//------------------------------// // Welcome to Piraeus // Story: 🐍 Medusa // by Phantom-Dragon //------------------------------// As the boat propelled itself across the water at intense speed, Medusa and her snakes felt taken away, by the adrenaline. To them, it’s as if she’s being carried away by Zephyr — Greek God of the west wind. “Oh feel that wind!” Rainbow Dash hollered excitedly, laughing as the boat carried her and friends across the sea. “Wheee!” Pinkie cheered, waving her hands in the air, before turning to Applejack, whose face turned green with seasick. “Raise your arms, Applejack!” Pinkie urged. “It’s a lot more fun when you raised your arms like this!” With that, Pinkie continues to laugh, having the time of her life. “Are we there yet?” Applejack groaned. “I really don’t feel so well.” “Almost,” Sunset replied, as she was driving the boat. Turning to her left, the fiery girl looked to see Medusa, completely shocked for words, “You okay Medusa?” She asked. “I believe ssssso,” Medusa hissed in response. The gorgon turned to see Spike, who was sticking his head off to the side, panting excitedly with his tongue blowing in the wind. “What are you doing?” She asked the little dog. “Just enjoying the wind!” Spike replied. “It’s really fun! You should try it!” “No you wouldn’t,” Too late. Before Sunset knew it, Medusa was already following Spike’s example, as she opens her mouth to let her fork tongue out, flapping in the rushing wind. Myriads of various smells from the oceans and distant lands have all come rushing to caress across her tongue. “Impresssssive!” She hissed in shock and surprise. Twilight giggled at how funny the gorgon looked, “Might I suggest a different approach to enjoying a boat ride?” Medusa retracted her tongue, as she turns to the smart girl, watching as she puts her hand in the water, causing small waves of ripples to flow through her fingers. Curious, Medusa decided to give it a try, slowly and carefully puts her claws in the water. She was immediately taken away by the cool, gentle rush of water caressing across her fingers. It felt cool and relaxing for her, as the waters soothes her dry and scaly skin. “So, what do you think?” Twilight smiled. Medusa looked at the girl, and hesitantly replied, “It feelssss.....nicccce.” Though, for just a fleeting moment, she thought she saw another girl in place of Twilight. After what felt like hours for poor Applejack, the friends have finally arrived on the mainland, where they moored their boat, on the docks of Piraeus, the port city, of the Attica administrative. “Oh thank goodness!” Applejack shouted happily, as she enthusiastically leapt out of the boat and practically kissed the dock. “Land! Sweet Mother Nature’s dry land! Boy am I so glad to be back on dry land!” “And just in time too!” Pinkie pointed to the horizon, where the pink hue of dawn is on the rise. “Well then, let’s go!” Sunset insisted. “The hotel is just five blocks down! So we better hustle before everyone wakes up!” "But first," Pinkie quickly grabbed Medusa, pulling the gorgon close, before pulling out her phone and smiled, "SELFIE!" With a push of the button, Pinkie Pie snapped a photo of herself, grinning, next to a bewildered and confused Medusa. As the sun slowly climbs up from the horizon, a light falls across the city, shining it awake. With the first ray of a new day, Medusa finds herself enchanted in the city's beauty. “Asssstonissshing!” Medusa hissed in awe; captivated by how much the city has changed since ancient times, through the days long passed. No longer were there torches. From the looks of it, the city now has tall poles with lightbulbs, at the top, emitting shades of lights to light up the streets, before they slowly burned out. The buildings are now of different designs. In ancient times, they were all the same ordinary buildings, made with of stones. But now, everywhere she looked, these new modern buildings varied in different designs of shapes, colors, and structures. Most of the buildings were all dwarfed by taller buildings that looked as if they could touch the sky. The common feature in each of the buildings' designs was that their windows are all covered in sheets of transparent and reflective glass panels. The streets look different too. Before, they were all just dirt roads, but now they are concrete and populated with various transportations of different designs and colors. Furthermore, some of the businesses have just begun to open up shops. From the air, amidst the myriad scents, Medusa was certain she had caught the smell of the first barbecues in the morning. All these changes, all the buildings, streets, transportations, and everything, it was all disorienting for the gorgon, who felt more conflicted about herself in this new, modern world. "SSSo vibrant," She hissed. "SSSSo much colorssss. SSSSo many different sssscentsss. Yet ssssso beautiful." A gentle hand touched her on the shoulder, causing her to turn and faced Sunset Shimmer, who looked at her in sympathy, “I know it’s a lot to take in,” Sunset began. “But believe me, you’ll get the hang of it.” “What?” The gorgon asked. Sunset couldn’t help but giggle at the cursed female’s confusion, “Believe it or not, but I reacted the same way you did when I first came to this world.” "How would you know?" The cursed gorgon hissed. "You are human, are