Caballeron's Prize

The hillside was something out of a novel. The town was set in white stone with buildings leading up to a sizable castle upon the hilltop. A small palace awaiting. The bottom of the hill being a quaint harbor against the town with many ships going in and out, all seeming like ants from the elevated ship Scootaloo and Caballeron watched upon.

The salty air from the sea and heat of the rising sun gave Scootaloo a relief from her headache. The amount of sex and drinking water afterword's prevented a full on hangover but she felt like her legs were on clouds from how much she swayed on the flying airship.

"The Snowrock Isles. Gorgeous isn't it?" Caballeron stood behind her with his chest on her back. Her small hooves resting on the railing of the ship as she felt his chin rest on her mane. His body warming her from the cold air passing by as she rested her own head against her hooves, being cuddled by him.

"It looks like a sculpture." She admired, feeling one of his hooves rub her chest with a deep hum.

"That's the capital of our new kingdom, little countess. That is the city of Windgate. Though you and I can rename it if you'd like." He spoke softly in her ear. The intense sexual feelings she'd feel earlier were left under the surface after the exhausting night, replaced with a more intimate feeling of contentment.

"Windgate is nice." She complimented, suddenly shivering before feeling the new ruler climb up further to lean with her as his new cape covered her body, leaving little opening for a chill. It was a desaturated royal purple with black and white fur outlining the sheet. Oddly fitting with his age and stoic demeanor, the leather eyepatch covering the right eye where he was stabbed not long ago really fitting the look.

"It's outside of Equestria's borders and is protected by the International Trade Concordat. Without a natural export besides fish for the gryphons, it was a dying nation. However, with our donation we'll be able to industrialize and build factories for the port to export the rubber further inland and whatever the mountains have. Then other necessities as the economy grows." Caballeron explained, getting a yawn from the small filly. Economics already bored her and she wasn't even on the island yet.

"Of course. That'll be for me to focus on. You'll be simply be tutored on your proper education, as well as social events for your new standing, then the castle and its luxuries are yours to enjoy." He rubbed her hoof, kissing the top of her mane. He heard no remarks about what he had to do for all of this, no complaints or snarky remarks. The soon to be count glanced around her head to see her eyes closed with a soft smile from the morning sun and fresh air, simply happy to be outside.

She'd be lonely at first. He had work to be done but once his reforms were set and the islands forces were strengthened, she'd be free to announce her true self eventually once they were married. Rainbow was gone, Daring Do gone. Whatever issues came up would be backed with a competent nation, diplomatically protected from Equestria's sights. With the islands history and mix of magically adept forces, most of it welcoming him, he would no longer have to run and hide! He gave a soft sigh and nudged the young pegasus awake. "Let's get you cleaned up and in proper attire. I won't have my countess looking like an unwashed slob in public."

He'd left her in the tub to clean up, a moment of alone time as she felt the ships slow descent.

Rainbow was gone, but all she felt was the desire to be on the railing again with him in her ear. She never imagined her life to go in this direction. Her eyes glanced up to see Withers suddenly in the doorway, leaning with his shades over his mane. "Hey kid. You doing alright?"

"Funny coming from you. You didn't ask me back in Equestria." She frowned, sinking in the tub slightly to hide herself, he wasn't going to try anything now was he?

"Just being nice. I'm your bodyguard from now on. There's a lot of traditionalists that want to get at Caballeron and it might not be long until they try and get to him through you."

Ironic.

"You seem more... Matured." He furrowed his brows curiously, seeing the thoughtful glance from her. "You've been through the wringer. You don't have to be friendly with me but if you need an ear without it being tongued I'm around." She let out a snort of a laugh, bubbling the water outside her nose, before emerging again a bit.

"What made you become criminals?" She asked curiously, signaling he could invite himself into the wood restroom, sitting near the window on the closed seat.

"Why, looking to become one?" He chuckled, putting his glasses up and leaning back.

"No, just curious."

"Well. The easy answer would be money." He sniffed. She frowned as his shades were returned, unable to see his eyes she put the shower curtains between them. He paused thinking she was ignoring him before her voice peeked out again.

"The not easy answer?"

