Chapter V: Everything is not as easy as it seems
Part III: ..Of misunderstanding
Deceit. Deception everywhere. The slaver simply wanted to know what his current company is able to do in an extreme situation! He was perfectly aware that vindictive mollusks are active on the way to Zebrica, and he would not at all be bothered by someone's death! Even of such able revolutionaries!
— ..You fucking tossed in ye head? - green-eyed pony almost lost her voice - What bloody tests? Why are you bloody acting like a child?!
— I need the best, not some messy mob. And you know that.
— Fucking; if all of us gather together and march onto Canterlot, there'll be enough of us! Enough of yer bloody games!
— Why are we sailing to Zebrica? - red-eyed pony seemingly realised something - Is this some kind of test as well? What do you want from us?!
As if the Nameless was not bothered by the work of his life! He seemingly does not know what he wants himself! What if all this is just a lie, and he simply wants money? Rallied everyone before something, and simply enjoys life? The whole crew stood against their captain. Whole, except Awry.
— The coin. - the stallion confessed - We need the coin, to stop the foo-
— Oi! Coins is good. - Providence cheered up - Buy the weapons will we, and not on-
— I meant, to blow the economy. - the stallion noticeably tensed up at the stupidness of Swindler's goon - We will use this money, to raise the waves of discontent. Ponies all around the nation will not be able to afford anything, because the poor hordes will buy everything out. This will become the Canterlot's downfall.
— You willing to sacrifice lives of the very simple ponies? - raged Empyrean - Damned warmaker, yer not giving 'em a choice!
— ..You're evil! - Ommatidia even shed tears - Why? These ponies haven't done anything, they don't have to suffer!
— You are right. - the Nameless smiled - They haven't done anything for their freedom..
Sunshine understood him. She finally got what the Nameless truly wanted. "Test. Another game. Will give the choice to everyone. Wants to teach the whole world.". With every new addition to her thoughts, the mare's blood boiled even harder. Such bright feelings made the changelings grab their heads..
— You! Varmint! - winged pony pointed at the stallion with her weapon - You just want to destroy everything! Kill everyone!
— You didn't und-
— I understood everything, completely! You're not listening to anyone, you need puppets that will-
— Opposite, I need thinking-
— So that they would do only your bidding! You are not believing us, you are not believing in our abilities! - little horse longely screamed from the flood of emotions - I challenge you to a duel! Time for you to learn, not for others! You, obsessed, bastard!
The muscle has not refused the challenge, only tauntly weighing his giant sword before him. Nobody prevented the upcoming fight from happening - some feared to make a wrong move, and some simply had not enough strength after the previous battle. And all of them wanted to watch.
Despite the weakness and pain in the legs, the long-eared horse stood very confidently. She guided her emotions, not the other way around! However, the moment the mare wanted to make her first steps, the stallion almost cut her in half with the first strike.
..Immediately revealing his weak spot. The stallion did not have a bracelet - his sword's holder already had not the most convenient hoof ring! The strength outweighed the agility, whereas the winged one had both of them in check! At least, the second thing for sure - and that is enough. Pony even came up with a plan..
— Silly, calm yourself! - warrior did not stop angering his opponent with his laugh - One must fight with a clear head!
— You don't know anything! - pony landed blow after blow without losing her mind.
— You aren't even standing properly! - stallion barely managed to block the incoming hits with his sword and a horseshoe - This is not how-
— How the street parasites do! - orange one kicked him with a free leg - And that's how real fighters do combat! Learn, you scum!
The technique is, maybe not the most clear one, but the details stood out to a naked eye. Little mare ideally controlled her breath and gave her techniques as much energy, so she would not fall onto the floor. And if one tries, they can repeat after her. But something is unable to be taken from this pony. Something important.
Her knees were always bent. In any awkward moment she bounced away, or opposite, pounced and lunged at her enemy in the most inconvenient way for him. The horse has not even thought about fear of falling on her front legs, thanks to her straight back and hind legs.
And Sunshine knew about it, she used her superiority and weaknesses for her own good! She did not forget that she can do harm not only with a weapon, and pushed the Nameless back, not letting the stallion concentrate! She is obsessed, like him. Not with an idea, but with a fight.