you not?" Before Sunset could answer, the fiery girl's eyes widened when the sound of an approaching car perked her ears, "Quick! Put your hat on!" Without giving the gorgon a chance to ask, Sunset immediately picked up her hat and forced it back on top of Medusa's snakes, much to their irritation as they forced back, struggling to keep the hat off. A large truck soon came from around the corner. With that, the Rainbooms quickly waved their arms to the driver, hiding Medusa, all the while doing their best to act natural, until the truck was out of sight. "What isss the meaning of thisss?!" Medusa hissed in outrage of the indignity. "Hey, calm down, Medusa," Rainbow reassured, while avoiding eye contact. She was certain the angry gorgon's deadly gaze is set upon her, in retaliation. "We're just trying to protect you from that guy." "Don't you mean we're trying to protect the guy from her?" Applejack asked. "Same thing!" "Look, it's nothing personal Medusa," Sunset began. "It's just we're all trying to keep a low profile here." With her third eyelids blinking back in place, Medusa hissed in confusion, "Low profile?" "It means we're trying to avoid unwanted attentions," Twilight clarified. "Then it appearssss I've made my point," The gorgon grumbled. "I ssshould've remained on my island where it issss safer for you and all of humanity! You sssshouldn't have brought me here! Return me to–" "We came this far, haven't we Medusa?" Sunset interrupted, silencing the gorgon. "Besides, we aren't in trouble yet. We just need to get to the hotel where we can figure out our next course of action to help you." "But if there isssssn't?" Medusa pulled the hat off her snakes, who all hissed, voicing both theirs and the gorgon's frustration. "You're quite the glass half-empty kind of girl, y'know that?" Pinkie Pie chirped. "C'mon! Live the moment! Anything's better than just the same miserable day you've had on that sad lonely island of yours!" "I do not live for any moment. Nor am I thisss 'glass half-empty' nonssssenssssse you sssspeak of." "Just calm down!" Sunset said to the gorgon. "This will be over soon–" "Phew! Is it me, or is it a swelter out here?" Applejack said, suddenly waving her hat in the air, as if to fan herself. The Rainbooms all looked at their country friend with confused looks, "Doesn't it make y'all want to go for a swim at the beach later?" The blonde girl pointed their attention to several nearby windows, where the inhabitants were starting to wake up. In fact, a kid was poking his head out of the window and looked at the strange group of friends. "Uh, yeah," Rainbow Dash began, playing along, with the rest of the Rainbooms joining, as they sneaked their friend into an alley. "That sounds like a wonderful idea, darling," Rarity added. "But we can't go to the beach like this, can we?" Fluttershy said. "So let's all go back to our hotel, and get our swimsuits, so we can all play at the beach together," Pinkie winked. "Let's take the shortcut!" With that, the Rainbooms all darted down into the alley, with their gorgon friend. "Ow! My tail!" "Sorry Medusa!" Applejack apologized. As they left, few of the people who were waking up all scoffed, "Hmph. Tourists." "There's got to be a better way to get to the hotel without being noticed," Sunset groaned, with her hand over her forehead. "Well, for one thing, we certainly can't put her snakes under her hat again, that's for certain," Fluttershy said, while petting one of the snakes. "The poor things simply don't like small dark places." "Well, what other ways can we use to hide them from public's eyes?" Applejack asked, twirling her hat. "It's not like we can wave a magic wand and turn them into hairs." In response, Spike couldn't help but burst out laughing, "What's so funny, Spike?" "Sorry, it's just...." After a moment of composing himself, with a few short titters, Spike explained, "It sort of reminded me of the time when Rarity had a really bad hair day, and she desperately wished it could go away by magic?" With that, the Rainbooms, minus Rarity, all burst out laughing at the memory, "Oh har har har, very–" Then, it hit the fashionista. "Oh! IDEA~!" She sang. "Spikey-Wikey, you adorable genius you!" "I am?" The dog inquired. "I mean, of course I am!" He then whispers to Twilight. "What did I do?" "There we go!" Rarity smiled, feeling pleased with herself. "No one will ever know!" "I don't know Rarity," Applejack voiced her doubt. "Pish-posh and tut-tut, darling," The fashionable girl scoffed. "It's fool-proof!" Medusa's snakes all hissed with satisfaction, "The little darlings said it's better than a musty old hat," Fluttershy said on their behalf. "Well, guess that settles that," Sunset shrugged. "Next up, the hotel. You ready Medusa?" The gorgon flicked her fork tongue, before she sighed, "The sssssooner the better." With that, the gorgon slithered in the morning's light, with her disguise, now modified with a purple, yellow, and turquoise punk-style wig, and a pair of shades. Just then, a random guy walked pass the disguised gorgon, "Morning ma'm," He greeted. "Nice hair!" He complimented. Rarity wrapped her arms across her chest, as she shoots a smug grin at Applejack, "What did I tell you?" "Oh save it, Rare. We still gotta get her to the hotel." With that, the Rainbooms all regrouped with their gorgon friend, as they