“I think it’s following us, you’re majesty.” Baylie stood atop the lead wagon, pulled by dumb, silent oxen, looking across the ash through a spyglass like the captain of some nautical vessel. “I’m not sure what it is, though.”
“Whatever it is it will make a damn fine trophy.” Franklin sneered, drawing a reproachful glare from Queen Sunrise.
“I wonder how it is you manage to obtain live animals for you show at all,” the queen quipped. “At any rate, you’re hunt will have to wait. I’m taking Slapstick out there to talk to him. Uness I miss my guess that’s actually a pony.”
“You’re crazier than I gave you credit for your majesty,” Franklin laughed, “Look at that thing! I’d put more money on ‘diseased chimera’ than ‘pony’.”
“No way you’re bringin the colt unless you’re takin’ me,” Atlas Deadlift looked up from his position in the driver seat of the lead wagon. “We can have Marge drive lead, and I'll put Dottie and the Twin’s driving yours. I can trust her majesty’s instincts, for now at least. Strike camp as planned, if we don’t catch up by mornin’, go looking for that thing.”
-=-=-=-=-
“This is as close as he’s gonna let us get,” Deadlift huffed, as the beast glared back at him across 20 yards of ash. “I guess I owe ya a bottle of beer, you’re majesty, that is a pony.”
“It’s the ugliest damned pony I ever seen crawl out of the ash…” Slapstick muttered.
“Be kind, Slapstick,” the insectile colt’s queen rebuked, “like yourself, he was blessed by a god, remember all the ponies who trade tickets to see you and I as ‘pony-oddities’ when you speak. He is a pony, and he clearly belongs beneath the tent of our kingdom.”
The subject of discussion listened intently, his bulbous equine head pretending to be distracted while the snakes that hung from his mouth focused on the group intently. Finally Sunrise Flare strode dramatically forward, almost prompting the beast to flee. “Welcome friend! I am the Miraculous Queen Sunrise Flare. Like yourself and my apprentice , I too have been touched and changed by the great powers beyond the the ashen veil. And I have made a place for ponies like us. Can you tell me your name?”
The giant freak shook its head sadly, gesturing to its throat with one hoof.
“Mute, that makes sense,” Atlas Deadlift mused, “I’d be more surprised if he could talk with his mouth filled with.snakes.”
“Come with us, we’ve seen you following us for three days now. Just follow us a little further.” The white alicorn smiled warmly as the began to walk away, glancing back every now and again to make sure they were still being followed.
-=-=-=-=-
“You’re keepin’ a respectful distance, big guy,” Deadlift note as the four trekked across the ashen night towards camp, “That’s good. It shows you don’t want trouble. You’re not tryin’ to throw your size around, and that’s also good. Because you wouldn’t be even be the second fellow giant I had to remind I could take them in a fight when they throwed their weight around. Hell, you’ll be the second to join the troup if you stay on.”
The twisted pony chuckled with 5 voices, causing the giant pale horse to startle, only to laugh it off himself, “And ya got a sense of humor. That speaks good for ya. Because you really don’t wanna take this personal.”
“We’re a family, big guy,” Deadlift explained, “And your not part of that family, at least not yet. Right now your just a hitchhiker. You’re another stray that our ‘glorious queen’ took pity on in the ash. And don’t look like that, that colt up there was in the same spot you are less than two years ago, at worst, ya keep yer nose clean and you got a free ride and a full belly till our next stop, so things are lookin’ good for you.”
The creature nodded thoughtfully, as the giant pale horse continued. “If you got any funny ideas, now’s your time to just turn right around and keep walking. Because if you try any funny business with our family, we’re gonna leave you staked to a circus pole as a warning to others. We keep a couple of spare poles just for that specifically. Ain’t had use em’ but twice, and I actually got a good feeling about you. But you’ve been warned.”
“What is he, your majesty?” Slapstick asked curiously, as the pair followed behind the two giants.
“He’s a pony, just like you and I,” the queen explained with a soft smile, “in fact, he’s very much like you, in particular. He’s been touched by the gods. The Unspoken Jester, specifically. Each is unique, or so I’ve heard, the Jester doesn’t like repeating himself.”
“Wait, does that mean Margarine and the twins…” The insectile colt scrunched his face in thought.
“No,” Sunrise laughed, “Margarine has a hormonal imbalance, and Daisy and Magpie are what are known as conjoined twins. If they were chaos spawn, the twins wouldn’t be so delicate, I promise. The Jester may twist his chosen ponies, but he doesn’t leave them defenseless against the ash.”
Meanwhile behind of them, Deadlift’s stern lecture continued. “Now, Sunrise clearly wants you in her show, but we ain’t just gonna bring you in and keep you fed for your pretty face. You wanna be a part of the family, that means you gotta pull your fair share of the load. Most of us are seasoned performers. As part of the freakshow, you’re biggest draw is just being you. But even Margarine and my girls do a little song and dance. I’m guessing you ain’t got much stage experience, so you’ll be working with the roustabouts while the rest of us rehearse. You look like like a strong stallion, so the work shouldn’t be too much for ya.”
Atlas deadlift thought he might have seen a hint of a smile, though it was hard to tell with this one. “I think you’ll get along just fine. Just one word of warning… the two headed filly… she’s my daughter, she ain’t my blood, but she’s mine. If you do anything to hurt her and a I will rip every snake out of your mouth and stuff it in the other end.”
The two shared a knowing look and the mute abomination simply nodded. “Yeah, I think you and me are gonna get along just fine.”