Triumph

Macintosh sat on the port side of the ship, sweating as he fought back his seasickness. They had been traveling for hours now and every minute that passed got his stomach more and more upset. If there wasn’t the fact that the two rogues he had hired to escort him kept sparing glances to one another, he would have probably thrown up already. He glanced up himself after hearing one of their voices from fairly close by.

“Hey. How much longer?” Mac called out to him.

“Gilda has a half-day on us yet,” he quickly answered. “We know she traveled this way, but we couldn’t tell you how far. Could be hours from now, could be in a minute. Could be a whole ‘nother day.”

“Lemme tell ya somethin’ ‘bout the sea, boy,” said the greasy man. Mac had learned that his name was Darris, the other Jim. “She’s an unpredictable mistress. Ain’t no easy way to track ships you’re tryin’ to follow. And God help you if you run into an unexpected storm.”

“Do y’all think ya can even catch her?” Mac asked.

“She’s gotta stop sometime,” answered Jim. “That’s what pirates do. Go to different places, fuck people over, take the loot. These waters are lawless.” He shot Mac a dirty grin. “And shark infested.”

“Reckon a fella outta watch his step ‘round here then,” Mac agreed, staring evenly at Darris. “Bitin’ off more than he can chew is a bad idea.”

“Yeah. A lot more to survivin’ these parts than having big balls.” Darris tapped his head. “Gotta go be sneaky, too. Clever.”

“Which you aren’t,” said Jim, folding his arms and snickering.

Darris snorted, shoving him aside. “Oh, fuck off.”

“Now,” Mac started. “Deal was you were gonna help me find Gilda. Ya plannin’ on anythin’ farther than jus’ findin’?”

“Wouldn’t mind roughing her up a bit.” Jim shrugged, chewing on a toothpick. “Need more manpower for that though. But you look like you could take on a whole horde of scum.”

“If they try ta stop me,” he reluctantly agreed.

“Oh, they will. No pirate takes kindly to trespassers. The crew will ravage any poor soul who wanders into ‘em. Captain doesn’t even have to say anythin’,” Jim said, watching as Darris went off to tend to the ship.

Macintosh rose, ignoring the wave of nausea running a course on his body, and headed towards the captain’s quarters. “I’m gonna rest. Anythin’ comes up, bang on my door.”

“Yeah, will do,” Jim replied, already disinterested and wandering off.

000

A little over an hour later, the first edges of dawn were creeping along the horizon. Thankfully, the sky was clear. Perhaps the frequent storms would stay away for a while. The seas gently crashing into the rocky shores of the island seemed to support this, their rhythm easy and calm.

Lew’s legs silently screamed as he took in the strangely relaxing view. Though the Guard was incredibly well trained--with a focus on physical endurance for long combat--Luna had pushed him to the limits. The pair had nearly sprinted the entire distance from their camp to the shore, Luna’s quick eyes not spotting the flower. How she had time to look for such a small thing and yet still mock him for not being as fit as her…

“Captain.”

Luna’s voice broke his reverie and, taking in one last big breath, he turned to find the princess halfway up a large tree. This close to shore, it was mostly clear, but this one had weathered who knows how many storms and stood, tall and alone.

“What is it, Princess?” he asked, walking closer to the tree. “Tell me you didn’t find the flower up there.”

“No such luck, Captain,” she replied, her tone flat, serious. “I see lights. A multitude, upon the waves.”

He thought for a moment. “You think they’re ships?”

“Aye,” was all that came in response. After a moment of silence, Lew was about to ask what they should do when she said, “They appear to be moving on, further east. Save… Yes!”

“What?” Lew asked, craning his neck up, straining to see the darkly armored woman against the still dark sky. “Did you find it after—aah!” He jumped back, barely avoiding the princess’ landing as she leapt from the tree.

She fell hard to the mostly bare earth, but controlled, landing into a roll that ended in a crouch. Cracks had been left in the dirt where she landed, a testament to the force of her fall. However, the princess herself rose slowly, dusting herself off, completely unharmed. Lew looked up again. From that height, any other sort would have had the wind knocked out of them, at the least. Much more likely would have been the resulting broken leg or two.

