this morning gem warned me that there were a lot of stories about my great-grand-aunt hellebore and most of them weren't good
this became relevant almost immediately when we dropped anchor at vralkek
the oddly heavily armed port authority representatives who came on board to check paperwork and assess tariffs held themselves with the sort of slightly aggressive poise one expects from bullies
the moment they saw me their attitudes flipped and they were deferential to us
that's when gem finally explained that hellebore's reputation comes from her time in the brelish army ... specifically from carving her way across droaam as part of the unit with the highest kill count
an enthusiastic combatant
she was so effective – so terrifying! – that many of the people here assume any other unicorn would be just as deadly!
so many people here treat me with the tainted sort of respect that comes from fear
it doesn't feel good and it doesn't feel safe
fortunately not everyone here is like that
there is a cart right near where we docked that sells those delicious tea-smoked apples
the proprietor asked if i knew searchlight and when i said yes they were genuinely friendly and shared tales of how she and early bloom would stop by for apples and spiced cider
and how they were heroes that helped defend innocent people and prevent them from being dragged into the war
as a unicorn i'm preceded by two very different reputations
when i entered the "crossed timbers" inn all conversation stopped – the first time i've ever been startled by silence!
one person said "this! is an omen!" and folks got loud again arguing about what my presence meant ... without talking to me
fortunately the innkeep was all business: "how long are you in town? no offense but the last unicorn who came through here did a lot of damage"
don't worry
my friends and i are only staying a couple nights
fewer if at all possible
medya and i are in our room for an early night after a brief chat with relic and spark
it's hard for me to imagine any pony being as capable of violence as hellebore's reputation suggests
they reminded me that the sort of magic i've been using to protect us in combat would be just as terrifying if i were to turn it to other ends
that's the point though – i couldn't possibly
how could she?
how ... could ... she?