A Bit(e) of Hope (Private)

Sky leaned back, swirling her drink a little. "lightning,, she's one to go hard and fast, I mean from what I gather before I even met her when she was on the run with her mum and sister, she had ideas and plans on how to improve and help her pony's lives, so uh, yeah I guess you could say she's been planning it a while, honestly I don't get a lot of info on what each small mission is for, be it to help one of her projects, or to help with tomorrows dinner, but id say the few months leading up to this were real busy, getting scrolls and gizmos for her to study and reconfigure, hay even some stuff in Canterlot." she took a sip of her drink "I will say this, lightning isn't one to focus at one thing at a time, more likely to hit multiple birds with one stone sort of thing, at the end of the day though, what ever her plan I'm sure it will be for the best."

"Getting stuff from Canterlot prior to this...?" That really made the stallion curious with what she had accomplished and how their situation was going. "I won't pretend to understand the way the royal family handles these matters, but I can't help but wonder if the reason we seemingly haven't had them trying to track us down yet is because Princess Celestia realized what Lightning was about to do... Certainly food for thought. Thank you for sharing that, I think it at least helps me get a bit of perspective on less known Equestrian sorcery... I should update my notes some more."

"perhaps, all I know to be honest was that we were there a quite a bit before we departed with you. that being said, them following us would be pretty hard with how far we jumped from the bay,, and not ruling it out but lightning has an interesting relation with the princesses, but I don't know the details, she's my sister, but I don't know her every relation." she said finishing her glass. as rain began to pitter patter on the ships exterior.

"I understand. I'm just hoping this wasn't all that surprising to the Royal Sisters if they ever do catch up with us. Less problems for us later, after all..." He would be taking a moment to see what her mood might be as the rain picked up, knowing she had her own doubts and tensions to handle at times that he was still coming to understand. "Say... You can see and hear the rain quite comfortably from the bridge. I find it quite soothing, if you're interested."

"I guess you could say the sound of it makes me conflicted, it is soothing, and it makes the indoors yet more cosy,, but it does bring up memories of the night I lost my mother." she said with an outward breath, looking to the wall before offering her now empty glass to the stallion, "its something I've come to terms with, but that doesn't mean it isn't painful at times."

Sugary flinched at hearing that just as he was about to take a sip, looking pensive as he did so with a somber hum. "... Sky... You don't have to tell me what it was, but did you learn something, about yourself or in general, from that loss?"

"I suppose I learnt a lot of things from it, both about myself and the world around me. but was there somethings specific you had in mind?" she leaned back looking at the pocket room her sister had implemented.

"... If you'll join me on the bridge, I can tell you what rain and loss means to me, if you're interested. We can even trade a tale for a tale, if you think it helps broaden our perspectives." He smiled a bit somberly, finishing his drink, pouring himself one more glass and getting a snack with it as he got up and started to walk to the bridge as he looked to her. "It helped me define what kind of a mercenary and stallion I wanted to be. What say you?"

she flashed a pensive smile, topping her glass up and followed suit, "sure, why not" she responded reaching him as they began to make there way to the bridge.

His smile both brightened and mellowed out with that answer, the gentle demeanor taking a brief moment of sobering essence as he thought how to actually share what was on his mind as he looked ever more pensive about it all. Nonetheless, he brought her with him to the bridge where he would sit down on his Captain's chair looking out the rainy window quietly while waiting for her to get settled. "I... You know, it just now dawned on me to ask before I continue... And I hope for a thousand pardons with this seemingly all of a sudden... Your mother wasn't murdered during rain, was she?" For once, though he was calm and composed, he was asking with a somewhat resigned tone, his gaze upon her a little bit wounded as he revealed a bit in advance what had gone badly in his past. Sky was about to learn of a very sore matter of his very soon regardless of how she answered, perhaps only changing how he approached it on her reaction.

she looked from the bridges front window upon the the deck as the rain spattered and splashed against the wood. "she was killed by something more cold and callouses than any dragon or griffon, she was being hunted, I was a secret for my own safety, had never seen the outside. she was being chased, nothing new what was new was the weather, I don't know the exact details, but she finally slipped away from the hunters when a tree fell and took her instead. why'd you ask?" she took another sip of the drink not changing her gaze.

