What else would I be?

by The Grimm Reaper

Rating: teen
Tags: Princess Luna, Diamond Dogs, Gore, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Romance, Sex, Pipsqueak, Queen Chrysalis, Scootaloo, Adventure
Length: 5724

Pipsqueak has returned to Equestria after five years. He's twenty-three now and he's come to pay a visit to some old friends. While there, he begins to think back on his career choice.

'Dreams come and go much like opportunities. There was one dream I had that I wouldn't let go, and when the opportunity came, I went for it. Now I live my dream. Still it'd be nice to see my friends back home.' - Pipsqueak

'It's strange. I just got dumped, but now that he's back, I feel free as a bird. Perhaps I'll pursue his interests myself.' - Scootaloo

Pipsqueak has returned to Equestria after a five year voyage, but it's not a long stay. Maybe some restocking followed by a few nights with the Princess. After all, who doesn't love a bad boy? On his way to visit his friends in Ponyville, he stumbles across a sad mare he barely recognises. Needless to say, he's shocked to find out who it is, more-so that she's crying. Hoping to cheer her up, he tells the young mare of his journeys. The next day, he finds himself with a stowaway on-board his ship, the 'Midnight Dream'.

Opening theme: Tavern Music - Dragon Age 2

Published 2014-02-08 17:50:03 UTC
Last updated 2014-11-03 12:21:46 UTC

Chapter 1: I'm a Pirate, she's a minx!

"There's nothing like the wind whipping your mane, creeping between your legs and batting the underside of your tail. The sweet salty air filling your nostrils, burning your eyes." I said aloud as I took a deep breath through the nose and exhaled through the mouth. Standing beside me on the Quarterdeck was my first mate. Those of Equestria would know her as 'Queen Chrysalis, the Changeling queen who nearly brought down the great kingdom of Equestria'. I just knew her as Chrysalis. She shot me a look that just screamed scepticism.

"Yeah, just don't let your crew fall into the water or they'll shrivel up like prunes. And the sand gets into our joints and our legs." she dead-panned. I groaned as she brought down my high.

"Those events happened once. Besides, if the crew doesn't think to use their wings, then it's their own fault." I said.

"They were brawling!" she argued.

"Remind me again what your job is on this ship?" I asked.

"Doing the things you don't want to do?"

"No the other thing." I began to shuffled my feet in discomfort.

"Manage the crew?" she replied. I nodded, pointing a hoof at the crew below.

"For pete's sake, Chrys. Most of the crew are changelings. Show the same authority you did when you invaded Canterlot. You are their leader." I rebutted. Chrysalis smirked and leaned closer.

"So why is it then, that you're the Captain instead of me?" she teased. I already had the answer to that.

"There are two reasons. One, I'm the Captain because this was my idea and you owe me your life after that epic fail of an invasion." Chrysalis grimaced at my description of her failure. "Two, if you were the captain, then there'd be no point to me. If anything, I'd be a liability to you because you couldn't force me like you could your changelings. Besides, we wouldn't have the best crew in the seven seas if it weren't for me." As usual, Chrysalis just dropped the conversation around about there. I knew that no matter how much she complained, she wouldn't change things. She was my best friend.

"Land ho!" a voice called up in the crow's nest. The voice belonged to my eagle-eyed sniper, One-Shot. That pony, though he kind of looked like a movie producer, was the best shot I'd ever seen. He'd once shot a seagull through the eyes as it was taking off from a rock a hundred yards away from the ship.

"About damn time! I wanna get some new swords. I've just about run these ones down." came a very gruff mare's voice from inside the Captain's Cabin. Fine Edge, easily my best swordspony. She wasn't exactly flashy unless she was fighting somepony, then you'd see a very violent beauty to her. Not one for frilly things, she pretty much lived on the bare necessities. Though that didn't stop her from taking a cut of the treasure. She often wore wrappings around her hooves. I still don't know why.

