“We need to find the pegasus who was struck with the shrinking powder,” said Twilight, her eyes scanning their surroundings. Their guards had said they were free to move within the camp, but she wasn’t sure they weren’t being followed.
“Wouldn’t he be by the ship?” said Spike, riding on Twilight’s back. “I only see reindeer around here...”
Since she couldn’t see anydeer watching them, Twilight quickly trotted over the camp towards the Crimson Kraken.
“Hello there, young jack,” she said to a donkey crewmember who stood by the gangway deeply engaged in the important chore of chewing tobacco.
“Not that young,” said the jack and spit. “Whadda ya want, miss?”
“Well, when you unloaded earlier, somebody was hurt in a magical accident,” Twilight said. “Do you know where I can find him?”
“Whydya wanna know that?” said the jack, scowling. “He ain’t no freakshow exhibit!”
“I...” Twilight hesitated. “I admit I’m interested in his condition, but that also means I might be able to cure it.”
“Huh,” spit the jack. “Fancy that. Well, he’s got nothing to lose. Lad’s at Tunnan. His friends thought he needed to drown his sorrows.”
“‘Tunnan’?” Twilight asked.
“The Barrel,” the jack explained. “A tavern. The tavern.”
“I know Poatsi,” said Twilight, irritated. “And I guessed he wasn’t drowning his sorrows in a hardware store. But where is it?”
“Oh. Well, see the largest house up the hill?” said the jack and pointed a hoof.
“Yes?” said Twilight and turned around.
“Well, that ain’t it,” said the jack. “But there’s a house behind it ya can’t see from here, and that’s the spot.”
“Okey, thanks a lot,” said Twilight. “Spike, give the gentlejack some coin.”
Spike leaned forward to dig out a purse from the saddlebags.
“No money!” said the jack and actually took a step backwards. “I don’t want any!”
“Why not?” said Twilight.
“If ya can help my friend Hailstone, that’s plenty o’ payment,” he said. “An’ if you’re up to some bad manure, I don’t want your money on me.”
“Okay,” said Twilight. “Fair enough.”
Then, after a pause: “What’s your name?”
“Seeing as how I’m dealin’ with ya, I’m Chancellor Puddin’head,” the donkey said and spit out the last of his tobacco.
“Goodbye then, Chancellor Puddinghead,” said Twilight with a wry smile.
“Bye,” he said, taking out his tobacco pouch for a new wad and pointedly refusing to look at Twilight.
She began to walk away, towards the big house that wasn’t Tunnan.
“Um, Twilight,” Spike whispered, “I don’t think that’s really his name. I think he meant he’s crazy to talk to you...”
“I know, Spike,” said Twilight. “I’m just humoring him. The important thing’s that we know where that pegasus is and that his name’s Hailstone.”
It was getting dark now, and the weather didn’t make it any lighter.
“Too bad about the clouds,” said Spike. “Otherwise, you could’ve taken your measurements from the stars now.”
Twilight snorted with frustration.
“Don’t remind me!” she sighed. “Though there might be another way, but it’s a last resort.”
“And what’s that?” said Spike.
“Luna and Celestia can find you after you have sent a letter with your fire,” she said. “You know, like when you were out hiking?”
“Yeah?” said Spike.
“Well, I don’t want them to land in the middle of the camp, but if I teleported the two of us as far as I could a couple of times, travelling only sort of blind, then you can send a letter and call for Luna’s help,” Twilight explained. “I wouldn’t want to be waiting for her close to the camp. Unless she brings a sizable part of the army it would be a good idea for them to get in a fight. Even Luna can be harmed by one of the cannons or Mr. Motelele’s magic. We won’t get the exact coordinates for the camp, but they will be close enough.”
“You mean every time I send a letter, they can tell where I am?” said Spike.
“Yes,” said Twilight.
“Ahto let me send one for you, remember?” said Spike. “As long as Luna can remember where it came from, she can already tell where the camp is on the map. We just need to remind her of that.”
“Why... you’re right!” said Twilight.
“Can we leave now?” said Spike.
“We can leave whenever we want,” said Twilight with a smug grin. “We might as well get a clear picture of the camp and the army and its defenses and so on. If Ahto doesn’t give us those guides soon, we’ll just use the trick I described and run for it.”
Then she became solemn.
“This won’t be an easy fight, like we imagined,” she mused. “We have nowhere near this many hooves. They are almost all actual soldiers, but we mostly have militia forces.”
Spike didn’t say anything. He just shuddered a bit.
Tunnan was built in two levels, one above and one below ground. The lower floor was a beer cellar, but also had tables, chairs and a bartender. The ground floor held a kitchen built around an iron stove and a second, smaller bar set in the middle of the room. It was surrounded with tables, none of which looked the same except a few made out of the same gigantic logs as the house itself. There were four small rooms in the back. Twilight saw a pegasus enter one of them with a giggling vaja at her side, and noted they were probably being used for more than sleeping off hangovers.
The tavern was full of people drinking, eating, talking, drinking, smoking, playing knucklebones, drinking, working on getting somedeer to the rooms in the back and drinking. Most were reindeer, but there were some other breeds that must be from the pirate ship. In a pony inn, even a rough house of ill repute like this, there would have been music and dancing and probably song, but the reindeer seemed to replace that with more drinking instead. One of the pirates, another pegasus, was trying to get an old jukebox in a corner to work, with no results. He was wearing a poofy pink winter jacket and red bandana, clashing wildly with his green coat, but pirates probably didn’t care much about fashion. Rarity would have to be strapped to her fainting coach if she was here.
