Cratesby TwizzleDragonChaptersPrologue: BaltimareA New StartThe Crows NestPrologue: Baltimare“Come back, ya darn thief!” yelled the merchant, running down this roughly paved street, chasing after his product. There were gulls in the air, the port was near, and so were the ships to accompany it. The gulls chirped and squalled all over, barely noticeable anymore to the local populace. Droppings every here and there, perhaps a dead fish carcass in the street every now and then, and sometimes acting as wild pets, wandering into market stores or near carts, getting fed what they could from these earth pony merchants of a higher racial class. “Somepony stop him!” he screamed again, but I still did not stop. He was after his oranges I had just stolen, horribly stolen, despite it being my only ways of obtaining food in the dry labor months, I was still bad at it. My hooves were rough, not gentle and soft like the majority around here. Mine were scuffed up over the years of hard earned labor and unwanted greed that never left me with enough to last long. Times were tough here in the city for anything other than an earth pony, and myself stricken with these lifeless wings, well… I had no strength compared to the rest, and I couldn’t just fly away to a different place, Cloudsdale was too far and there weren’t many out frontiering right now that were hospitable to just anypony. My chances here of making it didn’t look too bright, even though I’ve been sticking through this since I was just a mere colt all alone in the slums, I never knew which week would be my last. I was always hungry, my bones always sticking out from the lack of fat. I was just a disgusting bum, but somehow I learned and made it through month by month, but only able to just barely support myself. And so here I was once again, the same as every other few weeks, stealing petty foods from merchants too dumb to keep their bits at close watch. It wasn’t like I stole a whole lot from the guy, just three, just enough to make it through the week. Wasn’t like I wanted to steal them, even if I had the money the bastard wouldn’t give them to me fairly. One bit from an earth pony is worth ten from a pegasus, to a unicorn I know not. Never seen one of them, don’t even know if they exist or not. I kept track down the street that brought in the most crates, better hiding, more theft opportunities, better living. The street was filled with straw today, not sure why exactly, city isn’t exactly one for livestock, nor the people I suppose. Stallions were loading off more crates, large ones, big enough to hide in kind of large, and a few barrels, probably filled with alcoholic cider. A good shot would feel great right about now, oh well. “Stop that damn filth!” A stallion who had just dropped off his part took notice, joining in the chase. He was a big one too, not some pushover body type like the merchant, too big to slow down any bit at all. I had to hide. He was slow, I was faster, but not quick in comparison to a runner. He got close enough and grabbed for my makeshift shackle rag, the thing with all my personal belongings: just a quill, ink, parchment, and the oranges I had stolen. It snapped right off me, the satchel wasn’t meant to be tugged on anyways, so it came with no surprise, but hunger above all else. The merchant must’ve been tired out a while back because he was no where near us now, nopony to even care about my fallen satchel’s stolen delights. I was starting to get some distance from him, but he didn’t slow down at all, made me wonder if he was only doing this because somepony told him to, or because he hated my kind so much. This was about an everyday thing. I looked back again, watching as he finally gave in and began to turn around. What a mistake on my part… There was a lone plank in my way that I would’ve seen had I not cared about the stalker. I tripped and fell flat on my face, scratching it no doubt. Getting up was a little hard with my lanky body structure. At least the chase seemed to be over, well, just this one for now. There was a rumble in my stomach, hungry after a good sprint, which those oranges would’ve been great for right now, had that pegasus hater not broken my pack off. I watched as he picked it back up, as if it were his own, and it was now for the part taking, and he tossed it over the ramparts, into the bay where it sunk down with all my belongings, except for two oranges that floated back up with their natural buoyancy. The third slipped out when he picked up the bag, well enough to get me through this night without stomach pain. I waited a bit, watching the back of him disappear towards his ship, smiling when he was but a dot in the distance. So I walked over to the vacant area, picked up my orange, and turned back the way I was chased to. Night was approaching, darkness setting in, most of the sailors, who had docked merely for a drink at a pub or to drop off their cargo, were either getting done with their duties, sleeping, or off to the pub. I guess some of the shipmates were more tolerant of my kind, since they got to be extra nice when they trading or exploring, but that was just with the ones who worked outside the boat. Every now and then a noble bearing transport would toss me a bit or two out of pity at my disgusting, rib-showing body. I felt horrible taking unearned money, even if it was from such a loath. Better than nothing, not like anypony round here would employ me anyways. I crossed an inn for sailors who prefered to sleep on land if they could afford it, The Shallow Mare, and it felt a better place to eat than outside in the cold. I’ve been in there before, they weren’t horrible ponies, the owners that is, but at the same time they were, it was more about business to them, I could stay and buy whatever as long as I paid for my food or brought my own, only catch was I had to stay back in the corner to not disgust any wealthy patrons. It was a better deal than anywhere else so I came here whenever around the port of the city. It was nice out here, the beauty of the bay in front of you outlasted the horrible ponies that occupied it. I opened the door and walked inside. It was dark inside, held alight by very few lanterns that needed to be refilled soon, glowing faintly on the ceiling and posts, flickering. There was drunken banter going around, something about a courtesan mare cheating one of them out of his bits, a common problem. I sat myself away from the main crowd, as directed by the owner and bartender. She didn’t bother me at all with any offers of food or drink, knowing I rarely could pay for it. She had no problem with me bringing in my own food or staying for a few hours as long as I didn’t disturb nopony, which was hard sometimes, but I know when a scene is getting bad. I sat down at the weakest table, the one with a slant and holes, water damaged and wobbly. It was better than nothing. I pulled my orange onto the table and began to peel it with my teeth. I would spit out the peelings and such once the orange was completely ready. I dug into it, savoring its citrus flavor and squishy texture. It was good, much better than anything I could earn fairly. A crowd of five entered the building, dressed in seawaring fashion. Clearly they weren’t any different from anypony else around here, except for me, the naked bum. One of them, who I suspected as the captain, wandered over to a lone table as the rest spread across the room, joining the chatter of others and eventually sending a stallion or two at the “captain” where he would speak to them with his book and mug of cider. He sent a few away, big strong stallions, which didn’t seem right to me, strength was needed on the sea. I kept watching, slowly finishing my orange and enjoying the warmth of the nearby lantern. They seemed to not notice me, or maybe they were ignoring me? Whatever the case, they weren’t getting much luck. I didn’t know what kind of pony they needed, but chances are that I ain’t it. I finished my orange and grabbed the peelings leftover, walked over to the owner, Scarlet, who I knew had a garden out back. She could use these as fertilizer, and I planned to give her them as payment for her kindness. She was speaking with another mare, a young adolescent, like me. She had an odd hat on, expensive yet with a poor vibe, along with sailor clothing. She came in with the same crew and appeared to have given up, knowing the search was futile or foolish or whatever that the