Chapter VI: Over the horizon
Part III: Soft archipelago
The travellers headed to Equestria by themselves. Emotional lizards could not decide to help the lesser creatures, and only the convicted couple with a recent pathfinder stayed with the hooved ones. They were not even given their boat back - all of them were simply banished, like traitors!
But that did not appear too much of a problem - dragons conjured a temporary vessel themselves! Even though not as big and comfy, yet it is able to move the whole team to the nearest land from there. To which there is much more distance than it seemed at first.
— Why did you go with us? - Sunshine could not calm down - Why didn't you stay?
— But you are.. you are so adorable! - horned dragon also rained with emotions - I can't understand how could they do this! You are so wonderful and smart! - he held the snowwhite bug before him and moved with his limbs - And diverse!
The insect did not let Verstandig finish his thoughts. He moved, for the first time after Eldervale! Limbs still stayed straight, but he moved! One thing left others wondering though - why did he make such nasty and repugnant sounds, with his body?
— What's the matter with him? - Vice reflexively grabbed his weapon.
— He.. Wait. - Ommatidia calmly approached the insect - He is hatching.
— How's that? He alrea-
— Moulting. We do this when we grow older. - whiskered bug morphed into Sunshine and took her emotions for a moment - We are just different! Don't be afraid!
After a few minutes, the lilac bug's carapace cracked, and another white body seeped through it in a moment. Insectoid had a hard time coming out of his "jail", even when half his body showed through. All with the same holes, but very smooth and without damages. And with wings.
— Gamby! You're fine! - solar pony already tried to hug him.
— Don't. - referent stood between her friends - He needs time. Needs to straighten wings and stretch.
— But..! - orange mare felt worse out of holding emotions - Is this true? You're not lying, as revenge for the past?
— No. I realised a lot during that walk. - plated insect shifted into someone else again - Everything's good, honestly! I will learn, I will find myself!
Old friend's appearance and another insect's revelation seriously inspired the crew. Stress and tiredness still followed each and everyone, but at least not as hard as moments prior. Which could not but please even more - energy is not much, food is even less, but mouths are very many. Not counting the changelings, of course.
— ..Gamby, how are you? - long-eared horse could not resist and disturbed him ahead of time - Do you hear me?
— I hear.
— ..Yer not even bothered by this crap? - the rest of the team were not sharing such booming enthusiasm - He's bloody crawled out of himself! Like a tick!
— No. He is my friend! - pony distracted at the whiskered creature again - ..What happened? Why did you, well.. Do that thing? Why didn't you say anything?
— Everything is possible; it is enough to wish. - Gambit almost ideally quoted the horned dragon with his voice - I understood something. Understood, that I needed to change skin. Understood, that there might not be time later. Not understood, if I could protect it from magic. Need to try.
And the dragon gladly helped the whiskered insect learn, if his new body is able to fend against others' spells. Despite the failure, such a long absence still had its positive effects - wings are in place! ..Like the height. Like everything else. The body stayed without a change.
— ..But is that normal? - red-eyed pony asked a rhetorical question.
— Changelings are more magical beings, than living. - Verstandig seemingly read the notes from his own parchment - They can do many things, but they are only bugs. Like you - only ponies. Like us - only dragons. Um.. In other words - yes. He may, for instance, suddenly grow into a queen and make offspring, but.. He needs to wish this. Do you want to?
— No. - confirmed the plated bug - I want to be myself. I want to go home.
— There is the answer! We decide ourselves what we want to become. And you can do that too, I'm sure! You remarked that right back then - both we, and you - are very-very different! So much so, that we - dragons - negotiate even about the appearance of our future children..!
Friends were scared of Verstandig at first. Since, in the end, they wanted to leave the ancient valley because of his strangeness. Yet ultimately, everything turned the other way: as the time passed, new explanations and incomprehensible things gave not that many mystic vibes; something even made sense!
Friends believed more willingly in miracles, that they would count as fairy tales days prior. And when they got closer to the archipelago that he spoke of earlier, the dragon sealed the trust of others. Bringing other scaled beings closer to the hooved creatures as well.
— Islands of Joy, there! - Verstandig pointed at a bunch of islands in front - Or rather, more accurately, Islands of Hugs. You did distort many phrases and names after all, and further you live - weirder the meaning went!
— But everything over Equestria is so strange! - orange pony puffed her cheeks - When I talked with Cloudsdale's leader, he forged the path to you in his head! Without tools, without notes - in his head! By himself!
— Not all that shines is gold.
— Wasn't it "not all what's gold is shining"?
— Got you!
