The Narrow Sea

Ari

If someone, pony, whatever, if I was asked if I was happy right now I could proudly say yes. I was as happy as I could imagine being, warm, at peace with the near future, and with friends and…Family, I had a family now. Sure, the world wasn’t saved, the zebras weren’t home, and Lyric’s family wasn’t returned…Yet. But we were together again, my herd, family, was more complete than it had been all week.

Hooves massaged my aching withers lightly, almost pawing at them, as low murmuring reached my ears. It was perfect, I was surrounded by mares.

All the mares were nice to cuddle against, converse with, and I would never complain about the pony piles. Although something about my mares just brought an overwhelming flutter to my heart, a happiness I hadn’t felt even with my human partners.

Were hormones and instincts at play?

That was very possible considering how much i had relied on them to function in this new culture, at least i had at first anyway, now i was more into cognitively understanding the what and why of this equine culture. Of course, I did still feel a need to wrap my wings around my herd, to make them in every way mine. But it was muted now, my logical mine able to guide more of my actions. I felt almost like with all these mares around me my instincts were satisfied, that maybe wrong too though. I wasn’t an expert on equine behavior or anything like that, but I had observed the peace I felt surrounded by mares…Maybe it was a herd instinct? ‘Safety in numbers’ and all that prey mentality I hadn't possessed before, at least not enough to notice if I did.

Regardless of the reason, I was happy- OW!

Pain blossomed from my wing and my eyes shot open. What bit me? My eyes darted to the left only find sleeping ponies and a still unconscious siren hybrid. To my right…Oh, I knew that look. Chrissy was snuggling into my matted side, ears forward, eyes half lidded, and muzzle curved into what I call a coy smile.

A feather was twiddling in her mouth.

I gave her a smile back, the previous pain in my wing fading to join the other multitudes of pain that lurked in the back of my head…Which if I was literal, which was one of the few areas that didn’t hurt too much.

“Breakfast?” I queried to her as I moved in to give her a kiss.

She let the feather flutter to the ground. Humming as I kissed her, I was enjoying our kiss, about to add my tongue, when something whipped me on the butt. Breaking the kiss I Looked back, a blue tail was flying high. As I watched, Chrissy gave an inconspicuous hum and the erect tail whipped me again.

Maybe I like this type of whip.

Turning back to her now smirking muzzle, I raised an eyebrow at her before I stood, feeling my erection bounce a little. All ready for-

We froze as grumbles and whimpers echoed around the room, my standing having triggered a mass shuffling in the pony pile pyramid, mares plopping from resting on my side starting the grumble that slowly worked its way around the room. This was not what I wanted, I had managed a whole week without flashing them and I wasn’t starting now.

Minutes stretched, and I couldn't will away my erection, my eyes tracked every noise they could.

Some eyes flickered briefly.

Tails tickled noses, hoofs jerked, and still no pony was awake.

A ‘snork’ sounded in the far corner, followed by several sleepy neighs from another portion of the mass, and a few whimpers as some wiggled against imaginary foes. Seconds ticked by as this increase in noise went by, both my mare and I were as still as statues. Every being finally giving their own final grumbles before settling down.
That was too close.

I let out my breath and made to help Chrissy up, draping my wing over her as she wobbled on her hooves. Looking up from her hooves she looked at my cock briefly, it twitched in response, then her eyes met mine.

They narrowed and her tail wilted.

“What?” I whispered to her, puzzled by the sudden switch. Chrissy took a deep breath, about to answer me when I felt a gentle nibble on my neck. “Oh.” My mare wants a private breakfast and I had forgotten all about my new friend on my back.

In my defense, Ayodele is still really skinny, she had only been eating normal for three days now.

Grabbing the mare in my field of magic I levitated her over to her cousin, they will like waking up to each other I think.

Chrissy seemed satisfied with that, giving me a quick nod, before looking at me intently. It took me a second to catch on as her tail flagged high again to realize I no idea where on this ship I would give her breakfast. Quickly thinking through the places…This room was a big no, as was the deck. Both spots were too much in the view of the others and she was a squealer. Which I enjoyed, but that also left us in a predicament seeing as I didn’t know any illusion magic, nor any silencing spells. If those type of spells existed.

“Ari?”

I hummed back.

