I wish I could say that both of Rainbow Dash's companions were equally charming. The older of the pair is the very definition of “disagreeable.” And it's not as though I haven't been in the presence of Kihutajans before. But, at least in those prior engagements, such western souls were capable of intellectual discourse. Such is not the case with Professor Sinrar—or perhaps I should say former Professor Sinrar—of the Kihutajan Marine Colonialist Academy. This damnable soul was born to do one thing, and that is to clash. How Rainbow Dash managed to survive a single day in the presence of this arrogant sociopath is beyond me. Perhaps, in some perverse way, by surviving the company of this stallion I may be more capable of understanding that which motivates the mysterious mare. Though I am starting to have my doubts.
“What gets me is that you've never seen your beloved Queen Verlaxion!” Sinrar spat. “Not once! Don't tell me that you imbeciles ever truly have, for I know better! Bah!” He adjusted his spectacles and frowned across the hot sands. “And yet you're willing to lay down your entire lives for a complete phantom!”
Theanim Mane sighed, looking past the foliage where Nick crouched alongside the Swan Song, patching the vessel together with spare hull parts. “Don't you think you're being rather obtuse?” The stallion adjusted his goggles, frowning at the elder. “I'll have you know that there are hundreds if not thousands of esteemed members of the Order—spread across all Six Tribes—who have not only born witness to the presence of Queen Verlaxion, but they have communicated with her personally!”
“And you believe them—why, exactly?” Sinrar smirked. “Because they told you so? Like good godparents? Hah!”
“We're not talking about a treehouse fraternity, my good stallion, but a Scientific Order consisting of empirically driven scholars—”
“—who stretch their objectivity in order to accommodate a celestial spectre! Oui! Some Order! I can't believe that a self-proclaimed scientist in this day and age would put so much stock in something unseen!”
“Gravity has no immediate shape or form,” Theanim said. “Nor time a concrete mechanism—”
“Bah! Vouz avez plein de merde!” Sinrar gnashed his teeth. “Gravity has observable mathematical consistencies and it directly affects time!”
“Ah, and in such a fashion can you observe the glory of Verlaxion at work in all nature,” Theanim said with a grin. “The Queen of All things is imminent in every facet of life! There was once a time when the universe was as cold, soulless, and purposeless as the domain you choose to believe in. But long ago, when our ancestors were freezing and upon the brink of death, she came and imbued her glorious presence into the land and seas. And ever since, she's been playing an active part in the development of the world—both civilized and wild. It matters little, for all is made glorious in her fortuitous plan!”
“And just because your ancestors passed on this silly legend, you think it's perfectly righteous to blanket everything you see and observe with a pathetic myth!” Sinrar smirked. “Hark! And behold! The Spirit of the Almighty Sea Slug graces us with his glorious presence! All bow down and worship him!
Theanim squinted. “You just made that up...”
“And yet, does it hold any more merit than your beloved Queen Verlaxion?”
“That is assuredly different,” Theanim said. “The wisdom and manifestations of Verlaxion have been delicately recorded through the ages by centuries upon centuries of devout scholars.”
“Hrmmmf! Add a sense of antiquity to anything, and you might as well be worshiping a dayum Sea Slug!”
“I really can't believe you Kihutajans,” Theanim said, shaking his head and chuckling. “Is it enough that you spit in the face of the Queen who united the Six Tribes—but you must stretch your minds and bodies backwards in order to unnecessarily substantiate a cold world devoid of her glory?!” He turned to gawk at Nick. “If a magical Queen empowered by righteousness beyond mortal means didn't save this world from a horrible winter, then who or what did?”
“I... uh... I'm just here to fix the boat,” Nick said with a nervous titter. “I'd rather just bruise my hooves on this hammer here.”
“Oh please, vous malodorante chat!” Sinrar rolled his yellow eyes. “For once, will you have a spine about something?”
“I'm... not sure if it takes a spine to argue with Continentalists,” Nick remarked. He smiled slightly. “But you, Professor—you've got something rigid enough stuck up your flank. So have at it.”
“Grrrr...” Sinrar dragged his hooves across the sand and marched off. “I am surrounded by damned cowards. Bah! I'm off to the village. If I'm lucky, maybe I'll choke on a fish bone and die.”
“Be sure to pour salt on the villagers' gracious bounty,” Theanim said. “Presumably they haven't wasted it all in their attempts to murder the great Sea Slug God.”
“Buck you, ignoramus!”
Theanim chuckled. Around this time, a familiar blue shape blurred her way towards the beach where the Nealenders were gathering their canoes.
“Say! Rainbow!” Theanim spun to catch her attention. “I can't for the life of me get through to your bone-headed companion.”
“Be more specific, dude,” Rainbow said.
“Hey!” Nick frowned from where he squatted besides the boat.
“I speak of Sinrar,” Theanim said. “Such a persistently stubborn fellow, and he won't open his eyes even once to the imminent reality of Queen Verlaxion.”
“Errr... yeah.” Rainbow fidgeted in midair. “Imagine that.”
“What do you think, Miss Dash?” Theanim smiled. “You're no Colonialist. Unless I'm to learn otherwise, you're not really much of anything. Does this natural world allow the existence of a great Queen of All Things?”
Nick curiously glanced at Rainbow out the corner of his eyes.
“I... I think...” Rainbow bit her lip. “...I th-think I'm comfortable dealing with one leviathan at a time.” She pointed at the ocean. “Gonna gather the harpoons. We'll be shoving off in a moment.”
Theanim blinked. “Erm...”
“Better get your camera if you want evidence of my awesomeness.” Fwooosh! And the mare was gone.
Theanim rubbed his forehead, sighing. “I simply do not get it. The mare has the confidence to tackle a sea serpent head on, but she simply refuses to touch any scientific or spiritual debate.”
“Maybe she believes in something bigger than all of us combined,” Nick muttered.
“Huh?” Theanim glanced at him. “What was that?”
Nick opened his mouth, fumbled, then sighed. “Never mind.”
The young stallion resumed work on the Swan Song while the photographer looked on in stupid silence.