Chapter V: Everything is not as easy as it seems
Part II: ..In the whole ocean..
— ..I don't know. - winged mare reflexively moved her head - Kind of want to ask him everything, but at the same time don't.
— I understand. - Empyrean noticeably exhaled - ..This is hard for all of us, but we must talk to each other. You made the right choice. - pony abrupted for a brief moment - How's your head?
Surprisingly enough, the waving ship soothed. Negative thoughts managed to slide into the mind all the time and every time, but in silence and without any irritations nearby, the head bounced back to normal. That is certainly much better than in a loud city.
— Head's just one thing. I mean, it's not that serious..
— Here - everything is serious. Extra movement and you'll be flying overboard, you understand that? Sure, Gambit had it a lot rougher and he also needs care, but he will also be stronger than you. You perfectly know that every pony here counts - our crew is small, after all. ..Where was he chopped like that anyway?
— In Mareland by your goons! We protected the townsfolk, but.. with too great of a cost.
Thoughts about the slaver's decisions enraged the solar mare. And her friend also reacted quite sharply, but only for a brief while. Which, of course, concerned the red-eyed horse - she knew the green-eyed pony, even though only a bit. Absence of emotions is not natural for such a pony.
— I.. understand him - and I understand, why he does that. - the horse barely stayed calm - His doings aren't senseless. He wants to give others experience that would toughen them. Like you, Sun - like all of us.
— This is silly! Nothing can justify that amount of victims, nothing will-
— His actions are unforgivable, but not many understand elsewise! Think, remember roans near Clopburg! Ponies understand only when they are hurt! - Empyrean continued only when she calmed down - I've known him for a long while, I know what I'm talking about. Something's eating at him like us all, but I never could properly talk with him about it. We are alike - all of us.
Little pony saw the same logic as with Dalliant, after thinking a little. The Nameless gave her a choice, and she took it. Obviously, Sunshine and her company helped her drop the enslaving shackles, but the decision still stood after the sheep. Decision, that changed her future life.
— ..But why did he brand her?
— She wanted it herself! We thought she pulled our plonkers, but she insisted. A memento so to speak, reminder about her goal and purpose. They can't have cutiemarks, you know!
— I know that, but.. that's strange! Why did she go to him, not someone else?
— Because that is his establishment. All these public homes - his hooves' doing. She worked for him anyway - gathered information, and now-
— That's just nonsense! He built a horrible life and set all the conditions so nobody could change anything, and now you're telling me it's actually not as it is?! Even his mark says it all - two coins with skulls! Blood money!
Cutiemarks did indeed say a lot. Curiosity frightened everyone with a burning book, but it meant passion towards knowledge, not some witchery ambitions. Sunshine did not want to listen to excuses and had not seen the hidden meaning of captain's coins. She got into the same trap.
— Well, look now, what's your mark's meaning then? Are you raising the Sun, or someone's mood maybe?
— I.. No! I simply belong to the house of Sunrise. That is a very old and noble family! - mare silenced for a second - Cutiemarks don't always mean talents - they always have a different meaning! It's like, well.. a sign of our understanding of something. Realisation, to be precise.
— My sentiments exactly. He understood everything in his childhood. But what exactly understood - didn't say. Yet I still don't understand. - she pointed at her empty thigh - No matter how I'm trying - can't find a meaning for myself! I mean, I'm doing something, but something still troubles after. And then someone else will suddenly suggest, point at something and stress that it's the truth and verity, and I just don't agree with that! It's not, it's wrong, I just feel it!
— Then, it might be.. - long-eared horse's voice got louder and louder at the sudden and precise realisation - ..That your meaning is in disagreement! Well, in searching for another point of view! In correcting the injustice of everyone listening and seeing only one thing!
Empyrean's eyes opened wide. Suddenly, they also rounded for Sunshine! Seems like the pony was right - as something did draw out on the deviant friend's flank! Something strange, but certainly symbolic - an iron stake that pierces a few metal plates.
— You, how did you even think of that?! How? You! It's you, and I..! But him..? - suddenly realised mare almost forgot how to speak - How did you do it so quickly? How did you understand me like that?
— I don't know, but it does make sense! I picked the name for Gambit just as quickly. Truth what they say, that it's known better from the outside!
— Maybe, your mark's meaning is not only about family?
— That may be! Come on, let's tell the others!
Friends completely forgot about their previous conversation and negative emotions brought by it. Ponies notified the whole ship about the happened miracle. Everyone's mood raised, everyone was happy - even the Nameless. ..But he abrupt the celebration very soon - the work would not wait.
As would not an explanation that he owed Sunshine. He told her everything that Empyrean already said, completing the story with facts of how Equestria is structured. As it so appears, princesses are not influencing their servants directly - not everywhere. They give the orders to region overseers, and it is them who achieved sisters' will with their own means..
