They stood now back in the clearing, Nixx, Radko, Pip, and little Nightspark, the Draquus colt that had attached himself to Pip, who earlier had been awoken in the morning to find the colt curled tightly next to him with one wing draped over his side. The previous day had been truly something that shocked all their senses. They had stumbled out of the seemingly endless mist they'd been stuck in and happened upon what they had thought were just ancient shadows and rocks. But hidden deep within the ruins they had discovered an entire city built in the remains of the once great city that stood at the heart of the Eternity Bridge.
This small, hidden community was not made up of Pegasai, or Earth Ponies, rather it was home to a small faction of Draquus, the once proud race of Unicorns that from some cataclysmic destruction of their nation had transformed them into the dragon winged, fang sporting, blue coated creatures they now were. They were the same in appearance to the Draquus that were plaguing the Equestrian Empire. The marked difference though between these Draquus and the ones they'd been fighting was simple though, they were peaceful, as strange as it had seemed at first to them. But since landing upon this hidden land their knowledge of them was wholly flipped on its head.
They had been kind, given them a safe place to rest, fed them, and given them more story as to the plight of their people. Even now they were proving more good than evil as they once had thought. Their group stood near the winding path back up to the coast, the Draquus mare that had done all the speaking since their arrival now stood before them to see them off.
"I wish you and yours luck with your fight against the others. I hope that you and your kingdom can cast them and their darkness out of this world. Take this, it will help you escape the mist." She said, stepping up to Nixx. She handed him a chart which Nixx quietly thanked her for and set to studying right away, committing it to memory.
"All I ask is that once out of the mist you dispose of this chart, it would be best if we remained hidden until the darkness of the others is purged." She spoke with authority, but with a touch of plea in her voice.
"We shall do that, it's the least we can do in return for the kindness you have shown us." Pip Replied.
"Thank you." She said simply.
"What though should I do about him?" Pip asked her, as they watched the little colt gliding about above them.
"He has no family here, or anywhere. But he seems to have found a family with you." She said pointedly, looking at Pip,
"You should take him with you, away from this place, I don't think you would have an easy time of leaving him behind to be honest."
Pip was dumbstruck. Sure the colt seemed to like Pip but he for one could not believe the colt would leave his home so willingly.
"I'm not sure he would go willingly. I mean this is his home after all." Pip stated.
"His true home is not a place. Nor is it yours. He has found a home with you already, I can see that much. He is happy. By far more happy than I have seen him these long years. I am not so much asking you to take him with you. No, more truthfully I am asking you not to leave him. He has lost so many already, it is due time he had a family to care for him like he needs." The mare responded.
The sincerity in her voice hit Pip heavily, it seemed she truly did care about the well being of the orphan.
Pip thought for a moment before he answered, "Then I shall take him."
"I'm am glad to hear that you will. He shall do well with you I think. Keep him safe, as if he were your own." She replied, and without further speech she turned and disappeared into the city, leaving the group to begin the climb back up, back to the Bonnie Lass.
Pip walked in silence up the trail, Radko the only one competing with him on who could be more quiet. Nixx on the other hand was walking with multiple pages levitated around him reading each one carefully and mumbling to himself. With Nixx keeping up the back of the troop in his studies Pip and Radko held the front, Nightspark still flitting and playing on the winds above them.
They made good time and soon were back to the shore where they had left the canoe. Pip at once froze, the lack of what he saw was greatly disturbing. Nixx halted just behind him and Radko, also staring at the emptiness. Nixx looked back at the book he had found with a wary eye, shuffling the papers and carefully placing them back in the book before, surprisingly, setting the book on the ground and edging into the canoe, much shaken; for the skeleton he had carefully moved to free the book was nowhere to be found. As if it had never been there. Pip and Radko clambered on board and prepared the boat to leave, headed back to the Bonnie Lass just behind them.
Nightspark had landed on shore and now watched them sadly as they prepared the canoe. Pip noticed him and stopped his preparations, his mind flipping end over end about what to do with the youngster. A moment passed, Nixx staring at him curiously. Radko paying no mind. Finally after some internal debate, Pip scooted over and clacked a hoof on the bench beside him. At once the little colt jumped into the boat next to Pip with a beaming smile. As they rowed back to the Bonnie Lass Nightspark didn't once look back. Pip, however did and what he saw put ice in his stomach.
It was just a passing, lucky spot. But one he would remember forever. As they pulled towards the Bonnie Lass Pip glanced back over his shoulder at the shore, just in time to see another pony. Its visage struck a fear into Pip he'd not felt in years. It's body, if you could call it that, was all but a skeleton, not an inch of flesh remained. The bones bleached white, a tattered, deep crimson robe hung loosely over its body, every bone it covered stood out in relief against the fabric. The pony looked up at Pip, where eyes should have been were just two orbs of bluish fire that burned straight into him. One of the flames went out for just a moment in what could only resemble a wink. Pip had been starring in frightened fascination; his eyes, he was suddenly aware, burned with dryness. He forced himself to blink but upon opening his eyes again he was once again shocked. The skeletal figure had vanished without any trace but a scrap of crimson slowly floating down to the ground.