resume their walk through the city. Along the way, they still caught the attentions of several people, who couldn't help but look at the disguised gorgon with looks of bewilderment. Mainly due to the amount of clothings she was wearing for cover. Thankfully, the Rainbooms were there to give the reluctant gorgon supports. "What's the matter?" Rainbow Dash asked one of the locals. "Never seen a 20% cool hair style before?" "They're all looking at ussss," Medusa hissed nervously. "Just keep moving," Sunset cautiously advised. A man was walking pass the girls, when he turned and looked bewildered at the wig Medusa was wearing. A snake, with the colorful red, yellow, and black patterns of a coral snake, suddenly popped from under the wig cover, hissing and glaring dangerously at the man, startling him. With that, Fluttershy quickly jumped, "Oh, uh, please don't mind our friend sir," She smiled awkwardly. "She was...." "She just got back from the barber shop!" Pinkie finished, to which she and Fluttershy nodded in agreement. "Oh that's one B-A-D hair cut," The man commented. Later At last, the girls and dog arrived at the hotel that Maud Pie had rented for them, "Phew, I thought we'd never make it here," Applejack sigh in relief. "C'mon, let's hurry and book in," Sunset insisted, as she got out her key card. "You girls got your cards?" In response, the Rainbooms all got out the cards they've been keeping with them, since they arrived in Greece. "Good. Just checking." "Well hello ladies~" A familiar voice called out. From the distance, a tall man with messy blonde hairs tied in a bun, was walking towards them. “Oh no!” Rainbow groaned. “Not him!” Spike barked in equal displeasure. “Why?” Medusa asked, unsure of the Rainbooms and Spike's shared discomfort. “Who isssss he?” “Zephyr Breeze,” Fluttershy groaned in annoyance. “My younger brother...” “Younger?” The gorgon looked at the man, and was perplexed to see he was much taller than his sister. “He looksss too big to be ‘younger.’” "That certainly contradicts the whole 'seeing is believing,' doesn't it?" Pinkie Pie joked. "Anyway, we should get away from him while the gettin's good!" Rainbow suggested. "He's the most annoying man in the world, and he's totally obsessed with me! So we gotta–" But it was too late. Before the friends knew it, Zephyr Breeze finally arrived, "Hiya, Flutter-Butter!" He greeted. "How's my favorite sister in the world and her friends doing?" "She's his only sister," Spike whispered to Medusa, while riding in Twilight's backpack. "We were doing good, until you showed up," Fluttershy muttered. “What are you doing here?!” “Who wants to know?” The man shrugged. “Just good ol’ Zephyr Breeze going where the breeze wants him to be.” “I’m betting two doggy biscuits and a chew toy that he was just escaping from work...again,” Spike whispered to Pinkie Pie, who nodded in agreement. “Can’t it be somewhere else, but here?” Rainbow grumbled. “Well, if it isn’t Rainbow-The-Fastest-Girl-There-Ever-Was-Dash~” Zephyr flirted, much to the girl’s ire. “Aw, c’mon. Stop playing hard to get. You know you like me.” "Yeah, like that’ll be the day," Rainbow spoke through gritted teeth. “Anyway, if you'll excuse us, we're checking in." The athletic girl tried to walk pass the man, only for him to pull her back. "Hey! What's the rush?" He began. "Y'know Rainbow. You and I need to slow down and get to know each other more often." "I think I've already known you enough as it is," Rainbow grunted, as she pushes the man away. "Now make like a tree and leave, please?" "Oh but how can this tree leave when he's rooted firmly to the ground?" He flirted, stubbornly. "No matter where the wind blows, this Zephyr will always find a way back to you. You're the gold at the end of my rainbow, the apple of my eyes, the shooting star I wish every night, the–" "I believe we've heard enough out of you assss it isss," Medusa hissed in irritation, with her snakes concealed under her wig. "Now sssspare usss the further grievancccessss and leave!" Zephyr was appalled, "Oh yeah?" He snorted, getting in Medusa's face. "And who do you think you are?" "Ooh, I wouldn't want to get that close if I were you," Spike warned. "She's got a very bad hair day." "What do you take me for? An amateur?" Zephyr Breeze asked the dog, before he boasted, "I'm a license hair therapist. I remedy the bad hair day! Your hair suffers a rainy day? I can make it shine again. So if it's all the same to you," The man then turns to Medusa as he began, "Show Zephyr Breeze the beehives, and make honey with it." Further confused and irritated at this boy's obnoxious talk, Medusa grumbled, "What utter nonssssenssse do you ssssspeak of? Your hair issss revolting!" She added. In response, Zephyr lets out a high-pitch shrilly scream, mortified at the indignity, and he froze in place from the shock, as if he just looked in Medusa's eyes. "Wow, Medusa," Rainbow complimented, looking at the disguised gorgon with wide eyes. "Low blow. But thanks," The girl smiled, patting her new friend on the shoulder. "I jusssst hate men who cannot take no for anssswerssss," She hissed. "Well, anyway, with that out of the way, let's go," Sunset beckoned, as the friends all made their way into the hotel. Meanwhile, Zephyr stood still as a statue long after the Rainbooms left. A little bird soon perched atop of his head.