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Post by roserebellion on Sept 23, 2006 18:45:08 GMT -5
Once Rain had assumed the position, Coon gently turned the tap on. At first the stream as a drizzle, she didn't want to drown the flutter. But she slowly eased the liquid into a gentle stream, keeping a cautious eye on the amount she was giving the flutter. After what she felt was a safe start, Coon closed the tap. Hopefully it would be enough to give Rain a buzz, one to ease any fear caused by the storm, but not enough to make her completely intoxicated.
Never one for silence, Coon struck up another conversation. "So what's a gal like you doing on a boat like this?"
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Post by Crescent on Sept 26, 2006 6:57:40 GMT -5
[[Oh man, I do keep taking my own sweet time, don't I? *kicks her essays*]]
Hollow raised his head and listened more intently when she spoke. He could see that the experience had left its marks on her - on her mind as well as her spirit. He was transfixed by her explanation, suddenly finding himself hungering for more... more knowledge of the enemy called death which she had encountered so close. He had no idea who she spoke of - who was this "she" Jewel referred to, but he could tell she must be someone who had been with her for a long time. When she shook her head and looked at him again, he met her eyes calmly, immeasurable depth and thought in those two golden wells of knowledge.
"Can you imagine..." he whispered quietly, "seeing that darkness creep upon everyone you meet... with every breath you take?"
He paused and averted his eyes, almost as though ashamed that he had spoken out.
"You have met death," he said quietly. "Met it, and won. I... I, too, have won escape from its grasp, but I cannot forget its existence. It lives in your breath, Jewel, it embraces you, little by little, every day." He looked at her, an anxious expression in his eyes. "You seemed different to me when we met. I didn't know why, but I know now. In a strange way... your'e walking away from what I see everyone else walk toward."
Hollow swallowed and paused, searching for the right words. Then, seeing no other way to explain what he desperately wanted to say, he decided he must say it straight out.
"There is a curse in these eyes, Jewel. I can see... death."
He sighed and looked down. He wasn't sure if she would understand, and he also felt like he was letting something slip through his hooves - a chance to hear more about her. Find out who was the "she" Jewel spoke of. But he felt the need to explain her. He realised, on that horrible moment, that he was tired of being alone.
And that knowledge tore at him.
Rain gulped down the liquid happily though she was slightly disappointed when Coon turned the tap off. She had been through quite a lot lately, and nothing drowned fear and anxiety better than some decent liquour. Still, when she lifted her head from the floor and made her way to lie comfortably on the floor, she felt like the room was filled with a comfortable fluff. She smiled languidly to Coon.
"Oh, I'm, I'm helping to save the Rainbow of Light," she said and grinned up at the thief. "I'm a Princess, you know," she added importantly.
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Post by Jewel on Oct 1, 2006 14:09:07 GMT -5
"Can you imagine..." he whispered quietly, "seeing that darkness creep upon everyone you meet... with every breath you take?"
"No, I can't," She replied quietly, looking at him with interest, but remaining calm despite her curiosity. "I see things the opposite way," her gaze drifted, "I see things coming to life, and living. It simply goes on until death.. it's not a downhill spiral to me--It's just.. everything always changing."
"There is a curse in these eyes, Jewel. I can see... death."
No expression of surprised crossed the mare's features as she regarded him with kindness and understanding. After all, who in the world was without their own curse of sorts? Still, a pang of sympathy struck her heart. Jewel had to admit, it was something she had sensed, a reclusive kind of darkness within the mind of the stallion with which she spoke. And now she understood.
Her voice was soft, gentle, "Who would have done such a thing to you?"
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Post by Crescent on Oct 10, 2006 6:36:05 GMT -5
Hollow saw the sympathy in her eyes, but suddenly he wasn't sure if he wanted it. Was it not close to pity? He did not want pity. He had chosen this himself, and he must live with it. And he had learned to do so, during the many years he had spent wandering the earth - why was it that now, suddenly, he had turned to regret? It was something about her, he supposed, the way she saw the world. Alive, like she said, living, forever flourishing, until death took them. It was not unlike his own thoughts, before... before this vision had been set upon his eyes.