Many glasses of liquor were halted halfway to lips when Twilight passed the drinkers. Eyes followed her as she walked up to the pegasus struggling with the jukebox and swearing loudly. She reached into the machine, feeling its many mechanical parts and few thaumaturgic circuits with her magic, pulling a few pistons, shaking the rows of old-fashioned vinyl records. The machine sputtered and started playing a rock tune that Twilight recognized as usually blaring from the huge kitschy stereo set owned by Rarity’s parents.
The pegasus jumped back, bumped into Twilight, and swirled around to face a grinning unicorn.
“Whoah!” he said. “What the hay do you want?!”
“You’re welcome, fixing the machine for you was no problem,” said Twilight. “Besides, this place was a bit gloomy without music, dont’cha think?”
He stood a while to catch his breath, looking Twilight up and down.
“You’re that sorceress,” he said, “the royal agent. What do ya want from me?”
Twilight sighed theatrically.
“What I want to do they won’t let me, since Princess Celestia has abolished hanging pirates without judgement and examination,” she said and grinned very widely at him.
He shrank back a bit, his eyes widening, and Spike noted with some worry that he was very interested in his cutlass which hang at his side.
“So I’ve to settle for curing magical ailments,” she said. “Do you know where I can find a pegasus named Hailstone?”
“Hailstone’s my bro’,” said the pegasus. “What do ya want with him?”
“I believe I can help him with his wing,” said Twilight. “I saw the accident, and I got the impression your ship’s mage wasn’t interested in helping.”
The pegasus’ face first flashed red with anger and then turned pale with fear, until he collected himself.
“No, he wasn’t,” he said. “Why’re you interested?”
Twilight sighed.
“Y’know I can get the reindeer not understanding it, but how come you can’t realise how a mare can just help somepony out of the kindness of her heart?” said Twilight. “Y’know, good old Equestrian values? Like Celestia, frosted cupcakes and the right to burst into song spontaneously?”
The pegasus laughed.
“Yeah, sure,” he said. Then, deadly serious: “What do ya want?”
It was worth a try, Twilight thought.
“If I can undo the damage, I’ll know how to cause it,” she said, shrugging. “Where’s Hailstone?”
The pegasus pirate sighed and rubbed his nose.
“We, er, bought him some does and a bottle of hooch, and the tavernkeeper gave us a room for free out of pity,” he said. “It’s the one in the north corner. I don’t know if it’s working, but he hasn’t come out for several hours. I hope that is good.”
Twilight hesitated. If the pony was trying to ease his pain with... companionship, maybe walking in on him would be awkward.
On the other hoof, it had been hours, the other pirate said. He had to be... done by now.
On the third hoof...
“Spike, get me a cup of coffee from the bar,” said Twilight, checking that there was no coffee pot on or thermos visible in the bar. “And something sweet, if they have it. Get something for yourself as well. No milk or vodka in the coffee.”
“Sure,” said Spike nervously as he hopped off and went over to the bar.
Good, she thought. Maybe I can get any working vajas out of the way before the minor sees them working.
Twilight knocked at the door.
“Who there?” said a distinctly cervine voice.
“Help for his wing,” said Twilight.
The door opened a little. A doe with makeup that would have fit a pony better looked out, her lips clenching an unlit cigarette. When she saw Twilight she first stared at the unicorn uncomprehending. Then understanding dawned and her face contorted with fear.
“Please... please no harm me,” she whined, stepping back.
Twilight groaned and facehoofed.
“Harm?” she said in Poatsi. “I’m just here to help your... customer with his ailment, if possible. I wish you no harm.”
“Oh,” said the doe. “He’s pretty bad. He’s been drinking and... well, crying like a foal.”
Her face showed a mix of disgust and pity.
“He hasn’t touched any of us,” she explained as she let Twilight enter the room, which held a bed and a barrel used as a table. “Except well, hugging. He needed hugging. And puking up vodka.”
A rusty metal bucket that stunk to high heaven was on the floor together with three empty liquor bottles and a couple of brown, squat bottles that must have contained beer. A dirty towel and a wooden pitcher sat on the barrel. The room stunk not only of vomit but also of alcohol, tobacco and sweat, and had a faint tinge of something else.
Tears? Twilight wondered. No, you cannot smell tears.
“Has he taken some medication?” said Twilight and went up to the blue pegasus lying on the unkempt bed. Another doe was lying hugging him from behind, her left front leg avoiding the grotesquely shrunken wing. He was breathing raggedly, his eyes shut.
“He claimed he’s in pain... so the boss brewed up some willow bark mush...” said the doe who had let Twilight in.
“Did it work?” said Twilight and bent down over the pegasus.
That’s what smells, she thought.
“...no,” said the doe.
“Don’t... don’t hurt him,” said the other doe. Her face looked horrid, and not because of her cheap makeup. Sorrow and fear had ate at it.
Twilight wondered what could make her care that much about a... customer.
Twilight’s feelings must have shown, for the doe said: “He’s... he’s so pitiful.”
Twilight focused her magic on the wing. The pegasus cried out, and the doe tried to calm him, attempting to talk soothing in broken Equestrian, then resorting to singing a lullaby in Poatsi with her hoarse voice.