"Edge, could I go shopping with you? It's just that I want to get some new tools and crafting materials... and I could do with some protection in case we get recognised. That and an extra pair of hooves would be nice." came a third voice from below deck. Out stepped Tinker-Tailor. My first recruit. Despite the circumstances under which we'd met, he was certainly a steal. An affinity for creativity and construction, he'd be the only pony I know that could fix the keel of a ship. What he lacked in courage or fighting skills, he more than made up for in spirit and miscellaneous development.

Fine Edge sighed for a moment. "Fine... but I'm getting my swords first!" she declared.

"That's fine by me. I find sword shopping with you fun anyway." he said, going to meet her at the bow of the ship, which everypony as well as changeling had moved toward.

"How long has it been since we saw anything but water? Two weeks?" I asked Chrysalis.

"Three, remember we were caught in that calm spell for a week and you slept it away." she replied.

"Oh yeah. That would have made a great holiday for the crew if they weren't all panicking about the wind never picking up again." I said, chuckling before looking out towards the land.

"How did you not freak out back then anyway?" she asked. I gave her an amused look.

"Isn't it obvious? Chrys, I'm living my dream. I have everything I ever wanted. The perfect crew, the perfect friends, the perfect family. If I were to die out at sea in calm waters, then my life would be complete because I had all of you with me." I said. I loved my crew, and Chrysalis took the opportunity to literally eat those words up. That isn't to say she didn't appreciate the gesture.

A changeling approached us and began to speak. "Captain, we're approaching crew visibility range. Recommend disguising the Changeling crew." he said. I nodded to the changeling.

"Quite right. ALRIGHT! SUIT UP EVERYONE! WE'RE GOING ASHORE! One shot! Come down and take the helm. We'll need your expertise to avoid crashing the ship into the docks!" I ordered. As the changelings returned to their stations, all disguised as random ponies, One-Shot took flight and landed right in front of the wheel.

"I need half-mast!" he called out.

"You heard the Stallion! Half-mast!" I repeated. The crew got to work following their orders. Within a matter of seconds, the sails were half way furled. "Ease her in, Eagle-eye." I said. One-shot chuckled at the nickname and angled the ship appropriately. Before us were the Manehattan docks. The same docks that this same ship had begun her maiden voyage on. It seemed like so long ago.

"So what are you gonna do when we reach dry land, Captain?" Chrysalis asked. I smiled at the question.

"Traditionally, a Pirate would find a tavern with mead and wenches. I like to think I have a bit more class than that." I replied.

"And that means...?"

"Why bother with wenches, when I can go after a challenge. The Princesses." I boasted.

Chrysalis sighed. "Traditionally, Captain; a Pirate goes after achievable goals." she teased.

"Oi!" I complained. One-Shot just burst out laughing. "That is an achievable goal. I'll go after the easiest first, which is Princess Luna." I said.

"Why is Luna the easiest?" Chrysalis asked.

"For anypony else, she wouldn't be. For me, well let's just say I always have a place in her heart. I can exploit that to my advantage." I replied.

"Okay. And Celestia?"

"Not many ponies know this, but Celestia is actually very curious about things. If I can convince Luna to relay a good review to her sister, then she'll be compelled to try me out." I chuckled. "Alternatively, I could time my interaction with Luna appropriately and wind up with the both of them at the same time." I added.

Chrysalis was beginning to look sceptical again. "Uh-huh... And what about Twilight Sparkle? A more frigid pony there is not." she asked.

"I'll admit, that particular treasure trove will pose a challenge."

"Right...well good luck with that. It sounds like you're gonna need it." she said. I heard her mutter under her breath in addition. "And then some."

I just sniffed and looked towards the docks. "Furl the sails! Weigh Anchor! I want this ship tied to the docks in thirty seconds!" I called out. The crew complied immediately. The ship was secured in twenty seconds. "What about you, Chrys? What do you plan to do over the weekend while we're here?" I asked. Chrysalis smiled and looked to the North.

"I thought I'd head to the Crystal Empire and see Cadence and Shining Armour. I at least owe them an apology after all this time." she replied. I nodded in understanding.

