - What is your name?
— Sunshine! And you..?
— Tibitarsus. Not every day that someone comes around here. Do you want something?
— Yes! I want to say that you don't have to pretend anymore! You can live the way you want! You now have a choi-
— We already live the way we want. - the big insect got surprised - We are happy.
Adventurers lost their ability to speak. They saw this swinish attitude towards foreigners themselves! They personally confirmed that changelings were treated just like hooved creatures, who broke the social conventions! Did the referent somehow lie, indeed? What about marelanders' reaction?
— But are you actually happy? - doubted the orange one - You aren't let to be yourselves!
— We are let. - collective mind denied everything - We get the feelings, and we live. We don't need to do anything greater.
— How can you say that? - Ommatidia dropped very real tears - We aren't even talking with words! You haven't even paid attention to Gam-
— We - are not you, Ommatidia. We are satisfied.
— But what about all the words about autonomy? About individuality? What about freedom and choice? Am I what, not-
— We are free. We are united, we are not held by any limits. Even when someone dies, their memories and experience stay with us. We are immortal, we have food, and almost nothing threatens us. We choose - and we took the only choice. Those who do want to stand out and do something - does it. Like you, Ommatidia. You need this. Or we will all be doomed.
Sunshine suddenly remembered what advisors are capable of: "She is afraid of Ommatidia, both of them can control the hive! ..All of this is not right!". Pony tried to get out of this suffocating embrace, but Tibitarsus would not let the little one go. The mother silently looked at the long-antennaed bug, ignoring the resenting guests. Especially the snowwhite insect and his teeth.
— Stop answering me in my head! - yelled small bug - Stop lying to all of us! Stop physically ignoring us!
— We are not lying, we are only saying much. If-
— You are deceiving her and don't let her actually choose! - winged mare also bit the big insect - How can you talk about unity, when you are not paying attention to the needs of your servants? Eating and surviving doesn't mean freedom! And now-
— Now, you are making a mistake. - the queen finally loosened her grip - Our species exist, and we are not hurting each other. You are killing your own kind, you see threat in those who are similar. Even now - ponies are trying to pillage Mareland. Is this unity? You are so very alone..
Who does Tibitarsus speak of? Are the bandits actually raiding the feasting paradise? One simply silently looked at the referent, when she confirmed the concerns in the same quiet manner. Brigands from Fillydelphia attacked both changelings and ponies!
Friends were going to leave the hive, but the orange pony was not going to be released for real. Collective mind continued to aggressively stand by their point of view, and no matter how much effort the lilac bug put - he could not do anything. Completely.
— Let this be a lesson. For all of you. - the queen did not move by a centimetre - White one, why are you showing emotions? We are not hungry, we cannot sate from-
— What are you even saying?! - referent raised her voice and joined the whiskered insect - They are slaughtering us! Us! Let Sunshine go, let us defen-
— Defend the hive with your abilities. As befitting an advisor.
— Either you let her go, or..!
The few drones staying in the hive dropped all their tasks and looked at her mother with such impulsivity, as the deceived bug had in her eyes. Discontent folk showed her in a very understandable manner - this house of cards can fall by one and only wish alone.
Adventurers were eventually let go from the hidden hideout. They rushed into the town, only to be stopped by Skewer. Somehow, while gasping for air, she tried to warn friends about the danger, of which they already knew. The pony asked for help which she personally hindered.
— We know that, we know! - sunny mare interrupted the grassy one - Stay with Dalliant, we will deal with it!
Sounds of battle were heard very distinctly even from afar. The fight surrounded the hamlet everywhere, but that does not mean the villains cannot be surprised! They can very well forget themselves and let their guard down, not expecting a hit from their rear.. Right from where friends were coming.
— What are we going to do? - whiskered insect looked at her big-eared friend.
— Defend ourselves! - pony took her weapon and got up on her hind legs - Attack! For Mareland!
The trio and their chitin band appeared behind the cutthroats backs so unexpectedly, that the bandits forgot for a moment why they even came. And when they realised everything, they were already gutted by the free land's protectors. Despite their noticeable minority.