“Spatial dimensions are broken, that’s why it’s warped,” Twilight thought out loud. “It is constantly striving to regain normal size, stretching and moving. That’s why he’s in pain.”
“What can you do, miss?” said the other doe anxiously.
Twilight grimaced as she tried to dissolve the magic.
“No use,” she muttered. “Its effects are maintained by persistent traces of the powder used. Unless they are all clean away, which would need some kind of miniature industrial vacuum cleaner, the only cures are a long wait or the counteragent.”
She rose.
“Hailstone!” she said. “Hailstone, can you hear me?”
The pegasus looked up and barely noticed her presence through a mist of pain and drunkenness, but he nodded.
“I’m going to get the antidote to cure your wing,” she said. “Don’t fret, we’ll end your pain soon.”
She nodded to the does who gave weak fake smiles as they looked at Hailstone.
“Puh-please kill me!” he whimpered.
“Don’t listen to him,” said Twilight and made as to leave the room. “Not if he says that.”
“Here’s your coffee, Twilight!” said Spike who had just entered. “Phew, this place stinks!”
“Seriously, don’t,” Twilight said and took the coffee mug, which said WORLD’S BEST SIRE! in Equestrian. “Please clean him up and the room as well. Spike, give the ladies some money for working overtime with the poor guy.”
“It’s okay, miss, we do cleaning here as well,” said one of the does and smiled. “I mean, and waitressing...”
As Twilight hastily drank her coffee, Spike gave the waitresses (among other things) some bits. Then Twilight let Spike mount up and they headed out the door.
“Where’re we going?” said Spike.
“To talk with Mr Motelele,” said Twilight. “It’s either him or collecting that counteragent from the reindeer, and I assume they need it for their work. He has to have a dose handy among his other powders and potions.”
“It didn’t seem like he wanted to help before,” said Spike.
“I hope I can reason with him, bribe him, pay him or threaten him to help,” Twilight said. “I need to talk to him anyway and learn more about him.”
“How’re we gonna find him?” said Spike.
“He’s a giant Spike,” said Twilight and rolled her eyes. “He can’t even get inside any of the buildings here. I’m sure we can find him.”
It turned out Motelele was up at the border of the camp where the forest began. It was on a small sod shelf above the beach beneath it, between large firs. He had made a large fire and set up a brazier. He was boiling something in a pot on the first, and mixing something in a crucible on the other. Tendrils of his gray mist-like magic moved from his head far above the blazing fires down to the vessels below. Only his eyes were visible as glowing spots on a shadowy shape that rose like a misshapen tree above them.
“Mr Motelele,” said Twilight, “am I glad to see you! We have some much to talk about!”
She smiled up at him, even if she wasn’t sure if he could even see her.
“Why would I want to talk to you, unicorn?” he said, his head bending a small bit downwards, acknowledging her presence.
“Well, as a fellow mage, I assumed you would be curious in general, willing to learn and experience new things, especially magic,” said Twilight.
“I know all I evah need,” he grunted. “Why should I let you steal my secrets?”
“I beg your pardon, I see no need for this... aggression,” said Twilight. “I merely thought a disputation would be mutually beneficial, and you can hardly know all magic there is in the world...”
“Well, you were wrong!” he barked and bent down even further. “I’ve got great powah, the greatest in the world!”
“Surely you must realize cooperation gives you greater results in the end?” Twilight said. “The sum is greater than its parts, after all.”
“‘Tis weakness to depend on others,” he said. “And only a fool shares his powah, and I’m no fool!”
Twilight’s eyes narrowed, an action wasted on the irate giraffe.
“Is that so?” she said. “Not only does that hardly fit with my personal experiences in the field, you are clearly cooperating with others now, in an alliance with the rest of the crew on the Crimson Kraken.”
“Hah!” he said. “They cannot tell me what to do!”
“Oh,” said Twilight and pointed to the boiling, smoking pot. “Your work, Mr Motelele, says otherwise.”
She moved closer to it and the giraffe shifted his feet as if nervous.
“You are making a dye here out of rhobe roots, cheap wine and... is that ...butter?” she said sniffing the pot. “Nevermind, a red dye that keeps for a long time, usually used for wool and, incidentally, is very flammable, you’d better be careful about that. What could that be for, you’re not a clothier?”
She stepped around the pot and closer to the giraffe and he turned a bit to keep his eyes on her.
“Well, of course it is for the captain’s dye job, an unnecessary affectation since everyone knows she is Sudden Gale anyway,” said Twilight. “That can’t be for your sake, or even for the sake of the ship. The captain made you do that. In any case, the mere fact that you aren’t the captain shows that you’re not commanding the ship, you are part of the crew. Cooperating.”
“I... got well paid for that,” the giraffe growled.
“I doubt that,” said Twilight Sparkle. “Anyway, since you’re selling the results of your art even while refusing to speak about it, I came here with business for you.”
“And what would that be?” the giraffe said.
“I want to buy a dose of the counteragent for your shrinking powder,” she said. “How much?”
“I’m not selling,” he said.
“Why?” said Twilight.
“First, the ingredients to the shrinking powdeh ah raeh, so I cannot get new ones heh,” he said, “and the without the counter agent it’s much less useful. Second, because I don’t like you!”
