Jade - 27th of Megan '15 EoH - Mid AfternoonJade - 27th of Megan '15 EoH - Mid Afternoon
The Night Jewel’s outside was covered in so much splendor and was such a work of art that all I could compare it to was the entrance to my former home. That carved edifice had been the work of six generations of changelings, all master sculptors, masons, and architects. This ship was three times as impressive, and I could only barely get an idea of how much work went into creating it.
Which is why my mind broke a bit when I stepped aboard, led by a small group of Zebras and an Earth pony. The inside was even more ornate. The second I set hoof on the deck, thinking sort of just, stopped.
The cargo section of the deck was floored with wood, but the wood had been stained different colors, forming a geometric pattern of a crescent moon holding the sun like a bowl. The wooden floor stopped about halfway down the deck, and was replaced by a single broad road made from polished tigerstone. I didn’t even know that semi-precious stone came in pieces big enough to make floor tiles a pony wide and long from!
The basically made of gemstones road went straight down the middle of the ship to the large palace-like structure, passing through a mini-orchard and garden along the way. The garden was nothing but lush grass, beds of wildflowers, berry bushes,and an actual bucking pond. A pond, on a boat.
The palace was plated in gold and marble, or I guess could have been solid marble, but my brain didn’t like working out how to make something made of that much marble float. It was shaped over all like a three tiered pyramid, with a big staircase going to the top, which was covered by a nice tent-like thing and I assume held the wheel and other sailing stuff. The stair itself was recessed back into the pyramid so that at each level there were to double doors, one on either side, which led into the interior of the opulently carved building on a boat.
“Miss, are you alright?” somezebra asked, their voice suddenly and I assume finally cutting through my stunned looking around.
“Huh?” I turned to see a tall zebra in a red silk sash with a bunch of tools tucked into it giving me a concerned look. “Sorry, I just… This ship is amazing!”
He chuckled and offered me a grin made mostly of silver teeth. “She has been the Good Captain’s dream pride for many years. There is no ship like her on all the seas.”
“Yeah, no shit.” David said, looking over at an apple tree growing out of what looked like an ivory planter.
“Now that you are back amongst the living,” the Zebra continued, “I wanted to know what you prefer for food and drink, as I am preparing your cabin while the others unload.”
“We get options?” I asked in an awestruck tone.
He chuckled and shook his head, spiky mohawk mane defying the movement by staying perfectly still. “I’ll prepare a sample platter for you.”
“Get back to your kitchen. The Captain will want a meal to share with our guests.” The pale amber Earth Pony said in the bluntest, most emotionally dead voice ever.
“Aye, Bosun.” The Zebra said as he broke off from the main group to head for the doors on our right. “Don’t mind him Miss, Miss, and Sir. He’s simply literally taken one too many lightning bolts to be polite anymore.”
“This is true.” The Earth Pony informed.
Be that as it may, I felt a bit nervous as we walked up the stairs to the top tier of the pyramid and he gestured to the doors on the left.
“These are the good Captain’s chambers. Behave respectfully.” He said as he pushed the doors open, calling. “Captain, I have brought the passengers. I will return to supervising the unloading.”
Sun’s light… he literally couldn’t be polite at all. Now I felt bad for being afraid he was going to hurt me.
“Good work, be sure we are paid in full for the cargo and the expenses. Though, forgive the back pay owed. I am in a generous mood today.” A deep, silk on sandpaper voice rumbled from around the corner.
“Aye, Good Captain.” The boson said, moving aside to allow us-
“As for my guests, come and take a seat. My chef will have a meal for us shortly.” The rumbling added.
The three of us turned the corner, and walked into-
A room somehow more lavish than the ship’s outside.
The floor shined everywhere it wasn't covered by thick plush carpets with ornate floral designs. The walls were tiled in flat sheets of precious stones, and had tapestries covering them depicting everything from maps to awe-inspiring scenes of naval battles.
As we rounded the corner a huge black marble table dominated the room. It was perfectly round, inlaid with gold and silver to form swirling patterns, and had huge wooden chairs placed evenly around it save for one spot on the far side from us.