“Where are we going for breakfast?” She asked, moving closer into my side, giving my neck nibbles which sent another twitch to my cock as I shuddered, pleasure tingling up my spine.

Sighing, I gave her ear a nibble; there really was only one decent place to have privacy, “The pantry.”

Her nibbling increased and I had to hold back groan as hairs trailed slowly off my rump. She was such a tease!

We began trying to wobble and weave our way out of the mass of ponies. At this point it was a real exercise, I had some feeling in my hooves at least this time, a minor pain, but my muscles ached and Chrissy was just as wobbly as I was.

The deck was clear, sun high and stuck in place already as it showed the mess we left on the deck. Cannons were loaded and one match away from firing, cannon balls rolling slightly with the calmer waves rolling around the boat.

The other ships were dark specks on the horizon, all of us heading to the smallest mass on the horizon. Zebrica. It was still-

“Mmmmm,” I groaned loudly. Fuck, she was making it hard to concentrate. Her little grasps at my fur and skin were becoming more insistent. Right, where was the hatch? In a half aroused daze I lifted the metal grate, a quiet thump behind us as we made our way down.

Her ministrations stopped suddenly, the smell of the cell wafting up as the ship heated up under the sun. “What is that smell?!”

“The old cell,” I pointed a hoof at the hatch that was still cracked open, the hinge was slightly off on it to my disdain. “Whatever captain had this ship didn’t clean out the cell like Arch did, heck, I think Arch’s accommodations might have been nicer.”

As we made our way across the room to the pantry she raised an eyebrow at me, “How were his nicer?! I would think they would be all the same.”

“For starters no pony was in chains, unlike the other ships. He actually cleaned his, hosed us down once a week…That was horrible.” I shuddered. “In fact, I was only hogtied and strung from a hook.” She raised her eyebrow higher at that...I guess it didn't sound that much better than shackles. “Hey! I was only aware of that for like ten minutes, apparently I was unconscious for four days. Whatever Ayomide hit me with was strong.”

She snorted, shaking her head as I opened the door for us. “You really don’t hate her? Want her dead?”

“Well, I am more shocked that some being wants me dead…I haven’t exactly been flaunting my Alicorn status around.”

She looked around for a second while I closed the door, taking in our plentiful stacks of hay, and barrels of various fruits. It was still more than half way full even with over a hundred mouths to feed here.

“Jabar,” her answer spoke for itself.

Of course, the one time I let some being live they comes back to bite me in the rump...I didn't think Ayomide was like that...I hoped anyway. This world was a stress ulcer waiting to happen. I mean this one mission I agree to, no, have to do for the survival of the planet and it’s been almost four weeks with little progress. Sure Kapera will make the magic inhibitors, but I’m still missing the airship and knock out drugs. Maybe-

“Breakfast!” my mare’s insistent mouth grabbed my ear, tongue caressing the outside.

Maybe I should relax, god that feels amazing...It has been a very long week.

I took a deep breath in, groaning as I let it out, her strong scent of arousal reaching my nose with ease. In fact the smell of her was all I wanted now. The many foodstuffs surrounded me not nearly as enticing as my sleek mare’s chitin. It curved inward along her abdomen still, before rounding out at her rump, the rump in question swayed slightly as I stared, sending out the most wonderful smell in the world. Following my nose, I tucked in my stiffening wing and trailed my nose down her body, stopping at her wing stub to briefly suck on it. Her tail twitched, folding up onto her back and my head, brushing my horn as she made an odd croon. That was the source, her tail, it was soaked in it.

Moving along her chitin, her tail tickled my nostrils, till my muzzle ran into something solid. A quick nibble on her upturned dock earned me a breathy moan as she widened her stance, squared up and more- oh god her scent- way more than ready.

Continuing with the nibbling I made way down her dock, inhaling the intoxicating scent of cinnamon and…Nutmeg? That was new, but not unpleasant. My stallionhood was already throbbing from her scent alone.

Panting reached my ears as I glimpsed her marehood wink at me, just her shallow pants and my hooves echoed around the pantry as I moved behind her.

Another wink as I brought my lips to her inner thigh, taking in her scent, before slowly trailing my tongue along to her nub. My cock throbbing almost painfully now, her smell, the moans, all working up my instinct to mount her and fuck her senseless, logic was shouting in a losing battle though. I couldn’t make her scream…

Then she started winking like mad, encouraging me to mount her, all while trying to capture my wandering tongue. She was going to scream for me.

