Storm Ride


                                            Transferred from https://pastebin.com/CYYjM5Ug

                                            Originally published APR 4TH, 2019


                                            >It was the second day of our journey to Zebrica. It was also my second day as one of the Stormchasers.

                                            >I still can't believe I've done that. I was in a bad spot, sure, with my herd breaking up and all.

                                            >Going back to my old love was probably a good idea.


                                            >"Ahoy, new blood!"

                                            >Not with them. Sure, they were legendary, and their ship - the Misery - was the fastest one on the Southern Sea, hell  - in the world.

                                            >But they only took me on as a deckhand at first, promising a promotion if I "survive" the first trip.

                                            >As an officer, I felt insulted, but they truly were legendary.


                                            >And insane. Punching you in the face as a greeting insane.

                                            >"Hey, I'm talking to you, new blood!"

                                            >That was Lunge, one of the shipmares.

                                            >The blow was strong, but I kept my composure. I was a ex-navy guard, not some greenhorn they could push around.

                                            "I'll let you know that I wrecked mares meaner than you for less. You will address me by rank or name."

                                            >She nearly doubled over laughing.

                                            >"Your rank in the playground means nothing here, new blood! Before he accepts you, you are the lowest trash."

                                            >She got so close to me that I could fell the stench of her breath. "Get that through your thick skull and be ready for the morning prayer."

                                            >So I rammed her nose.

                                            >Sprayed red like a smashed strawberry pie. Nearly knocked her down to the deck.

                                            "That will teach you some respect."

                                            >And then, with a laugh, she spit her blood in my eyes.

                                            >Before I could see again, I felt three other mares knock me over and me and pin me down.

                                            >"Look at the cutie, she thinks we're hard, so if she plays hard he'll accept her!"

                                            >"Ah what a shame!"

                                            >"What a shame!"

                                            >I struggled against their hooves to no avail.

                                            >"But she doesn't know we're very soft and fragile! That's why he accepts us!"

                                            >"So fragile!"

                                            >"So precious!"

                                            >I tried to break free.

                                            >"When we make her remember how soft she is, she will see!"

                                            >"She will see!"

                                            >"Oh, she will see!"


                                            >"What's going on here?"

                                            >That was the captain. I was either saved, or screwed.

                                            >"The new blood thinks she's tough, Skipper!"

                                            "Lunge attacked me, Ma'am!"


                                            >The Captain sighed.

                                            >"Lunge. I expect better from you. I expect more from my mares."

                                            "You heard the Captain, --"

                                            >"Why didn't you make her a mare, Lunge?"

                                            >The mares holding me laughed.

                                            >"It ain't the same unless you tell it, Skip!"

                                            >"Yeah, tell her!"

                                            >"Tell her, tell her!"


                                            >The Captain cleared her throat.

                                            >"New blood? We're going to make a mare out of you. BARBER! We've got a new one here!"

                                            >I heard more and more voices join in the cheering.

                                            >And hooffalls of someone approaching. "So, new blood, you're going to take it like a mare or do you need rum to wash it down?"

                                            >I still couldn't break free. "Like a mare it is then."

                                            >Then I felt the knife slice into the skin of my flank.

                                            >Tried to grab someone in my field, but then they kicked my horn.

                                            >That, thankfully, numbed the pain.


                                            >The cuts stopped. I was released.

                                            >"Well now you almost look like a mare!"

                                            >"Real salty mare!"

                                            >"Splash it with seawater to be sure!"


                                            >My head still rang. I didn't care to fight at this point.

                                            >Instead, I bent to the side and studied the wound.

                                            >It didn't bleed much, but looked horrible. Like a foal's drawing on my hide.

                                            "What the hell have you done to me? "

                                            >"You're a mare now, new blood!"

                                            "Let me dress it at least! It will not heal in this climate!"

                                            >"Good. That means it will surely scar. What kinda of mare are you without the scars to show it?"

                                            >...scar...

                                            >That was the first time that I actually noticed that their scars didn't look random at all.

                                            >A pony's thick coat usually hangs over bare patches, masking them.

                                            >But if you really take the time to decipher it, the patches look like crude symbols.

                                            >These were carvings.


                                            >Sweet Goddess, they didn't even allow me to say goodbye to anyone on shore.


                                            >I nearly lost my mind then and there.


                                            >I didn't try to escape.

                                            >We were at sea, and I would not have survived a swim to shore.

                                            >I knew some battle magic. I could overpower the captain, take her hostage.

                                            >But there were two dozen of them against me.

                                            >And they were insane.

                                            >I did what I was told and bid my time, praying to the gods that I live until port.


                                            >Fifth day greeted us with a red sky.

                                            >Naturally, the crew was ecstatic. At this point I didn't expect them to act normal.

                                            >But, since they clearly had more experience in the Southern Sea than me, I kept quiet.


                                            >As the wind began picking up, the boatswain rolled out the booze on deck.

                                            >That got me nervous.  I came over to her and asked:

                                            "Ma'am, why are we not furling the sails now?"

                                            >"What's it to ya, new blood?"

                                            "I don't want us all to end in a watery grave, and there is a storm coming! Isn't that what is usually done?"

                                            >"Stop painting Discord, or he will take us all. Back to your orders, new blood."

                                            "Yes, I will, but what the hell is going on here? And why are you--"

                                            >With a swift kick, she smashed the keg, spraying us both and the deck with rum.

                                            >"It's his favorite. Now get going before he sees you slacking."


