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                          Forfeit                          
                   -by DancesWithBaglez-                   
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                       Sink or Swim                        
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Sink or Swim
If a diamond never breaks, what then does it do?
Diamond Tiara stood at the stern of the riverboat, watching the silhouette of Baltimare fade into the distance. With her last glimpse of civilization fading, the Hayseed Forest came to flank both sides of the White Tail River. While the river was more than wide enough to house such a boat and then some, she couldn’t help but imagine the path narrowing further and the trees encroaching to blot out the sun above.
The cloudy water below rippled and churned below, disturbed by the wake of the boat’s paddle wheel. Gangly, gnarled branches stretched out within arm’s reach of the hull; any closer and the paint would surely be scratched. This paired with the chorus of forest wildlife and the heavy blanket of humidity proved to be taxing both to her body and her mind.
Still, she couldn’t ignore the peculiar solace Equestria’s untamed marshland provided -- comparatively speaking to what lay beyond the doors she’d stumbled through not long before.
She knew exactly what to expect from even a moment around the other passengers: loathing, dread and an overbearing urge to toss herself overboard. Being within a leg’s distance of such wanton narcissism made her stomach lurch. “I went to so-and-so’s gala” this, and “my diamond-encrusted horseshoe was a gift from the Duke of Yoke” that. Such a fine horseshoe would look better shoved up so-and-so’s backside.
The door opened behind her, causing her to nearly jump out of her suit jacket. A handsome white unicorn stallion with a styled mane and mustache stood in the doorway, clearly trying to avoid stepping further into the humidity. “Diamond Tiara, is something the matter?” He idly adjusted the corsage on his own jacket, his face wrought with confusion. While he kept an unmistakable air of civility and class, a hint of concern lay under the practiced façade.
Diamond breathed a steadying sigh. “Of course not, Mr. Fancy Pants. I just thought I’d take a better look at the ship’s foundation. Yachts in Baltimare harbor did not have such a… Rustic propulsion system.” She put on her winningest smile, igniting a series of burning pinpricks at the corners of her lips. Lying through her teeth required her to put on such a mask, and its rate of success varied greatly from pony to pony.
“Oh, I know. The boat is nice and all, but I cannot understand why Jet Set chose this over the train ride. Sure it takes significantly longer, but the aesthetic of the countryside to Manehattan is far more pleasing than, augh, the smell of nature’s hindquarters. But I suppose we’ll get to attend the soiree one way or another.” He covered his nose with a handkerchief from his breast pocket. “I cannot stay out here much longer. My mane will catch the frizz in this humidity. As will yours, so do come back inside when you are ready. Upper Crust was just telling us the most hilarious story about her exploits at the Baltimare Stock Exchange.”
The door clicked shut behind Fancy Pants; all was clear for the mask to fall. Diamond huffed and leaned against the railing. How far it would be to swim back to the city? She hadn’t noticed the thin layer of droplets across the exposed areas of her fur by the mist drugged up in the boat’s wake. Even as she stepped away at the revelation, it was too late to spare her mane and coat from similar fates. She dared not brush the water off or even pat herself down lest any disturbance be noticed by the eagle-eyed nobles.
She had to make the best impression possible: perfection. For her own sake.
Before her mane and coat could catch more of the outdoors’ watery greeting, she stepped back through the doors into the dining hall. The horridly brilliant lights blinded her the moment she set hoof on the polished wood floor. Somehow the finer material made her hooves ache. Ten to fifteen round tables sat about the interior clad in sickening white tablecloth. The finest porcelain plates Diamond had ever seen sat next to meticulously placed silverware, and imported Yakyakistani napkins were draped over the delicate displays. On the ceiling, amidst the recreated paintings of Equestria’s artistic renaissance, hung a diamond chandelier.
Ironic, Diamond thought. To be such a dazzling, shimmering centerpiece regardless of whether it wanted such a fate or not and to carry such weight, yet it barely hung on by a thread. The choice of gemstone only deepened her wry smile. She cast her gaze at a small gathering of ponies on the far end of the room near a grand piano. The only ones she could recognize were Lady Gaval, a prominent stock broker in Hoofington and Onyx Charge, the CEO of Steelserve Manufacturing. Fancy Pants stood on the outside of the bunch listening in. Of those in attendance, he had been the most decent to her on the trip so far, and with his history of investing in smaller, niche businesses, he was likely the pony she’d have to schmooze to to get in good and get what she wanted -- more so needed.
At least, that’s what her mother told her the mission was, but every passing moment tested her resolve and made her question her ability to convince a pony with as much standing as Fancy Pants. Her father was a far better kissass.
“So then I say to him: ‘Apples? I thought we were talking about investments, not a trip to the farmers’ market! Unless the theme here is Backwoods Dirtheap, I’d expect you to consolidate properly.’”
The surrounding party laughed in unison with Upper Crust, and Diamond took the opportunity to blend in. Try as she did, the mare at the center of attention decided to shed some light on her. “Ah, the deck wanderer! Some of us thought you’d fallen overboard. I thought the daughter of dear Filthy Rich would be better acquainted with socializing.” The older unicorn’s tone carried a sting she knew well. It couldn’t just be a strike to the face. No, it had to be a needle prodding at the most evident of her transgressions on tact.
“Me? Overboard? I wouldn’t dream of letting such fine grooming go to waste.” Diamond delivered a haughty chuckle. All she had to do was put water to the fire. Act normal, speak nice. “And of course I came to socialize. You and your husband made a wonderful choice of transportation to your soiree. It’s very… Rustic.”
By the slight twinge in Upper Crust’s expression, she’d likely turned her intended water to gasoline. “I can imagine it would be to some. But we more cultured folk prefer ‘vintage’. It truly is a bygone tradition. My parents and their parents before them traveled this river to Manehattan, and we do so now in a similar manner. Just in far greater luxury.” She sat back in her seat and poured herself a glass from the bottle of white wine accompanied on its silver tray by roasted okra and stuffed mushrooms. “But it’s perfectly fine for you to think that, dear. We don’t expect you to know everything.”
The sting worsened, and the Diamond’s mask faltered under the scrutiny. By now, a few pairs of eyes lay on her, intrigued in how she may respond. She swallowed hard. “A luxurious boat, I can see. But the river itself is not the pinnacle of cleanliness. I would think such ponies like your husband and yourself would find greater enjoyment in travel that wasn’t so close to dirt.”
Smooth.
Jet Set glared a hole through Diamond’s skull and Upper Crust narrowed her eyes. A sly grin crossed the older mare’s face. “We are closer to dirt right now than we have been on this entire trip so far.” A series of giggles passed through the audience. “I would prefer you not to speak of my husband and I in such a way. The skin you have in the game is barely yours, so don’t pretend you have any weight to throw around.”
The mask cracked. It did not break. She did not break. The words of her mother and father repeated over and over in Diamond’s mind as she bowed her head graciously. “My apologies, Miss Upper Crust. I spoke out of turn.” Casting a quick glance over at Fancy Pants, she noted the sympathetic look he gave her. She couldn’t keep eye contact for long.
“No need to apologize. It was all in good fun, I assure you. Right, dear?” Somehow Diamond doubted such a sentiment. Upper Crust passed her half-finished glass to Jet Set, who finished off his stuffed mushroom and downed the remaining wine. “Would you care for a drink? You cannot eat, drink and be merry without a drink, now can you?”
Diamond opened her mouth to protest, but closed it a moment later. Refusal would likely make her look even worse.
Despite the effects such vile liquids had on both her parents, she found her way into their stash on several occasions as a child. Whenever she needed to forget, whenever she needed to muffle the sounds of their umpteenth argument, a bottle was always ripe for the taking. More recently, she’d found a new distaste for alcohol. The mere thought of a sip sickened her. This did not stop her from taking the offered glass and taking such a sip. Amidst the pleasant undertones of vanilla and a touch of pineapple, the unmistakable burn traveled down her throat.
She recoiled. The chill of a cold sweat clung to her skin and her breath froze in her throat. Her movement to set the glass down was unnatural and jerky as she fought against her body’s reaction to the taste of alcohol. “I beg pardon, but I need to excuse myself for a moment. I think the, em, heat is getting to me.”
“What heat, dear? The interior is air conditioned.” Upper Crust cocked a quizzical brow.