"Well at least take one of the ancient transporter crystals so you can get out of there. I'd hate to lose my first mate." I replied. She smiled at me and gave me a hug.

"I'd have thought you'd say best friend instead of first mate." she addressed.

"The best friend thing is implied." I said. "One-shot, could you take down the black flag before port authorities see it?" I asked. The stallion nodded and shot up towards the main mast. Together, Chrysalis and I walked toward the side of the ship and I offered for her to step off first. She took it with appreciation. Little did she know, I often did that only so I could watch her flank sway from side to side. Pony or no, I wasn't picky. Chrysalis and I had never really entered into that kind of relationship. She was my best friend. I didn't want that to change, either for the better or worse. Still... benefits might not be so bad.

Canterlot was bustling as always. There were ponies familiar to me, and some completely new. Stores had either been upgraded, replaced or just relocated. Still, I managed to find my way around. Chrysalis had taken the first train she could catch to the Crystal Empire. Best of luck to her. In order to avoid looking like a Pirate while I was here, I left my coat on the ship, but I kept the hat. It wasn't one of those crappy triangular ones either, it was a full-on round one, the kind that didn't scream pirate.

Though the bandanna underneath it might be a give-away. I thought as I approached the front gates to the castle. I was greeted by two guards with spears. Kinda wishing I'd brought my sword. "Halt! State your business!" one of the guards said. I just smiled at them.

"Well I just arrived from Manehattan and I wondered how I could go about getting a tour of the castle while I was here. Don;t suppose you boys would know anypony who could acquiesce to my request?" I asked. The guards seemed stumped by that particular word. I sighed and clarified. "Anypony who could accept my request." Their minds lit up in understanding. Getting past these guys would be too easy. I thought as the guards lowered their spears and led me inside. Perhaps that somepony who could organise a tour was in the castle? Kind of redundant.

While we walked, I took a mental note of the possible entrances into the castle. I did not want to have to enter through the sewers. Things were not looking promising. Perhaps that tour would be necessary. After all, I didn't want to ruin the surprise.

"So what do you do?" asked one of the guards.

"I'm just a simple merchant. I deal in jewellery mostly. Fabrics, heirlooms, virtually anything of great worth." I replied.

"What would you recommend I get for my marefriend for our third anniversary?" he asked.

"A wedding band." I replied.

"Really? After only three years?" he asked in disbelief. I couldnt help but raise my brow at him.

"Mate, I'm gonna tell you something. If this marefriend of yours was anything like the other marefriends in the world, she'd have been hoping against hope you'd propose on last year's anniversary."

"Aw crap!" he cried out.

"It's so sad to watch this. Tell you what... I'm gonna help you out. What does your marefriend like?" I asked.

"Well... she likes the ocean. And she's into black." he replied. I smiled and fished around in my saddle bags for an item that suited those requirements. It was pretty easy to find.

"Here you go. It's yours on the condition that you propose." I said, showing him a sapphire encrusted silver wedding band with a black pearl for the centrepiece. The guard just oggled it, as did his friend who was strangely silent throughout the trek.

"I-is that for real?!" he asked, jaw hanging an inch from the ground.

"It's as real as you or I, mate. That's a black pearl there. Rare among the rare. I think this ring used to belong to some foreign noble on the other side of the world. She had a name that couldn't be pronounced. 'Cat chuck' or something. Either way, show her this and you'll wind up winning future arguments as a pseudo-happy couple." I said, teasing him. He stopped walking and reached out his hoof, slowly. I just waited for him and when he was close enough, I let it fall into his waiting hoof. I reckon if I told him now that I was a pirate, he just might kiss me. I thought.

After leaving the castle with no way of getting inside, I turned to see Luna herself standing out on her balcony, overlooking the city. The mountain was right behind the tower. "Ah. It seems Luna will be getting a visit from the love pirate after all." I said to myself, lowering my hat so she couldn't recognise me (in the off-chance she even glanced my way).

