Transferred from https://pastebin.com/CYYjM5Ug
Originally published APR 4TH, 2019

>It was the second day of our journey to Zebrica. It was also my second day as one of the Stormchasers.
>I still can't believe I've done that. I was in a bad spot, sure, with my herd breaking up and all.
>Going back to my old love was probably a good idea.

>"Ahoy, new blood!"
>Not with them. Sure, they were legendary, and their ship - the Misery - was the fastest one on the Southern Sea, hell  - in the world.
>But they only took me on as a deckhand at first, promising a promotion if I "survive" the first trip.
>As an officer, I felt insulted, but they truly were legendary.

>And insane. Punching you in the face as a greeting insane.
>"Hey, I'm talking to you, new blood!"
>That was Lunge, one of the shipmares.
>The blow was strong, but I kept my composure. I was a ex-navy guard, not some greenhorn they could push around.
"I'll let you know that I wrecked mares meaner than you for less. You will address me by rank or name."
>She nearly doubled over laughing.
>"Your rank in the playground means nothing here, new blood! Before he accepts you, you are the lowest trash."
>She got so close to me that I could fell the stench of her breath. "Get that through your thick skull and be ready for the morning prayer." 
>So I rammed her nose.
>Sprayed red like a smashed strawberry pie. Nearly knocked her down to the deck.
"That will teach you some respect."
>And then, with a laugh, she spit her blood in my eyes.
>Before I could see again, I felt three other mares knock me over and me and pin me down.
>"Look at the cutie, she thinks we're hard, so if she plays hard he'll accept her!"
>"Ah what a shame!"
>"What a shame!"
>I struggled against their hooves to no avail.
>"But she doesn't know we're very soft and fragile! That's why he accepts us!"
>"So fragile!"
>"So precious!"
>I tried to break free.
>"When we make her remember how soft she is, she will see!"
>"She will see!"
>"Oh, she will see!"



>"What's going on here?"
>That was the captain. I was either saved, or screwed.
>"The new blood thinks she's tough, Skipper!"
"Lunge attacked me, Ma'am!"

>The Captain sighed.
>"Lunge. I expect better from you. I expect more from my mares."
"You heard the Captain, --"
>"Why didn't you make her a mare, Lunge?"
>The mares holding me laughed.
>"It ain't the same unless you tell it, Skip!"
>"Yeah, tell her!"
>"Tell her, tell her!"

>The Captain cleared her throat.
>"New blood? We're going to make a mare out of you. BARBER! We've got a new one here!"
>I heard more and more voices join in the cheering.
>And hooffalls of someone approaching. "So, new blood, you're going to take it like a mare or do you need rum to wash it down?"
>I still couldn't break free. "Like a mare it is then."
>Then I felt the knife slice into the skin of my flank.
>Tried to grab someone in my field, but then they kicked my horn.
>That, thankfully, numbed the pain.

>The cuts stopped. I was released.
>"Well now you almost look like a mare!"
>"Real salty mare!"
>"Splash it with seawater to be sure!"

>My head still rang. I didn't care to fight at this point.
>Instead, I bent to the side and studied the wound.
>It didn't bleed much, but looked horrible. Like a foal's drawing on my hide.
"What the hell have you done to me? "
>"You're a mare now, new blood!"
"Let me dress it at least! It will not heal in this climate!"
>"Good. That means it will surely scar. What kinda of mare are you without the scars to show it?"
>...scar...
>That was the first time that I actually noticed that their scars didn't look random at all.
>A pony's thick coat usually hangs over bare patches, masking them.
>But if you really take the time to decipher it, the patches look like crude symbols.
>These were carvings.

>Sweet Goddess, they didn't even allow me to say goodbye to anyone on shore. 

>I nearly lost my mind then and there.




>I didn't try to escape.
>We were at sea, and I would not have survived a swim to shore.
>I knew some battle magic. I could overpower the captain, take her hostage.
>But there were two dozen of them against me.
>And they were insane.
>I did what I was told and bid my time, praying to the gods that I live until port.


>Fifth day greeted us with a red sky.
>Naturally, the crew was ecstatic. At this point I didn't expect them to act normal.
>But, since they clearly had more experience in the Southern Sea than me, I kept quiet.

>As the wind began picking up, the boatswain rolled out the booze on deck.
>That got me nervous.  I came over to her and asked:  
"Ma'am, why are we not furling the sails now?"
>"What's it to ya, new blood?"
"I don't want us all to end in a watery grave, and there is a storm coming! Isn't that what is usually done?"
>"Stop painting Discord, or he will take us all. Back to your orders, new blood."
"Yes, I will, but what the hell is going on here? And why are you--"
>With a swift kick, she smashed the keg, spraying us both and the deck with rum.
>"It's his favorite. Now get going before he sees you slacking."


