[Fillydelphia] A descent into Madness (closed. Pm for info)

[BeGoneThots]

Stormstride was not exactly pleased with his new post. Train tickets werent cheap, so he had to walk to work. Not too bad, except that he was living in the lower rent district and working in the upper middle class area. Today was his scheduled turn for the Transit System. Which meant he had to stand in the Train Station.

Normal ponies were in and out quick enough. But posting a guard there was like telling him he was a pathetic pony. Storm kept silent, just observing the surroundings. His spear rested on his shoulder, his armor dulled from lack of polishing. The colt had a black eye as well. Serverla arguments had become fights, and he had had to intervene. That had got him punched or bucked a few times.

He was currently watching a train unlaod its passengers. One was a musician. The colt walked to an empty bench. As storm watched he set up his case and violin. The as he played, stormstride whinced softly. The poor sod was off key, but he had the rhythm right. It was a classical piece. One he had heard before.

Stormstride returned his eyes to the crowd. Something was off. He could feel it. Checking toward the musician he could see him playing. Storm's eyes scanned the crowd. Fhat was when he saw one pony rear back. And hurl a crumped, wet newspaper at the musician. Storm's magic shot from his horn buf was too late. The paper hit the performer in his face and knocked him over.

Stormstride snapped. He chargdd forward, horn glowing and arching. The assailant never saw it coming. A very low level lightning spell, just enough to stun him hit like a well aimed arrow. The colt was then barrelled over as Storm charged into him. Stormstride was not entirely viciojs. But he didnt care for a sporting chance either. He bucked the colt into the side of the parked train. Even as the colt reeled Storm pinned him down hard. Tip of his spear right at the offender's face. He didnt speak. He just stood there hovering over the prone and battered colt. Relaxing suddenly he spoke. "Get out. And never let me see you here again..." ghe colt scampered up and away. Dazed and bruised, but not seriously hurt.

Stormstride returned to the musician. Helping him to clean off. "Are you ok sir?" The musician nodded. "Yes. I am. Only thing hurt was my pride and my violin. Broke a few strings." Storm looked it over. "Hmm i know a pony that can fix this. If you can find him, his name is Thunderbuck. He should be able to repair this easily. Last time I heard from him was when he was headed for Canterlot. I think he is there to perform in the park this week." The colt nodded. "Thank you sir..."

[Blueblood]

A close observer of trains and their passengers would note one major difference between the First and Third Class carriages.  Ponies who traveled First Class generally paid extra more for privacy than for luxury, while Third class made the amenity of sociability substitute for all others.  It would be hard to blame a pony if he fled in terror for a more expensive ticket from a close room stuffed full of talkers, regardless of what social class he belonged to outside of the train.

 

Prince Blueblood always traveled First Class, as a matter of course.  While he technically wasn't alone, having brought along his secretary/valet, he had no intention of talking to anypony on this trip, or indeed doing anything but sleeping.  He was out to meet his boat at the Fillydelphia docks for a week of sailing, away from hobnobbers, social climbers, and gold diggers.  Canterlot was a fine city, but the Prince was rarely in the best of moods among the company there.  

 

The unicorn was snoozing against the curtained window, therefore, when a sudden *BANG* against the carriage wall knocked him clear off his seat and into a state of panic.  After confirming that his train was not under attack, he set out in a huff onto the station platform, to see what manner of oik had seen fit to do such a thing!

 

It didn't take the Prince long to find out.  "Oh... Corporal Stormstride."  Blueblood's baritone rang loud enough for the guard to hear.  The two had actually met before, under circumstances... well, frankly none too friendly, unless a magical duel in the back gardens of Canterlot Palace counted as friendly.  But how was Blueblood supposed to know how sensitive Storm was to fraternal criticism?  Well, perhaps it applied to music in general, considering how the situation stood now...