“B-buck…A-Ari!” She swore, panting between the words, all while looking back at me with a look that said ‘shove it in damn it’.

I had missed this, so, so much.

More than happy to comply, I took her nub in my mouth quickly, before tugging it slightly up with me as I reared. She squealed at the ceiling, the loud squeal turning into a low moan as my head lined up with her marehood and I slammed home in one thrust. Her warm cavern clenching around me as I caught my breath, readying myself, I still hadn’t brought her to orgasm yet. It just didn’t feel right if she didn’t scream herself into oblivion at least once first.

She wanted two breakfasts and I had a week to catch-

Grunting as I lost my thought, her marehood undulated around my cock, warmth and pressure filling my mind as I was balls deep in her. I understood that message loud and clear. Propping myself up, I backed out before slamming in again, feeling her wobble forward slightly. Moans starting as I repeated that, pulling back halfway, and ramming into her cervix as I came home. Pressure built around me, her marehood growing hotter and slicker as her juices coated my stallionhood. Minutes went by, wet sounds echoing in the room as I plowed into her. Coming in hard again, I felt her go rigid under me, locking in place.

“ARIIIII!” Chrissy’s call reverberated around the room, slowly she trailed off as she lowered her head, knees wobbling as she came down from the high.

But I still wasn’t there yet, so as soon as her grip relaxed a bit I began pounding into her again. Grabbing a portion of blue mane in my mouth, I used it to stabilize my balance, jerking it slightly as I began going faster, we teetered sideways several times and tried to stay upright.

Light nickers escaped her then as my pounding grew a little faster, shorter thrusts as I felt the coiling in my balls. Tightening my grip on her mane and barrel, I put more power the thrusts, slamming us forward with every thrust. Her mane muffled my groans as I felt my peak coming. Slick squelching mixing with heavy panting, and, so, I was so...CLOSE!

Pleasure clouded my brain as she screamed my name, surely telling the entire world exactly what type of breakfast she was getting. But I couldn’t care less, she was mine and I was hers. We were together again.

As last of my orgasmic bliss fell away I realized I was resting my weight on Chrissy, more importantly that she was buckling under me. Before I could right myself her legs buckled under her, sending us both to the floor. The small puddle we had made splashing under me.

“S-sorry Chrissy,” a soft purr escaped her parted muzzle, a wide grin fixed there as her eyes remained closed.

We both laid there for a couple of minutes, my hardening shaft still inside her as we rested, catching our breaths mostly, and in my case trying to will down my stiffening wings. One was still broken and as I am learning, the arousal reaction affects both at once. Damn, that smarts; I hope Lyric can fix it.

Shifting under me, my mare rests her head on her hooves, “What’s the matter Ari?” Chrissy asks, a little breathless still, cracking her eyes as she turns her muzzle slightly to eye me.

Right, she can feel my emotions.

“Just my broken wing, they both want to stiffen at once.” She quirked her eyebrow in question at me, “I can handle another round though,” giving her a wide smile as I shifted myself in her, earning me a moan. But she didn’t move to stand. “Are you good to go again?”

“Y-yes,” she half groans out as I rock on my hooves, “But I’m afraid I don’t have the energy to stand for this round.” Waving a hoof slowly at what must be my concern flickering through my face, “Don’t look like that. I just went a week without having any good meals. Some pony disagreed with that.” She ends, giving her belly a dirty look.

Oh.

A mix of emotions filled me then. Guilt for being stupid enough to leave them while I was essentially powerless, followed by worry for our foal’s status, a week was a long time right? Before reality finally hit me, I was back. “I promise no more walks alone, we are-,” I shifted, trying to get a good position while being so low to the ground, “-are going to trade in these ships for an airship.” Grunting as I finally found a rhythm, thrusting quick and hard as my cock was still sensitive from the orgasm. “T-then w-we a-arree g-goOOooing t-to kidnAaap t-the p-princesses,” talking was getting harder now and my mare wasn’t helping. She was moaning and giving the cutest muffled squeals into her hooves now, good god, I think she clenched around me harder when I mentioned kidnapping them too.

She was too tight for me to focus on business anymore; pressure was steadily building up in me, filling my mind with images of what I needed to do. Instinct stole the show then as pleasure from her marehood's ministrations dominated my senses.