That night, I waited at the peak of the mountain. The Night guards had just begun their morning perimeter sweeps. The aerial team finished first in under a few minutes. I took that chance to slide down the side of the mountain. It was times like those that I wished I was a pegasus pony.

Timing my descent right, I leapt forward, grabbing hold of the flag on top of the tower. I used it to slide gently down, landing on the Princess's balcony. I peeked inside. She wasn't in. Using her absence to my advantage, I opened the unlocked door and stepped in, closing it behind me. I barely had time to think as I heard hoofsteps approaching the door opposite. I ducked into the most shadowy corner I could find and waited.

To my relief and joy, Luna was the one who entered. "You're both relieved for the evening." she called behind her.

"Yes, your highness!" the monotone and trained voice of a guard replied, followed by the armoured clip-clop of their departure. Luna closed the door behind her, further darkening the room and hiding me. She sighed and walked to her balcony, opening the doors. As she stepped out, I began to tip-toe over to the nearest piece of furniture I could find. Why she had a lounge chair in her bedroom, I didn't know, but it suited my purpose.

I carefully sat myself into the chair and faced the doorway to the balcony. From then on, I just waited, listening to Luna. A deep sigh escaped her lips first, followed by a groan. She wasn't there for more than a minute before she stepped back inside. I waited for her to close the balcony doors before I made my presence known.

"You sound bored, Princess." I had my head down, the hat blocking her view of me. She jumped with a yelp you'd expect from a filly. It was quite funny.

"Who are you?! Leave before I call the guards!" she demanded. I just smiled under my hat and chuckled.

"Is this the welcome home I get from my favourite Princess ever?" I asked her, lifting the brim of my hat up so she could see the brown spot around my left eye. With a golden smile (not literally), I saw her face. It seemed to be frozen between blank and disbelieving. I decided to open with a joke.

"A thousand years on the moon and when you got back, you couldn't shut up. Five years out to sea and when I come back, you're speechless. Boy time sure flies when you're having fun." I followed up with a chuckle before removing the hat completely, placing it down on the arm of the chair.

"Is that... really you, Pipsqueak?" she managed to get out. I just smiled wider at her and crossed one leg over the other.

"I go by 'Captain Silver' nowadays, but yes, it's me. Surprise!" I replied.

Luna was silent for a moment before a smile crept on her face. "I can't believe it. You're back! But... what are you doing here?" she asked.

"We were running low on supplies so we docked in Manehattan to stock up. It'll take a few days, so I thought to myself," I stood up from the chair and replaced my hat on my head. "I should take the time to visit some old friends, plunder their... hidden treasures.So to speak." I said. Despite my true name, I was by no means little. I was about an inch taller than Luna and it showed at that moment. My eyes bore down on her and I could see her cheeks turn red under the moonlight gleaming through the windows.

"P-plunder?...Hidden treasures?" she was so cute when she was feigning ignorance. Subconsciously or not, she knew what I meant.

"I know they say to save the best for last, but how could I not start with my favourite Princess? As a Pirate, I'm compelled to seek out only the best. Who else would I pick first but you? The one pony who caused me to seriously reconsider becoming what I am today?" I asked.

"W-what would you have become instead?" she asked. Her legs were shaking as she backed away towards the bed. I kept close to her.

"I'd have become a Royal Guard, so I could patrol under the night and be close to you, my dear, sweet, beautiful Luna." I said, drawing closer. Luna fell onto the bed. Whether out of instinct or something else, she grabbed me and pulled me down with her. It was too easy. There we were, on the bed, me kneeling over her. A charming smile on my face that made her pant. I brought my lips closer to hers and I watched as her eyes glazed over in anticipation. It was almost as if she'd decided on the night I first said she was my favourite Princess, that she'd wait until I was old enough for this sort of thing. If that were the case, I'd be her first since before she became Nightmare Moon. Her first in over a thousand years.

