The Captain and the Crusaders

by AlfieTrotter

Rating: teen
Tags: Pipsqueak, Babs Seed, Alternate Universe, Sweetie Belle, Gore, Apple Bloom, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Spike, Romance, Adventure
Length: 29166

The Cutie Mark Crusaders, and Spike, reunite to rescue Babs Seed from vicious pirates, facing temptation of treasure and the fancy of a pirate captain

Greetings and well met to all you Fimfictioneers out there! This is my very first piece of pony fiction, and I hope I do not disappoint!

Times are tough for Apple Bloom and Babs Seed in the coastal town of Hayseed Harbour, but fate has marked them to be swept to sea, in pursuit of dastardly pirates! Apple Bloom takes to the ocean and sky with Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo and Spike to rescue her cousin! Terror rides the gales, and the four friends must unravel the mystery of the Dread Pirate Pip. The lust for treasure draws both parties on to riches and drawn swords!

As a new beginner, I'd be happy to hear constructive criticism and friendly comments from passers-by.

Published 2013-09-17 22:40:03 UTC
Last updated 2013-10-15 00:53:50 UTC

The Attack on Hayseed Harbour

Blast upon blast fell upon Hayseed Harbour. Glass shattered, stone foundered and wood splintered as ponies ducked in cover and fear. There was a gaping hole in the wall of the Sea Turtle, frightened ponies fled from the chaos and destruction, the cannons of the as-yet unseen assailant continued their bombardment. Scootaloo dashed towards the entrance and looked about her, keeping a protective hoof over her friends; Apple Bloom’s shrunken pupils betrayed her sheer terror from the blast and Sweetie Belle was knocked unconscious by a loose plank of wood. The smoke from outside was thick and acrid, but the distinctive cracking of flames was nowhere to be heard yet. Their assailant could not be seen through the smoke, only the vague shape of tall white sails through the smoke and the flashes of the cannons. Scootaloo wondered how so much smoke could have filled the town, deciding it must have been some conjuring trick on a wild guess. Suddenly a surge of howling and yapping filled the streets, Scootaloo felt a cold rush run down her spine; these were not pony voices. She hauled Sweetie Belle onto her back and beckoned Apple Bloom to follow through the wreckage of the Sea Turtle. The bombardment had died down somewhat, allowing speech to be heard.

“Scoots? What’s going on?” asked Apple Bloom pleadingly, still crippled with fear, “D’you think Babs and Spike will be all right?”

“Only one way to find out; but first we need to get out of here. Can you guide us back to the Apple Family Farm?” said Scootaloo, confidence swelling up in her, recalling her encounters with fierce storms in her airship. She extended her hoof to Apple Bloom, and the two friends locked hooves, determined to escape and possibly call for help.

Out of the haze, a chorus of harsh and guttural voices broke out, and fleeing ponies heralded its approach. Then they came, out of the smoke and fire; brown, grey and ruddy brown creatures brandishing sabres, cutlasses, flintlock pistols, torches and knives; Diamond Dogs. Squat, bent, bow-legged creatures with hideous arms and stubby fangs full of sharp teeth, in their bandanas, leather jackets, eye patches and some lost limbs, they looked anything but comical. Scootaloo fought the urge to bolt towards them, just like Rainbow Dash would, and bolted down the cobbled road towards the Apple Farm, while the Diamond Dogs entered the Sea Turtle, seemingly more interested in the prospect of rum and cider than chasing them. All about them, brave mares and stallions turned to buck the invaders into submission to buy more time to escape, but a pony’s coat is no protection against cold metal, Apple Bloom shielded her eyes as a pony’s pained cries could be heard half a street away.

Red flames leapt up from buildings left and right. The bells were ringing from the town hall, and a rallying cry broke out over the din; Storm Sword had arrived, Earth Ponies threw themselves into the fray, bucking left and right and Unicorns pelted the invaders with their magic, tails were singed and dogs were thrown into the bay. The local weather team assembled in mid-air and descended upon the Diamond Dogs, bucking and boxing with all hooves, coming down upon them like javelins. As brave a fight as they put, there were five pirate dogs for every pony, and there were more creatures than Diamond Dogs in their midst.