Mine.

The room filled with wet sounds, both our noises being reduced to panting as we raced to the top, sometime during this my eyes closed and my nose buried itself in her mane. A wave passed through her tunnel and it started to grow rigid as the pressure in me hit a crescendo.

My thrusting stilled.

Whinnies echoed around the room as we managed to synchronize our orgasms again.

Our bodies were limp and quivering from the sensations, both of us maybe not quite ready for this much quite yet.

Then a creak stole our attention. The door swung inward as I snapped out of my pleasure driven daze, there in the doorway stood Marble Cake.

“A-Ari,” the brown mare stuttered, ears splayed, and her jaw trying to work just as much as mine was. What do you say when your new friend catches you post coitus? Really, that hasn’t happened to me before, usually I planned things like this better. On earth anyway. Here, on Equis I had been have sex anywhere…It didn’t seem wrong as an equine, I mean they did do it anywhere here too right?

So much for not flashing my new friends, instead she catches me after sex; I don’t know which is worse.

“He’s mine,” Chrissy purred out the ‘mine’ part, backing into my sheath, my cock having hastily retreated at the sight of the mare in the doorway.

That didn’t help.

And with that my new friend turned tail, the rapid clip clop of her galloping hooves the only indication she had been there. I could just imagine the scarring this is doing to her brain, walking in on any person during or after sex is always awkward, and there was no doubt that is what we had been doing. The room smelled heavily of our activity, juices were on the floor, and us. We really hadn’t been too quiet about it.

Stealth may not be my special skill.

Purring, Chrissy began licking my muzzle, nuzzling under it as I tried to blink away my shock. “What was that about?” I moved off her, settling down beside her, watching her expression. Something was up, her statement felt too…Meaningful? No, possessive was a better word. But…

“I was just reminding her that you aren’t available.” She stated like it was obvious, which it was, but it made no sense.

Giving her muzzle a kiss, I watched as she leaned into it. “She is, well, maybe was now…Marble is a friend. You don’t have to worry about her being interested; I haven’t seen any flagging or sign of interest from her or any of the mares. So, it would be nice if you could get along with her.”

Chrissy sighed at that, shaking her head, “Your ‘friend’ is an Equestrian Ari, I don’t see why she would be civil to me, and in fact…She has no precedence to be civil to me, why hasn’t she freaked out yet?”

“Well,” her eyes narrowed, “I don’t know why she hasn’t freaked out yet. Maybe she trusts the fact that I love you? Maybe she believes what I said last night? Or maybe she is looking at the world with new eyes...” A doubtful snort, “Really Chrissy, Marble was captured a month ago and as a result really doesn’t like the princesses.” I knew that look, more doubt, “They didn’t come for her, a whole month of starving in the hull of a ship…So I think the image she had of them is shattered, and…I may have told every pony on the ships the plan.”

Again, stealth and secrecy wasn’t my thing.

Chitin went rigid against me as she began to lick her way down my neck, her tongue brushing delicately over my wound from the ape’s teeth. After a tense moment my mare finally broke the silence, curtly asking, “Anything else you told the world?”

“Just that I love two amazingly wonderful mares that are pregnant with my foals,” her licking stopped, moving back she glared at me. “Every pony was pretty understanding and supportive about that.” I added, looking away as I failed to manage a smile under her stormy glare.

Minutes passed in as we lapsed back into silence, her licking away my blood and I munching away, this was a pantry after all. I didn’t know what else to say to her to break the silence, I trusted the mares, they all seemed genuine, and besides Pumpkin Spice’s betrayal they all were loyal…Maybe though it wasn’t if they were loyal, it was if the whole world going to be okay with this? Short answer, I didn’t think so. It really wasn’t safe to go around saying I had foals on the way then. They were essentially the next generation of Alicorns, magical powerhouses of the planet, and there was bound to be some being out there that would want to use that information for their advantage.

Both our mouths opened at the same time.

“They-.”

“I-.”

Pausing, we locked eyes and she rushed out what she wanted to say, “They don’t run in fear of me…” I nodded, feeling encouraged at her tone, “It was strange…When the zebra attending me just asked if I was going to be a ‘good patient’, like I wasn’t a changeling, her emotions weren’t bitter with fear.” Sea green eyes shimmered slightly in the dim light, “She didn’t hurt me or think I was going to hurt her.”