“One of your fellow crewmembers are suffering the torments of Tartarus because of your powder,” said Twilight. “Have you now mercy on the poor pegasus?”
“Mercy is foh the weak,” said the giraffe.
“He sails the ship with you!” said Twilight. “He’s your companion!”
“He’s only himself to blame,” said the giraffe. “I owe him nothing!”
Twilight sighed.
“There is no reasoning with you, is there?” she said.
“No, theh isn’t,” said the giraffe. “I’m right, is all.”
Twilight looked a long time at the giant sorcerer and scowled at him.
“You are weak, don’t you know that, Mr Motelele?” she finally said.
“Weak?” he roared. “I can END you!”
“No, you can’t,” said Twilight. “And yes, you are weak, and in danger. Do you want help with that?”
“I’m mighty in both flesh and spirit!” he roared again. “I need no one! You least of all!”
“Yet you have made yourself weak!” said Twilight. “Look at you! Why would I need your paltry secrets, they are easily discerned from observing you.”
She walked a bit again in a semi-circle and again the giraffe turned slowly following her.
“Like your name,” said Twilight. “‘Motelele’ means something like ‘long and gangly’ in Nuuban. No giraffe names their child something like that. It would be like naming a pegasus ‘Wings’. Now, pirates often give up their names since they are wanted criminals, but I don’t think that’s it, since you are such a proud giraffe. I think you’re afraid of telling people your name because of that old superstition that it gives them power over you!”
Motelele backed off a bit.
“Now, modern zebra magic dismisses that notion for most form of magics not involving spirits,” Twilight said. “It won’t affect most spells I know, for instance, neither those powders you carry around. So, needless superstition.”
Twilight’s horn lit up and a ray of light shone upon his pouch-covered chest.
“However, what you have there’s not mere superstition,” she said as the ray played over a poppet in the form of a giraffe attached to his chest with thin iron chains. “That’s a special fetish to attract malicious magic away from the target. Any hostile magic will affect that poppet instead. I’m pretty certain it will stop most forms of magic, including the effects of something like zebra artificiery. I can feel its power. Real clever! Requires hard work.”
She smiled up at him and let the ray sweep over his face.
“Too bad it’s used wrong,” she said. “Don’t you understand you’re not supposed to keep those on your body? And why do you need it on board ship? There are no other mages there to murder you.”
She continued to circle him.
“And oh yes, you’re afraid of murder,” she said. “Since you’re such a massive jerk who’re unable to cooperate with your crewmates, who just, oh, happen to be violent criminals, you’re constantly afraid, which makes you jumpy, uncertain and weak!”
She pointed at him.
“Look at him, Spike!” she said. “It’s clearly visible in the way he walks and on his face that he’s stopped sleeping. How long has it been, Mr Tall And Gangly? Four months, five? Wonder how I know it? You stink of it!”
She sniffed the air theatrically.
“Not even your breath, ‘cause that’s too far away, but you’re sweating stimulants,” she said. “Do you know how much this lack of real sleep and those hyper-caffeine potions you’re swilling slows down your reasoning, your reaction speed... your magical power? I bet you’re operating at sixty to seventy percent, tops. At hundred you might’ve beaten me. Now, you’ve no chance.”
“I’ve got my talisman!” the giraffe mumbled.
“Puh-lease!” said Twilight. “I’ve just learned about it and have already devised three ways to counteract it. You know how? Because I’m adapting and learning. You know how? By cooperating with other mages. That, among other things, taught me to avoid superstition for proven magics, how to actually utilize talismans, and the harmful side effects of constant potion use.”
She completed the circle and he followed, back where he began.
“And would you look at that trampling around?” she said. “Why do you have to face me all the time? Can’t you defend yourself otherwise? I don’t need to look at my target, and you don’t win much by sidestepping anyway, you’re just making yourself uncoordinated.”
Motelele stopped and stood still, but was still nervous as Twilight completed a full circle once more walking slowly. He twisted his head backwards.
“You’ve got all this potential and you’re wasting it when you need it the most,” said Twilight, “since the Captain obviously has it in for you. I could help you with this... in return for very little. Such as a certain counteragent. You still not interested?”
“No!” said the giraffe, but his already sniffly voice had become a bit hoarser. He bent even lower down, spreading his legs, staring at her, sweat pouring down his face despite the cold wind.
“Fine!” said Twilight. “I’ll solve this myself. But the offer still stands. You’re not lost... yet. Give me a call when you’re ready to talk business. Goodbye, Mr Motelele!”
She more or less galloped away.
“Whoah, Twilight!” said Spike, holding on for dear life. “Where’re we going? And did you really need to make that guy angry?”
“We’re going to find that reindeer responsible for the crate that was also shrunk,” she said, grinding her teeth. “As for Mr. Motelele, he’s getting me angry, so he started it! He’s not just evil, worse, he’s stupid!”
They wandered a bit among the kota huts, Twilight asking sharp questions in Poatsi. It was now very late, and reindeer were going to bed. Still, she was shown to the vaja who had taken care of it. She kept it in the hut she slept with other valuables, instead of in the large house up the hill which turned out to be the main warehouse.
“These things are for sale to our... contacts down south,” she said. “I need the powder to restore it for selling, and I need the crate small so it can be transported on an ackja.”
“I need the powder to stop a pony from suffering,” said Twilight. “While not of your kin, he’s an ally in a war you take seriously. Surely you must realise taking care of the wounded supercedes selling your plunder? This place is not poor.”