[BeGoneThots]

Storm stiffened and turned on heel. His armor bore no insignia. And his tone was calm, masking disdain as he spoke. "Your majesty." His posture stiffened a bit. "Its private... second class... sir." He said slowly. With black eye on display he stood still, waiting for another verbal beating.

Not that another burst of magic wouldnt silence it but he was without concern at this point. This colt was not threat save from making a fit and running to his superiors.

After a moment he spoke again. "Woukd you like me to summon you an escort sir?" His voice was stained. The politeness a face for show. But he understood public image. He glanced at the clock. It was almost time to go home. He could contain himself a little longer.

[Blueblood]

"Oh?  Oh.  Right."  Oddly enough, the Prince actually looked a little embarrassed at having gotten the rank wrong.  Of course, Blueblood was aware of the story behind that demotion, having been himself involved in it.  That also made him privvy to what followed afterward, and how much it had truly cost the guard...

 

Not that his royal training had given him much preparation for dealing with situations like this.  After all, it wasn't exactly Blueblood's fault, but at the same time, it seemed a little harsh, what with Storm having to be separated from his daughter and all.  Not that there was much the Prince could do about that.  He coughed, shaking off the temporary paralysis.  "Look, do you mind telling me what all that was about?"  The alabaster unicorn pointed a hoof at the dent still visible in the First-class carriage, which was now drawing a crowd of railroad porters, and a few passengers...

[BeGoneThots]

"Assault. Pure and simple assault. Earth pony accosted a performer with a projectile. I responded in kind. The suspect was not hurt, at least seriously. He may limp for a week. But at least he will learn to appreciate another pony's rights." The tone was devoid of any sympathy.

Turning to the crowd he spoke loudly but calmly. "Disperse... immediately please." "Hey you caused it shiny!!" Stormstride grit his teeth. "Please disperse. You are blocking the train station loading ramps." "Make us!!!" Stormstride dropped his spear and his horn glowed. "Fine. You are here by ordered to disperse or i will assume you mean to attack the prince!" Lightning arched up and down his armor.

That got some reaction as several backed up hastily. Turning to the dent in the car he used magic to restore the dent. It wasnt smooth, but you would have to look hard to see it. Picking up his spear he went to speak to Blueblood again. "Anything else sir?"

[Blueblood]

Prince Blueblood was not unfamiliar with practices of the the Guard and the REA; he counted some of his few real friends among those ranks.  Thus, he knew a thing or two about how they usually operated, which did not include leaving Equestrian civilians 'limping for a week.'  "What!?"  He practically reared in surprise.  "Don't just stop with that, who got assaulted?  With what?"  Surely, only some truly monstrous act of violence could warrant such retribution...

 

And then the situation rapidly escalated, leaving the the beleaguered Blueblood blinking in it's wake.  The crowd, rather justifiably curious as to what had happened, tended to resent being pushed around, especially by the same pony who'd been responsible for damaging the property.  Fortunately, nothing came to blows this time, but it was certainly going to hit the papers come tomorrow, and the Prince had a sneaking suspicion that Storm's sergeant would like to have a word or two with this private.

 

"Er..." The Prince hardly knew what to say next to all this.  But there was somepony else emerging from the train with words enough for everypony.

 

"My, my, Comrade Storm, the strange currents of fate sweep us together under the same rug.  Mind the bugs, and we shall be snug enough, provided you don't anger the locals."  And with those words preceding him, Wordsworth Psmith emerged from the carriage, supervising the transport of a trolley with the Prince's luggage.  "We both seem to have altered our stations in life.  I am no longer unemployed, for one thing.  They say no pony is a hero to his valet, but I don't mind the disillusionment myself."

