It Starts With a Single Step

Chapters

Chapter 1: A Hoofprint in the Sand
Chapter 2: Encounter
Chapter 3: Port Osglen
Chapter 4: Danger Leaves No Warning
Chapter 5: A Step Forward
Chapter 6: Captain Blackart
Chapter 7: Between a Storm and a Leviathan
Chapter 8: From the Dark and Into the Light

Chapter 1: A Hoofprint in the Sand

I felt the sand shifted under my haunches, the hot desert air ruffling my black and white mane and the searing heat of the sun above. I kept my eyes closed, filling my lungs with fresh air. My ears twitched, a white flash appeared in my mind’s eye. My heart began to start beating rapidly in my chest, my breath getting ragged as memories flooded over me.

In my vision, I heard the pleading cry of a young zebra colt. The colt was inside of a hut, in his mother’s protective embrace. The sky outside the hut was painted with scarlet red, screams of pleads echoed in the air and the smell of burning death wafted into the hut. Then, a silhouette figure emerged from the hut’s entrance, pulling away the mother from her child, mercilessly dragging her away. I saw the zebra mare’s blue eyes glistened by flames outside, pleading for the safety of her child and I remembered the markings on her flank; a glyph symbolizes the stars.

“Mother!” I screamed, opening my eyes in panic. I felt my cheeks dampened, tears ran down in rivulets, my breathing slowly returned to its relaxed pace. I cast my gaze upon my flank, looking at the markings on it – a symbol of the arrows of a compass, adorned my flank. I changed my gaze onto the sea of sand in front of me, feeling the ever-growing burning desire to search... for my long lost mother. “I’ll be with you mother. Believe me,” I whispered into the wind, hoping the gods above listened to my prayers.

“Nadir!” I heard a gruff voice screamed my name and I looked over my shoulders, seeing a figure slowly trotting towards me. The bracelets on my right hoof jingled as I stood up, turning towards the familiar approaching zebra. The zebra had a strong built body that could match the strongest of warriors, scars of war marked all over his body. His brown eyes locked onto me, smiling as he approached.

“Father,” I greeted as I gave him a bow.

“Nadir, why are you here?” He asked, looking towards the setting sun over the horizon, painting the sky in bright orange.

“I am always here whenever I meditate, father,” I answered, looking into the sea of sand before me, the desert breeze gently brushed against my coat and mane.

“This is a place of no safety, my son,” he replied, looking towards the orange sea above. “A griffon might sneak up on you and take you away,” he continued, looking at me with worry plastered across his scarred face.

“No worries, father. I am able to take care of myself as I am a grown zebra,” I answered with a wide grin tugged onto my face.

“I’m glad to hear that,” he chuckled. “Let us go back to camp. It is almost night time, and it is not safe to stand here in the dark,” he explained, turning around and walked towards the tribe’s camp. I just chuckled in response and proceed to follow my father from behind.

The sounds of laughter and the crackling fire filled the campsite. The flames in front of me danced as the cold desert breeze gently blew by. I looked at the food that was served before me; a bowl of dried wheat, sitting lazily in front of me. My stomach churned, having no appetite to eat for the moment. I slowly pushed the bowl away, looking towards my father, who was chatting with the tribe’s elders across the campfire.

“Father,” I spoke up, standing high within the crowd. Then everyzebra went silent. I felt the eyes of the whole tribe locked on me, making me feeling uncomfortable under the massive attention that I received. “I wish for a request,” I continued, stepping closer towards the fire, mustering as much bravery as I could, wanting to voice my request.

“What is it, my son?” He asked with seriousness in his voice, standing up as he looked at me with his deep brown eyes. The shadow behind him loomed over me, intimidating me with his presence. I took a step back, gulped down a lump in my throat.

“I wish to find mother,” I proclaimed, bracing for rejection that might come ahead of me, hearing the waves of whispers broke within the tribe members. I swallowed my anxiety and felt my heart hammering in my chest.

“No. I shall not give you permission to leave,” he replied, stomping his hoof as a frown tugged onto his face.

“But, I wish to find mother!” I yelled in return. My heart filled with disappointment for his answer. “I want to be reunited with her,” I continued, stomping my hoof, causing my bracelets to chime.

“Enough!” He screamed, lunging towards me. I felt a shock of pain exploded in my back and head as he tackled me onto the ground, seeing stars appeared in my vision. “You are my only family left in this world,” he whispered, his brown eyes glared down on me, glistening under the moonlit sky.

“But I wish to return to mother,” I whispered back. I felt tears started to brim in my eyes, looking up at my father through blurred vision. “Please, father,” I pleaded, my voice getting raspy. “I need to find her.”

“Aaarrgghh!” he yelled as freed me from his grip, walking away . “Go!” He screamed as his back was turned towards me. “Before I change my mind,” he sniffed, his voice cracked. He had his head hung low; his nose almost touched the ground as pearls of tears streamed from his eyes, looking into the distance.

“Thank you, father,” I whispered, quickly trotted into my hut. I opened a secret compartment in the middle of my hut floor, rummaging through an old chest. I pulled out an old saddlebag and quickly fastened it. Water parchment, a bag of jewels, two bowls of dried wheat and my stone spear, I thought to myself, making a mental checklist as I filled my saddlebag with necessary items for the journey ahead. I put on a dark maroon hooded robe, concealing my stripes from the world with the exception of my face. I strapped the stone spear onto my back as I looked back into the middle of the camp.

My father, along with the other tribe members, stood silently behind the crackling campfire. His eyes glistened with tears and regret as we made eye contact. I bowed for the last time, silently giving him my goodbye and my respect, eyes brimming with tears. I looked up towards the array of stars above, determining the direction of my destination. “West,” I muttered into the sky. I took a deep breath, filling my lungs with the cool night air and mustered my remaining bravery. I took the first step, looking the sea of sand that stretched over to the horizon before me. “The journey begins,” I whispered into the wind as I took another step into the unknown.

Author's Note

Helpful feedback is always welcome.

Chapter 2: Encounter

I trudged among the sand dunes, feeling the heat of the searing sun mercilessly beating down on me. I felt my mouth was getting more and more sticky, my throat went dry and I felt lightheaded as I took more steps towards my destination. The sand below me shifted, causing me to stumble and face planted onto the sandy grounds.

My hooves shook as I tried to stand up, looking at the long journey ahead. I quickly reached into my saddlebag, rummaging through it. I felt the exterior of my water parchment and pulled it out from my saddlebag. I opened the lid and inspected its content. “Not a single drop...” I mumbled as my head hung low in disappointment. I looked over my shoulder, looking at the trail of my hoof prints with a sigh. I was at the point of no return. Either way, I might die from dehydration if I decided to head back or to move on.

I looked at the sandy horizon before me as anxiety started to flood into my mind. I was afraid that I might not complete my mission. The edges of my vision started to darken and weariness started to wash over me. “I must press forward,” I muttered, taking a step forward to my destination. Each step I took made me more and more tired. The edge of my vision was getting darker as I pressed on into my journey.

Hours had passed as I shakily trudged towards my destination and my vision had reduced into a small window in my eyes. I barely see the sea of sand in front of me. I felt the sand shifted under my hooves and I quickly tried to regain my balance. I felt my head was pounding, my heart hammering in my chest as I looked at the vast sea of sand that stood between me and my mother. My hooves gave out, feeling my body dropped unceremoniously onto the ground with a thud. The feeling of weariness was slowly taking over me as I barely able to keep my eyes open.

I closed my eyes, accepting my fate. The heat of the sun above penetrated through my robe, roasting me on the desert ground. I noticed my breathing was getting ragged and my mouth was incredibly sticky. “Mother,” I croaked, felt a single tear travelled down my cheek. Before I was sent into the world of eternal slumber, I heard something swooped in front of me.

“It looks like we got ourselves a lost zebra,” a female voice chuckled. Then, I heard somebody chuckled in response above me. With that, I was consumed by darkness.

My eyes shot open, hearing the crackling sound of fire nearby and saw the darkness of night blanketed over the sky above. I noticed that I was imprisoned in a cage as I looked around, my robe and my saddlebag was taken away from me and my spear was missing. My head turned towards the crackling fire, seeing something was sitting next to it with its back turned. Then, in the corner of my eyes, I saw another figure. The figure was organizing something in a wooden carriage, hearing it mumbled something incoherent.

I quickly inspected the lock of the cage, feeling adrenaline started to rush over me. I never seen such lock before, I thought, looking at the unusual lock with confusion plastered across my face. It was a talon shaped lock with a small hole in the middle. Then my eyes widened in realization, clenching my teeth tightly in response. Rogue griffons, I grunted inwardly, my eyes darting for weapons.

My eyes quickly locked onto a bowl of water near my cage, feeling the stickiness of my mouth and the dryness in my throat. I lunged towards it, greedily lapping its content. Thank the gods, I sighed in contentment mentally, feeling grateful for such simple pleasure.

“So, you’re already awake, huh doggy?” the female voice from before snickered, hearing footsteps approaching me. I looked up, seeing one of my captors smirking down on me. It was a young female griffon – probably the same age as me. The feathers around her eyes were light green as much as I can tell through the darkness of night. I looked into her eyes, seeing her desire to cause pain through her red blood orbs. The feathers above her head slightly obscured the vision of her left eye. Then my eyes wandered off onto her sides, noticing two daggers were in their covers.

“What are you looking at?” she spat as she gave my cage a kick. The sound of the cage door rattling echoed into the night sky. I kept my silence, glaring at the young griffon as my teeth clenched tighter in my mouth.

“Don’t harm the merchandise, Ivy,” a gruff voice spoke, hearing the figure from before approached from behind. I looked over my shoulder and saw a big male griffon stepped into the light of the fire. My eyes widened once again, noticing his body was twice the size of my father. Scars ran down his cheek, marking he was an experience fighter. His claws were dark and sharp, and there was a large hammer strapped onto his back.

“So, how are you doin’?” he asked, smiling as he looked at me with his deep brown eyes. I gulped nervously as I was unable to read his expression, fearing he was a big threat. He is good at hiding his intention, I thought to myself, keeping myself quiet. Then, a frown tugged onto his face. “Not talkin’, eh?” he continued, walking away as Ivy nonchalantly played with her dagger, leaning against my cage.

“Why are you doing this to me?” I asked, exchanging glares at the two of my captors.

“Well...” the male griffon started, sounding amused. “I’m here to make friends, that’s all,” he chuckled, sitting next to the campfire, turning his back on me. I gave a single chuckle in response to his obvious lie.

“Stop talking crap, Brutus,” Ivy retorted, glaring at the bigger griffon. “We’re going to sell you to the rich bastards who are in the market for zebras,” she explained as she looked at me with a grin, sounding amused.

“Also, that,” Brutus added, standing up. Then he turned to look at me, his grin was as wide as the horizon. “Zebras are really high in demand in the black market lately and I’m sure you’ll make a profit,” he chuckled darkly, approaching my cage with his hammer in hands. “That’s why...” he trailed off, smiling. “I need to take the profit alone,” he grunted, swinging his hammer towards Ivy. She quickly ducked and jumped backwards, dodging the lethal blow to the head.

“What the hell, Brutus?” She yelled, unsheathing her daggers. The bigger griffon laughed darkly in return. “You know what? To hell with you,” she screamed, charging head on to the colossal warrior. Brutus’s hammer came down with a mighty swing, but Ivy’s small and fast body gave her more maneuverability in her attack, dodging the thundering hammer. Brutus mighty strength and his giant hammer created a big cloud of sand as it hit the sandy ground. My eyes were watering as they were stung by the cloud of sand, frantically searching a way to escape as the two griffons battled to the death.

My eyes widened as I saw Brutus’s hammer swung towards the cage as Ivy jumped over. I quickly moved far back of the cage, bracing myself for the mighty swing. I felt my body violently hit the metal bars of the cage as it flung towards the fire, stopping by matter of inches away from it. I sighed in relief as I almost ended up cooked alive. My eyes darted towards the cage’s door, noticing the lock was broken by Brutus’s reckless attack. I jumped out the cage, my head scanning for a weapon.

“Thank the gods,” I sighed in relief for the second time as I saw my stone spear was sitting inside the carriage. I quickly bolted towards it, grabbing my trusty stone spear into my hooves. My head darted around, scanning the area for the fighting griffons.

“Shit!” Ivy’s voice squawked behind me as I quickly turned to look. She was pinned down by Brutus with a claw to the neck. At that moment, I saw the true shadow of Brutus; a dark entity of murderous monster. He was grinning maniacally; looking at the young griffon squirmed under him. “Why are you doing this?” she wheezed, gasping for air.

“I want the full profit, that’s all,” he answered as his voice dripped with malice, chuckling.

“Go shove a spear up your ass,” she spat, her arms reaching for her daggers that lay next to her. But they were out of her reach.

“Cute.” Brutus grinned, adding pressure to her neck. I saw Ivy’s face slowly turning blue as she tried to gasp for air. Without a second longer, I quickly ran towards Brutus, jumping onto his back and chocked him with my spear. Ivy let out a deep gasp, coughing, as she tried to regain her breath.

“Why you little...” he grunted as he tried to pull my spear away, dropping his hammer with a thud. He spun around while I was still on his back, attempting to throw me off but I kept the pressure onto his neck, pulling my spear harder. I heard he started to gurgle and saw his face turned purple. He tried to back up but stumbled upon the shifting sand, dropping onto his back with me behind him. I felt pain shot through my head as his full weight came crushing down on me. I saw stars appeared in my vision yet I still kept the pressure onto his neck.