“He deals with sorcerers, he has only himself to blame,” said the vaja and shrugged with a face that added, And he’s not of the same species or nationality as me, so I’m going to ignore that he is a thinking being.
Twilight sighed very deeply. She pressed her hoof to her face and breathed even deeper.
“Lady, I’m a representative of the Equestrian crown,” she began. “This - everything here, in this hut - was stolen from my countryponies. It’s not yours to sell.”
She levitated the shrunk crate from the ground and the vaja gasped.
“What...” she said.
“In fact, you make me so sick I can’t stand to see this ill-gotten goods anymore!” Twilight said, and with a mere flick of her neck, the crate shot away as from a catapult and disappeared in the darkness far over the choppy frozen waters of the bay.
“NO!” the vaja shouted, her eyes like dinner plates.
“Now, give me the powder!” Twilight said. “A stallion is suffering, and you don’t need it anymore.”
The other craters and sacks in the hut started to levitate.
“But...” said the vaja.
“I’m tired of selfishness and foolishness and excuses!” Twilight said, her eyes glowing purple. One of the sacks shot away and disappeared into the darkness.
“Here it is! Here it is!” the vaja babbled and dug out the pouch from under another box, as if she had hid it so she wouldn’t have to see it.
“Good!” said Twilight and dropped the merchandise down. “And if you have a complaint, take it up with the good Captain Coat. It’s her crewmember which got damaged because her ship’s mage is a cruel fool! She can repay you! Goodbye!”
Twilight stomped out of the hut and galloped up to the tavern, a very worried Spike hanging onto her back.
As Twilight distributed the counteragent widely spread using her telekinesis, the shrinking powder started to dissolve. Hailstone’s wing stretched and bent and grew and he screamed hoarsely in short horror before it took his normal shape. He collapsed into a faint, but his breath soon grew normal and steady and his face relaxed. Slowly, the tavern guests, reindeer and others, started to stomp in approval.
“Just check on him so he doesn’t have some strange relapse,” Twilight said to the pegasus who had identified himself as Hailstone’s ‘bro’ and the does who had helped him.
“We will,” said the pegasus. “Thanks, I guess.”
“No big deal,” said Twilight. “I just had to shout inefficiently at rude people.”
“What?” said the pegasus.
“Nevermind,” said Twilight, “just reflecting.”
“Can I get you something, ma’am?” said the tavernkeeper.
“A sarsaparilla,” said Twilight. Then, after the requisite stares: “I just don’t feel decadent tonight, okay?”
It would be wrong to call them festivities, but after some more amiable drinking of sodas and some late-night snacks, while tunes liked by Twilight’s parents generation played on the jukebox, Twilight and Spike returned to their assigned sleeping place.
“If we’ve been followed, we gave them quite a workout,” Twilight mumbled as she approached Jarl Ahto’s hut.
They were almost there when they met the jack from earlier in the evening.
“Hello, Chancellor,” Twilight said, yawning. “What’re you doing here?”
“Chewing ‘baccy,” he said, demonstrating.
“Do you have to do that here?” said Twilight.
“Well, I also have something for ya,” the jack said and fished out a kind of small clay pot with a glass stopper.
“A powder grenade,” said Twilight critically. “Aw, you shouldn’t have.”
“Well, you helped Hailstone, an’ I like him and owe him,” the jack said, chewing. “An’ he’s enough of a wuss that he doesn’t want to make the Captain angry. So he ain’t gonna give any substantial thanks, hence I’m doing it.”
He fished out another grenade from his bags.
“This is his, that’s mine,” he said and gave it to Twilight. “We were issued them if things go south with the barbarians.”
“What do they do?” said Spike.
“Muck up reindeer something fierce, but just make other people sneeze,” the jack said, shrugging. “At least that’s what the giraffe said. “ He spat.
“I see,” said Twilight.
“Keep ‘em close,” said the jack and made to leave. “Things might go south with the reindeer for you too, and I’m not planning on fighting berserk northern barbarians anyway.”
“Thanks, Chancellor,” Twilight said.
“You’re welcome,” said the jack and slunk off.
“Well, ain’t this a daisy, to quote Applejack,” said Twilight. “I wonder if that old charlatan tells the truth when he claims he has a weapon that only works on one species. Given that the crew is that diverse... he’d need something that affects none of them, yet all reindeer.”
“Maybe it makes your antlers fall off or something?” said Spike.
“Whatever,” said Twilight. “I’m going to sleep.”
The Jarl had already retired, his adjutant sleeping close as their beds suggested.
Are they that close kin? Twilight thought. Maybe lovers, ancient pegasus style, fighting together? Or is Hakon just a very cuddly bodyguard?
She sighed and crept down into her bed. It was unearthly comfortable given the circumstances. Well, reindeer had slept on the ground for centuries, and she was really tired...
“About time,” Crimson Coat said and inspected the pot of thick blood-red dye. “I was starting to lose my hue.”
The giraffe didn’t comment, just watched her settle with the pot.
“Was there anything else?” she said and looked up to the giraffe.
“I met the unicorn today,” said Mr Motelele.
“So?” said Crimson Coat and dabbed some dye on her wing to check the result.
“The barbarian hasn’t sent heh away yet, noh has he killed heh, noh has he used her otherwise,” said Motelele.