"I did," he spoke, almost without knowing that the voice was his. He turned his eyes away, to the flickering light of the lantern swaying to the rise and fall of the ship. Memories were mirrorred in the glass of the lantern, shining to him from the depths of the flame. The kind pale face of the unicorn, and her blessing... and her curse. "I was given a wish by one that could make dreams come true. I wished that I would be like the stars... eternal. She warned me that there would be consequences. I didn't listen. She gave me my dream... and my curse."
He lowered his gaze, and it dropped from the lantern to the golden pegasus mare. She was so beautiful, and yet, even her ethereal beauty must fade before long. He sighed softly.
"That is the price to pay, I suppose, for mortals who would be gods." He smiled, just a little, in self-contempt.
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Post by Jewel on Oct 11, 2006 0:28:57 GMT -5
As Hollow divulged what had until now been a mysterious past, the pegasus watched him with curious, compassionate patience. There were certain things about the stallion she had picked up on without difficulty, certain sentiments which drew her deeper into understanding him.
Jewel was suddenly curious to ask how old he was, if indeed he had been granted immortality. How long had he suffered with this curse? To her, it certainly seemed a curse to be stuck still on the turning wheel of time, to be without sense of going anywhere while the rest of the world passed by faster than clouds on a windy day. It was Hollow who stood in that proverbial field, watching the months and years go by and undoubtedly feeling left behind.
And yet she made no gesture of pity. Everyone made choices which impacted their life.. sometimes it was for the better, and sometimes.. for worse.
"The past few years," She offered softly, "I've felt as if time wasn't passing by." The mare flinched at a sudden rough rocking of the ship, but continued, "I left everything behind.. and for the longest time I was my only company." The mare paused, glancing at him thoughtfully with indigo eyes. "Well, perhaps not completely alone," She looked away again, "But I couldn't explain who my company was." You might not believe me.
Deciding to end her story there, she tilted her head slightly and looked at Hollow, "You sound as if you don't want this.. curse.. anymore. Is there anything you can do?"
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Post by silverfall on Nov 3, 2006 16:06:09 GMT -5
As the sea did rage around them, it was a shifty pair of eyes that appeared from under the tarp covering one of the overboats. Bala, having missed his own boat, had been hiding on the champion's craft, knowing it would eventually land him right where he wanted to be. He was however starving and in the mood for some rum. Perhaps now would be a good time to rustle about while everyone appeared busy. He considered his options.
(Are we still here?)
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Post by Becka Pone on Nov 3, 2006 16:38:42 GMT -5
(Yeah, woman, I've been waiting for you to post with Razz )
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Post by silverfall on Nov 14, 2006 10:24:28 GMT -5
(Yeah, I know. *makes shameful puppy dog face and offers pancakes*)
Razz slipped after Kail, heading to where she pulled him.
(Weakest post eva. Baby just woke up, lol. I'll be back. No, really! *deepens voice* I'll be back!)
"You know, Kail, I really don't think we have anything to be worried about. Everything looks just fine from where I'm standing, er, walking." To prove his point, he goosed her.
Then suddenly his eyes rolled back in his head and he started to gag on his tongue. It would appear he had not quite recovered from his recent mental trauma. He snapped back just as quickly, saying, "Excuse me, have you see my ship? Oh, here it is." He looked around in eye-wide wonderment.
"You there, swabby!" He pointed from the nearest pirate to the mast. "Get yarrrr rigging down or something!" He stomped his hooves and turned left and right, looking something like a scrary wind-up toy and shouted. "Where's my parrot? Somebody get me my parrot!" His movements grew stiffer and stiffer, until he had brought himself to his knees. The nonsense vanished, replaced by obvious pain.
