//------------------------------// // This Uncharted Desert Isle, With Theanim // Story: Ynanhluutr // by Imploding Colon //------------------------------// “And then when he tried to flank you two, Kaji brought the canoe around so Sora could strike him broadside!” Flare grinned, her wingfeathers twitching. “That was bloody glorious!” “Pfft!” Silver rolled his eyes, still dribbling with sea water as he stood along the shore with the others. “It barely scratched him! Four days ago, I very nearly wounded his eye!” “Very nearly is not the same as bloody really,” Sora spat. “You've yet to spear Ultimo where it counts, brother!” “I've come closer than you ever will!” Silver growled, his horn flickering. “Face it! Your whole shell's worth of bleeding comes from Kaji!” “Yes, well, Kaji can't punch worth a damn,” Sora said. “Huh?” Silver blinked, only to be dealt a massive hoof to the face. He fell to the sand with a grunt. The Nealenders all around the scene chanted and whistled. Silver sat up, rubbing his jaw. “Heh... that was a good one.” “Was it?” Sora leaned forward, pointing at his chin. “Let's see you best it, brother!” Suddenly, an aura of magic tugged at his legs. “Ehhh?” He was dragged forward towards Silver—right as the unicorn reverse somersaulted with a massive kick. WHACK! Both legs uppercutted Sora, knocking him to the ground. “Oh ho hoooooooo...” Kaji winced, his wet wings coiling. “Cheating as always, Silver?” “Hah!” Flare laughed, shaking her shaved head. “It's Sora's fault for not expecting it!” “Grfffkkt...” Sora spat blood onto the sand, smirking. “Care to try that again, Silver?” “Anytime!” Silver galloped forward and tackled him. Both stallions went wrestling across the sand, exchanging violent blows amidst friendly laughter. Meanwhile, the other islanders gathered around, cheering and hollering. All of this—Rainbow watched at a distance, hovering. Blinking. Twilight Sparkle floated beside her. “Uhm...” She glanced aside at the pegasus. “What are you waiting for, Rainbow? Our friends are okay. Go and introduce yourself to these ponies.” “I... uh...” Rainbow fidgeted. “I dunno whether to talk to them or headbutt them.” “Statistically speaking...” Twilight arched an eyebrow, smiling mischievously. “...aren't you eventually going to do both?” “Nnngh... Twilight...” “Honestly, Rainbow, haven't you faced worse?” “It's not that, Twilight.” Rainbow pointed at the rough crowd. “I mean... these guys are awesome n'all—” Twilight giggled. “Isn't that the whole point?” “But they're almost... too awesome, and that sorta freaks me out.” Rainbow's pupils shrank the instant she finished saying that. “Whoah. Never thought I'd hear myself saying that.” “Shows how much you've grown, Rainbow,” Twilight said. “Yeah...” Rainbow muttered, folding her forelimbs. “That—or how tightly I've learned to clench my sph—” “Ho, there!” Kaji suddenly flew up, grinning into Rainbow Dash's face. “So you haven't drowned, have you?” The fight below instantly stopped with both bloodied combatants glancing up, smirking. “Hey! You're right!” “She's still alive!” “Way to go, land walker!” “Erm... h-how could I have drowned?” Rainbow smiled sheepishly. “I... uhhh... haven't spilled enough blood of Ultimo to properly sink in!” “Hah hah!” Kaji slapped Rainbow's back, barking: “Not bad, sister! At least you're trying!” Rainbow wheezed. “I... d-do my best...!” She glared aside at Twilight—who was giggling—then glanced back at the crowd. “So... like... what the buck, guys?” “What the buck indeed.” Flare flew up, hovering alongside the other two pegasi. “Your mane's quite colorful for a land walker.” She smirked. “It'd almost be a shame to slice it!” “But you'll wanna do it anyways,” Sora said, standing up and wiping blood from his muzzle. “If you have any hope of swimming past the jaws of Ultimo.” “Erm...” Rainbow squinted at the group. “What makes you guys think that I'm staying?” “Hahahaha!” Flare hugged herself as she flew backwards. “You crashed your boat here, didn't you? Of course you're staying!” “Erm... actually that big 'Ultimo' thingy crashed my boat,” Rainbow said. “Same difference!” Kaji shrugged. “While you're here, make the best of it! Most ponies have!” “You mean...” Rainbow leaned forward, squinting. “There are other ponies from across the seas who are stuck here?” FLASH! Rainbow winced, covering her eyes. “Ow ow ow ow...” “Yes.” Theanim Mane lowered his camera, having emerged from the water-soaked forest with Nick. “And believe you me, they are quite thrilled to meet outsiders. Especially ones as fabulous as yourself.” “Wuh oh.” Twilight twirled around Rainbow. “Watch out, Rainbow. He just called you 'fabulous.'” “Guhhh... Nick?” Rainbow rubbed her eyes, eventually