I saw he flailed his arms and wings, struggling to free himself. After another few moments of struggling, his body went limp. His life escaped from his body. I pushed his lifeless body to the side, catching my breath that was knocked out of me. Then, I saw Ivy stood above me, daggers dangerously pointed at my throat. I nervously gulped.

“Why did you save me?” she hissed, adding pressure to the blade. I felt her blade pierced my skin and felt a drop of blood ran down my neck.

“I am a warrior. I save the weak from the bad,” I answered, looking into her red eyes.

“You said I’m weak?” she hissed again, pulling me closer to her face until I could feel her hot breath on my neck, looking eye to eye.

“At that moment, your fate was already sealed by death. If I did not act quickly, you might not stand here at this moment,” I answered through gritted teeth, challenging her by pressing our foreheads together as we glared into each other’s eyes.

“Whatever,” she muttered, dropping me onto the ground with a thud. I looked at her as she slowly walked towards the lifeless body of Brutus. She stood above his body, holding a dagger high with both of her claws with a frown tugged onto her beak. “I trusted you... asshole,” she whispered as she struck the dagger down onto his chest, blood spraying onto her feathers. I looked away, not wanting to see any more unnecessary violence.

My hooves shook as I slowly stood up. I winced, a shot of pain bolted into my right fore hoof. I softly touched it on to the ground and quickly retracted it, realizing I had a sprained hoof. I hobbled next to the campfire, seeking warmth under the cold desert night.

I gingerly rubbed my hooves, trying to soothe the ache until I noticed Ivy sat across from me, her feathers dripped with blood. Her expression darkened, cleaning her dagger by wiping it onto her fur. Once it had no single trace of Brutus’s blood, she sheathed her dagger, glaring at me. I quickly avoid contact by continuing to massage my sore hoof as a sign of respect for her privacy. There was silence between us except for the sound of the crackling fire.

“Why are you out here all alone?” she spoke suddenly, breaking the silence.

“I’m on a journey,” I answered simply, rubbing my aching hoof.

“For what?” she asked, walking towards the carriage behind her and pulled out a cloth. Then she proceeded by wiping the still-dripping blood from her fur and feathers.

“My mother,” I answered, eying the griffon’s movements as I pulled my spear closer.

“Huh...” she replied, looking at me with a questioning eyebrow. She gave me a dismissive shrug and sat back down across from me, eying my movements as well.

“Who was that?” I asked in returned, nodding towards Brutus’s lifeless body. I softly touched the sandy ground with my right hoof and a smile tugged onto my face. I did not feel a sharp pain as I stood up, strapping the spear onto my back.

“He was my employer... and a friend,” she answered glumly, looking away.

“An employer... for what?” I asked as I gave her a questioning eyebrow.

“You see,” she grunted, standing up and unsheathed a dagger. I quickly jumped backwards, ready for an attack. “I am a hired mercenary and bodyguard. That bloke over there was my boss,” she answered as she spat into the fire.

“Aren’t you a slaver?” I asked, slowly reaching for my spear.

“What?” she blurted, sounding amused. “I know I’m a murderous monster but I’m not low enough to sell living creatures as slaves. Even I have my standards.” Ivy chuckled.

“Then, why did you put me into a cage?” I asked again, glaring.

“Well, duh. I’m an employee. I had a contract with him. So, I have to do whatever he asked me to do,” she answered in a matter-of-factly, shrugging nonchalantly. I glared at her as we started to circle the fire. I felt the rush of adrenaline starting to pump in my chest, my teeth clenched tightly in my mouth and my eyes scanned for any sudden movements.

“Look,” she started, putting her dagger back into its cover. “I don’t have any more intention to kill you anymore since that ass hat is already dead. So, in terms of contract, I’m free to do whatever I want,” she explained, standing casually across from me.

“Why should I trust you?” I hissed, slowly letting my guard down.

“Let us call this a ‘favor’. You saved me and in return, I won’t kill you... for now,” she answered with a grin on her face. “How about it?” she asked, swooping in front of me as she extended a claw.

“Very well,” I sighed as I shook her claw. I saw her grin getting wider and her red eyes sparkled. Then, we let go of each other’s hands.

“You probably already know my name. How about you tell me yours?” she asked as she walked towards the carriage, rummaging through it.

“I’m Nadir,” I said, approaching closer from behind.

“Well, Nadir,” she grunted, throwing my saddlebag and my hooded robe onto the ground. “This is going to be a beautiful friendship,” she grinned.

Author's Note

Helpful feedback is always welcome.

Chapter 3: Port Osglen

I was flying! For the first time of my zebra life, I was high in the sky. The sound of the wind whistled in my ears, the cool air violently brushed against my coat and mane, ruffling it into a mess. But I do not care, because I was flying! I looked down from the carriage, watching the desert ground below me quickly passed as we moved in great speed.

“First time flying, huh?” Ivy yelled over the sound of the wind gushing, grunting as she pulled the wooden carriage with me sitting inside.

“Yes,” I yelled back, sounding amused as I watched the far away clouds floated lazily. “But,” I started, looking at the griffon with a questioning eyebrow. “Why are you doing this again?”

“You remember when I said that I want to kill you?” she asked, looking over her shoulder with a grin. I nodded, confusion plastered over my face. “Well, if you die out here in the desert, I won’t have the chance to kill you myself,” she explained, looking back to the direction she was heading.

“You could have ended my life when I was asleep,” I replied, looking back onto the desert ground.

“Yeah, but it wouldn’t be as fun. I like my victims to go down fighting,” she explained, chuckling as her head scanning around for something.

“Do you even know where I was heading?” I asked, looking over the horizon to search for any landmarks.

“You’re heading west, right? Judging by the direction that you were going, you’re heading to Port Osglen,” she answered, looking at me with an amused grin. “I didn’t even know that you have the balls to even go there.”

“What do you mean by ‘balls’?” I asked as I am not familiar of such terms before. She looked back with disbelief in her eyes as she raised a question eyebrow at me.

“Are you serious?” she grunted. “Courage, dumbass,” she explained as she let out an annoyed sigh, despondently shaking her head. I crossed my hooves in return, glaring at her for her insult with my brows furrowed. She gave her wings a series of mighty flaps, increasing the speed of the carriage. I felt the winds started to get stronger against my coat as we zipped through the wide blue sea.

It has been a few minutes since then. The sounds of the wind whistled in my ears were such an amazing experience. I felt a smile tugged on the corner my mouth, touching a nearby cloud with a hoof. Its coolness caressed and dampened the fur of my hoof, filling me with bliss in every experience. I might be the first zebra to touch the sky. I closed my eyes, extending my hooves to my sides as I imagined that I had wings on my own. I felt the wind brushed against my sides, shivering by the coolness. I filled my lungs with fresh air, smelling the scent of fresh water wafted into my nose. I hollered into the sky, thanking to the gods above the great sky as I felt a smile tugged the corner of my mouth once again.

“Hey, Stripes,” Ivy called out. “Look down.” I slowly opened my eyes, seeing the golden glow of the sun above. Then, I scooted to the side of the carriage, looking down. My eyes widened upon what I saw. Tall stone buildings with arching tilled roof clawed the sky. There were mazes of street below that was filled with life, not only ponies but also griffons and a handful of zebras walked along the stone streets below. I cast my gaze slightly up and saw something that I never seen before.

The wide blue sea stretched as far as the horizon would go. Massive ships floated to and fro slowly at the town’s port. I looked down once again, seeing ponies and griffons unloading crates onto the harbor, the sound of barking orders resonated from the port. “Who are they?” I asked, looking at Ivy with a questioning eyebrow. She chuckled.

“Most of them are traders and merchants,” she started, looking down towards the port. “But some of them are slavers and pirates,” she explained, looking at me with an amused smile on her face. My eyes widened as I felt my stomach churned.

“You’re dealing with slavers and pirates?” I asked once again as I was unsure what to feel at that moment. The feeling of shock and disgust flooded my mind; my eyes darted in confusion, frantically to find an answer for this... this madness.

“Hey, it’s not we have anything else to do,” she answered, giving me a casual shrug as indifference plastered across her face. “This place is a paradise for murderous mercenaries and corrupted bastards from all over the world,” she continued with amusement beamed in her eyes. “Welcome to Port Osglen,” she concluded by waving her hands in a welcoming gesture, chuckling. I prayed to the gods for my safety.

“We’re gonna’ land, hold on,” she called out as she dived dangerously towards the ground. I quickly held my belongings tightly onto my chest as I bit the edge of the carriage to secure myself. The wood tasted moldy and old, causing me to gag, but I kept my concentration off the taste by mentally preparing myself for the town that we were descending into. Mother, I reminded myself, keeping myself ready and prepared for anything.

“Fuck,” I heard Ivy grunted as she tried to pull up, flapping her wings rapidly. The carriage was heading towards the ground in a deadly speed but Ivy’s effort was effective as we slowed down. The carriage landed unceremoniously with a thud. I let go of the wooden edge, spitting the moldy taste out of my mouth. I looked outside and saw we landed in front of the large gateway of the town –which was blocked by a steel gate. The gateway was surrounded with guards of different races who wore heavy silver armor that covered themselves from head to toe, diligently patrolling the wall surrounding the town.

I quickly noticed that one of the griffon guards slowly glided towards us. Then I swiftly wore my maroon hooded robe and wrapped my hooves with bandages in attempt to conceal my stripes. I fastened my saddlebags and strapped my stone spear onto my back, silently prayed to the gods.

“Halt, who goes there?” a gruff voice echoed from the armor as the guards landed next to the carriage, his armor let rattled upon landing.

“Easy, Gratul, it’s just me,” Ivy replied nonchalantly, releasing herself from the carriage’s harness.

“Hey, Ivy, what you got here this time?” the griffon that I assumed was known as Gratul asked, looking through his helmet to get a better view of me. I lowered my head to avoid his inspection.

“I got myself a pony slave, that’s all,” she answered in a relaxed tone, opening the carriage door. “Move, slave!” she barked, violently pulling me out of the carriage. I unceremoniously dropped onto the dirt ground.

“Heh, you going to sell him?” the guard chuckled, looking at the young griffon.

“Nah, he’s going to be my toy to play,” she answered with amusement crept in her voice. “Stand up, you idiot,” she barked again, pulling me onto my hooves, but I kept my silence. I don’t know what she’s trying to do, but it does kept suspicion off from me. I decided I’d play along. I slowly walked towards the gateway with my head hung low, avoiding eye contact with anybody. I heard the guard and Ivy slowly followed from behind me.

“So, where’s Brutus?” I heard Gratul asked.

“He’s dead,” Ivy answered glumly.

“That bastard’s dead, huh? Good riddance.” He chuckled.

“Yeah,” she sighed.

“Well, I’ll tell the other guards to let you in,” he offered.

“Thanks.”

“No problem,” he replied, flying passed me. “Open the gate,” he barked towards the other guards.

“Open the gate,” I heard another guard barked and another guard from somewhere that was out of my line of sight barked the same thing. Then I heard a loud grinding sound of metal against metal as the steel gate slowly lifted off the ground. I heard Ivy’s wings flapped as she landed next to me.

“Don’t do anything stupid, you got that?” she hissed, keeping her eyes forward.

“Why?” I asked, gazing her with my eyes.

“If they know you’re a zebra, they might take you away,” she explained, hissing.

“Why?” I asked again, confusion started to cloud my mind.

“Those guards there,” she started, nodding towards the ponies, zebras and griffons who wore metal armor that stood in front of us. “Those guards are assholes like the rest of us, but they got the official power to be assholes by the town’s mayor,” she explained, her eyes darted in every direction.

“What would they do if they know I’m a zebra?” I whispered, lowering my head as we got closer to the gateway.

“They’ll probably sell you for profit... or worse,” she answered in a serious tone, looking at the griffon guards who hovered above us.

“Why? I saw a handful of zebras walking around the town earlier,” I whispered back as we reached the gateway. I felt the stares of the guards bore into me, my ears twitching as I heard whispers echoed in the walls and adrenaline slowly pumped into my chest.

“Those are the lucky ones who proved themselves as warriors in the slave pits, as well as other griffons and ponies who are lucky enough to prove their worth in this goddess forsaken town,” she whispered, eying the guards movements. I clenched my teeth in my mouth in anger when I heard her answer, keeping myself silent.

As we passed the gate, the sound of metal grinding echoed within the walls again as the steel gate slowly blocked the entrance once more. I looked up towards wall over my shoulder, inspecting its height. The wall itself was not the tallest thing in the town. In fact, I’ve seen taller buildings while we were on the way towards the gateway. I turned to look at Ivy who stood silently next to me. “Why can’t we just fly over rather than walk into the gateway?” I asked, confusion riddled on my face.

“Sure, we can do that when we want a spear lodge into our throats,” she replied sarcastically, shrugging nonchalantly. I gave her a glare, my brows furrowed. Sure it might sound like a ridiculous for her but to me, this is the first time I’ve seen civilization since I left my tribe, my father. “Look,” she started, brushing the feathers on her head. “This place is already shitty enough with the whole corrupted justice system thing. Because of that, this whole town is filled with paranoid bastards who would kill if you even look at them in a funny way. So, if anything that will go over the gate without going through the gateway is a body bag,” she explained, looking at the darkening sky.

