The Tempest tales

Fizzlepop and Bash had finally arrived at the Skyshark, along the way she had stopped to take the shampoo and as if that were not enough they were also lost in the alleys and streets.
Neither of them talked about what had happened and they had remained silent during the walk, Fizzlepop had no regrets for what had happened and Bash had completely changed his opinion of the pony: if before he saw her as a creature albeit weak and defenseless , now he realized she could hurt and kill without batting an eye.

"Fizzle, Bash, you're back." Flynn called them, the cat was standing on the dock holding a notepad.
"Yes, we had an unwanted encounter." Fizzlepop said.
"Vynce." Bash said this only but it was enough to make Flynn realize what had happened.
"Is he still chasing you?" he asked the two in a worried tone.
"He and his henchmen won't bother anyone anymore, we killed them all." Fizzlepop spoke coldly and climbed aboard leaving the cat baffled.
"I'll tell you later, now it's best to leave as soon as possible." Bash said.
"I see, I'm going to get Boomer and Tread, then we'll sail."

Fizzlepop had gone back to her room, took off her backpack and then her cloak, unfastened the holster straps and laid it on the back of the chair.
She opened her backpack and put away the books she had bought and put the new ink bottle on the table next to the pen.
"All done." Fizzlepop stood motionless for a moment in the middle of the room.
It is not that she was thinking of anything in particular but she felt as if the adrenaline of the battle had left her, now she felt slightly as if something was missing.
She took a deep breath but made a grimace of disgust, there was an unpleasant smell in the air that seemed to come from her.
She sniffed and smelled a slight stench of sweat mixed with burnt fur and dry blood, the latter could be recognized by the ferrous smell and the fact that the fur on the front legs was encrusted.
"I better take a shower."
Fizzlepop took the shampoo and went to the airship bathroom.

To wash herself she used cold water, perhaps in this way it would have washed away that strange sense of dizziness that ahe felt, plus she didn't like hot water on scars.
"Fizzle, are you here?" ahe heard Boomer's muffled voice.
"Yes, what is it?" she asked him as the icy water ran over her.
"I just wanted to warn you that we are about to take off." he told her.
"Okay thanks." replied the pony.
Fizzlepop continued washing for a few seconds.
"Look Fizzle, I heard what happened..." Boomer wasn't gone yet.
"I don't want to criticize you or lecture you, but just know this: that feeling of emptiness... that hole you feel in your soul will go away with time if you are able to go on, but if you stop and think about it... it will devour you." finished saying that Boomer went away.
Fizzlepop had stood still and silent with her eyes on the ground to meditate on the wolf's words.
"Does he know anything about it too?"

After she finished washing she dried as best she could and went to the main deck.
As soon as she got out from below deck she felt the light wind blowing on her fur and moving her mane, they had taken off and had already reached full altitude.
"Fizzle, welcome back again." Flynn spoke from the helm station.
Fizzlepop went up the stairs to reach him but when she stood next to him she didn't say anything, in fact she didn't feel very talkative.
"Today you have experienced a new adventure..." Flynn said as he looked forward to the horizon.
"Do you regret it?" he asked her, it was implied that she was referring to the killing of Vynce and his henchmen.
"No, they got what they deserved. Anyway Bash seemed to know him pretty well, what relationship did they have?" Fizzlepop said quickly and confidently but the cat stood for a few seconds to contemplate the view.
"If you don't want to tell me it doesn't matter." Fizzlepop was about to go down the stairs but she was stopped by Flynn.
"Bash used to work with him, they were great friends but one day they quarreled and separated, I met him a few days later. I can't tell you anything else, you'll have to ask Bash if you want to know the details. " Flynn said and then released the rudder after locking it in place.
"It's lunch time." the cat said as he put his hands on his stomach to make it clear that he was hungry.
The two went into the dining room.

When they arrived they each sat in their own seats and Tread had already filled the plates.
For a few minutes they all ate in silence, occasionally glancing at each other and then returning to focus on the meal.
"Fizzle, there is one thing we wanted to ask you." Flynn said as he set the silverware down and leaned back in his chair.
"Of course." Fizzlepop answered.
The four in front of her looked at each other intently and then all turned their gaze to her.
"You're not a normal pony, it is so?" the captain asked her.
Fizzlepop dropped the fork, her blood running cold in her veins.
"Did they find my true identity!?"
She looked up and saw that they were waiting for an answer.
"It makes no sense to keep hiding, they will have guessed everything by now."
However she preferred not to reveal everything immediately, maybe she was misunderstanding.

"What makes you say that?" she asked puzzled.
"We have noticed that you are too tall to be a normal pony." Boomer said.
"And that you can see in the dark just like me." Flynn added.
"Besides, the scars on your back don't seem to be claw marks but as if you've had other appendages." Tread pointed out.
"And then today you spit flames like a dragon and your teeth are particularly pointed."Bash finished saying.