That’s where the Captain sat. I had never seen the sea before today, but there was no mistaking the Captain’s chair, or rather throne.
It was shaped like an hourglass, with a sort of half bowl shape on the top. There was no back, it was a seat meant for comfortable lounging. It was made of gold embellishments and lined with dark red silk pillows. It was entirely unimpressive in comparison to the Zebra sitting atop it.
He was huge, if he stood up he would have come up to David’s shoulders, and that’s saying something. Most ponies came up to David’s stomach. The Captain was muscular, not grotesquely so, but in the manner of a pony who worked hard for their entire life. The scary part was I could tell he was muscular from just his barrel, because all four of his legs were replaced with burnished silver sculpted statue-like limbs which were animated by magic, moving as if they were flesh and bone instead of solid pieces of silver.
His eyes were a deep gray, almost black, a perfect midtone for his darker-white fur and jet black stripes. His mane was braided into a few plaits and mostly hidden behind a silver helmet-crown hybrid which could only be described as overlapping layered feathery wings wrapped into a helmet shape.
“Eep!” Lily squeaked as she rounded the corner.
The captain chuckled, smiled, and waved a hoof at the table, “Come, sit! We will drink, eat, and discuss your journey. Fear not Miss, you are entirely safe aboard my ship. Should any dare to harm you, I shall present you with their belongings as they are cast into the sea.”
David cleared his throat to hide an intimidated squeak as well and took a seat opposite the Captain. His eyes widened as he sat down, “Hey, I fit this chair!”
“Indeed, you do. I imagine that few pony made chairs are suited to individuals of our stature.” The captain said in a conversational tone, which barely did anything to make his deep rumbling voice less intimidating.
Lily gulped and shyly took a seat next to David, so I went ahead and sat down on his opposite side.
As I sat down the Captain frowned and looked at me with a laser-like gaze. I gulped nervously, dreading having done something to offend him until his gaze softened. “Ma’am, are you comfortable wearing that shape?”
What? How the hay had he- “Er, I don’t know what you mean…”
“Yes, you do.” He said simply. “Do not lie to me. The Helm of Anubis reveals all hidden truths. I do not object to having a changeling aboard my ship, nor will my crew. If you donned that form to survive amongst these savages, feel free to discard it. If you enjoy being a pegasus, by all means remain dressed.
“However, I must ask that you do not impersonate a member of my crew. if you require food, simply inform a crewmen of your species. The Topaz live peacefully amongst my people, nearly every Zebracan is comfortable offering you a meal.”
I blinked twice. What? “I uh, thank you?”
He waved a hoof dismissively, “Think nothing of it. I don’t always carry passengers, but when i do I assure they enjoy their stay.”
The Captain turned to Lily and gave her a kind smile, “As for your disguise, the Helm tells me you are most comfortable as you are now. So my crew will remain blissfully unawares of your… status.”
Lily blushed deeply and shyly slid down in her seat.
David chuckled as Lily shied her way into the seat cushions as if she wanted to merge with them and never be seen again. I only barely managed to keep from giggling like a nymph myself.
“And you my good sir,” The Captain continued. “I know not what you once were, but I see you are an old soul in a young body, and not in the sense of one mature for their age. If you remain as you are now, my people will not take kindly to your presence in Zebrica. The war between her and Candida is fresh in every zebra’s minds.”
“What do you mean?” David asked, ears standing up in concern.
“Forty years ago my people fought the people you are now a part of. While younger zebras will harbor no ill will towards you, the old will bear a grudge as keen as a razor’s edge. It would be wise to see a means to pacify them.” the Captain elaborated.
The Captain nodded to himself and shifted in his seat. “Now that I have seen you are indeed the people my good friend Dusk told me of, allow me to introduce myself. I am the Good Captain Sudikahmen, Lord of the Free Seas, and the Emperor of all Free Brothers.”
“Honored to meet you.” David replied instantly, standing up to offer a small bow.
