//------------------------------// // The Deed of Mirth // Story: The Six Deeds of Harmony // by Defoloce //------------------------------// ──────THE DEED OF MIRTH────── cross meand'ring streams and hillocks pass'd Our lowborn knight and manner'd princess wise Until so came they to the great world-sea Which keeps abyssal secrecies within. "I do yonder espy a settled port," Said knight, eyes slitted 'gainst the 'treating sun, "And ships at call beyond the shanties planch'd. An we hath luck, we'll hire one presently." In myriad clear amber'd jewellery Doth continental oceans keep the sun. Cadenza, Love Herself, a moment kept To 'hale the humid salted air a-waft. "Confess Me now that I've 'held not the sea," Said She in foal-like innocence to him, "Though all song-craft is birthèd from her shores And oft I sing her lullabies to none." A gladden'd smile did play upon his lips. "Not few hath been the times she cradled me; Give well-come words to her when then thou art met That favour'd Love might fetch us foll'wing seas!" The balm-swept port afar, named Anchormeet, Tumescent was with rough and churlish ilk On cloven hooves and pony-hooves alike. Our trav'lers were stark contrast made to stand. Plains buffalo and zebra, some adorned With scar-tattoos across their weather’d hides Made wary glance, as chance there was to meet On knightly eyes who struck about him clear. Cadenza, too, could feel unwelcome looks Of merchant-goats with knurl'd and greasy beards A-next to sullen prostitutes of sea, They mares and stallions both, for sailors' lust. So made She close to him and sidelong hushed: "Not an thou quest’d for a score of lives Couldst thou erase all wickedness from here, Perception mine from this menag'rie be." The knight could but give subtle nod to this. "So 'tis, I say, and I with savvy some To measure roughness in own roughness' den. O princess, I lament thy witness here!" A titter did escape the goddess' mouth. "How noble thou art now! But fear thee not; For I'm no pamper'd posey on lapel To wilt and shrink at daylight's first true heat!" The knight look'd west and there beheld the day Last set to rest as eventide awoke. The taverns' bells and bawdy-houses rang For custom as the piers a-lit with lamps. "And what of darkened coolness of the night?" Ask'd he with sour smile and mischief glance. "Fair Moon might blush at what transpireth where Décorum never laid a polish'd hoof." "Am I the Moon, or doth Mine aunt yet be?" Said Princess Love as to an alley crept. She smiled at him and with a gentle cast Of orchid light assumed a merchant's guise. "'Tis true enough, attention's not our wont," Came out a voice belonging to a mare Of coarsely measure and a slight-lamed gait. "An we seem rich, then richness they accost." Into a tavern knight and merchant stepp'd; They met at once with noisy carousement And chaos such to flush mad gods with glee. The fire-pit cast rows in ashen red. The knight's two ears went flat-on 'gainst his head. "Such foulness, yea, in conduct and in smell! On floor might be more cider than in glass! Be wisdom now to keep a manner here?" Cadenza, still beguised, pass'd him a wink: "Thou art o'ermuch a knight—let Me lead us." With sudden, easy motion did She change That royal smile into an oily sneer. In midborn accent of her guise’s caste: "Stay low that prideful count, O favour'd knight. Play well thy part in muted complement And take sole cue from how I ply this stage." Ere more was said, She off and strode the lanes Of eager and verbose debauchery. The knight so tail'd, in care to step around The drunken deckhoofs and the wanton curs. No hesitance forshown Cadenza gave; Anon She made the captain best to serve Their need of sail-craft careful and discreet And sat Her down across from same mare's board. "To drink or business: that be for me time," Said straight the sail-mare to the goddess rused. "An ye hast naught of either, then begone! For pleasant conversation starves me purse." The captain spake with accent of the sea, The boist’rous, hardy, rolling tongue of waves ‘Hind which her merriment or scorchèd hate Could easy be concealed to those unwise. A pace behind the princess stood the knight, Unknightly in his best efforts to seem. The merchant-mare Cadenza had become Put thrice a knock upon the splinter'd board. "For both it, then, that