It had been several weeks since Roger's death, and Luna was exhausted. She hadn't really anticipated just how far apart islands were spaced in the Blues, and just how much energy she'd consume by flying between them. She nearly cried with relief when she saw land in the distance, tilting her wings and body into a gradual descent. From her vantage point in the skies, she spied the makings of a town on the island's eastern shore. She spied a decent landing place just outside of the settlement and made her way toward it.
Her landing was perhaps not the most graceful, but as there was no one around to witness it, Luna decided it didn't matter. After some stretching to relieve muscle tension, she allowed her wings to disappear with a sigh of relief. This world was much bigger than Equestria was, she thought with some chagrin. The Lower Seas in general were much bigger than she was used to.
She made her way leisurely towards the town, picking her way through the surrounding forest. Despite the quiet, calm atmosphere, Luna felt a twinge of unease creeping up her spine.
Her days now had returned to silence. Before Roger, she lived her days in quiet and isolation, with only the wildlife and her own thoughts for company. After all, the inhabitants of the island she'd found herself on were extremely distrustful of outsiders, and Luna herself had done nothing to endear herself to them. It was...unpleasant to return to that again, now that Roger was dead and his crew had scattered to the far corners of the world. Perhaps that was where her unease was coming from.
It took about an hour to make it through the forest to the town, by which point dawn had slowly begun to break. She made her way through the silent streets, trying to see if there was a tavern or inn where she could rest.
However, as soon as she spied a certain pink monstrosity, she immediately began to reconsider. Perhaps sleeping in the woods wouldn't be so bad. Quickly, she darted down an alleyway, her vision starting to blur from sheer exhaustion. Maybe she should have just stayed in the forest….
As she thought that, however, Luna found herself beset by a group of drunken buffoons. Government buffoons, to boot. A group of Marines, fresh off their nighttime duty of guarding the local liquor stash, it seemed.
"Hey pretty thing," one of them cooed at Luna. "why don't you trot on over here and show us some love?"
Luna would never understand why the majority of the men of this world insisted on referring to her as an object. Certainly it wasn't endearing, or attractive. Especially when the man saying it had puke stains on his Marines uniform.
Rolling her eyes, she turned around to go the other way, only for it to be blocked by another drunkard. Perfect, this was why Luna generally tried to avoid towns. (Well, she thought privately, this and that pesky bounty.) Alas, the lure of a soft bed had proven too much.
The drunken Marines were getting antsy, clearly spoiling for a fight or some kind of tussle. One of them became irate and impatient. Luna paid him no mind and assessed the situation through her exhaustion. She had just enough energy left for one big spell, or three smaller ones. But she'd have to find a place to stay quickly before her fatigue got the better of her.
Oh well, she mentally shrugged. I'll figure it out later. Quickly, she drew on her reserve of magic, and focused her will. She leveled a blast of magic around her, hitting each of the inebriated Marines. They tripped over their new hooves, honking and squealing as pigs' ears sprouted atop their heads.
Rushing past them, she darted through to the other end. She noticed that she was directly next to the inn. As consciousness began to leave her, Luna climbed through the nearest open window and collapsed on the nearest bed.
As unconsciousness overtook her, Luna silently promised herself to pay back whoever's bed this was.
Then sleep took her, and she knew no more.
Thanks as always to Fiend and Chesh for all their help! Come join me on my Discord server if ya'll want to talk cool with me.