The Long Road

In the beginning, there was said to be nothing. Then, in an instant, everything came into being. Whether it was due to some sort of intelligent design or just a cosmic coincidence is up for debate. Either way, the same thing happened: all worlds and all possibilities flung into the cosmic stew of the universe. One such world and possibility was ours. The world of Terra, where magical equines and all other forms of beasts rule.

I always thought that the answers to how our world worked and where it came from would one day be revealed in a glorious explosion of knowledge that would enlighten and unite all creatures, dissolving countries, race, and all other barriers. I was wrong. The world cannot go from this existence to a united one through peace, it must and will be baptized by fire. It's a sad, painful, truth.

I am part of a secret society known as the Unification Syndicate. Though, I was not always part of it...perhaps I should start  at the beginning of my path to enlightenment.

--

2 years ago

I was happy, I had just got the first half of my pay from my employer, the mysterious 'Master' as his underlings called him. It was more bits than I usually saw in a year: a whopping 25,000 just for signing the contract and another 25,000 upon completion of the task. I was rolling in money, and it felt great.

I wasn't about to spend it all in one go, though. I allocated a small amount of it to buying supplies for the trip: I was hired for my healing talent, so herbs and assorted healing scrolls were bought. I also got some books to read during my spare time: I was told to pack light, so I did.

I'm not an ugly mare, my light green coat, sky blue eyes and gentle pink mane all earned me stares from colts and some mares that I passed by on the busy city streets. Perhaps me sashaying my flank as I walked helped draw those stairs. In a city with a lot of ugly sights, It was nice to be considered pretty.

I was on my way to a ship docked at Baltimare Harbor, luckily that was the city in which I was born, so I didn't have to pay to travel to anywhere else in Equestria. Most Equestrian cities were far apart, especially the major ports. Plus, I hate travelling by train, I was born at sea and that's where I'm most comfortable.

I knew the ship I was set to travel on, The Endeavor, It was an old exploration ship that had served in the Equestrian Navy for over 150 years. It was decommissioned a few years ago and a private collector bought it and repaired it intensively according to reports. I was to meet one of the 'Master's' underlings at the docks, I wasn't told his name or his appearance, just that I would know him when i saw him.

My mom always used to say 'Herbal, don't talk to strangers, you'll end up getting yourself hurt.' If that was true, I'd be dead by now. Strangers were always the most interesting people. Talking to strangers always allowed for the discovery of new stories and new legends: I loved stories, but it wasn't my special talent. Healing was. I worked as a freelance medic around the city, patching up drifters and poor families in the slums, it didn't pay well, but it was good for the soul. Humbling, even.

I rounded around one of the dock buildings and spotted The Endeavor. It was not a big ship, it wasn't supposed to be. In order to be an exploration ship it had to be fast and lightweight, not weighed down like war ships. The sails billowed in the wind as if nature ached for the ancient ship to sail upon the open seas once again.

Standing at the end of the gangplank was a pony wearing a pitch black cloak that covered his whole body except for a narrow slot for his eyes. As I got closer, I saw dark, soulless brown eyes peering from the slot. They followed my approach, as if analyzing every movement, every contour of my being, looking for any and all weakness. They were the eyes of a predator.

"Um...Are you the pony i'm supposed to meet...?" I approached cautiously. I knew the look he was giving me, he was a seasoned veteran: Of what wars or atrocities, I'm not sure I wanted to.

"I am if you are Herbal Remedy." His voice was deep, the accent was foreign, sounded Zebraharan. Even though his mouth was covered by the thick cloth of his cloak, his voice sounded as clear as crystal.

"Yeah....that's me.." It felt awkward, he stood unwavering. Resolute. "So, what's your name...?"

"Lone.." He pronounced his name like 'Loan-ee' That basically solidified that he was not from Equestria. "Get on the boat, It is time." Without a hello or how do you do, Lone turned around and trotted up the gangplank. As he moved,I observed that he had a severe limp on his left side. Perhaps from some long ago battle, or just a defect.

Without a word, if it was out of fear, or reverence for this clearly seasoned veteran, I obeyed without a word. I walked up the gangplank, checking my saddlebag straps with my magic to make sure they were tight enough. As I walked onto the deck, I noticed a severe lack of crew. No sailors were checking the lines or scrubbing the decks. Nothing. Just Lone limping up the stairs.

"Where's the crew..?" I murmured to myself, barely audible to my own perception.

"You need not worry about that." His sudden response made me jump, I had no clue how he could have heard what I considered thoughts.

"O-Okay..." I trotted over to the center of the gently rocking ship. The gently swaying floor felt right under my hooves, almost as if I belonged here instead of healing ponies in the slums. "I love ships..."

"Then why are you a healer?" Lone's voice came from the helm, the cloaked equine was standing on his back hooves, leaning on the heavy oak wheel. "Why not take to the seas?"

"Healing is my special talent, Mr. Lone." His name felt weird as it slipped out of my mouth, as if it was unnatural, much like the pony itself. "See?" I leaned over some to reveal my light green flank, which had a syringe and an aloe leaf.

"You ponies, so stuck in your ways. You are so dependent on a mark to tell you what to do with your life that you cannot do what you truly love." His voice was accusatory, filled with malice and hate. "You name your children after what you hope they become, they take it to heart and try to live up to those expectations." his piercing brown eyes glared daggers at me. "You put too much stock in words and names. Nee Segola. Stupid creatures."

Frankly, I felt offended. He just didn't offend me. He offended my talent and my species. I stood and glared at him with my own soft, sky blue eyes the best I could. Simply put, I wasn't intimidating.

"Yeah? Well you zebras have cutie marks too. I've seen it before, and at least our names mean something lone." I said his name in such a voice that apparently implied that it was a joke. The veteran did not like that. In a single move: he vaulted over the Captain's Wheel and the railing, right as he hit the thick wooden floors he rolled to avoid injuries. Out of the roll, he stood tall over me, menacing.

"You do not make fun of my name, whelp. You do not insult my culture, and you do not talk to me....AGAIN!" His thickly accented voice roared at me, I flattened my ears and crouched down in fear. I knew I could easily fling him away with magic, but I had a feeling that would not be a smart idea. "Now" His voice quieted, I could hear his nostrils flaring from behind the cloth. "Go downstairs. Do not come up here again if you wish to make it to our destination."

I obeyed, this time purely out of fear.