Wow, whatever racism she experienced…I felt a resolve to never let our foal feel it; I mean she was tearing up from a medic not fearing her! “They are good ponies…Understanding, helpful, hard working…From what they experienced and what I told them I didn’t think they would be a threat to our foals.”

Equestrians…They still were a wild card though.

Her head gave a faint nod, sea green eyes disappearing for a second before she gave another nod. Chrissy eventually hummed in a tone that sounded like approval, ears starting to twitch as she got back into grooming me, tongue rasping over my fur in a soothing manner.

But the peace never lasts.

“ARI GET UP HERE NOW!” Kapera’s voice bellowed down to us, forcing our ears back. We shared a look and I was glad we were on the same page on this.

“Five more minutes,” I yelled back to her.

Thirty minutes later, we finally convinced each other to move. Really it was the lack of cursing and nagging from the smith that proved to be worrying. What could have happened to stop that loud female was beyond us.

So here we were, about to face the music. I hoped Marble could get over it, cause I wasn’t getting new marefriends. This world needed to move beyond species.

Time to face the stares…

I knew we smelled like sex even before we stepped onto the deck. And by that, I meant it was going to get awkward.

As the warm sunlight washed over our bodies I gave us a last look over. Tails were down and most hairs were back in place…I still don’t know where the other half of my tail went though. That was a mystery for another time. Moving my eyes forward, our rumps appeared to be clean, all the evidence of our activity hidden by our dark shade of chitin and fur, and in my mare’s case, her tail. I think our faces weren’t-

“What took you so long?” Folami stood in front of me at the top of the stairs, looking at me with a blush staining her cheeks as she tried to look me in the eyes. She was failing. My hooves proved more fascinating to her right then.

I guess that answered my question if we were too loud.

“Well, we were both still a little unsteady on our hooves so we decided to take it slow.” Around us zebras were milling around, pointedly avoiding my gaze, more than a few were very red around their muzzles. Coughs sounded from a few as they passed us.

“O-oh.”

Nodding slightly as her muzzle turned a few shades darker, I looked around, frowning when I didn’t see Marble or Kapera. “So Kapera called us…” Folami didn’t appear to be listening, occupied with the air between- Nope, false alarm, it was still tucked away. “Folami?” Her tail started flicking, whipping back and forth as her nostrils flared. “Folami,” I repeated, my own concern bled through this time.

Had I broke her?

“Folami answer the question.” Chrissy all but ordered with her ears back as she watched the zebra intently.

Jumping slightly, Folami blinked at me before looking at my mare, as they locked eyes, the zebra slowly stilled her tail as her ears splayed out. “U-um, what I mean, I, is…What was the question again?”

Ignoring Chrissy’s snort I tried to salvage this odd interaction that I was lost in, “Where is Kapera since she called us?”

“In the cabin,” quick and curt was her reply as she seemed to shrink under Chrissy’s eyes. This interestingly enough pleased my mare immensely, her ears flicking forward, and a lazy smile growing on her muzzle. Like a cat that got the cream.

“Thanks! Talk later Folami.”

As we turned and made for the cabin I felt Chrissy’s tail swing, the tip flicking my rump.

We were definitely going to talk about this later, I think I missed something there…But maybe Folami just didn’t know how to react to the reality of a changeling being my marefriend? Maybe…I mean I haven’t met any being, pony or otherwise, that doesn’t have some racism to changelings. Although I had hoped the zebras were different, I had made some good friends so far too…

Opening the door, I immediately knew this was going to be a long day.

To start off, there was the smell. What had been the comforting scent of mares was now overpowered by the tangy, nose wrinkling scent of vomit.

It only got worse…The upchuck in question was splattered below the swinging bat pony…Why was he hanging from-

Pink magic, all my questions about this headache inducing scene was pushed aside then.

“Lyric!” I rushed forward, trotting up to my other mare with Chrissy right behind me, both of us smiling like crazy. “Missed you so much,” mumbling as I stuffed my muzzle into her mane, she was trapped between us. We were a herd again. Sure, she looked a little worse for wear with bandages on her muzzle and a wrapped tail, but being alive trumped that.

Murmuring brought me back to the scene I walked in on.