“She’s just been here a short time!” said Crimson Coat. “Give’im time. His witch has given her a clean record. Though the bastard asked a lot of stupid questions today, all holier-than-thou up to his antlers and all over me about it.”
The giraffe laughed, a loud, eerie, hollow sound, interrupted by a mighty sneeze.
“Bless you,” said the Captain.
“I’ve found why I cannot note anything with my Sight, despite her magic powah,” he said. “I should see it, but I don’t.”
“Because you’re losing your touch?” said the Captain, sneering.
“She’s using a zebra grigri to rend her unnoticable to Sight,” he said. “Invisible. Undetectable. Those things were made to protect zebra from us giraffe.”
The Captain looked up at the giraffe with open mouth.
“They will make a reindeeh witch’s little powah useless,” he said. “The unicorn is hiding something, maybe hiding much.”
The Captain grinned widely.
The giraffe grinned back.
“I think this knowledge should be shared with ouah ally,” he said.
“Sometimes, Mr Motelele, you surprise me,” the Captian said. “First this,” and she prodded the pot of dye, “and now this,” and she gestured in general. “You’re almost worth your share of the loot.”
“I endeavah to do my best, Cabtain,” the giraffe said, grinning wickedly.
The usual thanks to my proofreaders, Wheelwright and LadyMoondancer
This makes me wonder just what it is that giraffes do that has zebra so spooked...
1010591
Twilight and Spike discusses it two chapters prior; besides being physically powerful giants, they have the clairvoyance of deer, the telekinesis and spellcasting talents of unicorns, and the special alchemy talents of zebras, all at once. Most breeds of sentients have only one narrow set of magic abilities; giraffes have three, and are unafraid to use them. Note that Mr Motelele is a violent outlaw; his personality is not that of an average giraffe.
My advice is thus: Tarandroland is a small, poor country that is undefended to a certian degree. Why not just invade, burn a few villages and put a few hundred inhabitants to the sword? I'm sure that Equestria would win fairly easily, either through the use of magic, or just sheer numbers. Then the "diplomatic" problem will then cease to exist.
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I wonder if Mr. Motelele has something after him in his dreams. That seems like an appropriate occupational hazard.
Twilight may be smarter than Mr Motelele, and she's almost certainly more powerful sorcerer, but one underestimates underhanded cunning and experience at survival at one's peril. Also, it seems to me her Evil Sorceress act is breaking up, as she's getting more and more frustrated with the role she's playing; I wouldn't be surprised if this mirrored you getting fed up with writing her like that, too!
You do know that for humans you start to dream while awake (halucinaite) after 36 hours of being awake. I think it applies to giraffes to., So he's would be not the most stable giant ungilaite there is in the first place.
I just found this here, I was reading this on Fanfiction.net. I still think It's really well written. Watch'd and fav'd. Also, Congrats on making the new larger Featured box, you diserve it.
ok, not it's getting a little bit hot for Twilight. this could bet ugly really fast if they stay there any longer, especially now. I wonder just how good of a fighter Twilight can be. she seems pretty confident but it might all be just an act. since we know that at least some of the Canterlot wedding is canon, she did kick quite few changeling backsides, but like she said herself, those here are soldiers.
1010610
That's what they are that would make them seem scary. I'm more curious about what they do with those talents that would make an individual like Zecora wary about the whole race.
1010610
Though that much LA will cripple them when up against a being of comparable ECL who earned it through class levels.
1010744
Because Equestria is not expansionist, militaristic, or prone to overt violence unless forced.
I'm not too worried about Twilight. Even if all her secrets come to light, what she is doing is in the interest of every living creature in that part of the world. Though it would be a bit stupid if the giraffe could instantly know everything just looking at her without an amulet. Not to mention that too long away from contact would have the attention of two very.upset. goddesses.
Update sweet update where hast thou been all my life?
Listened to Bathory while reading this chapter. Good one! I'd really like to visit that tavern.
1010744
The fic itself has described in detail, why your solution doesn't work. Go back and actually read it with your brains and eyes turned on and you will see how your suggestion is idiotic.
1012011
As the fic has described in detail to those who care, it is also logistically impossible.
Twilight can be in direr straits than she thinks. She is there to spy on the camp and make defeating the army possible. People tend to react negatively to that, especially when you have dearly promised you're doing the opposite.
1011232
Sorry for misreading you.
This is outside the context of the fic, but anyway: "Giants" in zebra lands - giraffes, elephants etc - are very much like dragons in Equestria. They can do pretty much whatever they like, because you need a large group of people or some skilled hero to tackle them if they get violent. Most don't, because life is just easier that way, but a low-scale extortion tends to be in effect even with peaceful and honest giants. You never know.
Giraffes are special because they have occult means to terrorize you if you don't let them graze on your lands or eat from your fruit trees or help themselves to your larder. The giraffe denied his fruits might just walk away, and the next day the fruit all rots. With an elephant you know he's just gonna trample you. You can never know what to do with a giraffe.
Even a skilled and educated zebra like Zecora is thus wary of a giraffe because you never know what they might do, and they are capable of a lot, exactly because of their broad range of talents.
.1011610
Exactly! So Twilight should really be ok.
Well, good job making friends and enemies Twilight, but you may be loosing your evil sorceress touch. You probably should have stayed far away from the giraffe (or eliminated him as a threat, but that tends to be out of Twilight's character even when posing as evil).
