Comforting lay on her back, rubbing a hoof through her mane. Toots had been with her a few moments earlier, but left to fetch them some drinks for the warm day. She considered what she was doing here, laying on a cruise ship's deck in broad daylight, with most of the other ponies and creatures on board ignoring her or actively trying to avoid her. Which was pretty standard when it came to most people. She understood. To them, she was larger than life and also a source of endless fear and anxiety.

Smiling at them only worked so much, and so fast. Most of them didn't know here outside of reputation. At least the reputation was mostly good. Yup, just laying back and sunbathing was the thing to do. Sunbathing, sunburns, that sort of fun in the sun. She'd had a lot of those, in her life. Not that she'd burn unless she wanted to, for comedic effect probably.

She felt something large beside her and cracked open an eye. Something else that scared ponies had joined her. "Hello there." She swept her vision up and down Allura. "What brings you around?"

"I'm bored." She sat down beside the equally large creature and rested back. "What are you doing?"

Comforting waved a hand vaguely. "Sunbathing. You know, like cats do in the sun, where they lay out there until someone or something bothers them." She laughed, clearly not bothered. "I thought you were doing the same."

"And I still am." She prodded Comforting with a paw. "I just decided to do it here. Why did you take him?"

Comforting sat upright, peering around to see who she was talking about, before she looked back at the cat. "Take who now? I don't think I've ever kidnapped anyone."

"Twitch, you fiend!" She hissed as only a feline could. "You spirited him away. Is he safe? Are you keeping him as a hostage?"

She laughed softly. "No, he joined me willingly. I'd never take someone against their will."

"You're lying!" Allura's paw pressed close to Comforting. "Tell me where my assistant is!" Her voice turned sullen. "The cave is lonely without his incessant yammering."

Comforting pulled Allura into a hug. "Do you miss him? You big old softie!" She held on tighter, even as Allura tried to pull away.

"Give me my assistant!" She tried to casually rake her claws, but hurting Comforting was like trying to slash at especially clingy pudding. "At least tell me where he is."

"I suppose that's fair." Comforting released Allura with a sigh. "He's home, my home, relaxing and nibbling on the food we provide. He's a bit of a sourpuss, but he seems to be enjoying himself. Toots is in charge of his dailies, can't understand him, but cares and shows it."

Allura's jaw worked. "Is he? Is he truly okay? No magic tricks or tomfoolery?" She watched Comforting warily. "Nothing strange, I suppose?"

Comforting held up both hands. "Besides being near me, nothing strange. You two got in a fight of some kind, he ran away and found someone who didn't yell at him so easily, that's all."

"I didn't yell!" she yelled out. "We have disagreements. It happens. That's not enough reason to just abandon somecreature like that." She sank to her belly with a pout only a feline could master. "Ingrate."

Comforting wrapped an arm around Allura. "You know, you could just ask if you could visit, when we're back on land. See for yourself if Twitch is okay."

Her ears perked. "You would allow that, curious creature?" She huffed. "Speaking of that, what exactly are you, really? You give the impression you could do anything, but you mostly do nothing."

"I'm me." Comforting offered a lazy wave, her entire body undulating. "Just a pony that can do a lot, so I just live life." She grinned at Allura. "Or, maybe I'm actually an ancient chaos god trapped in a pony form." She winked. "One or the other, maybe both. Either way, I really do get it, Allura. Being big and scary, kinda sucks really."

The cat snorted. "I'm not scary." She flexed her claws. "I'm terrifying." Her tail lashed. "And I'm not like you."

Comforting turned to look Allura in the eyes. "Well, I'm not feline. You're pulling that off quite well. I love the colors! So bright and vibrant. And that tail!" She gave it a gentle tug before Allura could jerk away.

Allura purred at the touch. "Thank you. I do happen to like it." She preened. "Look, if you're so ancient and wise, maybe you can help me." She leaned in. "I just want to get home, to my friend. That's all I've been wanting, and nocreature's been able to help me."

Comforting nodded along. "I can understand that desire. We all just want to go home and be with our loved ones."

Allura went still. "I never said I loved them!"

Comforting put a hand to Allura's chest. "But you do." She smiled at the cat's venomous stare. "And that's okay. It's natural to care. Love comes and goes, but friendship stays." She sighed with a smile. "Any idea where you used to live?"

"If you're asking me to point it out on a map, you're out of luck." She crossed her forepaws with a low grunt. "I've been asked that before. If it helps, there are more of me there. There shouldn't be too many places like that anywhere."

Comforting nodded slowly. "I've seen them myself, your species. Long before you came to Equestria." She gestured at the sky overhead. "It's been a long time since I was in the Beyond." She waggled her brows. "And by a long time I mean never. I was asleep during the big lights out for this place, and haven't really stuck my nose out much. Except once with griffons. Nice folk. Were you near them?"

Allura shook her head. "No griffons. Ponies, a few of them. Then the auroracorns. Now this place." She narrowed her gaze at Comforting. "If not a map, what are you suggesting?"

"I'm suggesting—" Comforting placed a hand on Allura's nose. "We start searching, but you'll need to apologize to the ponies you've been fighting with, then work with them. They don't want you being upset around them either, I promise."

Allura growled at Comforting, leaning back. "And why should I? They were being less than cooperative." She bared her fangs. "If they want my claws out of their backs, they shouldn't resist." She sat up then. "I tried asking the auroracorns, but they were useless, scared, and not one help at all. Fortunately, easy to manipulate. I almost had it, but Sunny and her friends showed up to ruin that entirely."