[BeGoneThots]

Stormstride had been atp to answer, and yet as Wordsmith stepped out he merely sighed in defeat. The clock chimed and he muttered a praise to the gods of time. "I would love to explain. But my shift just ended. So if you gentlecolts will excuse me... im going to try and find a meal i can afford and maybe a bath." He turned on heel. He didnt get far before his replacement came up. "Hey... um... Stormy... commander wants to see you...again." the colt nodded. Reaching his head around he pulled the single medal off his armor. Moving forward he pinned it to his comrade's armor. "There. You have served here long enough. Fates and time know you should have gotten this ages ago for what you put up with...." he sighed. "May see you around...."

As stormstride set off for the exit he paused to drop a few coins in the musician's case. Then he continued to the exit. Just outside there was the commander pacing. He didnt look happy. More so, he looked upset. Not angry, just grieved. "Sir." Stormstride said softly. "You know... i was told by another guard what happened?" Storm shrugged softly. "These things dont go away. But the papers will be circulating it tomorrow and Celestia knows what the headline will say." "Just get it overwith... save yourself some trouble for buttering me up."

The commander nodded. "Until investigation can determine what happened you are suspended. Please turn in your gear at fhe barracks." Storm sighed and then chuckled. "Alright. Sure. Why not?" The commander shoom his head. "Please dont be like this Stormy...we have rules too."

The stallion chuckled again. Walking off toward the barracks, he paused to look back at Blueblood. It wasnt a mean look. But it was from hollow eyes.

[Blueblood]

The exchange between his secretary and the guard seemed to bewilder the Prince even further.  "Psmith, you know this pony too?"

 

"Why yes, we were acquainted during a little investigation concerning a break-in at the school in Canterlot where he was posted.  But if you will forgive the impertinence, how are you acquainted with comrade Storm?  I hardly see you two as part of the same revolutionary cell..."

 

Thus, while Stormstride was talking with his colleague and commander, Blueblood and Psmith were rapidly bringing each other up to speed on what they knew of the guard's situation.  Psmith's face, which normally bore the unshakeable smile of an enlightened monk, grew for a moment grave and serious.  And when Storm came to look back at the pair, something like a spark of resolve flashed behind the monocle of the secretary.

 

Without waiting for reaction or approval, the lavender unicorn raised a hoof to his muzzle and let out a sharp whistle.  He'd learned the technique in Manehattan, where a flighty father had transferred him for one school term, and as expected, it summoned a cabbie.  "Where to, sir?"

 

"A fair fare for three, to the see the shining sea!  To the docks, my good stallion, we go, with our luggage packed and provisions stacked.  Come, my porters, come!  Load the bags and double your tips!"  At the promise of generous renumeration, the porters around the trolley redoubled their efforts, bundling everything in front of them into the cab.  The guard would have found it tough to resist their momentum, and the Prince hardly even tried.

 

"It's.... really not any use arguing with the servantry when they get like this."  Blueblood explained, somewhat apologetically, as he took his seat.  "You can't threaten dismissal willy-nilly, and beyond that, they have, well, more power of my life than I do over theirs, I suppose."  A surprising piece of wisdom from a figure of foolishness, though it would not have taken much insight to guess that this nugget had been acquired the hard way.

[BeGoneThots]

Storm sighed. "Stop at the barracks so i can drop off my gear and get my weeks pay." As he took a seat he stayed silent. Just staring at the window. He waited until the trolly sstopped by the barracks. Storm stepped out. He was back within two minutes without the armor and spear.

Instead he wore a set of old worn out saddle bags. Gettinf back on the trolly he sat again. His gaze was still hollow. He remained silent the whole time. Though he did take a moment to push his mane from his face every so often.

[Blueblood]

Blueblood could only nod at Storm's request.  It wasn't unreasonable, and he wasn't making a fuss about essentially being press-ganged into sailing.  On that note, the Prince was curious as to why his secretary had seen fit to do this.  Waiting until the guard had gone to drop off his gear, he leaned over to whisper, "Psmith, what do you mean by bringing him along?"