Even with all the nearby drones, hooved creatures had it very rough. There were so many brigands, that their amount could be enough to raid at least half a Hub. And that did not stop the defenders! Skill and ingenuity won over the quantity once again!
Insects with their transformations would not budge by the blunted swords, and the heavy clubs with axes they successfully dodged. Stallions lost their energy just as quickly as whiskered bugs moved - raiders were not at all expecting a resistance! And not only from the shapeshifters, but also from the feminine population!
Brave mares have not hesitated to trample the villains with their legs, following Sunshine's example. Orange horse directed all her emotions into protection of citizens, inspiring themselves for the deed. With the agility, skill and grace of the long-eared pony, perhaps only knights could compare.
..Or common scoundrels with a bag of misfortune. Winged mare tried to watch over her surroundings and stick close to her kind, but she was cut off from friends with the amount of unfriendly bodies. Dishonourable robbers attacked in stacks, and the horse could only leap and fly away from the blunt force.
And it would be nothing, yet the fragile body reminded of itself - she is only a pony. Just like those she tried to protect; like those who tried to stop her. Missed blows, earlier damaged leg and a simple fatigue, almost finished the thriving little mare. Almost.
Help appeared from where nobody expected. The sheep could not stay idle: she wanted to - and could help, despite her ailments! And the legs were not a problem - there is Skewer with a strong back! Does a horned creature need to move by themselves, when there is magic and friends?
Imperfect horns turned sorcery into a very frightening weapon. Or, at least, helped win the time by distracting. Bright flashes, loud sounds and other unsuccessful spells, helped the white changeling get closer to his companion.. And cover her from a sword.
— You didn't think that I-
— Less words! Fight!
Just in time! Despite the pain, the shapeshifter continued to stand and receive dozens of blows. The bug knew that the winged horse simply needed to catch her breath, but he did not even think that the pony would recover so soon and stop the attackers. Just in time; durable and thick chitin endured enough.
— How are you even-
— No time! Forward!
..Which cannot be said about cutthroats' bodies. Little pony striked very precisely, stopping one after another, and the snowwhite insect covered the soft-bodied horse like a shield. Silly bandits could not at all think how to deal with such a harmonious couple!
Attackers' morale dropped lower than Dome mines. Frightening insects and unbending will of locals let the stallions know, that the battle will continue until death. And if not the strangers' ones, then until their own. And who would want to die? What for? No time to cry - just run!
But only so few from everyone could hide and retain their sanity. Huge losses from both sides strangled the survivors. Many dropped from their wounds, not even living until the battle aftermath. Was this victory worth such an amount of blood? Rather yes, than no. Freedom is priceless.
However, the forest town will remember this bloody event for long. For so many lives to vanish, and on a holiday? This day will dim forever, and will never be the same. For some, this raid was even an excuse to drop the latest teachings and morales..
Until they saw mares in brigantines amidst the attackers. Banditism had no face, species nor race - scum had both earth ponies and pegasi. Brightly coloured and very dim ponies collectively wanted something, but what? Why did they attack at such an awkward moment?
— Someone spilled them beans! - a victim searched for an excuse - Can't be for a coincidence!
— But nobody trades here, nobody leaves the forest but the gatherers! - discussed another pony - Either one of them, or-
— The newcomers! 'Tis their fault!
— Are you even listening to yourselves? We were here all this time! - bugs led by the little insectoid covered the friends - We helped you defend, and you accuse us all..?
Tired long ears heard not only others' grief with joy, but also a beastly fear of one of the attackers. Lone bandit tried his best to crawl away and beg for something, but to no avail. Long gone adrenaline gave way to pain, fatigue, and many emotions.
Sunny pony wanted to bring everything back, deal with all of this some other way.. but that was not possible. This slaughter showed everyone, that the murderers understand only the language of weapons and cruelty. And the orange pony gave in to her rage, finishing off the loud stallion without any remorse.
— ..Sun? What is with you? - worried Gambit - He could not do any more harm. It is in the past.
