Chapter V: Everything is not as easy as it seems
Part I: We are only pawns..
As it so appeared, life in such anarchy is chaotic in a completely different way. Fillydelphians live both better and worse - barbarian way of life is so habitual, that citizens were not at all bothered by loads of cages with sentient creatures, nor by eternal tomfoolery by canterlotian standards, and neither by so many outlaws.
And the brigands, seemingly as an answer, were not at all interested in pillaging their own habitat. They kept the order and, surprisingly, behaved themselves quite peacefully. Of course, the usual here for equestrians - pure savagery and absurdity at times, but there was something nice in all this for the adventure.
Nobody paid attention to such bright-coloured company. What of it - ponies even traded with them! Changelings did not seem something new and unusual, and sheeps with mares were enough in every layer of society. Of course, there were special cases, but friends dealt with them quite quickly..
— O-oi! Lis-sn! - drunken body pestered the travellers - Les's pl-l-lough!
However, the rest of Equestria simply existed out of these special cases. And indeed, one cannot do anything alone with all this, lawfully - the guard has to deal with everything. But one also has to wait for it, and in the end, the victim might be taken for a bribe or worse. Down with the vile court, let the vigilantes work!
Beatings have been a part of the local culture for a long time. Some fights appeared officially, but it is not rare for them to settle accidentally: sideways glances, indictments, a simple desire to stay fit.. Very many reasons, but for the rest - pure entertainment.
And the public homes with taverns did not burden the visitors - also leisure, and nothing more. Not that rare for the abuse of amenities and foreign freedoms, and folk complained quite a lot about them - yet every claim was accepted! Even some beggar or a slave, or other invisible part of society - everybody was listened to, everyone lived in prosperity!
And Equestria? They are beaten, frightened, and they run away from problems. Constantly whine, spread gossip, and there goes the whole life, with problems persisting after. Here? Almost everyone is needed - fisherponies, lumberers.. And even though criminality is everywhere, ponies found balance somehow! No need for such amount of guards and strictest laws for order! Or is there?
Citizens seemingly had enough of everything, and that is considering Fillydelphia is even bigger than Hub! With homes taller and bigger, neighbourhoods wider! Adventurers immediately lost themselves while searching for a road to water. But they saw the local "beauty" and understood, that they already encountered the worst. Before stumbling at slums.
As if friends returned to the nation's centre again. The whole district embodied anarchy and lawlessness. Princesses seemingly inspired from nothing but these stone jungles, when decided for all their horror! They cannot be described any other way - this is delirium, one will wish to forget.
Violence right on the streets, murders in broad daylight, abduction attempts.. How did they live with the rest, without any wall separations? Why did nobody simply walk away from all this? How is this all possible to exist in one and the same place? Maybe, one should walk away, to not become a victim in the middle of it all?
But how can one leave the other victims? How to tolerate this injustice? There - someone tries to abuse a zebra, right in front of friends! Winged mare already decided to stop this mayhem, and her companions walked with her, but there was no need to halt the cutthroat. He dropped onto his flank by himself.
Releasing the striped horse in the process. But the zebra did not want to walk away with empty hooves - he saw the orange pony and straight away pushed her onto the pavement! Only the team's resentment forced the white and black one to forget about his strange idea and run away from his cage. However, legs betrayed even him.
That, is when the big-eared mare felt the pain of everyone around - all these hooved creatures starved. They wailed in agony, and their bones noticeably peeked out from their skin, even at a distance. Some part of the city suffered, and nobody wanted to help them! Miserable folk also kept their silence. Except pain and emotional grunts.
— ..Oh ye bloody zigger! C'mere ye zigga! - weak earth pony sputtered in anger - I'll.. cat.. o-o-o-oh..
— What is happening over here? - winged pony horrified even more - What is with you all?!
Alas, but the bandit could not answer further. So then, despite the friends' expectations, the pony gave him some of their bought provisions. "Help at least someone." - guessed the bug. Cutthroats did not look at the caste and race - why should adventurers twist the frames of morality now?
In that sense, this pony is a brigand too - fights the regime, resents silly laws and befriends others with "flaws"! Not to mention, that the zebra ended up being more rude, and the solar pony did not want to help him that much after everything. And the stallion, not expecting such kindness, grabbed the buns right there, washing them with tears. Forgetting about hygiene in the meantime.
— Careful! - orange pony corrected a piece of cloth underneath food.
— ..M-m! Th-hanhs! Many hanhs! - the promising fool suddenly stopped eating - ..No, no, I can't! Can't eat, murdered I'll be! Wha did I-
— Who will murder you? - snowwhite bug circled his head around.