..And those miracles were not going to stay limited to names and stories alone. Even at the approach to those small pieces of land, adventurers saw ponies that walked on water! They simply rose up and floated on the surface of water without any problem! How is this possible?
— Those are marshmallow ponies, the very ones! - Hersenen said with full seriousness - Verstandig, could you explain?
— They.. were also made by Discord. But, unlike you, he didn't settle them near ethereum and let them roam about - he vitalised sweets made by you and made them look like you! - dragon already paid attention to little mare's fervour - And they do not like when others try to eat them. They settled here, because you almost ate them all. Marshmallows walked here on their fours, and you haven't even made ships back then!
— ..What's an ethereum? - Empyrean did not understand.
— It is a magical gas, that created everything around..! - began the dimly-blue draconid.
Friends hastily disembarked at one of the islands, and continued to look at wonderful creatures and their creations, while listening to no less wonderful story. And locals were not opposing the guests and their behaviour - these ponies tried to hug them! Which slightly alarmed some hooved beings.
— You are.. very sticky. - Vice helped Dalliant clean her dense wool.
— Oh, we're sorry! It's a custom of ours - to hug the first passerby, at least once a day! - two greeting ponies hugged each other - Where are you from? You won't eat us, will you?
— Of course not! - solar pony barely restrained herself - Marshmallows are my favourite treat, but-
Few words about eating this sweetness was enough, to terrify living marshmallows and make them press against each other. They did not run, did not take any weapons and were not calling for help - they shivered and.. squeaked. Which startled the travellers even more.
— You won't banish us? - little insect surprised at such peaceful "hospitality".
— But-but-but that is n-not right. T-that's not how we-we do things!
— Even when you are being threatened?
— What do you think, why did they run away from your lot? - Verstandig suddenly questioned everyone - Because they are a-do-ra-ble! They are peaceful, like cushions; blushing just the same! - he pointed at very puffy cheeks turning red - Discord certainly wasn't expecting for such chaos to embrace harmony..
— ..In any case, we will not eat you. - little one tried to behave friendly with all her might - We came in peace! My name is Sunshine, you can call me Sunny! And you?
..And they were silent. Cute food sat in place and hugged each other, not intending to do anything. They were not even going away from the scorching sun that melted their bodies! There the friends saw, that these very ponies contained many types and varieties of marshmallows.
Even though their bodies were dense enough, other limbs and especially hair, melted by heat quite easily. They lost their shape and stuck to everything, but the surroundings were not that dirty. How are they looking over themselves? How do these ponies even live outside of forests?
To these many questions, the couple of marshmallows mutely pointed at another island. There, after the bridge and trees, appeared a very real civilization! No, even a paradise! Houses are beautiful, ponies are friendly, nobody was rude to anyone and everyone is happy to see each other! Especially the guests.
Everyone stuck to them, literally and figuratively. Every citizen stood out with something - another body colour, and fantastical mane styles, and even cutiemarks! Everything was tied to the sugary treat one way or another, but something did differ them from every other creature.
— ..Overwings? - sun pony especially joyed at the sight of something new - Like second wings?!
— They are not for flying, this is beautiful! Like your flower - a decoration!
— I want them too!
— But you're not marshmallowy!
— I know, I want to at least learn how you make them!
— Then you should go to Hearthwarmer! It's ri-ight up there.
Aforementioned street appeared not the most clean one, and many hooves and strength went to collect the thawed marshmallow. However, nobody complained - these ponies joyfully sang songs and collected the sweet mass into one pile. To bring it to one specific place.
To the bakery. From which a certain pony walked out, the one that the company looked for - pink and green horse, with a mark in the shape of a heart, half of which forms a question mark. Seems like this pony hurried somewhere, yet she could not do but pay her attention to the guests. Dragons, especially.
— Op.. Opvlie, right? - the mare tilted her head to the side - And..
— Hersenen. - scaly creature said his name himself - Her name is Opvliegend.
— We don't like when our names are being shortened. - clarified Verstandig - Losing its meaning that way! But we are not angry, are we? - he shook the displeased lizard - We came in peace!
— That's pleasing. I mean, you are pleasing. I am pleased to see you! - pony's cheeks puffed even more while smiling - And.. changelings, too. I am deeply sorry, the council is gathering, we were just going to talk about them.
— Again? - horned draconid raised her brow - What's itching them so much?
Despite the baker hurrying, she gladly and without any annoyance told others what happened not that long ago. Familiar by one tale changelings, attacked the sweet beings, and they were defended by no less familiar creatures. Together with the dragons.