Sugary's eyes widened a bit by how much she confided in him. The stallion let out a sad sigh, and began. "Didn't mean for you to go first on something like that, but a somber tale for a somber tale it is. Sounds like you vaguely recall it from long ago though. I wish I could say the same about my Master's demise... It was about 15 years ago by now. I had gone well past the point of being a rookie and recruit mercenary. By then, I was a full-fledged member of the guild I once held ties closely with, a young adult in my prime ready for anything. Not that... I'm not still friendly with them, but you'll soon see why I decided to go my way."

His face seemed a bit more pained as he spoke on, the matter still held close to his heart in some way. "... There didn't seem like much build-up to it at the time. It was a routine escort of someone's valuables with our typical group arrangements. Everything seemed normal, and while it was raining it was rather gentle... So you can probably imagine knowing how gut-wrenched I was when all of a sudden one of those I thought were at least peers and comrades in our guild suddenly thrust a wicked knife to the back of my Master, our troop leader that day, right by my side, while siphoning his lifeforce and power into one of the treasures we were supposed to be guarding and delivering. Confusion and shock spread quick to be sure, and suddenly a war cry was heard and we were ambushed, by some we called allied, and another faction ready to take us down."

He laughed, almost into a cough as he continued. "... How we survived was a mix of skill, luck, and the little bit of mercy that my Master held on to fight by the skin of his teeth by my side after I kicked that bastard of a traitor off him once the gears started to turn. It was a desperate fight for our lives and survival though... We lost several good mercenaries that day, several more retired soon after out of grief... I had to watch my Master die on that lush wet green grass on a beautiful day; Rainbows overhead even. My magic could not save him, his body and spirit were terribly wounded and cursed... I had looked forward to the day I could get my own airship, so we could ride together on our terms... I was going to lead a troop with him soon... ... ... Ah, sorry. That warrior taught me everything I know about fighting. What that moment taught me though? I just couldn't be afraid to stick with this way of life at the risk of those I care for. This journey of gallivanting around the land, seeking adventure on my terms, I had to spread his legacy and memory somehow by living my life how I wanted it... Even if it hurts that I don't have him with me still."

"the night I lost my mother, the only thing I had in terms of anything, I never knew my father, I couldn't have friends, in a flash all that I had in may small world was taken. I was 6, and the only good bye I could give was internal. a friend of my mother, I had seen her here and there, she cam by that night and told me, I struggled to get my head round it, just." sky paused, and turned to sugary "I'm sorry that you were betrayed in such a way, but at least I hope you had the chance to say goodbye. there was no wake, no funeral for my mother, and if it wasn't for me or her friend, she, her death would have been forgotten."

sky finished her glass once more, setting it to the side, "would you like to know what i learnt?" she asked a tad monotone.

Sugary took a long sip as he listened in return, knowing this was an important bonding moment between them. "Of course. You're quite strong and loyal. I'm curious to know what helps guide that might and devotion."

"i learnt that the world is cold and fate does not care, that you can loose what you hold the most dear. but that's why you must hold those you care for most when you can, that my must be strong, for yourself because no one is guarantied to be there at the last garrison. and i suppose, maybe the most important thing, when you are gone, all that's left is memories, so make them good for those you leave behind."