What is wrong with this place, I thought to myself upon hearing the dark truth of this place. I looked at the windows of the homes nearby and noticed they were barred with metal grids. I peeked at the edge of my hood and saw most of the residents here had weapons strapped onto their backs – ranging from crude handmade knives to sledgehammers. Then, I heard my stomach let out a grumble. I quickly hold my it, lowering my head to hide my blush.

“We better get something to eat,” Ivy suggested, scanning the streets for a place that sells food. “I know, follow me,” she said as she walked down a dark street.

It has been hours of walking and the moon already loomed above the town yet we still haven’t found a place to eat. Both of our stomach grumbled as we scanned the streets. Gruff laughter filled the streets that we were in, smelling the delicious scent of freshly baked breads wafted into our noses. Then, my nose suddenly itched as I smelled something unfamiliar; it was a strong and overpowering scent.

“Mmm... hard apple cider,” I heard Ivy muttered, her eyes rolled in pleasure. As we were walking closer towards the scent, I stopped, my ears twitched. I heard singing. The voice was beautiful and enticing, a voice like velvet that wrapped around my ears. I walked closer and listened to the words.

“Set me free into the sky, for I wish to fly.” I took a peek from the window next to me and my eyes widened upon seeing the sight. It was a unicorn pony mare that had a light pink coat, and a long flowing golden mane. Her eyes were deep grey, looking into the distance. My eyes lingered onto her flank, looking at her cutie mark; a white dove sitting on a red cross. But that was not the thing that made my eyes widened. The thing that pulled me into a state of shock was the mare who was singing was put inside of a cage that dangled in the middle of the room.

The griffons, zebras and even ponies that sat on the table around her were enjoying her singing as they shoved food down their throats. I clenched my teeth at the sight, my heart burning with anger. “What are they doing?” I hissed silently towards Ivy, keeping my eyes onto the cage.

“They’re just eating, why?” she replied, looking at me with confusion on her face.

“I mean, what are they doing locking a mare into a cage in the middle of the room?” I hissed back, reaching for my spear. I guess she noticed the anger in my eyes and quickly pushed me against the wall – away from the window.

“What do you think you’re doing?” she hissed, pinning me against the wall with her claw on my throat.

“I have to save her,” I whispered back, struggling to free myself.

“Why in hell you want to do that?” she hissed again, pulling me closer to her eyes. “There are probably two dozen mercenaries in that room.”

“I don’t care, I have to save her,” I hissed back, glaring into her eyes.

“This is a suicide mission, Stripes,” she growled. “You’re about to fight against mercenaries who had years of experience.”

“I’m not planning to attack head on, I’m planning to sneak pass them,” I admitted, hissing.

“You know I can leave you by yourself if you planning to go with... this suicide mission, right?” she asked, glaring at me.

“If you want to leave, be my guest. I’ll stand on my decision, with or without you,” I answered, looking into her eyes. I saw the muscle of her jaw tighten and her eyes darted as she internally weighted her options.

“Fuck,” she growled, releasing me from her grip. “What’s the plan?” she hissed, glaring at me. I felt a smile tugged on the corner of my mouth.

“Let me see first,” I whispered, slowly peeking at the window. I noticed the lighting of the dining hall was mainly due to torches that sat along the walls. The spaces between the tables were wide enough for me to sneak pass without bumping to the patrons and the patrons themselves seems to be intoxicated by the alcoholic beverages. I changed my gaze onto the cage, the chain that held the cage onto the ceiling was still in perfect condition but the lock was rusting away in age. I quickly ducked back into the shadow.

“Can you fly super fast?” I asked as I rummaged through my saddlebag for something.

“Is that a challenge?” she asked, looking amused. “I can fly faster than anything,” she bragged as she stood with her chest puffed in pride.

“Yes,” I whispered triumphantly, taking out a bottle from my saddlebag. I quickly opened the lid with a pop, shaking out a yellow seed.

“What’s that?” Ivy asked, looking at the seed with an inspecting eye.

“It is a battle enhancing herb,” I explained as I put the bottle bag into my saddlebag.

“You mean like ‘combat drug’?” she asked, sounding amused with a smile on her face.

“I don’t know what is a ‘combat drug’ is but if you think they are the same thing, then yes,” I answered, nodding as I put the seed into my mouth. I gave it a bite, gagging at the bitter taste but I felt its effect immediately. I blinked and look at a dark area. My vision glowed and I was able to see in the dark, I smiled in satisfaction.

“What did you eat?” she asked, looking confused at my sudden smile.

“It’s a seed from a plant called 'Cat’s Eye' It will grant me an ability to see in the dark for a period of time. This is great for midnight ambush against an enemy,” I answered. I saw amusement and interest beamed in Ivy’s eyes as she learned the effect of the herb.

“Can I have one?” she asked, extending a claw. I nodded and quickly gave her a seed. She popped it into her mouth and gagged. Then a smile etched on her face, noticing the effect taking over. “This is fuckin’ rad,” she commented, smiling.

“Now, I want you to fly in as fast as you can and blow out each and every torch,” I explained, peeking through the window. “Then, when I open the cage, you quickly grab the mare and fly out of here and find somewhere safe,” I continued, looking at her. She nodded in response. “Good,” I whispered. I took a deep breath, mustering my strength as I grabbed my spear. I looked into the moon, praying to the gods above for the success of this mission.

“Now,” I whispered, signaling her to make her move. True to her words, she jetted inside the room and in just a split second, the room succumbed into darkness. A wave of shocked and confused voices broke inside.

“What the fuck happened?” I heard a mare voice asked from the far back of the room. Without another second longer, I swiftly jump through the window. I saw various races of patrons walked inside the room in confusion, trying to find the exit. I carefully dodged every patron as I approached the cage; the mare looked relaxed in such dark state. I jumped on a table below the cage and reached for my spear.

“I’m here to help,” I whispered, seeing the mare’s face which had a mixture of disbelief and gratitude. I gave my spear a mighty thrust onto the lock, breaking it with a loud clang that resonated in the room.

“Somebody’s opening the cage!” I heard a gruff voice called out from behind me. I quickly whistled towards the window. Ivy swiftly flew back in and carried the mare into her claws. With a nod, she jetted out into the streets, seeing that she had turned left.

I quickly strapped the spear onto my back and leaped from the table across the room. I successfully somersaulted out of the window and swiftly dashed down the streets where Ivy went. I had a knowing smirk on my face as I successfully accomplished the mission in a way that could make my father proud. I looked into the starry sky above, thanking the gods for listening to my prayers.

Author's Note

Helpful feedback is always welcome.

Chapter 4: Danger Leaves No Warning

“Hey,” I heard someone whispered to me as I ran down the dark street. I quickly stopped and turned my to my right to look. I saw Ivy was hiding inside of a small dark alley between the tall buildings with the unicorn solemnly sat behind her. I looked over my shoulder, inspecting if I was being followed. My eyes darted in every direction, scanning the area. I swiftly jumped into the alley and whispered.

“I think we’re safe.”

“Pretty much,” Ivy replied as she gave a casual shrug. I nodded; walking passed her towards the light pink unicorn mare.

“Don’t worry, you’re safe now,” I whispered, smiling.

“Thank you,” she whispered back, returning the smile. I gave the unicorn a suspecting eye because there was something off about her. On the outside, she looked like any other unicorn mare but there was something different in her eyes. I know she looked at me but her head was slightly off. I slowly waved my hoof in front of her face and she didn’t respond.

“Perhaps you find something unusual about me?” she asked with a smile still plastered across her face.

“I-I uh...” I stuttered, my mind reeling for an answer.

“Smooth...” I heard Ivy sarcastically commented behind me. Then, the mare let out a giggle as she hid her mouth with a hoof.

“It’s okay,” she started, giggling. “You probably won’t notice in the first glance but... I am naturally blind,” she continued as she gave me a soft smile. “Also, I have high hearing capability. So, I’m very sensitive with the sound of my surroundings.”

“That means...” I mumbled as I was unsure what I should feel at the moment. I had the mixture between impressed and fear.

“Yes, I heard your plan to save me while I was singing,” she giggled with amusement beamed from her eyes.

“Why didn’t you rat us out?” I heard Ivy spoke up.

“Well, because I want to be free,” she answered as she combed her golden flowing mane with a hoof.

“I hope so. Being trapped inside of a cage can be very frightening,” I whispered, looking over my shoulder as I glared at a certain griffon. Ivy noticed that I was glaring at her and she responded by giving me a nonchalant shrug, looking away. Then, she backed herself onto the wall, peeking slowly down the streets as she kept an eye out for suspicious followers.

“Oh my, where are my manners?” the unicorn mare gasped with shock on her face. “My name is Rose.” She introduced herself as she gave a slight bow of her head.

“Rose?” I heard Ivy asked, sounding confused. “You don’t look like a freakin’ Rose to me.”

“I don’t know,” she answered, shaking her head. “The ponies who worked at an orphanage that I was in when I was still a young filly called me ‘Rose’,” she explained, looking slightly sad over the memory. “Oh, look at me, rambling about my life. What an embarrassing thing to do,” she giggled, hiding her face with a hoof.

“No, it is fine,” I replied, shaking my head with a smile. I know she can’t see my smile but it was the thought that counts. “I am Nadir,” I said, giving her a nod.

“Ivy,” I heard the griffon spoke up from behind.

“Do you have any relativ— I mean, friends that could keep you safe?” I asked, feeling guilty that I mentioned about parents.

“It’s okay, I know my parents did not love me anyway,” she replied bluntly with a smile with on her face. “But, I don’t have any friends since I was kidnapped from the orphanage. I’ve been captive in the cage for quite a long time now,” she answered with worry plastered across her face. “B-but the owner who owns the place took care of me with great care, even if he put me locked inside the cage,” she added, stuttering.

“So, what now?” Ivy sighed, sounding annoyed to the situation. Then, my ears twitched and Rose’s head quickly darted upwards towards the rooftops.

“Did you hear that?” Rose gasped with worry in her voice; her grey eyes darted towards the sound.

“I did,” I answered, my ears twitched as I heard something in the distance. I looked at Ivy, nodding towards the rooftops. She nodded back, swiftly and quietly flew upwards. I saw her head scanned the rooftops then hovered back down, shaking her head.

“Whatever it was, it’s gone,” Ivy whispered, eying the rooftops.

“I don’t think it is safe to talk here,” I concluded, exchanging glances to the both of them. They both nodded in response.

“We better go to my place and we lay low there for a while,” Ivy offered, peeking down the dark streets from the alleyway.

“We should go,” I suggested, holding the mare’s hoof as we started to trot away.

“Wait,” she whispered as her horn let out a grey glow, levitating something from her mane. It was a bell that was tied with a red ribbon. “Wear this,” she said, offering me the bell. “It would be easier for me to follow the sound of the bell rather than pulling me all the way,” she explained, smiling.

“Heh, smart,” Ivy commented, grinning.

“Of course,” I nodded, tying the bell onto my neck. As I took a step forward, it let out a soft jingle and Rose’s ears quickly swirled towards the sound.

“Alright, let’s go,” Ivy hissed, feeling more and more uncomfortable at the situation.

“Lead the way,” I said, nodding. The griffon nodded in return then quietly glided down the street. I followed her from behind, the bell jingled in every step. I looked over my shoulder and saw Rose followed closely from behind. I turned my head towards the street in front of me; my eyes darted in suspicion as we continued walking towards the dark streets.

After an hour of walking and sneaking down the dark streets of Port Osglen, we finally reached our destination. In front of us was a single story stone house with a flat roof. The windows were like any other houses; barred with metal grids and the door looked like a thick wooden door. “It’s not much, but this is home,” I heard Ivy sighed with a smile on her face, walking towards the door.

She cautiously looked around the doorway, eying something. I gave her a questioning eyebrow, feeling confused by the whole paranoia act. “Aha,” she whispered triumphantly, pulling out a dagger. I saw something reflected as the glow from the moon above loomed over us. It was... a string. As Ivy cut the string, I heard something quickly wisped passed me, feeling blood trickled down my cheek. I turned my head to look, my eyes widened to see an arrow stuck on the wall behind me.

“I knew someone wants to kill me, but come on... an amateur can do better than that,” I heard Ivy commented, disappointment shadowed over her face. I just looked at her with shock in my eyes and she just gave me a shrug in respond. “Come on in,” she said as she invited us by nodding towards her home, lazily flew inside the small building.

“Are you okay?” I heard Rose asked as she trotted next to me with worry in her eyes.

“I’m fine,” I replied, wiping the blood with a hoof. “Let’s go,” I whispered, trotting inside. The bell jingled and Rose quickly followed me into the building. “Wow,” I gasped as my eyes widened and my head scanned the interior of the building. The living room was spacious; a candle chandelier hung in the middle of the room, showcases of various melee weapons decorated along the walls and various shields hung on the ceiling.

“It’s beautiful,” I heard Rose commented. My head darted to look at her with shock plastered across my face. She looked at me and giggled, giving me a sly wink. I blushed, feeling embarrassed by the whole thing.

“Ain’t my house fuckin’ beautiful?” Ivy chuckled, extending her claws towards her trophies. “I’ve been in the whole mercenary gig since I was a young griffon and I’ve accomplish a whole freakin’ load of mission in my years,” she bragged, her eyes beamed with pride.