"Must. Clear. Head. Kail. Help." His hooves went to his head and it was apparent that he was fighting against something. With eyes clenched tight, he began to pant and moan.
.................
Bala watched the spectacle with concern. Not so much that he cared about the ponies, although a few of the mares had caught his eye, and certainly not because he was frightened, for he wasn't, but it just seemed like everyone on this boat was absolutely crazy! He hoped it wasn't something in the rum.
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Post by Becka Pone on Dec 2, 2006 22:15:57 GMT -5
"Razzaroo!" Kail yelled back at him as he goosed her. Honestly, she could barely keep her footing in the storm and here he was playing games. As he began acting like - well like himself, only different in a way she couldn't explain - she wanted to scream at him to stop.
"Must. Clear. Head. Kail. Help."
Forgetting the rain and the waves and the heavy rocking of the ship, Kail knelt down next to him, but there was nothing she could do. The heart and the mind were the only things she couldn't fix, and it had always seemed unfair - the body was such a small part compared to the other two. The most important thing right now, however, was to get them both into the ship and out of the dangers of the waves before she tried anything.
"It's ok, Razz. It's going to be ok," she said through tears, hating to see him in pain when there was nothing she could do. And she knew it was the silver unicorn's fault. Damn Silverfall to the Dark Rainbow.
Putting a shoulder under him, she heaved him onto his hooves (working at a nursery where a myriad of foals were always climbing over her back and wings had really helped to strengthen her) and led him down the stairs to the cabins below. She set him down and tried to get him to look her in the eye. "What is it Razz? Who is it?"
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Post by silverfall on Dec 9, 2006 19:15:19 GMT -5
Razzaroo allowed Kail to shoulder him below deck, glad and grateful of her help. His steps were faulted, brought on by his dizziness, and the pain in his head would not subside.
"So much pain," he gasped and clenched his teeth. "I-I don't know. It's all dark." This wasn't entirely true. He could see something in the shadows, but it was vague. He couldn't explain it, but he knew how it made him feel. It was more than pain; it was also distress and panic. "It's nothing but darkness everywhere. I feel blind. I can't get through it."
He reached out to her, wishing only for her to be there with him. If she was with him, it gave him strength. She was there, he knew it. He could feel her presence. This made him stronger, but was it enough?
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Post by Becka Pone on Dec 9, 2006 19:42:46 GMT -5
Kail hugged him with her forelegs and her wings both, humming softly through her tears. She would have prayed to the Rainbow, but the Rainbow was trapped on another ship. What if the ship didn't survive the storm? What if the Rainbow's Locket fell to the bottom of the ocean? What if it were lost forever? What if she never got Razz back?
Oh she wished she had his power to read his mind, to see his thoughts. She'd switch places with him in an instant, she'd battle whatever it was he was trying to fight. She was the warrior, not him, it wasn't fair.
"It's going to be ok, Razz," she said softly as she held him. "It's going to be ok. I'll help you." Please, Rainbow, let me help him. Let us trade places. Please. She prayed despite the fact that the Rainbow couldn't hear her.
