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Post by Jewel on Jan 7, 2006 19:36:29 GMT -5
"Wait here," he said kindly. "I will get some water and fresh bandages or something. We'll clean up those wounds of yours, so they won't get infected, and you'll be more comfortable."
As the stallion spoke, Jewel looked up attentively, though noticeably tired. Hollow's seemingly sudden kindness hit her like a rock, though really it had been developing for some time already. Fortunately, the surprise didn't show on her features, but her heart did beat slightly faster.
It was almost as if she were being spoken to by someone entirely new, not the stallion who just moments ago was arguing passionately with the dagger-flinging Kail. Or rather, temporary psycho-Kail. Jewel still found it hard to believe that the green pegasus could be so intense, but she reasoned that for being so kind and having the kindest power, so to speak, it had to balance somehow, and she needed to stick up for herself at the end of the day.
Jewel noted with slight interest that Hollow had said 'we' rather than 'you' at the thought of bandaging up the mare. It pleased her greatly to see him suddenly become a chivalrous pony, and not only so, but.. kind.. and helpful.
"Thanks, Hollow," She said with a truly grateful expression. Jewel couldn't think of anything else to say to him to express her gratitude.
"Can I... can I get you anything else?"
Jewel opened her mouth to speak, shut it, and tried again. She hesitated, not wanting to be burdensome, or to take advantage of Hollow's hospitality. "Could I.. you.. maybe.." She paused, chuckled once to herself, then looked up again at him, "..something to drink, if you don't mind?"
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Post by Crescent on Jan 8, 2006 9:13:10 GMT -5
"Indeed I did catch names, and I'm not sure whether it makes me feel better or worse." She paused a moment as she fell into step behind him for their accent back to the main deck. Kail hoped that Hollow wouldn't still be above and breathed a sigh of relief to see that he wasn't, and neither was Jewel.
Sea Tiger held great respect toward the healer, had since the very beginning, and her willingness to report to him about her scouting trip made him feel even more benign toward the pegasus. Though all the mares on board at the moment had his interest, and the yellow Champion in particular, he still felt drawn toward Kail in a special way. He had to admit he wouldn't have minded someone like her by his side on the ship, but then he felt an immediate surge of guilt as Bridie came to his mind. She was his "Queen", wasn't she? And there was no chance in hell Kail'd get involved with him anyway. What was he thinking? He must be in need of fresh mare more than he thought.
Slightly distracted by these thoughts, his ears nevertheless snapped into attention at once when Kail continued talking.
"The captain of the other ship is a stallion by the name of Ratskull, or Rascal, depending on when you knew him. He thrice fought for Queen Luna of Course before a yellow mare brought him to the sea. I met him once in the southern continent and re-attached his hoof, but it seems he doesn't see his debt in quite the same way I do."
Tiger had heard of Ratskull. He was newer in the business than most old dread pirates he knew, but no less frightening. And who wouldn't have heard of the pirate who had once been in favour of a Queen? At least, Tiger had. He had to admit he was almost shocked by the news, though then he calmed himself again. In fact, it made sense. What bred and born pirate in his right mind would start off something like this? At least Tiger wouldn't have. It was enough for him to scour the shores, but this was big, big enough to involve two thrones, two kingdoms. He felt a short tingle in his fur at the realisation of how big the beehive was he'd just stuck his head in. He made a mental note to find Cutter as soon as possible and tell him to keep an eye on the two stowaways. He just might want to hold them for ransom before this whole thing was over.
Kail stopped for a moment and frowned, "they are headed to Course again. Getting the locket from there wont be much of a chore I shouldn't think."
Tiger lifted an eyebrow as he looked at Kail, stopping at the helm.
"Not much of a chore?" His eyes twinkled with amusement. "You have a very high opinion of yourself, my sweet dolphin." He gave a laugh as he went to the helm, shooeing the crewman who'd taken care of it off. He kept the course of the ship steady and glanced over to Kail. "I do know this pirate we're after, even if only by his reputation. I hear he's a tough cracker, and his crew too. But Course, you say?" He frowned a bit. "Why would he go there, I wonder. I'd seek shelter from a more secluded area." He thought on that for a while, then shrugged.
[[err... are we gonna go to the storm? I can't think of an excuse for Tiger to insist on keeping the course if Kail will insist he turn. Or maybe it's too late for them to get away from it?]]
Hollow hardly noticed Roxanne at the door, his whole attention was on Jewel. Her tired face as she looked at him made him feel a strange feeling, which was quite new to him. Compassion. He nearly jolted when he realised it. Compassion? Even when he had still been just a common pony, without his fateful wish, he had never felt much compassion toward other ponies. He had always thought very highly of himself, too highly to care enough for compassion.