goodwill doth take hold! I, Poplar, and the sellsword at my back Hath Cordial to be call'd, when call I must." The captain look'd beyond to take the knight. "He reek of errance, armour'd so befirm, Yet, marry, bears no arm to test his met! Ye hast him, then, for other duties close: A sellsword with a better sword to sell!" The captain flew a wink as rum was set Before the mares by zebra serving-wench. A lady never would give to such mirth In braying vigour taken company. "No less, a hedge-knight brought down from his grace By his own tale, but comely croups as his Are I say wasted on the battlefield!" Another laugh at this, and then to quest. "I have some need of sail, my steady salt. Out to Ibexia I striketh would Along with fetching stallion hither seen. So an thou hast a fasting purse, accept." The captain drain'd her rum and cannon wiped Across her grinning snout ere she respond: "No paltry take would passage gain, me lass! A giving heart floats better, so I've found." Cadenza bore a warm yet poisoned smile. "To eightscore sov'reigns will I but agree. 'Tis surfeit for such vessels like to hove Into a swill-steeped planch-port such as this." The boist'd, ringing laughter of the mare Reach'd out above the din of conduct rough. "So have ye said, and I'll deny it not! Yet comp’ny sought is comp’ny kept, me heart!“ On she lounged there whilst Cadenza drank, And when She finish’d, captain spake again: “At break of day will anchor kiss the wind, The Wingless Heron be her given name." The princess, as coarse Poplar, stood and bowed. "So by your leave, O captain, we retire. My solemn promise keeping dalliance soft— Thou shalt not find it uttered here to-night!" They moved to let a room from upstairs' inn And, free of company, her guise dispelled. The knight, his armour doff'd in hastèd pile, Did sulken sit upon his mattress strawn. The inn-room's walls were cleaned with laughter light As Love beheld the knight's warm latent blush. "Good humour, sir! We're on a task of Mirth, And ladies of their means need retinue!" "Methinks in excess didst thou take the play To have masculine comfort hired on. Enjoy'd it o'ermuch, from where I stood." Not even for all will would his ears rise. "But to assuage the get of poverty Was the intent of what thou mark as farce, So pray else mark it well-come compliment: A stallion such as thee would princely cost!" Cadenza, trotting to, did kiss the blush. "Find ease, sir knight, find ease, I thee beseech! In love thou art, yet Love foresees that She Hath much to teach thee yet, ere quest be done." "Mayhap the morrow finds a student here," Said knight through solemn'd gentle weary yawn. "For this, to-night, I'll be the happy dunce." He laid his head and gave him up to sleep. The slumber of the knight dissolved to calls Of morning gulls and gannets seeking scraps Upon the moon-chill'd decks and piers without. So roused, he made to rise and armour don. Companion his, the princess, had spread out The donkeys' gifts of vegetables plump. He bowed to Her and wordless broke his fast As She gazed on in fondness for his way. "What look have I, to fetch such wiled regard?" Said knight as saddlebags on back were set. "I 'cuse Thee not of impropriety Though worry for my self was all I kept." She still spake naught, and knight was left To battle a faint smile upon his snout. It soon came full upon him, then a laugh, At which the goddess last did rear and join. With magical assumption of Her guise Again in place, they struck from befouled inn And made to foamy waters of the shore. The Day was come, Her monde to warm their backs. They wander’d piers and sought the ship Call'd Wingless Heron, as it was so told. Cadenza touched a wing to the knight's neck As they slow closed upon a cog so named. "Should quest be done and thou returnèd home To thy wish’d maiden, then should court her well, A husband thou be first, and then a knight. I take My tribute due in measure great!" "Henceforth Thy lessons now are to begin?" Ask'd knight with deferent yet tarted tongue. She only offered up a winsome smile And stopped before the gangplank set aboard. He 'held the ship and count'd it befit, Though agèd was its sail and jagged sprit. The captain disembarked and made such bow To shame a caller at majestic courts. "The Heron be well-met to have aboard Her two