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Post by Crescent on Dec 9, 2006 22:49:33 GMT -5
[[Okay, so seriously? I need to get this post done! XD]] Hollow Heart's eyes remained on the pegasus's beautiful form, and though in his eyes the wonderful deep gold was already dimming and fading, he found, looking at her, that the sight of her could somehow ease his mind. It gave him peace he had not felt before. This confused him - but he could not turn his head away. "The past few years," She offered softly, "I've felt as if time wasn't passing by." The mare flinched at a sudden rough rocking of the ship, but continued, "I left everything behind.. and for the longest time I was my only company." The mare paused, glancing at him thoughtfully with indigo eyes. "Well, perhaps not completely alone," She looked away again, "But I couldn't explain who my company was."This made Hollow curious, both of why she could not explain him and of who it was that had kept her company. He was just about to move, to ask her, when she continued, abruptly changing the course of discussion back to him. He wasn't sure if this pleased him. Deciding to end her story there, she tilted her head slightly and looked at Hollow, "You sound as if you don't want this.. curse.. anymore. Is there anything you can do?"Hollow had to smile now, though there was still no happiness or joy in the smile. "I don't know," he said quietly. "And I suppose I am a fool in that I don't know if I would trade back my old eyes to lose what I have now. To be sure, I have learned my lesson - I was haughty when I thought I could become a god and not pay a price... but do you know, I can't help but feel that this choice I made... was meant to be." His eyes strayed from her to the shadows that the lamplight threw across the floor, like squirming, swarming snakes they were, reaching their dark hands toward him. He shivered a little. It was true, he couldn't shake the feeling of a greater purpose, greater meaning to his life ever since the Rainbow had chosen him. He shook his head and looked at her again. His eyes were anguished with thoughts at first, but when they met her purple ones, a solemn, quiet look filled them. "None of us are really alone anymore, are we?" he said quietly. "This mission... it unites us." His muzzle reached forward, just a little, he hardly even noticed it happening, and just then the ship rocked again violently, and he was thrown forward. He slid on the floor and raised his hooves up instinctively, and before he knew it he was thrown against Jewel, his hooves wrapped around her, his muzzle touching her muzzle. On the deck, Tiger was still yelling commands but no one could hear his voice anymore over the raging storm. The ship was creaking dangerously, and the giant waves tossed it around like it was a mere chip on the waves. And there was another surge, towering higher than the ship, coming hard from the starboard side of the ship. Oh... bother, Tiger thought to himself, watching helplessly as the wave began its descent. [[Yes, I'm gonna make the ship crash soon... ]]
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Post by Jewel on Dec 17, 2006 12:09:12 GMT -5
"None of us are really alone anymore, are we?" he said quietly. "This mission... it unites us."
The gold pegasus opened her mouth to reply, but was forced to close it promptly once the cabin was tossed violently from side to side. Upon instinct, she tucked her wings close to her body, so that, Rainbow forbid, they would not be damaged. She had already sustained enough injury to her poor wings.
As she began to lose her footing, clomping and sliding on the slick floor, Jewel reached out for anything she could get a handle on. The motion of the ship forced her backward, landing uninjured against one of the wooden walls. Hollow was not far behind, however, and was soon much closer than the mare had expected.
Much closer.
Indigo eyes widened suddenly as a soft muzzle met her own, Hollow's hooves on either side of her to stop from colliding into and crushing her from the force of the previous wave. To her own surprise, she did not move, nor make an attempt to remove her lips from his. Thoughts of Peri drifted away as this new sensation settled in. Jewel pushed her head forward slightly, suggesting her approval of the motion, but suddenly, a terrifying scene unfolded before her mind's eye.
Tiger stood at the helm, baring his teeth against the sharp wind and rain. The thunder overhead rolled on with ominous fury, and the deck crew was soaked to the bone. A large red stallion stood by his captain, using his size and weight to help the other stay near the wheel, as well as blocking some of the wind. Sea Tiger's expression became more intense, something like fear setting into his eyes.
"BRACE Y'ERSELVES!"
Then it was all confusion: a large crimson form sliding across the deck, the sounds of splintering wood and panicking cries, and a terrible sinking feeling in the mare's stomach.
The pegasus forced herself out of the space between Hollow and the wall, struggling against the unsteady floor. Overhead, the hanging lamp swung on its hinge, spilling light all over the place. Jewel's eyes were wide as she pranced nervously, almost as if looking for an exit but never satisfied with finding one. She paced around the room, nerves bristling with fear and her head swinging around with wild eyes. We have to get out... we have to get out!!
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Post by Crescent on Dec 18, 2006 3:18:03 GMT -5
Indigo eyes widened suddenly as a soft muzzle met her own, Hollow's hooves on either side of her to stop from colliding into and crushing her from the force of the previous wave. To her own surprise, she did not move, nor make an attempt to remove her lips from his. Thoughts of Peri drifted away as this new sensation settled in. Jewel pushed her head forward slightly, suggesting her approval of the motion, but suddenly, a terrifying scene unfolded before her mind's eye.