The reply fell on deaf ears. Diamond had already rounded the piano and moved down the hallway to the washroom. Her head spun as she burst through the door, her legs buckling and tripping underneath. Before falling to the tile floor, she grabbed onto a sink, clutching to the cool porcelain for dear life. She managed to pull herself upright once again and caught a glimpse of her trembling reflection before the retches began. Leaning on the sink for support, she heaved over and over again. It had to be expelled, she had to be rid of it. All of it. Now.
The sound of the washroom door opening brought every hair on her to a stand. She used the little energy she had to turn the water on and splash her face. The icy chill shocked her eyes open. She could swear she felt steam coming off her.
“Diamond Tiara?”
The pony in question froze. That voice. It was a sweet, angelic voice she hadn’t heard in years, not since their departure from Ponyville to Manehattan. After a swallow to steel herself, she turned to look into the eyes of a bygone friend. “Sweetie Belle?”
Sweetie Belle smiled, though did not hide her concern well. “Yep, in the flesh.” Her brow furrowed as she looked the disheveled earth pony over. “Jeez, Diamond, you look awful.”
Diamond rested her forehead on the lip of the sink and wheezed out a laugh. “Thank you.”
“N-no, I didn’t mean --”
“It’s fine. I know what you meant.” Her breathing steadied once again, the temperature of the room returning to normal, and the world no longer spinning, Diamond set herself on all four hooves and smiled. “But how are you… Here, exactly?”
Sweetie gestured to the door. “Walk with me?”
Thinking back to the chatting nobles, Diamond hesitated. What would they think if she didn’t return? How much more ire would she draw from them? Some little voice inside her laughed. She’d drawn ire from them just by being in their presence. How much worse could it get by not doing so? “Yes. A walk would be nice.”
The two mares left the washroom and rounded the end corner. As they walked through the hallway past the crew quarters, Diamond looked over at Sweetie Belle. The same spring she held since childhood guided the unicron’s step. Her mane and tail still held the same curled ends Diamond used to make fun of in their younger years.
She regretted the actions of her past self often, and seeing the pony Sweetie had become, she silently kicked herself all the more.
“You didn’t know I was going to be here? I guess I got my reservation late into development, so I can see them not putting it on the brochure or not telling everyone.” Diamond rolled her eyes and smiled wryly to herself. She never got a brochure, nor knew of one was provided to those in attendance. “My sister is a big reason I landed this gig. A lot of the ponies here have bought from her before, so a good word about a signer went a long way. I was on my way back to Manehattan anyway, so a scenic route couldn’t hurt, right?”
Diamond nodded. “I’m glad they chose you.”
“I am, too, otherwise I wouldn’t have come across you again. Once Applebloom, Scootaloo and I left Ponyville, we haven’t heard anything from you. All we heard was news about…” She paused, clearly unable to finish the thought in good faith. “Anyway, what brings *you* on this little boat ride?”
“Business,” Diamond said flatly. “I’m here for business.”
“Barnyard Bargains?”
“Yes.”
Sweetie stopped in front of a door with a golden star plaque in the center, the words “Dressing Room” etched into the metal. “And I imagine the other prissy ponies on here aren’t making that business any easier, huh?” She stepped into the room before Diamond and turned on the light with a flick of her horn.
Upon entering, Diamond recoiled in horror. The room-length mirror let on just how unprofessional she looked. Her mane, once immaculately styled, now a frizzy, uneven mess the same as her tail. Patches of her coat stood on end where the river water stuck the closest to her skin, not to mention the matting on her face. Sweetie deserved some credit: awful was an understatement.
“Water?” Sweetie Belle asked, levitating over a cup from the far end of the counter. A small smile graced her features as Diamond downed the cup in mere seconds, prompting her to refill and offer again with the same result. “Well if you have to make a good impression with those stick-in-the-muds, then you can’t go looking like that.”
An exasperated sigh escaped Diamond as she sat down among the line of chairs. “How… Where do I start?”
In an aura of green magic, a bottle of hairspray floated over and landed on the counter. “I’ll help you.” Sweetie dipped her head level with Diamond’s in the mirror. “Just a touching up of the mane, a little TLC to the fur, a new coat of lipstick and shadow and you’ll be good as new!”
Diamond’s brow knitted. Such favors always came at a price. “What’s the catch?”
Sweetie Belle looked at her, puzzled. “Catch? There’s no catch. What are friends for?”
Friend. The word both lifted Diamond’s spirits and delivered a jab to her gut. Almost everypony she knew from childhood moved on with their lives away from Ponyville. Away from her. Even Silver Spoon went to travel abroad thanks to her parents’ fortune. Then again, she probably deserved it. She hadn’t been much of a good friend to anypony, especially not Sweetie Belle, Applebloom or Scootaloo.
She clung desperately to the mask, knowing it was the only thing holding back the tears. She reveled in the soft tune the unicorn hummed as she set to work. Any time something was required such as closing her eyes for a spray, moving her head to one side, or batting her lashes, she complied without question.
The few opportunities Diamond knew she wouldn’t be noticed, she watched Sweetie closely. She studied the slight arc in her brow, the way her emerald eyes darted this way and that in a zone of concentration. Her movements were careful, calculated, but carried a kind of confident finesse she didn’t know was there before. The reflection in the mirror did not matter at the time; watching the other pony work was reward enough.
“And… I think… That should about do it!”
The sight that greeted Diamond Tiara left her jaw hanging. While subtle, Sweetie’s touching up had taken away much of the restraints of her previous getup. A lighter coat of blush accented her cheeks far better than what had been caked on before, and a lighter shade of eyeliner humbled out her previously over-highlighted lashes. Most notably, her mane, while similar to the usual cut her mother encouraged, hung free along the back and on the sides. She couldn’t remember the last time it wasn’t styled up in such an artificial way. “Where… Where did you learn this?”
Sweetie smirked. “A few years interning for the makeup department on Bridleway can teach you a few things.” Looking in the mirror herself, she whistled. “You clean up well, if I do say so myself.”
For the first time in longer than she could remember, Diamond smiled of her own accord. There were no ponies to impress, no deals to be made or turmoil to hide. She smiled, and she kept smiling until Sweetie Belle nudged her shoulder.
“Say, I’d love for you to keep sitting here and looking at yourself, but dinner is in half an hour, and I have to get ready to perform.”
“Oh, you aren’t going to show me what you’re going to wear for the occasion?” Diamond asked. While the question was in jest, she couldn’t help but feel a tad dejected at her dismissal from the room.
“And ruin the surprise?”
The devilish gleam in Sweetie Belle’s eye both excited and frightened Diamond. “Ah, right. We can’t have that, can we?” She nodded to herself and stood from the chair, taking one last look at herself in the mirror. “Do break a leg when you get out there, alright?”
“You could just wish me luck, you know. I’m not the superstitious type.” Sweetie giggled before sorting through the provided assortment of makeup and making her selections. “But thank you. Now go on, you’ve got some snobs to impress.” The unicorn waved a hoof to shoo Diamond out the door.
Diamond obliged, closing the door behind her. The humming started up again, and it took every ounce of Diamond’s will to tear herself away. She made her way back down the hall, but once she got close to the crew quarters, a large figure burst through the door and nearly collided with her.
Both ponies attempted to dodge each other mid stride and both fell to the floor.
“Ah heavens! I’m mighty sorry, miss.” He was a gaunt unicorn stallion well on in his years, if the sunken lines in his face were anything to go by. His deep blue coat popped under his white formal jacket and hat. Rising back to his hooves, he adjusted his cap and offered one to the fallen mare. “I shouldn’ta come runnin’ out like I did. A thousan’ apologies.”
Diamond accepted the gesture. “It’s fine, honest. I was a bit lost in thought, anyway.”
“Ah, enjoyin’ the view? Yes, this river and forest go back hundreds’a years. Maybe even back to when the Princess’ put themselves on the throne.” His accent was heavy, one local to Baltimare from what Diamond could gather. “But now where are my manners? I’m Brisk Breeze, Captain of this here vessel.”
“Oh, I-I am so sorry, Captain. Forgive *me* for bumping into *you*!”
Brisk laughed. “No needin’ to be sorry. Can happen to anyone. I ain’t seen you on my boat before, and I’ve seen just about every one’a these high-ups a number of times. What’s your name?”
“Diamond Tiara, sir.” She bowed her head in respect, and she was surprised to see him return the gesture in kind.
“A pleasure to meet you, Miss Tiara. You’re on your way to dinner, I imagine?” Brisk cast a glance behind him towards the bow, his smile faltering. “Got some clouds rollin’ in, so I wouldn’t step outside until we get to Manehattan this evenin’.” He shrugged and his smile returned. “I ain’t got a choice in the matter, though.”