As our lips brushed, she jolted; as if she'd been zapped. I fought back a chuckle and pressed down. I kept my eyes open, wanting to watch her melt into the kiss. Her own eyes were already half closed and as we continued, they just closed further and further.

It's a deadly game, the game I played. One slip of the tongue and everything would fall to pieces. Luna knew I would pursue her sister too, but after those honeyed words, she now believed that she was special regardless of my future exploits. And in more than one way, she was. I was surprised to find out that not only had I succeeded in 'plundering her treasure', but I'd also 'popped her cherry'.

Author's Note

I'd like to see another pirate do that with Royalty. lol

AND WHAT A FUCKING SHITTY WAY TO END THE CHAPTER!

Some of you will be asking where's the hot sweaty sex that you're known for doing. Others will be like:

Chapter 2. I'm a loser, He's a Jerk!

I thought my life would change with Rumble. I really did. With my idol living her dream, I decided that it was time to make a dream or two for myself. They all involved him. And because of him, those dreams were shattered. That jerk of a Stallion. He told me he liked me, he was so sweet. I wasn't one for romance, but he wooed me all the same. Rumble, that jerk! I thought I loved him, but now I hate him.

I came to the top of a hill overlooking Ponyville in the hopes that nopony would see me. Such humiliation needed solitude to heal. That was common knowledge to every pony; Stallion or Mare. Heartbreak required time alone to heal. And I was alone, I would always be alone. I would have friends, family, but I would still be alone. Always, always alone.

"Well, well. Lookie who we have here?" a voice pierced the silence. My eyes widened in horror. No, anypony but them?! Of all the horrid, despicable ponies in the world, the two ponies behind me were the worst of the worst. I knew there were two because wherever one was, the other was never far behind. "If it isn't the loser who can't keep a guy?" the same voice said. I didn't turn to look at them. They hadn't earned the right for me to face them. I couldn't even consider them equal to me. However broken it was, I still had a heart. Those two, didn't.

"It's sad, really; even after you finally learned how to fly, it wasn't enough for him, was it?" the second voice said. This must have been so entertaining for them. The second one rarely spoke beyond echoing her friend's words. It took me a moment to register what she'd said, and it hurt like nothing else. Because I'd been thinking the same thing. What's more, I'd been thinking that it was because I couldn't fly before that he went out with me in the first place. Which made me question why. Was it pitty? A feeling of superiority? Or was it merely the fact that he enjoyed dating those who lived vicariously through him?; those who were born to do the things he could do, but for whatever reason couldn't do them?

I kept my voice from breaking, but I couldn't stop the tears any more than I could stop my body from shuddering. If I had to choose between the two, I would have chosen to stop the latter. If they'd heard me cry, their verbal torture would have ended much sooner, but my resistance egged them on. And having seen my body convulse gave them a second wind.

"I wonder if he even liked you to begin with? Perhaps he lost a bet to his friends and dating you was the punishment." the first voice said, her mirth barely hidden in the words. Both tittered with absolute delight at having known they'd broken through me. I felt cold, my legs like jelly. I wanted to just give up on pride and scream into the air, regardless of their presence. But more than that, I wanted to take a step forward. It would be so easy. Just escape them by stepping off the ledge. Only instead of spreading my wings to fly, I just fall. It was high enough, the ground was hard enough, my bones were frail enough. And I could angle myself just right to escape the injuries.

As I thought it over, I saw myself begin to move. My hoof lifted up from the ground and I could see it inching forward. How tempting it was to just let it happen; I wanted to let it. What was left for me? Rumble had been the only pony who'd ever expressed any interest in me as a mare, everypony else either wanted to be my friend or a passing acquaintance. I was sick of friends, or rather, I was sick of the friends I had. They'd all moved on and simply kept in touch. As for the original Cutie Mark Crusaders, the argument over Rumble had broken us apart. A stupid argument over who he liked. As far as I was concerned now, they could have him. There's nothing left for me in this world.