As she had predicted, the four had managed to discover everything, the fault was hers too because she had not been more careful.
Fizzlepop took a deep breath.
"You're right, I'm not a unicorn ... I'm an hybrid between an alicorn and a dragon."
The four were amazed, for the first time on Tread's face there was an expression of shock mixed with curiosity, Flynn's eyes narrowed as Bash and Boomer had dropped their cutlery.
"What do you mean by hybrid?" Tread asked.
Fizzlepop decided it would take her too long to answer one question at a time.
"Maybe it's better that I explain everything to you from the beginning but try not to interrupt me, I will answer you at the end of the story."
The anthropomorphs recovered and then signaled Fizzlepop to proceed.

“My father and my mother are the rulers of Hyponia as well as both alicorns. Being their daughter I was also an alicorn but for some reason I also had dragon traits, that is teeth, eyes and the ability to breathe fire. " Fizzlepop paused, the four said nothing but were listening intently.
"One night while I was on a trip I was attacked by an ursa, I fought it but my friends ran away abandoning me, the ursa overwhelmed me and tore my wings and broke my horn." in the tone of the pony there was hatred and pain.
"I was in a coma for a year and when I woke up everyone I knew began to treat me differently, it made me feel bad and on two occasions I had bursts of magic and anger and ended up hurting several ponies but I was provoked and I had reacted accordingly.
My parents decided with the other nobles that I was not ready to be queen even if I was fully capable of it.
Angry and betrayed, I realized that it made no sense to stay there and I decided to embark on my own journey, away from what was hurting me, to discover new experiences and things. " she finished explaining.

The others weren't expecting a similar story at all, they struggled even to process the information.
"I think I'll never stop saying that but you are the most interesting pony I've ever met." Boomer said excited.
"Now that you don't have wings and a horn can you still be considered an alicorn?" Tread asked her, the hawk was interested in more "scientific" issues.
"If you are referring to the fact that I will live for millennia and have unlimited magical power then the answer is yes, however I cannot even do the things that would be natural for a normal unicorn or pegasus." Fizzlepop repeated what the doctors had told her.
"Don't you regret leaving your home?" Boomer asked.
"Honestly no, I think I can no longer consider it home." she answered them.
"How do you see in the dark if your pupils are like those of a normal pony?" said Flynn as she approached to look into her eyes.
"I'm wearing contact lenses, this is because it was necessary to hide my dragon characteristics from the other nobles."
Fizzlepop took off her contact lenses and then looked at them.
"They are gorgeous, you should show them more often, just like the rest of your body." said the fascinated cat while holding his chin with one hand.
"Are you serious? Doesn't that look strange or creepy? " Fizzlepop asked, struck by the cat's statement.
"She's right, they look good on you." Tread said.
"I completely agree." Bash added.
Fizzlepop put the lenses back on, she would take them off when she returns to her room to put them in the their box.
"So... you won't chase me away?" she asked uncertainly.
"Fizzle, if you think our opinion of you has changed or we no longer want you among us, know that you are wrong, you are now a full member of the crew and nothing will ever change that."
Flynn reassured her with sincere words.
"Thanks, I'm happy to have met all of you."
Fizzlepop felt that her hole in her soul had filled slightly, even though they recently knew each other, they made her feel happy and welcomed much more than the alleged "friends" she has known for years.

The crew finished eating and everyone went to their cabin, they were all tired after the latest events.
When Fizzlepop arrived in her room the first thing she did was take off her contact lenses and put them in their box.
She gave a long yawn and lay down on the bed under the covers resting her head on a pillow, in a few minutes she fell asleep.

She was walking in a pitch-black ocean, the sky was dark and the air smelled of burning.
"Is anybody there!?" her voice echoed.
Every step she took her hooves sank into the murky water creating small waves.
"It must be a dream..."
"My child, why did you go away?!"
Fizzlepop turned abruptly and saw her father flanked by her mother.
"Dad, my friends have abandoned me, you have abandoned me." she answered them.
"You weren't worthy." said her mother, her gaze was directed ahead, it seemed that they were not even listening or seeing her.
"Since I was born I have been preparing for the role that was rightfully mine, but you have decided to listen to those filthy worms!" Fizzlepop yelled at them.
The two made no move, they remained straight with their eyes towards the horizon.
"You are not an alicorn, you will never be queen!" Brisk spoke sternly.
Angry and choleric she hit her father with a hoof who fell to the ground without making any noise, however his body was swallowed by the water without leaving any trace.
Fizzlepop was puzzled by the strange scene as she stared at where her father's body had disappeared.
She moved her gaze to Cherry but the mare was disappearing as she was sucked into the water as if she were sinking into quicksand.
"Mom! grab my paw! " she commanded her as she reached out to join her.
Cherry did not move, as before she seemed to be in trance.
"Fizzlepop Berrytwist, you have deeply disappointed us ... never come back!" the queen said before being swallowed completely.