“Clouds? It can’t be a storm, can it?”
“Might be. Only time’ll tell.” After a brief pause, he bowed his head again. “Well, I gotta be on my way. Places to go, ponies to order around. Enjoy your night, Miss Tiara.”
Diamond turned back towards the dining hall, holding back a grin. Nopony ever called her “Miss” before. She would have to thank Sweetie Bell again for such a marvelous makeover.
Once she set foot in the dining area once again, reality struck her like a hoof to the face. She’d been gone far longer than she thought, and despite her not caring previously, she certainly did once she laid eyes on the ponies already eating their respective meals. With her standing so awkwardly out of the group, a few pairs of eyes naturally looked her way, some confused, some scowling and others in silent awe.
A hoof waving towards her caught her eye. Fancy Pants. The older stallion sat alone, an appetizer of sweet peas in some manner of citrus glaze half finished on his plate and a filled wine glass in his other hoof. If he offered her any after her previous ordeal, she might just have to dump it on his food.
Regardless, Diamond took the opportunity to blend back in. She made her way to the open seat and sat down, the fact she’d missed an entire course of the provided meal the last worry on her mind. “My apologies, Fancy Pants. Things took longer than anticipated. What did I miss?”
Fancy Pants looked the mare over a moment. Diamond’s changed look brought with it a crooked brow, but nothing presented itself as overtly negative. “Nothing other than Upper Crust’s wish to see your head on a platter.” Noting the wide-eyed horror on Diamond’s face, he shook his head with a reserved laugh. “I jest, I jest. I wouldn’t say it’s *that* serious. Though her mood has been on the sour side.”
“Why? Did they not find anypony else to make a fool of?”
“I... Am sorry about that. She and Jet Set can be a little… Much at times, but you shouldn’t let them get to you like that.” He took another bite of his peas and finished chewing before saying anything more, as was tactful. “Though I am not certain she’d still have the same sentiment. I must ask, though, did you style your mane and makeup yourself? It’s exquisite!”
Before Diamond could answer, the sound of a chair scooting out of place not far away froze her. She already knew who it was, but wished desperately for it to be anypony else.
“Ah, Diamond Tiara, so glad you could finally join us.” Upper Crust, flanked by Jet Set, sauntered up to the table. “I do hope you did not get lost on your way to the washroom, dear. I thought ponies more connected to the earth were supposed to tell their way around better than anypony.” Jet Set snickered behind her and took a sip of the wine he carried in his magical grip. “I mean, you wouldn’t have been trying to *avoid* the ponies who allowed you on this trip, would you?”
“What? N-no, of course not. Though I was under the impression that you did not want me around, at least if your attempts at humor were anything to go by. Was I more important than you let on?” Seldom did her father’s silver tongue show in Diamond’s crucial moments, but it made such moments all the sweeter. The furrow in Upper Crust’s brow, as well as the small chuckle from Fancy Pants, brought the faintest of smiles to her face.
Upper Crust’s lips twisted into a forced smile, striking an unnerved chord in Diamond’s heart. “Don’t flatter yourself, girl.” She pulled Jet Set’s glass of wine away and took a sip before returning it. “You may be his daughter, but you will never fill Filthy Rich’s horseshoes even if you tried.”
A soft crackle of static crossed over the room as the speakers in the top corners sprang to life. A voice Diamond recognized as Captain Brisk Breeze spoke. “Fillies and gentlecolts, this is your Captain speaking. The crew and I hope you are enjoying your time on the E.S. Vanity today. One point’a note, we may soom experience some slight turbulence. A storm’s comin’ through, but we will do all we can to ensure you reach your destination safe and sound.”
A reserved chorus of gripes and complaints passed through the gathered ponies.
“A storm? Wonderful…” said Lady Gaval, tossing her napkin onto her plate in abject annoyance. She’d barely eaten any of her food, having tried to rid the peas of their glaze individually with her utensils.
“But will it make them switch from building these things out of wood to something any sturdier? Nope, it never does.” Onyx Charge rolled his eyes and took the last bite of his peas, continuing to go off on a tangent on structures and materials to the unfortunate, clueless ponies who sat near him.
All conversation settled to little more than a murmur as the main entree was brought out: steamed chard with a generous garnish of candied tree nuts served alongside a yam and chive puree. As Diamond had nothing to eat on the entire trip, she would have settled for a daffodil sandwich. She gave Upper Crust a look before turning her attention to the food before her and taking an eager bite.
Diamond couldn’t remember the last time she ate so handsomely. Several years before during a particularly profitable season for Zap Apple jam, perhaps? Her father still remembered to come home during those times.
A few bites in, Diamond still felt a pair of eyes on her. Upper Crust still stood by, as though expectant to be noticed. “How is it?” the older mare asked. Behind the makeup and the arguably-pretty face, a seething viper hissed and waited to strike.
“It’s good,” Diamond replied. She set her weight on the far side of her chair, anything to get away from the overbearing presence of such a mare. “Aren’t you… Going to eat?”
A few seconds of uneasy pause fell over them as the other ponies continued eating. Some stopped to see what would prompt somepony like Upper Crust to put off her meal, others exchanged hushed jeers and pointed at Diamond and others simply sat in silence, waiting to see what would happen next.
“Oh, yes I think I will.” She gestured for Jet Set to return to his seat, her not far behind. “I’m just so glad we can provide such delicious food to those… Less fortunate.”
Fancy Pants cleared his throat, but Diamond did little more than sit there. She dared not pick up her fork again, lest she hurl it at the old witch’s head. Her hooves trembled, even placing them on the table to steady them did little. Something stirred in Diamond -- something she’d never considered. Thoughts, ideas and fantasies she had never before entertained played about in her mind. Flipping over the table, throwing food about, screaming at the top of her lungs. A throbbing pain brought her hoof to her chest. The pain would not stop, but she did not know how to be rid of it. Her mask clung to her by the few threads keeping it sewn on.
“Fillies and gentlecolts, this is your captain, again.” Captain Breeze’s voice sputtered over the static once more, a heavy breathing accompanying the faint background crackle. “The skies and waters're steady for now, but this storm’s probably gonna hit us a little before we make it to Manehattan.” He cleared his throat and muttered something to another pony near him before he spoke up again. “But don’t any’a you worry. In the meantime, we still got Miss Sweetie Belle on keys to help lighten the --” A burst of static cut his message short and let a confused murmur fall over the crowd.
Diamond’s jaw nearly hit the floor when Sweetie Belle first appeared. Her friend sported a long rose pink dress reaching just to the end of her tail. Tracks of glossy pearls lined the indents of the gown, culminating with a row of brilliant rubies on the bottom trim.
If Diamond’s younger self saw the sight she did now, she wouldn’t have dared insult such a gorgeous creature. Those in attendance appeared to share her sentiment as a hush fell over the room. The glittering beauty approached the piano without a word and sat down. Her sparkling eyes fell on her audience, and she smiled softly. Her touch graced the ivory keyboard and she began to play her first tune.
From the first keystroke, Diamond could swear the encumbering weight began to lift from her shoulders. Such grace, such finesse! The thick haze in her mind began to clear -- she was utterly flabbergasted by the beautiful sound. As soon as the unicorn opened her mouth, however, Diamond’s spirits soared ever higher. Her voice carried a soft ballad over her upbeat tune, matching every modicum of majesty produced by her keystrokes.
Diamond didn’t care how she looked to those around her, what her face betrayed, or what others thought. She only wanted to float, float away on the charming tune to Celestia-knew-where. For those fleeting moments, much like when she’d seen her reflection previously, she found peaceful content.
A booming crack of thunder ripped through the song and drew terrified gasps from some of the guests. Sweetie flinched, but she continued playing despite the distraction. Another clap followed not long after, then another and another. A few of the kitchen staff made their way towards the doors in the back by the paddle wheel and looked outside. The sky, a perfect blue mere hours before, had turned pitch black with a blanket of ominous clouds hanging low overhead. No sooner had they begun to discuss among themselves, another explosion tore through the air, though not of the natural sort.
A great ball of fire erupted from the rear of the boat and tore a hole in the far wall. Glass shards and pieces of wood flew through the air towards the passengers. Before Diamond could react, a sizable board slammed her square in the face, sending her toppling to the ground in a crumpled heap. She simply lay there for a moment, ears ringing, wondering why she was on the ground. A hard, throbbing pain erupted in her nose and head, but she could barely register a response. Not a scream, not a cry for help, not even a whimper. Muffled voices surrounded her, but she could not understand them.