She had been surrounded by a group of sympathetic zebras, all seeming to harbor a similar desire to pound on the defenceless bat winged colt…Not that it wasn’t possible for him to deserve this treatment from the mares, but I felt a twinge of sympathy for him still, it wasn’t too long ago that I had been the piñata on the rope. Although, on the other hoof, this colt had been tied up when I found my mares with him, and considering the very good reason Ayomide was restrained I needed to stay cautious.

Actually where was- Oh, there, she was part of the group that had been hitting him, her lack of a mane sticking out in the group, Ayodele was with her too. Great, one family reunited.

“HEY!” He shouted at us, “You-,” causing Chrissy to wince at his yelling, “-fake Alicorn!”

Maybe she wasn’t doing quite so- Wait, Did he just say fake Alicorn? Another pony that doesn’t think I am who I am? Sheesh, I have to nip this in the butt.

Before I could act, a ‘twap’ sounded as a hoof flew and I heard the mares snort. Kapera gave a sigh from her spot by the Minotaurs, and looking over I saw her head in her paws. Apparently this was why I was needed. He had somehow offended these mares...Wait, that really should offend me, not them? At least, I suppose so, at this point it was just annoying. Beings here weren’t really to blame, but it never seemed to cross their mind just how often I get asked the question: ‘Are you an Alicorn?’

“-changeling,” that brought me out of my mare’s embrace and I looked him in the eye as he continued. “That’s right, I am onto you changeling king.”

Oh…That was a new one.

Cocking my head at him, I really took him in as I moved towards him, and he really looked to believe his words. “You are being serious…” A smug smile adorned his muzzle. “Well, that explains why they had you tied up-.”

“What!” His smile faltered.

“-You are loony.”

“I am not CRAZY!” He yelled, thrashing in his bonds. “You are the changeling king and I don’t know why you-.”

This was obviously going to go nowhere so I froze him in my magic.

“Lyric you can let him go.” Her horn dimmed. “Thank you,” Okay, it was time to change his mind. “Chrissy?” Every pony cleared a path as she rejoined me, Lyric moving to my other side. “How much does he know and is there any other reason he is being restrained?”

It was Lyric that spoke up instead, “Well, he seems to think that you are a changeling,” I nodded, that was obvious, “That sirens are evil,” That explained her involvement, “And that zebras are savages…”She trailed off as my ears went back.

Great, another racist…

Chrissy took over, “We have already explained how you are here to stop the weather, actually,” She glanced at Gennady who had been watching us from in his sister’s embrace. “He got caught in a storm in Minotaria and Gennady brought him...But he is…Well, a Lunar guard, Moonlit Echo is his name if I recall.”

I sighed, that explained it all. “So he was sent by Moonbutt then?” She nodded. I see where he got the ‘fake Alicorn’ comment from now. But the ‘changeling king’ part, I still didn’t see that.

Fucking Alicorn princess…

“Her name is Princess Luna!” A fan of hers, joy, “You should show her a little respect bug! She sent me here to ‘check on the poor colt, make sure he stays safe’, but I know your plan!” Every pony was seemed to gathering now, cocking their heads as he got worked up. “You are a changeling and once you ‘save’ the world, you are going to, to…”

He hadn’t even thought out what ‘evil’ I was going to do…Well, at least he seems to believe the world falling apart fact, that was always the most crazy sounding part I thought.

“Okay?” He scrunched his muzzle at me as I brought him down to the floor…Onto his vomit. His narrowed eyes told me he was paying attention now. “So let me start explaining then, first let’s start with some rules, no, just one rule really. If you say ‘changelings are evil’, ‘sirens are evil’, or really insult any being in this room you will be hit.” I looked to the crowd, “Agreeable?” Stomps came from the zebras, Dinari gave me a enthusiastic thumbs up, and even some of the few e
Equestrians participating were nodding in approval. The colt paled a little.

Wow, he really pissed off every being here, even ponies from his own country!

“F-fine,” he finally stuttered out.

Curling my legs under me, I found a vomit free section, and settled in for the long haul. Many mares also decided to lie down as well, Chrissy and Lyric more than happy to cuddle into my sides for this.

Hooves clip clopping echoed in the room, shuffling, “Excellent, now since you already know the basics I assume. My name, the whole world is doomed bit, and why it’s doomed.” He looked away, “Ah, I see we have a problem. What is it?”