Comforting leaned in closer, patting Allura. "Maybe, but you did hurt several of them. I'm sure you know how that feels."

The cat's eyes went distant for a few long seconds. "What was that saying? Two wrongs don't make a right. They took away my one chance to get home. I would have been out of their way. Everycreature would have won in the end."

"Did you tell them that?" Comforting lay comfortable on her back, one eye on her big feline friend.

"No." She sat up, looking down on Comforting. "Because it doesn't matter. If they're the ones that get in the way of my goal, and I just have to go around them."

"Pragmatic, but it hasn't been working." Comforting sat up. "But don't think I'm here to lecture you. You do you, you adorably terrifying kitty. But it hasn't been working. You're still stuck, still lost, and still trying to get back. You don't even remember where home is."

Allura's voice dropped almost to a whisper, a low sound only audible because she leaned in close to Comforting. "I don't know where my friend is." Her ears twitched, showing off her earrings. "And that's not a good thing. If I could have just traveled through the portal, no problem." She sunk with a low grunt. "Now, tell me this. Why are these ponies having such a grand time floating in water? I don't get it. This water makes me nervous, and it's not even good to drink, which is the one thing water does well, usually."

Comforting stretched out, hands behind her head. "They get to relax and have fun without worrying about things. No bills to pay, no mouths to feed, just fun in the sun and lots of good food and drink to enjoy. You know, if you call a truce, at least until we get back to land, they'd probably share with you. You've earned a break."

Allura glared. "I'm a mighty predator! I don't need a break." She sank to her haunches, rolling around slightly. "Though I guess it can't hurt." She closed her eyes. "They are properly scared, but they aren't taking me where I want to go." She peeked a half open eye. "You really could help me?"

"I can." She tapped a hoof on the deck. "But I don't know if I should, right now." Comforting shrugged. "I don't think you're ready. I'm a bit of a last ditch button for anyone. I still vote for friendship as an option." She smiled with a wistful look on her face. "A lot of good friends would agree with that, if they were here."

"They sound weak." Allura glanced away. "No offense intended." She turned back. "Do you think I could really work with these ponies?"

Comforting nodded quickly. "Yup! Without that controlling purr. Now, if you want to purr at me, go ahead. I adore purring cats. But stop command purring, it puts ponies off of wanting to be around you, besides the whole terrifying feline thing."

Allura considered that. "Perhaps you're right, they have proven rather intransigent when faced with me." She rolled to her side. "Do I just walk up and say it?"

"Ease into it." Comforting made a wavey motion with a hand. "Why don't you start with telling them you're just here to enjoy the ship with them, and you won't be causing any more trouble until they're back on land?" She offered her hands. "See, nice and easy, simple, and not threatening. They'll be so relieved you aren't going to freeze them to death."

She laughed a little at the mental image. "They'd deserve it. Fine. Fine!" She prodded comforting's snout lightly. "You are very insistent. I'll talk to them, tell them I'm just here to 'enjoy the sun' like they are. Ugh, at least the sun is predictable."

Comforting sat upright, then stood, offering a hand to Allura. "Come on, it'll just take a few moments to clear things up." She winked. "Besides, when's the next time you'll get to spend a few days on the water?"

"Hopefully never again." She prowled at Comforting's side towards the nearest pony wearing an outfit. "You." The pony looked up at her with obvious fear. "I am staying to enjoy things. I'll leave when we get to land. Nopony will be harmed."

Comforting shook her head. "No, not that, silly!" She stepped forward. "Sorry, what she meant to say is she'll be relaxing with us. We worked out a truce until she gets back to land."

The poor pony looked between Allura and Comforting, both scary in different ways. "Oh, um, that's good." He forced his best smile. "I'll inform the captain then." He coughed into a hoof quietly. "Um, I don't suppose you purchased a ticket?"

Comforting pat at the pony's shoulder. "You know the answer to that before you even asked it. Still, I'll pay for another ticket if that helps?"

He nodded quickly, his mane bobbing. "I'll get right to that. I hope you two have a lovely day. Oh, and don't worry about the damages. We can cover those." With a nervous laugh, he trotted away from both of them.

Comforting turned to Allura with a shrug. "See? Easy. Come on, I'm sure you'd love a drink, or a snack."

Allura padded along beside Comforting, looking around slowly. "They won't try to attack me, as impotent as that'd be?"

"Nope." Comforting snagged a colorful drink off a table and held it up towards Allura. "You're a guest now." She sipped through her straw. "I think you'll enjoy this, if you like sweet and sour."

Allura leaned in to sniff, but backed off. "I've had enough experience to tell me that smells bad, but it tastes good." She hesitated a moment, but ultimately tried a sip. "As predicted." She licked over her furry lips. "You can have whatever you want?"

"That's how it works. If you're on this ship, you can eat and drink, and enjoy the attractions." She spread her hands. "Just be careful. You're a biggun, like me. Don't damage things not made for your impressive stature. Such as." She gestured towards a fancy glass hot tub that wouldn't support any weight.

Allura lashed her tail. "I'm not getting in that! I don't want to get wet!"

"You don't have to." Comforting could still imagine the cat in it. "Just giving an example. You be a good cat and enjoy yourself. You're on a vacation too for a few days. You deserve it."

Allura stared at her, ears twitching. "Well, okay. I will, then." She looked around. "I'll see you later, probably." And with that she prowled away to explore and enjoy the ship's many features at her own pace.

Author's Note

That just felt adorable, to me. Good kitty. Would pet. Might get clawed. Worth it.

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