*******************

Scootaloo and Apple Bloom galloped at full speed through the edge of town, away from the dogs and flames leaping up from the houses. Apple Bloom’s strength seemed to be picking up, but Scootaloo panted heavily from exhaustion; Sweetie Belle was a light and delicate pony, but Scootaloo could not keep up the pace with a passenger for much longer. Before the three friends could continue their dash to the farm, a gang of ponies appeared out of the haze. Apple Bloom’s breath hitched at the site of these ponies, they were dressed in raggedy tunics and jackets, their manes and coats were scruffy and coarse, well-muscled and one of them, a giant red earth pony with a black mane, was covered from head to hoof in tattoos. Apple Bloom silently hoped for these ponies to be regular sailors.

“You gotta help us, there are Diamond Dogs sackin’ Hayseed Harbour!” she cried, pointing back to the chaos in the town. Before anypony could reply, the heavy hooves of Storm Sword thundered as he quickly approached these rough sailors, holding a spear in his aura of levitation.

“Sailors, identify yourselves! Our town needs more able-bodied ponies to protect it!” boomed Storm Sword, but the sailors remained nonchalant; a few even smiled wickedly, “That’s an order- ungh!”

Scootaloo and Apple Bloom gasped in horror and felt both their hearts sink. The pirates’ leader, a grey Pegasus stallion with blond hair and a crossbow for a cutie mark stepped up to Storm Sword and plunged a hidden knife strapped to his right hoof into his shoulder, a smug grin plastered over his face. The grey Pegasus turned about on his forelegs and bucked Storm Sword to the ground, and turned to face Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, revealing teeth filed into fangs and a grin like many daggers.

“What’s the matter? Town militia too lazy to help you?” he asked mockingly, his seafarer’s accent having a coarse and threatening edge, before swiping Scootaloo’s badge right off her chest, leaving her dumbfounded at what just happened, “Ooh, shiny! I think I’ll add this to my collection.”

“How dare you!! Give that back, you murdering thief!!” roared Scootaloo at the top of her lungs, lunging for the interloper with full force, only to be smacked across the face, sending her to the ground and Sweetie Belle with her. Apple Bloom dug her hooves into the ground, ready to bolt forward and buck them out, only to be hoisted off the ground by two large, muscular hands, her hat floated pitifully to the ground. She spun round and suppressed a scream at the massive red Minotaur towering over her, even from a raised height. No sound came out of him, not even a snort of his nostrils, but his eyes were filled with oppressive malice.

“Thief!? Aye! A thief and seafarer of the Jolly Crook, my mates and I are.” declared the blond-haired Pegasus smugly, as soon he was flanked by the pirate ponies, “Long months at sea bring times of hunger, and word at the market says the Apple Family harvest has not been released.”

“You mean you’ve all been here for a while?!” exclaimed Apple Bloom, eyes wide with shock.

“Aye, lass, Captain’s orders; ‘surveillance’ I believe he said.” gloated Bolton, “And about time, I’m sick of this pathetic spit of a town!”

“And seein’ as ‘ow we’re all migh-y ‘ungry, ” the low rumbling, brutish voice of the one red and tattooed Earth Pony made Apple Bloom shiver down to her bones, “Wot d’you say about havin’ us a snack or two?”

“You read my mind like a book, Stormer. I’d do what he says if I were you.” snarled another voice from above, a voice that was gravelly and yet seemingly youthful at the same time.

Apple Bloom looked up, the light from the flames in the town were blotted out by a tall, sleek winged creature clad in a ragged, black frock coat like a demon out of Tartarus. He wore the tears and burns on his coat like badges, more than could be said for the actual badges and silver and golden medals of office stolen from every seafarer he encountered. A red dragon hovered over them like a hungry vulture, greedy for treasure. Belts and straps covered him like armour, with blades of every size and variety. Although he was an adolescent dragon, nowhere near adult size, his eyes blazed with malice and greed, and his long snout curved into a sneer when he set his eyes on Apple Bloom.

“Good of you to join us, Red-Scale Bones, nice to see some of your fireworks in town.” remarked the Pegasus tartly, “Our sea-dogs seem to have done their job well.”

“Such a pity that the town’s reinforcements were detained, well executed, Bolton.” scoffed Red-Scale Bones, and Bolton shared a mocking chortle, regarding the murdered Unicorn. Apple Bloom’s fury amounted as she squirmed to be free from the giant Minotaur’s grasp.

