The once-proud member of the zebra tribe, found his concerns dimming as he led the chubby pirate pony through the dense jungle. Skyheart had long-since lowered the dagger she’d taken him hostage with, giving him the freedom to escape! She was close behind, probably capable of bringing him down, but he knew that the confusing, dangerous jungle gave him all the advantage. Despite this, the zebra stuck with the strange pony. The idea he’d been cooking up was discarded. It was too risky, and the more time he spent away from the tribe and with Skyheart, the more resolved he became in abandoning his fate as chieftess stew.

“Hey,” Skyheart grunted after several more sweaty minutes of traipsing. The zebra flinched. “Easy! I’m not gonna hurt you. You’re listening.” Skyheart carefully trotted up to be side by side with the zebra, a gruff grin on her muzzle. She put a hoof up in front of him and halted. The zebra was surprised to find the dagger nowhere to be found, and he stopped with. “Break time. Sweating my ass off out here.”

The zebra tilted his head in confusion, looking no worse for wear. On closer inspection, Skyheart saw that the zebra’s fur was shaved down considerably. “We gotta work out some form of communication… Let’s start simple. Name?” Another head tilt made Skyheart sigh. “Name!” She pointed to herself. “Skyheart.” She tapped her chest and repeated herself a couple times. Then she poked his chest. “Name?”

“...Nuuk,” a crisp, deep voice answered. He thumped his chest forcefully, holding his chin up with pride. “Name. Nuuk.”

“Nuuk,” she repeated, pointing to him. “See? Now I don’t have to call you ‘zebra’ anymore. Progress!” Skyheart paused and looked to the ground. Then growled. “Unlike this whole stupid trip. Where the hell is this supposed treasure supposed to be? There’s nothing but jungle here!” Forgetting about Nuuk entirely, she paced back and forth, muttering curses.

The zebra studied the pegasus, not having had a whole lot of contact with foreigners. At least, not enough to get to know them much before they ended up in his chief’s stomach. Skyheart passed by him with a flick of a tail. He had half a mind to hold a hoof up to make her stop but decided against it. Instead, he listened, and continued hearing her drudge up a familiar word. One that jogged his own memory, of one of the jungle’s many secrets.

“Treasure?”

Skyheart froze. Slowly turned her head. Narrowed her eyes. “Did you just say treasure? Do you know where it is?” The chubby mare allowed her tail to sway just a bit in eagerness.

“Treasure...” Nuuk repeated, marching over a few paces before peeking through the foliage and squinting himself. Then he lifted a confident hoof and gestured. “Treasure. Ah’qul. Treasure ah’qul. Skyheart flicked her wings and licked her lips nodding for him to continue. But Nuuk merely repeated himself.

“Right right, okay I get it,” she waved him off. “Treasure this way. Take?” She pointed into the dark jungle beyond. Nuuk nodded, and, without missing a beat, slipped into the dense flora. Skyheart followed after, catching up to him and sticking shoulder to shoulder. “Nuuk good,” she said, with a pat of her good wing to his back. Nuuk didn’t seem to react, save for a ghost of a smile slipping across his muzzle. If this pays off and we my ship back, Nuuk, I’m giving you the ride of your life. Having a fierce zebra warrior who couldn’t talk back seemed an ideal first mate for the pirate.

It was rough going, but Nuuk appeared confident the whole way. An hour passed. Skyheart was dripping in sweat, and the night was alive with the constant buzzing (literally and otherwise) of nature. She found herself pressing up against the zebra to not lose track of him, but the bright moonlight provided a little relief from total darkness. She held her tongue, knowing it would hardly do good anyway since the two could barely see each other. But her hooves were dying for a break, the mare herself dying for a nice hot bath. Her patience wore thin, but her resolute silence prevailed: The dense jungle trees and foliage cleared, and just beyond the thick tree trunks stood a moderately-sized structure made entirely of stone. A bright fire brimmed at its peak, the temple showing but one way inward: A wide-open door, large enough to sneak a dragon through, seemed inviting despite the darkness.

“Ah’qul… Oh! Temple!” she exclaimed in sudden realization. The treasure must be there! Skyheart eagerly trampled forward, only to have a thick zebra leg hold her fast. She glared at Nuuk, who’s presence flickered in the burning fire light. He returned the glare with a sterner one, flicking his head out towards the clearing. Skyheart glowered but took the hint, staying still and peeking forward.

“...Fuck.” Over to the side of the temple stood several very familiar ponies. Her crew. “Fucking traitors. No doubt that bitch Seras is… yeah, there’s the whore.” Skyheart kept her voice down, but that didn’t stop Nuuk from slipping a hoof over her muzzle. She pushed it away, but didn’t say another word.

Now what am I gonna do? Skyheart looked to Nuuk. The zebra crouched to the ground, eyes never leaving sight of the pirates out ahead. It was clear what he wanted to do: Wait. Skyheart vibrated in frustration. She knew that waiting was a smart play, given that she had no idea how many of them were out there. And every one would just love to drive a cutlass through their former captain.

But waiting could leave her with no prize to claim. For all Skyheart knew, other ponies were already deep in the temple, excavating whatever riches it held. The entrance wasn’t too far off, after all: Surely she and Nuuk could find a moment to sneak past the other pirates and make their way in? Then she’d be the one with the advantage and, if push came to shove, a good bargaining chip.

What’s a sweaty pegasus to do?