"We all came from failed attempts at normal life. Biff wanted to be an opera singer. He was good but was thrown out for his gambling addiction. I was... What the hell do you call a guy seamstress?"

"A tailor?"

"A tailor, yeah. I made really cool outfits. Like Rarity but they were more uhhh. In your face. I mixed pyrotechnics with them for stage shows. That's where I met Biff." Scootaloo heard the sound of a match and the smell of smoke. She'd been around long enough to know that meant they were settling into a longer conversation. She played along while scrubbing under her wings.

"What happened?"

"Arson."

"Oh."

"Yeah. Had my lady cheating on me and chased after the guy who went and hid in his house. Just wanted to smoke him out for a chat but I was a little too liberal with the lamp oil..." He paused and let out a chuckle. "We all met in the jailhouse that night before Caballeron bailed us out and hired us. We became fast friends after that."

Scootaloo poked her head out adorably, enjoying the entertaining yet odd story. "What about Rogue?"

"Public urination. Guy's a drunk. I see how you look at that wine bottle too." He leaned on the window, eyeing her. She didn't need to see his pupils to know he was seeing the potential to a problem.

"I'm not gonna pee all over if that's what you think." She argued, leaning over the lip of the half barrel.

"That's what he said. Just know your limits. I don't want to foalsit another bumbling drunk." He huffed smoke at her, making her face scrunch up and hide back behind the curtain. The youngest of the henchponies cleared his throat, opening the window just as the ship touched the water, now slowly making its way to a crawl towards thier new home.

"It's not like that." She mumbled, sitting and twirling her hoof in the water, remembering the town drunk, Berry Punch. She always had a smile and was lively, but her eyes were so sad. Scootaloo questioned herself in the quiet moment, wondering if that would be her in the future.

As if a snap back to reality, Withers voice peeked back in. "So. Ruby the Countess huh?"

Her ear flicked and was brought back into the conversation from the clouds. "Oh. Yeah. I guess."

"Yeah, I'm not to big on it either. You don't seem the gemstone type. Caballeron choose it?" He asked casually, still leaning and admiring the seagulls outside.

"Yeah. He said I could choose but he had the idea and I went with it."

"Well you're the Countess now, tell him what name YOU want. It's not in stone yet." He opened the cirtain back and flipped his cigarette out the window, his shades remaining as he leaned down to look her in the eye.

"Where I'm sitting, I'm seeing somepony who can do a lot of good. He's laid the foundation for something big through you. You're here now, so just ride with it. There'll come a day when he's gone and you'll be put in the spotlight. Have a family, learn to be a good ruler through his mistakes and all that will be left is you to pick up the mantle. It's your choice whether to buckle under the weight of responsibility he's giving you or use it." He told her bluntly.

Her eyes began watering as the numbness in her body began to feel that fire again. Her small wings gripping her sides as the gleaming light returned in her eye.

"Show me you're somepony you're worth protecting like Rainbow did." He growled, something inside her jumped at the mention of the name. Caballeron took everything from her, but also gave it all back in a different form. In her own twisted way she realized she admired them both in the same way.

They got things done.

"O-okay." She swallowed, giving a stoic nod and pushing back her tears. He patted her shoulder and made his way back to the doorway, turning back as if forgetting something.

"I never mentioned Rainbow Dash by the way. I'm just the quiet bodyguard." He hushed, putting his hoof up to his lips with a smirk. With that he slid his way out, seating himself outside the humid room and giving her privacy back with the click of the door closing.

She paused, her heartrate elevated as she looked down at her orange coat. That's right. She was a countess! This was just a new chapter in her life she wasn't expecting. She didn't even feel so isolated anymore thanks to Withers.

If anypony was going to be a ruler from her old friend group, she imagined Sweetie Belle would be, but it was her. She rubbed her eyes of the mist from the intense pep talk, but she was here now. Caballeron was her fiancee and even if deep down she despised him, she admired him too.

"If I'm going to have a fake name I'm gonna have the coolest fricken name ever!" She beamed, feeling herself lifted out of the tub to look in the mirror above the sink. Her mane jagged and slightly longer as she smiled at herself.

"Firefeather!"

An audible laugh escaped just outside her door as she turned and hit it near where Withers head would be. "Shut up! It's cool!"