All time froze as she looked to the floor. Blood. Her blood. She dabbed a hoof to her nose and beheld the awful sight. That vile, disgusting liquid, seeping out of her nose like a red, viscous stream. Her heart threatened to stop altogether. Her eyes shut tight and her hooves clapped over her ears. She screamed, but she could not hear herself. Nothing. Darkness surrounded her.
When she opened her eyes again, an all-too-familiar sight lay before her. A door, though not an ordinary one. It was the door she regretted opening every day since. Behind it lay such horrid sights, images burned into her brain and those that filled her nightmares. *He* lay behind it. She wanted to turn and run, run into the nothingness behind her, curl into a ball, and wallow until her dying breath. No such luxury came, however.
Her hoof moved against her will to the door handle and turned the knob. *No. No no no no no stop right now!* Her frantic protests made no difference. The door opened and the awful room greeted her. A trail of maroon led from the sink across the stone tile floor on the right all the way to the bathtub on the left, hid behind a short marbled wall. She fought every step she took, knowing exactly what she would see the moment she rounded the corner. No matter how hard she tried to close her eyes, they remained glued open, forcing her to witness the horror once again.
Her greying father lay motionless in the tub, eyes wide, staring at the ceiling and nary a breath on his pale lips. A pool of red-tinted bathwater enveloped him up to his chest, one hoof tucked in with him. The other hung limp over the side of the tub, a gnarly gash trailing up his leg. Her hoof unwillingly reached into the bloody water and fished out his other leg. A similar deep mark greeted her. She dropped his arm and looked down at her own hoof; a puddle of red covered the manicured surface. She kept her gaze away, not wanting to look any more than she was forced to.
“Hey, sugar.”
Diamond’s blood ran cold. The voice. She knew in her heart of hearts who it belonged to, but dared not look up. Unfortunately for her, the vision gave little in the way of choice. Looking to her father again, her breath caught in her throat at the sight of his grin. His wide, lifeless eyes looked back at her, unblinking. The mare’s heart threatened to beat out of her chest and every hair stood on end.
“Remember how to swim?”
The puddle on her hoof moved. Slow at first it traversed up her leg and over her chest like a writhing worm. She could not move, could not resist. A silent scream escaped her as the water entered her open mouth. The awful metallic taste seeped across her tongue.
Her father’s hoof crept to the tub faucet and turned the handle. A river of red flowed forth, quickly filling the tub and spilling onto the floor. The liquid mounted fast with nowhere else to go, and soon Diamond was up to her knees in a continuous current of blood. Finally finding the strength to move, she sloshed about towards the tub and frantically tried to turn the knob.
“No!” shouted her father, grabbing onto her legs and holding her back. By now, blood rose up to the old stallion’s chin and in little time, it almost enveloped his head completely. Before his mouth was filled with red, he chuckled. “Sink or swim.” With his disappearance under the blood, his grip faded.
Diamond broke away and scrambled towards the ceiling as the remaining room for her to breathe closed in fast. Her hooves slammed against the surface above her as she belted out screams and cries for help. No help came. With her head pressed against the top, her mane spread apart like tendrils in the flood and adopted the new color around it. In the last moments before she was swallowed, all she could muster was a defeated whimper, close her eyes and deliver a final strike against the ceiling.
She broke through.
Before Diamond could strike again, another pair of hooves grabbed onto hers and pulled upward into a dim light
Her eyes shot open as she breached the surface. Gone was the bathroom and her father, replaced by the dining hall, or what was left of it not submerged. The water reached up to the crystalline tips of the diamond chandelier, a few bodies floating limp along the surface.
“Diamond, you in there?”
A pair of hooves turned Diamond around to face Sweetie Belle, her mane clinging in soaking wet strands to her face and the top of her dress. Looking at her friend, and with the realization of the situation dawning, she started screaming. No invisible force restrained her this time. The images would not leave her mind, no matter how hard she pushed against them.
Sweetie Belle’s hoof connected with her cheek, stopping Diamond immediately.
“Diamond! I need you to listen. Can you do that?” That voice, though strained against the roaring thunder and creaking boat, still came straight from the angels themselves.
After a pause, Diamond nodded.
“Okay. The back of the boat is going down first. We can make it out if we swim up the hallway and make it out through the door to the bow.” She started in the direction of the hallway and gestured for the other mare to follow. “C’mon, we don’t have much time before this whole thing goes under.”
Finally ridding herself of her shock-stricken stupor, Diamond paddled through the rising water behind Sweetie Belle and stopped by the submerged entrance across from her.
“Deep breath and follow me!” Sweetie Belle was about to dunk under the water when Diamond stopped her.
“Can’t you teleport us out? Or make some kind of air bubble or something?” Diamond asked while struggling to be heard over the far louder noises, herself.
“I’ve tried and I can’t, my magic isn’t working for some reason.” The unicorn tried to cast a spell, only to have her horn fizzle out. She shook her head. “We’re on our own.” With that, she took a breath and swam out of sight.
With a steadying breath, Diamond did the same. When she opened her eyes, she found the hallways littered with debris. Bits of lighter food and smaller pieces of splintered wood floated about while the plates and kitchenware sat on the floor. Two bodies hung suspended in the watery prison. She remembered one: an older unicorn stallion who was a renowned defense attorney in Vanhoover while the other, a young pegasus mare, had been one of the waitresses. *Celestia have mercy,* she thought, swimming around the bodies with the utmost care.
Earth ponies like her had a natural affinity for swimming, letting her quickly catch up with Sweetie Belle at the door to the outer deck. As the front of the deck was only just going under, opening the door provided little issue, though getting out at a near vertical angle proved troublesome. Both mares gasped for breath as they exited and took a moment to rest on the doorframe. The blackened sky had not relented, winds and thunder and waves creating a trifecta of chaos.
Sweetie gestured to a patch of beach not far from the sinking boat where it appeared other ponies had made it to safety. “Almost there. Let’s keep going!” As the two mares hopped off the wreckage as it fully submerged, a particularly violent wave rose up. “Look out!”
The wave slammed into them before either could move out of its way. It pushed both ponies under, but another force pulled at them from below. Suction from the boat’s continued descent halted their efforts to resurface.
Panic set into Diamond’s heart. She hadn’t taken an adequate breath before the wave hit, and her lungs throbbed in protest. She needed air, needed to surface. Now. Her natural strength fought against the current, tearing into her watery chains and pulled her upward little by little. Darkness clouded the corners of her vision and instinct would soon force her to open her mouth. So close to air, but her body was on the brink of betraying her. Three, two, one…
Just as Diamond breached the water’s surface, her burning lungs forced her to breathe. She sat on the top for a time, gasping and sputtering and regaining her bearings. Her blood ran cold when she opened her eyes. Sweetie Belle was not with her.
Without much more respite, she dove back under the water, eyes fully open to look for the missing unicorn. Her first pass revealed nothing, just a few more articles of debris floating to the top of the water. She took another breath and went under again. The ship must have hit the bottom, as the force of suction had ceased, though the water was all but peaceful. Against all hope, against everything she knew to be true, Diamond kept swimming about, looking for some kind of sign.
A small twinkle caught her eye on her third dive. Something glisted farther down. Drawing closer, the outline of a jewel-encrusted dress came into view -- rubies and pearls, to be exact.
Sweetie Belle’s body hung limp in the water, slowly rising in her suspended state like a ragdoll. Though not conscious, she displayed no panic, no fear, only a serene grace even in the face of death.
Diamond pushed the thoughts from her mind. She grabbed hold of her friend’s body and pulled her both towards the open air. Her eyes focused skyward daring not to look down at the figure of the sunken boat and all the souls both living and damned still inside. Once resurfaced, Diamond struggled to carry the extra weight of another pony towards the shore, but the new stillness of the waves and calm in the air certainly helped her adrenaline-fueled endeavor. She ignored the other ponies who made it out alive, their sobbing and dumbfounded chatter when she made it to shore.
She rid Sweetie Belle of the tattered, soaking dress and pulled her into a level position on the sand. As much of a victory as surviving such an ordeal was, it would all be for nothing if she couldn’t save her friend.