others had not seen. They had been talking like old friends, laughing and gossiping it seemed to me. I approached and laid down the orange peelings, thanked her for her services, and was about ready to head on my way. “Hey, wait!” Scarlet lifted up a mug of cider. “On the house, you look thirsty every time ya come in here. Take it.” I came back and sat on a stool. The two continued with their conversation after I thanked her again for her kindness. I tried to stay out of it, my social skills are lacking a lot and most ponies get irritable when I try to converse with them. I just kept looking towards the shelves of alcoholic drinks and drank what I could handle. I tried not to eavesdrop, but the two were right next to me, I couldn’t control it. Scarlet had a rough female voice, she had a background that I never wanted to ask about. The other mare, her voice was sweet, light and high enough to sound like a spirit but deep enough to not sound annoying. The two spoke of some sort of hunting game, I could barely understand the concept. Eventually I noticed some of her crewmen leaving, not even buying a drinks, just returning to the boats after a hard hour or so of attempts. The one next to me didn’t care at all, she drank down a mug or two by now and seemed to be either completely sober, or be ordering water. The captain didn’t seem to be going anywhere but off to sleep, his head stuck between his hooves on the table with his cap fallen down and mug still grasped. The mare beside me gave me a little nudge, I turned to see what it was about. “You alright there, sir?” It had been a while since anyone asked me this. I replied how I always would, even if the answer wasn’t true. “Yea, just a little tired from the day, that’s all.” I tried to turn back and finish off my cider but the mare had other ideas. “Ya sure ain’t the talkative type, what’s it take to get a nice conversation outta you?” she laughed a little, I didn’t see what was so funny. “Don’t try with that one, Two Bits here ain’t the one to befriend just anyone, dear,” Scarlet explained, cleaning dishes behind the counter. “Ohh!” she began, “sounds like a challenge.” “It ain’t a challenge, you don’t know who you’re talking to.” I said, downing the last bit of cider. “C’mon, can’t be much fun just lowing about here all alone, where’s your thirst for adventure?” she nudged me again. “Listen, I don’t need no adventure, I just need what I can use to make a living, and that’s it. Now if you’ll excuse me, miss, I oughta get out of here before somepony gets too drunk to hold in his nerve.” I got off the stool and turned towards the door. “So it’s a job you’re looking for?” she said, smirking. I really needed money, or anything, just a meal a day and something to keep me occupied and off the streets sounded like a good deal, but I was never one for the sea, hell, I wasn’t even one for the wind with my screwed up wings, but I knew I could learn. “What kind of job?” I asked, just to get some specification on what I might be dedicating my life towards in a split second. “Right now we got a ship that needs a few hooves round the hull. You do some mopping here and there, help out the cook, unload some crates, and maybe you might work yourself up to the deck in a bit. Some of it’s hard work, but it’ll pay off if you don’t got anything else to go to.” “And your crew won’t have a problem with my wings?” “Oh, no, they will at first. They’ll hate ya, but we can change that.” “How?” She grabbed her shirt and pulled it out a little bit. “Clothes, they’ll never know ‘less you flutter your wings. I suggest you don’t, that is if you want the job.” “Oh, I’ll take it either way,” she smiled at my answer. “Good. First Mate Sweep is over…” she looked back and noticed him passed out. “Well, I’ll tell him when he wakes. Come, let’s go get you some clothes.” She dropped from her stool and headed with me out of the building. We walked down the street in what would be a one-way conversation between her trying to talk to me and I being unused to this, stuck in silence with the only responses of “yes” or “no”. Oddly enough, she didn’t seem bored by me, maybe she was just pretending or really was just this happy. She had a lot of coin on her, it dangled in her small bag just out in the open, foolish of her. I could’ve, should’ve taken it, I could’ve made it a month without any theft with what she had out, but I liked the opportunity she offered me. We made it across town and into the market, the shops stayed open late with the city always busy, so there were a few places with good wares. There was one shop, The Threaded Needle, that possessed a large amount of clothes. I couldn’t go in, they had a sign outside prohibiting anything but earth ponies, so I let her go in ahead of me. It never occurred to me I didn’t ask her name before. Seemed a little awkward, less awkward than a noble who pities the poor but on the inside wants them gone from the streets but still has the false dignity to look them in the eye and pretend to be kind. She went in, picked out something to match the rest of the crew, I hope, and brought it back out for me in just a few minutes. “Put it on before we go to the ship,” she instructed. I went down an alleyway, despite already being naked myself, I just thought it was better if the merchants didn’t see me posing as their own kind. The outfit wasn’t bad, it had stripes and was soft and flexible, not some cheap itchy blanket given to foals. It was very generous of her, and all she wanted from me was a decent conversation. I came back out of the alley, she was there, waiting patiently for me. “It look good?” She chuckled, “good enough.” We went down towards the port again, the moon as high as it would ever be tonight. It was nice out, and here I was, spending a beautiful end with a mare I knew nothing about. “So… uhh…” I began, trying my best to just to talk more than my recent genericness. “What’s your name by the way?” “My name? Oh, I didn’t realize it never came up before, I’m Stargazer. You’ll be wanting to know some of the others before you get aboard, the captain’s name is Serenade, he’s a musician when he gets into his quarters, not bad at it either. The cook’s name is Kuil, she’s a griffin, but don’t worry, she doesn’t eat any meat. Let’s see… who else? Ah, you’ll meet the most in due time, except for Blind Eyes, he’s up in the crows nest usually.” We were right down the street from the presumed ship. “They gonna be fine with me just showing up in the bunks?” I asked, nervously. “Yea, happens about every time we dock at a city. Ain’t much use getting close to a few unless they in debt to the captain, most of the new ones leave first opportunity they get. It’s a little sad, the living isn’t bad at all.” We reached the plank of a ship, Stargazer turned and stopped me before we got on. There were a few ponies working on the deck, some mopping and some just standing about. “This it?” I asked, unsure if I should be impressed or not. “Yea, welcome aboard the Crucible!” “The Crucible?” I understood it was the name, but it seemed a little weird. “Or some sorts, it gets changed every now and then I can’t keep up. Damn Captain can’t keep his mind on anything. Anyways, I’m sure you’re tired, let me show you to the bunks.” “Finally, I could use a good rest.” I followed her as she went towards a checkered palette. I helped her lift it up, even though she didn’t need help, I’m just odd like that I guess. The palette lead down into a staircase, it was darker than The Shallow Mare, and Stargazer lead me to another staircase. It looked like a storage area, barrels all around and a few walls to separate into a few rooms, there was also a cell block at the end. It wasn’t half bad down here, she lead me around the stairs once more and showed me to a room with four bunks, all empty. “Here you go, we’re setting sail early tomorrow so you better wake with the rest before you get thrown. Didn’t think you’d want company either so this should do until next dock. I shall see you later, Two Bits!” she went off, leaving me alone in a leaky room. I took one of the bottom bunks so the water wouldn’t drip onto me and tried to fall asleep as fast as I could. I was ready for tomorrow, I had to be. Author's Note I took months to actually start this, months that I used to think and do other stories that I didn't promise. I know this isn't the best work ever, I feel I rushed the conversations, but I kept my promise in the end. If