 

His question was greeted with that same serene, slightly irritating smile that all servants who are masters of their masters wear.  "Have you not said yourself that to sail is to leave behind in a spray of salt those barons of big-wiggery who shake the dandruff of their personalities all about the drawing rooms of Canterlot?  I can assure you, your grace, that you do not have so allergic a reaction to their dander as does he."

 

The Prince blinked.  "I... don't think I used all those words... but I see what you mean.  But for Celestia's sake, does he even know what he's in for?  If he's new to seaponyship, by the time we hit open water, he'll want to kill me; and if we hit a rough patch, he might dive overboard!"  

 

"Well, in that case, it will at any rate break up and make sweeter the daily routine of his life.  It is these little breaks that make our existence anything but a monotonous nightmare."  He likely would have gone on, but Storm returned now, still mostly silent, and the cab moved on.

 

The travelers refrained from speaking until they reached the docks, where Psmith disembarked to move the luggage from the cab onto a white sailboat visible in the harbor.  It was a yacht, but not a large one.  A competent sailor could take it our solo, and it would not hold more provisions than for three for any journey of considerable length.  Blueblood seemed to brighten up at the sight of it, taking a deep breath of the salt air, like a pony free at last from the presence of a lingering stench.  "Ah, now there's the stuff.  Ever been out to sea before?"

[BeGoneThots]

Stormstride shook his head softly. "No. I learned to swim in a creek... but havent been near the ocean before. this is the first time i have seen the docks this close."

He watched as they loaded the boat. He stood aside, looking out to the ocean. He was quiet for a while. Even though he was thinking. He purposefully waited until things were ready. Looking back at the city he sigher softly.

Moving to the boat he waited to be invited aboard. His face wasnt exactly expressionless. But there wasnt much emotion left.

[Blueblood]

"Oh, I see."  It wasn't too much of a surprise to Blueblood that Storm was a complete landlubber; anypony who was even remotely familiar with the sea would have probably gone towards it in times of stress.  He'd never seen any medical journals that actually supported the contention that the sound and feeling of beating waves was legitimately therapeutic, but that only confirmed in the Prince an inbuilt suspicion of doctors in general.  "Well, this'll be a bit of an adventure for you then.  Good to know you can swim, though; I had to learn after capsizing my first raft in the backyard pond."

 

He wasn't sure what brought the memory back, it was one of his very earliest.  In any case, it was not likely to inspire confidence in Storm's prospective captain.  Said captain walked up the gangplank first, inspecting the vessel before giving his approval to board.  "Will you be coming, Psmith?  Last chance for a bit of a break."

 

"Many thanks for the offer, but may I offer a courteous refusal?  What exhausts you, your grace, is to me stimulation.  And vice versa.  At the end of your voyage, I will be of no use to you whatsoever.  In any case, I only provisioned for two."  The secretary smiled that smile of his again, and Blueblood momentarily wondered just how far in advance his secretary had planned to bring Storm along, if he never planned to go himself.

 

Not that he was likely to ever know.  The Prince shrugged, and stretched his legs with a starting promenade as Storm joined him on deck.  "Welcome aboard the HMS Windrose!  What do you think of her, eh?"

[BeGoneThots]

Storm stepped aboard. He looked over the ship and nodded. "She is pretty. Is sailing your hobby?" He looked over the deck and the rest of the ship. His mane caught a breeze, and blee back. The side of his face it had kept hidden was lit by the sun. A black eye, several fresh cuts and bruises. As well as a good deal of older ones. And what looked like a hoofprint in his chest next to the old scar.

There wasnt any crayon or chalk on his flank like there used to be when he patrolled the school. Just a faded cutie mark. The spear over the young unicorn was mostly faded out.

Storm looked up at the sky a moment. The odd passing cloud here and there. "It may storm out there. May not. Wouldnt worry though. I can hold it back if it does."