Nice demonstration that you can use your telekinesis as a cannon though.
A thought, one of the Premises of this story is that a true dedicated mage who has studied the core principles of magic from any species can learn the magic of any other species. Hence how Twilight a Unicorn can learn the Alchemy of the Zebras and the Sight of the Reindeer. Does that mean if Twilight worked out a training method she could learn how to use Pegasus Weather Magic and Earth Pony uh, Earth Magic? Since the Princesses possess the magic of all three pony races could they teach Twilight if she thought to ask?
1013055
Twilight cannot learn to have Sight anymore than she can grow wings. She can learn reindeer-created spells, and only so because she has a special talent in magic. Most magic-users have a limited talent, and using magic from a different culture is more difficult since you have to reset your mind, so to speak. Because she's a magic prodigy, she has invented a spell that sort-of copies Sight in a haphazard way, just like she can conjure temporary wings. I'm pretty certain there are spells which can control the weather, but they are probably difficult, limited and tiring, and there are few reasons you can't just send up a bunch of pegasi.
Anyone can learn Zebra alchemy (or "natural magic" as they call it); zebras are just instinctively better at it than anyone else, just as earth ponies and cattle have a supernatural talent for agriculture. Hence, most such methods were invented by zebras.
1013289
It also avoids that awkward storytelling problem where you now have Superpony. Twilight being able to use not just spells, but the innate magics of all species she comes across would rather quickly catapult her to somewhere between Celestia and Discord on the power meter. If you're lucky. (Granted, one of my favourite scenes was Twilight basically teleporting herself up to five ponies trapped in Discord's grasp, then utterly denying his magic to the point where she reverted part of Ponyville, and all WITHOUT activating her Element.)
1015376
Twilight is pretty much Jean Grey out of the X-Men as a pastel-coloured pony already, so of course you're right! However, the main reason I did it like this is that spells and potions recipes seem like skills for me, whereas the innate magical abilities is like an opposable thumb or gills. You can't just learn to have one. So, story-wise it felt right, but the most important reason was some sort of inner logic.
Exactly my point! Equestria should expansionist, militaristic, and prone to overt, even random violence! If it isn't, it's failed as an nation, and deserves to be crushed, its population put to the sword, and its towns and cities burned to the ground!
(Artist's representation of what I just said)
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1010873 im not sure that is entirely true i have gone well over 48 hours studying or playing games and alot of other things and i dont get to hallucinate
1017608
That's just stupid. Not only has history repeatedly proven that mindset does not work but trying that would lead to all the other powers dog-piling Equestria after realizing they've gone batshit crazy but wars, even short wars (unless you steal everything not nailed down) are costly in both money and lives. Equestria is basically controlling the world through the same methods used in OTL do - economic influence and cultural hegemony which is cheaper then military methods.
1019730 Ah, but if a country doesn't excercise its military might once in a while, Other nations may see it as weak. You can't rely on diplomatic and economic power all the time. You've got to show that you've got the capacity to fight (and win) when the need arises, otherwise more militaristic nations are going to steamroller right over you.
1022658
True to some degree given how their crappy navy is part of the reason that they've been getting raided by pirates. However Equestria does have the advantages of possessing two living and more importantly active god-queens ruling over their country, the various pony races who have basically terraformed the entire country to run like clockwork - which is somewhat terrifying from a military standpoint, and simply being to important for any other country economic-wise to let it get conquered by another nation.
Unless you get somebody who just wants to watch the world burn, Equestria's economic influence means that pretty much any leader who wants to possess a functioning nation is fairly limited in what actions that they can take out of worry of causing the equilvent of the Great Depression or worse.
1024736
Note that if you invade Equestria, the weather, flora and fauna is on the enemy's side. In addition, Equestria still has military forces controlling border forts and the like. They just cannot be sent abroad, by political design by Celestia.
Return to chapter fourteen for how "godlike" beings interact within the world. There are other nations ruled by similar beings to Luna and Celestia (the zebra and the ki-rin, among the superpowers), but they are equally unlikely to rock the boat, and have the same limitations of their powers.
I think Twilight is extremely powerful, but she can't consciously use her full potential. However she has something more or less that is the equivalent of an avatar state that ups her power to god tier for a short time (like in season two episode two where she more or less magically bitchslaps Discord before she uses her element), she has to be in grave danger or sufficiently agitated for it to happen.
1026591
I agree. Given that she bears the element of Magic, she might even be some kind of literal avatar. I think, however, that Twilight's magic might, while prodigous (the only unicorn we have seen that approaches her is her brother) is lesser than her potential for magic understanding. Notice how it is said most unicorns know only a few spells, but because of her peculiar cutie mark, Twilight is capable of learning an unlimited number of very diverse spells, and use them better than the original - compare her use of the gemfinding spell to Rarity's, and I'm one of those who believe she more or less picked up teleportation magic just by observing Nightmare Moon doing it.
However, using the spells without hitch might take training, of course. Most of Twilight's magic mishaps in the canon, though, depend on her being neurotic and not thinking things through. Her spell on the parasprites did exactly what it should do, it was just that doing what it did was dumb (she should have made them less hungry, not diverted them from eating all the food). The sorry case of Miss Smartypants was caused by Twilight being so deranged that she didn't realize somepony else might see the the doll (nevermind the immorality of using it in the first place).