you don't understand how it's Alt Universe, well, in truth it isn't. It's more what I think Equestria would've been like after it was founded by the tribes, but before Discord and the Princesses. This was supposed to be a 1.5k prologue. This was written while pandora was playing Secondhand Serenade. DO YOU KNOW HOW HARD IT WAS TO MAKE THIS THE LEAST ROMANTIC WITH SECONDHAND SERENADE PLAYING!? VERY VERY HARD A New Start“Get up!” came an unfamiliar, deep voice. I opened my eyes, rubbing them as I got out of my bunk. The sound of waves crashing was all around, a weak strength among the shipmates. Looking around, I saw only one pony, a stallion, not the mare I had been recruited by the night before. He gave out a stress filled grunt and tossed me some sort of cracker or biscuit. “Eat up,” the stallion said with this large spite sullied into his voice. “You’ll be working with Runt today, meet him near the cellblock and don’t be a lazy arse like the last fella.” “Al-” I took a bite from the cracker. It was horrible, stale, and tasteless. I couldn’t help but gag on it as it dried up my mouth. “Alright…” He left the room, giving me no indication of who “Runt” was or how I would know which pony he was other than a location. I hoped he would be the only one in the cellblock area, as talking with strangers was still an uncomfortable thing for myself. I got out of bed, or tried to. It was the hardest part of everyday, the largest routine followed by everypony, rich or poor, weak or strong, and though we all did this, for me it was hard. Knowing that a new day has begun, a day of the unknown consequences and punishments, a new day of disaster had started once again. I just wanted to lie there, give up, despite this great opportunity I had just been given for a start over, there was nothing more I wanted to be then nonexistent. Just poof from this realm, forever forgotten, and in my place nothing more. It was bound for somepony to replace me, but they would never be me to any close angle, and that didn’t bother me one bit. I’d rather be gone than replaceable, because at least from that point it would be my choice, not others. But still, life is full of wants and none of them seem to be mine. I put on my social mask, grabbed myself and pulled from the torn comfort of the bunk I got up, forced into life once more, not a single goodbye to those dreams of void, I would see them again, as soon enough as they went. The hull, now lightened by sunlight leaking through cracks and holes, and a some more lanterns than last night, seemed to be a large open-area, if not for all the cargo and crew rummaging around for their duties. The cellblock was towards my left, alone mopping around was just a small colt, slipping around, bottom of the food chain. I went towards him, careful not to slip on the soapy-wet floor. He took slow notice of me, wishing I had not been here to help him out, announced by the violent snort that slipped from him. “You Runt?” I asked rhetorically. He turned his head up, giving me a better glance at him. I could tell why his name was Runt, his face was mature, his body muscular and scarred, his fur dark grey and mane light black, he hadn’t been a colt in a long time. “You the new boy?” His eyes wandered me in a bad way, not like how one pony would “check out” another for lust, but judgmentally. “I guess.” “You guess?” “Yea.” “Boy, either you are or you aren’t. Make up your damn mind, I ain’t here to do it for ya.” “Alright. So what is we be doing here?” He didn’t like me. I wasn’t sure if it was because of the way society had been to him, or I’m just that bad at first impressions. “Right now, you’re gonna be feeding the stock.” Runt pointed to a bag pile in the corner cell. “Fill the buckets up to the brim and then lay down new hay when you’re done.” “Alright.” Runt went off topside. I did the job like he asked, giving the stock their pesky seeds. Laying down “fresh” hay atop the old, decaying layer. It was an easy job, nothing complex at all, such a bore, but it earned my feed, that was all I needed. With my job done, I decided I would go explore. After all, nopony told me I couldn’t, did they? I went around the stairs and proceeded to the other side of the ship. A bunch of ponies sat around on barrels or on the floor, resting or drunk. I guess the majority of work was topside. I passed by another set of quarters, these few seemed to be a bit more polished, special bunks for the important probably. Behind these sat a large room, one with two long dining tables, both rotting away and stained with food. Nopony was in here. I kept on towards the back where I found a peculiar doorway, gated with a velvety curtain. “Could I borrow another knife, terribly sorry,” said a disembodied voice. “Another?” this one sighed. “What happened to the last one?” This voice sounded feminine, but with a rickety crackle, unlike a normal pony. “The darn things aren’t exactly easy to use, Kuil. If I had your claws I’d be done with this yesterday.” This voice sounded male, a little short of depth, a small loss of masculinity in it too. “Here,” the one named Kuil said, I suspected she gave the other what he wanted. “I don’t have many left, you break or lose that one you better go take off one of your kind.” “My kind?” I pushed the curtain away and stepped into the room, unnoticed. “You know what I meant.” “I am nothing like those brutes, you know this well enough by now!” I walked a little closer to their voices. Their backs were turned when I came into view. One was the griffin cook that Stargazer informed my of the night before, Kuil. The other I wasn’t sure. He was a smart-looking pony with grey fur, a black mane, and what I saw as a bone for a cutie mark. I just stood there, eavesdropping out of boredom. “I know both you and them enough! Don’t you recall that I can’t leave this area and show my face? I’ve faced enough of them to see their atrocities. They be lucky I don’t poison their food every meal.” “Just be lucky you have somepony like me to peacefully converse with you.” “Yeah… Lucky me…” I laughed at her statement. She turned around with a mad look in her eyes. “What are you doing here?!” She was beautiful, for a griffin that is. “Just wandering around, ma’am.” I was a little nervous, wanting to get out of her, but challenging myself to stay all the same. “You’ve wandered a bit too far for my comfort, boy.” “Uhh… Sorry…” I could feel my wings trying to flutter, it was an instinct I couldn’t control in nervous situations. “I should… I should go…” I felt a loose feather poking at my clothes, barely able to stay put. “If it’s food you want, we’ve got a surplus of limes to hold you over. They’re fresh too, but only one for now,” said the pony, reaching below the counter for a large sack. He grabbed a small lime and tossed it towards me. “You must be new here, very likely so, I know most after serving the food for so long. What’s your name?” “Two Bits,” I said, eager to get away from this area and find another place to work. “Ah, nice to meet you, Two Bits. My name is Chap, short for Chapter. I read whenever I can, you see. The name fits just perfect for my case. I am the ships cook, well not really, I just say I am. Most of the crew wouldn’t eat at all if they knew a non-earth pony made their food.” I knew this feeling. “Kuil handles all the food. I am just sort of here to study.” “Study?” “Yes, study.” “He meant what do you study, Chap,” Kuil cut in, then turned back to get back to preparing her work. “Oh, of course. Well, I study what I see as interesting enough to look into. Right now,” he signaled towards his part of the counter, “I am studying the body of” I gagged at the sight, “rabbits.” “Wha… Why?” “Why not?” “Well its… why are you even doing it near the rations?” “Nopony seemed to have a problem with it before.” Kuil cut in once again, “That’s because nopony but us have had a reason to come back here before.” “So you’re fine with it yourself?” “We ain’t the ones eating limes, boy. Cook gets special privileges on food, ya know? Now why don’t you hurry on outta here ‘fore we do something else you over concerned about.” “Ah, well, I suppose I should get back to my research as well. Sir Bits, please, if you may, I would love another conversation sometime later, you are unlike the others in personality. I could use a pony like you to get more research done.” I turned towards the doorway, ready to leave. “I’ll be sure to keep that in mind, Chap.” I honestly