Then, I casted my eyes on the room across from us, apparently it was a small kitchen and next to it was I assumed to be the bathroom. Before I know it, there was a scent of something delicious wafted into the room. Rose smelled it as well as we both sniffed the wonderful aroma. “What’s that’s smell?” the unicorn mare asked, sniffing the air with pleasure on her eyes.

“That is the vegetable stew that I’m currently cooking,” Ivy answered, looking amused to the well-received reaction from the both of us. Wait...

“You cook?” I asked, raising a questioning eyebrow. I was in a state of disbelief by the fact that a professional mercenary has the ability to cook.

“You have no idea,” Ivy chuckled, shaking her head. “Ponies would kill for my cooking,” she added with a devilish grin etched onto her face. I raised an eyebrow in return, unsure if it was a joke or she totally meant it. “Well, why won’t you guys sit anywhere you like while the stew is cooking,” she continued, sitting in front of the doorway leading towards the kitchen. Rose walked slowly passed me and sat in the middle of the room. I looked around, not seeing any more space to sit in. Then I decided to sit in front of the door, acting as a temporary watch.

“So,” I heard Rose spoke up, turning my head to look at her. “You two seems to be good friends.” Then, Ivy and I looked at each other’s eyes; her beak was quivering as she tried to stifle a laugher.

“Well...” I started as I nervously scratched the back of my neck, feeling unsure on how to tell her the truth that I was accompanied by a griffon that wanted my head on a plate.

“Bahahaha!” I heard Ivy barked a laugh, holding her sides. “He wish!” she chortled, wiping a tear from her eyes. Rose gave us a confused look, not knowing what had happened. “We’re not friends; we’re just on a temporary truce before I decided to cut his fucking head off.” Rose let out a shock gasped in return, exchanging looks at the both of us – which quite a feat for somepony who was blind.

“That reminds me,” I started, glaring at Ivy. “When are you going to kill me?” I asked bluntly, eliciting another gasp from Rose.

“Whenever I feel like it,” she replied, shrugging nonchalantly with a grin on her face. Then, there was silence. The sound and the aroma of the boiling stew filled the living room, making me and Rose feeling awkward. Suddenly, Rose’s ears swiveled towards the window next to me. Without a warning, I heard a thud in the middle of the room. I turned my head to look and saw a black ball with a burning string on top of it.

“Back off!” I heard Ivy screamed, jumping backwards. Then, everything slowed down. I noticed a worried looked plastered on Rose’s face, her head darted to hear what was happening. I saw fear in Ivy’s eyes, looking directly towards the dark ball in the room. Then, I suddenly had a flash in my mind, seeing something in my vision.

In my vision, I saw the huts of my tribe exploded when I saw the same ball things landed in them, the sky painted with blood and fire. I shook my head, returning to the land of the living, my heart pumped with adrenaline. I quickly reached towards the object, seeing the string had become much shorter. “No!” I heard Ivy screamed from behind me as I threw the black object towards the window. But, I was too late; there was a flash of fire in front of me with a mighty fwoomph and a thundering boom echoed in the room, knocking me backwards. Then, I succumbed into darkness.

I slowly opened my eyes. I saw fire licked the wooden ceiling through blurred vision, listening the high pitch sound rang in my ears. I slowly turned my head to look, seeing Rose’s face looked down on me with tears brimming in her grey eyes. Her coat was coated with patches of ash and I noticed her horn let out a gentle grey glow.

I turned my head towards my left, seeing Ivy’s angry eyes looked down on me. She was yelling something at me but I can’t hear what it was. Her voice and the painful ring in my ears blurred into one. I tried to sit up, but I can’t move my body as Rose kept pushing me down, shaking her head with tears ran down her cheeks. I tried to move my hind legs but I can’t feel them. My mind began to reel in panic, my heart hammering in my chest and my breathing started to pick up. My eyes darted, exchanging worried glances at the two of them.

I started to scream. I think that I screamed but... somehow I can’t hear my own voice. I saw Rose and Ivy frantically argued with one another, trying to find a solution for the whole mess. I felt my body involuntarily convulsed in pain, multiple shot of pain exploded on my sides and the bottom half of my body, wincing in agony. I tried to yell “help me” but I still can’t hear my own voice through the ringing in my ears. Then, my eyes widened, seeing Ivy stood above my body with a dagger in her claws.

She looked down on me with an unreadable expression as my vision started to blur with tears. Mother, I pleaded inwardly. Help me, I prayed to the gods. I saw she mouthed something but I can’t see it through my tears, shaking my head as I pleaded. With that, I felt something thrust into my chest, returning to the land of darkness.

I gasped, my eyes shot opened. I saw an array of stars glittered in the sky above me, hearing the sound of waves washing onto the shore. “He’s awake!” I heard Rose’s voice yelled, hearing the sound of her hooves galloped towards me. Her light pink face slowly appeared in my vision, her cheeks were dampened with tears and her eyes were red from excessive crying.

Then I heard the flaps of Ivy’s wings. “Hey,” she whispered as she hovered above me, looking at me with an inspecting eye.

“Hey,” I breathed as I took a deep breath, filling my lungs with the cool night air. “Is everybody alright?” I wheezed, slowly sitting up but yet again, I was pushed down by Rose’s hoof, shaking her head.

“We’re fine,” Rose answered, trying to smile but she was slowly failing. Her mouth started to quiver, unable to hide her sadness.

“But you in another hand...” Ivy mumbled, looking down my body. Oh gods, I gasped inwardly. Hoping it was nothing horrible as I tried to sit up. I pushed Rose’s hoof away, wanting to see the damage that had been done. My eyes widened upon seeing my wounds. Most of the furs of my hind legs were burnt off, revealing the burnt flesh underneath.

“No,” I cried. “No!” I screamed as tears rolled down my eyes, cursing my misfortune to the gods above. I saw Rose cried for my loss, tears ran down her cheeks in streams.

“Man the fuck up,” I heard Ivy mumbled.

“What?” I croaked, looking at her through blurred vision.

“I said... MAN THE FUCK UP!” she screamed, anger flashed in her eyes. “If you want to find you mother, these are the things that you will have to face. You shouldn’t be crying here like a little fucking colt. Instead, you stand up and shove your fucking spear up Death’s ass,” she continued, berating me.

“But... the pain,” I sniffed, trying to move my hind legs.

“Life is painful, Nadir,” she whispered, her expression turned gloomy. “That’s why you should man the fuck up. Show life that you are not an easy zebra to fuck with,” she said, making me feel better. I slowly looked at Rose, the bell cheerily jingled.

“Will my legs fully healed?” I asked, looking into her grey eyes. She nodded in response as she gave me a sad smile.

“Sorry,” she croaked, looking down at the sandy ground, tears brimming once more.

“It’s not your fault,” I replied, looking into the stars. “How did you heal me?” I asked as I looked at her once again. She smiled, pointing at her flank; a dove sitting on a red cross. “Oh.” I looked at the griffon who hovered above me. “Help me up,” I whispered. She nodded and pushed my back, helping me to sit up.

I looked around the beach, searching for my belongings. I saw my tattered robe sat on top of my saddlebag and spear. “Could you he--,” before I could finish my sentence, Rose levitated me my belongings, wiping her tears. “Thank you,” I whispered, wincing in pain as I moved my body. I rummaged through my saddlebag and pulled out a roll of bandage. I hissed painfully as I slowly wrapped my damaged hind legs with the bandage.

“Let me do it,” Ivy grunted as she gave me an annoyed look. She grabbed the roll away from my hooves and quickly proceeded on wrapping my hind legs. Then she violently tugged onto bandage, eliciting a hiss and a wince from me. She gave me a glare.

“Go on,” I squeaked, wincing.

“Done,” Ivy sighed, tightening the bandage with a knot. My hind legs felt a bit better after they were wrapped in bandages, allowing me to hobble back onto my hooves.

“What was that black ball?” I asked, hobbling towards my robe as I gingerly put it on.

“You mean the bomb?” Ivy replied, looking at me with confusion plastered across her face. I nodded. “It is a new invention of weaponry where it is use to harm or kill multiple target with one attack,” she explained, looking more serious as she dwelled into the matter.

“Does anypony can possess this bomb?” Rose asked, standing onto her hooves, sniffing.

“No,” the griffon replied, shaking her head as she looked into the distance. “The only ones who have this type of weaponry in their arsenal must be a powerful and influential individual,” she explained, her eyes were filled with anger. “Also, whoever they were... it was clear that they are targeting us.”

“Why?” Rose asked, worry started to creep into her voice.

“I do not know, but we are going to find out,” I replied, looking into the ripples of the moon’s reflection in the ocean.

Author's Note

Helpful feedback is always welcome.

Chapter 5: A Step Forward

I sat on the shore of the beach, closing my eyes as I felt the cool breeze of the morning sea air brushed against my burnt coat and mane. The smell of salty sea wafted into my nose, listening to the gentle sound of the waves washed onto the shore. I slowly opened my eyes, looking into the golden rising sun in the horizon. Its warm glow bathed Port Osglen and everything its path, filling me with solace for once.

My ears suddenly twitched as I heard Rose’s soft snore behind me, sleeping peacefully under my tattered robe. It has been quite an adventure for her in just one night and this just the beginning. I looked at my right and saw Ivy sat next to me as she played with her daggers by rolling it in her claws, looking in the distance. Then, my stomach grumbled. Right... we haven’t eaten anything since we got to the town, I grunted inwardly, clutching my empty stomach as I grimaced. Ivy noticed my expression.

“I think I’ll head into town to get us some grub,” she offered as she sheathed her dagger, standing up but I quickly grabbed her arms, looking up towards her.

“It is dangerous to go into town. Whoever that was hunting us last night might still be in the town,” I explained, shaking my head.

“Pssh,” she snorted, grinning. “Don’t you get your tail tied in a bunch, I’ll be fine. I’ve been in these kinds of shitty situations plenty of time. I know how to avoid an enemy if I need to,” she explained with a proud grin on her face. I noticed she had a fresh scar ran up the side of her left cheek. “Oh, this,” she spoke up as she touch her cheek, noticing that I was looking at it. “It’s from the blast last night but it is fine. Nothing that I can’t handle,” she chuckled, freeing her claws from my hoof. “I’ll be back and don’t die on me yet,” she said, grinning. I nodded in respond. With that, she gave her wings a mighty flap, rocketed into the sky.

I looked back into the ocean, sighing despondently. The bombing incident, my injury and even my mission to search for my mother began to start to weigh on my shoulders. I didn’t know why someone wanted to kill me so suddenly – well, except for Ivy. I killed one of her friends. But there was one thing that I know: I have to find my mother no matter what happens. Like Ivy said to me the night before, I have to toughen up. This world not will get easy for me in this whole journey and I need to get ready for anything, not matter how big or small the situation might be.

My ears twitched, hearing Rose let out a soft yawn behind me. I looked over my shoulder, smiling. Her light pink coat and her flowing golden mane glowed under the morning sun. “I-is there somepony here?” she stuttered, worry plastered on her face as she groggily stood up. I shook my head in respond, ringing the bell that hung from my neck. “Oh,” she gasped, looking at my direction with a relief smile on her face. “What time is it?” she asked, slowly walked towards me.

“It is morning,” I answered, looking into the rising sun in the horizon in front of me.

“I see,” she giggled, sitting next to me. I let out a chuckle in respond.

“Did you sleep well?” I asked, looking at her with a gentle smile etched on my face.

“I did.” She nodded. “Thank you for lending your robe for me to sleep in,” she said, smiling as she looked at me.

“It is fine. You need the rest more than all of us,” I replied, looking back into the ocean. I closed my eyes, feeling the breeze brushed my coat once again. I took a deep breath, filling my lungs with fresh and salty air to clear my murky mind.

“What are we going to do?” I heard Rose asked, clearly worried about the situation at hand.

“I do not know. But I wish to discuss about it when all of us are here,” I answered, letting my mind wandered off into a happy place.

“Oh? Where’s Ivy?” she asked again.

“She’s in town, finding us some food to eat. I think it is agreeable that all of us are hungry at the moment,” I answered, nodding.

“Will she be fine?” Rose’s voice filled with worry.

“She is a warrior like me, I am sure that she will be fine,” I answered. “A better one as well,” I admitted, grinning. “Oh,” I spoke up, looking towards her. “Did you notice that Ivy had a scar on her face?”

“I did,” she nodded; her head was looking at the sea. “Last night, while you were... unconscious, I offered to heal the wound but she kept insisting me to heal you,” she continued, smiling.

“Wait,” I mumbled, looking at her with a questioning eyebrow. “How can you see the injuries that you are treating when you are... blind?” I asked with a wince, feeling guilty that I might touched on a sensitive subject to dwell.

“Well,” she began, smiling. “It is because of my talent of course,” she continued, looking at me with radiating kindness. “Let me demonstrate,” she concluded, closing her eyes, her brows furrowed in concentration. Then, I noticed her horn let out a gentle grey glow. The glow slowly became brighter – and in just a split second, a sizable magical dome appeared around her. The size was probably two hooves length from her body.

“In this dome,” she started, waving her hooves around. “I can ‘see’. The image that I see is somewhat gritty and colorless but it still gives me the ability to ‘see’ the wounds either internally or externally,” she explained, smiling as the dome disappeared with a zap.

“That is amazing,” I gasped, my eyes widened in amazement.

“But,” she spoke up; her head looked onto the ground with a frown tugged onto her face. “I still can’t properly heal an injury without the proper tools and equipments,” she said softly, looking at my apologetically.

