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Transferred from https://pastebin.com/CYYjM5Ug
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Originally published APR 4TH, 2019
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>It was the second day of our journey to Zebrica. It was also my second day as one of the Stormchasers.
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>I still can't believe I've done that. I was in a bad spot, sure, with my herd breaking up and all.
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>Going back to my old love was probably a good idea.
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>"Ahoy, new blood!"
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>Not with them. Sure, they were legendary, and their ship - the Misery - was the fastest one on the Southern Sea, hell - in the world.
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>But they only took me on as a deckhand at first, promising a promotion if I "survive" the first trip.
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>As an officer, I felt insulted, but they truly were legendary.
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>And insane. Punching you in the face as a greeting insane.
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>"Hey, I'm talking to you, new blood!"
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>That was Lunge, one of the shipmares.
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>The blow was strong, but I kept my composure. I was a ex-navy guard, not some greenhorn they could push around.
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"I'll let you know that I wrecked mares meaner than you for less. You will address me by rank or name."
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>She nearly doubled over laughing.
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>"Your rank in the playground means nothing here, new blood! Before he accepts you, you are the lowest trash."
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>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."
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>So I rammed her nose.
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>Sprayed red like a smashed strawberry pie. Nearly knocked her down to the deck.
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"That will teach you some respect."
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>And then, with a laugh, she spit her blood in my eyes.
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>Before I could see again, I felt three other mares knock me over and me and pin me down.
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>"Look at the cutie, she thinks we're hard, so if she plays hard he'll accept her!"
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>"Ah what a shame!"
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>"What a shame!"
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>I struggled against their hooves to no avail.
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>"But she doesn't know we're very soft and fragile! That's why he accepts us!"
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>"So fragile!"
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>"So precious!"
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>I tried to break free.
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>"When we make her remember how soft she is, she will see!"
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>"She will see!"
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>"Oh, she will see!"
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>"What's going on here?"
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>That was the captain. I was either saved, or screwed.
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>"The new blood thinks she's tough, Skipper!"
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"Lunge attacked me, Ma'am!"
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>The Captain sighed.
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>"Lunge. I expect better from you. I expect more from my mares."
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"You heard the Captain, --"
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>"Why didn't you make her a mare, Lunge?"
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>The mares holding me laughed.
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>"It ain't the same unless you tell it, Skip!"
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>"Yeah, tell her!"
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>"Tell her, tell her!"
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>The Captain cleared her throat.
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>"New blood? We're going to make a mare out of you. BARBER! We've got a new one here!"
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>I heard more and more voices join in the cheering.
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>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?"
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>I still couldn't break free. "Like a mare it is then."
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>Then I felt the knife slice into the skin of my flank.
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>Tried to grab someone in my field, but then they kicked my horn.
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>That, thankfully, numbed the pain.
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>The cuts stopped. I was released.
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>"Well now you almost look like a mare!"
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>"Real salty mare!"
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>"Splash it with seawater to be sure!"
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>My head still rang. I didn't care to fight at this point.
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>Instead, I bent to the side and studied the wound.
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>It didn't bleed much, but looked horrible. Like a foal's drawing on my hide.
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"What the hell have you done to me? "
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>"You're a mare now, new blood!"
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"Let me dress it at least! It will not heal in this climate!"
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>"Good. That means it will surely scar. What kinda of mare are you without the scars to show it?"
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>...scar...
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>That was the first time that I actually noticed that their scars didn't look random at all.
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>A pony's thick coat usually hangs over bare patches, masking them.
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>But if you really take the time to decipher it, the patches look like crude symbols.
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>These were carvings.
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>Sweet Goddess, they didn't even allow me to say goodbye to anyone on shore.
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>I nearly lost my mind then and there.
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>I didn't try to escape.
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>We were at sea, and I would not have survived a swim to shore.
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>I knew some battle magic. I could overpower the captain, take her hostage.
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>But there were two dozen of them against me.
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>And they were insane.
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>I did what I was told and bid my time, praying to the gods that I live until port.
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>Fifth day greeted us with a red sky.
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>Naturally, the crew was ecstatic. At this point I didn't expect them to act normal.
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>But, since they clearly had more experience in the Southern Sea than me, I kept quiet.
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>As the wind began picking up, the boatswain rolled out the booze on deck.
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>That got me nervous. I came over to her and asked:
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"Ma'am, why are we not furling the sails now?"
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>"What's it to ya, new blood?"
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"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?"
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>"Stop painting Discord, or he will take us all. Back to your orders, new blood."
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"Yes, I will, but what the hell is going on here? And why are you--"
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>With a swift kick, she smashed the keg, spraying us both and the deck with rum.
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>"It's his favorite. Now get going before he sees you slacking."
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>I finished securing the cargo. Then I double-checked everything.
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>Picked a good empty crate to hold onto when the ship breaks.
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>Did all I could to ease my mind.