Big-eared pony did not distract at advices, at screams of support and ocean waves at sides. The enemy had the time only to fall back, in order to not get hurt. But he was still pierced by the gaze. A non-moving away gaze, full of certainty and hatred. Knowing, how to wear down.
— Focus, you ginger! Wide-scale fight is not a duel! - skinny horse noticeably grasped for air - Dummy, you'll get tired!
— ..You already!
Another stallion's powerful swing made him turn sideways to the pony, and the conscious mare grabbed another one's hair with her teeth - the ponytail on his head. Sharp moves and unusual cruelty made the stallion stand on all his legs again, dropping him on his flank afterwards.
— A large mountain will slide loudly.. - Empyrean stayed shocked for the rest of the fight - Holy shit.
— Where did you learn all this? - Ommatidia vainly tried to copy the winged pony's pose - Why aren't you falling? Teach us!
Finally, the pony dropped on all her four legs. Though, not for long - one still needs to show the secrets of waging battles. The whole crew could already stand on their back legs and swing their weapons, but only Sunshine, among the friends, fought on her hind legs for so long. And she wanted to help others in mastering it.
— ..You're alright with standing like this all the time? - the mare could not push her legs any lower - How? 'Tis uncomfortable!
— Yea, how are you doing this? - referent changed her guise every second - You're different! We can't do that!
— Why, all of you can! - pony even felt embarrassed by compliments - It's not as hard as it looks, but you have to practise for a long time, preferably from the foalhood. See, how my back and legs are set? - she demonstrated herself in a normal position - That's because I grew up like that. Because I'm not trying to stand like a pony. More like a dragon..
Those like her are immediately standing out - Midillia, first encounter with Empyrean.. In action though, the difference in skeleton development is especially noticeable from the outside. And the experience, along with a habit to stand like this on hind legs, ditched any further fear and bipedal exhaustion.
During childhood, while others played with each other, Sunshine thought a lot and practised with a sword. While stallions matured and thought about mares, Sunshine read and practised with a sabre. While kids helped the elders on fields and in craft, Sunshine argued with Moon and practised with a rapier..
And even though she can fight the battle on two legs, or do anything else in that position, she understood one thing. This is not what is most important. A more important achievement - ability to feel your body, know when one needs to use themselves, and when to retreat. And now, when she uses all these skills in daily life..
— ..Do what I'm doing, and you'll get it in time! - long-eared pony sincerely felt happy that her advice was listened to - Not soon that you'll get used to, but it is worth it. It's easier for foals, indeed, but nothing is impossible! Many are screwing their backs with age and slouching, yet it is possible to do opposite!
— We.. have to do it ourselves? - Empyrean surprised at such a short lesson - ..You will not teach us?
— Listen to your heart, and do what you think is right. Only you can understand what moves are the most convenient for you. Just don't forget that you have yourself, and that the weapon is not the most crucial thing! A fight between changelings or deers can teach a lot; it's not necessary to stand in a particular way to-
— What if we do something wrong?
— There is no wrong way! This is still experience. We are all different, and that is our strength! We act the way we feel is right, and we can help a lot more with advice, than with direct orders. - and there, mare's joy flushed somewhere - Look what is going on around - this, is where monotony and one-sided thinking leads to! You already have developed your intuition, it's not going to be hard!
— ..What is intuition? - Gambit quietly and suddenly walked close to the solar pony - ..No matter, I am guessing what that means. Sunny, we have to talk. Alone.
The moment Sunshine wanted to take another task, she was dragged into a different conversation. And the horse was not at all objecting to such pull-out, though the upcoming topic slightly embarrassed her. Or, more precisely, the winged pony simply did not understand anything.
— ..How's, that? - red-eyed pony tilted her head to the side - I, don't understand..
— Like a dragon. - repeated the bug - Standing, like a dragon. Emotions, like a dragon. Who are you?
— ..What do you mean? I don't understand! Explain!
— I do not know how. Why are they so bright? Why are they similar to dragons'?