Ducking her head low, she put an ear to Sweetie’s chest. A slow, weak thumping gave her all the encouragement she needed. Sucking in a breath and covering Sweetie Belle’s nose, she put her lips to the other mare’s and blew in. A few counted pumps to the midsection later, she blew another breath in. This time, a rush of water spurted into her mouth, sending her to the ground coughing.
Sweetie Belle stirred, more heaving coughs expelling more water from her lungs. “D-Diamond?” she asked in little more than a hoarse whisper.
Diamond didn’t answer. Instead, she pulled Sweetie Belle into a tight embrace. Both of them trembled, both for different reasons. No longer able to hold back and be the strong mare expected of her, a sob escaped. More rocking sobs followed until she bawled like a newborn, a crying, whimpering heap clinging to her last beacon in the darkness.
Diamond didn’t break. She shattered.

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                           Day 1                           
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Day 1
Consciousness did not return peacefully to Diamond. Her eyes opened a crack, and an unpleasant welcome from the sun greeted her. She groaned, mustering enough strength to turn herself onto her side and away from the rude orb in the sky. The scent of saltwater and wet stone helped her identify why the ground sunk under her weight like a makeshift pillow. Sand. A beach. Why was she there? When the pieces finally connected, she shot upright with a silent scream. The events of the night before played back in her mind’s eye -- the ship, the water, the bodies…
Looking out across the river, few signs of the prior events stuck out. Aside from the broken wood planks and stray articles of clothing on the water’s edge, not a trace of the ship remained. The calm, steady flow of water crept past the shoreline, mocking and taunting her.
How long has it been? she asked herself. Judging by the position of the sun, she guessed it to be early afternoon or late morning. She tried to adjust her jacket, but found herself without it. She sighed, every muscle in her body aching in unified response. Whatever taffy puller she must have gone through took quite a toll; just keeping her eyes open proved harder than expected. A gentle tapping on her shoulder kept her lids from staying closed for too long.
“Morning, Diamond. Sleep okay?” Sweetie Belle asked.
“No. Not at all.” Diamond struggled against the invisible razor blades wreaking havoc on her throat.
The unicorn grimaced. “Yeah, I can imagine. I can’t believe… Those other ponies…” A pause hung over both mares like a horrid shroud until Sweetie piped up. “But hey, we both made it, right?”
“I guess.”
Sweetie Belle grabbed onto the seated mare and pulled her up. Despite the grumbles of protest, she wrapped the other mare in a tight embrace. “Thanks for saving me.”
Several silent moments passed and Sweetie did not let go. Finally, Diamond summoned the will to return the gesture. The warmth of her friend provided staved off the bite of the chilled air, if only for a time.
When the two finally broke away from one another, the heat dissipated, but the connection remained. “C’mon,” said Sweetie, “go see if the others know where to get some food. I’m gonna see if I can get my horn working again.” A pop and fizzling sparks signalled a clear failure, no change from the night before.
Diamond cracked a smile as she cantered towards the fire at the other end of the beach. Canter, much to her misfortune, translated to hobbling on weak, strained legs over a short patch of uneven ground. She practically drug herself across the sand. The promise of a place to fully dry her coat and mane coaxed her onward until she found an open spot to rest her rump.
Fancy Pants sat not far away and granted her a somber smile and a nod on her approach. “Glad to see you in one piece, Diamond.” His vision crossed over the other ponies gathered before moving closer to the mare. “At least one friendly face, hm?” His words came in a whisper, as though speaking any louder might set off a dreadful alarm.
Weary, Diamond craned her head to look at the others who survived the night. Lady Gaval in what closely resembled a fetal position, staring at the sand and prodding it with a hoof. Onyx Charge sat with his legs crossed a good distance away. He muttered to himself as Captain Breeze used strips of torn clothing to bind a wing hanging limp at his side. Another pony’s eyes met hers before she could jerk out of sight.
“Oh wonderful, you’re still alive.” The voice of Upper Crust sent a shrill crack through the calm. Graceful hoofsteps proceeded the older mare stepping past the other chatting survivors around the fire and standing staunch by her target. “Of all the ponies, you had to make it off.” Her nose turned up at Diamond as though deciding how best to squash such an insect.
Diamond held onto what energy remained to keep herself restrained.
“Miss Crust, I am aware you two exchanged some less than appropriate words on the boat, but that is no reason to wish such a fate on anypony.” Fancy Pants remained level in his words, though the tension edged to the forefront the more he spoke. “Please. Petty squabble won’t --”
“The words we exchanged should be the least of her concerns. My bone to pick goes deeper than some brief exchange with a prima donna who wants to put on her father’s horseshoes.”
“Upper Crust!” Fancy Pants’ formality came to a screeching halt. He glared down at the crone with a fire the likes of which Diamond had not seen from him before. Whether it was out of genuine disgust or frayed nerves from the boat sinking, she could not pinpoint. “That is enough! Apologize to Diamond Tiara this instant!”
By this point, Jet Set stood by his wife’s side and joined her in her statuesque indifference. “You would address my wife in such a way after affiliating with her?” He stomped a hoof on the sand and scuffed it towards Fancy Pant’s hooves. “Have some shame!”
“All of you, quiet!” Captain Breeze yelled. Everypony’s mouths shut in collective shock. All eyes fell on the grizzled stallion who stepped to the water’s edge and dipped a hoof in. “We’ve had our time to be upset, but we got bigger problems than goin’ at each other’s throats.”
“And who put you in charge?” Onyx Charge stood and puffed out his chest. “If anything, you’re the reason we’re stuck here. Can’t even drive a boat right.”
Lady Gaval cleared her throat before making the great effort to approach the irate pegasus. “I do not mean to be ‘that mare’, but how could he have steered the boat in any other direction? The river flows one way, and it isn’t like he could have turned it on a bit.”
Onyx Charge grunted, scoffing at the older mare’s suggestion. “Doesn’t matter. The guy led us straight down this channel, and now we somehow have no magic” -- he pointed to the multiple unicorns in attendance -- “and no wings.” A huff escaped through a crack in his armored bravado.
Squinting at Onyx, Lady Gaval chuckled. “You wouldn’t have steered it any better, Mr. Charge. But let’s not forget who thought it would be a better idea to take the river route when I knew in my bones a storm was brewing.”
The weight of several sets of eyes fell on Jet Set, who snorted in contempt. “Don’t look at me. I surveyed the boat myself before the voyage. Not a bit was out of place, as far as I’m concerned. And from what the captain said. Besides, the generator exploding is what started the sinking.” He turned to Diamond with a smug, grin. “And she was the only one of us who spent ample time out on the decks.”
Sweetie Belle stayed on the fringe of the commotion until then, but she marched up to Jet Set and stood between him and her friend. “Are you saying Diamond did this? You’re crazy!”
“Shut up!”
Silence fell once again at Captain Breeze’s booming voice. “If y’all keep fightin’ like this, we’re gonna have problems. Big problems. Arguments in the Navy used to end with a few good swings, so don’ make me enforce that.” He waited for any others to voice disagreement. None spoke up. “Now then. Who here knows what to do when you get lost in a place you’ve never been?”
“Find a way out,” Onyx Charge said as the solution was as obvious as how to fly. “And look!” he mocked a gasp and pointed to the river. “There’s the way. Follow the river, smart one.”
Captain Breeze smirked. “Yeah? Just follow the river for Celestia-knows-how-far on hoof? And you’ll be able to handle all the wildlife or any dangerous creatures with a broken wing? Alone?”
The pegasus grumbled, but said nothing more.
“That’s what I thought. So whether you wanna take your chances or not at making it to Manehattan Bay, it’s too dangerous to go alone. For right now anyway, we gotta stay put and breathe. We don’ need any more deaths than we already have. Whatever we gotta do, we gota do together.”
A reluctant agreement fell over the gathered ponies.
“I’m gonna start on setting up a system to filter the river water, gather firewood, and put together some kinda shelters. Anypony who’s looking to help is welcome to do so. The rest of you, go on out a little and see if you can find some grub.” He paused, eyes narrowed. “But don’ eat anythin’ until you bring it back for an inspection by yours truly. There’s a lotta stuff out here that’s okay to eat, but a lotta stuff you shouldn’t eat, too.”
Jet Set snorted. “Why shouldn’t we eat what we find? We’re starving!” The stallion did not manage to hold back the rumbling of his own stomach. He attempted to mask the sound by clearing his throat with little success.