earth-ponies strong and hardy-built. And such our luck, no rain for first day’s sail! The Sun, I reckon, call’d it off for ye!” The two so made their greetings and embarked, Then thereupon were met the Heron’s crew. The captain made self first to introduce After all others muster’d amidships. “Sea Nettle be me name, an’ no mistake, I captain this here heron of the seas. The bison-bosun thar be me right hoof, So named is Prairie Hawk, as he would tell. Two zebra mares to hoist and rig the sails, Kuvuta’s one, then Bana for t’other (But so ye ken, I call ‘em Pull and Pinch). And Tradewind last, our pegasus, who keeps The crow’s nest and the watch of sky’s surround.” They all bowed to, yet spake none in their turn. In stead they set to duties casting off And so put Wingless Heron out to sea, Ibexia a-waiting two days thence. Easy went the way through morning’s watch, And levity served with the midday’s meal, Though captain Nettle fierce designed to see The measure of her custom-escort’s met. As all doth know, the earth-ponies are those Most given to the sail and sailors’ ways, Yet even ‘mongst the ones who take to ship, The knight was stoic steady; so she saw. “Say lo here, Poplar, and attend me but A moment’s time. I say I ne’er met a one so girt And given up to trials as he seem! What say ye, then, to friendly wager light?” Cadenza, knowing well seafarers’ love Of sporting oft in wealth and earnèd pride, Did hearken up the captain’s bid for ears And entertain what would be put to Her. “Me bison-bosun, Hawk, be buffalo In envy’d strength by all who stride the earth. Upon the sea, mayhap, he’ll have a match! Would ye put up yer stallion to a duel?” The merchant-princess met it with an arch. “What gains, prithee, do we each stand to take In turn from such a contest? He’s Mine hire; Thus, terms of harm be disagreeable.” “A harm-less test of strength, ye have me word! And as for terms, there too is plainly spake: In victory, I’ll forgive half yer toll, Defeat finds him in cabin mine each night.” Cadenza reared and laughing shook her mane. “How basely thou conducts! No pauper, I, Who ill affordeth prices promised so! Let him decide, and I’ll fain second be.” Anon Sea Nettle put it to the knight Who plain recoiled, but, to Love’s surprise, Agreed to term and challenge readily. A-gape, Cadenza could but witness play. “O knight,” she low conferred with him a-side, “It recks thee not to game with chastity? This quest be not a test of cowardice; The Harmony’s the thing—I pray thee neg!” The knight met eyes with Prairie Hawk, and said “I’ve wagered oft much worse in course of deed. O Love, Thou might be goddess, but need tell That 'tis through real risk that knights are made. Immortal may Thou yet come prove to be, But well 'tis thought to die as one might choose. To what ideal might mortals last achieve? It shan’t ‘come known without challenges met.” “E’en challenge such as this?” she doubtful spake. “There be no blood to spill or be spill’d here.” Replied he quick with glad and ready heart: “For knights, one’s life and pride are close as kin.” Sea Nettle muster’d crew once more and cried “Avast and hearken, lot, and witness bear To show of might and competition great! Our two staid war’iors here their thews will test!” “'Tis simple,” captain spake, “at anchor drop Me zebras will keep time with zebra-song Whilst Tradewind counts the beats ere anchors-up. The fellow with the fewest beats is won.” The bosun, Prairie Hawk, was first to test. Kuvuta first, then Bana took their drum In keeping time as he set to the wheel Alone in effort, silent in his work. Ere long did anchor clat against the hull And hoofbeats of the zebras came to cease. “Oh ho! me hearty bosun, good account!” Cried out the pony captain from her watch. The knight was then put to the windlass spoke Once anchor had again found ocean floor. His muscles stood as cords and sinew'd strain ‘Neath leaded iron in the sea’s harsh pull. Once done, the lookout Tradewind bow’d to him And raised his wings in pegasi’s respect. “Fivescore beats and nine was this one’s count, Sufficient to best Hawk’s of sixscore-one.” The princess, minding not her trepid sense, Did laugh again and dance a-round the knight Caught up in victorious revelry. The knight’s manner maintained, for his part yet. “A feat, i’faith, a feat of