The bug had not doubted his friend's mastery one bit, but he was very much frightened by these similarities. She is kind of a pony, but at the same time not. Everything horsey is in place, but thinks and feels not like other hooved creatures! However, reasons to believe this pony and her horseness exist. Intuition.
Moonrise is also not a dragon, but he is similar to his sister. They are vastly different, but they certainly have the same parents, not to mention the credibility of the hidden history and Old Equestria. And Empyrean is similar to Sunshine in emotions, though the first one is falling short to the little one. Curiously enough, both of them are orange.
— I am not afraid for you. But I am afraid for you. For your head. What if something bad happens? - he thought about something nasty for a moment - ..I want to go home. But I do not want home without you.
— I'm holding up, and you are helping me - all of you help! Everything will be fine with me, don't worry! - sun pony paid attention to the wing scraps again - You'd better think like that about yourself..
— ..Can not. Feeling that it is dangerous. Emotions - too many of them. Flower made many emotions. It is because of it.
— Gamby, are you.. certain? - the mare could not stay thoughtless - I believe you, but..
— But?
— But I also believe that it's only half the truth. Well, not the full truth - not the whole point. We need to take a closer look at it to know more. Will you watch over me?
The insect perceived everything literally, again. But that misunderstanding, at least now, was very much useful - since the emotional pony went into the captain's cabin, when she saw the Nameless walking into it with a corner of her eye. True - who knows what can happen?
— Well done. You did everything great. - the stallion immediately guessed who walked inside - Resisted the confusion. I purposely-
— Stop it, it's obvious. - the horse got colder with each passing second - Drop this Zebrica idea. Why are you even tangling into slavery so hard anyway? What's holding you?
— I.. Hm, I said it already.
— No, don't feed me with this nonsense. I can see that something bothers you! - winged pony distanced from the door and closer to the stallion - ..And why did you so strangely react to my story, one before the diving trip? Like, just like now? - long-eared mare continued right after another unnatural reaction - It is because of parents, isn't it..?
Ship noises did not let Gambit hear everything perfectly. But that was not needed - since he felt emotions. He was suddenly overfilled with another one's sorrow, some kind of uncertainty and despair. A minute later, he sensed crying. The insect was going to break the door down, when he suddenly realised whom this wailing belongs to.
Ommatidia also noticed something unusual and walked down into the hold, meeting a confused snowwhite insect there. The shapeshifters decided to not disturb the pair in such an important moment, but they were also not going to ignore it - and gathered everyone on the upper deck, briefly explaining the situation.
Not even a few minutes had passed, when the stallion with a shame-red muzzle went out to the waiting crew. Even from a distance it seemed as if something released him, and the relaxed face of an orange pony, walking from the hold, only confirmed this unobvious thought. Oh, and the voice, the tone and the stallion's words..
— Friends. - stallion's deep voice vanished somewhere - Call me Vice. Vice Abstruse.
The team would celebrate out loud, if not for silently fearing something. This is not the first time when the little pony performed such miracles. And now, two of them even happened right on this ship, during only a single sailing! What is next? What will it lead to?
Solar pony managed to solve as much as two confused personalities and guide them towards the right path, without much of a problem! And that is not mentioning previous achievements, amidst common ponies. How is she managing such sorcery? Should she even be listened to? Can such pony actually mess everything up?
— Please, don't! - winged one frowned - We got through to this moment with combined effort, not only because of someone in particular!
— She is right. - captain decisively stomped with his leg - Ingenuity equals treason. It is dangerous to ask questions in our lifetime. Take an example from her - be yourselves.
— But we can be what we want. - lilac insect have not understood anything yet again - Does that mean we are smarter? Or sillier? ..Or differenter?
— But we already behave us like ourselves! - seems that the big-antennaed bug as well - What are you talking about?
— Ommatidia, are you certain you behave like this out of your own will? - long-eared horse has not noticed how she raised her voice - You want this yourself, or are you afraid of rejection among your kind? - she climbed into the sky and addressed everyone - Were you forced to obey, or to listen? Were you taught to create, or to copy? Don't answer to me - answer to yourselves!
— What's the difference? - Awry said something for the first time in a long while.