It was at the moment I decided to give up that something caused me to stop. I felt a chill run down my spine into my hooves. Something invisible had grabbed me by the heart. Or was it by the soul? It glued me to the edge, preventing me from taking that final step. I felt as though whatever had stopped me may very well have been one final chance at any kind of life.

"W-who are you?!" I heard one of the girls demand of an unknown party that had seen fit to intrude on this unintended suicide. I was compelled to turn around. Who I saw made my blood run cold.

It had been five years since anypony had seen him. That pony had disappeared off the face of Equestria, and nopony realised until it was too late. Him, the pony whom Princess Luna searched for herself. She'd scoured the entirety of Ponyville and even searched the depths of the Everfree Forest. Him, the little colt that nopony could be mad at, at least not for long. Him, Pipsqueak; the young colt who wanted desperately to be a Pirate. He was standing right before all of us, and I was the only one who recognised him. But something was very wrong about him. What I felt promised a new life, what I saw promised just the opposite. His eyes were like that of a Gryphons, and as he looked at me, they held a power the likes of which I'd never experienced before.

"I'm not all that surprised to discover that you two don't recognize me. You never really payed any attention to the things beyond your own noses." Pipsqueak said, closing the distance between himself and the two mares who had nearly coaxed me over the edge. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon! How I hated them. Their voices tortured me, but their faces brought about a rage the likes I'd never known. Those two had tormented me and my friends throughout school.

"How dare you! Who do you think you're talking to?" Diamond Tiara demanded.

"You tell me. Who do you think I am talking to?" he asked, getting into the fairy floss coloured mare's face. She drew back, only to get a little distance between them, but Pipsqueak simply leaned forward and kept the same length apart throughout.

"You're speaking to two of the richest mares in all of Ponyville, in this side of Equestria!" Silver Spoon burst out, clearly infuriated by this Stallion's lack of respect.

Pipsqueak was known to Ponyville as a cheerful colt. And his laugh had always been cute in a manner, much like his voice. Even I found it to be as such. But what I heard was manic, evil, nothing like the Pipsqueak I knew. It surprised me, and ever so slightly frightened me. His laugh now was like a Stallion who had spent several years in an asylum. There was no rhyme or rhythm to each burst of mirth. In a way, it sounded more natural than any other laugh, filled with unadulterated glee. He knew something we did not.

"Of course. How could I forget?" I half expected him to claim that they were in fact wrong about being the wealthiest mares this side of Equestria, but he seemed to find joy in the fact instead. "In that case, I shouldn't have to worry about leaving you with nothing." he said. I witnessed something so rare, so inconceivable that I almost wondered if I'd imagined it. But I knew I didn't. I hoped against hope that I didn't. I saw Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon flinch. They suddenly understood Pipsqueak's intent. And I understood where he had been the past five years.

It baffles me how I never noticed the trademark Pirate sword, the bandanna under that wide brimmed hat, or the long coat around his back. All classic indicators of Pirate Captains. Pipsqueak was a Pirate, and he was on the hunt for treasure.

I tried to contain my glee at the sight before me. Pipsqueak had drawn his sword on Diamond Tiara and had used it to steal the tiara on her head away from her. Now, she was acting like a filly in a game of 'Piggy in the middle'. Only the rules were rather different. She tried to fight him for her tiara, but Pipsqueak was too quick to dodge and Diamond was too slow to throw a punch. She believed she'd gained the upper hoof when Silver Spoon went to help her, but Pipsqueak managed to dodge both as though he'd been seamlessly doing it from the beginning. Focusing on him, I saw that he was practically dancing around the mares. Further inspection made me realize he was dancing towards me.

Before I knew it, He'd grabbed me by the barrel and we were pressed against each other, standing on our hind legs. I couldn't help but blush as this pony, once smaller than I loomed over me with a cocky grin and mesmerizing eyes. "Let's fly, Scootaloo." he said. His voice washed over me like a cool breeze and I found myself taking flight before I knew it. I barely noticed Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon screaming at us to return with Diamond's Tiara. My mind was too busy trying to make sense of what had happened. One minute, I was ready to kill myself, to let everything just disappear, or rather move on without me. The next, I'm carrying a Pirate through the sky with stolen booty. I found the whole thing to be thrilling. It was like an eternal game of 'Keepings Off', mixed with 'Finder's Keepers'. My heart skipped a beat as the adrenaline took over and I shot towards town, hoping to find somewhere we could escape together and hide out.