The captain did not respond right away. Instead, he walked over to one of the nearby trees and plucked a leaf off the lowest branch. He bit into it, and the vibrant green soon turned to a small pile of dust in his hoof. He spat out the dust from his mouth before trying to speak. “Some things, like these Ash trees for example, aren’t too pleasant or helpful to eat.” Blowing the dust downwind, his audience shielded their eyes. “Now who’s goin’ to get food?”
Fancy Pants raised his hoof, so Diamond did the same. To her dismay, Upper Crust and Jet Set followed suit.
“Alright. Y’all don’t go too far in, don’t eat nothin’ without me gettin’ a good look at it, and just… Don’t do anything stupid.” The final words left a bitter taste in Diamond’s mouth. As much as she wanted to forget the wine, it remained fresh on her tongue.
Diamond let the prissy pair of pricks take the lead, allowing her to stick closer to Fancy Pant’s side. She did not get far before a hoof grabbed her to hold her back. “Don’t you want to stay back and help around here? It’d be good to get away from those two, right?”
“I would, but Fancy Pants is the last pony here I need something happening to. Besides you, of course.”
Sweetie Belle looked as though she’d watched a fish intentionally jump out of water onto land. “You’re still on that investment thing? We’ll be lucky if we get back to civilization without some kind of new disease or a missing limb, and you’re still thinking about Barnyard Bargains?”
“I can’t afford not to.”
Pity etched deep into Sweetie’s expression, she shook her head. “Okay. Do what you have to do. Just be careful out there, alright?”
Diamond nodded. “Of course I will.” The two mares embraced before they parted ways, one towards the shore and the other into the trees.
By the time she stepped into the brush separating the sand from the dirt, she knew she had already lost the other three. Wonderful, she thought. Nevertheless, she pressed forward. They couldn’t have gotten too far ahead.
The resounding song of wildlife and fauna the day before paled in comparison to cacophony she heard now. Chattering birds watched overhead, some darting down to land on a new, mobile perch. A carpet of fallen leaves, sticks and mud cracked and crunched under her weight as she walked. If nothing else, the prints would help her make it back to camp if she lost her way. Trees dotted her path like forlorn sentries, guarding the deeper recesses of the forest and what secrets it may hold. The air, clean and crisp as it was, carried with it the overbearing scent of burning. Of ash and smoke.
Great, are there no normal trees around here?
A flash of pastel color ahead reassured her of her course. She picked up the pace to a fast trot, ears swiveling this way and that to pick up on any potential danger. Her shifting eyes refocused ahead, but looking away from the ground proved to be her undoing. After a short distance, something took her legs out from under her. The resulting yelp accompanied her wet thud against the ground.
“What the hay?” Diamond looked where she fell. A wondrous sight greeted her and sapped away her irritation. Berries. Plump, juicy berries sat in a knee-high bush. The red speckles enticed her closer. One or two berries could hurt. Or four. Or ten.
She plucked one of the tiny morsels from the bush and examined it. Nothing raised an alarming flag as she held it in her hoof. It was a simple, nonthreatening fruit. Before she could pop it into her mouth, she remembered what Captain Breeze said.
Her stomach growled. The decision was made.
The skin of the berry broke more easily than she anticipated. Her teeth sank into the sweet, flavorful flesh and met a soft seed halfway through. She didn’t care so long as she could fill her angry stomach. Several more berries went down her throat without so much of a second thought
Diamond giggled, though she wasn’t sure why.
For the first time since she woke up -- hell, since the previous day -- her self-made weight lifted from her shoulders. As much as she didn’t want to be a greedy pony, she was driven further and further to eat from the bush. There’d be others around, surely -- she could just have this one all to herself. Before she could take another bite, hoofsteps rustled the ground nearby.
“Diamond? Oh, Diamond?” Fancy Pants called out the name as he scanned the treeline. The two ponies flanking him assisted in no way. When his eyes fell on the earth pony mare and what she was doing, he gasped. “Diamond Tiara! What in Equestria are you doing?!”
“Um…” As much as Diamond wished to deny her blatant disobedience to Captain Breeze’s rule, the juice on her lips and the berry in her hoof were damning evidence. “They’re really good.”
“And you think that makes you an exception to one of the few simple guidelines we were given?” Fancy Pants sat down on his haunches, crossed his hooves and stuck his nose in the air. “I don’t care how good they are. You were supposed to show it to the captain before you ate it. You knew that.”
Despite the scolding from Fancy Pants and what it could mean for her chances in getting his help, Diamond couldn’t stop smiling. They tasted so good.
Jet Set turned his nose up as well, but he cantered over to the bush, pushing past Diamond. “Indeed. It was not meant to be taken lightly. However,” he plucked up a berry and studied it, “we have had little luck in finding anything edible. And we are quite famished…” He finished the morsel in one chomp. His expression softened as he took in the flavor. “Mmm, this is not half bad. It’s no crème brule, but the sweetness is delectable.” He followed it up with another berry before gesturing for his wife to join him. “Upper, dear, you must try this.”
Upper Crust scoffed. “And eat from some strange bush that has her looking like a savage? I would never.” The loud rumble of her stomach brought with it a sigh of contempt. “Under normal circumstances.” She too went over -- not sparing a look at Diamond -- and ate one. Unlike the other two, she ate every individual berry in small, dainty bites.
“Fancy Pants,” Diamond began, putting on as wide of a grin as she could. Wider than she thought possible. “Come on. There’s nothing else to eat. You have to keep your strength up.”
The wrinkles on Fancy Pants’ face began to sprout wrinkles of their own. As hard as he strained in his pouting seclusion, the pressure from the other three grew too much to bear. He threw his hooves into the air and growled. “Fine!” he shouted. “But never let it be said by anypony that I wasn’t forced to disobey such an easy task.”
The party dove into the bush, munching on berries and filling their bellies until the bush lay bare.
“Thank you, Diamond Tiara.”
Upper Crust’s words brought Diamond’s world to a screeching halt. “Did… You just thank me?”
“Yes,” the unicorn deadpanned. “I give credit where credit is due. No more, no less.” She motioned to the bush. “You found this, and without it we’d still be hungry. As much as I despise the thought of thanking you, I will.”
Fancy Pants smirked. “That is awfully noble of you, Miss Crust.”
“Do not mention it. To anypony. At all.”
Diamond laughed. The sound echoed around the trees and distorted the farther it traveled, ending on a note more like that of a shrieking holler. A wash of unease crept across her skin. The chill of a cold sweat made her shiver, and somepony inside her head started to slam into her skull with a battering ram. She groaned, but the smaller sound echoed as well; the same wail greeted her ringing ears.
“Diamond, are you ok--” Fancy Pants cut himself off when the low rumble reverberated about the trees. The ears of all four ponies sprang up on high alert. “Please… Please tell me I am the only one who heard that.”
“I heard it, too.” Gone was Upper Crust’s upscale air, replaced in an instant with a tell-tale, fearful trembling. “Perhaps now is as good a time as any to get back to camp.”
The rumbling turned to a frightful hiss from all sides. Diamond tried desperately to pinpoint where it came from, what it came from, but nothing. Trees, bushes and leaves blocked the view of anything out of the ordinary. She recognized the sound, but the sheer magnitude and the way it thumped against her chest stiffened her stance amid the pounding in her head.
Slithering? Her throat threatened to close and cut off her breathing completely. Branches snapped, mud squelched, and the frighteningly-familiar sound drew nearer.
Before long, the culprit emerged from the bushes: a giant brown-scaled snake. Every pony froze. As it reared up, the snake stood at the height of three adult ponies on their hind legs. Its scales rippled as it breathed, slow and steady. A forked tongue the length of a wagon darted out of its mouth as it surveyed the smaller creatures.
“Don’t. Move.” Fancy Pants murmured. Though sounding assured in his words, he shook uncontrollably. “It can’t see us if we don’t move.”
“That’s a myth and you know it,” Jet Set whispered through a clenched jaw and chattering teeth. “What other bright suggestions do you have?”
“We split up on the count of three.”
“Are you insane? We’ll all be killed!” Upper Crust shared her husband’s doubt, breaking her eyes away from the monster and glaring at Fancy.
With a grunt, Diamond shot Upper Crust a glare and strained not to yell at the old witch. “Do you have a better solution?”
Fancy Pants swallowed hard. “Okay. One… Two…”
The snake made the final count by lunging towards its quivering prey. It missed, landing between the group and dividing them.
“Run!”
Fancy Pants and Upper Crust darted in one direction, Jet Set and Diamond in another. None waited for the serpent to recover.