                                            >I finished securing the cargo. Then I double-checked everything.

                                            >Picked a good empty crate to hold onto when the ship breaks.

                                            >Did all I could to ease my mind.

                                            >Others weren't so preoccupied.

                                            >"..do you think he will like it?"

                                            >Two of my fellow deckhands.

                                            >"I'm sure he will."

                                            >Doing each other's manes into braids.

                                            "Is that your actual order to pretty up, or are you just slacking off?"

                                            >They looked to each other.

                                            >"She doesn't believe!"

                                            >"But she will soon! He will make her!"

                                            >Gods damn this crew.

                                            > I peeked out of the hatch to check on the preparations above deck.

                                            >We were still going full-sail.


                                            >"Hey, new blood, come here, I'll make you one too. He will like it!"


                                            >That was the point when I lost it.

                                            >I wasn't about to die because of a bunch of insane idol-worshipers.


                                            >Back on deck, I fed from the nearing storm.


                                            >I couldn't take on two dozen mares at a time, but the wild magic gave me an edge.

                                            "Attention ladies!"

                                            >My fur stood on end as I held up the most powerful lightning charge I could.

                                            "I am taking command of this vessel! You can do as I say or I will fry you all alive!"

                                            >Stray discharges charred the wood under my hooves.

                                            >Waste mana was thick in the air, making it hard to breathe.

                                            >None dared approach.

                                            >"What do we do, Skipper?"

                                            >Their eyes were glued to my crackling horn. Good.

                                            >"Just let het do whatever she wants, mares, or gods help us she will kill us all."

                                            "Come on! Let's work! All hands, strike the sails!"

                                            >Nobody moved.

                                            "Do it!"

                                            >"She doesn't believe."

                                            >"He will show her."

                                            >The deck swayed like a toy in a foal's hooves.

                                            >The others were standing firm as if they nailed to the wood. I could barely keep balance.

                                            "Gods damn you all, I didn't go through a war just to get killed because of your stupid superstition!"

                                            >Assessed the situation.

                                            >Storm.  All sails unfurled, even the topsails and three more that I didn't know the fucking names for.

                                            >Needed to strike the sails.

                                            >Wind was getting stronger.

                                            >Too late for that, cut the mast.

                                            >Charged up my flameblade.

                                            >Didn't get a single shop before a wave of seawater crashed over and broke my spell.

                                            >Doesn't matter. Thirty sails. I could do that or die.


                                            >I was thrown overboard before I could finish two.

                                            >Hanging by the skin of my teeth, literally, on a halyard.

                                            >Saltwater still shorting my horn.

                                            >The only way up was by climbing, and I had only my hooves for that.

                                            >I drove them into the wooden hull with all my strength.

                                            >Surprisingly, they held my weight. I didn't question it at the time.


                                            >Another wave came and threw the ship again, sacking me against the hull.

                                            >I didn't break anything.

                                            >But the pain made me let go of the rope.

                                            >The water below me was dark and boiling.

                                            >I wouldn't float for long.

                                            >My love was finally taking me in its embrace.


                                            >But it didn't come. Something grabbed the scruff of my neck.

                                            >Like hooks digging into my skin. It was immensely painful.

                                            >I have no idea how it didn't snap my spine, but it stopped me mid-fall.

                                            >And threw me over the board, onto the deck.

                                            >Then whatever did it, climbed aboard too.

                                            >It was a demon.


                                            >And the insane crew cried : "HE IS HERE!"


                                            >Merciful Goddess, it was a fucking demon.

                                            >It walked over to me and hunched down.

                                            >I was already dead, so I just gave up and waited for it to wring my neck.

                                            >When nothing happened, I mustered the courage to speak.


                                            "Who are you?"

                                            >The demon studied me with its beady, insane eyes.

                                            >"Me? I guess I could say that I look after the ship. Call me Caulker."


                                            >"SHE SEES HIM!"


                                            "Please don't hurt me."

                                            >"I'm not going to hurt a cute mare like you. You're new on the crew? I haven't seen you before."

                                            "What the hell is happening to me?"

                                            >"Now that you are almost dead you can begin truly living."

                                            "I am a guard. It's way, way too late for me."

                                            >"That was when you became a warrior. Now you've become a seamare, Fulcrum!"


                                            >"HE ACCEPTS HER!"


                                            "I served on a ship before, and my name is --"

                                            >"Not anymore. You're a dependable gal, so you'll be Fulcrum now!"


                                            >"ONE OF US!"


                                            "If you are looking after the ship, please help us, we are going into the storm!"

                                            >"That's the plan, yes."

                                            "But we're all going to die!"

                                            >Another wave crashed the deck.

                                            >But this time I didn't budge.

                                            >"Young lady, the ship can handle it, I made sure of that. But can you?"

                                            >The anchor scar below my mark still hurt from the salt water.

                                            >"You want this, don't you? That's why you came back to the Sea?"

                                            >Good, that means it will stay as a scar.

                                            >"You couldn't resist its call. "

                                            >And as long as it stays, nothing can knock me down off my hooves.

                                            >"You are already dead. So what's holding you back?"

                                            "Nothing."


                                            >He smiled.

                                            >"Steel your heart, sweetie. We're going on a storm ride!"

                                            >The demon turned to the crew and yelled: "Full sail ahead! To our deaths!"

                                            >"AYE AYE SIR! TO OUR DEATHS!"

                                            >And this time I cried with the madmares:

                                            "To our deaths!"