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"Ah ain't ever been on a beach before, ya know? Ah think we talked 'bout it before headin' over, over a cuppa th' best brew in Cervidas. Never did finish that drink, Ah 'eard the boat arrivin' 'fore we could. Ah've still got the bottle... but Ah'm gonna save this'n. Ya keep tellin' me not ta drink so much... Ah guess that ain't much of a problem anymore." Waves roll 'gainst th' shiftin' sand, evenin' warmth startin' to fade off over th' horizon. A soft breeze, the usual smells of my homeland missin', blow over what Ah figure is a rollin' plain. Far out as Ah am, Ah still can't escape the sounds of th' city on th' wind. "Ah still ain't used t' them. Cities, Ah mean. Ya always liked 'em, but Ah couldn't stand th' noise. Never did stay in one place fer too long, guess Ah can't complain 'bout 'em much. Hay, waitin' in Seaddle's longest we ever did spend in one place. Almost a year, if mah time's correct." In, out, in, out. Th' tide's still steady on this side. "Ah guess Ah was wrong, ya'll were right when ya said it'd be the same on the other side. Yer right more often than yer wrong, Ah'm not sure what else to expect. Heh, Ah guess it ain't hard to be right when yer tryin' to talk to me 'bout direction. Maps ain't for ponies like me... or, well, zebras like me. Ah guess that'll be a bigger issue now we're in Equestria." The grass ain't all that comfortable to be sittin' on, and Ah'm more comfortable on mah hooves anyway. Even that's different, grass's a lot tougher over the ocean. "Figured we'd start headin' out soon. Ain't no good sittin' infront of a sunset Ah can't see." The sand's tricky, like gravel out in the Emberbrace Mountains, 'cept a lot finer. Already stuck in mah coat after a few steps forward. "Well, ya comin'? Yer supposed ta tell me ta turn 'round 'bout now, or Ah'll be joinin' ya in the..."

And now Ah can 'ear ya 'gain. Ah guess it's been happenin' over 'n over in mah head since Ah got 'ere, just ain't able ta 'ear it 'fore now. Shoutin' over th' storm, barely 'oldin' on ta th' doorframe, ship sideways... "Yer supposed ta tell me ta turn 'round 'bout now." Ah ain't one ta care too much 'bout rain, but Ah swear th' seaspray hurts these blind ol' eyes of mine worse'n scarrabbit venom. Already coverin' me, and Ah ain't even touchin' water yet. "Ah'm fine, Ah ain't gonna close 'em though. Ya always're tellin' me ta keep 'em open, in case'a trouble. Heh, and yer always sayin' ya want ta see the world with me. Now how am Ah gonna do that if Ah keep 'em closed all th' time." Mah packs sat off up th' hill a ways, where we left 'em. Ain't gonna need 'em now. "Speakin' of which, ya gonna tell me where we're goin'? Ah've been waitin' a year now, and Ah know ya've been cookin' up somethin' good." The wind dies down, leavin' me with mah thoughts an' the uncarin' waves.

"...Ah ever tell ya th' worst part 'bout travelin' alone? It's th' quiet. Bein' alone like that... ain't somethin' Ah can imagine anypony managin' fer long." Th' soft splashin' turns ta rippin' winds an' roarin' worse'n a burrowmaw. Ya keep screamin', even after ya let go. Ah can't hear what yer sayin', 'n then it's gone. Waves're back to lappin', and Ah can't feel anythin' 'sides sand in mah coat and cold inside.

And then Ah take a step, 'n another. "Ah ain't gonna be alone, ya know that. Remember when Ah got lost 'n Concordia fer a few hours, we nearly got kicked out after Ah set off a signal. Ya know Ah ain't the type to be alone... So why am Ah talkin' ta nothing?" More sand, damp now, clings to mah foreleg as Ah raise it fer another step. "Ah... Ah... Ah need ya Jack Boot. Ya ain't just mah friend, yer a part of me. Ah've known ya fer most of mah life, Ah've been with ya since Ah was a colt. We walked 'cross Emrelda, me 'n you. Why'd ya have ta go an' leave me alone? Ah..." The sea spray's comin' back again, already runnin' down mah face and stingin' mah eyes worse'n ever. "Ah can't leave ya behind. Ah-Ah'm-Ah can't walk on without ya!" Cold seawater hits mah leg from that first step in'ta the ocean, where Ah know ya are. Yer watchin' me, like ya always did. And Ah... Ah... "Ah know whatcha'd say..."

Ah ain't walkin' no more. Ah'm sittin' 'ere up ta mah barrel in seawater, shiverin' and freezin', ‘bout ta walk inta the ocean. And Ah... Ah’m gonna stop walkin’, fer the first time. "Ya wouldn't want that... Ah know ya too well. Can 'ear it now, ya tellin' me ta get mah flank outta the water and dry off 'fore Ah catch hyperthermia again. Ya'd say..."

"Ya ain't got anythin' holdin' ya back, so keep walkin'."

"... Yer right, like ya always are."

"Ah know Ah am, now getch'er flank outta th' water an' dry off. Ya'll gonna freeze t' death, and Ah ain't gonna be able ta stop ya this time." Th' tide's headin' in, an' with the sun gone down mah shiverin's gonna stick 'round for a while. The wind blowin' through mah coat ain't much help, but Ah recognize it. Feels like it's blowin' straight through me.

"Follow th' Wanderin' Wind, it'll always lead ya somewhere, though ya'll walk a thousand mile 'n walk a thousand more..." Ah can't stop the shiverin', but Ah've been through worse. Mah bags, both pairs of 'em... Mine 'n yer's... ain't much more strain neither. "Ya listenin' Jack Boot? Ah'm... Ah'm gonna finish whatcha started. Ya'd better be watchin', 'cause Ah'm gonna need ya ta stick 'round for a while longer. Ah ain't gonna see the world like ya wanted, but Ah ain't gonna let it go unwalked neither. Ya'd better be watchin'... Please..." The darn spray musta gotten inta mah mane, cause Ah can't stop the burnin' or the trickle down mah face. "Ah'll meetcha at the... at the end of the trail. Ya'd better be watchin' me from there... wherever ya are... Jack..."

"Safe Travels."