Zecora sat by the fire, a whetstone in her dexterous hands. She brushed it along her spear’s tip, humming to herself as she performed upkeep on the weapon. The knife she carried had already got its treatment and had a thin coat of oil applied to it and the leather sheath she wore. Zecora gave a gentle blow across the weapon, content with one side. She swapped hands and once more angled the blade’s edge, sending the stone across it a few times before deeming her treatment good.

A knock, short and strong, came from her door. Unsurprisingly, it was followed by the princess’ voice, saying, “I’ve come to settle the challenge between us, if you have a moment to spare.”

Zecora quirked a brow, resting her spear against the wall. “A challenge you say? Enter, friend, without delay.”

Luna entered, closing the door behind her as she tossed something on a table next to the native. “I believe this sufficient to meet your requirements?”

She looked over to the table and paused. There before her was a delicate, beautiful blue flower. Zecora laughed.

“You did well, this I must say. Seeing this flower has made my day.”

“It certainly was not the easiest to acquire. But nothing so invigorates as a climb up a waterfall. It has been many years since I’ve done something so… adventurous,” replied the princess as she found a chair and sat. “Twas fun, I readily admit. So you have my thanks.”

“I’m pleased to hear you loved seeing it through.” She gave her next words some thought as she cupped her elbow in her hand. “Though I must admit, I had an… ulterior motive too.”

“Captain Shields’ strange behaviour hinted as much,” Luna replied, grinning. “I couldn’t let him know I was in on it, however. That would have spoiled the fun!” She raised a hand as a friendly gesture, saying, “May I enquire as to the nature of said motive?”

“All right.” She returned the grin and put a hand in her pocket. “Princess Luna. The flower is a wedding rite.” Zecora held up a hand quickly. “Though a bit too quick for that action, I say. Rather, I just wanted you to know I like your…” The tribal woman looked the princess over and gave a shrug of a shoulder. “Sway.”

Tilting her head to the side and resting it against her palm, Luna said and did nothing else, but simply looked into Zecora’s eyes. After a few moments of silence, she said, “Well, that is certainly new, I must admit.” Straightening her back to sit upright in the chair, she returned Zecora’s head-to-toe look. “Coming from you, I find that rather flattering.”

Zecora laughed, a deep and throaty thing, and returned farther in the room, sitting on the end of her worn and spartan bed. “Your reply makes me laugh, I must admit. You’re acting like people fawning for you is new, a bit.”

“With a sister like mine, it certainly is,” Luna said. “I was not one the lords--or ladies, for that matter--sought out. For some, surely, it was the fact that I would not inherit the throne. But most found my personality too… non-standard. The frills, the etiquette, the so-called ‘class’... I never could find much patience for it.”

“I rather find that admirable. A dislike of ‘frills’ as you say simply seems practical.” She tapped her temple to illustrate her point. “Skill with a blade and also a gun. Neither of these traits can be outdone.” Then, glancing over to Luna, she added as she lifted a leg up to her thigh and held it with her arms. “Unless we count perhaps your smile. That is a trait that cannot be reviled.”

“Cease, or I may blush! Truly, it is too much.” Luna laughed again, then rubbed her chin in thought. “So a marriage rite, was it? I can see the reasoning, certainly. A physical challenge to show true devotion. Though I’m assuming this flower can be found elsewhere? Not all are cut out for a climb of that magnitude.”

“Of course not all exist on a peak. There are a few for even the meek.” She tilted her head, letting her heavy hoop earrings slide alongside the motion. “Upon the mountains, even within the sand, they can be found here, far and wide within our land.”

“Fascinating. Out of curiosity, have you made the climb yourself?”

“River water I have drank, sand I have clutched, there is no place in my world I have yet to touch.”

“This could be, as they say, poorly timed. But certainly, I find your interest curious, if nothing else.” A wicked grin crossed the princess’ face. “I am not one to say ‘no’ to any sort of challenge, no matter how new.”

Zecora shared the same nearly predatory grin. “Your interest it seems I have accrued. I am pleased to see your warrior’s spirit shine through.”

“I’ve always found it only truly shines when faced with an adversary of equal might. And even then, it is best after much… vigorous testing.”

“‘Testing’ you beseech?” She chuckled, rising off of the bed. “Very well, I would be happy to teach.”

Hours later, ignoring his questions of where she had been or what she had been doing, Luna commanded Lew to bring his lieutenants to the medical house where Big Mac was still resting. The tribe was preparing them a sumptuous dinner, which they could enjoy as they planned their next moves. Lew had been pleased to see his men had fit in nicely, setting up watches and generally showing their organization and training without getting in the way of the locals. The two groups--both fascinated by the other but unable to truly communicate--had been approaching one another with curiosity the entire time.