didn’t care for his research at all, but if it meant days away from an uncertain crew, I’d take it. Author's Note I'd like to apologize beforehand for my work after this chapter, I have been going through some things that may alter my work. The Crows NestI felt uneasy going up to the top deck. I didn’t belong there, and surely I would’ve stood out. There wasn’t any work to do below deck from the looks of it. Even Runt was sitting on a barrel, smoking from a pipe. Nopony took notice of me lifting the hatch, not even those above. We were out at sea already, or maybe it was the ocean? I never went to school. For all I knew, we could’ve been on a river. The most I knew was of Baltimare, and those cold streets were never kind. Sailors scurried about, tying and untying ropes, moping parts of the deck, but it was overall calm up here. I didn’t give much attention and kept my head down just in case being up here was going to get me punished. I remembered Stargazer talking about the pony above all the others in his crows nest, Blind Eyes, or something like that. I wanted to talk to the seemingly lonesome pony, so I headed up the ropes of his tower. It was hard, not physically, but mentally, fearing the fall down, afraid that I would just splat down on the deck and end my life, but also afraid that my wings would suddenly burst into the talent I had been missing from my life, that I would fly and survive, live another day in this world, but it isn’t living, not in the slightest, because fear isn’t apart of life, it’s an illusion of death. Though I would not fall and end everything, so unworried of the consequences of death or survival, I made it to the crows nest and climbed over its edge. There sat Blind Eyes, an old pony with an eye patch, staring out into the abyssal waters. “Is that you back with my cider already, Snitch?” Blind Eyes said, turning his good eye towards me. “Oh?” he said, expecting another in my place. “And you are?” I hesitated at first, only for my voice to crack, “Two Bits, I’m new here, sir.” “I know damn well you’re new here, I wouldn’t of asked ya who you were otherwise, boy. Now why ya up here without a drink?” “I didn’t know to bring one for you, sorry.” “For me? No, boy, the drinks for you! Life up in the nest ain’t nothing without a spot of rum.” “Must it be so dreadful?” “Ain’t dreadful at all, kid, just a world waiting to be altered. Here,” he handed me what was left in his whiskey canteen, “drink up,” and so I did. Its taste was not akin with my tongue. I struggled to keep it down, not to insult Blind Eyes and his invited habits. “It’s a bit strong for me, anything different down in the decks?” “I ain’t one to go down there, kid, far as I know there’s only rum other.” There was a mild silence afterwards. “So,” I began, trying to continue conversing with the stallion, “what’s your job?” “Ain’t it obvious, boy? I’m the scout. I help the quartermaster navigate and see to it we’re on the right course that the captain wants set.” “What would our current course be?” “Don’t know anything for sure, alls I know is Captain wants us northeast for a bit, looking for some merchant ship flying crystal flags. Kinda odd of a trade spot, out in the open seas, we’ve never done one before, just hope the cargo is something important that we can’t carry it out from the city docks, ya know?” “What if it isn’t a trade?” “Captain wouldn’t be having a meeting set if it weren’t. Gotta keep your honor on the sea, I suppose.” “Honor is just a word.” “Only if you want it to be, kid.” “How long till we get to the spot?” “Depends if we reach the right place. Accuracy is a problem most of the time. Should take us a day or two at most, seeing as how it isn’t far from a few islands. Just a notch off Irleia, not many fly crystal flags past that point.” “Whys that?” “Them folk always more reserved to their lands, plus I can’t imagine they want to focus on the sea in such a cold climate. Water is for the desert pony.” “That it is.” “So what’s your aim, kid?” “My aim?” I had never shot anything in my life. “Your goal here, we all got ‘em, mines simple, my skills just pertain to this.” “What skills, your ability to drink that dastardly stuff?” “Ya tell me your goal, I tell ya my skill, sound fair?” “Alright.” “Let’s hear it then!” “I’m here for…” I didn’t think my actual reason of having a better life on board the ship due to my race would fit the best answer for him, so I gave him a different one, “Stargazer.” The word was like a refugee escaping the genocide of my thoughts. “Ah… Well… She is a very promising one… You’re not the only here for her, believe it or not. The girl has a certain charm to her, that manipulative bitch.” “So what’s your skill then?” “My sight.” “What do you mean?” “Despite this patch across one, the other is very dysfunctional in short distance. I make for a better scout than most that fair on the nest.” “Quite the talent.” “Aye. Though I can see for afar, anything up close is a blur, it is not a great talent, but a talent none the less.” There was a sailor climbing up to the nest. “Here’s your bottle, Blind, almost out in the decks,” said the newcomer. “Finally, Snitch, took ya long enough!” “Aye, who’s this?” “Two Bits,” I said, with a unexpected crack in my voice. “Would’ve brought ya a bottle if I knew, sorry, Bits,” he took a swish of his rum. “Cook was being a damn hassle looking through the stocks, damn boy got in my way so many times.” “He looking for that wine o’ his again?” Blind Eyes asked, now looking out towards the sea. “Not like he drinks it himself. Stargazer was about to give him the hoof if he kept misplacing the cargo. If he didn’t make the food decent, I’da done the same.” The second mentioning of Stargazer had reminded me that I had not seen her at all since my boarding. I felt my time up in the nest was reaching its end soon anyways, so I said my goodbye, and climbed down. Still, the floors were clear of work, only filled with partially drunken sailors and a bored quartermaster watching the sails ride the wind. I went below decks, parched for a drink that didn’t alter my touch with reality. I kept towards the kitchen, hoping one of my acquaintances would know where some sort of fresh water was kept on the ship. The two were arguing when I entered the room. “It works much better than your usual quills, Kuil, have you changed your diet?” “My diet is none of your concern, Chap!” “Right, right. It’s just odd, so different than your other plucked feathers, much softer, less coarse, and the tip is so fine. Are you sure?” “It’s probably just a young feather tugged out. Why must you make such deals about things like this?” I had no idea how Kuil hadn’t strangled Chap by now. Though the two appeared to be the closest things they could be to friends, they didn’t seem to be fond of that relationship. “What’s the problem?” I cut in. “Oh, hello again, Bits!” He had been scribbling in his research book with a very small feather, my own. Kuil turned and faced me, greeted me, and got back to her work. “What is that?” “Just one of Kuil’s feathers, found it lying about just in time to record more notes. Have you met Blind Eyes yet? I’d like to know how he is doing, he hasn’t come down from there in ages, always have to send Snitch up with his meal. Becomes quite the bother after a few years of knowing how close he is.” “He’s fine. Why don’t you just go up there and visit him yourself?” “Chap can’t climb for shit,” Kuil chuckled. “Oh…” It wasn’t even a difficult climb to the nest. “Say, Chap, do you perhaps know where I could find a drink? Nothing hard for me, I’ve not the body for that stuff.” “Oh, yes, stay here, I shall get you a canteen,” he went off, leaving me with Kuil. “Finally,” Kuil started, “some less annoying company. So, Bits,” she put dropped from her occupation. “What’s your story?” “No story at all.” “None? Did you not exist until this ship came by?” “No, I just don’t have any events. My life is the same as it always was until now.” “Oh, and what has changed?” “Just the scenery.” Chap reentered the room, carrying a canteen. “Here you go, Bits! If you need more they are next to the starboard bunks, right against the dividers.” “Thanks, Chap.” I took my canteen and went off towards my bunk. Author's Note This chapter was just for character development. If it really matters to you about Bits and his inability to fly, he will not fly ever in this story, for realism, that he has a deformed wing, like nemo, and will never be physically capable of flight.
