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Post by Watermark on Nov 3, 2011 16:10:06 GMT -5
A sudden flashback brought Watermark back to the old Shaman's hut.
"Why do you think these zebras hate you, boy?"
"Because of THIS thing." The young Watermark remembered saying, raising his hoof up to touch his horn.
"Ah, but that is a part of you. They cannot change you, and that is why they are angry. Always remember that. Despite everything they might say and do, boy, they cannot change you. Only you decide who you are, no one else." The old Zebra said kindly, "And if that is any reason to hate you, then they might as well hate everyone. I know a smart boy like you doesn't put much stock in the whims of zebras like that."
Watermark remembered smiling up at him, "Of course not, they're all just dummies, thick heads like rhinos!" The old zebra laughed with him.
Snapping back to reality Watermark chuckled brightly, "I think they're pretty, and useful. Think about it, you can be all the better guardian from the air as well as the earth. Accept them for what they are, a gift, rather than a burden. Maybe they won't weigh so much then?" He smiled at her sagely.
This encounter sure brought him back a lot, his mind has been so wrapped up in decoding the tablets for the Cult he has not had much time for himself. He was right though, the shaman. Only Watermark can choose who to be, any time, any where, any who. Therein lies the reason behind his eternal grin, because no matter who he faces, they cannot change him. And he will forever smile in their face for it.
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Post by kuruka on Nov 4, 2011 1:44:55 GMT -5
Pretty? Useful Kuruka could understand, but the word "pretty" was used to describe her sister, Cyrah's long lashes and blue eyes. It was used to describe flowers and young mares, spring days and waterfalls. Her wings? Not a chance! Although... Kuruka glanced wistfully at the cloud-filled sky beyond her window. she missed flying something terrible. "...better guardian...a gift...won't weight so much..." She sighed and shook her head, turning back to put the almond tarts in the oven after giving Watermark his tea. "It's been so long... I would probably take to the skies like a fledgling. My pride could not allow it." Kuruka set the timer and picked up her own mug, then sat on the couch. "You must have had a great mentor to have so much confidence after all you went through. My parents were quite busy with their duties in the tribe and caring for the younger foals. the eldest, it was assumed, could take care of herself." She grinned, half joking. Kuruka glanced out the window again. Perhaps... she shook her head again. She didn't have the time or mentor to retrain herself. Ah, but it would be so convenient to get the lay of the land from a proper perspective... Great, this unicorn had officially started a debate. Kuruka frowned, then plastered on a grin, trying to hide her struggle. "Do you make this a habit? Shattering the core beliefs of unsuspecting ponies?"
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Post by Watermark on Nov 4, 2011 8:06:09 GMT -5
"It's a hobby of mine, really," Watermark said casually, waving a hoof in the air, he did observe her carefully however, and noticed her looking out the window. Was this pure coincidence? That he happened to meet another half zebra, who happened to need flight training, when he happens to know the best Pegasus trainer in Equestria? Could be, or perhaps it was design? The age old question popped in his head, at what point does chance become fate?
"I know someone who can help teach you to fly. I hardly doubt anypony would look at you crookedly if they saw you training with him. After all, he is one of the best. If you served any time in one of the army bases you must have met a Razorwing or two, you know, big militaristic family grouchy faces?" He asked, making a rather stony expression to try and imitate, "I just happen to know the best among them. If you're interested, I could always ask him for a favor." Watermark turned around now, re-examining the spider figurine, the way he spoke made the suggestion sound casual, unimportant even. But he knew there was significance in this meeting.
Somehow though, he did not want to make a cultist out of Kuruka, he was walking a thin line, he knew, after all, it was obvious that if he could show her that the cult only sought to protect Equestria, she would be happy to help. But for some reason it seemed like to him that she did not deserve the moral dilemmas that wracked his own mind every night. No, it was best to keep her out of it as much as possible, if she would learn that Equestria is not exactly as she thinks it is, she might lose hope. No, he will keep his mouth shut.
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Post by kuruka on Nov 4, 2011 16:29:22 GMT -5
Kuruka laughed to herself. Hobby indeed. She sipped her tea, thinking it needed lemon, when Watermark suggested the impossible... or was it? A rush of excitement passed through Kuruka's entire being. She'd heard her father speak of the Razorwings, even though he wasn't much into military happenings, and here she was, being offered flight lessons. She looked at Watermark, who was now looking at her sister's spider figurine again, trying to decipher the reasoning behind such an offer. Despite the casualness of the offer, she thought it might take quite a bit for this stallion to convince such a great flight warrior to teach a nopony like herself. To deny the generous offer was out of the question. An image of the faces of the zebras back home watching as she returned an accomplished warrior tempted her further. Kuruka snapped out of it, ego must not be her motivation. If she did accept, it would be to better herself as militia captain and speed her family's move to Hoofington. "It... would not be too much trouble." she asked. "To ask this Razorwing to instruct me?"
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Post by Watermark on Nov 4, 2011 21:56:35 GMT -5
"Trouble? Only for him," Watermark laughed, "Why trouble yourself with silly details? We work closely he and I, both protecting Equestria in different ways." The tattooed pony grinned back at her, trotting over and sitting down. "If you wish it, I'll make it happen."
Letting her meet Percheron? What if his identity is uncovered? What if them being cultists is discovered? No, he wasn't worried. He knew she would realize they were working FOR Equestria and not against it. He was more than certain that even if their identities were uncovered, it wouldn't be too much of a problem. Not until she would try to talk to him first. Or he hoped at least, otherwise he was making a terrible mistake. But wasn't being a pony all about trusting and accepting?