“Do you know where you’re going?” Diamond shouted as she galloped behind Jet Set. Her hooves did not respond to her commands as usual. Something weighed them down, as though she’d gained significant weight in the past day. The pace of the older stallion appeared to be hindered as well, though for one of his age, he ran well.
“I thought you would know!” Fleet-hoofed as he was, he barely managed to speak between heaving breaths. “You’re the mudpony!”
Mudpony. Diamond knew its connotations, having heard it on several occasions in her time among those of higher standing. Jet Set had to have known, as well. Few did not know what it meant, though fewer still dared to say it to an earth pony’s face. It was classless, tactless and guttural, befitting a common street thug more than a pony of her importance. Hearing it made the mare nearly stop in her tracks.
The sounds of the beast’s approach provided great incentive for her to keep moving, and keeping a steady pace with Jet Set gave some semblance of direction even though neither of them knew where they ran. Away. They were running away, and that mattered most.
Once the slithering approach of the snake finally faded, the two ponies slowed their pace in kind. Exhaustion soon brought both Diamond and Jet Set face first with the cool embrace of the earth.
“You know something?” Jet Set asked, catching his breath. “This is… All your fault.”
Diamond, with her cheek in a patch of mud and her mane strewn in a wild bunch about her face, did not reply -- both to catch her breath and to comprehend such unmitigated gaul. “My fault?”
Jet Set clambered to his hooves and brushed himself off. “Yes. If we had just gone back to camp instead of eating what we weren’t supposed to, we wouldn’t have been pursued by an apex predator.” He scuffed the ground and sent a splash of dirty water into the mare’s face. “And if you weren’t here, my wife would have something other than you or your father to talk about. She won’t shut up about either of you!”
Rising to her hooves, Diamond wiped the water from her face and scowled. “What’s her problem? What did I do to her?”
Jet Set stepped up to Diamond and gave her a shove. “You naïve little brat! You don’t get it, do you?” He shook his head before giving Diamond another shove. “Typical, simple-minded mudponies.”
Though the last word distorted up in pitch, Diamond knew it well enough to return the push in retaliation. “Stop saying that!”
“I can say what I please!” By now, Jet Set’s voice varied in tone from several octaves above to a growl akin to haybacon sizzling. “You are a sham. A sham of a mare who never unlatched from mommy and daddy’s teats and wishes only to spread her toxicity to others!”
“Shut up!” Diamond stopped before she could say anything further. She did say those words, right? Did her voice deepen? She opened her mouth again, only for a shrill scream to escape against her volition. Something moved beneath her. Turning her eyes to the ground, fully expecting some other dangerous creature or monster to greet her. It was no animal; the ground moved.
The shifting earth rose in a small hill at the edge of her hooves, coming up to her eyes in level. Such a phenomenon did not go unnoticed by Jet Set, either, who fell back on his haunches and stared in wide-eyed awe.
“What the…?” The bulge began a slow descent back to its original position, a rushing of wind around the two ponies whipping their manes and tails about. Was that… A breath? she thought -- more so tried to think; she couldn’t hear herself well enough to tell.
Looking around at the several pockets of earth that followed the same motions, fear paralyzed her. The trees followed suit, the bark rippling and contracting with every “inhale” and “exhale”. The sounds drowned out the shouts coming from Jet Set, who put his face close to hers and gave her another shove. His eyes. Pupils like pencil dots bore through her outer shell and into her soul. She mouthed something to him. But she wasn’t sure if he heard her. A cascade of color crept up the fur of the stallion and bathed him in a sickly palate of fluorescent reds, greens and blues and every color in between. Flashing, sparkling, assaulting shades spread from his coat across the breathing ground, turning the browns and greens to a festive neon.
Jet Set delivered another shove, but the contact of his hoof went unnoticed. Every muscle in Diamond’s body relaxed. She could swear her hooves began to lift off the ground before he slapped her. No words left her lips; she only turned her gaze to him as the bee sting of his impact traveled over her like rippling water.
The utter terror twisting the stallion’s visage struck her as odd. He opened his mouth to scream, but only a muffled grunt registered. His thrashing and flailing about in the mud did little to draw concern and his cries pounded on the bubble around her ears. She tried to ask him what was wrong, but she could only screech in a distorted chitter.
Before long, he stopped cold. His head turned and canted unnaturally to the side, looking in Diamond’s direction. No, not at her…
Shifting around in her floating state, Diamond’s eyes met the hollow yellow irises of the snake, and the first pangs of fear pierced through the delightful numbness. Moving and struggling against the beast’s approach proved fruitless.
It circled around her, body coiling to envelop her in a grip that would surely be her last embrace. The cold scales seared against her burning skin and fur; she swore a sizzle broke through her sound barrier. Once fully in the tight squeeze of the snake, it dipped its head level with hers and stared at her, causing the forked tongue jutting out to brush across her face. Her senses returning, she struggled against her bonds, but it was no use. She was trapped. The blissful blanket of color and splendor and wonder faded, leaving only the beast and utter darkness.
The snake spoke: “Hey, sweetie.”
That voice -- the voice of her father. Diamond did not continue to struggle. Instead, she gazed at the snake, slack-jawed. “D… Daddy?”
To her horror, the snake smiled. A wide, toothy grin showed off a pair of fangs as big as her head. “I love you so much.” The tip of the snake’s tail raised and rested against Diamond’s lower lip. It traced the outline of her mouth in a slow, careful circle, the unnerving grin not leaving the predator’s face. “Don’t you love me, too?”
Diamond didn’t answer. She couldn’t answer. Everything was wrong, so utterly, totally wrong. The snake’s tail brushed against her tongue, leaving behind the awful combined taste of flesh and liquor. Every ounce of her screamed from within and slammed against her outer shell, but the mask stayed on. A different mask. The mask she made for him. He liked this one.
A tear rolled down her cheek. “Daddy…”
“Say it again…”
Something pressed against Diamond’s windpipe. Breaths came slow and forced, her limbs spasming and wiggling frantically to be free of the unseen force. She whimpered and mewled like a foal, knowing every second without the sweet taste of air would hasten her demise. The battering ram in her skull threatened to crack her open and her whole body contorted in breathless protest.
Her mouth opened wider to speak, to breathe, but nothing came. But as the tail slipped further between her lips, a bloodcurdling scream tore through the darkness. Her scream.
The pressure on her neck released and the constricting coil disappeared. She took a huge gulp of air and opened her eyes just in time to see the snake lunge at Jet Set. Those long, pointed fangs sunk deep into the unicron’s side. He squirmed and struggled, but his frantic throws only hastened the inevitable. No more screams came; his lungs were likely punctured.
Diamond could only watch as Jet Set’s life ended. His was a whimpering, fearful death with no dignity, no class. Blood seeped from his mouth and wounds and spilled onto the patch of grass below. Her eyes locked with the snake’s, but she did not make a move to retreat. The monster did not move towards her, it merely met her gaze and let the blood drain from its prize.
Numbness returned, though nowhere near as pleasant as before. She stumbled back and sat against one of the still-breathing trees and unsure what to do or what to think. Run? Hide? Fight? Her answer came when the snake returned to the ground, dragging the stallion’s body with it back into the forest.
Diamond sat still and watched the world alter color and morph around her. No concrete thoughts crossed her mind -- none that she could decipher among the other millions. She wanted to stand, but her muscles ached. She remained motionless for a time. How long? She did not know.
Her mouth opened to scream, but a laugh came out instead. What? No, that’s not -- Another laugh. This laugh was not pleasant, however. It hurt. Her lungs throbbed and her chest tightened in a vice grip around her heart. She laughed, and tears fell. Tears, sobs, laughter, pain.
She laughed and cried and laughed and cried and laughed and cried and laughed and cried and laughed and cried and…
“Diamond!”
Awaking with a start, Diamond shivered. How long had she been asleep? When she stirred, the cold sweat clung to her coat and skin and gave her nerves a jolt. The chill of the forest air did little favors, either. A new surge of warmth fought back the tide when she recognized the voice. “Sweetie Belle?”
Sweetie cracked a smile. “Of course it’s me. I’ve been looking everywhere for you. We all have.” She craned her neck to look around the surrounding fauna and underbrush. “We’re looking for Jet Set, too. What happened?”
Memories of the snake and Jet Set’s fate flashed across Diamond’s mind again. She simply hung her head; she had no more tears to cry nor the energy to do so. “Something got him… Took him away… Ate him.”