— ..So they are alive? - Sunshine did not know if she should be happy or not - Amber ones were almost eradicated, they don't have a queen, they-
— They, I think, went feral. - storyteller slightly saddened - Now, they are visiting us quite often for some reason. We are not against it, we are welcoming any guests! Truth be told though, no matter how we try, they still stay displeased. I fear we won't be able to withstand another guest receiving, even with coaties.
— This is sarcasm, right? - winged mare did not understand anything at all - A-and where did you get the coaties? Aren't they feeling bad because of fur? I mean, it's very hot here!
— No, and.. a no. - clarified Hersenen - This is a completely different species now! Marshmallows took some foxes with themselves lo-ong ago, and now they breed them on this island. Was it this one?
— Yes, this one, in the centre of it. - nodded the baker - Perhaps they changed a bit, but these foxes are still just as cute!
By a clear coincidence, as a proof, one of the long foxes fled on the road, which surprised the citizens. A coaty of red colours ran away from the trainer, but not because of his cruelness or questionable manners, but to play. One moment it let itself get caught, another - not, hiding right below the legs of laughing ponies.
— We tamed them. They protect us from bullies, and we feed them. - smiled Hearthwarmer - Should definitely show you plantations, after the council.
— It took us so long to get here, and you won't even tell us how you make overwings? - long-eared horse got upset - A-and not only them! Please, tell us!
— Telling.. Is hard. I can show you. I hope they will not get upset by the delay. - marshmallow did not rage one bit for taking her away from important matters - Friends, I'll receive some one more! Come in!
Inside, the bakery did not give away any unusual vibes, but it could not be called a common loafshop at the same time. Simple ovens, sacks with sugar turnips and a whole pile of melted marshmallow, did hint at the meaning of baker profession, but adventurers could not even think about its literalness.
Hearthwarmer sculpted the customer's tail and mane herself, with hooves, without any tools! However, despite its primitivity, the body baker did not only restore the body by someone's preferences, but also added something new! And even though horns with ribbons did nothing, they went together with this pony.
— And this, is for the future. - baker gave three turnips to a newly baked horse - Don't lose yourself now!
— ..So you eat only them? - sun pony puzzled at the absence of food diversity - You're not doing anything else with marshmallows, for instance? Or like, baking some buns, maybe?
— We need sugar, and these vegetables - a very good source of sugar! Why go out of mind when everything is in front of hooves? - Hearthwarmer moved closer to the curious mare's ear - ..Please, don't call marshmallows food. We are not cannibals. I'd understand, but it might upset o-
..It already upset one of the visitors of this establishment, who decided to look at the process. However, one good song returned the mood to this pony, further strengthening the unbending mood of others! How easy life actually goes for these creatures!
— I hope I've shown you everything you wanted! - marshmallow horse have not even shifted towards any negativity - We can go to the council together. I'm sure that the elders would want to see our saviours and guests.
— We'd be glad to, but.. - orange pony's belly growled like a whale - ..Really want to eat something.
Contrary to all expectations, the baker offered her mane to the pony. Very delicious hair instantly filled the mare with energy! And the bite did not interfere nor disturb - the hair regenerated almost straight away, the moment that the sweet pony snacked on a simple turnip! At such generosity, even other marshmallows froze.
— Thank you, Heartwarmer!
— Always the pleasure! Oh, and it's Hearthwarmer, not Heart.
— Ah, please forgive me! Still can't get used to it, everything here is so unusual.. Can't believe that such place even exists!
— Well.. We got lucky, actually. - living food visibly confused - We still cannot think of how to defend against others. We are not very smart..
— How are you not smart?! You are friends with each other, you're not being rude towards yours and others!
— But you managed to think of such technologies..!
Two new friends argued the whole trip, while they walked to the council. The discussion was so lively, that even the elders, in the end, paid their attention to it and stopped their philosophising. Seems like this topic was very important for the edible society as well.
— I don't understand. - Hearthwarmer shifted her head from one side to the other - You are making trains, and two-story houses. How can you live poorly?
— Why all the "technologies", when they are not raising the quality of life? Look, you have bridges and roads out of wood - that is enough! Nothing is obstructing or sticking out, but our stony roads are making legs unbearably itchy - and the gravel gets under our hoofnails. It's harder and more painful to get them out - better dirt than that!
— Horseshoes are made for who? - Empyrean knocked on the ground.
— Well, there - a good example! Everything needs horseshoes - ordinary ones for the season of solstice, spiked ones for ice, and ones of platinum for some kind of spells! Why make the houses bigger if that won't help the homeless? - winged pony opened her wings - We might have some novelties, but we also have vulgarity and slavery - and it is supported by our.. I don't want to say the word "rulers", but that is what it is! I'm telling you - you are smarter, because you found a common tongue! I haven't seen more tight-knit ponies in my life!