peerless might! So fearsome must it be to see an edge Borne as thou wouldst against a hapless foe! Thou dost kin proud—so too, Equestria!” The Heron’s captain stamped in grace applause. “Though might it pain me so to slip me prize, A word’s a word, and I’ll no villain be: So fourscore sov’reigns now do sole ye owe.” The ship hove on to deeper waters still. Ere evening set, the knight attended Hawk. “Thou hast great met to call an anchor so. I hope there be no fashioned enmity.” The buffalo slow shook his great horn'd head And slower spoke odd accent of the plains: “The great Coyote tricks, the Raven shifts, Yet you blench not, are constant like the Earth.” When last he made to take his rest, Love stopped Him ‘midships, bringing him to northern rail. “Thee hold, good knight! 'Tis now thy time to learn Of what Mine aunts would have all ponies ken.” “So loving I escaped, yet Love not so,” Said he with faint amusement on his lips. Cadenza, playful cuffing with a hoof, Commenced her lesson there to him anon. “Now look thou north, into the firmament: Above us there be Love, Mine own retreat That Luna, goddess Moon, did make for Me. Thou seest it eventide, when lovers join And morningtide again when they awake. When I withdraw Me from the earth to ‘hold All love within creation, there I go. I read the hearts of all who breathe the air And swim within the waters deep and dark. Know well, mayhap, that Love be Harmony, Yet Harmony less Mirth be broken Love. In love there must be joy, O stalwart knight, For temperance alone be passionless. An one should holdeth fast to chivalry As thou so dost, perceived so well by all, They’ll keep no room for softness in their heart. To battle makes one hard, e'en Love knows well, And hardness be a rock not eas’ly split, Yet shouldst thou find the favour of your mare, Thy stolid heart, ere long, will turn her cold.” A whinny there made utter from the knight, His head to lower from the watching stars. “In hardness won and softness kept is love; Most those I know choose one to be of kind.” The patient goddess laughed to light the stars. “What jesting thoughts doth stallions entertain! 'Tis now a prize, one’s love, and not a gift? Shouldst thou fail in this quest, thy love forfeits?” “Doth wain-wright who breaks wagons earn her bread? Doth scribe who cannot write belong at court? In steel I trade, but counsel’d by Thine aunts My sword’s put up, that Love may find me fair.” Cadenza’s hoof lit ‘pon his pauldron worn. “'Tis not for Me, nor yet for Them, that We Would have thee court in true gentility. But thou wish’d quest, so to a quest were put.” “Forsooth, to give back Harmony so known. The knight be not his sword—his deeds in stead. I need no steel to work good ‘pon the land. I’ll leave Thee now, Your Highness, to Thy sky.” The knight stole down to berth and present slept. His dreams were plagued by blackness creeping out From clustered sockets deep within the world, Appraising bitterness where it would pass. His rest was broke by plea’d and weary’d words Betwixt the scout Tradewind and Princess Love. A hasted gird, then up from berth he came To behold morning-sun from starboard rise. “I say thee neigh, sore given, we can not The Doldrums sail, e’en with a cog so fit As goodly Heron. Not a score of wings would call the wind, so strong doth Chaos hold.” The knight took stock of this and looked ahead To where the Wingless Heron might approach: A stygian stretch of hungry, dark water Lay off the bow and beckon’d with its mouth. The merchant-mare, who was Cadenza, saw The knight had roused and so made way to him To speak with hush and measured quiet tone. Poor Tradewind’s nervous wings flit in concern. “The maid of Mirth doth swim within the black. Thou canst not call to her ‘til we suspend Ourselves above the chilled abyss, Though way be shut unless we sell our need.” The pegasus in consternation add: “The sun is ever block'd here by a cloud Which doth not move, since wind will not behear Entreaties of my kin or those a-like.” The captain made from study and looked out Upon the merchant’s grim petitioning. She raised a voice to scorch a hole in cloud Such that a ray of daylight might break through. “Belay yer whinging, mare! No needless risk Will I put to the Heron or her crew. A-round the Doldrums will we put to move, A day’s more sail