glaring down at the stallions. “Who's this guy? Did your boat suddenly transmogrify into the ponyrazzi?” “Actually, he's... uhh—” Nick started. Theanim trotted forward. “Mister Theanim Mane of the Ninety-Seventh Rohbredden Scientific Order. And I must say.” He smiled, lining up the camera again. “The moisture gives your mane a most resplendent shine. Er... would you mind removing that necklace from your throat, momentarily? It's causing an awfully bright glare.” “Yes.” Rainbow frowned. “I do mind.” “Psssst...” Twilight hovered closer. “Rainbow, be nice! He just said he's from Rohbredden.” “Yeah, so?” Rainbow muttered aside. “So...” Twilight smiled. “He might be able to shed some light on what's going on here. Seeing that the natives are... uhhhh...” She turned to look at the Nealenders, who were busy exchanging more punches and laughing. “...a bit preoccupied with themselves.” “Hmmm...” Rainbow nodded. “Good point.” Theanim squinted. “Madame, may I ask who you're talking to?” “Uhhhh! Uhhhm...” Nick scrambled. “It's just sunstroke! Heheh... we've been sailing the high seas for days. You know how it's like.” “Mmmm. Yes, I suppose I do. Although my own yacht is considerably more luxurious than your dinghy.” Theanim sighed. “At least it was before a certain sea serpent wrecked it and stranded me and my esteemed colleagues here.” “So that's what it was, huh?” Rainbow glided down and landed before the stallion. “A sea serpent? For realsies?” “Yes.” Theanim nodded, taking a deep breath. “They congregate around the Southern Jets, usually. But one appears to have made its habitat here. This... 'Ultimo' as the natives call it.” “I've heard of sea serpents all my life,” Nick said. “But never have I come this close to one!” “How about you, miss?” Theanim gestured towards Rainbow. “You seem a fit flier. Have you ever come across them before?” “This is the first time for me as well,” Rainbow said. “No it isn't, Rainbow,” Twilight whispered. “Mmmf?” “You remember, right?” Twilight arched an eyebrow. “When we first met? And we set off through the Everfree Forest to find the Elements? We came across that one lake monster with super high effeminate voice—” “Nope.” Rainbow glared ahead. “Never ran into any sea serpent before. Uh uh.” Twilight folded her forelimbs, pouting. “Well, consider yourself fortunate,” Theanim said. “In that you've survived.” With a sigh, he turned to face the treeline. “But consider yourselves unfortunate that you're now stranded here.” “Well, honestly, this isn't that bad of a place to be,” Nick said. “Plenty of vegetation... land... shade.” He smiled. “The Nealenders seem to be doing just fine.” “That's because they have a healthy dose of insanity, my good stallion,” Theanim muttered. “They obviously weened themselves on it from foalhood. You and I, however, are cut from a far more delicate cloth.” “Hey...” Nick squirmed, glancing aside. “So what if I like satin...?” “Okay, so we more or less sealed our fates by coming here,” Rainbow Dash said. “But believe me, it was for an important reason.” “Was it, now?” Theanim asked. “Maybe you could answer a few questions for me.” Rainbow pointed towards the center of the atoll. “For one, whatever happened... to...?” Her words trailed off. The stallions gazed curiously at her. “What is it, Rainbow?” Twilight swung around her. “Do you see something?” “Yaerfaerda,” Rainbow muttered below her breath. “It's still there.” “Where exactly?” Twilight asked. “Right there.” Rainbow pointed into the deep blue waters surrounded by the ring of land. “In the lagoon.” “Underwater, right?” “Yeah.” “Does that surprise you somehow?” Twilight remarked. “I figured we knew that coming in. I mean, the whirlpool's gone and all, but—” “But just what does the monster have to do with it?” Rainbow hissed aside. “You said that you sensed it, right?” “Erm... yes. I suppose I did.” “There's gotta be a connection of some sort...” Rainbow shook her head. “All of this is just too weird to be a coincidence.” Theanim leaned in towards Nick, his eyes glued to Rainbow Dash. “Is... your friend quite alright?” Nick gulped. “Sometimes I wonder.” Theanim cleared his throat. “Perhaps... uhhh... you have some questions regarding the Whirlpool and other rumored attributes of the Nealend Atoll.” “That's putting it lightly,” Rainbow said, twirling to look at him. “You think you can help us out?” “I can do better than that.” Theanim winked, gesturing at the two as he strolled further inland. “I can show you what this Atoll has become.” “Why does that freak me out, somewhat?” “Please, don't be alarmed.” Theanim nevertheless sighed as he trotted briskly towards the treeline. “Just... make sure you stay outside of headbutt distance from the shaved manes...”