Fizzlepop was alone again in the dark ocean , the conversation she had just had angered her.
"Hey Fizzlepoop, what a pain it must be for your parents to have to keep up with a handicapped pony." the arrogant bully appeared behind her.
"I see you haven't had enough!" Fizzlepop unleashed a burst of energy at the bastard.
The stallion fell to the ground wriggling and screaming in pain, the body caught fire and was in the flames, the screams of pain began to blend with spasmodic laughter.
The body sank into the water but as soon as it disappeared all around her a fire broke out.
Fizzlepop looked around in fear, the air was becoming hot and difficult to breathe.
"Fizzlepop, are you going to kill everyone who wants to hurt you?"
The four henchmen had appeared around her, they were standing but their bodies were burning, their skin was blackened, there were burns and blisters, on the faces it was possible to see some parts of bones such as the cheekbones and the forehead.
"RROARRR!" as if that were not enough, the Ursa also emerged from the water.
Fizzlepop tried to escape from the beast who haunted her nightmares but she was grabbed by the four henchmen and held steady, the flames engulfing her and burning her alive.
Her fur was burning, she felt a hallucinating pain that made her want to die, it was like being skinned alive.
"So that's what those bastards heard as they died." she found it hard to think.
"RROARR!" the ursa stretched out a paw and hit her in the face causing her to sink into total darkness.

"Fizzle!"
"Fizzle!"
"Fizzle!"

Fizzlepop was abruptly awakened by someone calling her and shook her holding her shoulders.
She opened her eyes and saw Bash standing by the bed, looking worried and scared.
She rose quickly to a sitting position.
"Bash, what's going on ?!" she asked hastily.
"Nothing, it's just that you were screaming and waving while you slept, I had to wake you up." Bash said trying to reassure her.
"Well, thanks for waking me up, now you can go." Fizzlepop said and then turned her head to the wall.
Bash straightened up and sighed.
"You dreamed of this morning, right?" more than a question it seemed like a statement.
"I dreamed that too." the pony answered in a low voice.
"If you want to talk about it, know that I am there." Bash said.
The imposing anthropomorph was about to leave the room, he had his hand on the handle and was about to open the door.
"Why did you know that criminal?" Fizzlepop asked the question that had been buzzing in her head since she'd spoken to Flynn.

The shark stopped and then turned back, took the chair under the desk and got so that he was sitting in front of Fizzlepop, he looked into her eyes and then let out a sigh.
"We were once great friends, traveling the world trading exotic and rare goods to earn a living." Bash began to tell the story of him.
"However, a great economic crisis came and what we were selling was no longer worth, Vynce decided that the only way to earn something was to trade something that was worth a lot.
One day he decided to kidnap a unicorn without my knowledge, he sold him in a slave market and made a lot of money, I didn't know where he started making all that money because he didn't tell me what he was doing. Vynce fell into a vicious circle, he had created a trafficking in sentient beings. " Bash slumped slightly in the chair, his voice withering away.
"Inevitably I learned of his terrible acts, I immediately strongly opposed what he was doing, we quarreled to the point of resorting to weapons." Bash was panting and his hands were shaking slightly, Fizzlepop put a hoof on his shoulder and gave them a reassuring look.
“We fought to the point of killing each other, I managed to hurt him but he cut off my left hand. I had to escape and a few days later I met Flynn. " the shark paused, raised his head and saw that he had a look of determination and his fist was clenched.
“I promised myself that if one day I had the chance I would have stopped him at all costs. But ... you took care of it. " Bash finished saying.

Fizzlepop drew back slightly.
"I'm sorry, I should have left him to you." she apologized.
“No no no, you misunderstood. To stop him I didn't mean killing him, but stopping the trafficking of sentient beings. " Basch tried to reassure her but the pony still looked disconsolate.
"Plus he got what she deserved, you were brave and you acted in good faith, you can't be blamed for doing what you can to defend us." at these words Fizzlepop raised her head and gave a small smile without showing her teeth.
"Thanks, I'm glad you think so." Fizzlepop spread its front legs.
"Hug?" she didn't know why she wanted it, it wasn't her style but in that moment ,maybe, it would have served to both of them.
Bash wrapped his large arms around her and squeezed her to show affection.
"Your fur is pretty soft for a scarred renegade princess living with a crew of scoundrels." Bash said as he ran his right hand over Fizzlepop's fur.
"And your touch is quite delicate for an anthropomorphic giant shark without a hand and a leg." the pony responded to the friendly teasing and Bash laughed.