— They would do the same to us. - angered Sunshine - ..No, even worse! Gamby, look at yourself - your wing! There's no other way!
— She's right. - Skewer kicked the breathless body - A roan would not go 'round. No point in reasoning with them.
— He could still be useful! This isn't right! - interfered Ommatidia - As a working force, o-or by telling more about the attack!
— Dalliant can tell more. - winged mare sheathed her weapon - Why did he call you? Why did he fear you? Why did he know you?!
Sunny pony seemingly kept the rage of all inhabitants inside herself - both alive and not. Desperate crowd blinded along with her - everyone wanted answers to many appearing questions, but how can a mute answer all of them? It will take time. Which they do not have.
— ..I remember him. - whiskered insect examined the bandit - He is from Hub. He knew Dalliant because of Hub.
— What did they want? - red-eyed pony has not restrained herself at all - What's not keeping them in there?!
— Dalliant? - the bug tried to correctly read her gestures - ..They came not from there. From Fillydelphia. Maybe, this is Nameless' gang?
— Then we'll go straight to him, right now! We will come, and he will answer for everything!
No amount of words could hold the angry horse. She walked towards the big seaport city, completely ignoring her wounds and a newly appeared limp. Pony left a not easy choice to her friends, without saying a single word - follow her, or stay in Mareland?
However, the insectoid saw a third way. He simply hugged the troubling pony, not giving her an opportunity to escape and walk away. "She is tired." - thought bug - "Tiredness means thoughtless.". Whiskered insect have not feared the coming surge of emotions - he saw this before, and felt all its might in the past.
— Let me go! Silly!
— No. You-
— You are silly!
— You are tired.
— ..I am tired. - not immediately that the pony confirmed changeling's thoughts - I can't take my mind off of this Nameless. He needs to be stopped!
— You need to be stopped. You need to rest.
Orange mare wanted to object, but realised just in time, that the insect was right. Winged horse did indeed exhaust herself, in a thoughtful sense. She completely forgot about her friends, tightly grasping for her idea. But how can one forget all this negativity, in such a time? How can one remember all the good?
— How about we simply wait? - offered the whiskered bug - Look at them. They are preparing. They will join us. We got.. heaps of time.
— What for?
— For talking. Tell me what troubles you. Trust me.
— ..Alright. - pony closed her eyes - I really want all this to end. All the endless runaways, fights, emotional bites.. I'm running out of nerves!
Everything appeared precisely as the insect thought - Sunshine is too tired from all the anger-saturated events. Like in the past times, she really needs something nice, something joyful.. But that something was simply not nearby. Only bodies, grief, and silly thoughts around.
Friendly changeling's looks have not calmed at all - dents, scratches everywhere, and one wing is even missing! But the bug kept his composure, he did not show his pain! He was ready for anything, for friends. And Sunshine - too. She simply forgot that.
— ..I want to be myself. - she suddenly interrupted her prolonged silence - I don't want to lie, don't want to.. rage, like how it happened so recently. It's so hard to endure all of this! My soul hurts!
— I understand. - insect remembered his own words, spoken in Midillia - ..What is a so-
— No, you don't understand! We have to be a team, not like right now! How are we better if we let the nonsense go loose? Same nonsense that led all the world to madness? How are we better than those we fight with?
— Remember my words. Remember your words. We are different, and that is our power.
— ..But I didn-
— You meant it. Always. You want to be yourself not only in our eyes. You want the whole world to be itself and not lose itself. You never said this word by word, but you always tried to show that our strength is in difference.
And, their strength is in different opinions. And other opinions very frequently helped friends on their way, albeit it happened quite questionably. Finally, the solar pony came up to something in her thoughts and immediately calmed down. Or rather, dropped the bad thoughts, filled with inspiration and positivity.. And tears.
— Since when are you seeing hidden meanings? - the pony tilted her head to the side.
— I do not see it. I.. feel it. I wanted to talk about this too, alone.
— You are still just as silly. - long-eared mare laughed - But you are changing, too. In a good way.