And now he was a Champion. One of the Chosen Seven of the Rainbow of Light. That was very high, very mighty, very important indeed. And now he felt compassion? This made him feel even more confused.
Jewel opened her mouth to speak, shut it, and tried again. She hesitated, not wanting to be burdensome, or to take advantage of Hollow's hospitality. "Could I.. you.. maybe.." She paused, chuckled once to herself, then looked up again at him, "..something to drink, if you don't mind?"
Hollow smiled, feeling a flutter in his heart. He thought she was really rather cute when she hesitated that way.
"Certainly," he said kindly, nodding. "I will be back as soon as I can."
He was still looking behind him as he started walking out, and only noticed Roxanne when he nearly bumped in on her. He startled backward, then flashed her a short smile.
"Oh, I'm sorry," he said, then slunk past her and trotted away, quick, purposeful, disciplined trot. He did not plan to stay long, and she needed her drink.
It was only after he was already away from sight of the cabin that it suddenly struck him, and he slowed his step for just a few moments, a shocked expression on his face.
CUTE???
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Post by Bella on Jan 8, 2006 11:39:31 GMT -5
"Not much of a chore?" His eyes twinkled with amusement. "You have a very high opinion of yourself, my sweet dolphin."Kail almost tripped over her own feet at the nickname he had given her. It was almost a dirrect translation of her mother's name - that was twice in the past few hours that she had been called by her mother's name. Well, if she was growing up to be like her mother that wasn't such a bad thing for she thought highly of the sea green mare. "Why would he go there, I wonder. I'd seek shelter from a more secluded area." "Well," Kail started automatically; her family came from Course and her father was a historian of the area, so she herself could be considered somewhat of a Coursian expert. "The only places along the coast that are inhabited are the stretch of fisher-villages in line with the city. Once you go beyond the cliffs to the north or the desert to the south there would be plenty of places to hide a ship. And let's face it, Course isn't exactally known for its fine, upstanding citizenry. It's a port for such as pirates and merchants, and there are those with the funds to ransom such a pretty thing as a gold locket off to." Kail's brows knotted while she thought on why exactally Ratskull would choose Course, although the most obvious answer was that it was simply home, and the place he felt most comfortable. "He undoubtably knows of many places to hide the locket, if all he wants to do is hold it ransom from Dream Valley. And if not..." If not then what? Who would possibly want the locket in Course? Well, rightly, who wouldn't? But Kail herself had helped expel Glasya, who was the only likely culprit with the power and money to send the pirates on such a suicide mission. Of course, Ratskull would have never worked for Glasya would he? Not after spending so many years helping Queen Luna to get rid of the dangerous mare. Stomping a foot on the ground in annoyance, Kail wished for a moment that she was the yellow stripe, and could make sense of this. Or even that she was on speaking terms with the yellow stripe at the moment. "And if not I have no idea why he would be going to Course." It seemed a bit risky, even if he were old friends of the Queen. Then again, even if Dream Valley sent the whole of its now old and out of use army to the Coursian shore, the Coursian Guard and Army could most certainly deal with them swiftly. Not that Kail believed Queen Luna would risk war with the northern continent again - even a cold war with Dream Valley highly damaged Course's exportation, and therefore bank account. Course had just recently rebuilt its tentative peace with the rest of the world; the Queen wouldn't risk that for an old friend would she? (geep! Sorry so long - I like to babble about Course )
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Post by Crescent on Jan 8, 2006 11:59:15 GMT -5
[[oh don't worry, I think majority here likes long posts And I personally yearn for info on Course anyway ]] Sea Tiger listened to Kail talk, steering the ship leisurely after the other ship. Well, so long as they could see it, he wasn't really sure if there was any point in diverting from their course. Especially since, if Kail had blown their cover, of which he wasn't sure, the other ship just might decide to turn away. This concerned him a little. He nodded to Kail's ponderings. "Well, we're speaking of a pirate", he said with a shrug. "His reasons could be anything. He could be just after some ransom." He glanced at Kail a bit cautiously. "You don't suppose, then, that the Coursian court itself would have paid for the Locket?" It was a thought that easily came to his mind. He was familiar with royal struggles for power, even if he had, thankfully, not been involved in them himself.
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Post by Bella on Jan 8, 2006 12:16:39 GMT -5
"You don't suppose, then, that the Coursian court itself would have paid for the Locket?"
Kail frowned, but didn't want to speak before she gave it some serious thought. "I doubt it, Queen Luna has now been restored to the throne, so why should she have need? She's on good terms with Dream Valley - stealing the locket from them would only cause a war." But a war that she could undoubtably win, with a little hit to her export industry.