“It is fine,” I replied, knowing what was on her mind. “There is nothing more that can be done in our weakest state. I accept the misfortune that had been given to me,” I continued, smiling weakly.

“Hey!” We heard a familiar voice called out. Our heads quickly turned and saw Ivy glided towards us with a sack in her claw and a smile on her face. “Got us some food and drinks,” she chuckled, landing between us. She opened the sack, showing us –me—the variety of breads. We immediately sat in a circle with the food and drinks passed equally between us. I greedily bit down on my piece of bread; my hunger took over my body. Ivy was alternating between two breads in her claws as her primal instinct started to show and unlike the two of us, Rose was eating her piece of bread with ladylike fashion.

Breakfast was quiet and only accompanied by the sound of the waves washing onto the shore. I knew the reason why we were quiet. It was because the incident that happened last night burnt into our minds. After all the food and drinks were finished, we all let out a sigh of contentment, patting out filled stomach. “So...” Ivy started, picking her teeth with a claw. “What do we do now?”

“We need to find who attacked us last night and find out what was his or her motive on the attack,” I answered, standing up. I hobbled towards my robe; Rose’s sweet scent wafted from the robe and into my nose as I gingerly wore my tattered clothes. I carefully fastened my saddlebag onto my injured body and strapped my spear over my shoulder.

“How?” Rose asked as she stood up, hearing the bell on my neck jingled.

“We have to lure him out. Letting him or her know that we are still alive,” I answered, looking back towards Port Osglen, eyes furrowed.

“What’s on your mind?” Ivy asked, hovering above me.

“I got a plan,” I answered, grinning. “Follow me, I’ll tell you along the way,” I said, slowly hobbled towards the town with a knowing grin on my face. I looked into the blue sky above; praying to the gods above for my plan would bare fruit.

The sound of walking ponies, zebras and griffons filled the main market area of Port Osglen. Many street vendors and traveling merchants were calling out towards the sea of crowd, hoping that they would attract potential customers’ attention with their ‘special offers’. The bell on my neck jingled in every step as Rose diligently trying to keep up with me. I looked at the edge of my tattered hood and saw Ivy sneakily hid in the rooftops, scouting from above.

“Hear anything unusual, Rose?” I asked, whispering as my eyes darted in every direction. Anyone of the crowd can be a potential attacker and I must keep an eye on every movements.

“No, just hearing the massive amount of hoovesteps walking,” I heard Rose replied, whispering. Then my ears twitched and I noticed Rose picked up the sound as well. Her head darted around as we heard a lone hoofstep that was not walking but galloping towards us. I looked at Ivy who was hiding behind a chimney to my right and gave her the signal with a nod. She nodded back, slowly backing behind the chimney.

My eyes darted below the shadow of my hood, looking for any suspicious pony or zebra. My heart started to hammer in my chest and adrenaline began to pump into my blood. I closed my eyes, mentally preparing myself.

“AAAAAAHHH!” I heard a muffled cry in front of me and I quickly opened my eyes. I saw an earth mare with dark brown coat and a yellow mane, wearing a black cloak running towards me with a dagger in her mouth. Her eyes filled with determination to kill. She made a mighty leap, aiming the dagger towards my neck. In just an instant, the mare was violently tackled on her side, flinging her to the side of the street with a loud thud, her dagger clatter onto the stone street.

I hobbled towards her, brows furrowed as Rose quietly followed behind me. I swiftly equipped my spear, lightly pressed the tip of my spear on her neck. Ivy landed next to the mare -- daggers ready in her claws with a maniacal grin plastered across her face.

“Well, lookie what we have here,” Ivy chuckled, licking the blade of her dagger.

“Go fuck a tree,” the mare spat, glaring at her.

“Ooh, you’re so cute,” the griffon cooed mockingly, grabbing the mare’s neck in a tight grip.

“Enough,” I growled. Ivy looked at me with a frown. She let go the mare’s neck, sighing. “Why are you hunting me?” I asked, looking into the mare’s green eyes. She grinned and spat on me.

“You’ll never know,” she chuckled darkly. I quickly pulled onto her cloak, looking at her eye to eye. I was clenching my teeth hard and breathed heavily in anger.

“I’ll ask you again: Tell me why you’re hunting me,” I growled, my patience wearing thin. She just chuckled in respond. Then her mouth bubbled and her eyes rolled back. She let out gurgling noises and her body went limp. I slowly released her, confusion plastered across my face.

“Fuck!” Ivy spat, kicking the lifeless body. “That bitch killed herself,” she hissed, sheathing her daggers.

“H-how?” Rose stammered, her eyes widened in shock.

“There’s a method where an agent puts a fucking poison pill under their tongue. If they are caught or compromised, they’ll fucking swallowed it to save the fucking organization or agency,” she explained, angrily pacing around the body. “Wait,” she suddenly whispered, looking down at the body. She quickly reached down and ripped the side of the cloak, holding an emblem in her claw. “Ha! What a rookie!” she barked, chuckling.

“What is it?” I asked, looking at the piece of cloth. I saw a red picture of a lion’s head roaring. Suddenly, my body convulsed involuntarily, a shock of pain jolted in my head. I winced, feeling lightheaded.

“Are you okay?” Rose asked, her horn let out a grey glow as she softly grabbed me closer.

“I-I’m fine,” I answered, wincing.

“Hey, Stripes,” Ivy spoke up, throwing the cloth towards me. I quickly grabbed it as I looked at the emblem. “I never seen that emblem before but I know someone that might help. He’s been in this hellhole longer than any guards stationed in this town,” she explained, grinning.

Then, I noticed that we were surrounded by the residents of the town when my ears heard a wave of whispered broke. We looked around, seeing the faces of the residents who witness the whole incident. After a few minutes of silence between us, all of them returned to their activities, nonchalantly walking passed the dead body.

“Won’t they report to the authorities?” I asked Ivy, worry started to creep in my voice.

“Nah,” she replied nonchalantly. I looked at her with a mix of confusion and worry in my face. “Remember, this town is filled with murderous mercenaries and killing bastards. These things happen in town pretty much regularly,” she explained, shrugging casually. My mind began to reel as I don’t understand how someone could be so ignorant and just disregard such cruel act. But, somehow in the deepest part of my mind, I was relief that we were not in trouble – which disturbed me deeply. “Right, let’s go,” Ivy said, walking away as she stepped over the body. I nodded in silence and followed her with Rose in tow.

After an hour of silence, I noticed that we were heading towards the gateway of the town. I quickly lowered my head, hiding my face under the shadow of my hood. I felt Ivy’s claw on my chest, stopping me. “How’s your mother look like?” she whispered, eying the guards in front of us.

“A zebra, blue eyes and star glyph mark on her flank,” I answered, whispering as my eyes darted towards the hovering armored guards.

“Right, you guys stay here. I’m going to have a little chat with Gratul,” she replied, slowly gliding towards the gateway. “Hey, Gratul! Bring your ass down here,” she called out, chuckling.

“So,” I heard Rose spoke up behind me. I looked at her with a questioning eyebrow. “You’re searching for your mother?” she asked, her voice soft as cotton as her face hid behind her flowing golden mane.

“Yes,” I answered, nodding. “I remembered that she was taken from me when I was a colt. Now, I will find her no matter what and I will bring her to her rightful home,” I added with determination in my eyes.

“I wish I could search for my mother,” she sighed, her eyes brimmed with tears and a frown tugged on her face. My ears drooped, guilt filled my heart as I grimaced. “But,” she spoke up with a warm smile beaming on her face. “I have good friends that I always can count on,” she continued, grabbing me into a hug. I was stunned, my eyes widened in shock as my body went tense. I don’t know what to do. This was the first time somepony hugged me since I was still a colt. I hesitantly pat her in the back as a smile cracked on my face.

“Having fun are we?” I heard Ivy’s voice teased from behind me. I quickly escaped the embrace, lowering my head to hide my blush. In the corner of my eyes, I saw Rose smiled, her cheeks flushed red. “Well,” Ivy started, coughing into her claw. “I have good news and bad news. Which one do you want to hear first?” she continued, exchanging glances to the both of us.

“I wish to hear to good news,” I answered. I swallowed nervously, my heart hammering in my chest in anticipation and anxiety.

“Right,” the griffon started. “The good news is that Gratul know a report where a zebra mare that the descriptions match with your mother was sent towards the Griffon Kingdom years ago. The bad news is the emblem that we got from that mare had no origins. That’s very bad actually since Gratul knows pretty much every underground organization in existence. Whatever this organization we mess with is way more underground that expected,” she concluded as she tapped her beak in thought.

“Very well,” I started, walking away. “I shall go towards my next destination.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, Stripey,” Ivy began, stopping me with a claw as she swooped in front of me. “Where do you think you’re going?” she asked, glaring at me.

I looked into her eyes. “I’m going towards Griffon Kingdom. I must press forward,” I answered, pushing her claw away.

“How are you going to go there? You’re going to swim? It’s two weeks travel even by flying,” she said, looking at me in the eye with a frown on her face.

“I will find a ship that is heading towards my destination then,” I replied, strapping my saddlebags tighter.

“You’re not going alone, are you?” Rose asked with worry plastered across her face and a frown tugged onto her face.

“Look,” I started, exchanging glances with the both of them. “Whatever agency or organization that is chasing me is a dangerous one. For that, you two must not follow me,” I continued, looking at them with my brows furrowed.

“So, we should leave you alone with some maniacal organization that will fuck your day?” Ivy asked with a sarcastic tone as she crossed her arms, looking at me with a questioning eyebrow. I only groaned in return, walking away.

“No!” Rose spoke up behind me as I heard a stomp. I turned to look, my eyes widened. Her eyes were brimming with tears that were accompanied with determination. “You are my friend and I will not leave you travel alone into the dangerous world. I will follow you, whether you like it or not,” she croaked, stomping her hoof once more as tears streamed down her cheeks.

“Also,” Ivy started with a grin on her face. “If you die out there, I would not have the chance to kill you,” she concluded, cracking her knuckles.

“So, you two will follow me no matter what will happen out there?” I asked, raising a questioning eyebrow.

“Of course,” Rose sniffed as she gave a nod, smiling.

“Fuck yeah,” Ivy added with a grin on her beak, cracking her neck.

“Well then,” I started as a smile etched on my face. I actually felt a bit better knowing I am not alone in this journey. I am glad I had such loyal companions that will follow me in my mission. “Let’s go,” I chuckled, walking away. I heard Ivy’s wings flapped and Rose’s hooves trotted on street behind me as I walked away. I felt something in my heart... something warm started to radiate within me. My eyes looked upwards towards the sky above, smiling. Here I come, mother, I prayed silently into the wind, taking another step closer towards my mother.

Author's Note

Helpful feedback is always welcome.

Chapter 6: Captain Blackart

“By the gods,” I grunted as I hobbled down the dock of Port Osglen. The weight of my saddlebag became much heavier since Rose insisted that we had to prepare ourselves before heading towards the Griffon Kingdom. My ears twitched as I heard the potion bottles clattered inside my saddlebag with every step I took. We used the jewels that I had brought from my hut back home as we traded them with the necessary items such as medical instruments, food and -- with Ivy’s suggestion -- protective armors.

“Stop whining,” Ivy commented from behind me. I looked over my shoulder, glaring at the griffon. She was holding what looks like a large sack over her shoulder. I could hear the metal plates of the armors that we bought clattered against one another resonated from it. She noticed that I was glaring at her and returned it with a shrug, looking elsewhere.

“I’m sorry if your saddlebag is getting heavy. I could help you if you want,” Rose offered from behind me, smiling sheepishly. My eyes wandered onto her newly bought saddlebags fastened onto her sides that were filled with our food supply. She kept insisting that she wanted to pull her own weight and wanted to do it by carrying some of the stuff. Therefore, Ivy and I decided that she’ll be carrying the lighter items such as food and water.

“No, it is fine,” I lied, wincing to the weight of the saddlebag pressed onto my still-fresh burn injury as I looked the way I was hobbling. I bit my lip to keep myself from hissing in pain. Toughen up, I thought, reminding myself what Ivy had told me at the beach the night before.

“So, which ship should we take?” I heard Ivy asked from behind. I stopped and looked at the large ships that docked along the wooden walkway. Many ponies, griffons and zebras were hauling wooden crates and barrels into and from the ships. The sound of the captains barking orders and the loud thuds of the load dropped onto the wooden walkway filled the dock.

“I... do not know,” I muttered, my eyes darted in confusion. It was my first time for me to even know what a dock was. Large ships that docked next to us loomed over me, filling me with anxiety by their massive size.

“What?!” I heard Ivy screamed from behind me. She was clearly shock to my unexpected answer. She suddenly swooped in front of me and pulled me closer by my robe to meet her glare, dropping the sack she was holding with a thunderous clang. “I thought you knew what you were doing,” she hissed.

“This is my first time that I ever leave my tribe and this is also my first time to see a real ship up close. I only hear about them whenever the elders told us during story time,” I answered as pushed her claws to the side. She had disbelief in her eyes, looking at me with her beak opened in shock. She shook her head then looked at Rose over my shoulder.

“Do you know what sh--,”Ivy cut herself in the middle her sentence, probably remembered by the fact that Rose was... blind and also she might not know about ships as well. “Ugh,” she groaned, slapping her forehead with a loud thwack.