Hollow felt the warmth of the mare on his skin. Her soft muzzle against his, their lips touching, and her movement forward, welcoming... And as he felt the warmth and the softness, his eyes closed and he remembered... remembered what it felt like, the warmth of another body close to his, the sweetness of the touch... His own lips opened and his head moved, just slightly, to advance on the kiss...
And suddenly, almost as though time had stood still for a moment and now blasted into a different direction, Jewel pushed herself away, struggled free of the embrace. Hollow gasped as he lost the little balance he had had and his shoulder hit the floor. He opened his eyes to look up, disappointment bubbling inside him - but when he saw her panic-stricken face, her nervous hooves shuffling, the way she looked around her as though looking for an exit... he could not imagine it was because of what he had just done, or what they had just almost done. The fear was too acute, too strong.
"Jewel!" Hollow Heart struggled to his feet and, still careful of his injured foot, made his way to the mare, slipping and sliding on the unsteady floor. "Jewel, what's wrong? What's the matter?" He was now next to her, breathing heavily for the struggle of keeping his footing without injuring his foot further as well as for the adrenaline suddenly pumping through his veins. "Did you... see something?"
He did not allow fear take hold though he could feel her panic sweep over him like a cold wind, trying to penetrate through to his soul.
Out on the deck, Tiger was desperately battling with the helm.
"Cutter!!!" he bellowed at the top of his lungs. "Com'ere and help!!! Now!!!"
He had to shut his eyes from the gush of water that hit him as the giant wave broke on the ship's side, nearly capsizing it and flooding the entire deck. Tiger slipped and his hooves flailed desperately for a hold of the helm, but it was already wheeling out of control as he slid on the deck. The ship was turning, tossing in the stormwaves, and there was another loud creak as the ship struggled to stay together.
Tiger's hooves finally found hold of the deck again. Spitting out water, he struggled to his feet and, with a few giant leaps, he made his way back to the helm, grabbed it and fought to keep it on course. But what was the course? He didn't know anymore. He had lost his bearings. He squinted his eyes, trying to see any landmark, any at all around them.
He could see a dark landmass in the distance. An answer to their prayers. Turning the helm furiously, he put all his efforts into turning the ship toward the land ahead. He didn't care which land it was, friendly or hostile - they needed to get close enough.
With a sick feeling in his stomach he knew his ship was not going to survive this beating.
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Post by Jewel on Dec 21, 2006 14:02:53 GMT -5
The panicking mare took a few steps this way, that way, backwards and forewards, wide eyes looking around frantically. Unlike other visions which had graced her mind's eye, there was nothing she could do to prevent this oncoming disaster, and she knew it.
But still, they had to do what they could. They had to at least try..
"The ship," She said breathlessly, "The ship, it's.. we're.." The mare swallowed, trying to form the words she did not want to say, her voice fading to a whisper, "The ship.. is going down. With us."
Through her racing thoughts, Jewel tried to rationalize some beacon of hope, something that would mean survival for the crew, at the very least. Her forelegs and wingtips began to tremble as her gaze settled distantly on one of many wooden floorboards. She had to think.
"We need to get higher on the ship," She said quietly, frightenedly, and shook her head, shifting her weight from side to side, "We don't have a chance if we're below deck."
Suddenly, her head snapped up, "Princess." She looked at Hollow, "Where's Rain?" She gave him no chance to answer, however, and continued, "We have to warn the crew, now."
The red stallion braced himself against the wind and water, doing his best to follow his captain's orders. Once he helped Tiger regain his footing, Cutter reared on his hind legs, bringing his forelegs down on the spinning wheel. At first, he was thrown upward, but eventually he held it remotely under control.