“The hunt is over,” she said quietly, amusement in her voice. “And just beginning.”

“We’re abandoning the flower?”

She nodded, then pointed towards the coast. “For now, our target lies that way.”

Lew resisted the urge to roll his eyes, remembering the princess was less than skilled at conversing with others. “Forgive me, Princess, but what target?”

“Transport,” she said simply.

Lew blinked twice, then it clicked. “One of the ships is headed this way? You think they’re a raiding party?”

“It is possible,” Luna said quietly, rubbing her chin in thought. “Whatever their purpose, we must investigate. And, if fortune favors us, appropriate.”

“If it’s a large enough ship for our needs,” Lew explained, “it’ll be far too dangerous for us to try and take them by ourselves, y’know.”

“Possibly, possibly not.” She grinned widely. “Are you not man enough to find out? The very thought of such a challenge is...is… euphoric!”

The captain hesitated before his reply. He had known Luna--well, as much as anyone like him could know a princess--almost the entire time she had been back. His marriage to Cadence, combined with his position as a Royal Guard captain, allowed him to see the somewhat eccentric woman in more informal settings, where she could relax and act more like the warrior she had been raised to be. So he was well aware that, somewhere within her mind, the blood hungry fighter that Dorcis had tried to control in his bid for the throne still lived, still hungered.

But, he reminded himself, he also knew that she was so much more. When confronted with the truth, the realness of her sister’s love and the love of her subjects as seen by his own sister’s actions, she had proven true herself. So, though he was still somewhat worried at her perhaps overenthusiastic tendencies in regards to combat, he knew it was backed by her love for Torani and everything the nation stood for.

“If I feel we can take the objective safely, my lady, then I’ll be right there with you,” he said evenly. “We’ll have to do it sooner or later, that much is obvious. Just… Don’t take unnecessary risks, ok? I’m still the captain of your Guard, after all. I’m supposed to be looking out for you.”

Her dull blue eyes, like the dusk sky, measured him head to toe. She shrugged. “So be it, Captain.” She grinned again, then gave his shoulder a light punch. “You are something of a killjoy, but I understand the sense of it.” Turning, she started heading for the shore. “We shall take a slower pace, and try to scout them unmolested.”

“Yes, highness,” he responded, internally letting out a sigh of relief. “Right behind you.”

It didn’t take them too long to find the shore--nearly the only stretch they could see in both directions--where the ship had deposited two jolly boats and a launch worth of men. Another launch--also full, dangerously so to Lew’s eye--was headed in. The ship, too far in the dawning light to make much detail of, was likely large enough for their needs.

Luna agreed. “But I’m afraid acquiring the vessel is beyond our ability. Damn my tongue for saying as much. Still, let us observe--they may choose to move on, and leading the men to an empty shore is something I’d rather avoid.”

So they watched and waited, hidden amongst the last of the tall grass before it gave way to open stone, as a little over two dozen men--followed by another dozen in yet another pair of jolly boats, who crossed back and forth with supplies--set up camp, not so unlike the one that Lew and Zecora had wiped out the other day. Flimsy tents were set up haphazardly, under the direction of a roughly dressed man with a terrible looking, old burn scar covering most of his face. He carried a riding crop and proceeded to beat any of the men he deemed was shirking.

A pile of supplies--food and ammunition--was made in the center, and pickets set up. Lew said, “Seems there here for the long haul, at least. Though this group is a little more organized than the one Zecora and I assaulted.”

“Indeed? Well, by luck or skill, the foe has offered us a less than favourable battleground. They have little cover and no room for quick retreat, this is true, but neither will the men. If it was merely a question of numbers, we could win out but...” Luna mused. “Captain, sometimes it is too difficult being the, how you say, ‘good guy’.”

Lew could feel his jaw hanging open slightly, before asking, “That’s a joke, right?”

“It is,” she said plainly. “Have my jests not improved?”

“They’re, uh, getting better,” he said slowly, turning his gaze from the suspicion in her eyes. “I think we’ve seen enough, my lady. I’m sure we don’t want to keep Zecora and her people waiting too long for their honored guest.”

“You’re likely right, Captain,” she replied, wistful. “Well, let us return to our original hunt. Take the lead.”