“Aren’t you supposed to know or prepared about these types of matter? You did say you are a professional mercenary. You must know at least a few ships that might travel towards our destination,” I replied, looking at her with my eyebrow raised questioningly.

“Brut—I mean, my employer often arranges these kinds of stuff,” she answered, looking to the side as her expression turned somber. I kept my silence, looking over my shoulder. I saw Rose was pawing the wooden walkway with a hoof, looking uncomfortable by the situation.

“Ahoy, me hearties,” I heard a gruff voice called in an unusual and cheery way. We all turned our heads towards the voice above the ship to our right. I saw a burly old grey earth stallion with a long brown grizzly beard on his chin as he was smoking a wooden pipe. He was wearing a blue long sleeve jacket and a red bandana on his head. He smiled at us; his dark blue eyes sparkled under the afternoon sun above. “It seems ye have a bit of a trouble there,” he chuckled.

“Yes, we need to find a ship that is heading towards the Griffon Kingdom,” I replied, my eyes were squinting as I looked at him from the walkway.

“Ye be headin’ towards Grifca?” He asked, looking somewhat shocked.

“Yes,” Rose answered from behind me.

“I suppose ye can tell me yer reason for young lad and lasses such yerself be headin’ to such dangerous place?” he asked as he blew a puff of smoke from his pipe, looking amused.

“He’s trying to find his mother,” Ivy quickly answered before I could open my mouth, picking up the sack. She slings the sack over her shoulder with me barely able to dodge the sack from hitting my nose as I glared at her.

“Ye searchin’ for yer mother?” he asked again. My patience was wearing thin by the second.

“Yes,” I groaned with annoyance crept into my voice.

“I suppose I could visit there to trade some of me spices,” he mumbled to himself, scratching the back of his neck. “Aye, I can take yer to Grifca,” he offered, chuckling. I looked at Ivy with worried expression, feeling unsure what do to. She noticed it and her eyes darted downwards in thought, tapping her beak with a claw.

“Hey, old pony,” Ivy called out. “Who do you work for?” she asked with a questioning eyebrow.

“Aye, I’m Captain Blackart and this is me tradin’ ship,” he answered, smiling warmly at us.

“A-are you friendly?” I heard Rose asked again from behind, sounding worried.

“Aye, lass. Don’tcha’ worry about ol’ Cappy Blackart. I am another trader that sails around the seven seas,” he answered with a smile plastered across his face, puffing out smoke from his pipe. I exchanges glances between Rose and Ivy and saw both of their faces were riddled with doubt. To tell the truth: so was I.

“I have to speak with my companions to listen to their opinion first,” I demanded, looking towards Captain Blackart.

“Aye, do yer thing. I understand,” he chuckled, puffing out a cloud of smoke from his mouth with a smile beamed from his face. I nodded and walked towards Rose. Then all of us huddled, whispering.

“What do we do?” I whispered, looking at Ivy.

“Can you trust that old geezer?” the griffon whispered back, looking at Rose.

“He sounds nice enough,” Rose commented softly.

“Ask him about what he wants in return first. If it is nothing too fishy, we take his offer,” Ivy suggested as she looked at me. I nodded in respond, jingling the bell on my neck. Then, we broke our little circle.

“What do you wish to ask in return?” I asked, looking at Captain Blackart with a questioning eyebrow.

“Aye, I only need a small payment fer supplies. It will be long journey, lad. We need food if we want to live another day,” he answered, chuckling. I exchanged glances with Rose and Ivy once more. Both of them nodded in agreement. I looked back at Captain Blackart who was leaning against the railing of his ship with a smile on his face.

“We accept your term,” I called out.

“Aye.” He grinned. “Drop the bridge!” he barked, looking over his shoulder. Then a large wooden plank bridge dropped on the side of the ship with a thunderous thud as it hit the wooden walkway. I saw Ivy gave me a shrug and flew lazily into the ship’s deck above. I slowly walked towards Rose and held her hoof, helping her walked up the wobbly wooden plank bridge.

“Thank you,” she said softly as she landed on the ship’s deck, smiling. I smiled back in return.

“Welcome, me hearties,” Captain Blackart chuckled, hugging me tightly with a hoof over to my shoulders. I slowly pushed him away as a strong smell wafted from his coat. I tried my best not to show my discomfort by rummaging through my saddlebag.

“Here,” I said, offering a hoofful of assorted jewels. I saw his eyes widened in shock.

“Blimey,” he gasped, his eyes sparkled. “This can feed me crew fer a whole month,” he explained, looking at me with disbelief in his eyes. “Ye be serious fer paying me in such large amount?” he asked, his mouth gapped in shock. I only responded by putting the jewels in his hoof with a smile on my face. Then he returned my smile, laughing as he hugged me closer. “I knew ye be a good lad,” he chuckled, releasing me from his embrace.

“All hands on deck!” he yelled, walking towards the middle of the ship’s deck. Suddenly several ponies, a couple griffons and a zebra trotted in a single line. They all stood diligently in line, waiting for inspection. “Aye, matey,” he said, looking at us as we arrived at the deck. “These are me loyal workers. Not many yet loyal to the teeth,” he chuckled, waving his hoof towards seven crewmembers in total.

I saw several earth ponies who had pastel colored manes and coats and a couple of burly griffons but the one who had most of my attention was the zebra. She had a long spiky mane -- which was hidden under a black bandana -- and tail to match. The zebra had golden yellow eyes, radiating with determination. I think Ivy saw my gaze as I felt her elbow nudged on my side. I looked at her and saw she had a teasing smile on her face. I glared at her, trying my best not to blush.

“Right,” Captain Blackart started as he coughed into his hoof. “Yer rooms will be down under the deck. Me men will head to town to resupply and yer get yerself comfy. This will be a long ride,” he chuckled. We all looked at each other and nodded.

It was late in the afternoon but the sun was still well above the horizon, the sound of crates thundered with a loud thud and the barking orders of Captain Blackart echoed in the walls of the ship. I felt a searing pain on my back as I carried a barrel of – what the crewmembers called – ‘rum’ onto the ship. I did not tell them about my injury as I did not want them to pry more than they should know the reason I wore my robe the entire time. I grunted, setting the barrel down onto the deck as I wiped my brow from sweat. In the corner of my eyes, I saw Rose had her magical dome activated, sewing a ripped sail as she happily hummed to herself. I smiled, happy to see that she had something to do while we were doing some work.

“All the supplies are on board, captain!” I heard Ivy barked. I looked up and saw she was sitting inside of a small rounded space, her head darted around. From what I asked Ivy about ships before the captain’s crewmember returned from the town, I think it was called a “Crow’s Nests”.

“Aye, lassie,” I heard Captain Blackart replied. I turned to look and saw he was standing in front of the ship’s ‘wheel’. He looked at me with a grin. “Weigh the anchor and hoist the sails, me hearties. We be sailin’ right now,” he chuckled with an amused grin on his face.

“Aye, aye, Captain,” I heard the crew answered simultaneously, saluting to him. Just like they have been practicing for their whole life, they immediately attend to their duties. I heard metal grinded against metal as the anchor was pulled from the depth of the ocean and a loud fwoooph as the sails were hoisted. I felt wind brushed against my coat and mane, as well as the sail. In just a second, we started to sail. Sail towards Grifca, the griffon kingdom and to my mother.

“Ye first time sailin’, lad?” Captain Blackart called out, looking at me as he puffed out a smoke from his pipe.

“Yes, captain,” I chuckled, smiling as I looked over my shoulder to look at him.

“Well, don’tcha’ worry. This will be a smooth sail,” he replied with a smile on his face as he gave me a wink. I nodded and looked towards the sea in front of us. It was not long after we depart from the port and the sun was already set under the horizon, giving way for the silver moon to rise. The lanterns around and inside the ship were lit, keeping the ship’s empty deck lit under the darkness of night.

We were all in the mess hall under the deck. The sound of laughter and clattering plates filled the mess hall as most of the crewmembers – including Ivy, were intoxicated by the ‘rum’. Rose was standing in the middle of the room; her beautiful and soft voice rang throughout the mess hall, replacing the loud laughter with her beautiful singing.

“Your voice in the wind, and I hear you called my name,” Rose’s voice rang in my ears with the divinity of a thousand angels. Then, Captain Blackart played a violin, accompanying Rose in her song. The crew started to rhythmically stomping their hooves and claws to the song as a couple of them dance joyously together on the dining table, laughing. I had a big smile on my face, seeing my companions and the crewmembers were having a good time.

I put down my mug of water and walked towards the stairs that led towards the deck. I felt the cool night air brushed gently on my coat and mane through my robe as I stood in the middle of the deck. I closed my eyes, filling my lungs with fresh air as my mind started to clear. I slowly opened my eyes, looking into the starry night above. The array of stars above glittered the night sky, painting it with multitude of colors, lighting the dark sky.

I walked towards the left side of the ship, leaning against the rails. My eyes widened as I looked into the sea. The stars from above were reflected on the surface of the water, creating an illusion that we were floating in the sky. I felt a smile tugged onto my face, looking at the wondrous scenery. “You’re injured,” a voice whispered behind me.

“Gyah!” I yelped, turning around as I clutched my chest. My eyes widened, my heart literally skipped a beat and my breathing became ragged. I blinked and saw the one who startled me. It was the zebra mare. She had an unreadable expression. I cannot tell if she was bored or sleepy as she looked at me with half-lidded eyes. I swallowed nervously, trying to calm myself down.

“Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone if it is supposed to be a secret,” she said nonchalantly, leaning against the railings next to me as she looked into the ocean.

“I... uh..,” I mumbled between breaths. I immediately closed my eyes, filling my lungs once more to calm my nerves. I slowly opened my eyes, turning my head towards the other zebra. “How did you know?” I asked as I slowly leaned against the railings as well, my eyes fixated on her.

“For one, you were hobbling the entire day and you wince every time you sit down,” she answered, shrugging.

“Oh,” I said, my ears drooped as I hope no one realizes that as well.

“No other crewmember knows... even the captain,” she spoke up. My eyes widened on her unexpected answered, looking at her with a frightened expression plastered on my face. “No, I did not read your mind. But your face is tells everything that I needed to know,” she spoke up again with a grin on her face as she looked at me.

“Am I that easy to read?” I asked, looking at her with a questioning eyebrow as I started to feel uncomfortable by the zebra’s astounding perception.

“Not actually. It is just my talent,” she answered, her gaze fixated into the ocean. I nodded, looking in the distance. “You wish to see my glyph mark, aren’t you?” she said teasingly. I let out a loud cough, surprised by her words. Then, I heard she giggled. It was soft yet elegant at the same time – which surprised me yet once more. I glared at her as I could feel the blood streamed into my cheeks in embarrassment. “It’s okay, boys will be boys I guess,” she chuckled, looking into the distance. Then, I took the opportunity to look at her glyph mark. It was in a shape of a mask that had a smile on it.

“What’s your name?” I asked as I followed her gaze.

“Vyenya,” she answered. “But the other crewmembers call me ‘Vie’,” she continued, grinning.

“Nadir,” I chuckled.

“Well, Nadir. I think it is better for me to go now,” she whispered as she turned away, walking towards the other direction.

“Why?” I called out with confusion plastered across my face. She answered by nodding towards the stairs. I looked and saw Ivy was staggering towards me with a mug of rum in her claw. When I tried to look back at Vie, she was gone.

“Heeeeeeeeey, Rose. Why are you here? Aren’t you supposed to be at the... the... oh, the mess hall,” Ivy asked, slurring.

“I am not Ro--,” my replied was cut as Ivy pushed the mug against my mouth.

“Come on, Rose. Let’s have a drink,” she slurred, as she leaned against the railing on her back with her head bobbed lazily.

“I do not drink such beverages,” I answered, lightly pushed the mug away as I wiped my mouth with a hoof. The strong scent of rum wafted from her fur.

“Hey, Rose. I want to tell you something,” she slurred as she looked at me with half-lidded eyes. “Come closer,” she whispered, beckoning me to come closer. “Closer,” she whispered again, waving her claws. I was intrigued on what secret she might tell, so I put my ears closer to her beak.

“I...” she started, hiccupping. “I...” she slurred.

“What is it?” I whispered impatiently, my brows furrowed.

“I.... am i- bluuuaaarrgggghhh.” At that moment, I really and wholeheartedly wished to jump off the ship.

Author's Note

Helpful feedback is always welcome.

Chapter 7: Between a Storm and a Leviathan

It was the start of the second day on the sea. The sun slowly rose from the horizon into the cloudless sky before me as the wind brushed against my coat and mane through my tattered robe. Even though it was the beginning of a new day, I had a frown tugged onto my face as I still felt the warm and sticky sensation of... vomit on my coat. I had taken a couple of baths the night before and yet I still felt that vile sensation slowly crawling down my fur. I let out a shiver, recollecting the horrible memory. My ears twitched as I heard Ivy was emptying her stomach into the sea.

I looked to my right and saw Ivy was leaning towards the railing, her face was sick green. She noticed that I was looking at her and gave me a frown. “I fucking hate hangovers,” she mumbled before emptying her stomach once more. “Fuck...” I heard she muttered, wiping her beak with a claw.

“Aye, lass. Aren’tcha’ a weak drinker,” I heard Captain Blackart chuckled. I looked over my shoulder and saw he was steering the ship as he puffed out a smoke from his pipe. “Morning, lad,” he said, smiling as he noticed my presence.