The stallion had seen his fair share of storms, but this had to be one of the worst. The sounds of creaking and snapping wood only supported the notion, and Cutter wondered how long, if at all, the craft would weather the storm.
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Post by Crescent on Dec 23, 2006 2:51:13 GMT -5
"The ship," She said breathlessly, "The ship, it's.. we're.." The mare swallowed, trying to form the words she did not want to say, her voice fading to a whisper, "The ship.. is going down. With us."
Hollow Heart's worst fears were realized. He swallowed, his heart beginning to race. How far were they from the nearest coast? There was no way of telling. Were there any life boats on board? He remembered seeing a few - but would they be enough for the crew and the Champions all?
"We need to get higher on the ship," She said quietly, frightenedly, and shook her head, shifting her weight from side to side, "We don't have a chance if we're below deck."
Yes. They needed to get everyone who were below deck up. Now.
Suddenly, her head snapped up, "Princess." She looked at Hollow, "Where's Rain?" She gave him no chance to answer, however, and continued, "We have to warn the crew, now."
Hollow nodded.
"Jewel, you move faster than I do right now." It pained him to admit his own weakness in this situation. It pained him even more to know what he must ask of her. He looked at her directly in the eyes. "You have to try to find as many of the crew, and everyone else, from below as you can and warn them. Can you do that?" He took a breath. "I will go up and tell the Captain. Maybe there's something he knows to do."
Up on the deck Tiger was thankful for his old friend's support at the helm. But it did not change the fact that the situation looked ominous.
"This may be our last storm, old friend," he said aside to Cutter, with a steady, dark voice.
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Post by Jewel on Dec 24, 2006 0:38:08 GMT -5
"Jewel, you move faster than I do right now." It pained him to admit his own weakness in this situation. It pained him even more to know what he must ask of her. He looked at her directly in the eyes. "You have to try to find as many of the crew, and everyone else, from below as you can and warn them. Can you do that?" He took a breath. "I will go up and tell the Captain. Maybe there's something he knows to do."
The pegasus froze for a moment, not wishing at all to be separated from her friend. But she knew he was right--he was hurt, and would not be able to keep up with so much limping around the tossing bowels of the ship. Jewel stood on slightly spread legs, trying her best to keep some semblance of balance on the unsteady floor. She took a few steps forward, to Hollow Heart.
Before she said anything, the mare nuzzled her face against his, closing her eyes briefly as if she clearly feared the worst, that this might be their last time together. "Please be safe," She whispered, then pulled away. With one last look into his eyes, she backed away slowly, then took off as quickly as she could into the hallway. The sooner the ship evacuated, the sooner she could get to the topside, where Hollow would be waiting.
She went quickly from door to door, bursting into those which opened and pounding on those which did not. The pegasus called out the warning, going deeper and deeper into the ship until she reached the cargo hold.
It was there that she stumbled upon a younger pony, either hiding or hidden away. He looked the same age as Rain, and had the same air of royalty and importance. She approached him slowly, trying not to frighten him.
"Come with me."
"This may be our last storm, old friend," he said aside to Cutter, with a steady, dark voice.
Instead of being discouraged by Tiger's heavy words, Cutter was only fueled to try harder. He was going to do his damndest to make sure that craft stayed afloat, or at least, to see to it that his captain survived.
The wheel began to spin again, nearly wrenching out of his grasp. The crimson stallion shot his head forward, catching one of the grips in his teeth with the sound of cracking wood. There were times when Cutter did not know his own strength, and then there were times where he needed every ounce of it.
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Post by Crescent on Dec 27, 2006 13:42:17 GMT -5
Before she said anything, the mare nuzzled her face against his, closing her eyes briefly as if she clearly feared the worst, that this might be their last time together. "Please be safe," She whispered, then pulled away. With one last look into his eyes, she backed away slowly, then took off as quickly as she could into the hallway.