Pip kept looking on in mute amazement. What he had seen he was unsure. The others seemed not to have noticed at all. It was then he was aware of the shaking little colt beside him. The youngster had his face buried in Pips side, shaking in fear. Pip was confused for a moment but then realized at once he had not been the only one that had seen the creature. Nightspark had looked over as well to see what Pip had been staring at so intensely. Pip wrapped a foreleg around the shaking youngster and pulled him closer, the colt stopped shaking quickly and just stayed still until they reached the Bonnie Lass, face buried in Pips side the whole trip.
They reached the Bonnie Lass quickly in their haste to continue their appointed quest. Many of the crew were out on deck going about their business as normal when they came aboard. They were greeted warmly at first but then a ripple of shocked surprise and fear rolled through the crew as little Nightspark clambered on deck after them. There was silence, many crew members stared at the colt, who stood close to Pip, a bit startled.
Quix was the first to speak however, he was kind to any youngster he met, Pip knew as much, "Well who might you be?" He said in good humor. The little colt edged closer to Pip, hiding behind his legs shyly.
"Seems like he is a bit shy. Certainly taken a shine to you captain!" Quix said in good humor.
"Yes, so it would seem. He's barely left my side since we landed on that island. I didn't know what else to do. Even the others there said I should take him with me." Pip replied.
"The others? If he is what I think he is, and mind you I don't think I'm wrong in guessing, but he is indeed a Draquus is he not?" Quix queried.
Pip stood quietly for a moment before replying. "Yes, you are right. He is indeed a Draquus." Pip stated as he watched the crews reaction.
Many of the crew whispered about each other, all of them glared at the little colt. "If there are Draquus here, should we not burn them out?" Called one crewmember from the crowd.
"Yeah, they've done horrible things to our fellow pony folk. Why should we cut them a deal! Their monsters!" Another voice chimed in.
"What makes that one so special that we should harbor him?" Yet another voice piped in.
This was what Pip had feared would come of the little colts presence on board. But it was a fear he had also expected, to think some of the crew would not object would be folly. So without further delay Pip at once set about recounting the previous day and nights events.
After he finished many of the crew returned to their duties, much of the abject fear originally produced upon the colts appearance abated. Some in understanding, more in confusion and a few in carelessness. Many of the later were the older crew that had sailed long with Pip and the Bonnie Lass, they trusted his judgment. It was the newer ones that Pip was worried about on behalf of Nightspark.
One crewmember stopped on his way below deck. He was a newer, young fellow named Locker. They called him that on account that if they were looking for something he always seemed to have it in some chest he kept by his bed. Locker knelt down in front of Pip and greeted the little colt, who just hid his face more. Locker produced a wrapped piece of candy from a pouch on his side and held it by magic out in front of Nightsparks one glaring ruby eye. The colt just watched, making no move to accept the treat. Locker just gave a little chuckle and set the candy down on the floor in front of Pip and Nightspark. He stood, nodded to Pip and proceeded below deck. Nightspark watched him carefully as he vanished below. His gaze turned back to the candy on the deck, carefully he edged out from behind Pips legs and sidled up to the treat. Nightspark looked at it intently and a few sparks of magic gleamed around the colts horn, the candy budged slightly but did nothing more.
Nightspark at once slumped down, defeated. Pip remembered the Guardians from Gallopfrey. Particularly Quillweave. Like all Draquus, they were unicorns first, Quillweave had said. He had also said that they had once all been powerful with magic. But once transformed into their new forms they'd found magic very difficult, in some cases impossible, to utilize any more. Pip remembered when the Guardian had teleported down to their floor, it had almost caused him to go unconscious from the strain. Then later in their charge on the docks it had taken all of them together to cast spells that at one time a single one of them could have done. Their ability to do so even together had taken years to relearn and even more to execute. Pip realized at once that little Nightspark was no different, suffering from the very same stunted magic.
There sat the little colt, sadness plastered his face at the prospect he couldn't use his magic to open a simple treat. He could have managed to open it normally but seemed to down trodden to try. So he just stared at the candy as if willing to open of its own accord. He tried once more with magic but failed again.
Then a different magic levitated the candy and slowly unwrapped it. Nightspark watched in confusion as the unwrapped candy floated just above his nose, making him go cross-eyed. After a moment he backed up a bit and focused on the treat then jumped at it, mouth open. The bubble popped on his nose and he caught the morsel in his mouth. The colt trotted in a little circle, a little bulge in one cheek as he happily savored the candy. He stopped as another bubble caught his vision. He froze, just watching. Then another floated closer to his side. He moved slowly away from it. Then more bubbles appeared around him. He turned in a little circle. Then he stopped face to face with the maker. Dinky sat looking at him with a warm smile. The suddenness of her appearance startled him and he darted back under Pips legs. Dinky gave a warm laugh and stood back up.
She walked to Pip and nuzzled him affectionately, happy that he was back. She stood with her head against his shoulder for a moment before speaking. Little Nightspark watched her closely. His big eyes studying her every move. "So, where did you find this little one? He seems awfully attached to you, like Quix said. I'm sure his family is looking for him." She said.