“Morning,” I replied, bowing my head slightly. Then, I noticed Rose was sitting at the other side of the main deck from the corner of my eyes. She was humming to herself as she was enjoying the serenity of the sea. Her flowing golden mane danced as the wind flowed through it, glowing under the morning sun.

“I never noticed she was blind before,” I heard Vie’s voice spoke up, trotting up next to me with her eyes fixated to my unicorn companion.

“So did I, before we rescued her,” I replied, nodding.

“Rescued? From what?” Vie asked as she looked at me with shock on her face.

“She was held captive in a cage that was hung in a middle of an eatery,” I answered, whispering.

“By the gods, why would anybody do such horrible things,” she mumbled to herself, looking at Rose with sympathetic eyes.

“Indeed. I was at the state of shock as you are right now when the first time I saw her,” I whispered as I shook my right hoof, realigning the bracelets.

“You are a tribesman?” she asked, her gaze on my bracelets. I nodded in respond.

“What about you?” I asked, looking at her with a questioning eyebrow. She darted her gaze away from mine as she grimaced.

“I must go,” she muttered, walking away. I opened my mouth to stop her but... I stopped myself from doing so. I looked at her as she slowly descended towards the lower deck. I sighed, lowering my head. Why must I ask such sensitive question? I thought to myself, walking towards the ship’s main mass. I slowly sat on my haunches and leaned against it, looking into the blue sea above.

“So,” I heard Ivy grunted as she sat next to me, leaning against the mass as well. “What do we do when we actually reach Grifca?” she asked, pulling out her dagger. She was playing with it as she let it rolled in her claws, waiting for my respond with a questioning eyebrow.

“We ask everybody if they might now my mother,” I answered as I unfastened my saddlebag. It dropped onto the wooden deck floor with a thud, spilling its content. I swiftly grabbed all the potion bottles before the rolled too far but a small glass bottle that hold my battle enhancing herbs rolled next to Ivy. She sheathed her dagger and picked the bottle up with an inspecting eye.

“So, this is your combat drugs, huh?” she asked, opening the bottle’s lid as she took a peek inside.

“Yes,” I answered, grabbing the bottle away from her claws.

“Wait, I saw another couple types of ‘herbs’ you got there. What’s that?” she asked, sounding amused with a grin on her face. I sighed in respond.

“Right,” I started as I coughed into my hoof. “There are three types of battle enhancing her--.”

“Combat drugs,” she cut me off.

“Three types of ‘combat drugs’ which I brought from my hut. The first one is the seeds from the plant ‘Cat’s Eye’ that is use to see in the dark. Next is from the roots of a plant called ‘Devil’s Wraith’. It is an herb that allows warriors to unlock their inner strength during intense battle. Such effect will cause increase in strength and pain resistance. The last one is from the leaves from a plant called ‘Witch's Fruit’. The herb will grant an ability to warriors or its users the power to see slightly into the future. Allowing warriors to see the enemy’s movements and attack to give them slightly more advantage during battles,” I explained, remembering the words of my father.

“Wait,” she spoke up with disbelief in her eyes. “You mean you have drugs that allow you to see into the future and increase your damage?” she asked with an amused smile on her beak, her eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. I nodded in respond, putting the scattered items back into the saddlebag.

“Holy shit! You could eat it all day and be unstoppable,” she spoke up, attracting the attention of others as she jumped onto her claws in excitement.

“Well, no,” I answered, shaking my head.

“What?” she asked, looking at me with confusion plastered across her face.

“The herbs, except for Cat’s Eye, will bring disastrous results to the user if one use them too many times,” I answered as I glared into her eyes.

“What do you mean?” she asked. Her expression had the mixture between disappointment and confusion, raising a questioning eyebrow as a frown tugged on her beak.

“If one would overuse such herbs will experience uncontrollable anger and will slowly spiral into the maelstrom of madness,” I answered as I fastened the saddlebag to my side. Then in the corner of my eyes, I noticed she had an uninterested look on her face as if she was silently telling me that she already had been through such experience. I looked at her with a questioning eye, feeling uneasy.

“Is there a cure?” I heard Rose asked as she slowly approached us with concern plastered across her face.

“There is. It is another herb from the leaves of a plant called ‘Divine Healer's Flower’. But, I never brought it with me as I am not planning to use the herbs too many times,” I answered as I gave the unicorn mare an assuring smile. Yet, she was still unsatisfied by my answer, looking at me with her brows creased together and a frown on her lips. “There’s another way,” I continued as I stood up slowly, wincing in pain. “If somepony is under the influence of the herb because they overuse it, one must tie the pony to a pole to let the herb pass through his or her system ‘naturally’,” I answered, exchanging glances with the both of them.

“What do you mean by ‘naturally’?” surprisingly, it was Ivy who asked the question, looking confused.

“By... excreting the effect of the herb through sweat and...” I trailed off, nodding a hint to Ivy.

“Oh,” she said with a disgust look on her face, backing away.

“Breakfast, everyone!” One of the pony crewmembers shouted as she rang a bell. Then, everyone – even the captain, went towards downstairs that led towards the mess hall.

“Oh, boy. I’m hungry as a horse,” I heard Ivy muttered as she glided towards the stairs.

“Shall we get going?” Rose asked with a smile on her face.

“Yes,” I answered, nodding. With that, we head towards the mess hall together.

Breakfast was lively as last night's dinner except there was no rum being served during the day. We all chat idly together as we ate the lunch that was prepared by the cook. It was a bowl of salad but it was very different than the usual dried hay that I always eat when I was still with the tribe. It was not bad but... it was different. But, I ate it anyway since I was hungry. In the mess hall, there was only one long dining table which able to fit all of us. Also, in the corner of my eyes, I saw Vie was eating her lunch with a solemn look on her face. I sighed, feeling guilty about questioning her earlier. Then, breakfast went on as all of us ate our food.

It was already a few hours since we had our breakfast and I was sitting next to the captain who was steering the ship towards our destination. I noticed the sky was dark and cloudy in horizon where the waves were violent. The strong wind propelled the ship across the water in an increasing speed, feeling the cool sea air brushed against my coat and mane. I looked at the main deck below and saw Rose and Vie was chatting with one another with smiles on their faces. I looked up and saw Ivy was looking into the horizon through a telescope inside the Crow’s Nest, scanning the sea. I gazed back towards Vie as guilt bubbled inside me.

“Aye, ain’t she a pretty lass?” I heard Captain Blackart chuckled. I barked out a cough as I was caught surprised by the question. I looked at him and saw he was grinning at me with the wooden pipe still in his mouth.

“I-I... um,” I stuttered as my eyes darted to mentally search for the right answer. In the back of my mind, I could hear the echoing ethereal voice of Ivy saying “Smooth,” sarcastically. Captain Blackart barked out a chuckle in return, looking into the cloudy horizon.

“Want to hear a story, lad?” he asked, puffing out smoke from his pipe. I kept my silence, wondering if I should accept or just decline. But before I could even decide, the captain spoke up – accepting my silence as a ‘yes’. “When I was still a young lad,” he started as he sat down, looking at me. “I was always adventuring and I don’t have the time to make meself a family. Wandering the seven seas and sailing through angry waters was the highlight of me life,” he said, chuckling as he remembered his younger years.

“But one day,” he spoke up once more, puffing out smoke. “When I was walking up the plank bridge to my ship back in Port Osglen, I noticed there was a wooden box sat at the side of the walkway. At first I wanted to kick it into the ocean because it was a sore to look at. But before I could kick the box, I heard a cry. Not a lady’s cry but a child’s cry. I took a peek into the box and me eyes opened as big as the eye of the storm, seeing a young zebra filly being left in it.

“Even though I lived most of me life in Port Osglen, I never thought somezebra would leave a child in the most reckless ways. At that moment, I did not know what to do. If I leave it there, she will die in the cold. If I leave her to the orphanage, somepony might kidnap her for profit. Then, I took her into me hooves as I decided I will take care of her meself. Years passed by quickly as I took care of her as me own flesh and blood. Now, she’s her own zebra,” he said, looking at Vie’s with the passion of a father in his eye.

“Take good care of her,” he said, surprising me as he looked at me in the eyes and held my hooves in a grip. “For years she has been avoiding contact with zebras because of her past but ye... ye are the first zebra she ever talked to,” he croaked, tears were brimming in his aged eyes.

“B-but why?” I asked as I was filled with shock and confusion. I did not know that this would have happen. It was certainly a surprise by any means. My mind reeled frantically by the sudden turn of event.

“Well,” he started, letting go my hooves as he wiped his tear away. “I want her to be with her own kind. She cannot be like me; sailing the seven seas. No, I want her to have her own family,” he answered as he stood up, returning to the wheel of the ship. “Also,” he spoke up, looking at me with a grin as his eyes were still red in tears. I saw the heartache through his eyes. “Ye might be a fine lad for me girl.” I barked out another cough as he let out a laugh, steering the ship towards the dark clouds.

“Captain, storm ahead!” I heard Ivy shouted.

“Aye, lass!” he replied, puffing out a cloud of smoke. “Avast, me hearties,” he yelled. “Batten down the hatches and hoist full sail. We be riding the storm!” he shouted with an amused grin on his face.

“Aye, captain!” All of the crew members shouted, saluting towards him. In a snap, all of them jumped into action. They started to roll down the barrels of supply into a large net, tying them together. Then the net was hoisted up, wrapping the supplies together in a strong bind as they were hung in the middle deck of the ship. I felt a rope was tied onto my body, linking to the ship’s main mass.

“Safety line,” Vie’s whispered as she swiftly tied the rope into a knot, tightening it onto the ship’s mass. I looked around and saw everybody had rope tied to their body that connected to the same mass. “All secure, captain!” Vie shouted.

“That’s me girl!” he shouted back with a grin on his face. Then he looked back into the storm ahead with an amused smile on his face. “Hold on tight, lads. This be a rough ride.” I quickly trotted next to Rose, grabbing her closer into an embrace. I felt her body was shaking in my embrace, whispering her prayers into the wind. I hugged her closer, assuring her that things will be fine.

“T-thank you,” I heard she stuttered softly. She had worry plastered on her face, then I gave her an assuring smile in return – knowing she cannot see it but it was the thought that counts.

As we entered the storm, the peaceful blue sky had turned into angry blanket of dark clouds. The soft whispers of wind turned into angry howls of the sea, filling each of us with fear. The waves became violent, thrashing against the walls of the ship, tossing us up and down on the water. I felt the droplets of heavy rain as we sailed under the marching thunders in the dark blankets above. The warm touch of the sun was replaced with the cold prickling fingers of rain and howling wind.

The waves reached the heights of the ship, wetting everyone who stood on the deck and water sipped into the cracks of the floor. I looked above and saw the cloud swirled above us by the mighty gale. The ship violently rocked side to side as the angry waves tried to overturn the ship but Captain Blackart’s expertly weaved through them as his years of experience on the sea proved to be useful in such situation. He had a wide grin on his face and determination in his eyes as we propelled deeper into the storm.

“Captain, there’s something ahead!” I heard Ivy shouted over the howling wind as she swooped down, handing the captain the telescope. I saw his amused grin slowly vanished from his face as he looked through the telescope and into the horizon.

“What is it?” I shouted as I kept Rose close to my side, looking towards Captain Blackart.

“Prepare the cannons!” he barked, his face was pale in fear as he dropped his pipe from his mouth. That was certainly not a good sign.

“Prepare the cannons!” I heard Vie barked as all of the crew members rushed towards the bottom deck.

“Cannons?” Ivy asked, looking confused for the fact that a trade ship would carry cannons on board.

“Aye, lassie,” he answered with a nod as he tried to steer the ship through the storm. “We need to protect ourselves from pirates and... it,” he whispered, his eyes filled with worry.

“It?” I heard Rose asked, confusion plastered across her face as well.

“Aye, lass. ‘It’,” he answered as his eyes looked into the horizon with worry beamed from them.

“Cannons are all set, captain!” I heard Vie’s voice shouted from below.

“Aye! Keep them loaded and stay ready!” he shouted back as he frantically tried to keep the ship from stumbling over by the harsh waves and wind. “Thar she blows!” he shouted, pointing into the horizon. I turned around and my eyes widened.

Even though we were still far away, I can tell the beast that was in front of us was colossal. It was the shape of a giant snake... a snake which had scales made from iron that glimmered under the lightning flash and eyes glowed like the sun. The height of the beast was three times the height of the ship’s tallest mass. From afar, we heard its deep growl echoed through the thundering sky as it dived into the ocean.

“What the fuck was that?!” I heard Ivy blurted from behind me in shock.

“What was it?” I heard Rose squeaked next to me, her hooves shook under her. I only able to hold her tighter in respond, trying to calm the frightened mare.

“It’s called the Leviathan, lads. A beast which had the scales of steel, spew hot breath as the sun's wraith, eyes glowed with the devil’s wraith and has the strength of a mighty mountain. Legend says, in its finest form, it will wrap around the world with its body,” he mumbled, his eyes beamed with fear and his face turned pale. Just before I could open my mouth to say something, the water to our left burst in a mighty explosion as the beast revealed itself. My eyes widened once more as I looked at the beast in close range, noticing it was almost as wide as the ship.

The scales on its sides and back were razor sharp as the finest blade in existence. The armor scales under him were close together, revealing very little weakness to us. Its growl resembled the sound of bubbling cauldron that hell itself prepared for us to behold. Its teeth sat in multiple rows in its mouth and its eyes glowed with death and destruction.