>I finished securing the cargo. Then I double-checked everything.
>Picked a good empty crate to hold onto when the ship breaks.
>Did all I could to ease my mind. 
>Others weren't so preoccupied.
>"..do you think he will like it?"
>Two of my fellow deckhands.
>"I'm sure he will."
>Doing each other's manes into braids.
"Is that your actual order to pretty up, or are you just slacking off?"
>They looked to each other.
>"She doesn't believe!"
>"But she will soon! He will make her!"
>Gods damn this crew.
> I peeked out of the hatch to check on the preparations above deck.
>We were still going full-sail.

>"Hey, new blood, come here, I'll make you one too. He will like it!"

>That was the point when I lost it.
>I wasn't about to die because of a bunch of insane idol-worshipers.

>Back on deck, I fed from the nearing storm. 



>I couldn't take on two dozen mares at a time, but the wild magic gave me an edge.
"Attention ladies!"
>My fur stood on end as I held up the most powerful lightning charge I could.
"I am taking command of this vessel! You can do as I say or I will fry you all alive!"
>Stray discharges charred the wood under my hooves.
>Waste mana was thick in the air, making it hard to breathe.
>None dared approach.
>"What do we do, Skipper?"
>Their eyes were glued to my crackling horn. Good.
>"Just let het do whatever she wants, mares, or gods help us she will kill us all."
"Come on! Let's work! All hands, strike the sails!"
>Nobody moved.
"Do it!"
>"She doesn't believe."
>"He will show her."
>The deck swayed like a toy in a foal's hooves.
>The others were standing firm as if they nailed to the wood. I could barely keep balance. 
"Gods damn you all, I didn't go through a war just to get killed because of your stupid superstition!" 
>Assessed the situation. 
>Storm.  All sails unfurled, even the topsails and three more that I didn't know the fucking names for.
>Needed to strike the sails.
>Wind was getting stronger.
>Too late for that, cut the mast.
>Charged up my flameblade.
>Didn't get a single shop before a wave of seawater crashed over and broke my spell.
>Doesn't matter. Thirty sails. I could do that or die.

>I was thrown overboard before I could finish two.
>Hanging by the skin of my teeth, literally, on a halyard.
>Saltwater still shorting my horn.
>The only way up was by climbing, and I had only my hooves for that.
>I drove them into the wooden hull with all my strength.
>Surprisingly, they held my weight. I didn't question it at the time.

>Another wave came and threw the ship again, sacking me against the hull.
>I didn't break anything.
>But the pain made me let go of the rope.
>The water below me was dark and boiling.
>I wouldn't float for long.
>My love was finally taking me in its embrace.



>But it didn't come. Something grabbed the scruff of my neck.
>Like hooks digging into my skin. It was immensely painful.
>I have no idea how it didn't snap my spine, but it stopped me mid-fall.
>And threw me over the board, onto the deck.
>Then whatever did it, climbed aboard too.
>It was a demon.

>And the insane crew cried : "HE IS HERE!"

>Merciful Goddess, it was a fucking demon. 
>It walked over to me and hunched down.
>I was already dead, so I just gave up and waited for it to wring my neck.
>When nothing happened, I mustered the courage to speak. 

"Who are you?"
>The demon studied me with its beady, insane eyes.
>"Me? I guess I could say that I look after the ship. Call me Caulker."

>"SHE SEES HIM!"

"Please don't hurt me."
>"I'm not going to hurt a cute mare like you. You're new on the crew? I haven't seen you before."
"What the hell is happening to me?"
>"Now that you are almost dead you can begin truly living."
"I am a guard. It's way, way too late for me."
>"That was when you became a warrior. Now you've become a seamare, Fulcrum!"

>"HE ACCEPTS HER!"

"I served on a ship before, and my name is --"
>"Not anymore. You're a dependable gal, so you'll be Fulcrum now!"

>"ONE OF US!"

"If you are looking after the ship, please help us, we are going into the storm!"
>"That's the plan, yes."
"But we're all going to die!"
>Another wave crashed the deck.
>But this time I didn't budge.
>"Young lady, the ship can handle it, I made sure of that. But can you?"
>The anchor scar below my mark still hurt from the salt water.
>"You want this, don't you? That's why you came back to the Sea?"
>Good, that means it will stay as a scar.
>"You couldn't resist its call. "
>And as long as it stays, nothing can knock me down off my hooves.
>"You are already dead. So what's holding you back?"
"Nothing."



>He smiled.
>"Steel your heart, sweetie. We're going on a storm ride!"
>The demon turned to the crew and yelled: "Full sail ahead! To our deaths!"
>"AYE AYE SIR! TO OUR DEATHS!"
>And this time I cried with the madmares:
"To our deaths!"