[Blueblood]

The hobby of an aristocrat was not quite like anything else in the world.  It was not a pastime, something done merely to fill the idle hours.  It was not exactly playtime, either, though it was alike in that foals took their toys almost as seriously.  There was something of the air of a sacred calling about it, that was fruitful of things outside of itself.  After all, the much of science originated from the tinkerings and thoughts of rich ponies with a lot of time of their hands, and if most art was not made by aristocratic artists, it was fed by aristocratic art-lovers.

 

Thus, when Blueblood said, "Yes, it is, you know,"  His normally vacuous voice had an echo of the tones of a cleric in a temple.  There was reverence in it.  Interestingly enough, his cutie mark was gleaming especially bright now as he undid the mooring lines.  Perhaps it was just the salt spray.

 

"Oh, right, you can work the weather!"  The Prince said brightly, taking the helm with alacrity.  "Never been out with one of you wizards before; you're useful chaps in a pinch, if you're not seasick."  The tide had just started to turn as the tug boat extricated the yacht from the crowd of other vessels around the jetty, and it was a smooth, straight shot out of the harbor and into the open waves.  The sails began to fill with the breeze, and the good ship Windrose was off on it's jolly little flight!

[BeGoneThots]

It took storm a bit to grow used to the rocking motions of the ship. His legs still unsteady as he moved to look over the rail. "I doubt i will get sick. Training included dumping us in the lake and making it as choppy as possible. Just to show us some of thd conditions we may have to face." He watched the stallion manage his vessel.

Storm respected any form of talent. And Blueblood was talented as a sailor it seemed. Storm had no idea what anythinv other than the deck was. Even then he wasnt sure if the deck had different sections or names. So the whole thing was just called a ship in his mind. Moving to the side he watched the waves roll gently as he sat where he was fairly sure he wouldnt get in the way. "How long did you plan on being away?"

[Blueblood]

Part of Auntie Celestia's regime of character improvement exercises had included shipping Blueblood off to a military training camp during an event where they would open up the basic training courses to civilians.  Predictably, this had turned out to be a disaster; but really, how was the Prince supposed to know that if you try to shortcut your KP duty by magically powderizing the potato peels, the resulting cloud will explode when exposed to open flame?

 

So much for military discipline.  Still, the unicorn had stayed long enough to see that lake, and when he compared it to what he would go through himself on a Saturday afternoon on the sea for fun... well, let's just say it did nothing to deflate his ego.  

 

*Should I tell him though, or just let him find out for himself?*  Blueblood eventually decided that there was no point in trying to convince his shipmate that he would become seasick.  Maybe he wouldn't after all, and that would just make the Prince look foolish.  He determined that Storm did however have a right to know how long he'd be gone for.  "Well, I don't plan to spend more than a week on the water itself, less if the wind holds fair.  How long we'll be gone depends on where I decide to dock, and if you plan to take the train or the ship back.  If worst comes to worst, I can pay to have the yacht docked for a while, and return to that port for my next trip."

[BeGoneThots]

"Seeing as im out of a job again i dont have any plans. Not like i am granted visitation. In fact its expressly frowned upon." He relaxed a bit. Watching the waves roll past was calminv enough. He actually smirked at one point. "Well... at least i dont have to listen fo Blaze dog me out anymore..." he chuckled at that.

After a bit he spoke. "He threw a balled up news paper... not a piece of one... the whole thing. Soaked in something to make it heavy. Knocked the poor pony off his pedistal. Broke most of the strings on his violin when he fell. Snapped thr bow too. Scuffed his legs and side up as well.... i cant stand bullies like that. If i had half my mind still i would have vaporized his cutie mark off both cheeks... but im too tired to aim properly at range...."

The colt looked at Blueblood, and spoke. "What is it like? Having the money to buy what you want?"

[Blueblood]

Blueblood was surprised to hear that visitation had been withheld from Storm; as far as he'd been told, the issue was about insufficient income to provide for his daughter.  But to discourage visitation usually meant some allegation of abuse, and there was no chance of that.... right?