The two remained embraced for a few seconds until Bash released his grip and stood up.
"I have to get back to work, see you later." said the shark.
"Okay, I'll do something else." Fizzlepop answered.
Bash put the chair back and then left the room.

Now that she was awake she got out of bed and checked her watch, it was already six in the evening.
"Damn, did I sleep that much ?!"
Even though she had rested all afternoon she didn't feel very energetic.
At that moment she didn't want to read so she started looking for something to do.
She went to the main deck and found Boomer near the helm holding a wrench in his hand.
"Hey Boomer, do you need a help?" she yelled at him from the bottom of the stairs.
"Hi Fizzle, I've just finished putting the maneuvering mechanisms in place so I don't need help anymore." he answered her while she gave a last squeeze to a bolt.
"Oh .. I was bored and didn't know what to do." Fizzlepop said disconsolately.
Boomer leaned against the railing.
“I'm sorry, I have nothing to make you do and Flynn is locked up in his office. Maybe you could help Boomer who is putting the goods right, as for Tread I think he's cooking at the time. " said the dog.
"Thanks, see you later." the dog replied by waving hello.

Fizzlepop decided to go and see what Tread was doing as she wouldn't be useful for moving the heavy crates, there was a reason why Bash was the storage guy.
As Boomer had said, the hawk was in the kitchen untangling among pots and stoves, wearing his usual apron and apathetic face.
"Hi Fizzle, did you come to help me?" Tread had already noticed her, which was no surprise as nothing ever escaped him.
"Yes, I didn't know what to do." Fizzle answered as she approached.
Fortunately, the kitchen was quite large if proportionate to the rest of the ship, you could move in two without problems, in addition Fizzle had learned to stand on its hind legs so as not to hinder the path with its length. When she remained in that position she was almost the same height as the falcon.
"Great, I need you to slice the onion, chop the parsley and mix every now."
Fizzlepop immediately grabbed a cutting board and a knife and began slicing the vegetables.
"What are you preparing?" she asked him, there was an enjoyable aroma in the air.
"Ramen, is a recipe from the Far East. The flaw is very laborious and complex to do. " Tread answered as he handled a piece of meat.

The two worked in sync for a while until strangely Tread started a speech.
"As for this morning ... we have all killed someone, for good or bad reasons." Tread said as he moved a pan.
"Really? I did not know." Fizzlepop said curiously, even though she was turned with her back to the hawk her ears were turned so that she could hear him.
"Yes Fizzle..." Tread sighed "and I most of all." he admitted in his usual monotone voice.
"How many?" the pony knew it was rude to dig into other people's past but now she wanted to know and besides she hadn't started the conversation.
"Unfortunately more than I would like to admit." Tread suddenly stopped doing what he was doing "I haven't always been a sailor, I was once part of a brotherhood of assassins, initially our goal was to clean the world by people like Vynce, we were criminals who acted with noble intentions." Tread's gaze was distant as if he were reviewing his memories.
“However everything is bound to rot... By the time the fraternity had taken on a new form, we were turning into mercenaries in the pay of those who could pay the most. Noble intentions turned into personal interests and honor became gain." the hawk's tone grew heavier.
“Some of my brothers and I opposed this change, we knew it was not right as it went against the principles we had always followed. There was an internal conflict in the brotherhood, we spent every day trying to kill each other. The result of that war is that they control the brotherhood and I am the only survivor among my comrades." he finished saying.
Fizzlepop had stopped moving for a while and she had focused only on the story.
"I'm really sorry for your teammates." she said saddly.
"It's a thing of the past now, now I'm just a ship's cook cooking for a crew of misfits." Tread gave a small smile full of melancholy.

"How did you feel when you had to kill someone?" Fizzlepop asked.
"It depends on who I was killing, if I had to eliminate a criminal who had exterminated entire families then I was happy to do so, however when I had to kill my brothers and sisters ... it was another matter." Tread made a slight grimace of pain as if he had been stung.
"Remember this Fizzle: It doesn't matter if you kill someone, it only matters who you kill and how you do it." Tread's words exuded wisdom, experience and bad memories.

The mood in the room had dropped drastically, the two remained silent to meditate for a few minutes.
"It's ready, go tell the others." Tread told her as he turned off the stove.
Fizzlepop came out of the kitchen and went looking for the Bash and Boomers, Flynn was probably still in his cabin.
Ten minutes later they were all sitting at the table enjoying the delicious dinner cooked by Fizzle and Tread, they implicitly decided not to talk about bad memories but to have fun drinking and laughing at the funny adventures of the crew.