Pip sighed heavily. He looked past her to the ruins they were now sailing away from. "Oh, I see." Dinky responded quietly. She was quick, that was for sure. "Well he seems to like you for sure. Shy too. I think he's lovely though. Just couldn't wait for your own could you?" She said in a humorous tone.
"Not quite my dear. See since we arrived on shore, and he found us this little one has hardly left my side since I got there. I don't know why, but I promised the mare in charge of the town that I would look after him. He lived a lonely life there. She wanted him to have a better chance and saw it in us. So now he is here." Pip replied.
"Well, I don't mind one bit, we'll raise him as our own. It'll be good for him, and for you, for when we have his brother or sister someday after all this." Dinky said as she trotted back to the helm to take over, swishing her tail under his chin flirtatiously as she left him in a stupor.
"I like her." Nightspark said.
The fact that he had spoken shocked Pip clear of his stupor. He looked down at the little colt who still had the candy in his cheek and smiling his fanged smile back up at Pip. "I do too little one." Pip said.
"Is she your mommy?" Nightspark asked. Anymore shock and Pip would likely fall over. But he answered the youngster.
"No, she's not my mom Night. She is my wife." Pip responded.
"Wife? I don't know what that is but she is nice to me." Nightspark said happily.
Pip slowly walked towards an abandoned part of the deck, little Nightspark followed him closely, quiet once more. Once Pip was sure they were at least secluded from the gaggle of the working crew he sat down and looked at the little colt, who just looked right back at him.
"Night." Pip paused, unsure of how to continue. "I know you don't understand some things. And I know you don't have a....family...." He started. The little colt shuttered a little and a sadness overtook his face.
"But, if you would like it you can have a new family." Pip said quickly as he saw the tears welling in the youngsters eyes.
Nightspark looked up a little and said in his small voice, "I can?"
"You can. It's your choice buddy. You like her? Her name is Dinky, she is my wife." He said pointing at Dinky who now stood at the helm, steering under guidance from Nixx with his new charts. "She can be your mother if you want." Pip finished.
The little colt looked at Dinky, then back at Pip then back and forth once more. His little face screwing up with thoughts for a moment before smoothing out into a smile. "I would like that a lot." He said with a smile. "So does that mean you would be my daddy?" He said curiously, "I would like that too if that's ok."
Pip sat there for a moment as he realized he was becoming a father to this strange little colt. The idea scared him a little, but he felt a sense of responsibility for the little orphan now. He replied to the little colt who sat waiting for a reply. "Yup, I'll be your father if that's what you want." He said.
The little colt smiled a big grin, even his fangs couldn't blemish the happiness that seemed to radiate from the little colt. He hopped and trotted little circles around Pip giggling happily at knowing he finally had his own mom and dad once more. Nightspark gave a quick trot and then gave a few powerful strokes with his little wings and was airborne, flying around the Bonnie Lass laughing happily as he did. Even some of the crew shared his laughter, not knowing why but it was contagious. He ended by landing on the deck and walking slowly up to Dinky who still steered at the helm. She peered down at him for a moment. "Can I help you little one?" she asked warmly.
Night looked back to Pip as if for permission. Pip nodded his head. Night looked back up to Dinky and with his little voice said, "He said you could be my new mommy, is that ok?" Dinky laughed a happy laugh and answered the little colt, "If that is what you want then yes." Nightspark giggled and ran back down to hide behind Pip. By this point most of the crew had stopped and were watching his antics. Many of the ones that had questioned the logic behind having him on board were now smiling and laughing as well.
Shortly after the little show Pip found the youngster sprawled out on a pile of ropes fast asleep. It was late after all and a lot had happened that day. Nightspark must have been exhausted. Pip didn't want to leave him outside, as it was a bit chilly. But he didn't want to move him either for fear of waking him. His dilemma was solved shortly though. A magical cushion lifted him carefully from his bed of ropes and he floated forward as Dinky approached Pip.
She leaned on him a bit before saying, "Mommy huh?"
Pips blushed a bit, "Yeah, he likes you."
"Guess that would make you dad then?" She said in good humor
"Indeed it does, he made sure of that." Pip said.
"I am happy." Dinky said simply.
"That's good to hear love." Pip replied before he kissed her.
Dinky walked towards their own room, the little colt levitated before her.
She brushed her tail past Pips nose. He followed her inside for the evening.
They had set up a separate room within theirs for the youngster. Here Dinky set him carefully in his own bed, a makeshift hammock with some sailcloth for cushioning. The little colt didn't so much as budge, so fast asleep he was.
Dinky drew the curtains around him to dim the light coming through from the candle in their room. She then trotted over to Pip who was sitting on the edge of the bed. Nuzzling closely to him she kissed him passionately, moving forward, forcing him gently onto his back. "What do you say we try for a brother or sister?" She said in an aroused voice.
"So soon? We just had this one." Pip said in humor.
"Ok, well maybe not right now. But I still would like a piece of you darling. It's been lonely around here without you." Dinky said, now breathing heavily as they became fully involved in their lovemaking.