"Captain Caramel, sir, I feel rather uncomfortable with you doing this..."
"I apologize for that, but this is research."
"I think it's something else..."
"It's not my fault the Element's in ya chest."
"But it is your fault that I'm doing this."
Caramel frowned at the Bearer. Rarity, with her arms over her chest, was sitting down in a single chair. It was an awkward situation as the top of Rarity's Assassin robes were unbuttoned and her whole bosom was exposed. The captain tried to focus, but the oddness of the situation and the horrid morning heat of southern Equestrian waters was too much. The humity of the Captain's Quarters only made all the heat even worse. So much so, that Caramel's shirt was unbuttoned and loose, showcasing his thick chest hair and his muscular torso.
"Miss Rarity, I need to get to the Element," he said gently through a tired pant.
"Why do you have to get to it? Don't you have other women on board to order about? Do you make all your women go topless for your perverted enjoyment?"
"No," Caramel said sternly. "And don't ya accuse me of that. I ain't a pervert, I ain't a chaser of women. I only do this because ya a Bearer. I need to know how ya keep breathing and living even though ya heart is rotten away someplace. Last time I checked, ya need a heart to be...alive."
"Elements act as artificial hearts," Rarity explained without budging. "They pump blood and do everything a normal heart does."
"My father studied anatomy when he was just younger than I am now. I don't know much about organs, but I do know that the heart is pretty complicated. It seems odd some crystal can do the same thing."
Rarity turned slightly away from the pirate. "Well, it does! How else would you explain it?"
"Well, maybe I could find an answer if ya let me study it."
"Never!"
"Will Generosity let me?"
Rarity's brows lifted. "What did you say?"
"Rarity, I know I speak to two minds. If you don't let me study, will ya over half let me?"
"She will not..."
"That blows..."
Caramel started to walk about. Sweat was running down his face as he muttered frustrated curses. This was his opportunity to find out what kind of powers he was really dealing with. She was an enemy, an agent for some Harmony no one believed in. And here he was, fighting on her for privacy's sake. He knew to treat her with respect, but he also knew that she could be gone any day. Tomorrow, maybe even later that day, Assassins or Templar could capture her. Perhaps she would jump off the edge and desperately make a swim for land. No, this was his opportunity to learn more about Elements.
"I'm sorry, Miss Rarity, but I have to know about Elements. I hope you understand that I'm not trying to be some pig to you. Call me what you will, but you are still a prisoner of war and you are on my ship."
"I ref-"
"I don't care what you say."
He walked over to her and went to one knee in front of her. He clasped her wrists together in his large hand and with the other, he reached and flicked the crystal that was embedded in her chest. When he touched the Element, a low hum rang out and a purple light flickered from it for just a moment. The only sound then came from Rarity's angry growls.
"Get away!" she snarled.
"Did that hurt?" Caramel asked calmly.
"No it didn't."
He flicked the Element again. "Can you even feel that?"
"No..."
"You say it pumps blood?"
"Yes..."
"Then why can't I hear anything?"
Rarity gulped. Caramel drew his ear close to the Element. Sometimes, a purple light would surround it, but most of the time it sat there without a sign of life. He then looked to her hands. He was squeezing her wrists hard so that she couldn't escape his grasp, but her hands did not change color. There was no sign of lack of blood reaching her fingers. They remained a lively skin tone.
"Are you sure you're alive, Miss Rarity?"
"How dare you ask that!" Rarity steamed. "I'm talking to you, am I not? Do I look dead to you? Could a dead person be as lively as me?"
Caramel released her and stood up. "Well, could a person without a heart still have blood to pump?"
"I have blood!"
"You have the weakest pulse I've ever encountered. I've been with lads on their deathbeds who felt more alive. I'm surprised your color in your face at all. And you have no heat. Well, you aren't cold either. When I feel my skin in this damn heat, it's hot. My skin is hot and sweaty. When I feel your delicate skin, it's like I'm touching lukewarm water. It feels like I'm touching a woman who's been dead for an hour or so. Are you sure you're alive?"
Rarity stood up and kept her bosom hidden with her arms. "I am not dead! I stand before you as alive as a peacock, no? Just because I am not as sensitive in the heat as you doesn't make me of the undead! The Element is keeping me alive."
"So if I tore that thing out, you'd die?"
"Well of course! That would be the equivalent of ripping one's heart out."
"So if I chopped ya arm off, would ya still be alive?" Caramel asked as if it was a valid question.
Rarity faltered. "What? I...I am not-"
The door swung open. Rainbow came inside with a large wooden box in her hands. She was about to say something, but froze upon seeing the captain and the Bearer. Her pupils shrunk to pinpricks and her mouth hung slightly agape. Rarity held herself even tighter as her face turned a bright red. Even Caramel's cheeks reddened under his beard and he looked down in shame.
"Um...what ya guys...doing?" Rainbow barely uttered.
"Good heavens, Rainbow! It's not what it looks like!" Rarity shrieked as she quickly buttoned up her robes up.
"Are ya sure, cause it looks like ya showing Cap'n ya tits," Rainbow said without blinking.
"I am not!" Rarity's face blushed even more.
"Miss Dash, I was jus' inspecting her Element," Caramel explained softly. "I'm trying to see exactly what it does to the body."
"Oh..." Rainbow finally blinked. "And ya gotta open up her whole top to do so?"
Caramel made an odd face as if he smelled something horrid but was trying to hide it. "I...uh...I guess not?"
"I knew it!" Rarity slammed her heel into Caramel's toes. "You pig!"