He stared at her quietly for a bit, contemplating her words before he smiled warmly at her, extending his glass at her again. "... A bit more pessimistic a philosophy than mine, but I think we both have a good grasp that we can only do our best with the present and face the future with just a pinch of fear and a dash of bravery to make our efforts count, yes?"

she looked the stallion straight on, then turned a slight smile. "i like to think of it like this, we can never know what lies ahead, the greatest lie we tell ourselves in continuity, so fight for a later end and make that end, and the time leading up to it count, there is no point fighting the inevitable, so you best make the most of it. but sure" she had long since finished her dink and leaned back on the window. "i suppose i did learn other things,, but that's more of the 'the world may be uncaring but there are those that care within it',, and more over 'no matter how dark the world may feel, there are beings out there that are so much darker."
She stopped abruptly, before sighing and looking to her company with a smile "but i think we are all aware of that huh"

Sugary lightly clanged glasses with Sky and chuckled a bit more. "... I'd like to think we're made of tough enough stuff to take on the world's worst a bit better than most at least. We got that going for us, might as well meet its challenge head on..." He looked at his now empty glass of soft coconut wine, and set it aside to subdue any thoughts of a third one. "... I really am thankful for us sharing this moment. I don't wanna force how we get along, but sometimes I worry I'm not being very good company to you. I hope this helped with that, if even a little. I really am glad you're with us, fantastically exciting as it has been just working with and getting to know Lightning on her own wild merits and escapades." He leaned back into his chair very comfortably, legs spread a bit, just watching and listening on to the rain some more much more at ease.

leaning back she looked up to the ceiling, "lighting,, now there's a mare to tell you about loss,," she looked back down to sugary and smiled "thanks, im glad we got to have this talk too" she said softly.

As the sun rose over the horizon, clearing away the darkness of night, the rain too grew faint and faded. the light broke through the curtains and shone across the room, partials of dust illuminated in the mornings rays. the night, despite the storm had been peaceful and the defences mostly were unutilised, many of the creatures that explored the site seemed uninterested or recognised a threat.
as dawn grew to morning, and the song birds chorus broke out in full, sky stirred in her sleep, not quite awake but soon to do so.

Sugary wasn't sure when exactly, but he had drifted to sleep in the sound of the rain and darkened skies. It had been a very relaxing rest though, after the storm they went through to make it there in the first place. He then grumbled awake in mild surprise that he wasn't in his bed and it was daytime already. He began to look around and stretch, curiously moving about to see how Sky was doing. "Hoo... Well, the, that was a doze and a half... Are Lightning and Menacy back yet? Guess I should at least get breakfast fired up. Wonder if Sky slept well too."

Sky's ears twitched, and her eyes began to flutter, she stretched and looked over to the stallion only half comprehending what she had heard, "huh,, uh, morning i guess," she looked around gathering her bearings before looking out the window to the bright exterior before getting up stretching her back and stretching her wings. "weather seems to have gotten better, hopefully that means Lighting and Menacy will have a quick and easy trip."
finally she walked towards the door comprehending what she had heard. "uh, by all means, but i really shouldn't and it may be an hour or so before we see anyone." she said with a soft tone and smile in her voice.

The stallion chirped a bit hearing Sky awaken, chuckling softly at her. "Good morning to you too. And well, I just thought it'd be nice to have things ready by then, I wasn't planning rush it. If you're so certain they might be taking their sweet time, I guess I can put it off and keep checking on the engine, see how it's doing today." He then leaned in a bit closer, warmly. "... Least you look like sunshine yourself. Guess our chat last night was that relaxing, eh? Eh heh."

sky blushed, looking down before regaining eye contact, "sure, honestly, after the other day,, knowing you don't have a grudge for sure makes me feel better." sky stood there a moment, in thought scratching her chin. "hmm, ok, we may want to also start taking down the defences, i doubt we will be attacked and if they come back with someone or something it could end badly." she suggested before smiling "then i think would mean we finish at the right time for you too cook, and i can do some idle checks on the ship." she suggested a tad more chipper again.

Sugary pondered on the idea. "Take down the defenses, eh...? I thought Lightning would know not to set them off, figured it would be safe. Then again, you've known her the longest, so I might as well go along with the counsel before anything regretful happens, heh. Sure, it's a nice task for us to start the day off and stretch. Build a little appetite while we're at it and enjoy the local scenery for once." And off with Sky he went to do just that with a skip in his step. He really had slept well, and was happy he and Sky were getting along as well as they were so far between just the two of them.