I wonder how important an export industry is when you have the Rainbow of Light in your hoof?
But then why would they need the locket there? The Queen already knew that it would come to her aid if she called - it had done just so three years ago. Then again, Kail wasn't considering all of the hundreds of royals that inhabited the castle - three family's worth. And all of them could bid for the throne, if only they could overthrow the new Queen, who was, appearantly, the Rainbow's choice.
Control the Rainbow, control the Queen, control the whole of Course.
But Kail didn't think of that.
"No, Queen Luna wouldn't have paid for the locket," she said matter-of-factly.
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Post by Crescent on Jan 8, 2006 12:21:44 GMT -5
Sea Tiger shrugged. Well, if she were sure. He wasn't familiar with the Coursian court and how united they were. For all he knew, she was right.
"Well, if you think so," he said matter-of-factly. "So, do you want me to turn the ship and try to head them off or continue the same course. I say we should try to follow them still, just in case they decide to change their plans. Do they know we're after them?"
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Post by Bella on Jan 8, 2006 12:32:57 GMT -5
Kail looked down sheepishly, "yes, they know. Or at least, they told me where they were going before they realized who I was, so they know that I know where they are headed. They may very well change course." And what would that mean then? That no one in Course had sent them. If they didn't change then someone must be paying them to steal the locket... or they were completely insane.
"Rascal seemed to be going a bit mad; they may just stay on course no matter what."
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Post by Crescent on Jan 8, 2006 13:00:36 GMT -5
Sea Tiger raised a brow, but didn't ask anything. Mad? That should have made him feel more confident, but it didn't. Mad people do mad things. The last thing he wanted was an enemy that behaved unexpectedly.
"Since we cannot be sure, we will continue straight after them," he said calmly. "See if we can keep up. And if we lose them from sight, we'll go to Course and hope for the best."
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Post by Jewel on Jan 8, 2006 13:15:35 GMT -5
Once Hollow departed, Jewel gave a last, rather defeated look at her left wing and tucked it back in place. She then inched forward slightly, making herself a bit more comfortable. It was then that she noticed the blue Champion in the doorway.
The pegasus smiled a greeting, resting her chin tiredly between her forelegs. Something about Roxy's nature always made her a welcomed sight.
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Post by Bella on Jan 8, 2006 13:18:35 GMT -5
Kail nodded in agreement. She would have gone out scouting again if they lost sight of them, but she was thuroughly convinced that the rest of the Champions would tie her to the bottom of the ship before they let her fly off on her own again.
"Well," she said without hope, "if we loose them Course does have a large, fast navy. I'm sure we could find them again with their help."
Kail stood, looking out to sea and the other ship which was not visible to her in the dark night horizon anylonger. She was sure come morning they would see the dark speck again littering the water far away, but for now they would hold course through the night. Turning her head straight up she searched instead for the Guardian stars, and smiled when she found them somewhere in the sky behind her. White, blue, red; Serena, Wind Whistler, and Katrina, sitting in a triangle of sturdy protection behind their ship, pushing them on to protect what they had died protecting.
"I better get to work," Kail said softly, still looking behind her at the stars. A deep breath to prepare herself and she turned away from the Captain and the stars and moved down below to find the Princess, Jewel, Razz, and Hollow. She'd work on healing herself last of all.
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Post by Orivy Assassin on Jan 8, 2006 16:34:28 GMT -5
Roxanne huffed in surprise when Hollow Heart started. "Sorry kid! No worries." And she gave him a smile and a pat.
Then she poked her nose into Jewel's room. Seeing the pegasus give smile, even if she was tired, encouraged Roxy. She stepped inside. "Mind if I join you for a moment dahling?" She sat tentatively on the edge of the bed.
"Well..." she licked her lips nervously, not wanting to insult Jewel. "That was a bit of a mess, wasn't it?
"You know... I know I wasn't much good up on deck just now, but I - I wanted to come talk to you because tiger, you're the Champ I'm most comfy with right now t'tell you the truth."
She half-smiled at Jewel. "I'm having a tough time with this magic biz, and getting it together with all the rest of you. But the thing is... I really do care about all of us as a group, and although I didn't say a thing just now - yes, Roxy was tongue-tied - I want to help.
"It seems to be getting more and more necessary for us to band together as an ensemble, but that seems to be the last thing that's happening right now. The blue streak in me says I could be helping to make that happen, and I'm sitting in the wings like an understudy.
"Jewel baby, are we as broken up as we seem right now? And is there anything I can or should do?"