1024736 "Unless you get somebody who just wants to watch the world burn..."
You appear to be ignoring the fact that this has already happened, on three separate occasions. NMM, The Changeling Queen and, of course, discord, have all attempted to overthrow the existing regime. I think it's also fair to assume that it's going to happen again. All it takes is for one of them to succeed, and then you've got one hell of a problem.
1028229
Only Discord seems to have vaguely interested in such a thing. Both Nightmare Moon and Chrysalis wanted to rule a functioning Equestria, and outside of possibly Chrysalis, the army would largely have been canon fodder in a fight against either Discord or NMM.
1028607 Nightmare Moon promised eternal night. An everlasting night would seriously damage the agriculture industry, which would have a knock-on effect on the economy, effectivley removing the economical barrier that prevents other nations invading equestria. In that situation, a large military deterent would be the only thing left to prevent an attack.
1028734
True but unlike Discord, her actions would have been more to do with her being crazy then wanting to see Equestria in ruins.
1033696 You're saying Discord wasn't crazy? I find that hard to believe.
1034004
I've always seen Discord as being more of a edritch abomination then simply crazy. But more seriously, NMM is a different type of crazy. Discord is closer to being the type who'd get a kick out of watching everything go mad while NMM craziness means that she doesn't bother to consider the likely consequences of her actions until they slap her in the face.
Ah, distress. I have finally reached the leading edge of the story and now must wait for new updates. Woe is me.
Superlative work throughout. I shall be waiting on tenterhooks for the next chapter.
Finally got around to catching up with the last few chapters of this, and I continue to enjoy the blend of mythology and adventure, with this story making a welcome change from all the shipping and such that dominates fan fiction.
I can't believe I caught up! This fic is just fantastic and I'm so engrossed in it!
Your world building is A-MA-ZING! Top notch work there! And those multiple intersecting stories... oh my! And I really care about those deers! This is al just fantastic work!
1053746>>1056644>>1060149
Ah, shush, that's just what you say to all fanfic writers!
Seriously, thanks a lot! Knowing somebody likes my work is what gives me energy, like I'm some sort of consensual changeling!
*winks* Hi
New to the story and a nice development so far. Obviously the most pressing answer is how the developments will go within the pirate base, can Twilights possible friends help her or will she be in more trouble than we think now that her secret defense has been uncovered?
Then of course the question if it is possible to instead turn these pirates into a valuable asset as most are not exactly bad creatures by heart the way I see it right now. (Most came from the military branch and thus have a certain sense of loyality and patriotism is my guess).
And because I have been reading a lot of happy go lucky storys I kind of feel of throwing in some evil here ^.^
(obligatory evil laughter)
Now our dear Sana, the way I see it, mostly has visions of what could have been and are more of the negativ kind (her first introduces vision consisted of her, spike and the prince dying with a broken moose). As such I think she might have had not seen everything concerning the shampo as I think her vision would also be limited to a certain area.
Now to be able to win this what would be needed was a lot of power but the princesses are, rightly so, afraid of using what they have. Yet what happens when this magical doomsday device quite literally saps one of them to accomplish the task? (Basically leading to an alive but incapacitated [something along the line of sleeping beauty :P] princess allowing for a sequel *cough cough*).
Considering I am on my evil streak hitting Princess Luna with that would make most sense for me as it would make the biggest impact around with the two deer pretty much being all about this quest to find and use the shampo as well as the direct/indirect support of Twilight as well as Princess Celestia. Also ties in nicely with Lunas warning about using it *more evil laughter*.
Though I fear it might just as well end with the two deer using it somehow to free this poor porr lich from his predicament while saving their country with smiles all around.
1172053
Verrrry interesting thoughts speculations! Its nice when my stuff can make people think a bit.
This isn't a Dark fic, so things won't end up that badly, but remember that Saga steadfastly claims (and Celestia agrees with) that Vigg can fix things by using the Sampo - and the Sampo was cursed by Discord, a guy with a mean streak a mile long and a wicked sense of humor. In other words, you cannot use the Sampo to fix any problem with smiles all around. Incidentally, the only way the Sampo could "cure" or "purify" a lich would be for the owner to wish for the Nightmare in the lich for themselves, most likely transferring their undeadness to the the wisher...
Giving this a re-read. I remember I came to this fic from reading ChuckFinley's Banishment Decree (MLP/ Burn Notice).
It'll be a while before I'm ready, but can't wait for the next update!
Wait... So this is in the Twiluna group, but I see no romance tag. Is this a Twiluna shipping, or just Twilight and Luna focused?
1209001
Twilight and Luna focused. (I didn't put it there, btw. Someone else did.)
Twilight seems to be loosing a little. Mayhaps she's in to deep with her charade.
And this giraffe seems to sneakier than he seems.
“I’m tired of selfishness and foolishness and excuses!” Twilight said, her eyes glowing purple. One of the sacks shot away and disappeared into the darkness.
Hell yeah! Fk this st and listen to reason! Whoo!
Seriously, Twilight can and will wreck your everything. If she has a good point accept it or be stabbed with it.
Good to see Twilight's still trying to help others while maintaining her persona. Too bad that giraffe is gonna be nothing but trouble.
Some things just become hilarious in hindsight don't they?
(Yes, I realize that comment was from like a year and change before Twilicorn)
7329072
Yes. Yes they do...