— Chief, chief'll plough me over! Fu-u-uck..!
Starving horse worried so hard, that he was comforted the whole day. Together, adventurers led the stallion into a dark alley and questioned him until evening. The horse barely got his ability to speak back, and only before night settled that friends knew, what was behind all this chaos. Or rather, who.
— ..What do you mean made you starve? - pony did not want to believe these tales.
— Mean 'xacly that! We've screwed ourselves cuz of sum' sheep, and all of us were punished! Took oure food and told us work. Fair and 'onest at that, not touchin' the city!
— What do you mean fair and honest?! - now, Ommatidia yelled too - You pillaged everything around!
— 'Tis oure territory, we can bust oure arses here liek that! 'Tis a lesson for us drowning in shitfuckery! ..Anyway - sum' decided to plough sum' mares in sum' woods, an' we stayed here..
The Nameless. For that mess in Hub, he deprived the whole district of food! The big bad horse left his labourers no choice, providing them with suffocating freedom. And that freedom led many to raid Mareland, it starved the boroughs and killed dozens! But why are they still listening to him?
— Lisn', either ye work for 'im and get a lot, or lie down under others. Maybe 'tis is hard, but fair, it is! One needs to live somehoe!
— Exactly! - stomped the red-eyed mare - How is this fair, how is this living life?!
— And ye want to die for scraps in Ponyville or Dome? That's real slavery!
— And you support it!
— Oi, wait! It's not 'xacly good, I knoe, but me know that fella - not for nothin's all this. Is just I refused meself, too dumb to delve deeper into it. Tha's why I went hustlin' around the streets. Here's all straight as boner - listen to all three, but pledge to one.
Not by lonesome did the mayor of Fillydelphia deal with the huge settlement. At least, three other ponies pulled the strings behind the scenes, but the public knew about only one of them. And yet only the gossip still spreads about him! But, legends are not appearing by themselves, are they?
Dalliant did not brand herself, warehouses were not pillaged and burned by themselves.. And zebras did not shackle and cross the ocean to Equestria by their own means. Because of the Nameless that the slavery was born! Because of him that other delirium appeared! Orange pony could not listen anymore. She desired for the scoundrel's suffering.
— Oi, wait a tick! - tortured earth pony feared the company's sudden leaving - That striped fuck is oute there! Ye thought what'll ye do with that zigga?
— What else can be done here? We'll let him go! - long-eared pony almost enraged at the thoughts of looking for alternatives - They don't deserve such-
— Fuck ye thinkin'?! No bloody way! Ye give 'em freedom, they grope them cocks on others! They have even less in their heads than me, and I'm the one tossin' meself around trouble! Ye think, what that arsehole wanted from ye?
— Wait. - little pony could not digest the thought - You mean.. then, he wanted me t-
— Yeah, he wanted you! Beat them up ye need, they're liek animals! Mean, told ye how me sailed with the chief - striped folk behave themselves worse than bedbugs! They don' care who and what are ye - they can't even speak! I mean, I cannot read meself, but tha's different..!
Now, the solar mare raged at the crime lord for new reasons. If this roan is right, then the Nameless, above all else, invoked a huge danger on everyone at the same time! What for? Another lesson like with his goons, or did something more simple stand behind this decision?
Nobody could understand the true motives of this mysterious stallion. He inspired fear in others by simply existing. Thoughts about him alone made others shiver. But not these adventurers! They set the goal long ago, and were inspired all the time at the sight of bad news!
And nobody cared about risking lives - those hooved beings do what everyone has to do! Only one thing would not set straight in their heads - who actually is this Nameless? Why is he so similar to Moonrise in actions and conspiracy? He could actually lead everyone by their noses!
— Tell us where's that bastard! - little one yelled - Where is Nameless?!
— How should I knoe?
— You sailed with him! Where is his ship? Where's the docks?!
— If he learns that-
— We will find him ourselves and tell about you personally, if you won't-
..Again. Emotional pony has not restrained herself again! But how to deal with all the feelings? Where they should be led to, how to set a good example? Friends should not help the brigand, even a peaceful one, should they? Or maybe they actually should; after all, they helped him already.
Long-eared mare stopped the threats in time and tried to speak to the stallion gentler. And that actually worked! Companions themselves softened in response, and the outlaw let his tongue loose like a tavern regular. And, of course, thoroughly rated the help offer:
— Way to go, ye know! If ye won't flutter off, I'll try to lead ye to him.
— Thanks, but-
— C'mon, I insist! They'll learn it anyway, that way I'll repay ye, you know! So it'll go by the code!