“Why would they doom a planet? It doesn’t make sense; the princesses love every pony…”

Now I saw his dilemma, he was probably raised to idolize them; his princess literally controlled the moon…

“I’m afraid I don’t know what to tell you besides that I don’t know if they even realize what they are doing to every other being…I would like to think they aren’t aware, but their laissez-faire foreign relations practices and clearly culturally accepted racism to other species is suggesting otherwise.” I sighed, “Look I would love for us to be peaceful, happy, and not have to tie you up for another two weeks. A week ago I was in your position, all the mares on these boats were in the same position. But those were slavers holding us captive and I don’t want to be like them…However-,” I looked deep into his eyes, folding my ears back as my heart pounded faster, “-I won’t feel too hard done by if those racist slurs keep leaving your mouth.”

A gulp echoed around the room and something wiggled onto my back, Ayodele sneaking up...Chrissy gave a small hiss but didn't take her eyes off the Lunar guard.

Moonlit Echo didn’t respond, vomit apparently riveting.

“Let me be perfectly clear, while I am not a changeling I do love a changeling,” Chrissy purred from her side, “and a mare that is part siren.” Lyric gave me a kiss for that. “There is nothing wrong with being something other than an equestrian pony and I sincerely wish you would see that. But even if you can’t see that, please be respectful to them and the others, in return I promise to respect your species as well…” Wait a second. “Sorry, what are you? I’m really sorry. I just have never seen one of you before.”

I can’t believe I hadn’t asked him before…

His expression was jumbled; ears back then forward, before splaying. Leathery wings twitched and his tail couldn’t decide if it wanted to rest or move around.

“Well?”

“I am a Thestral.”

“Excellent, and I’m a Alicorn.” No refuting, moving on then, that was some progress at least. “Okay, Moonlit Echo, how about we make a deal.” He looked up from his fascinating partially digested hay. “You can watch me, come along with me to fulfill your princess’s command, and I will treat you with as much respect as I can, considering your accusations.” Ears strained forward, “I will reunite you with your princess, alive of course, and you will both not hear from us again after the business is over with.” Lyric shifted beside me. “Deal,” I asked the trapped pony, raising an eyebrow as he frowned.

This colt was definitely a guard. He started scrutinizing my face, eyes whipping left and right as he tried to judge the authenticity of my words.

“So, what’s the catch?”

“There is no catch. If you remain respectful I remain respectful. No escape attempts and I won’t need to restrain you, no slurs and I won’t hurt you, and in the end you fulfill your mission and return home. I think it is pretty straight forward.”

The whole room seemed to hold its breath, eyes darting between us.

“You aren’t a changeling?” I shook my head, “And you really don’t want to kill me? Or kill the princess? OR INVADE MY COUNTRY?!”

He was just working himself up now.

“Oh, for Faust’s sake! I was desperate okay?!” I leaned back from Chrissy, every pony did, the sheer volume of her voice echoing back to us as she snorted. “My entire race is dead you ignoramus, you are looking at the last changeling, there will be no invasion, no attack, no murdering. WE JUST WANT TO LIVE!” She gestured to us, my herd.

I quickly wrapped her in my wing as her single one started to fill the room with an angry drone, “Chrissy…”Calming down, this allowed every pony to slowly straighten themselves, the threat of more yelling gone.

"So do we have a deal Moonlit Echo?"

Waves lapped at the boat, hooves sounded hollowly from out on the deck, and we waited. Nothing better to do really, we were sea bound till we reached Zebrica.

After what seemed like ten minutes he still hadn’t answered the question, if he would take the deal. Which really wasn’t a problem if he didn’t, really, either way he would be trapped until the princesses agreed to stop their tampering with nature, the deal just allowed him more freedom.

No deal I guess.

Every pony eventually gave up on him giving an answer, turning back to conversation, mostly in Zebrican. Probably talking about what they would do first when they got home.

Folami wandered in, looking significantly less red.

“Hey, how far we from Zebrica Folami,” Her hoof froze mid-step in the doorway.

That simple question seemed undo whatever composure she had gathered, red creeping up her muzzle. “A day and a half still,” her eyes were frantically looking around, avoiding mine, before she literally backed out of the cabin.

At least Marble stayed in the cabin when I entered...