//------------------------------// // Chameleon, You Change With Your Surroundings // Story: Ynanhluutr // by Imploding Colon //------------------------------// “Whew-wee!” Nick stepped back from the Swan Song in the full daylight. He smiled, gazing proudly at a patch of metal along the port side of the trimaran. The hull had been almost completely restored, with little to no signs of the spots where a certain sea serpent had once bit into the craft. “That about does it! Now I just gotta test her for water leaks.” “You're talking about the boat, right?” Sinrar muttered. Nick spun to blink at him. “What?” Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash, Theanim Mane, and the usual group of Nealenders trotted out towards their rafts along the southwest edge of the land strip. “How's she doing, kiddo?” Rainbow remarked. “Uhhh... ask the Professor!” Nick frowned, folding his forelimbs. “He seems to be keeping better track than I am!” “The larva's gotta gunk it up some,” Sinrar said. “Otherwise, she's as good as she ever was. Which isn't saying much.” Nick sighed. “I wonder why I even bother...” “Well, so long as you don't seal it with each other's blood, then we're good!” Rainbow exclaimed. “We're going to take Ultimo down for sure today!” “Hah!” Kaji laughed, grinning as he became the first to reach the two rafts. “You're rather zealous to get sunburnt, landwalker!” “I don't see you calling it quits for the day.” “It's either this or dig a new latrine with clamshells.” Kaji waved at the other natives. “Quick, brothers! Dive to the drink or strike coral! Whoop!” “Verlaxion spare me,” Theanim muttered, awkwardly pulling himself into Kaji's and Sora's boat. “I'm nearly out of film.” “Don't give up yet, Dr. Dude,” Rainbow said with a smirk, hovering above the boats as the islanders shoved them out into the surf. “We're going to see some scales today.” “Or maybe we'll peel some,” Silver said as he collected the spears in his canoe. “What I wouldn't give for a new breastplate.” He squinted over at Flare. “Something the matter, Flare? Care to give us more thrust?” The pegasus glanced back at the shoreline as they glided out. “Why's the needlepoint waving at me this whole time?” “Don't worry about him,” Rainbow muttered. “He's mostly harmless. Kinda feels like a pillow when you land on him.” “What's the landwalker's name?” “Nick,” Rainbow answered. “Nick?! Ha!” Flare smirked. “I bet I could conquer him!” Theanim spat the contents of a canteen he was sipping from. “Please.” Rainbow smirked. “You'll make things too easy.” “Hmmmf. Whatever you say, sister.” Flare yawned and resumed beating her wings. “But with a mane like that, I'm certain he could fly far after a good toss.” “Aaaaaaaand back to the sea serpent.” “I don't quite understand, landwalker.” Sora leaned forward in the raft. “How will our tactics allow us better luck with Ultimo today?” “We've been doing it all wrong,” Rainbow said. She took a glance at Twilight Sparkle, rolled her eyes, and said: “I've been making us do it all wrong.” She pointed at the Atoll growing distant behind them. “We shouldn't be gliding circles around this thing just 'cuz that's what Ultimo does. What draws Ultimo out is fresh meat.” “The more distance we put between ourselves and the island, the more likely we'll draw the beast's attention,” Theanim said. “Such is Miss Dash's hypothesis.” “Ah! He'll figure us for new landwalkers! Such as when you arrived the other day!” Kaji grinned. “That explains why we've only been able to draw blood from him when newcomers arrive!” “You really think it's that simple?” Silver remarked from a few feet away in his boat. “I can't imagine what would make Ultimo attack in that way.” “Maybe biting onto Verlaxion's Shard has affected him somehow,” Twilight Sparkle said. “He could perceive himself as drawn into protecting the Lagoon and its contents.” “Maybe something's gotten into Ultimo's head,” Rainbow paraphrased. “He thinks he's actually guarding the Atoll.” “For Verlaxion's glory, yes?” Sora said. “Uhhh... sure.” Theanim glanced at Rainbow Dash. “Erm...” Rainbow Dash gulped, then stammered: “I mean. Who knows. It's just an idea.” “You seem distracted this morning, landwalker,” Kaji said, steering the boat further out to sea. “A restless sleep, perhaps?” “I didn't get much of it, actually.” “We were up late, discussing the glory of Verlaxion,” Theanim said. “Oh really?” Rainbow glanced sideways at Theanim. “Hey... a completely curious and random inquiry...” Theanim leaned forward. “What would you and your brothers and sisters think if you found out—dramatically and overnight—that the Great Queen Verlaxion was actually no more than a giant reptilian beast in disguise? Both Rainbow and Twilight winced simultaneously. The boats slowed slightly with a rattle of the collected spears. Kaji and Flare paused in propelling their respective canoes, turning to squint at the photographer. Sora and Silver exchanged glances. Silence—save for the ripple of waves. “Snkkkt—hah hah hah hah!” Kaji laughed mightily. Flare covered her muzzle to suppress a giggle. Sora gazed at the rest of the group, smiling. “Quite the imagination, Thunker Meat,” Silver said from the other boat. “Perhaps the sun stroke is finally getting to you.” “Yeah...” Rainbow wheezed, wiping the sweat from her brow. “Imagine that...” “Although...” Silver's horn glistened in the morning light as he looked across the ocean waves. “If Verlaxion truly possessed such a bizarre form, that would be quite radical.” Theanim nearly went cross-eyed. “Radical...?” “Well, think about it!” Flare chirped. “Would you rather be blessed by a boring ol' frost pony, or a giant ice snake?” “It'd explain why Ultimo's guarding the Atoll for her!” Sora chuckled. “Yaaaaay lizard goddess!” “Hah! You suppose when she sheds, that creates the winter?” Kaji said with a wink. “Good heavens...” Theanim grimaced. “This is our Queen we're talking about! You... you tr-truly don't care what form she takes, do you?” “It matters only that she blesses and rewards us!” Kaji said. “If she's to take a form, then the crazier the better!” He grinned wide. “I wouldn't want to worship a boring Goddess, would you?” “Hahahaha!” “Whoop!” “Hey... now that's a nifty attitude,” Rainbow droned. She smirked aside at the Continentalist. “Wouldn't you agree?” Twilight Sparkle gave off a phantom giggle. “Nnnngh...” Theanim Mane facehoofed, sighing. “I think I'd rather the serpent devour us now.” Rainbow glanced aside at Twilight. Twilight composed herself in time to shake her head. “Nothing. I sense no magic yet.” Rainbow turned and nodded towards Kaji and Flare. “Take us out further, guys.” “Aye, landwalker.”