Of course, the demands and requests already left many doubts in their necessity and usefulness, but their implementation was too ingenuine, in a cruel sense. Only the corrupt stallion managed to kill two rabbits with one stone. His corruption helped the biggest amount of population.
— ..Filthy Rich tended to the Swamp region, Stoneheart - to Old Equestrian, Enkindle - Bordering one, and princesses watched over the centre. They all obeyed and imposed horrible edicts, but Filthy Rich did it his own way. Everything started from him, and I, accidentally, started the fire outside the furnace..
— What do you mean, accidentally? Accidentally reached Zebrica, abducted locals from out there, and sold them to Fillydelphia?!
— Yes. I built the ship - that is true. But I wanted to find Shireland. In the end, I accidentally found zebras. Aggressive, half-witted striped horses. They died in the most foolish ways, and committed horrors that princesses couldn't even dream of. - cutthroat coughed, noticing his own deviation from the main topic - Zebras are not useful for anything but the hard labour. And the labour force is needed everywhere. That is what covered Equestria with a wave of slavery among hooved ones..
The tale was hard for the Nameless. He seemingly regretted about his deeds, and not exactly; as if something close to the slavery topic bothered him, something he could not do anything with. The stallion masterfully held his emotions, and only the changelings sensed something odd. Whereas their look hinted Sunshine at it.
— Isn't Shireland the afterlife?
— Some believe it is the spirit world. Some - a land full of wealth and other miracles. We tried finding this very miracle, but every time stumbled upon the savannah. Zebras did make us rich. But they didn't return the peace of mind..
— Of course! You doomed the whole world to lust and delirium! You rose at the expense of other lives!
— I support those who don't agree with this state of affairs and those who are willing to fight. I have eyes and ears throughout the nation - Dalliant was one of those pairs of ears. She surpassed all my expectations; to steal a public house from inside.. - the stallion interrupted Sunshine before she could put her word - You appeared at the wrong place, at a wrong time. You shook the walking regalias alone in a way none of us could do together. This is what we need. This is what all of Equestria needs.
— Don't you drown in irony?
— Irony - is hypocrisy, taught to be laughed at. We are not laughing, we are acting. We are correcting our mistakes and pointing others at their own flaws. No other way. - the stallion interrupted the winged mare again, right before her speech - You will say that I'm a common bandit. The nation who does exactly the same, will say so too. Why can't they be bandits? You are a bandit too - because the government said so. Will you listen to it without any doubt, or will you do something?
Winged pony remembered what she promised to do many days before. "Unforgivable things." - glanced in her head - "We are alike. Or not? He is like Moon. Moon is smart. This one too? And me?". The horse simply stopped listening to herself, giving her all to the conversation.
— You're saying things like these, but visually-
— You are not a warrior either, yet you carry a weapon. Experience does not have a coat, species, race nor symbols. Experience cannot be shared with only the words. It needs to be shown. To fix something, it needs to be broken first. We have to push-
— No! That isn't necessary - and we proved it already! We made others think with words alone! We persuaded whole settlements, and-
— You won't persuade those who already are in comfort. How are you going to convince princesses at the end of the path? Or will you leave your pain and responsibility to someone else?
Sun pony enveloped in nasty thoughts again. Captain seemingly proved his theory again, when he made the winged one walk towards another edge of the boat. Emotions drugged, did not let her look at the picture from every angle.. But they are finally leading, not the other way around.
— I will fight - we will fight! I won't repeat my parents' mistakes, and I will restore my house's good name! No - for all old families, for all erased legacy!
— Parents' mi- ..Oh. - stallion surprised at such precise coincidence and got emotional - I didn't wa-
— You said everything right. That is what must move us! We should not silently sit idle at one spot - we must use our emotions for good! - long-eared pony distinctively hit the wood with her leg - Where are we sailing? What are we waiting for?
— Later. First we swim to treasures. Looks like.. - he looked around and noticeably thought - ..We have arrived.
The main continent disappeared from view quite long ago. However, new land was not seen at all. The lookout horse kept their silence - no ships nor land around. The rest of the crew have not understood anything either, yet an order to drop the anchor was given. How did the Nameless navigate around the water?
— Arrived? But-
— Treasure is below water. We will lower you under it, where you will get the coin.
— How?
— The bell. You will move down, under a diving dome. It has everything necessary.
Captain led the team into the hold. As it so appeared, a very real half of a sphere with chains was hidden amidst the many cages. With all the crew's effort, it was moved onto the upper deck and carefully put on water. Even though the structure is sophisticated, it did not at all inspire confidence.
— Right below us, there is a sunken ship. - stated the chief - Many dimes sunk with it. Get as many as you can, and we will raise you up.
— And if I run out of air?
— Try not to waste it.
— I will go with you. - snowwhite bug suddenly expressed.
— But there's space for only one! - worried Empyrean.