“Yes, Princess,” Lew said, already retreating back towards the woods.

They moved in silence for a long while, Lew going over the landmarks that Zecora had instructed he watch for to get to her village. She had been rather detailed and insistent that he not stray from them in the slightest. He recalled her warning, given in that oddly attractive way she had of speaking in rhymes:

“My home is safe, removed from all eyes. With dangerous traps for a wicked surprise. Follow my route, not a step out of place. Only then can you find our hidden space.”

All the while, the princess had followed his lead, saying nothing. It was somewhat unsettling. Before, she had never missed an opportunity to needle him on, well, anything that she could think of. Some might’ve construed her comments as belittling, or judgemental. But Lew knew it was just her way of showing camaraderie. If he wanted, Lew knew he could do much the same thing. It just wasn’t his style.

What is on her mind? he wondered. It’s somewhat easy for me, a soldier. But to be a princess in such times? His mind couldn’t imagine how difficult that position must have been.

“Full stop, Captain!” she cried suddenly. Lew stopped, dropping to the ground and swinging his rifle to bear, sure she must have spotted some enemy attack. He took aim, left and right quickly, but could see nothing. Finally he noticed she was laughing. “Wha… What is it, Princess?”

“You--did you think us under ambush, Captain?”

“Uh…” He stood, shouldering the weapon and trying to ignore the warmth in his cheeks. “Just trying to stay alert, Princess.”

“Oh most assuredly,” she said, wiping away a tear. Shaking her head, she gestured. “Which is why you missed our target, as it is hiding so illusively?”

Lew followed her hand to see a small clearing around a pool, not too different from the one they had been staying at. The pool itself was fed by a small waterfall, a large, craggy rock formation rising from the ground giving it height. At the peak of the formation, Lew could just make out a vague, blue tint. Whether it was the flower Zecora had challenged them to find or not, it was definitely some sort of blue plant.

“Is that what I think it is?” he asked, squinting.

“The flower is mine,” Luna said, smirking. “I admit it has been fun, though I would have been far more amused to see you in that island getup. No doubt Cadence would have enjoyed a picture of that.”

“It’s pretty tame compared to our honeymoon,” he said quietly, smiling at the memory.

Luna arched a brow. “What was that, Captain?”

“O-oh! Uh, nothing,” he said, putting on a clearly fake cough. “Just a little parched is all.”

“Indeed.”

The pair approached the little oasis and found their suspicions confirmed. The flower seemed to practically thrive in this limited spot. Petals floated in the pool and dried, broken remains were scattered around.

The water itself looked cool and inviting, as the morning sun was shining brightly. Lew silently cursed--instead of intense cold or fierce storms, the day looked as if it was going to be searing hot. He knelt down, cupping some of the water. It was clear and delightfully chill on his skin. He drank, then emptied his canteen of the stale, warm water that was left to refill it.

He tucked it away as he took a long look at the small falls. It was likely somewhere between twenty and thirty feet high, a series of craggy drops back and forth that churned the water until it crashed below. There was no obvious path up. The sides of the formation were steep, with no clear places to climb without proper gear. As he doubted Zecora or her people had such equipment, he knew there must be somewhere to climb up.

He voiced his thoughts, saying, “It almost looks like you have to climb up the fall itself, doesn’t it, Princess?”

“Yes, I devised as much myself,” she said, her voice oddly muffled. He turned to her, then away just as quickly. Luna stood there, in her confident, no-nonsense way, completely naked.

“So, uh,” he said slowly, taking a few steps away, “I’ll, uh, just wait over here while you do that then?”

“What is the matter, Captain?” she asked, clearly amused as she stepped back into his view. “Am I such an affront to your senses?” She laughed.

Lew let out a resigned sigh as he gave up and just looked at her. “Well, no, that’s kind of the problem.”

“Problem?” Still that false confusion, more laughter ready to boil over.

“I’m not entirely sure Cadence would approve,” he offered.

“Ah! Your marital obligations for loyalty, of course. My apologies, Captain,” she said, turning back towards the falls. “I myself have never really experienced such matters. One forgets. But do not worry yourself! The marchioness is an intelligent young woman, and surely understands simply necessity.”