 

The Prince's thoughts began to walk back to the dent in the train wall.  Perhaps somepony had seen similar behaviors on record, and drawn up a memo of suspicion.  Listening to the guard try to justify his actions, Blueblood wasn't sure himself.  "All the same... that was rather a lot of force to use to get your point across.  More than enough, for anypony really.  And, er, well, there's a word for ponies who use excessive physical violence to make other ponies do as they are told..."

 

Some prickling instinct on the back of the Prince's neck warned him that he was treading on dangerous territory, and thus he swerved, figuratively and literally, as Stormstride shot him another question.  "Money's... not something I think about.  I guess that's your answer really; having that much means you never think about having it.  Though I have, lately, thought about what it could do elsewhere."  The implied offer hung in the breezy air as the sails billowed.  The ship was tacking, the bow beginning to run more parallel to the waves, but still at an angle, so the motion of the deck began to combine both pitch and roll.  This sort of motion was not kind to a pony with no sea legs...

[BeGoneThots]

Storm noodded softly. "Yea. History of excessive force. Then again their psychologist said i had... P..t..s.. something. The fight i had at the school during the Changeling incident... said it messed me up bad. And some other junk about repressed emotions. They said i was lashing out at work for my own failings as a father."

Stromstride lowered his head to the deck. It wasnt so much the motion making him sick. It was the thoughts in his head. But the motions of the boat didnt help. With a sigh he jist tried to remain still. "Go ahead and call me a brute or whatever else you were thinking... i may not be eloquinte but i can read body language and voice tone easily enough... and you would be right. I am a brute. Im hostile, aggitated, physical when i likely dont have to be."

He stood, shaky but still up on his hooves. Walking close to Blueblood, but maintaining a distance he spoke. "My parents used to say money was what caused all the evil in the world. And for the longest time i was inclined to agree. But i think the greatest evil comes from blatant ignorance."

He turned to the rail. Leaning over it he whispered softly. "If our positions were changed..... I think i would honestly tske everything i owned and leave. Im so tired of this country... the rules benefit the people that make them. Few others. My apartment isnt far from the warehouses... it was all we could afford when we moved here. And with my pay being cut to cocer the cost of repairs to the gardens and pay restitution to you... they took her... the morning of her birthday. Oh yea. Guests and gifts arrived. But the guests left. I tried to send the gifts on ahead but they just came back in the mail. I havent seen her in months..." his voice had loat the tone. He was just spilling his guts now.

"I thought i was a good soldier. I worked hard to make corporal. I fostered relations with the public. I tried to get the foals to see our armor as somwtjing to put them at ease.. not be frightened of.... hell i let them draw on my flank while i was in my post by the school. It didnt bother me... i was actually glad to see them. I tried to volunteer as a teacher too. Magical training for the unicorns. Physical and mental health for all foals... i even assisted the flight instructors from time to time around canterlot. Kept the weather clear for them to practice... and one day i disobeyed a direct order. And it all went to pot.."

He looked at Blue. "Instead of rushing to the palace where there was already a regiment i stayed at the school... apparently the commanders decided middle and lower class were not in much danger. How wrong they were... and my report was sealed so no pony could know what happened in the school that day..."

[Blueblood]

Listening to Storm ramble on, Blueblood wasn't sure whether to feel pity or fear.  Sure, the stallion had a hard lot, nopony could deny that, but it was the way he spoke of it, that kind of uncaring cynical despair that made the Prince think, *This is the sort of chap that might do anything.  And I'm in a boat with him, alone.  He doesn't like my sort, and I'm mixed up in the troubles he's had lately.  There are no witnesses...*  The stallion tried not to let on to his worries, focusing on steering a course east-by-northeast, desperately trying not to remind the guard or himself of the duel, its consequences, or-

 

"Wait, restitution?"  The word struck an odd note in Blueblood's memory, and despite himself, he rolled his recollection back to the days after their magic duel...   "I didn't ask for restitution..."  He said slowly, his brow corrugating in puzzlement.  "I don't recall receiving restitution, or at any rate, my estate bookkeeper didn't tell me about restitution funds."  The Prince's expression was proceeding from puzzled to cross now, as he begun to suspect financial misdealings amidst his servantry.  But that was nothing compared to what fire lit in his expression when another thought came to him, "And I know for damn certain there were no bucking restitutions for stampeding the whole bloody royal menagerie through the Gala Ballroom!"