“Why are y’all doin’ this? We’re just a farmin’ community!! We got no treasure here!” screamed Apple Bloom desperately, but when the dragon turned to face her, courage seemed to leave her.

“Perhaps not treasure, but food? Oh, yes!” snarled Bones, still hovering above her and leaning in close, “Now point us in the direction of the harvest, or we’ll start the feast early with you!!”

Apple Bloom, finding her bravery again, butted her head into the dragon’s nose, giving him a hard knock on the nose. Bones nursed his nose, groaning like a disgruntled mule. He looked hard on Apple Bloom, embers simmering from his nostrils and flames starting to lick from his mouth. Apple Bloom girded herself in vain to withstand the oncoming flames. Then, out of nowhere, a blinding light seared through the night and the smoke, a sibilant ringing filled their ears, as though Celestia herself turned back the night to save them. Apple Bloom shut her eyes tight, while the pirates surrounding them shielded their eyes and cowered from the light source, which seemed to be coming from where Sweetie Belle lay, and now stood glowing.

“Leave my friends alone.” her voice chanted calmly and sibilantly, as her horn surged with a silvery aura that was her magic. The Minotaur dropped Apple Bloom to shield his eyes, and felt a force push him back, gathering strength as he stood exposed to it, in mere moments the pirate ponies led by Bolton had scattered in panic and Bones retreated into the sky, away from the magical force and the blinding light. Then, as quickly as it appeared, the light vanished and all was dark again. Apple Bloom caught her breath and ran towards Sweetie Belle, who was panting in exhaustion and nursing her horn. Scootaloo quickly joined them, having just recovered from her sudden blow to the head. The magical surge also seemed to have had a beneficial effect on her friends; they were less exhausted and their cuts and bruises seemed to sting a lot less.

In the space of a few minutes that seemed to stretch for hours, calm fell over the three friends; in that moment it was just the three of them on the quiet road in the night, gathering their energy and strength to continue the run back home.

“I’m not sure I’ll be able to do that little trick for a long while,” murmured Sweetie Belle, exhausted, while Apple Bloom and Scootaloo nuzzled her, grateful for her bravery.

“You gotta admit that was so awesome!! I didn’t even know your magic was that powerful!” said Scootaloo a little hoarsely, her voice thick with excitement and wonder.

“It’s not, I mean, I didn’t think it was that powerful.” explained Sweetie Belle shakily, “In that one moment of seeing you two in danger, I just felt so angry and wanted to protect you at the same time, it just broke out.” She let out a pained whimper and nursed her horn, preferring not to make that same risk again. Another bout of pain clasped her cranium, still sore after the loose plank at the inn.

“We gotta hurry. Ah bet my older cousins can hold their own against those thievin’ curs, but I’m not too sure about Babs and Spike.” said Apple Bloom pressingly, and looking off towards the farmhouse. They heard a loud, agonized moan a few feet away from where they stood; Commander Storm Sword nursed his gaping wound, the knife taken out, and blood gushing over his armour. Sweetie Belle galloped over toward Storm Sword and tenderly raised him to his hooves.

“Just… just a flesh wound. Medical attention would be advised.” He panted heavily, but his legs continued to lose strength.

“Somepony needs to get you to a doctor, come on.” said Sweetie Belle anxiously, allowing him to lean on her withers for support. Apple Bloom felt a chill pass over her at the thought of Sweetie Belle going into the fray and leaving her to defend her family property.

“I better go with her, make sure no thief or killer gets to finish the job. You should go.” said Scootaloo dutifully, Apple Bloom allowed a nod and a small smile, and dashed down the road.

*******************

Back at the farmhouse, Babs was alone with the unconscious Spike. He had finally passed out without much fuss or leaving a mess, but his constant prodding for conversation had worn Babs’ patience thin. She was unable to join Apple Bloom and her friends thanks to one of the town merchants reporting her failure and gambling shortcomings to Uncle Calville, and the less said about his furious tirade the better. She was now as good as grounded. Now he was snoring loudly and contently. She seemed to be the only pony left in the house, except for the little ones who were hiding in the basement, but the older ponies must have been helping in the defence, for what it was worth. Babs’ frustration was compounded by her growing anxiety, though she considered herself a tough pony, she was no fighter. She had barred the doors but knew that a determined raider could knock them down without much trouble.