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Post by Jewel on Jan 8, 2006 19:07:20 GMT -5
"Well..." she licked her lips nervously, not wanting to insult Jewel. "That was a bit of a mess, wasn't it?"
"You can say that again," The pegasus sighed, not in the least offended.
"You know... I know I wasn't much good up on deck just now, but I - I wanted to come talk to you because tiger, you're the Champ I'm most comfy with right now t'tell you the truth."
Things might have gotten a bit messier if you'd come between Hollow and Kail while she was waving that thing around, Jewel thought to herself. Her ears swiveled slightly as Roxy said the latter, and she smiled briefly.
"I'm having a tough time with this magic biz, and getting it together with all the rest of you. But the thing is... I really do care about all of us as a group, and although I didn't say a thing just now - yes, Roxy was tongue-tied - I want to help.
"It seems to be getting more and more necessary for us to band together as an ensemble, but that seems to be the last thing that's happening right now. The blue streak in me says I could be helping to make that happen, and I'm sitting in the wings like an understudy.
"Jewel baby, are we as broken up as we seem right now? And is there anything I can or should do?"
The pegasus listened patiently while the other spoke, occaisionally nodding in agreement. "It feels pretty far from a team to me," She said with a small sigh, "and I think you're right.. we need to band together. That's where our strength is. And the lack of which is probably the reason why our healer is half out of her mind, the Princess was put in serious danger, and the bad guys are now on to us." She looked pensive for a moment, then looked to Roxy with a half-smile, "Not to mention I'm flying more crooked than a drunk ostrich."
"We need our Blue stripe," She smiled encouragingly, though noticeably fatigued, "A good first step might be to get all of us together in the same room for Rainbow's sake, and really share news and ideas. Get each other's opinions, ya know?" She paused, looking at the fellow golden mare, "and I don't think anyone's more suited for the task than you, Roxy dear."
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Post by Orivy Assassin on Jan 9, 2006 3:30:53 GMT -5
Roxanne listened seriously to Jewel, whom she naturally trusted more than the others on the ship. She cocked an ear forward when Jewel agreed with her, and breathed a small sigh.
She then looked critically at Jewel's injured wing. "Y'all right there, tiger? I know it's none of my beeswax, but whatever happened on that other ship..." She furrowed her brow with concern. "Are we in trouble with these pirate types?" She lowered her voice. "This ship's gang is a hooffull enough."
Roxy straightened up at the peg's encouragement. She didn't want to gush, but tried to communicate how pleased she was that the two mares could talk easily. "You're a good sort, Jewel. I thought I could do something of the type. Glad to know I won't be leaping without a wire in doing it. Shall I bring them to this venue, then?" She waved a hoof at the small room.
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Post by Jewel on Jan 9, 2006 14:02:32 GMT -5
"Y'all right there, tiger? I know it's none of my beeswax, but whatever happened on that other ship..." She furrowed her brow with concern. "Are we in trouble with these pirate types?" She lowered her voice. "This ship's gang is a hooffull enough."
Jewel nodded, both in affirmation and in agreement with Roxy, "I was on my way out when one of them decided not to let me go in one piece," She replied, referring to the damage to her wing.
"I wouldn't say we're so much in trouble with them, as they're in trouble with the Queen," Jewel said, thinking the matter over, "I think we're lucky in that we're chasing them, and not vice versa, that's for sure. They.." the pegasus took a deep breath, "They're a tough bunch." She would have said more and elaborated on the situation, but she didn't want to scare or discourage her friend. For the gravity of the situation, Charisma would need all the optimism she could gather.
"You're a good sort, Jewel. I thought I could do something of the type. Glad to know I won't be leaping without a wire in doing it. Shall I bring them to this venue, then?"
"You're a good sort yourself," She smiled aimiably, wrapping her right wing around Roxy and giving a brief squeeze. It hurt too much to do much else just then.
"I think it would be best if Hollow and Kail could calm down a bit first," She said, not at all ready for a group powow just then. "Maybe after a little bit, when the sun comes up? Then maybe we'll all be present, half-healthy, and accounted for. What do you think?"
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Post by Orivy Assassin on Jan 9, 2006 14:18:26 GMT -5
Roxanne picked up a gold feather and tucked it into her mane. "Matches nicely, doncha think?"
"The Queen... the Queen isn't here, though. It's we who are the law, and no matter who's chasing who there's a fight ahead, isn't there? Reasoning - which I'm assuming is what Kail was doing - didn't cough much up. Except a mouthful of your feathers."
Roxy nodded at Jewel's advice. "You know that's a-ok with me. You should get some rest, anyhow. I'll leave you to recoop."
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