 

Like most sailors, the unicorn was notably freer with his language once departed from shore.  Being hot under the collar of his sailing suit probably also contributed to that.  "Faust's Horseshoes, and you took it?  Well, let me tell you, if I were your position, I'd have gotten my friends together to raise a big stink over it!  Haven't you got anypony who you could get to petition on your behalf?  Gad, no wonder you're repressed; too much bloody p-sychology, that's your bucking problem."  It said volumes about Blueblood's character that he was the sort of pony who pronounced the normally silent 'p' in that word.

[BeGoneThots]

Storm let Blue have his word. And when he finished the colt looked back out to sea. "If i had anyone we would have already been in the gardens protesting. We both failed to name what we were claiming as a prize. So the damages fell on the loser to care for."

Stormstride allowed himself a brief pause to think about his words. "You can use what eloquinte words you like. But buck it all... i have had my fill. When we get back i plan on ending my misery here. I will be leaving Equestria. Perminantly." He shifted position and sighed. Sitting, with the angle of light and his mane flowing in the breeze he looked like a mare from the back. From the shape of his shoulders and flank to the curve of his back and sides. It was odd to see for certain. Fhere was a bulkiness of muscle and a tension in every step that had been drilled into the colt. But certainly not so much that it his his natural looks. "So what did you get bullied for? We all get bullied for something... what was yours?"

[Blueblood]

So... it seemed that Storm had no friends.  Having been in exactly the same boat several years ago, Blueblood could sympathize with his plight.  "You know, if you don't have anypony worth calling a friend, then you're just going to have to take the trouble to make some.  That's what I ended up having to do, and buck me if it wasn't among those whose company irritated me the most that I found a few good ones."  He shrugged, staring back at the now-invisible shore.  "It was the Princess of Friendship herself who told me that, and if she wouldn't know, well, who would?"

 

It was true, in fact, that he had sought advice from Twilight Sparkle on this point, on an 'open house' day where she sat to receive visitors of all sorts, ranging from the royal person of the Prince to the local garbagepony (who hadn't bathed before coming).  That had been... an interesting meeting.  He'd gone for advice on how to deal with an annoying adversary, and had been told how he might turn him into a friend.  This he had done, not that it made the other fellow less irritating, but Blueblood found that he minded less.

 

Then came a question that rather caught him off guard, putting him back into his stammering, shoreside speech, "Eh, what?  I say, bullied?"  It brought the Prince's eyes back to his fellow-passenger, and he started, almost not recognizing him.  He'd never seen Stormstride from this angle or this pose, and the sudden unfamiliarity disquieted him.  He couldn't put his hoof on why, so he tried to consider the question.

 

"Ah, well, I don't know, really.  I've had plenty of ponies say all sorts of things about me, mostly untrue, but not to my face.  Scandalous rumors, stories in the paper, that sort of thing.  The only times I've been roughed up are when I was caught in the middle of a battle, and that's not really bullying either, you know."  Being a Prince had some perks; he was more used to having to deal with sycophants than bullies, for one thing.  Still, both were hardly what one could call 'good company,' and having to deal too much with either would leave a pony with little opportunity to make friends.