He decided to put his trust in Kuruka, she never gave him a reason to feel otherwise, and she was a family mare, and obviously cared much, both for her siblings and Equestria, she would not do something to jeopardize it. Yes, that much he knew. He stole some tea from the teapot and used magic to keep it hovering in mid air in front of him, slowly sucking it into his mouth when he wanted a sip. An odd way to drink, but what wasn't odd about this unicorn?
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Post by kuruka on Nov 5, 2011 18:31:43 GMT -5
Kuruka laughed along. Yes, training an adult fledgling would be trouble. Watermark sat next to her, drinking tea in a rather odd manner. What a strange meeting. Kuruka had started out being suspicious of this unicorn, now he had her convinced to accept flying lessons, of all things. He didn't seem to have any selfish motives in this offer, unless he was wanting a favor from the militia captain... Kuruka paused at this thought as the timer on the oven told her the tarts were ready. The smell of baked almond filled the little house as Kuruka busied herself. The tarts were a bit burnt on the bottom, but passable. "That is a very generous offer, but I don't have much to repay you or this Razorwing with." She turned to look at Watermark, wanting to trust him. It had been a long time since she'd had a friend outside of the family. The other ponies in Hoofington were certainly welcome enough, but it was something special to have someone who knew what she'd gone through. She grinned. "Except perhaps half-burnt Dziriat and a rather bland tea." Kuruka regretted that she didn't have any lemons. She'd have to go shopping sometime soon. She set a few tarts on a plate to let them cool.
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Post by Watermark on Nov 5, 2011 19:52:06 GMT -5
"We're both on the same side aren't we? Is there any reason for me to not want to help you be the best guardian you can be? It comes at no personal cost to me, and will only take minor time and effort from my friend." He then gave her a knowing look, "I'll clue you in, I'm not a pony you can understand by asking 'why', but you might have a chance if you ask 'why not'." He advised warmly, his eternal grin still plastered on his mug. That line, as unbelievable as that sounded was not his own. But rather Red Charge's definition of him. He took a liking to it when Red Charge first said it, and it stuck with him since.
He finished off his tea with a large... bite, and sat down at the table to enjoy the tarts, using his magic to turn his humid breath frozen as he blew on them, eating them delightfully. They were pretty good, and he was very satisfied. "Delicious!" he called, clapping his hooves together, food was one of his great enjoyments, really. Especially good food, why, if he couldn't eat food he'd just die... you know, not only because of the biological reasons...
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Post by kuruka on Nov 6, 2011 21:40:00 GMT -5
Kuruka laughed. "I may take my chances on asking 'why not', then, because I still cannot make head or tails of you." She took a bite of Dziriat and winced... too hot. She watched Watermark cool one down with his breath and held her own as he sampled it. He seemed satisfied, and Kuruka sighed with relief. "You should taste my sister's. She's much better at this than I and does not even use a cookbook." She smiled and pointed to her mouth. "She is also smarter than to try and take a bite without blowing on it first, haha!"
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Post by Watermark on Nov 7, 2011 17:11:24 GMT -5
"Give yourself some credit," Watermark said simply as he enjoyed more of the Dziriat, not explaining what he meant. "I hope you all get reunited soon..." He munched further on the food, he wasn't really hungry earlier, but the taste woke up the hungry beast at the pit of his stomach, and it began devouring.
Meanwhile on the outside, a storm began, to Watermark's displeasure, storms weren't really his thing. Light rain, sure, even heavy rain. But not snowstorms. They were more Frostbite's area. He frowned as he looked out the window, silly weather.
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Post by kuruka on Nov 7, 2011 17:59:40 GMT -5
Kuruka followed Watermark's gaze out the window and winced. Yet another storm. Perhaps she should have moved somewhere a little warmer... Watermark didn't look too happy about it, either. Kuruka glanced from the window to Watermark and smirked. "Can you teleport through water during a snowstorm, or do I need to make up the guest room?" A part of Kuruka was worried. Making Dziriat was one thing... Dinner and breakfast for a guest were something else entirely.
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Post by Watermark on Nov 7, 2011 18:36:40 GMT -5
Watermark sighed exasperatedly, "That storm is not natural, I'm being called." He said, standing up and giving her a small bow. "Thank you for your gracious hospitality, I hope I can come back and visit! I'll talk to my friend about you, of course, like we agreed." He tidied himself up, and quickly levitated his dishes into the sink, giving them a quick wash using his water magic. If nothing else, he was at least handy.
He extended his hoof and waited for Kuruka to take it, before he could properly depart. He was certain now that this visit was not a coincidence. Good food like that never is. He delighted at the chance to talk to another of his kind, and was certain that no matter what happens between the Cult and Equestria, he would come back to visit.
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Post by kuruka on Nov 7, 2011 19:34:26 GMT -5
Kuruka raised an eyebrow. Called? Must be a unicorn thing. She took Watermark's hoof and shook it. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Watermark, and thank you for raising questions I was afraid to ask myself. I suppose we shall see if it was a mistake or not." She grinned good-naturedly and showed her guest the the door. She hoped he would be alright in the storm. It looked freezing out there.
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Post by Watermark on Nov 8, 2011 9:52:42 GMT -5
As Watermark stepped outside, he cracked his neck several time seemingly preparing to cast a spell of some sort before calling out, "Stoppit!" Causing the storm to die out instantly. He had that effect sometimes.
He turned back to give Kuruka a graceful bow and a wink, before falling through the snow, leaving no trace of his existence behind, except for a small, Watermark shaped puddle. He couldn't be out of camp for one night without being summoned, he hoped whatever it was, was good news.
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Post by kuruka on Nov 8, 2011 18:43:27 GMT -5
Kuruka watched Watermark disappear through the snow and closed the door. Feeling as though she might be watched, she shut her curtains and looked at her back.
Slowly, ever so slowly, she flexed her wings.
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