Prologue: Baltimare“Come back, ya darn thief!” yelled the merchant, running down this roughly paved street, chasing after his product. There were gulls in the air, the port was near, and so were the ships to accompany it. The gulls chirped and squalled all over, barely noticeable anymore to the local populace. Droppings every here and there, perhaps a dead fish carcass in the street every now and then, and sometimes acting as wild pets, wandering into market stores or near carts, getting fed what they could from these earth pony merchants of a higher racial class. “Somepony stop him!” he screamed again, but I still did not stop. He was after his oranges I had just stolen, horribly stolen, despite it being my only ways of obtaining food in the dry labor months, I was still bad at it. My hooves were rough, not gentle and soft like the majority around here. Mine were scuffed up over the years of hard earned labor and unwanted greed that never left me with enough to last long. Times were tough here in the city for anything other than an earth pony, and myself stricken with these lifeless wings, well… I had no strength compared to the rest, and I couldn’t just fly away to a different place, Cloudsdale was too far and there weren’t many out frontiering right now that were hospitable to just anypony. My chances here of making it didn’t look too bright, even though I’ve been sticking through this since I was just a mere colt all alone in the slums, I never knew which week would be my last. I was always hungry, my bones always sticking out from the lack of fat. I was just a disgusting bum, but somehow I learned and made it through month by month, but only able to just barely support myself. And so here I was once again, the same as every other few weeks, stealing petty foods from merchants too dumb to keep their bits at close watch. It wasn’t like I stole a whole lot from the guy, just three, just enough to make it through the week. Wasn’t like I wanted to steal them, even if I had the money the bastard wouldn’t give them to me fairly. One bit from an earth pony is worth ten from a pegasus, to a unicorn I know not. Never seen one of them, don’t even know if they exist or not. I kept track down the street that brought in the most crates, better hiding, more theft opportunities, better living. The street was filled with straw today, not sure why exactly, city isn’t exactly one for livestock, nor the people I suppose. Stallions were loading off more crates, large ones, big enough to hide in kind of large, and a few barrels, probably filled with alcoholic cider. A good shot would feel great right about now, oh well. “Stop that damn filth!” A stallion who had just dropped off his part took notice, joining in the chase. He was a big one too, not some pushover body type like the merchant, too big to slow down any bit at all. I had to hide. He was slow, I was faster, but not quick in comparison to a runner. He got close enough and grabbed for my makeshift shackle rag, the thing with all my personal belongings: just a quill, ink, parchment, and the oranges I had stolen. It snapped right off me, the satchel wasn’t meant to be tugged on anyways, so it came with no surprise, but hunger above all else. The merchant must’ve been tired out a while back because he was no where near us now, nopony to even care about my fallen satchel’s stolen delights. I was starting to get some distance from him, but he didn’t slow down at all, made me wonder if he was only doing this because somepony told him to, or because he hated my kind so much. This was about an everyday thing. I looked back again, watching as he finally gave in and began to turn around. What a mistake on my part… There was a lone plank in my way that I would’ve seen had I not cared about the stalker. I tripped and fell flat on my face, scratching it no doubt. Getting up was a little hard with my lanky body structure. At least the chase seemed to be over, well, just this one for now. There was a rumble in my stomach, hungry after a good sprint, which those oranges would’ve been great for right now, had that pegasus hater not broken my pack off. I watched as he picked it back up, as if it were his own, and it was now for the part taking, and he tossed it over the ramparts, into the bay where it sunk down with all my belongings, except for two oranges that floated back up with their natural buoyancy. The third slipped out when he picked up the bag, well enough to get me through this night without stomach pain. I waited a bit, watching the back of him disappear towards his ship, smiling when he was but a dot in the distance. So I walked over to the vacant area, picked up my orange, and turned back the way I was chased to. Night was approaching, darkness setting in, most of the sailors, who had docked merely for a drink at a pub or to drop off their cargo, were either getting done with their duties, sleeping, or off to the pub. I guess some of the shipmates were more tolerant of my kind, since they got to be extra nice when they trading or exploring, but that was just with the ones who worked outside the boat. Every now and then a noble bearing transport would toss me a bit or two out of pity at my disgusting, rib-showing body. I felt horrible taking unearned money, even if it was from such a loath. Better than nothing, not like anypony round here would employ me anyways. I crossed an inn for sailors who prefered to sleep on land if they could afford it, The Shallow Mare, and it felt a better place to eat than outside in the cold. I’ve been in there before, they weren’t horrible ponies, the owners that is, but at the same time they were, it was more about business to them, I could stay and buy whatever as long as I paid for my food or brought my own, only catch was I had to stay back in the corner to not disgust any wealthy patrons. It was a better deal than anywhere else so I came here whenever around the port of the city. It was nice out here, the beauty of the bay in front of you outlasted the horrible ponies that occupied it. I opened the door and walked inside. It was dark inside, held alight by very few lanterns that needed to be refilled soon, glowing faintly on the ceiling and posts, flickering. There was drunken banter going around, something about a courtesan mare cheating one of them out of his bits, a common problem. I sat myself away from the main crowd, as directed by the owner and bartender. She didn’t bother me at all with any offers of food or drink, knowing I rarely could pay for it. She had no problem with me bringing in my own food or staying for a few hours as long as I didn’t disturb nopony, which was hard sometimes, but I know when a scene is getting bad. I sat down at the weakest table, the one with a slant and holes, water damaged and wobbly. It was better than nothing. I pulled my orange onto the table and began to peel it with my teeth. I would spit out the peelings and such once the orange was completely ready. I dug into it, savoring its citrus flavor and squishy texture. It was good, much better than anything I could earn fairly. A crowd of five entered the building, dressed in seawaring fashion. Clearly they weren’t any different from anypony else around here, except for me, the naked bum. One of them, who I suspected as the captain, wandered over to a lone table as the rest spread across the room, joining the chatter of others and eventually sending a stallion or two at the “captain” where he would speak to them with his book and mug of cider. He sent a few away, big strong stallions, which didn’t seem right to me, strength was needed on the sea. I kept watching, slowly finishing my orange and enjoying the warmth of the nearby lantern. They seemed to not notice me, or maybe they were ignoring me? Whatever the case, they weren’t getting much luck. I didn’t know what kind of pony they needed, but chances are that I ain’t it. I finished my orange and grabbed the peelings leftover, walked over to the owner, Scarlet, who I knew had a garden out back. She could use these as fertilizer, and I planned to give her them as payment for her kindness. She was speaking with another mare, a young adolescent, like me. She had an odd hat on, expensive yet with a poor vibe, along with sailor clothing. She came in with the same crew and appeared to have given up, knowing the search was futile or foolish or whatever that the others had not seen. They had been