She could see the fires in Hayseed Harbour from her window, and plumes of smoke billowing into the moonlit sky, as if her whole day was not enough to darken her mood. She glanced up at the moon, resentment swelled up in her along with the pent up urge to shout in rage; where was Celestia or Luna? She would not beg to powers of the world help her at every calling, but why would they allow such a terrible disaster befall Hayseed Harbour; where were the Element Bearers to work their magic on these pirates and stop them in their tracks? Nopony deserves this. The cold sinking feeling filled her again when. The fear that filled her distorted her thoughts; she felt fragile, as though she could snap like a twig underhoof. The whole day was humiliation and despair, and now the night had brought destruction and death. Hollers and howls filled her ears; the pirate dogs had reached the farm, Babs knew there was only one thing they could be after here. She was alone with an unconscious dragon she could hardly care less for, and both friends and family had abandoned her, again. Her frown contorted into a snarl, rage boiled in her blinding her to reason. She carefully unbarred the door, before letting her rage take hold.

*******************

Bolton had reached the outer picket fence surrounding the farmhouse, an assorted gang of sea ponies and Diamond Dogs gathered around him, awaiting his orders on bated breath, now that Red-Scale Bones seemed to have flown off.

“Canines and gentlecolts, take your pick and leave some more for the voyage!” he barked to his followers, before taking to the sky. “If you happen upon anypony stupid enough to hide here-”

Suddenly a rope from the shadows clamped around his wing, and a sudden yank pulled him from the air into the mud. He looked up, and Babs stood over him, looking just as satisfied as she was amazed that lasso trick worked. A gang of Diamond Dogs set upon her, and Babs let her full anger out. She rushed into the dogs with nothing held back, her hooves falling upon flesh like hammers

“Get off our property, you slug-suckin’ weasels!” she bellowed, ramming into the next Diamond Dog stupid enough to get in her way. Soon she was facing up to Bolton, with a cutlass in his mouth and shooting a pointed grin at Babs. The two ponies circled around each other, waiting for the right moment to strike. She glanced behind her to find Stormer behind her, stomping behind her and closing in. She began shifting until she had Bolton’s back to the farmhouse. Bolton kept his blade up, keeping focus on her rather than his surroundings. Bolton smiled; he’d spotted the giant earth pony thundering behind Babs and anticipated a chance to impale her, stampeding closer, and closer, and closer. And she dodged. Her keen sense of the approaching juggernaut gave her the edge. Bolton raised his cutlass and tried to break into flight too late as Stormer bowled into him head first into the wall. Wooden panels cracked, splinters flew and the two pirates were out of action. Babs smiled to herself, but her relief was short lived. More pirate ponies and dogs still filled the farmland, pillaging and fighting at will. No help had come for her, only Red-Scale Bones grinning sadistically at Babs. She backed away, only to bump into the wall of muscle of the red Minotaur.

“Pretty tough for a little pony like you,” taunted the dragon, flapping overhead to truly daunt the staunch young mare, “Luckily for you I’m feeling lazy, so, Flint-Horn, if you would?”

Babs felt the iron grip of Flint-Horn’s muscled hands grip her by the scruff of her neck. A single thrust of the beast’s arm sent her flying into barrels and bales of hay, which did nothing to cushion her fall, and helped less when the mute Minotaur grabbed her and shoved her face into the hay. She struggled to get free; her frantic seizures of panic filled her with wild ferocity. A lucky back hoof struck Flint-Horn in the tendon on his elbow, giving Babs a chance to wriggle free. This time, Bones was ready. He swooped down and pinned her to the mud before she could bolt a few feet away. There was no escape. This is how I die, thought Babs bitterly, alone, no Apple Bloom or friends by my side, only regret. Tears of bodily pain and inner hurt welled up in her eyes as the dragon’s claws clamped tight, blood trickled from the punctures.

“Have the good taste to scream when I fry you!” snarled Bones, flames gathering in his mouth. Suddenly, something clicked in Babs’ mind: a chance to live!

“WAIT!” cried Babs desperately, before taking on a more diplomatic tone, “There’s no need for such extremities! I see you’ve got ponies on your team, I’m sure we could work something out!”