The captain and his men approached the house as the last light of day faded to the now-familiar sky speckled night sky. Around them, the village was celebrating their guests. The strong smell of both flame-cooked meat and powerful drink filled the air. The only thing missing, thought Lew, was music. Though there was a good reason that was the case.

Opening the door, inside he found most of the smells of the outside were absent. Of course, he thought, it’s a hospital. But it wasn’t like modern hospitals back home, with their sterile, flat air of caution and worry. This was a place for healing. It was calm, healthy, and full of life--not standing on the precipice of death, but merely subdued, resting to find strength.

Inside, Big Mac was in bed still, propped up and digging steadily into a meaty stew. Sitting beside the bed were Zecora and the Princess. He and his men took chairs on the other side of the bed.

“Good evening, Captain,” said Luna. If Lew didn’t miss his guess, she seemed in exceptionally high spirits. And for the first time in a long while relaxed.

It was rather odd, but he decided not to comment on it, simply returning the greeting as they waited for Mac to finish his meal. More than one stomach rumbled in anticipation of their own.

He ate methodically, blowing on the stew, waiting for a moment, then taking the spoon and eating its contents, before repeating the process. In front of his family, he’d be wolfing this down without a second thought, but here he at least tried to show a bit of manners.

“Good stuff,” he said to the people present, before going back to his meal, oblivious to the shared glances of the others as he worked on the stew.

“So,” Lew said, clearing his throat, “shall we begin?”

“Yes, that would probably be wise,” replied Luna. “We shall require all the rest possible, to follow through with our plan.”

“Speak of your plan,” Zecora said. “For all of our sakes, I hope it is grand.”

With a nod from his princess, Lew explained, “Grand might not be the right word. But effective? Oh yes. Basically, we need to leave. That’s all there is to it. The longer we stay here, the better the chances the pirates will get lucky. And, after what Big Mac has been telling me, our country needs us--specifically Luna. With all the allies she can bring with her.”

Zecora humed in thought. “Not to ruin your plot with a rip, how are we to leave without a ship?”

“Well, that’s the danger,” he admitted. “We’ve as many ships as we can appropriate at our disposal. We just have to take them from the pirates, first. Which, really, might not be too difficult. You and I have taken a small crew by ourselves. With my entire Guard, backed by any willing and able warriors of your own people, we should be able to commandeer a large enough vessel to get us all safely back to the mainland.”

He got up and began to pace. “So far, we’ve only played defensively. But between our two peoples, I think we can take the fight back to them. They’d never break off a single ship large enough to attack us directly--but your people? I think they’d bite at that. And we’d be waiting to bite back.”

“You remain, hidden in the shade. Then when the time’s right, strike like a blade.” Zecora nodded. “You have the blessing of me and my clan. When you are ready, we shall act out your plan.”

“And in return, you shall be welcome allies of Torani. And a new home granted to you, safe and secure, with the pirates kept well at bay by the vigil of the Torani navy,” swore Luna.

“If your princess decrees it, then it’s surely a must. Her words are truly things you can trust,” she replied with a smirk and a quirked eyebrow, running a hand through her hair.

“So it’s agreed, then,” said Lew. “And you, Mac?”

“I ain’t leavin’ without my sister,” he sternly replied, finally pushing his empty bowl away from him. One of the villagers quickly moved to take it, and promptly left. “So unless yer plan involves lookin’ round fer her, I ain’t sure how much I can help.”

“We’ll be tackling pirate ships. Maybe even the one she’s on. And…” He paused, thinking about his next words. “Well, depending on the ship we get--who knows? Knock them into a strong enough state of disarray and we might be able to take them all down.”

“Hell.” He rubbed at his forehead. “I’m in, but I’m gonna find her, one way or the other.”

Luna took one of the big man’s hands in hers. “As a citizen of Torani, it is my duty to see her come to no harm. The Captain must be cautious, it is his duty. But this is mine. We will rescue her.”

“Thank you, princess,” Mac said, placated at her oath. “I’ll trust ya.”

“Then it’s settled,” said Lew. “We’ll send scouts in the morning, more than before. I think it best if we watch them for a day or two, try to see exactly what their movements are, find the best place for our attack. Or attacks--it might take more than one try to get a ship large enough for our needs.”

“Then we should retire to rest,” Zecora said. “Tomorrow we shall be put to the test.”