talking like old friends, laughing and gossiping it seemed to me. I approached and laid down the orange peelings, thanked her for her services, and was about ready to head on my way. “Hey, wait!” Scarlet lifted up a mug of cider. “On the house, you look thirsty every time ya come in here. Take it.” I came back and sat on a stool. The two continued with their conversation after I thanked her again for her kindness. I tried to stay out of it, my social skills are lacking a lot and most ponies get irritable when I try to converse with them. I just kept looking towards the shelves of alcoholic drinks and drank what I could handle. I tried not to eavesdrop, but the two were right next to me, I couldn’t control it. Scarlet had a rough female voice, she had a background that I never wanted to ask about. The other mare, her voice was sweet, light and high enough to sound like a spirit but deep enough to not sound annoying. The two spoke of some sort of hunting game, I could barely understand the concept. Eventually I noticed some of her crewmen leaving, not even buying a drinks, just returning to the boats after a hard hour or so of attempts. The one next to me didn’t care at all, she drank down a mug or two by now and seemed to be either completely sober, or be ordering water. The captain didn’t seem to be going anywhere but off to sleep, his head stuck between his hooves on the table with his cap fallen down and mug still grasped. The mare beside me gave me a little nudge, I turned to see what it was about. “You alright there, sir?” It had been a while since anyone asked me this. I replied how I always would, even if the answer wasn’t true. “Yea, just a little tired from the day, that’s all.” I tried to turn back and finish off my cider but the mare had other ideas. “Ya sure ain’t the talkative type, what’s it take to get a nice conversation outta you?” she laughed a little, I didn’t see what was so funny. “Don’t try with that one, Two Bits here ain’t the one to befriend just anyone, dear,” Scarlet explained, cleaning dishes behind the counter. “Ohh!” she began, “sounds like a challenge.” “It ain’t a challenge, you don’t know who you’re talking to.” I said, downing the last bit of cider. “C’mon, can’t be much fun just lowing about here all alone, where’s your thirst for adventure?” she nudged me again. “Listen, I don’t need no adventure, I just need what I can use to make a living, and that’s it. Now if you’ll excuse me, miss, I oughta get out of here before somepony gets too drunk to hold in his nerve.” I got off the stool and turned towards the door. “So it’s a job you’re looking for?” she said, smirking. I really needed money, or anything, just a meal a day and something to keep me occupied and off the streets sounded like a good deal, but I was never one for the sea, hell, I wasn’t even one for the wind with my screwed up wings, but I knew I could learn. “What kind of job?” I asked, just to get some specification on what I might be dedicating my life towards in a split second. “Right now we got a ship that needs a few hooves round the hull. You do some mopping here and there, help out the cook, unload some crates, and maybe you might work yourself up to the deck in a bit. Some of it’s hard work, but it’ll pay off if you don’t got anything else to go to.” “And your crew won’t have a problem with my wings?” “Oh, no, they will at first. They’ll hate ya, but we can change that.” “How?” She grabbed her shirt and pulled it out a little bit. “Clothes, they’ll never know ‘less you flutter your wings. I suggest you don’t, that is if you want the job.” “Oh, I’ll take it either way,” she smiled at my answer. “Good. First Mate Sweep is over…” she looked back and noticed him passed out. “Well, I’ll tell him when he wakes. Come, let’s go get you some clothes.” She dropped from her stool and headed with me out of the building. We walked down the street in what would be a one-way conversation between her trying to talk to me and I being unused to this, stuck in silence with the only responses of “yes” or “no”. Oddly enough, she didn’t seem bored by me, maybe she was just pretending or really was just this happy. She had a lot of coin on her, it dangled in her small bag just out in the open, foolish of her. I could’ve, should’ve taken it, I could’ve made it a month without any theft with what she had out, but I liked the opportunity she offered me. We made it across town and into the market, the shops stayed open late with the city always busy, so there were a few places with good wares. There was one shop, The Threaded Needle, that possessed a large amount of clothes. I couldn’t go in, they had a sign outside prohibiting anything but earth ponies, so I let her go in ahead of me. It never occurred to me I didn’t ask her name before. Seemed a little awkward, less awkward than a noble who pities the poor but on the inside wants them gone from the streets but still has the false dignity to look them in the eye and pretend to be kind. She went in, picked out something to match the rest of the crew, I hope, and brought it back out for me in just a few minutes. “Put it on before we go to the ship,” she instructed. I went down an alleyway, despite already being naked myself, I just thought it was better if the merchants didn’t see me posing as their own kind. The outfit wasn’t bad, it had stripes and was soft and flexible, not some cheap itchy blanket given to foals. It was very generous of her, and all she wanted from me was a decent conversation. I came back out of the alley, she was there, waiting patiently for me. “It look good?” She chuckled, “good enough.” We went down towards the port again, the moon as high as it would ever be tonight. It was nice out, and here I was, spending a beautiful end with a mare I knew nothing about. “So… uhh…” I began, trying my best to just to talk more than my recent genericness. “What’s your name by the way?” “My name? Oh, I didn’t realize it never came up before, I’m Stargazer. You’ll be wanting to know some of the others before you get aboard, the captain’s name is Serenade, he’s a musician when he gets into his quarters, not bad at it either. The cook’s name is Kuil, she’s a griffin, but don’t worry, she doesn’t eat any meat. Let’s see… who else? Ah, you’ll meet the most in due time, except for Blind Eyes, he’s up in the crows nest usually.” We were right down the street from the presumed ship. “They gonna be fine with me just showing up in the bunks?” I asked, nervously. “Yea, happens about every time we dock at a city. Ain’t much use getting close to a few unless they in debt to the captain, most of the new ones leave first opportunity they get. It’s a little sad, the living isn’t bad at all.” We reached the plank of a ship, Stargazer turned and stopped me before we got on. There were a few ponies working on the deck, some mopping and some just standing about. “This it?” I asked, unsure if I should be impressed or not. “Yea, welcome aboard the Crucible!” “The Crucible?” I understood it was the name, but it seemed a little weird. “Or some sorts, it gets changed every now and then I can’t keep up. Damn Captain can’t keep his mind on anything. Anyways, I’m sure you’re tired, let me show you to the bunks.” “Finally, I could use a good rest.” I followed her as she went towards a checkered palette. I helped her lift it up, even though she didn’t need help, I’m just odd like that I guess. The palette lead down into a staircase, it was darker than The Shallow Mare, and Stargazer lead me to another staircase. It looked like a storage area, barrels all around and a few walls to separate into a few rooms, there was also a cell block at the end. It wasn’t half bad down here, she lead me around the stairs once more and showed me to a room with four bunks, all empty. “Here you go, we’re setting sail early tomorrow so you better wake with the rest before you get thrown. Didn’t think you’d want company either so this should do until next dock. I shall see you later, Two Bits!” she went off, leaving me alone in a leaky room. I took one of the bottom bunks so the water wouldn’t drip onto me and tried to fall asleep as fast as I could. I was ready for tomorrow, I had to be. Author's Note I took months to actually start this, months that I used to think and do other stories that I didn't promise. I know this isn't the best work ever, I feel I rushed the conversations, but I kept my promise in the end. If you don't understand how it's Alt Universe, well, in truth it isn't. It's more what I think Equestria would've been like after it was founded by the tribes, but before Discord and the Princesses. This was supposed to be a 1.5k prologue. This was written while pandora was playing Secondhand Serenade. DO YOU KNOW HOW HARD IT WAS TO MAKE THIS THE LEAST ROMANTIC WITH SECONDHAND SERENADE PLAYING!? VERY VERY HARD