As her sharp heel of her boot dug into his foot, the captain winced but did not let out a scream of pain. He sort of just took the pain like he deserved it. She then twisted her heel to cause even more pain, but the captain remained quiet in his agony. With an indignant grunt, Rarity released him and walked over to Rainbow in her usual elegant fashion.
"What is it, Rainbow?" she asked.
"I was actually going to see if Cap'n could play chess with me," Rainbow gestured at the box she was holding.
"Chess?" Caramel said in bewilderment. "You don't know how to play chess."
"Rarity taught some of us last night," Rainbow explained. "It seems like a game for eggheads, but I kinda like it. Do you know how to play it?"
"Yeah, I do," Caramel nodded. "My father taught me when I was a wee lad. There's a man in Sepulcher that I play almost every time I visit. He still claims he's the best player on the island even though I beaten him way more times than he's beaten me." He then paused. "Wait, ya said she taught you guys in the night, right? Wasn't she supposed to be locked up by sundown?"
"And I was," Rarity told him. "I can still play chess through the bars of my cell."
"So, ya wanna play, Cap'n?" Rainbow brightened upon asking.
"I would love to, but my morning with Miss Rarity has taken up my time. I need to discuss some things with Zecora if ya two don't mind."
"Oh..."
"Maybe later. We don't have that long til Baltimare and when we coast on the winds, maybe we'll have time."
Rainbow nodded and she and Bearer left him to his work. Upon leaving, they both stopped to see Sunny standing in front of them, her eyes buried deep in a book she was reading. With one hand, she was firmly holding the open book, the other was twirling her red and yellow hair absently. With how close she was to the two, Rainbow and Rarity were not sure how to react. However, the odd woman took the first step and shut the book with a loud thud.
"I would like to play chess," she said with decisiveness.
"You play chess, Sunny?" Rainbow asked.
"Yes, and I am one of the best at it," Sunny answered quickly.
"Nice! I'll set up right away!" Rainbow was about to walk over to Rarity's fancy table, but was stopped by Sunny.
"I don't want to face you, I want to face Rarity."
"Oh," Rarity was taken aback. "Why, of course! We shall set up immediately. With respect I ask, who are you?"
"People call me Sunny. I hail from Canterlot."
"Canterlot!" Rarity gasped excitedly. "Someone of class at last! How did you end up on this horrid ship? Are you a prisoner for ransom as well?"
"Not really," Sunny said as she and Rarity took their seats at the table. "I've been in search of my best friend who has gone missing. I've looked everywhere for her and my results are severely lacking. I am on this ship to return to the mainland."
They began to set up the chess board. Being on a rocking ship, they had to use a special set that included small hooks on the bottom of the pieces. The pieces would hook into little rings that were on each square. It made moving and removing pieces take more time, but it was better than having all of them slide one way or another with the constant waves.
"That sounds dreadful, darling. I hope you find her in due time."
"Well, I believe she was captured by some fiends," Sunny went on. "She was never one to go far from her home, so I know she didn't leave Canterlot willingly."
"How awful," Rarity said sincerely.
They completed setting up. Sunny was using the black pieces and Rarity was using the white. Rarity moved a pawn up two spaces and before she could barely retract her hand, Sunny instantly moved her knight. The Bearer was a bit confused by the speed of the move. It was like there was not a single moment for thought, only action. She made another move just for Sunny to slam another piece forward with intensity and authority.
"We are not being timed," Rarity said quietly.
"I know," was the curt answer.
"How is this friend of yours?" Rarity tried to make conversation as she thought of her next move.
Sunny crossed her arms and shrugged only one shoulder. "She's fine. Loves books and has awful socializing skills. She wishes to be a scholar."
"How quaint," Rarity smiled. "She sounds quite intelligent."
"She's smart, but I wouldn't call her wise."
"Hmm."
Rarity moved a bishop out and just like always, Sunny slammed another piece forward right when Rarity's long fingers let go of her piece. Sunny did not even look at the board, whether it was her turn or not. She kept her eyes on Rarity, making the Bearer a bit nervous.
"If you need to know, I am a seamstress," Rarity gestured to herself. "I may be able to read and write, but I have hardly attended any real schools."
"You're not a bloody seamstress," Sunny uttered dryly. "I saw what you did yesterday, you have magic."
"Well, yes, of course. You are on Caramel's ship..." Rarity paused. "You do not know, do you?"
"I didn't, but I do now. They say you are a Bearer. Some pretty young girl whisked away by the Brotherhood. Whatever the 'Brotherhood' are, they sound quite roguish. I then listened to you and the captain in his quarters. It sounds like you don't have a literal heart."
"I don't. Nothing of this concerns you though," Rarity swallowed.
"I think it does. Now make your move."
Rarity did as Sunny commanded. After Sunny thoughtlessly moved another piece, she went on. Her voice getting lower with each syllable.
"However, it concerns me in a way you may not think."
"Sunny, you are walking in territory you should not. Remain ignorant of this topic and it shall be the better for you."
Rarity made another move and Sunny did her usual instant move. "Checkmate."
"What?"
Rarity looked down at the board, and yes, the game had ended. The black queen was right in front of the white king and a black knight protected the queen from the king's attack. It was a risky strategy, but Rarity had no pieces in place to kill the black queen, so it was checkmate. The Bearer knew what move she had to do to stop such an attack, but she simply did not see it coming.
"That was fast..."
"Thank you for the conversation. I have all I need," Sunny did not even smile and left the table.
"Wow!" Rainbow exclaimed. "She's good!"
"Not really," Rarity muttered. "Simply lucky."
"Ah, I hate losing too, but no need to be sour over it."
"Rainbow, who is this Sunny?"
"Don't know. She is strange, but eh, whatever."
"I don't like her, Rainbow. Not. One. Bit."
~