Bowing seemed like a good idea. I quickly followed suit. Lily however remained glued to her seat, trying to still merge with it in embarrassment.
Captain Sudikahmen made a dismissive gesture with his hoof, “be seated. You are not my subjects, but my guests. It is fortunate you’re journey coincided with my annual delivery to Capsan, but even more so that we have a mutual friend in the Lady Dusk. Whom might you be, that she would broker a deal to ensure you arrive safely upon Quis’s shores?”
“I um, I think the better question is who is Dusk?” I said as I sat back down. “She just sort of… well... helped us get passage out of here.”
David nodded in agreement. “We honestly have no idea who she is. Though seeing as she is friends with you, I imagine she is your… landlocked counterpart.”
The Captain laughed, slamming a silver hoof onto his throne. “Ah, if only that were so! No friends, I am far beneath Her Finality. Indeed, for you to even ask such a question is to say you know nothing of her. Surprising, considering how deep Stalliongrad’s beliefs run.”
“Then… what is she?” Lily asked timidly.
I too would want to know exactly whom I went binge drinking with if they somehow outpowered the zebra with a floating palace.
“If she has not told you, then she does not wish you to know.” The captain said in a firm tone. “Perhaps if you see her again you can ask her directly. I will not divulge her secrets.”
David frowned, shifting nervously in his seat. “I am… not accustomed to not knowing who I am dealing with. This is the second time she has helped me, and I told her I owe her a favor. If there is anything you are willing to say-”
“Ah, I see.” Sudikahmen said with a slight tip of his head. “Know it is within her power to grant me the one thing I could not obtain for myself. A guarantee that I shall die in honorable battle on my final day rather than feebly pass into the next world from my bed.”
How the bucking hay could anypony guarantee that? Seriously, how?
“Excuse me?” David asked, mouth agape.
“I said what I said. There will be nothing more said on this matter, for an oath is an oath.” Sudikahmen grunted, eyes narrowing dangerously, “Let us discuss something else, perhaps why you are traveling out of Stalliongrad.”
That was probably a good idea. I didn’t want to anger someone who looked like they could crush me like a walnut between their pectorals.
“Sure,” I replied quickly, “I well… The Swarm destroyed my home.”
“I see. Stalliongrad is a vast place, why not find somewhere there to settle in?” the Captain asked, picking up a bottle of wine from the table and pouring himself a glass.
“The story is a bit more complicated than that.” David informed, casually eyeing the bottle. “She fled during the middle of the attack and ran into a group of Griffon soldiers who were there to loot the hive, presumably having followed the Swarm in after hearing of the ending attack. They actually put a few crossbow bolts into Jade, which I managed to remove and get her more or less patched up.”
I nodded, it seemed less painful to talk about it now, but it hurt less than before. “Yeah. The Griffons wanted me dead because of a law thing. If Equestria found out that they had taken our hive, um… Something about a trade agreement?”
I turned to look pleadingly at David, hoping his memory was better.
“Right, if word got out about their attack, Equestria would stop trading food.” He said helpfully.
The Captain nodded, “Yes, that would be the case. The law in question is a basic ruling of the Soverign’s Guild, no two member nations are to attack each other. As I recall, the Changeling Hives were added to the list seven years ago, not as member states but as off limits for military action.”
“Why?” Lily asked shyly, but curiously.
“After Queen Chrysalis's invasion of Canterlot many nations wanted to purge changelings from Equis, to prevent a similar attack on their own nations.” Sudikahmen answered. “The Guild decided in the end that this was punishing innocents for the crimes of a single faction and forbade it in a three to two vote. Thus, attacking a changeling hive non-defensively is a violation of the Guild’s rulings and at the least trade limitations would be imposed. Although, taking a hive’s property after another party destroyed it would be fine.”
So that’s why everything happened like it had. I felt a sharp pain in my chest. A pony’s heart just didn’t like anger mixed with grief.
“You… sure know a lot about the laws.” I said to try and distract myself from the feelings.