Opportunists glanced at each other. There is no way back - time to look for the troublemaker. Such destructive creatures, according to stories, should not take long to find. And true, not that far friends had to go - the zebra lied on the same pavement he dropped at.
No need to be an expert to understand that the striped horse is not alive anymore. He did not move a single centimetre since that moment. Surprisingly enough, nobody desecrated the arrogant's body. At least, before this very moment - and even then, with words alone:
— Tha's wha they deserve. Nothin' unusual. - the roan mocked him - Chief told us they're not the enduring type. Such mess happens on their land that they only have time to breed - saw this meself! Tha's why no brains but brawn - plough 'till exhaustion, can't live even one day without food.
— Gods.. - winged horse shivered at the horrible sight.
— No, don't talk 'bout that. No "Gods" is alive. - the stallion suddenly pulled a serious face - If there was someone, it wouldn't let us meet together. The Law though - different story..
— You're saying that you are silly, yet-
— 'Tis not me thoughts, is all our chief! I mean, I just want to live freely, no pressure, tha's it. Thinking is not for me. Anyway, come, la's go!
Like the earth pony promised, he led the company to the seaport. The trip took a lot of time, even on a straight road, and the awkward thoughts despicably sneaked in. Friends wandered with their eyes on the sides in search of anything comforting, but the many cages only hinted at what was said earlier.
However, adventurers did understand something by looking at little rooms made of rods. Most of the time, they held nobody but zebras. Way rarer were antelopes and local "trophies", and the petty outlaw's words confirmed themselves more and more. For a surprise, not the most vile ones.
Locals appeared more forgiving to their own kind, and towards striped folk in a sense as well. Working zebras even looked more healthy than in Crystal Empire! How so is this, that lackeys and raiders acted more empathetic than someone under the walls? It is still a fact - they robbed and killed, but there must be a reason for this.
It does not justify the means at all, but Empyrean also showed herself from a different side, at one point. Not because of nothing that some stoop so low in their lives? Only time will tell the answers, and that will not take long either - a huge ship showed itself afar, at the sight of which the leading horse cheered up:
— Oi, look! - he pointed at a clipper - "Last hope" - best tub in the world! Yer on yer own noe, shouldn't show meself out there, ye know..
— Thank you. - winged horse smiled for the first time in Fillydelphia - ..Look, try finding a more humble income. There are alternatives, no need to do something bad! Please!
— ..Maybe yer right. Not promisin' anythin', but won't starve anymore liek that. 'Haps turn to bakery - to fuck up dough instead of heads!
And so the friends were left alone. The docks stayed active in the night like during the day, but the four travellers looked convincing enough to be left undisturbed. That is why adventurers blatantly stared at the giant ship, in an attempt to forge some kind of a plan.
Someone certainly spent a very huge sum to build such a miracle. Even without the precise shipbuilding knowledge, friends understood that there is no better and faster alternative for travels and slavers. If, of course, compared to other big vessels.
Other ships also flashed at the lantern light, but this one especially stood out from the rest - a lot of space inside, and will not give in to fregates! Not to mention the amount of guards, substantially more than loading supplies. No doubt - it belongs to the Nameless. And it seemingly prepares for departure.
— So what are we going to do? - yawned sun pony - Ideas aren't getting in my head at all..
— Have to get there somehow. - the bug said obvious things - Don't know, how. Floor is flat, almost no walls. We will be immediately seen.
And then, Dalliant reminded about herself. She pointed at her "mark", and at the cutthroats at the boarding. Through long misunderstandings and questioning, adventurers came to a conclusion, that she wanted to lead the rest there, somehow. But what exactly does she want of others?
— You want to.. blow something up? - orange mare shifted her head - Like a distraction?
— Maybe it is transformation? - Ommatidia repeated after the sheep, but without horn shining - It lights and something happens! Not with them - with us!
— But I can't morph! - winged horse squinted her eyes - What are we going to do then?
Somehow, the final thought got through to changelings faster, than to the solar pony. Dalliant wanted for the insects to turn into bags, while the rest would walk along the ramp, posing as workers. And the brand would help here - the same figure also exhibited near the ship's title!
Silly stallions have not even wondered about bags' insides - they moved aside at the sight of a sheep and her companion. As it appeared, white bug was not mistaken - nowhere to hide, but the ship's hold. Hooved creatures went exactly there, hoping to prepare some kind of ambush before the crew arrives.