— Do not know, if that is a good way. I understand how everything around affects us. Something I can resist, something - not. And you.. Now, you gave way to emotions and this negativity.
— It's, hard to watch over myself, in such moments. But I will try. - the horse realised only now, that she changed the topic - ..You meant something else too, right? You feel something else?
— Yes. Emotions. Remember, what happened in the desert? Not long ago, these strange feelings repeated. I felt Ommatidia's hug completely differently. I felt her emotions. Before that, I felt bad at the sight of that meat in Fishdale. As if your states are shared with me..
Orange pony did not at all understand, how is that even possible. Literate horse decided to tell the bug about such quality as empathy, but changelings were not even close to it! Even Ommatidia acted for show and created emotions out of habit. She said so herself!
— ..The tree. - the mare seemingly realised something - Something was taken, something was given for.. It made you more like us!
— How?
— I.. I don't know. It's not logical! It should've withered you, not- ..Wait, how do you feel? I mean- ..No, forget it. I don't know how to explain this.
— We need Moonrise?
— We need Moonrise.
..Now, it seems, Ommatidia did not do it for show. When Sunshine paid attention to the referent, she saw how the insect ran from the forest - and hive, side. To say that a whiskered bug was not pleased - is similar to staying silent. Her reaction even shocked her friends:
— We're leaving, right now.
— What happened? - orange pony tried to understand the situation by reading the bug's face - Someone hurt you?
— Don't want to talk about it. Not now. We are going to Fillydelphia.
— What about Dalliant? And Ske-
— You'll catch up.
And some mere moments prior, instead of a plated insect, there might have been a solar pony. And if she could be handled by the snowwhite one, Ommatidia could only be helped by Sunshine. The horse silently let her friend know, that he should leave this to her, and that he should gather friends himself.
— Ommatidia? Let's ta-
— I said, not now!
— But you-
— No! Can't force me!
Yet, the mare forced her, with the help of hugging. Nobody could get used to such strong emotions, and they stopped the little insect. Incomprehensible feelings made her think again, but they were certainly not enough. And so then, big-eared mare continued:
— Someone also strongly lied to me once. My kin - my brother, he did something unforgivable, and then.. He made me think like he wanted me to, and appeared as if everything was alright.
— Why are you telling me this?
— You are not alone. We want to support you, we understand your pain!
— You don't understand! My mother tried to hold me back with my kin! Ready to do anything, agreed on everything, only to keep-
The insect suddenly realised, that her fate was not that distant from other painful situations. Each and everyone in this group of friends were victims of misunderstanding. And even though the situations were very different and not much similar, the company united one more thing.
They are fighting this hypocrisy. It united all the fools and brutes, from princesses to common beggars. While the trouble did not concern them personally or worked for them, then those fools were not bothered and praised this said trouble. But why did this vile characteristic share even between the species?
An attempt to blend in and conform, or some founded universal sin? Why is someone able to live without mush in their heads and stay happy? Does a normal life really cost something unachievable? Only if the world has nothing but hypocrisy.
— ..They didn't want me to help you, they didn't want to do good!
— But aren't-
— They didn't want to go with us!
— We don't need anyone more. We can deal with this ourselves, together! All of us!
..Almost. Skewer could not leave the wounded folk, and the previous conversation still stands. Yet the rest, the four continued following their way immediately when there was an opportunity. Even though wounded, albeit very tired, but this sacrifice is needed.
What if someone in Mareland would not get enough medicine? Sun pony could endure the pain, and the lilac insect never minded it. Friends frequently looked back, thinking about the survivors' luck. Except Ommatidia. She was looking only forward.
Alas, but not only because of grudge. Little insect knew better than anyone, what Fillydelphia is all about. It is not just a city with bandits, but bandits with a whole city. Nowhere in this world, there was such organised crime as there. After all, all the everyday disgust came from that town..
Friends could be stopped at any moment, they can be jumped at any time; easily put in shackles, sold, lynched.. Yet nothing had yet happened. Nobody dared to do something so bold and disgraceful. Even the guards near the gates kept their silence at the sight of the team. As if adventurers were not even seen.