Sudikahmen nodded and took a sip of his wine. “I do. My family has dominated free trade in these waters for six generations. On the rare occasion a nation is placed under a trade embargo, my fleet sees a large increase in business. Keeping an eye and ear on the doings of the Guild Members is one way to keep profits flowing freely. For instance, Lily was it? You’re a Germane unicorn are you not?”
She nodded, “J-a sir.”
“Then due to the import restrictions the Guild placed on Germaney after the Great War, the odds are quite good that I provided some of the transplanted organs keeping you alive.” Sudikahmen informed in a casual tone of voice. “Before you object, most of my supply is sourced from the Emerald Hive. They seem to have an inexhaustible supply of medical goods and are more than willing to trade them for the right price.”
David blinked in surprise and turned to Lily with a look of excited shock. “Your people are advanced enough to do organ transplants?”
“Ja, most nations are.” she said with a sad sigh, “I was not joking when I said Stalliongrad is five centuries behind the times.”
She turned back to the Captain, seeming to lose a bit of the shyness being revealed had created. “I actually don’t have any transplants. I am a biomancer, I fixed myself. My parents did get transplants though, a set of kidneys each…” Lily paused and looked thoughtfully into the distance, “I wonder if I could find the donors, they must be nice ponies.”
Sudikahmen chuckled, “Should your travels take you up the fertile crescent to the Equestrian border, and you care to cross a hundred miles of Badlands, presuming the hive grants you permission to enter, I am very sure they could easily find at least the family of the donors.”
“Well, we are going to Equestria anyways, we could try to stop by if it’s on the way.” I offered.
“Is Equestria your ultimate destination?” Sudikahmen asked curiously.
David nodded slowly. “That’s right… I wasn’t expecting a ship of this kind to be here. Could you by chance take us all the way to Equestria?”
He shook his head, “Yes, but I am afraid I will not. My fleet’s ships are well known to Equestria’s navy due to some recent… conflicts of ideals. I will not risk my people to take you to an Equestrian port.
“However, Quis is the Zebrican capitol and you should be able to find passage from there. If not, then the fertile crescent is your only other option. It wouldn’t take long to walk, two weeks at the most, and most Zebrican cities are within it. The sands on either side are quite hostile to life, you wouldn’t across them without a guide, and few Zebras will associate with a Diamond Dog, noble or not.”
I frowned, “So, you won't take us to Equestria even for Dusk’s sake?”
He nodded. “That is correct. No passenger is worth the lives of my crews. Not even myself.”
David nodded slowly, “That seems fair. I wouldn’t want to sail into hostile waters myself.”
A pair of doors at the back of the room opened, and three Zebras pushing carts covered with all kinds of food came in. They began to quietly place what looked to be a five course meal onto the table. There was bread, and apples, three kinds of cheese, a plate of fish strips, rice, and a bunch of other things I didn’t recognize.
It smelled delicious!
Sudikahmen turned to one of the servers as she set a plate of grapes in front of him and in a kind tone ordered, “Miss Panya, one of our guests is a Changeling. Would you kindly bring Her Highness any charged emotstones we have in the larder?”
“Her Highness?” David, Lily, the server, and myself asked together.
Sudikahmen laughed, a booming sound which filled the whole cabin. “Miss Jade, you are the last surviving member of your hive. This means, as there are no other… Which gem was your hive named for?”
“Oh, Diamond.” I answered reflexively.
The Captain's eyes contracted slightly, in the manner of somepony finding something interesting but avoiding the topic. “I see. Miss Jade, as there are no other Diamonds around you, and tragically left living, you are guaranteed to eventually pupate into a Queen. Furthermore, as any changeling Queen can lay enough eggs to restart a hive, international law recognizes anyling who survives a hive’s destruction as it’s Queen.
“While you will find you have little political power, none in truth, you do possess some diplomatic immunity and will find you can easily get audiences with rulers and nobles. It’s the same for any dethroned ruler in fact.”
He gave me a simple smile as he continued, “I suggest you enjoy the title. At the least, get used to having it. Once you arrive in Equestria, that will be what will let you potentially find some land to settle, if you are so inclined.”