A New Start“Get up!” came an unfamiliar, deep voice. I opened my eyes, rubbing them as I got out of my bunk. The sound of waves crashing was all around, a weak strength among the shipmates. Looking around, I saw only one pony, a stallion, not the mare I had been recruited by the night before. He gave out a stress filled grunt and tossed me some sort of cracker or biscuit. “Eat up,” the stallion said with this large spite sullied into his voice. “You’ll be working with Runt today, meet him near the cellblock and don’t be a lazy arse like the last fella.” “Al-” I took a bite from the cracker. It was horrible, stale, and tasteless. I couldn’t help but gag on it as it dried up my mouth. “Alright…” He left the room, giving me no indication of who “Runt” was or how I would know which pony he was other than a location. I hoped he would be the only one in the cellblock area, as talking with strangers was still an uncomfortable thing for myself. I got out of bed, or tried to. It was the hardest part of everyday, the largest routine followed by everypony, rich or poor, weak or strong, and though we all did this, for me it was hard. Knowing that a new day has begun, a day of the unknown consequences and punishments, a new day of disaster had started once again. I just wanted to lie there, give up, despite this great opportunity I had just been given for a start over, there was nothing more I wanted to be then nonexistent. Just poof from this realm, forever forgotten, and in my place nothing more. It was bound for somepony to replace me, but they would never be me to any close angle, and that didn’t bother me one bit. I’d rather be gone than replaceable, because at least from that point it would be my choice, not others. But still, life is full of wants and none of them seem to be mine. I put on my social mask, grabbed myself and pulled from the torn comfort of the bunk I got up, forced into life once more, not a single goodbye to those dreams of void, I would see them again, as soon enough as they went. The hull, now lightened by sunlight leaking through cracks and holes, and a some more lanterns than last night, seemed to be a large open-area, if not for all the cargo and crew rummaging around for their duties. The cellblock was towards my left, alone mopping around was just a small colt, slipping around, bottom of the food chain. I went towards him, careful not to slip on the soapy-wet floor. He took slow notice of me, wishing I had not been here to help him out, announced by the violent snort that slipped from him. “You Runt?” I asked rhetorically. He turned his head up, giving me a better glance at him. I could tell why his name was Runt, his face was mature, his body muscular and scarred, his fur dark grey and mane light black, he hadn’t been a colt in a long time. “You the new boy?” His eyes wandered me in a bad way, not like how one pony would “check out” another for lust, but judgmentally. “I guess.” “You guess?” “Yea.” “Boy, either you are or you aren’t. Make up your damn mind, I ain’t here to do it for ya.” “Alright. So what is we be doing here?” He didn’t like me. I wasn’t sure if it was because of the way society had been to him, or I’m just that bad at first impressions. “Right now, you’re gonna be feeding the stock.” Runt pointed to a bag pile in the corner cell. “Fill the buckets up to the brim and then lay down new hay when you’re done.” “Alright.” Runt went off topside. I did the job like he asked, giving the stock their pesky seeds. Laying down “fresh” hay atop the old, decaying layer. It was an easy job, nothing complex at all, such a bore, but it earned my feed, that was all I needed. With my job done, I decided I would go explore. After all, nopony told me I couldn’t, did they? I went around the stairs and proceeded to the other side of the ship. A bunch of ponies sat around on barrels or on the floor, resting or drunk. I guess the majority of work was topside. I passed by another set of quarters, these few seemed to be a bit more polished, special bunks for the important probably. Behind these sat a large room, one with two long dining tables, both rotting away and stained with food. Nopony was in here. I kept on towards the back where I found a peculiar doorway, gated with a velvety curtain. “Could I borrow another knife, terribly sorry,” said a disembodied voice. “Another?” this one sighed. “What happened to the last one?” This voice sounded feminine, but with a rickety crackle, unlike a normal pony. “The darn things aren’t exactly easy to use, Kuil. If I had your claws I’d be done with this yesterday.” This voice sounded male, a little short of depth, a small loss of masculinity in it too. “Here,” the one named Kuil said, I suspected she gave the other what he wanted. “I don’t have many left, you break or lose that one you better go take off one of your kind.” “My kind?” I pushed the curtain away and stepped into the room, unnoticed. “You know what I meant.” “I am nothing like those brutes, you know this well enough by now!” I walked a little closer to their voices. Their backs were turned when I came into view. One was the griffin cook that Stargazer informed my of the night before, Kuil. The other I wasn’t sure. He was a smart-looking pony with grey fur, a black mane, and what I saw as a bone for a cutie mark. I just stood there, eavesdropping out of boredom. “I know both you and them enough! Don’t you recall that I can’t leave this area and show my face? I’ve faced enough of them to see their atrocities. They be lucky I don’t poison their food every meal.” “Just be lucky you have somepony like me to peacefully converse with you.” “Yeah… Lucky me…” I laughed at her statement. She turned around with a mad look in her eyes. “What are you doing here?!” She was beautiful, for a griffin that is. “Just wandering around, ma’am.” I was a little nervous, wanting to get out of her, but challenging myself to stay all the same. “You’ve wandered a bit too far for my comfort, boy.” “Uhh… Sorry…” I could feel my wings trying to flutter, it was an instinct I couldn’t control in nervous situations. “I should… I should go…” I felt a loose feather poking at my clothes, barely able to stay put. “If it’s food you want, we’ve got a surplus of limes to hold you over. They’re fresh too, but only one for now,” said the pony, reaching below the counter for a large sack. He grabbed a small lime and tossed it towards me. “You must be new here, very likely so, I know most after serving the food for so long. What’s your name?” “Two Bits,” I said, eager to get away from this area and find another place to work. “Ah, nice to meet you, Two Bits. My name is Chap, short for Chapter. I read whenever I can, you see. The name fits just perfect for my case. I am the ships cook, well not really, I just say I am. Most of the crew wouldn’t eat at all if they knew a non-earth pony made their food.” I knew this feeling. “Kuil handles all the food. I am just sort of here to study.” “Study?” “Yes, study.” “He meant what do you study, Chap,” Kuil cut in, then turned back to get back to preparing her work. “Oh, of course. Well, I study what I see as interesting enough to look into. Right now,” he signaled towards his part of the counter, “I am studying the body of” I gagged at the sight, “rabbits.” “Wha… Why?” “Why not?” “Well its… why are you even doing it near the rations?” “Nopony seemed to have a problem with it before.” Kuil cut in once again, “That’s because nopony but us have had a reason to come back here before.” “So you’re fine with it yourself?” “We ain’t the ones eating limes, boy. Cook gets special privileges on food, ya know? Now why don’t you hurry on outta here ‘fore we do something else you over concerned about.” “Ah, well, I suppose I should get back to my research as well. Sir Bits, please, if you may, I would love another conversation sometime later, you are unlike the others in personality. I could use a pony like you to get more research done.” I turned towards the doorway, ready to leave. “I’ll be sure to keep that in mind, Chap.” I honestly didn’t care for his research at all, but if it meant days away from an uncertain crew, I’d take it. Author's Note I'd like to apologize beforehand for my work after this chapter, I have been going through some things that may alter my work.