“Necessity?” Lew asked, confused.

She gestured to the falls. “Our goal is close, but to accomplish it I must climb. And a victory march in sodden garments is hardly the triumph I am after.”

“True. Well, good luck, Princess.”

Luna grinned widely. “Luck has nothing to do with it, Captain. I’ve overcome far more challenging obstacles in my younger days.”

With nothing left to be said, she leapt into the pool with a graceful dive, reaching the far end quickly. Despite himself, Lew watched as she treaded water for a moment, studying the formation for a way up. The ascent must have looked different from up close, because he still couldn’t see a way up when she approached the wall and began climbing.

Slowly, she climbed higher. Lew was impressed—not only in her ability to climb the bare rock, but doing so with the water falling down constantly, pouring over her head and no doubt making the rock slick and difficult to grip.

Twice, she fell. Lew nearly cried out, but the pool was deep enough and the fall short enough that there was no danger. When she reached about ten feet up or so to his estimation, the fall’s switchbacks began, and the princess had to not only climb but try and jump from one side to the other.

Despite what he said before, he couldn’t help but watch her during the climb, and seeing her in a manner not unlike many a young man’s dreams. The princess kept her body in top physical shape, but still retained a certain grace to her figure. An athlete’s body, rather than simply a muscle builder. She was paler than he expected, but on further thought it made sense, in its way. though an active person, Luna still had a preference for the nightlife. Fewer distractions and obnoxious sorts, she always claimed.

As she neared the top, Lew quietly watched, inwardly cheering her on and berating himself. It was only natural, he told himself. She was a beautiful woman, and he a healthy young man.

But not only are you married, he reminded himself, she is also your princess.

It wasn’t that he was thinking on doing anything. That wasn’t who he was. But he could, as his old squadmates used to put it, admire the scenery. And it just made him miss Cadence more.

Their honeymoon had been a wonderful two weeks in, cliche as it was, a tropical paradise. The queen herself had gifted them both with a private resort on a small island south of Somani. It had been just the two of them, with a few personnel on call when they were needed. They had frequented the villa’s pool, typically without swimwear.

Lew sighed again. He missed his wife. It wasn’t a new thought, or any sort of realization, just a reminder to himself of what he was fighting for. Princess and country were one thing--and he was loyal, absolutely--but his wife? His one and only? That was the sort of motivation that could keep a man alive against nearly any odds. Or so he had always believed.

As his heart filled with determination, he watched Luna finally make it to the top. There she almost reverently plucked a single flower, which she cupped in her hands as she dived back into the pool. Lew turned back away and, a few minutes later, was rejoined by the now-dressed princess, grinning like a child as she held the flower up in victory.

“Success, Captain! Ha-hah!” she cried. “Twas a simple thing, and yet such satisfaction I feel. The waterfall is immensely invigorating, especially on bare skin.”

“I’ll take your word for it, my lady,” he said, his own face broken into smile at her excitement. “The village isn’t too far, we should easily make it before dark.” A small rumble from his stomach reminded him he hadn’t eaten anything since the night before. “Hopefully they’ll have that feast they promised us ready.”

“Ah, Captain, I share that hope. The goal may have been minor, but the feelings behind it are rich, deserving such a celebration.” She tucked the flower safely away in her belt pouch, then grimaced as she gently rubbed at her arms. “And more drink, I think. The falls are somewhat deceptive. Most of the rock is smooth to the touch, very difficult to climb. But there are many obstacles jutting from various places. Very sharp, almost like knives. I can not say I avoided injury altogether, though nothing too serious.”

“Are you sure?” Lew asked, reaching for his small field bag to see what medical supplies he had on hand. “I have some disinfectant and bandages here…”

But she was already waving her hand, dismissing the idea. “If it would impede me, I would have mentioned it sooner. No doubt I’ll merely share a few scars with our host. Now that I think upon it, I wonder if she gained at least some of them in a similar manner. Well, perhaps I should ask tonight. Let us be off!”

“Right away, Princess!” Lew replied, saluting.

Author's Note

Holy shit. Wonder if I have the record on site for longest haitus with this? Well, no matter. We're back and we'll be getting the rest of the chapters out post-haste to make up for the wait.