Hollow's body tensed when the mare's face touched his. His eyes closed and he felt a trembling breath in his lungs, one which he didn't dare to let out. He felt her warm breath on his neck. Her soft voice as she whispered... and those remained with him as she pulled away, looking at him. He took in every ounce of her gorgeous golden form as she lingered for a moment, to lock away into his heart. He, too, was painfully aware that this might be the last moment they would meet.
He let his breath out of his lungs. His expression hardened. He had a mission.
Hollow Heart moved as quickly as he could. At first he was careful of his hoof, but it was just too slow. He shook his head and grit his teeth. If there was anything he could do to warn the captain - he must do it, no matter what injury it did to his hoof. If their healer would survive, surely she could handle it afterwards.
He met Kail and Razz on his way up, and paused for but a moment with them.
"Kailani! Razzaroo! Get above the deck! The ship will sink - Jewel saw it!" He wasn't sure if Razz could hear him; indeed if the purple stallion was even conscious anymore. Kail held him so tight - he wasn't dead, was he? Hollow paused a while longer, searching for eye contact with the pegasus. "Get him above deck, Kail - now!"
And then he charged up the stairs again, to reach the deck. The slender dark corn stallion burst out of the trapdoor onto the deck and swung his head around quickly. A wave rocked the ship and he slipped, sliding on the wet deck. Desperate to make his way to the helm, he hit his black hooves on the deck to stop his sliding.
"Captain!" he bellowed as he struggled up to the helm. "The ship is going down!"
Tiger was irritated that one of the Champions - and the lame one, no less - had suddenly appeared above deck again. He glared at Hollow over his shoulder and bared his teeth.
"That's what we're trying to prevent!" he growled.
Hollow shook his head, grabbing hold of the railing with his forelegs.
"You don't understand! Our Seer saw it! It's going to happen! Soon! You can't avoid it!"
The muscles on Tiger's face tightened. He clenched his jaw and threw himself over the wheel, struggling side to side with Cutter to keep it in course. The Captain didn't want to believe what he was hearing. His ship... he had dedicated his life to this ship. It was the first ship he ever owned.
The sea green eyes fixed into the dark blotch of land ahead. There... it wasn't far anymore. They could make it. Only a few more moments... they could make it... No matter what these Champions said. What did they know of the sea? They...
But just then another dark shape in the water rose like out of nowhere as a wave descended. He couldn't believe he had never noticed it before. That he had not sensed it being there.
The expression in the Captain's eyes changed. It was too late to turn the ship, and he wasn't sure if it would have even been possible. He hardly recognised his own voice.
"BRACE Y'ERSELVES!"
And no sooner had the words been out of his mouth than...
CRASH!
The noise was nothing compared to the impact. The only thing that stopped Tiger from being tossed over the wheel to the deck below was the fact that he clutched the grips so hard. Several crewmembers screamed as they were tossed overboard. Tiger let out a yell of surprise and anger as the tremors shook the ship. Loud noise, louder than the howling storm, told Tiger that the ship was being torn apart from the bottom. They had hit a reef.
Tiger had no choice anymore. All he could do was to hope that everyone would get out in time.
"Abandon ship!" Tiger bellowed at the top of his lungs. "Abandon ship!"
His hooves clutched on the grips, he struggled with the wheel. If he could take the ship closer... just... a little closer...
No one had the time to notice a dark, limp shape of a stallion, half black, half the colour of autumn corn, falling into the cold swirling ocean.
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Post by roserebellion on Jan 1, 2007 22:19:02 GMT -5
(ooc: >_O this is not my year with rps isn't it? I've been way too sporadic! Maybe a New Year's resolution is in order, ne?)
"Oh, I'm, I'm helping to save the Rainbow of Light. I'm a Princess, you know."
"Aren't you now?" Coon teasingly spoke back. She c0cked her head to glance at the young flutter with an almost knowing cat grin.