— What about us? - surprised Empyrean.
— Arguing with smart is obstacle, but with dumb - impossible. - quoted Vice - We are constantly at each others' necks. Technologies won't work if the head problems are not dealt with.
..And the elders have not seen a more reasonable common pony. They applauded the brave mare and greeted every guest separately. And everyone also demonstrated their sharp mind one way or another. Especially Dalliant, with so understandable gestures of hers.
— Are.. these changelings - not those? - feared the old stallion.
— We are different. - both bugs said at the same time.
— Forgive us for our equestrian. We already met your kind, and they were not happy to see our hospitality. Do you mind if we-
— I beg your pardon. - coughed Opvliegend - We were going to talk about them anyway..
Difficult. These peaceful ponies wished to not traumatise anyone altogether - even when they were threatened! Marshmallows absolutely refused to war with others, and only now, when they are threatened by extinction, they decided to ask for help from the closest hooved creatures' village.
However, Luna Bay also suffers from the same changelings. And the living sweets themselves did not want to grab weapons, at all. They discouraged such barbarian methods, and the forced measures deeply disappointed each and everyone. And the little pony was disappointed in their uncertainty.
— ..Why are you saying that? - big-eared horse was sincerely shocked by their reasoning - Are you really going to abandon your home because of them? You are able to defend - you say yourselves, that they are without a queen and argue with each other! Build some walls, create traps-
— We don't want to look like you. - answered some of the elders - You are combative. We have a different path.
— That's rubbish! Midillia - the eastern nation - doesn't have a choice! They were driven away, their home can come to an end, they are fighting for their lives! Pegasi and other ponies also live in harmony! We have kind corners out there, and they stay good, while they aren't touched by the Canterlot mob..
— What do you want to say by this?
— Help us, and we'll help you! We will free you from problems with insects, and you'll help us with a more evil evil!
Discussion heated even more. Even after such thorough explanations and expressions of the desire to settle everything peacefully, the pony desperately insisted on this unusual alliance. It is not necessary for pacifists to fight, to help revolutionaries, is it?
— ..You are growing food, though! - horse wandered with her eyes, looking for any kind of approval - Please! We want to correct everything, we need allies! We are not asking you to give your lives!
— We cannot. We are sorry.
— You won't be able to run away forever! You were already driven away by fools - the same fools will eat you if you return! Equestria will eat you, and canterlotecy will find you anywhere else!
— Think! - Hearthwarmer suddenly addressed the council - She is right in something. If they succeed, we will be able to return! We are not liked in any case, but this way we have a chance for a more sweet life! You listened to me about the body bakery - now we are not spending half our lives freshing ourselves up. Listen now, too!
— Help us, and we'll help you! - insisted the red-eyed pony - We won't even be able to swim to Luna Bay without food! Have mercy, I beg you!
However, somebody continued to fiercely believe that running away is the only way. And even after such sharp and somewhat absurd claims from both sides, the stormy discussion has not left the bounds of acceptable behaviour. Nobody insulted anyone, and ponies harmonically, albeit loudly, dealt with the problem. Problem of the whole world.
— Ponies aren't cute, ponies are evil. - argued one of them.
— We want to correct this!
— You need a brand to think of yourself as cute. - spoke someone else - Why have you named cutiemarks - cutiemarks?
— I.. I don't know. Maybe they point the ponies' cute side! Earlings aren't capable of them - we are special! - long-eared pony completely lost in her thoughts - We were friends with others some time ago! A-and as a matter of fact, you have them too, and you are cute as well!
— You are smart, but you still have to learn a lot. - said the oldest of them all - We don't need marks to behave nicely. However, they still say a lot about their owners. Do you know why your Sun is hidden behind the clouds? You are not realising something. Are you certain in the path you lead others by?
— We won't find out if we are mistaken, if we won't do anything! We have to try, and we will learn if that's the right way or not!
Finally, it is decided! Marshmallows quietly conferred with each other and unanimously declared that they will help the adventurers! And even though friends were happy, something did confuse the friendly insects. They sensed contradicting emotions. An aught, incompatible with joy.
— Vice? - Gambit walked too close to him - What's the matter?
— Everything went too quickly. I don't like this.
— And I don't like that Sun thinks about nothing but war. - snorted Empyrean - I mean, there, we can rest, but she-
— She does exactly that right now. Look at her and Hearthwarmer. And stop chewing darkseeds.