“Fuck!” I heard Ivy squawked as Rose clutched her hooves tighter over my body, tears rolled down her eyes. I looked back towards the beast, knowing this will most likely to end badly.

Author's Note

The chapters are self-edited so mistakes are bound to happen. Therefore, if you see any glaring mistakes, let me know. Anyway, enjoy the story! Also, helpful feedback is always welcome.

Chapter 8: From the Dark and Into the Light

The deep grumbles of thunders far in the horizon and the growl of the colossal behemoth next to us created a haunting orchestra that echoed under the dark sky. The waves became more violent as they crashed against the wooden walls of the ship, rocking the ship side to side. Leviathan loomed over the ship as it looked down on us with death beamed his eyes, waiting. It let out a deep throaty hiss, striking fear in our very soul.

“Take Rose to the captain’s quarters,” I mumbled as I slowly pushed the unicorn mare towards Ivy behind me, keeping my eyes onto the beast.

“What?” both of them asked at the same time, whispering. I looked over my shoulder, glaring at the both of them.

“Do it,” I hissed through gritted teeth. Ivy had an annoyed expression on her face whereas Rose was more leaning towards worry. The young griffon snorted as she pulled Rose towards the captain’s quarter which was a room under the wheel of the ship, clearly angry at my aggressive insistence. But, I don’t care. All I care was: their safety. I felt the heavy droplets of rain hit my coat as the howling wind brushed against my mane and fur. My tattered robe fluttered in the wind, revealing my wound to the world.

“Aye, scars of battle?” I heard Captain Blackart asked. I looked at him and saw he had an amused grin on his face. I shook my head in respond.

“More like scars of an ambush,” I answered with a frown tugged on face, feeling ashamed of my injury.

“Scars are marks of a warrior, lad. Regardless from where and how they got them,” he chuckled as he pulled off his jacket. I saw a scar ran down from the back his neck, down his back and across his left flank, through the fur of his cutie mark; a chest full of gold. “Battle of Black Sea,” he said with an amused grin on his face. I saw he rummaged through his fallen jacket and saw a steel cylinder in his mouth. With a bite, it revealed a long silver harpoon with a click.

I looked back towards the beast as I heard it let out a deep growl. The beast silently loomed over us, tentatively waiting for our respond. “What do we do, captain?” I asked as I reached towards my stone spear that was strapped onto my back. Even though I can’t see him, I felt Captain Blackart had a smile on his face as he bit down his silver harpoon.

“Fire!” He shouted and on the dot; I heard a cacophony of explosion thundered under the ship as it lit the dark sea with a flash of fire and smoke. I saw multiple iron balls headed towards the beast in high speed. As mighty the explosions were, the attack did little damage as the iron balls ricocheted off its scales, leaving barely a scratch behind.

The beast let out a deep hiss, diving to the other side of the ship. Captain Blackart quickly took the wheel with the harpoon still in his mouth. He frantically turned the wheel to the other side as he tried to keep the ship from stumbling over. Now, the battle has begun. “Fire at will!” I heard he shouted as he regained control of the ship. Then, another series of explosion and fire filled the sea as the beast emerged to our right. Again, the attack did little damage.

The colossal beast dived back towards our left side as it managed to break one of the smaller mass of the ship with a loud crack during its strike. “Bring out the explosive cannon balls!” Captain Blackart barked, clearly angered by the damage had been done to his ship.

“Aye, Captain!” Vie’s voice shouted in respond. Another thunderous series of explosions echoed under the stormy sky as Leviathan emerged from the water. As the metal balls contacted its scales, fire and shrapnel filled the air. This time, the attack worked. The searing fire and small shards of metals managed to went through the small cracks between its scales, injuring the flesh below them. The beast let out a deep growl, diving back into the ocean. The crew and Captain Blackart cheered triumphantly but... the battle has yet to end.

“It’s not over yet,” I yelled, my head darted around the ship as I tried to find where the beast would come up next. Suddenly, water and pieces of wood were tossed into the air as it the behemoth emerged from behind the ship, tossing Captain Blackart ten feet into the air. He dropped onto the wooden deck floor with a thud, his silver harpoon clattered next to him. My eyes widened and my heart skipped a beat. I swiftly headed towards the captain quarters as I kicked down the door. I saw Rose and Ivy were trapped under the wooden debris.

“Help us,” I heard Rose whimpered, reaching a hoof towards me. I quickly moved the debris away from their body as I saw a trickle of blood went down their backs. Some of the splinters had pierced their skin.

“It’ll be alright,” I whispered as I carefully poured a healing potion into their mouth.

“Dad!” I heard Vie’s voice called out. I looked over my shoulder and saw the beast was sniffing Captain’s Blackart unconscious body and Vie was running towards it.

“No!” I yelled, frantically rummaging through my saddlebag. I quickly pulled out my herb bottle and opened the lid. I shook out a dried leaf and quickly put it into my mouth, chewing it. It let out a minty and cool sensation on my tongue and into my throat as a burst of adrenaline pumped into my body. The world turned into blue tint and time stopped as everything went silent. In my vision, I saw the beast will engorge Vie if I did not react fast. I let out a knowing smirk, reaching for my spear. As time slowly went back into motion, I charged towards the beast with the spear in my mouth.

Then, time went back into its motion, filling my ears once more with the sound of the angry growls of thunder in the horizon and the pitter-patter of the heavy raindrops on the wooden deck floor. I noticed the beast’s eyes widened as it saw Vie was heading its way, growling in anticipation for an attack. Before it could perform its strike, I leaped, aiming my spear at its right eye. My spear embedded itself into the beast’s eye with a sickening thwack, squirting black goo as it let out a pained growl that echoed throughout the stormy sky. I smiled, feeling satisfied as it went as I expected.

But, the smile did not last. I felt the strap of the spear was tied around my neck as the beast tossed its head in pain. I quickly put a hoof between my neck and the strap just before the beast thrashed in agony. It flung its head into the air, tightening the strap. I let out a chocking sound as my air passage was constricted. I saw the edge of my vision started to darken. The colossal snake whipped his head to the side, ejecting me and my spear from its eye. I felt the wind violently brush my mane and coat and the sting of the heavy rain drops as I was tossed into the sea, seeing the ship became smaller in the distance.

I felt the pain exploded into my injured back as I hit the surface of the water with a loud thwack. The edge of my vision darkened as I slowly sunk into the dark water. I felt the cold sea water engulfed my body and saw the last of bubbles of my air escaped my mouth. The light on the surface of the water dimmed as I heard the growl of the beast headed towards me. I closed my eyes, hoping what had happened was only a dream and wished that I would wake up in my mother’s embrace. I let out my last smile, hearing the beast’s growl beneath me.

“Goodbye,” I whispered into the darkness.

“Is he okay?” I heard Captain Blackart’s voice asked.

“I hope so,” Rose sniffed as I felt a wet cloth touched my forehead.

“He has been out for a week,” Vie’s voice stated.

“Fuck!” Ivy spat as I heard a thud resonated in the walls.

“Please, keep quiet, Ivy. He needs his rest,” Rose’s voice said softly. “Could you all give him some peace?” she asked. I heard a door opened and footsteps stepped out the room. The door let out a soft squeak as it slowly closed. Then I heard a soft click and felt somebody’s head rested on my chest. I could feel a tear rolled to the side my chest as I heard a sniff. “Please wake up,” I heard Rose whispered, sniffing. “Please...”

I tried to open my eyes but it was impossible. I felt like something glued my eyelids together. I tried to move my hooves, they too did not respond. I tried to scream yet my mouth was silent. I suddenly felt uneasy. I was scared to the fact that I might be stuck in this darkness forever. I tried to thrash my body around but it was for naught. I forced myself to open my eyes, to move my body... anything to give them a sign that I was alive. As I was struggling to move my body, I heard a whisper in the back of my mind. It was faint yet familiar. Mother? I asked mentally. Suddenly, I was slowly able to open my eyes. I noticed that I was in a small wooden room somewhere in the lower deck of the ship. The lantern above me flickered cheerily.

“R... Rose?” I breathed, looking at the mare next to me. I saw her long golden mane was disheveled and her light pink coat had become duller. She quickly looked up with a surprised expression. I saw her eyes were red as if she had not stopped crying for a long time and dark lines under them as a sign of fatigue.

“N... Nadir?” she asked, reaching a hoof to my face. I slowly touched her hoof in respond. She let out a relieved smile as tears rolled down her cheeks, wetting the sheet of the bed. Then she quickly grabbed me into an embrace, I felt her hot tears rolled down the back of my neck. “I... I thought you were gone. I thought you were gone...” she cried, sniffing as she held me tighter.

“I’m here...” I breathed, patting her softly in the back. Then I heard the door swung opened as Ivy and Vie stepped into the room. Their eyes were beamed with surprise and relief as they saw I was awake.

“It’s good to see ya, lad!” Captain Blackart chuckled as he trotted to the left of my bed, softly patting on my shoulders.

“Finally, now you can stop slacking off,” I heard Ivy spoke up. I looked at her and saw she was grinning at me, leaning against the wall in front of me.

“Thank you for helping my father,” Vie said with a smile on her face. I smiled in return, nodding. Rose was still crying in the embrace as I heard her muffled sniffles.

“It’s nice to see you too,” I breathed, brushing the unicorn’s mane. She looked up with a smile on her face. Then, she nuzzled my cheek. I felt a rush of blood went into my cheeks as my heart skipped a beat.

“Celebration dinner tonight!” Captain Blackart announced happily. “We'll open the barrels of rum and drink like there is no tomorrow,” he chuckled, exiting the room.

“How long was my slumber?” I asked, looking at Ivy.

“Ten days to be exact,” she answered as she walked out the door, looking over her shoulder.

“What happened to the beast?” I asked to Vie, looking at her with a worried expression.

“Your attack managed to send the beast on its way,” she answered, smiling.

“How did I end up here?” I asked again, my mind was still riddled with questions. Ten days? That was a long slumber. Something bad could have happen during that time.

“Ivy saved you,” she answered, surprising me out of me reverie. “She jetted into the sea when she knew you were thrown into the ocean,” she continued with a grin. “I guess Ivy does like you.” My eyes darted as my mind was still trying to process the information. “You better thank her. After all, she risked her own life to save yours,” she said, exiting the room. I was left alone with Rose in the room. Her soft sniffles filled the silence as she was still in a tight embrace.

“Let’s go eat dinner,” I whispered, looking at the affectionate mare with a smile. She looked at me with a smile on her face, nodding. With that, I slowly slipped off the bed as Rose moved out of the way, releasing me from her embrace. My hooves wobbled under me as they finally touched the floor after ten days of rest, jingling the bell on my neck. I noticed that my robe and my saddlebag were sitting on top of a wardrobe behind Rose but I did not think I will need them for now. “Let’s go,” I whispered. She gave me a smile in return, nodding. With that, we went towards the mess hall on the deck above us.

Dinner was livelier than usual. The crew and the captain were intoxicated with rum as they sang along with Rose; who stood in the middle of the mess hall. Her voice rang beautifully in the mess hall, bringing life into the situation. I looked around the room as they danced on top of the dining table, noticing Ivy was not in the mess hall. I decided to look on the main deck.

As I reached the main deck, the first thing I noticed was one of the smaller sail was gone. Maybe it was because of the Leviathan attack ten days ago, I thought to myself. Then, I saw Ivy leaned on the railings of the ship on my left. She was looking into the array of stars above, taking a sip of rum from a mug that she had on her claw.

“Hey,” I called out, hobbling towards her. She looked over her shoulder in respond.

“Hey,” she replied, changing her gaze into the dark sea below.

“Aren’t you enjoying the party?” I asked as I leaned on the railings next to her, following her gaze.

“I’m not in the mood,” she answered as she took another sip.

“What’s wrong?” I asked again with a questioning eyebrow. She let out an exasperated sigh and shook her head in respond.

“It’s complicated,” she answered glumly. I kept my silence, looking into the glittering stars above. The moon that loomed above us generously graced us with its silver glow.

“Thanks,” I spoke up.

“For what?” she asked, taking another sip.

“For saving me.”

“Heh,” she let out a soft chuckle. “It was nothing.”

“But...” I started, turning my head towards her. “Why?”

“Like I said: If you die out there, I might not have the chance to kill you,” she answered as she peeked into the empty cup. She sighed, throwing the cup over her shoulder.

“What’s wrong?” I asked again as I quickly mustered my courage and strength for her reply. She might attack me or something, and for that, I had to prepare myself.

“Just!” she shouted as she looked at me, her eyes glistening under the moon light. “Nothing, okay?” she sighed, walking away as she shook her head in exasperation. I tried to speak up to stop her but... I held my tongue. I saw her glistening eyes disappeared into the stairs, heading towards the lower decks. I sighed in respond as I looked into the starry sky above. I heard the joyful laughter and singing echoed through the walls of the ship.

“Dear gods, protect us,” I whispered into the wind, looking into the moon. I let out another sigh as I trotted towards the stairs. Just before I descend, I looked at the cup that Ivy threw rolled next to me. I picked it up with a hoof, sighing. I looked over my shoulder once more, looking at the moon that loomed over the horizon. “Protect our hearts,” I whispered as I trotted towards the mess hall.

Author's Note

Helpful feedback is always welcome.