[BeGoneThots]

"Being lied about behind your back is a form of bullying." Storm said softly. He was quiet a momenf before speaking again. "For me it was how i looked mostly. Was never tall enough, never strong enough, never smart enough. Hell they used to rease me at Cloudsdale primary school about looking like a mare... i took it and took it. I learned to take a lot. But when it comes to seeing others who cant take it... or whom have taken enough already.. thats where i draw the line..." he sighed.

He smirked over his shoulder at Blueblood. "Princess Twilight eh? Yea i have seen her. Never met her but i seen her. She was the one that celsstia sent to ponyville. Honestly though... not certain i can really understand why the made a mare that young a princess so suddenly. Poor thing is probably flustered most of the time." It was almost with concern that he spoke of Twilight. "Though she earned it. I have seen her battles. Aye she earned that crown."

[Blueblood]

Having usually seen Stormstride in the armor, and always in the attitude, of a guard, it was hard for Blueblood to imagine that anypony would be so foolish as to pick a fight with him over looks.  As far as looks went, Blueblood estimated him well capable of, well, being the sort of pony who could throw another pony hard enough to leave an impact dent.  But once Storm mentioned the teasing over his figure, the Prince took another look at the stallion, and now couldn't un-see what he'd failed to see earlier.

 

*Well... that would explain a lot.  I suppose he dealt with being bullied over his figure by bulking up to the point where nopony would dare comment.*  That made sense.  Honestly, there was a great deal of general prissiness in Blueblood's mannerisms that his own tormentors would have seized upon had he not worked his genes for all they were worth in cultivating a masculine figure.  So far, so good.

 

But there was still the basic issue at hand, which was that even after growing stronger, Storm was buckling under the weight of the world.  "Well, I can't speak for the stress she's gone through; only that she rarely shows any.  To hear her tell it, though, she wouldn't be able to do what she does now if it weren't for her friends.  If she toiled in isolation, she probably would start cracking, like you are right now.  I don't know where you're planning to hare off to, but if you go it alone, its not going to be any better for you there than it is here."

[BeGoneThots]

Stormstride looked at him and spoke. "And where would I turn? To the ponies that once bullied me? To those that fear me?" Storm leaned on the rail and sighed softly. "All my life I have wondered if there was ever a time when a pony's talent made them out of place. When they served no benefit to any pony, even themselves. I found that answer this morning." 

 

The stallion stood and turned slowly. He didn't look angrily at the prince. But he was not looking with any sort of friendship. "Tell me something. When you are the only pony that notices when another pony is just being mean to somepony that can not muster the strength nor courage to resist, for no reason than to make them cry... And no pony turns an eye when they can obviously hear the poor thing crying out for help... What are you supposed to do then? If you are the only pony looking at them, and not intentionally ignoring their distress.... what do you do? This mark on my flank keeps telling me to knock the bully on his rear every time I see him until he is scared enough to realize how it feels. Oh its not a pretty way of looking at things. But that's what this bloody thing is telling me." 

 

He turned back to the rail and leaned on it. Watching the ocean he sighed and slumped. "I don't know why I bother resisting this thing so much. What happened today was the culmination of an entire shift's worth of being spit at, hit, an even bucked because some ponies wanted a fight and I tried to just restore order a bit." After a moment he reached into his saddle bag and walked over. "there... they didnt cut me this week so let me go ahead and pay up." He left the small pouch there. It was not large. barely big enough to hold maybe 200 bits at a stretch.

 

Walking back to the rail he stared over the ocean as he leaned down. "I know ts no better out there. But at least out there I can be away from the bureaucracy and the endless wastes of breath the commanders have become. Always either buttering you up to soften the blow or berating you when you out perform them. Honestly... Its like a circus in the barracks most days... that's why i struggle to pay for that stupid apartment. Peace and a little privacy beat out the free housing and meals any day." The moment he mentioned food his stomach growled softly. He popped it gently with a hoof to make it stop. Then returned to looking over the ocean. "I'm not sure..... why I am spilling this to you. You likely have other things you want to think about."