The Crows NestI felt uneasy going up to the top deck. I didn’t belong there, and surely I would’ve stood out. There wasn’t any work to do below deck from the looks of it. Even Runt was sitting on a barrel, smoking from a pipe. Nopony took notice of me lifting the hatch, not even those above. We were out at sea already, or maybe it was the ocean? I never went to school. For all I knew, we could’ve been on a river. The most I knew was of Baltimare, and those cold streets were never kind. Sailors scurried about, tying and untying ropes, moping parts of the deck, but it was overall calm up here. I didn’t give much attention and kept my head down just in case being up here was going to get me punished. I remembered Stargazer talking about the pony above all the others in his crows nest, Blind Eyes, or something like that. I wanted to talk to the seemingly lonesome pony, so I headed up the ropes of his tower. It was hard, not physically, but mentally, fearing the fall down, afraid that I would just splat down on the deck and end my life, but also afraid that my wings would suddenly burst into the talent I had been missing from my life, that I would fly and survive, live another day in this world, but it isn’t living, not in the slightest, because fear isn’t apart of life, it’s an illusion of death. Though I would not fall and end everything, so unworried of the consequences of death or survival, I made it to the crows nest and climbed over its edge. There sat Blind Eyes, an old pony with an eye patch, staring out into the abyssal waters. “Is that you back with my cider already, Snitch?” Blind Eyes said, turning his good eye towards me. “Oh?” he said, expecting another in my place. “And you are?” I hesitated at first, only for my voice to crack, “Two Bits, I’m new here, sir.” “I know damn well you’re new here, I wouldn’t of asked ya who you were otherwise, boy. Now why ya up here without a drink?” “I didn’t know to bring one for you, sorry.” “For me? No, boy, the drinks for you! Life up in the nest ain’t nothing without a spot of rum.” “Must it be so dreadful?” “Ain’t dreadful at all, kid, just a world waiting to be altered. Here,” he handed me what was left in his whiskey canteen, “drink up,” and so I did. Its taste was not akin with my tongue. I struggled to keep it down, not to insult Blind Eyes and his invited habits. “It’s a bit strong for me, anything different down in the decks?” “I ain’t one to go down there, kid, far as I know there’s only rum other.” There was a mild silence afterwards. “So,” I began, trying to continue conversing with the stallion, “what’s your job?” “Ain’t it obvious, boy? I’m the scout. I help the quartermaster navigate and see to it we’re on the right course that the captain wants set.” “What would our current course be?” “Don’t know anything for sure, alls I know is Captain wants us northeast for a bit, looking for some merchant ship flying crystal flags. Kinda odd of a trade spot, out in the open seas, we’ve never done one before, just hope the cargo is something important that we can’t carry it out from the city docks, ya know?” “What if it isn’t a trade?” “Captain wouldn’t be having a meeting set if it weren’t. Gotta keep your honor on the sea, I suppose.” “Honor is just a word.” “Only if you want it to be, kid.” “How long till we get to the spot?” “Depends if we reach the right place. Accuracy is a problem most of the time. Should take us a day or two at most, seeing as how it isn’t far from a few islands. Just a notch off Irleia, not many fly crystal flags past that point.” “Whys that?” “Them folk always more reserved to their lands, plus I can’t imagine they want to focus on the sea in such a cold climate. Water is for the desert pony.” “That it is.” “So what’s your aim, kid?” “My aim?” I had never shot anything in my life. “Your goal here, we all got ‘em, mines simple, my skills just pertain to this.” “What skills, your ability to drink that dastardly stuff?” “Ya tell me your goal, I tell ya my skill, sound fair?” “Alright.” “Let’s hear it then!” “I’m here for…” I didn’t think my actual reason of having a better life on board the ship due to my race would fit the best answer for him, so I gave him a different one, “Stargazer.” The word was like a refugee escaping the genocide of my thoughts. “Ah… Well… She is a very promising one… You’re not the only here for her, believe it or not. The girl has a certain charm to her, that manipulative bitch.” “So what’s your skill then?” “My sight.” “What do you mean?” “Despite this patch across one, the other is very dysfunctional in short distance. I make for a better scout than most that fair on the nest.” “Quite the talent.” “Aye. Though I can see for afar, anything up close is a blur, it is not a great talent, but a talent none the less.” There was a sailor climbing up to the nest. “Here’s your bottle, Blind, almost out in the decks,” said the newcomer. “Finally, Snitch, took ya long enough!” “Aye, who’s this?” “Two Bits,” I said, with a unexpected crack in my voice. “Would’ve brought ya a bottle if I knew, sorry, Bits,” he took a swish of his rum. “Cook was being a damn hassle looking through the stocks, damn boy got in my way so many times.” “He looking for that wine o’ his again?” Blind Eyes asked, now looking out towards the sea. “Not like he drinks it himself. Stargazer was about to give him the hoof if he kept misplacing the cargo. If he didn’t make the food decent, I’da done the same.” The second mentioning of Stargazer had reminded me that I had not seen her at all since my boarding. I felt my time up in the nest was reaching its end soon anyways, so I said my goodbye, and climbed down. Still, the floors were clear of work, only filled with partially drunken sailors and a bored quartermaster watching the sails ride the wind. I went below decks, parched for a drink that didn’t alter my touch with reality. I kept towards the kitchen, hoping one of my acquaintances would know where some sort of fresh water was kept on the ship. The two were arguing when I entered the room. “It works much better than your usual quills, Kuil, have you changed your diet?” “My diet is none of your concern, Chap!” “Right, right. It’s just odd, so different than your other plucked feathers, much softer, less coarse, and the tip is so fine. Are you sure?” “It’s probably just a young feather tugged out. Why must you make such deals about things like this?” I had no idea how Kuil hadn’t strangled Chap by now. Though the two appeared to be the closest things they could be to friends, they didn’t seem to be fond of that relationship. “What’s the problem?” I cut in. “Oh, hello again, Bits!” He had been scribbling in his research book with a very small feather, my own. Kuil turned and faced me, greeted me, and got back to her work. “What is that?” “Just one of Kuil’s feathers, found it lying about just in time to record more notes. Have you met Blind Eyes yet? I’d like to know how he is doing, he hasn’t come down from there in ages, always have to send Snitch up with his meal. Becomes quite the bother after a few years of knowing how close he is.” “He’s fine. Why don’t you just go up there and visit him yourself?” “Chap can’t climb for shit,” Kuil chuckled. “Oh…” It wasn’t even a difficult climb to the nest. “Say, Chap, do you perhaps know where I could find a drink? Nothing hard for me, I’ve not the body for that stuff.” “Oh, yes, stay here, I shall get you a canteen,” he went off, leaving me with Kuil. “Finally,” Kuil started, “some less annoying company. So, Bits,” she put dropped from her occupation. “What’s your story?” “No story at all.” “None? Did you not exist until this ship came by?” “No, I just don’t have any events. My life is the same as it always was until now.” “Oh, and what has changed?” “Just the scenery.” Chap reentered the room, carrying a canteen. “Here you go, Bits! If you need more they are next to the starboard bunks, right against the dividers.” “Thanks, Chap.” I took my canteen and went off towards my bunk. Author's Note This chapter was just for character development. If it really matters to you about Bits and his inability to fly, he will not fly ever in this story, for realism, that he has a deformed wing, like nemo, and will never be physically capable of flight.