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>Others weren't so preoccupied.
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>"..do you think he will like it?"
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>Two of my fellow deckhands.
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>"I'm sure he will."
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>Doing each other's manes into braids.
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"Is that your actual order to pretty up, or are you just slacking off?"
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>They looked to each other.
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>"She doesn't believe!"
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>"But she will soon! He will make her!"
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>Gods damn this crew.
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> I peeked out of the hatch to check on the preparations above deck.
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>We were still going full-sail.
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>"Hey, new blood, come here, I'll make you one too. He will like it!"
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>That was the point when I lost it.
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>I wasn't about to die because of a bunch of insane idol-worshipers.
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>Back on deck, I fed from the nearing storm.
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>I couldn't take on two dozen mares at a time, but the wild magic gave me an edge.
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"Attention ladies!"
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>My fur stood on end as I held up the most powerful lightning charge I could.
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"I am taking command of this vessel! You can do as I say or I will fry you all alive!"
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>Stray discharges charred the wood under my hooves.
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>Waste mana was thick in the air, making it hard to breathe.
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>None dared approach.
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>"What do we do, Skipper?"
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>Their eyes were glued to my crackling horn. Good.
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>"Just let het do whatever she wants, mares, or gods help us she will kill us all."
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"Come on! Let's work! All hands, strike the sails!"
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>Nobody moved.
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"Do it!"
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>"She doesn't believe."
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>"He will show her."
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>The deck swayed like a toy in a foal's hooves.
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>The others were standing firm as if they nailed to the wood. I could barely keep balance.
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"Gods damn you all, I didn't go through a war just to get killed because of your stupid superstition!"
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>Assessed the situation.
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>Storm. All sails unfurled, even the topsails and three more that I didn't know the fucking names for.
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>Needed to strike the sails.
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>Wind was getting stronger.
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>Too late for that, cut the mast.
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>Charged up my flameblade.
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>Didn't get a single shop before a wave of seawater crashed over and broke my spell.
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>Doesn't matter. Thirty sails. I could do that or die.
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>I was thrown overboard before I could finish two.
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>Hanging by the skin of my teeth, literally, on a halyard.
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>Saltwater still shorting my horn.
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>The only way up was by climbing, and I had only my hooves for that.
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>I drove them into the wooden hull with all my strength.
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>Surprisingly, they held my weight. I didn't question it at the time.
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>Another wave came and threw the ship again, sacking me against the hull.
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>I didn't break anything.
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>But the pain made me let go of the rope.
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>The water below me was dark and boiling.
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>I wouldn't float for long.
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>My love was finally taking me in its embrace.
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>But it didn't come. Something grabbed the scruff of my neck.
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>Like hooks digging into my skin. It was immensely painful.
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>I have no idea how it didn't snap my spine, but it stopped me mid-fall.
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>And threw me over the board, onto the deck.
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>Then whatever did it, climbed aboard too.
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>It was a demon.
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>And the insane crew cried : "HE IS HERE!"
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>Merciful Goddess, it was a fucking demon.
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>It walked over to me and hunched down.
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>I was already dead, so I just gave up and waited for it to wring my neck.
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>When nothing happened, I mustered the courage to speak.
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"Who are you?"
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>The demon studied me with its beady, insane eyes.
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>"Me? I guess I could say that I look after the ship. Call me Caulker."
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>"SHE SEES HIM!"
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"Please don't hurt me."
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>"I'm not going to hurt a cute mare like you. You're new on the crew? I haven't seen you before."
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"What the hell is happening to me?"
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>"Now that you are almost dead you can begin truly living."
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"I am a guard. It's way, way too late for me."
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>"That was when you became a warrior. Now you've become a seamare, Fulcrum!"
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>"HE ACCEPTS HER!"
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"I served on a ship before, and my name is --"
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>"Not anymore. You're a dependable gal, so you'll be Fulcrum now!"
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>"ONE OF US!"
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"If you are looking after the ship, please help us, we are going into the storm!"
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>"That's the plan, yes."
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"But we're all going to die!"
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>Another wave crashed the deck.
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>But this time I didn't budge.
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>"Young lady, the ship can handle it, I made sure of that. But can you?"
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>The anchor scar below my mark still hurt from the salt water.
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>"You want this, don't you? That's why you came back to the Sea?"
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>Good, that means it will stay as a scar.
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>"You couldn't resist its call. "
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>And as long as it stays, nothing can knock me down off my hooves.
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>"You are already dead. So what's holding you back?"
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"Nothing."
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>He smiled.
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>"Steel your heart, sweetie. We're going on a storm ride!"
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>The demon turned to the crew and yelled: "Full sail ahead! To our deaths!"
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>"AYE AYE SIR! TO OUR DEATHS!"
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>And this time I cried with the madmares:
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"To our deaths!"
by hotkinkajou
by hotkinkajou
by hotkinkajou
by hotkinkajou
by hotkinkajou