“I… I hadn’t thought of that.” I said, looking down at the silver plate of fish that had been set in front of me.
I literally hadn’t thought of what I would do after reaching Equestria. It was true, I would become a Queen eventually. I could start a new Diamond hive on my own. But did I want to?
That would be a lot of work. I didn’t know a thing about running a hive, or much of anything realy. What would I do?
“Don’t worry about that just yet Jade.” David said comfortingly. “Life is best taken one step at a time. We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.”
“You seem to be a wise person.” Sudikahmen said to David in a glad tone. “I would enjoy discussing a few of my business arrangements with you during our trip. We will have two weeks assuming good winds.”
David bit his lip for a moment then gave him a small nod. “I suppose I could be of some assistance. I would prefer to not assist with anything resulting in the harm of others. I am after all, a medic. I took an oath to do no harm when possible.”
Sudikahmen waved a hoof dismissively. “Very few of my arrangements involve violence. As a healer, would you object to assisting in improving my medical supply trade? A way to determine which supplies are genuine, which are fraudulent, and if any are tainted would be of great help.”
David nodded. “That I can do.”
“Excellent!” The Captain offered us a small smile, “in exchange I will have my crew supply you for a trip through Zebrica. But that is in the future, for now, let us eat and enjoy the evening.”
“Oh, so we are not leaving today?” I asked curiously.
“We are in fact leaving as soon as we are unloaded as I have been paid. His Highness objects to my presence in these waters, despite his subjects being more than happy to pay for the food I can supply. Thus, we leave before his message can return from informing him of my arrival with the orders for his troops here to attack me.” he explained.
“You see, a certain Knight-Captain and I have an arrangement.” he added. “I supply a year of basic foodstuffs, the citizens pay for it, and he orders his ponies to stand down until officially ordered to stop me.”
“Was?” Lily exclaimed, “Why would any ruler object to selling food?”
“Rulers always have their ideals, reasons, and morals.” Sudikahmen said bitterly, “They can hurt many people for the sake of arbitrary codes of ethics. I refuse to allow such nonsense to cause harm, thus I do not work within the laws of the land. I work within the laws of the sea, which are mine and mine alone.”
“That makes sense I guess…” I said. Then realizing that Sudikahmen had some knowledge of leaders and stuff I asked, “What could I do to not well… hurt my own subjects? You know, if I ever have any.”
“Constantly educate yourself to keep up with the times. Understand that society is more important than any one individual, but also that individuals make up society and should be respected as far as possible, until society begins to suffer. Also be sure to allow others the freedom to make decisions. Oversee, guide, and assist, but do not control.” He said quickly and simply, as if delivering a lecture. “Save that is for one thing which no one may be allowed to change or challenge.”
“What’s that?” I asked curiously.
“Not everyone is equal, no matter how much they wish to think they are. Some are smarter than others. Yet the smart ones frequently forget they are smart, but do not understand everything. Only allow the people who truly know a field to have a say in that field.
“If just one pony has a voice, progress stagnates. If they all have a voice, the fools, idiots, and uninformed voices drown out those who truly know better. Let the mages be the ones to shape the rules for mages, and let the fisherponies be the ones to set the rules for fishing. Your task is then to ensure the policies the knowledgeable decide on interact in the best possible way for the whole of society.
“That’s how my father did it, and that’s how his father did it, and you can see it’s worked excellently.” he finished. “Now, with all seriousness, I hunger, let us cease discussing business and share a meal.”
I certainly had a lot to think about, and I wanted to ask more, but my stomach was doing that weird moving about thing pony stomach do. So I nodded, and proceeded to dig into that plate of fish strips.
My eyes lit up as I tasted the first bite of the fish! “Whoa! This is exactly like a mother’s love for you!”
Everyone gave me an odd look, and I remembered they couldn’t taste emotions. I turned back to my plate with a light blush and resumed eating. One of these days, I need to come up with a way to compare emotional flavors to physical flavors.