Even though Tiger's special brew had done nothing more than warm the thief up from the water, it had appeared to take quite a deal of edge from the princess. And a happy princess made for a happy thief. As long as the youngin' had a good word or two to put in for her, than the outcome would swing in her favor. There was just too much that could go wrong and that could be pinned upon her. Coon Skin was walking a thin line, and had to tread carefully.
Yet, even with this thought in mind, Coon couldn't help but to mellow out in Rain's company. Saving the flutter was surely the best choice she'd made on this trip thus far.
"BRACE Y'ERSELVES!"
And no sooner had the words been out of his mouth than...
CRASH!
In every sense of abruptness, the ship jutted and trembled. It shuttered and groaned with despair as the pressure of the winds and waters began to be too much. And before Coon could consider the likelihood of the danger, both she and Rain were thrown violently to wards the back wall. The gray mare gasped sharply as her shoulder took the brunt of the force, but she groaned in response to the unfastened cargo that had managed to fly along with her.
It was a glancing moment, the larger mare suckling in a painfully small amount of air. It was, in turn, hacked roughly out, and followed once more with a gasping. This time, she managed to fill her lungs completely.
The first coherent thought that occurred to her was that they had struck something massive. What was up for grabs. Possibly another ship, or even land. Coon hoped the later.
The second thought was of her young charge.
"Rain?!," Her voice cracked, yet still contained a degree of distress. Quickly her eyes darted around for the young flutter. Sensing she was not far from where she landed, Coon made way to shift through the disheveled mess of the room.
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Post by Becka Pone on Jan 2, 2007 21:08:45 GMT -5
"Kailani! Razzaroo! Get above the deck! The ship will sink - Jewel saw it! ...Get him above deck, Kail - now!"
No No NO! There was no way she could keep both herself and Razz above water if the ship sank. And Rainbows only knew where the other Champions were - what if they drowned while the Rainbow was being held captive?! This was bad... this was so bad.
"Comon Razz, time to move again. Stay with me, please." Getting her weight under him she heaved him up onto her back with a grunt and began the slow labor of moving forward. But it wasn't enough, she couldn't possibly carry him through the ship and up the stairs in time. And it was hard to heal a lung full of water. Their chances of surviving once the water broke through the hull was almost none - where was the red Champion when you needed him?
There was no more time for thought as the hull hit the reef and they were thrown forward, the sea green peg landing hard beneath the purple stallion. It knocked the breath out of her, and then she heard the terrifying sound of the boat being ripped apart from the bottom up. Her mother had survived a shipwreck once, but her mother hadn't been trapped inside the ship. And Razz - she had to keep Razz above the water, whatever the cost. As it began to pool around her prone body she kept that one goal in mind, to keep his head above water. Thank the Rainbows Kail was such a good swimmer.
The water rose quickly and Kail spread her wings to make herself as bouyant as possible. As the captain swung the wheel, trying to move the boat around the coral it instead hit another reef on its side, ripping another hole and signing its death warrant. Water rushed out as a wave tipped the boat further towards the reef, and with it rushed the two Champions. Kail let go of her hold and let it take them both, knowing that the sooner they were out of the sinking ship the better.
Her lungs burned with the need for air and she gasped in a breath-full of water as she hit part of the reef, the sharp coral cutting a ragged wound in her flesh that would heal shortly. She wasn't worried about it - more importantly she had to keep hold of Razz. She couldn't loose him. If she let go, he'd sink. Kicking off of the reef they surfaced and the peg coughed out the water, taking in burning gasps of air, trying to hold the stallion above the surface. One good breath later and a wave cascaded over them, sending them down into the disorienting surf, breaking her grasp on dirrection so that kicking was impossible and the only thing to do was to release and let it lead them back up when it would.
Eventually it did, and she took another futile breath before they were tossed again into the sea, and it was all Kailani could do to keep a hold of Razz so they wouldn't be seperated. If he drowned she'd bring him back, she'd find a way, but she couldn't do even that without a body. "Razzarroo!" she screamed soundlessly in her mind.
(continued on Course's shore)
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