is but it stern demands.” With gentle flash of blue and sunrise-pink, The merchant left, and by-wake princess stood, The goddess Love, Cadenza, in true like, Her mane awash in colours of the dawn. At once Sea Nettle bowed, so Tradewind too, And the others low’d their heads in due address. Cadenza bid them rise and nobly smiled Ere giving them the measure of their task. “My friends, I do lament the subtleties And pretense woven such to bring us here. The stallion in my company’s a knight Sent forth to subdue Chaos through his works.” All eyes fell then upon the wordless one Who suddenly, in plates a-lit by day, Did seem in glory more than prior took As one diminished by the ruthless road. “Yon cloud and water ribboned so in dark I do attribute to the kindless pass Of Chaos, long a-drift with murky will. Should Heron help me, it be banishèd.” No second bidding did the captain need. They set about, and presently they slipped Into the Doldrums’ get, where sails go flat And sun eternal shrouded from the sea. Kuvuta spake in Quagga, sensing ill And Bana gave reply in broader tongue: “The earth is bled beneath a weighted woe, We feel unrested consciousness below.” All sound depart, and, breathing stillness in, Not even waves were there for keel to cut. The princess brought regard up to the sky, Then outward o’er glassèd black sent call. “O sea! O maiden ‘reft of joyful song! I am thy Love, and hither thee I beck Yet not with hoof, but voice, like one so sunk Into the silty earth that crushes hope.” A time was pass’d, nine murmurs of the heart Ere ripples born out from the silent wash. The bosun taciturn, the Prairie Hawk, Retreat’d slow away to stand at port. The trimmers two did whicker and befret, The zebra Bana slight recoiling thence. “A sea-maid who sings not be Chaos true! Can bravery alone this curse undo?” From spray of water dimmed from lack of sun Emerged sea-pony, coloured coral-like, Her mane the faded green of tidal-foam. Into the air was come her full form bare. A-wetly did she cast upon the deck, Her scales to set to spectral shimm’ring faint In morning-light. She looked upon the lot Before her ‘sembl’d, gaze at last on knight. The summoner Cadenza knelt a-side And touch’d her horn against sea-pony’s throat. Their eyes were shone with magic, both in turn, And goddess thereupon did speak for her. “This one hath lost the joy of living on, For darkness now is visited on all Who swim with her in depths unseen below. There be no Mirth for those who dwell in fear.” The sea-maid pulled herself along the deck To come and bow before the knight in plea. No hooves had she, but suchlike fins and tail As those of fish with whom she shared the world. “Milady,” said the knight, “I will attend Thee such as my own met might warrant true. Confess me, though, I cannot long be ‘moved From pure-drawn air. How then wouldst have me help?” She brought herself stood up as much she might, Yet he was earth-pony, both tall and strong. The knight put down his head to meet her own, And thereupon was kiss put to his nose. A mist-fleck’d tingle ran a-course through him And sudden did the sea seem closer still Than ere it had in all his earlier days. The princess sagely nod and gave explain. “Unicorns have the sky, and they the sea, And earth for each the many kindreds ‘twixt, As Magick doth in splendour take its source From all of these in strange facetèd ways.” “A sea-spell, then,” spake knight as armour doff’d, His raiment so entrusting to Love’s care. “I’m made to follow her and contend what Occludes the Mirth from brightening her home.” “Then here we wait, until thy task be done,” Said she to him, his armour gathered up. “Go thou with blessings of the loving Sky, Restoring Mirth, an Mirth be there to find.” The upper world was lost in shimmer’d brine, And in dim sunlight ere descent began, The knight saw self encased in bubble great Enough as like within diviner’s ball. They deeper went, ‘til all the sun was gone And blackness utter filled periphery. Sea-pony pulled along her cargo brave And temper’d true was his unbended will. They deeper went, and were then met By eyeless creatures, fell, with scales a-glow In colours not belonging to the make Of reason’d gods, in this world or the next. They deeper went, traversed along the sky Inverted, where night doth never set, Where