However, the hold stood a bit empty. The last lackeys already walked away, but there is almost nowhere to hide - sacks with food and barrels with water, not to mention the many small cages. Pony already found the time to worry, when she saw the captain's cabin. "We already walked too far. There!" - the mare trotted towards the door.
..And the door swung open right into the red-eyed pony's face. The captain found the little one sooner. As if he waited for this moment! Despite the sharpness of that blow, the shocked horse managed to get up on her hind legs and grab her weapon. Her opponent, in the meantime, did not think much of the threat.
Just like his crew, coming off of the big stallion's back. It seems like Sunshine saw all of them already.. Almost all, except the Nameless. The stallion did not differ from the rest with his thinness, though he was bigger than the rest. And the small mane tied into a ponytail, only complemented the agile nature.
— Well-well.. - sounded familiar feminine voice - 'Tis a small world.
— World is small only amidst those who push initiatives. - the chief philosophised with a quite slow and low voice - Is this the one you spoke about?
— Yes, that's Sunshine. - answered the colour look-alike.
— ..Bow before us.
The mare confused in what was happening, but she was not going to drop her idea. As well as bowing to the crime lord. However, he deserved at least an attempt at excusing his crimes, which the winged horse awaited. But instead of some serious speech, she received only smiles.
— ..Yes, you are right. She is just like you, Empyrean.
— Wait, what? - solar pony squinted her eyes and doubted her thoughts - Empyrean?
— I'm glad to see you too. And my sabre. - she quietly giggled - ..Why the long face? Told you exactly 'bout it.
— It's just, I.. Wait-wait-wait, no, this can't be..!
Friends' inaction fueled the horse's uncertainty. Or rather, inaction of changelings - the sheep joined the ranks of cutthroats just as easily as she concealed all and any emotions. Unlike Sunshine, which sensibility is, as always, noticeable with a naked eye.
— ..You what?! But why him? Why you - and you..! - pony pointed at her "friends" one by one - What are you doing?!
— I think she's not in the mood for talks. - spoke Swindler - Maybe she'll, you know-
— No. - the chief shut his mouth with a hoof - She can speak.
— No, you can speak! What right do you have to pillage others and starve your "brothers"?!
Dalliant stomped with her legs again and showed a few gestures, and the quick-witted cutthroat guessed everything immediately. He ordered the rest to go, staying only with two vibrant ponies. The couple stared at the emotional pony with such tiredness and content, that even changelings decided to show themselves.
— Sun. - Gambit lowered her hoof with the weapon - You wanted to learn his motives. Let him ex-
— You too, Gamby? - the horse raged at the ruined "surprise" - Are you what, all conspiring with each other?!
— Sunshine, you are doubting yourself! - Ommatidia demonstratively sniffed - Emotions! Listen to yourself, not your emotions!
— You listened to me then, let him also speak out! - Empyrean stood between the enemies - Please. We will let you go if something doesn't fancy you. We'll settle this peacefully, like then! Out of everyone, we can do that!
Broken mare sheathed her weapon. She expected to get stabbed in her back, that something bad would happen to the insects, but.. nothing. Nobody attacked this pony, nobody threatened her. The only thing the orange mare received - a story, that made her worry even more.
Although without proof, one wanted to believe it. Swindler's brigade and Dalliant tried to rescue another crime lord from his own warehouse. Inquisitors and guards had business far more important than the sun pony! But what else can be more important for them, than saving the regime? Nothing.
— ..So, you are doing what I'm doing?
— Yes, only difference is we're more prepared, and.. Well, here's more of us. - green-eyed pony shook her head - Were. There, in Hub, everything had to be burned. Along with Filthy Rich. He knew too much, and wouldn't withstand the torture. Already didn't.
— The third lord. - explained the big stallion - And former mayor of Fillydelphia. He was given time, and we used it. Nobody else knows the truth, other than us and many corpses. Anyone in our place would do the same to us. Out of mercy.
— ..Third? - misunderstood Sunshine - So who's the second? How many of you are there?
And the second one is Loony Swindler. Inconspicuous stallion loved to participate in loud cases personally, getting at least some feelings out of it. He was not kept by or bonded with anything in this world - even money or other ponies. But this same money helped live. All of them.
— I don't understand! If you are worrying so much about freedom, why are you engaging in slavery? You are contradicting yourselves!
— We can talk about all this later, after sailing off. - the Nameless went towards the upper deck - We will answer any of your questions. If you stay with us, of course. You have three minutes to think.
What to believe, and how? What should friends do now? Undoubtedly, this is a chance to get answers to new and old questions, and such opportunity is provided only once in a few lifetimes, but is it worth it? Though, it would be hard to sleep either way..