"The old treehouse." he said, as if reading my mind. I grinned, having wanted to go there for a while, but being unable to given that it was on Applebloom's property. But I'd already broken the law now. Tresspassing was by far an inferior crime in comparison. It only took me a minute to get there. It might have taken Rainbow Dash a few seconds, but I wasn't her. We landed on the balcony of the treehouse. It hadn't been maintained in three years, around about the time the three of us broke apart. Still, it could hold our weight. I led Pipsqueak inside and closed the door behind him. Paranoia began to kick in as I did my best to cover the windows with the curtains and drapes that had fallen over in storms.

"Relax, Scootaloo. We weren't followed. Trust me." Pipsqueak said, removing his hat and letting it rest on a wooden box. I saw his red bandanna and the Ascot around his neck. He almost looked like an older Pipsqueak's head transplanted onto a Pirate's body. He even had a cute little goatee growing on the end of his chin. He looked nothing like Rumble, but in my opinion, that was a good thing.

"It's been a while, Pipsqueak." I addressed him, trying to sound somewhere between Neutral and Happy. His gentle smile turned into a smirk as he lifted his head and looked down at me.

"Five years, I'd say. And I go by Silver, now."

"Silver?"

"For my silver tounge. I can be very persuasive." I wondered if it didn't have anything to do so much with his silver tongue as it did his strange eyes. They seemed to have a power over ponies, even when the recipient wasn't looking in his direction, so long as he had his sights on them they were his. I knew those eyes were what stopped me from walking off the edge of the cliff.

"You're a Pirate." I said, more than asked.

"I am." he answered anyway, a cheeky grin now on his face; as though being a Pirate weren't something to be discouraged, but rather something to laugh about. "I seem to have missed so much. Tell me, Scootaloo; why were you going to kill yourself?" his entire demeanour changed and I felt as though those eyes I saw were all around me, judging me as though if they didn't like my answer, they'd... do something.

I hesitated. Why did he want to know? Even when he was here, we were little more than casual friends. If anything, he was closer to Applebloom than to me. But something about the way he looked at me made me want to tell him. I couldn't place it. It was like he was controlling my mind, making me want to indulge him. "I..." I began, hesitating again. He simply blinked, waiting for me to continue. "I got into a fight with Applebloom and Sweetie Belle three years ago. We broke up over an argument about who Rumble liked more. A week later, he chose me. I was so happy. A flightless Pegasus could have a life, maybe a foal. I could be a part of a functioning family, and my disability wouldn't do anything to impede that. But today, after three years of dating, Rumble broke up with me. He tried to do it quick and fast, like ripping off a band-aid, but as is sometimes the case, he got stuck half way and it hurt so much..." Tears began to fill my eyes as I replayed the still fresh memory in my head.

"...I wanted to die! My hopes and dreams were in that relationship and he took it all away from me. I hated him and it hurt like nothing else. Then, when I went to try and mend my broken heart, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon showed up and their abuse was too much. I couldn't take it anymore. I'd have decked them instead, if it weren't for the fact that they'd said the same things I'd been thinking. I wanted the pain to stop, Pip! I wanted to forget and be forgotten."

I broke down in front of him. My heart had been the first thing to go, and now, in the safety of a familiar place with a long lost friend, I felt I could fall with my heart. The feeling of those judging eyes dissipated and all I felt was his presence, watching me. I cried for a minute before he placed a hoof on my shoulder and settled himself down beside me. His body was so warm. I'd felt so cold after Rumble had broken up with me, and here was Pipsqueak; Silver. A Stallion, a Pony, a friend.