By the time Sunshine shifted away from shock and tried to explain many things to the stupid stallion, her thought was probably understood by everyone else. And no matter how hard they all tried, the cutthroat could not understand others at all. He did not even try to - he found excuses for problems, like common ponies!
— Yer not even thinking with your head! - Empyrean mockingly knocked on her forehead - How are you going to build a house then for example, when it'll all be over? Using what?
— Do I what, have to know 'tis? I'll hire sum one, ye know? They'll think for me, and I'll just rob or kill 'em if it ends up expensive.
— Nobody will be left to rob at this rate! You'll be left all alone in the world, and how are you going to make a salad for yourself? Or a soup? How are you going to tell edible from inedible?
— Why for? Am I a wench, to start cooking? Fuck I need to learn if me can buy? Tellin' ye, they'll think sum thing for me - all the time they're makin' sumthin' new! ..And I'll plough with the maker while waitin' for food. Combinin' pleasant with pleasant, why the fuck not?
Vice would never take such half-witted being into his team, but the choice was not left to him. Awry helped at least somehow, though only for money. Money, that the adventurers were going to earn on zebras. Just how hard did such universal exchange idea rot..
— Friends, listen to my command! - captain attracted attention to himself with stomping - Changing our plan to a long promised one. We drop Zebrica, turn towards the west, and search for Shireland. Fillydelphian food and water should be enough to get there, so-
— O-oi! - thug did not appreciate the idea -An' the coin?
— Where we will end, coin will have no u-
— Fuck ye mean?! Want to send us to afterlife, and get oure possessions for yerself?
— Fool, why would you need money if you'll have everything? - even the Nameless could not stand him and showed his true spirit - Everyone will have everything when we achieve our goal. And Shireland-
— Arse! Arsehole! How the fuck coin will 'ave no use?! What ye mean everyone'll have everythin'? I need coin - I, and coin! I want coin, not all this everythin'! I'll buy meself all I need!
What is this plan? Why did Vice not tell about it earlier? Seems like only Dalliant and Empyrean were informed of it, since only they supported their captain. And even then, not everywhere - who would support throwing overboard a member of their team, especially so soon, without warnings?
— What are ye bloody doing? - winged mare immediately hit his cheek with her hoof - Vice, fuck's sake! Your paranoia's dancin' again!
— He won't swim to shore! - Ommatidia was barely held by Sunshine - What are you doing?
— Paranoids stay labelled as paranoids only before something happens. - expressed the outlaw - We are prepared. He was kept by only money - he does not believe in our cause!
— What are you even talking about? - big-eared horse threateningly furrowed her brows.
Why is there need in all this money, when a good world can live in harmony with each other? Why keep everyone in conventions and disgusting boundaries with norms, when someone who desires to help can actually help? Why cover behind excuses, when one can actually perform their task?
No point in any additional steps - especially when everyone wants it. And peace with harmony is actually wanted by everyone, but the majority simply does not see how it can be achieved. Why spend a slaving amount of hours and infinite energy for processed metals? What is the point in senseless society separation and invention of new labels?
— You.. you changed. - Empyrean could not believe her ears - You're not trying to mindlessly hoard the coin, you are taking action! You finally took yourself together like you promised! Sun, what did you really say to him?
— ..Maybe, he'll tell it himself? It is after all private!
— Parents. - the stallion was not at all thinking about concealing his secret - My parents were sold by Filthy Rich. I hoped to buy them out - wanted to free others, but I haven't even seen how foolish this idea was. Sunny helped me to see the dust speck in my eye.
— ..Actually, you are not that silly. - Sunshine quietly giggled - Arguing with smart is obstacle, but with dumb - impossible.
Companions forgot about Awry almost instantly. Nameless' speech somehow convinced the crew, that his own actions were not that sinful. With such strength and endurance, the bandit could actually swim over the ocean without anyone's help. If only, he would not meet squidlings..
Whereas the ship had not encountered that many of them. Even after the team got rid of the most cages in their hold, the tentacled folk have not gathered around the littering ponies. Even better - because a long path was ahead, an end to which was no sight of. In every sense of those words.