The gentle, caring hoof of Sweetie Belle rubbed Diamond’s back. Though the unicorn’s own hoof trembled, she did not voice any fear or concern on the matter. “C’mon. Let’s get you back to camp.” She picked the stiff mare up and helped her regain her bearings. “You look awful, by the way.”
With an exasperated sigh, Diamond gave Sweetie a nudge with her shoulder. “Thanks. So do you.”
The trek back to the beach did not take as long as Diamond anticipated, though she wasn’t sure how much time passed while traveling at her slow pace. With barely any way to see the sun through the canopy, her guess could have been anywhere from fifteen minutes to an hour. All she knew was the presence of her friend made it far more bearable. She stayed on alert however, listening for any rustling leaves or breaking branches not caused by herself.
Once she and Sweetie breached the treeline, the sun’s position made the time clearer, but not precise; she guessed it to be somewhere between late afternoon and evening. The sun’s rays behind the trees cast an eerie shadow over the campsite and the progress made by those who stayed. Planks from the ship’s wreckage sat stacked in the form of three makeshift huts. While nothing luxurious, they could provide some manner of shield from further rainfall. Some recovered articles of clothing lay on a large rock to dry at the other end of the beach. Given the tearing along their seams, they would likely be used as blankets for the cold nights to come.
Fancy Pants ran up and greeted her first. “Diamond Tiara! Thank heavens you’re alright. Are you hurt?” He ducked his head this way and that to try and survey the mare.
Before Diamond could answer, Sweetie Belle chimed in. “No, she’s doing just fine. It’ll take more than some ol’ snake to take her down.” She lay her foreleg across Diamond's back and pulled her close. “Shaken, but not broken, right?”
“Where is he?!” Upper Crust stormed up to Diamond, flanked closely by Captain Breeze.
“Miss Crust, calm down, we can’t lose ourselves to --”
“Where. Is. He?!” Upper Crust invited herself into Diamond’s bubble and jabbed her with a hoof. “You came back, but where is Jet Set? What happened? Tell me!” Her formal, reserved tone tore away, replaced with the guttural rage of a mare in anguish.
Sweetie Belle opened her mouth to retort, but she said not a peep. Nor did Diamond. Both stood rigid before the quivering, furious mare.
Diamond swallowed hard. All she had to do was tell the truth: the snake got him. Her mouth finally opened, only to give way to a muted croak; her mouth and throat were far too dry.
“He’s alright… Isn’t he?” Upper Crust’s voice faltered. A single, minute crack, but enough of a change to be noticed. Her posture stiffened and her jaw clenched. Looking between the gathered ponies, the answer became clear. Her sinking head betrayed her what hid behind her firm resilience.
“I’m sorry.” It was all Diamond could manage to say.
Upper Crust tried to retort or offer some manner of a venomous rebuttal, but a sob stopped her cold. She collapsed to the ground in a sniveling, crying heap. Her cries carried across the beach, attracting the attention of any not already in attendance.
Fancy Pants helped the mare up and escorted her to one of the huts, offering Diamond an apologetic look as he left.
The evening breeze kept Diamond standing staunch. She didn’t want to admit it to anypony -- especially herself -- but seeing Upper Crust in such a state pained her. At the same time, it didn’t. She knew the hurt and could relate on a personal level, but with a pony like Upper Crust, the tears almost brought a smile to her face.
Good riddance. She pushed the thought from her head. Bad thinking.
Diamond trudged her way to the water’s edge and leered at the pair of eyes that looked back. How did she get here? Where was she going? What mattered? Why did she look so terrible? No answers came, even after she dunked her head under.
The water shocked her body to life, but provided no such service to her spirit or mind. Seconds ticked by, and she did not bother to resurface. What if she…?
She could sense another step up beside her, perhaps waiting to see if she needed rescuing from her own action. Maybe she did, though not from the water. Pulling her head from the river, she sucked in a breath. Captain Breeze looked at her much as a scolding parent. “Yes?” Her soaking mane clung to her face and neck, but she’d take care of it later.
“Fancy Pants and Upper Crust told me about the berries.” His voice deadpanned. “And how y’all ate a bush-worth of ‘em. Red an’ shiny if I ain’t mistaken?”
“Correct,” Diamond replied matter-of-factly. She had no energy left for a verbal battle.
“Anythin’ unusual happen after eating ‘em? See anything funny? Colors, lights, voices?”
“What are you getting at, Captain? I know what I did was wrong, but --”
Captain Breeze raised a hoof. “But nothin’. Joke Cherries ain’t nothin’ to be messed with. Seen plenty’a ponies in my day chow on ‘em. Nothin’ good ever came of it.” The stallion huffed, pointing to a small stack of flowers and roots stacked on a flat rock by the fire. “We found some proper rations after the others got back, but before I even think about lettin’ you near ‘em, I need to know somethin’.”
Diamond canted her head, curious. “Know what?”
The captain looked to see if anypony else was listening before coming closer. “The snake,” he began in a whisper when their snouts sat inches apart, “did you… Did you really see it?”
Jaw steeled, visions of the day’s chase and Jet Set’s demise coming back to her, Diamond nodded.
He jerked back, wide eyes darting to the ground, then to the trees, then back to Diamond. “Koulev,” he muttered under his breath. He turned away to where Upper Crust still lay in a heaving ball of unsophisticated tears. Before he left Diamond alone, he turned back. “Don’t eat anymore’a those Joke Cherries. For your own sake. I don’ know what you may’a seen other than… That thing, but,” he sighed and shook his head. “We all gotta watch ourselves until we get rescued or figure out what’s wrong with our magic. This ain’t the Everfree.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Captain Breeze did not answer. He left the mare where she stood, cold and dripping.
In silent disdain, Diamond rung out her mane and watched the last few flecks of orange-crimson fade into the trees’ shadows. The fire crackled and popped, the other survivors gathered round to enjoy the evening meal as best they could. She would not join them, nor eat any of the food provided for the night. She wasn’t hungry.
Diamond lay awake in the sand. The roof of the hut provided shade from Luna’s moon, but even the lack of light did not sway her to close her eyes and drift. She pulled the cut-up dress over her body closer, casting a loathsome glare at Fancy Pants, her hut-mate who found the solace of sleep long before. She begged for some manner of gift from the Princess of the Night. The look from Sweetie Belle, while concerned, may as well have been a gift.
“Can’t sleep?” Sweetie Belle asked. She lay under the same dress, but a small patch of ground separated the two mares.
“How could you tell?”
“Lucky guess. Is it the snake?” No response. Sweetie closed the gap between them and her side brushed up against Diamond’s. “Diamond. Talk to me.”
The mare in question gulped, due in part by the images burned into her eyelids and now because of Sweetie’s sudden closeness. She rested her forehead on the sand, hiding her expression. Words did not come for several moments. “I’ve never thought about dying, Sweetie Belle. Not even last night. We… We aren’t supposed to die, right? Not when we’re just starting out in life. Or have we passed that point?” She growled and hit her head against the ground before continuing. “W-we-we can’t die. We can’t…”
“I don’t want to die, Sweetie. A-and I almost did today. What if I do tomorrow? Or the next day? Or --” She stopped when a pair of lips pressed against her cheek. Her head raised, eyes staring through her messy mane at the mare who kissed her.
Upon the shocked look she received, Sweetie Belle giggled. “What? Didn’t that help?”
“I thought I was just a friend,” Diamond said.
“You are my friend, but a friend helps friends however they can. And don’t think I haven’t been noticing how you’ve been looking at me.” Sweetie Belle gave Diamond a playful shove. “It stopped your little rant, didn’t it?”
“Yeah. I guess it did. Thank you, Sweetie Belle.” Now was her chance. Diamond scrambled for a further response, something, anything that would translate her thanks for such a gesture in a civil, tactful way.
She leaned in and gave Sweetie’s cheek a lick.
I’m hopeless.
Initially fearful her message would be misconstrued, Diamond’s concern dispelled at the unicorn’s soft laughter. “I like you, Diamond.” She heard that correctly, right?
Sweetie snuggled up to the petrified earth pony and let out a happy sigh. “G’night.”
“You… You too.” Diamond couldn’t help but grin. The giddy swell in her spirit couldn’t be denied. It didn’t negate the day’s events by any means, but it helped her to forget. She needed to forget. Unkissed cheek to the sand, drifted off to the solace of sleep, unaware of the eyes set upon her.