..For which the changeling simply distorted his looks, turning into animated saddlebags as usual. Unusual union of two creatures has not left any doubts, that the couple will manage with such an uneasy task. Though it would be hard to get the friends back up.
As there was not a single full-horned creature among the adventurers. Only seemingly the most trusted folk walked around the Nameless - meaning, not that many. This ship could use a dozen or even more sailors, but the currently scarced crew also sufficed.
Two mares, two changelings, two stallions and one sheep. If not for such sudden recruitment, Swindler would stay with the partners in crime. But he stepped aside back at the seaport. After all, someone must look over the city, as the mayor is no more. Another stallion took his place on the ship.
Someone who goes by the name Awry Providence. He was doing the amount of work for three, and he did it well, which was noticeable even with a corner of an eye during the talk on an upper deck. But would the combined effort of all the crew be enough to help the two friends? Depends on the weight they carry.
And the ocean's depth. The couple was being lowered for a few minutes now, and the bottom was not even noticeable. At this rate, folk above will exhaust even before the live cargo will reach the sand or stone. But the adventurers kept on - at least mentally. Not much more left to go - something below already shined!
..And swiftly approached the bell! Sunshine jumped in time, almost slipping off of the tight structure. But the pony managed to evade a strange blade! Money is being protected by someone, and this someone can breathe underwater! ..And hold several swords at once.
These are octopuses, no doubt! Only they can use all their limbs at once to achieve their goals. Only they can move their tentacles so agilely and nimbly, while holding something and without harming themselves! And only they can grab something very tightly. Or someone.
Winged pony got sharply pulled out of the metallic bell, and even the steel grid did not protect her! More like the opposite - little mare got hurt because of it! Back legs' sprain made the orange one scream and release her only air gulp. But that is not the end yet!
Since the octopus had not seen the insect - he saw the bags! And those bags became his end - angry changeling chewed the muscles off, separating the head from its tentacles. While he protected the horse with his body, he suffered himself. But not as much as his friend.
She choked to the utmost extent, but somehow stayed conscious. It is so close to the air, but even such a short distance felt unscalable! The water savagely filled the lungs, and the delirium overcame the mind.. When, the insectoid did the only thing he thought of.
The shapeshifter kissed the little pony in her lips the moment he could do so. Not just because - but to give her air from his lung! He remembered how not to breathe! True, he did get punched in his forehead for doing so, but not out of anger - the pony desperately swam towards the semisphere!
Strength returned to the orange mare! She barely grabbed the grid and raised her head to the place she could breathe in.. immediately getting rid of excess stuff in her chest. Such profuse coughing and nausea is unusual for healthy horses, but this is not exactly a usual case.
— ..Are you alright? - the bug soon swimmed up to the red-eyed mare.
— No. Legs - bones, hurts.. - pony still grasped for air - ..Help?
Without any warning or stating his intentions, the insect roughly corrected the dislocation of back legs' joints. Hence, of course, getting hit in his head again, deserving it this time. However, surviving under water - is only half the battle - one still needs to swim back up..
But no matter how much the little one pulled the rope with the rescuing barrel, she did not feel any difference. Whiskered bug also listened to his surroundings, and he realised that the bell continued to go down. Did something happen at the surface? Why did everyone forget about the adventurers?
— You thinking what I'm thinking? - barely calmed pony looked up and at the bug.
— It is deep. We can fail.
— ..But we don't have a choice.
— I know. I have an idea. Grab me - listen to my heart. Trust me.
Friends swimmed up to the surface with a somewhat creative, just tested method. Gambit played the role of an air pocket, which allowed Sunshine to get up. The reason for the bell's fall immediately made itself known - the team was attacked by monsters!
Hooved creatures did their best to fight the hordes of angry octopuses. Judging by the couple almost witnessing none of them in water, the travellers finished off the last ones on the ship. Metal clang and screams only pushed the friends forward, but how can they get up? How can they help their companions? Wings are too wet, and the ladder is absent!
Few glances at each other, and friends understood everything with half a sight. The mare grabbed the bug even more tight, while he climbed the wood, clawing by the small cracks. Only then the pony saw the consequences of that underwater battle with the spineless creature.
Changeling's wings were torn off. Completely. He masterfully concealed his pain, only rarely moving with the remaining membrane pieces. Newly awakened feelings from the side made it clear for the shapeshifter, what their owner saw. Inspiring and satiating insect for the job.
The nearly drowners got up on the upper deck at lightning speed. They forgot about their pain and inconveniences - they were ready to fight! Only, there was nobody to fight, as the last invertebrate got sliced in half. Which, of course, have not delayed any resentment:
— Why nobody told us about the tentacled folk? - orange mare threateningly stayed on her hind legs - We were almost killed!
— And how should we know? - Empyrean barely stood on her legs - We bare-
— Well done. - the Nameless laughed and spoke with notes of superiority - You made it.
— What do you mean? - little pony was very upset - ..Did you know about all this?!
— I tested you. All of you.