blackness there grows blacker beyond reck And takes penumbra as its only shade. They deeper went, lower perchance than all, To waters Hell itself might drink to quench The fire eternal, if such were its wont. A spark of yellow light sat at the floor. The knight was brought upon that distant fleck Of colour, like a fire in wilderness. He there was lit upon a raisèd stone And made to see the sea-pony cavort. The serpent woke, and with his open eyes There were two lights as white as holy snow Which scatter’d all the life who loves the dark From their surround in flashes chitinous. He saw it, then, that stone was not his perch, In stead the selfsame body of the beast Which now uncoiled in size no eye could mark. Anon and nimbly did he move to floor. “The earth, at last, is come to help the sea!” The serpent’s voice shook even the abyss. By light of eyes, the knight saw violet Its scales, and its hair an orange cloud. The knight look’d to his maiden, and she held His gaze in hers to tell all that she might. The serpent sickly smiled, its moustache twirled ‘Twixt slender claws as it took in the knight. “Restore the Mirth, which Chaos hoped to drown. No more doth the Deep Kingdoms ring with joy. This place, a yellow’d wound upon the world, Bleeds out the treasured magic of the Sky.” “The wound is in the earth, and Earth am I,” Said knight as full perception fell to him. “So by my passing will I seal it up And staunch infected wills from taking sway.” The light was formless and took him in full When there he did step into it unbid. An ancient soul with eyes not meant to see Ask’d him what he, a mortal, offered out. “In giving, taking, so I see the game. So be it, I will put to thee my purse: Return direct her voice, and for that boon Will I in turn abjure the world of dreams.” Emotion timeless beat its message out. “And so accepted, son of earthen keep. But know thou this, and keep it in thy heart: The world is old, aye, older sovereigns than Thy Sisters own who know not what they move In sooth. A power latent throbs within All core of things, in thee not least to count. The imaged sleep, the sacrifice thou metes, Is stuff of Sky, and for its loss art thou More child of Mine than ere were thee afore. His Chaos older still, mayhap, but in The breath through which thy life shall pass A keeping old indeed will spring from thee, An earth-magic antediluvian, And kin thou sharest with creatures long forgot.” With such a riddle left, he knew it done. As he was pony earth, so Earth did mend Beneath troubled emotion in his breast. The light was spent, and there was peace again. A laugh behind him cleared all darkness there And all beyond, until far could he see On ridge above a rising citadel, And all sea-ponies issued from their sanct. The serpent now did laugh along with her, A loud and glad-well booming ‘round them all. With flick of orange moustache did it dance And swirl about them both with ‘bandoned bliss. “A-free! A-free! My long-paid toil be done! So will I go to younger waters hence And find some sundry means to keep as due. Sir knight, thy card is colour’d bright indeed!” It soon away, and whither then it went Be not the ken of any now who live. The maiden hied to bring the bubbled knight Back to the surface, ere was made to stay. They up, and up, by sea-ponies bechased, They flocking clamoured for to tribute him. The sun received them gladly, long await, As knight left sea on sodden clamber-nets. So stunn’d, the crew and princess saw the sea Surround turn blue again, the clouds depart Beneath the new-born power of the wind. The sea-maiden again put self to deck. Her voice was match for Moon in seeming sweet: “My city be delivered by this one Who gave up visions in the night’s embrace To bring my laughter hearty back to me, Bereft I was of voice for air to breathe.” The knight spoke not the Chaos she gave court When she had bargain’d with that time-worn will Of absent wont and savage energies That took a serpent great to slumber keep. As she depart in thanks, the knight took pause; He heeded neither celebrating crew Nor Goddess Love. He reckoned silent on Immortal ken new given mortal home. The need for Mirth did lead them to a join Of Earth and Sky, like which the Sisters sprang. Earth-pony soul did tremble at the feel Of kindred senses resting down in dark.