“I’m listening.” murmured Bones ominously, still hovering a blade over Babs’ throat. Babs in turn, cleared her throat and spoke as evenly as she could, given the ever-looming risk of death.

“Well, let’s just say that being a farm pony’s not gonna be a long-term plan after tonight, thanks a lot for that, so what’s an extra crew member to you, captain?”

“Heh heh, I’m not Captain, not yet at least. Very well, I shall spare you, in exchange for your surrender to us, to deal with as we please; we could work something out.” said Bones, seemingly satisfied, possibly seeing more of an opportunity than Babs did. He hoisted Babs to her legs and looked expectantly at her. Her words came reluctantly out.

“Consider it done. I’ll do anything you or your captain says; I’ll even become a pirate.”

Smoke and the Sun’s Rays

Apple Bloom leaped across the picket fences surrounding the farm, ducking and weaving to keep away from watchful eyes. The sounds of battle and baying dogs could be heard even from the outer orchards, every time a sharp bark or pony’s whinny pierced the far-off dissonance of battle she would look over her shoulder to be sure that no creature was following her. She paused to take in her surroundings; the farm building was untouched by the torch bearing Diamond Dogs, but the barns were emptied of their harvest, the thieves had carried the majority of the apple crop off. As if that was not enough to add insult to injury, a single lone apple tree burned, sending embers flowing freely into the air. Rage boiled in Apple Bloom’s stomach, she gritted her teeth and suppressed the urge to charge off like a mad buffalo, reminding herself to make sure Babs and Spike were safe. No creature insults an Apple by burning their trees. The farmyard was deserted; the door swung lazily in the wind, Apple Bloom glanced inside; nothing remained of the fancy vases and the pantries were stripped of all Apple products, she was just thankful the whole building was burned to ash. Judging by the faint yet familiar smoky aroma emanating from upstairs, she deduced that Spike was indeed safe. She noted the evidence of a scuffle earlier; paw prints, hoof prints, some belonging to the Minotaur, she wondered if Babs’ were among them. She knelt low to determine the scents of the interlopers and any defenders around, a natural skill honed after years helping to cultivate the orchards and learning from Granny Smith’s vast reserve of quality savvy. Her acute sense of smell picked up her uncle Calville’s, he had already galloped north to the Hayseed Harbour’s defence. Then, her breath hitched, she had detected Babs’ scent, intermingled with the acrid brimstone stench of Red-Scale Bones, the trail headed through the eastern orchards by the coast. With a renewed wind, she darted through the orchards.

**************

Apple Bloom followed the trail as keenly as she could, being careful not to run headfirst into the trees. The smoke had fallen again, as though the dark of night was not enough to give her reason for caution, followed by that familiar stench of brimstone, no doubt this was that dragon’s handiwork. Worse still, it masked Babs’ scent, she could not tell if they’d doubled back or taken to the skies. Just as she began to focus on her sense of hearing to work out her location, a sharp voice pierced the quiet.

“This way, you seadogs! I’ve got a longboat hidden in this ‘ere inlet, room enough for Miss Seed. ” the salty voice of Bolton was unmistakable.

Apple Bloom’s heart quickened at the mention of Babs’ second name. The orchards gave way to tall grass, and the sound of the sea ran loudly in her ears. Apple Bloom knelt low, following the sound of the pirate voices. She came to the edge of a high precipice overlooking a beach, and there indeed was the longboat. Further out at sea, a fleet of several longboats dotted the waves, manned by Diamond Dogs and bringing in cargo from her family’s orchards. She could only make out the vague shape of the Jolly Crook through the thick veil of smoke.

“So, Babs Seed, you think you got what it takes to take plunder and take lives?” asked Bones, looking at her expectantly.

“Um, yeah, I guess.” uttered Babs uneasily, Apple Bloom’s ears sank, she did not want to hear this.

“That didn’t sound very convincing. Say it, but with more bloodlust in that pathetic voice of yours.” sneered Bolton. Babs squirmed on the spot, but something dark came across her face; fear became rage. Apple Bloom felt sick.

“Yeah! I am. I’m sick of being a landlocked failure! Forget family, forget friends! Give me gold and plunder and gizzards to slit!” snarled Babs, sounding fully convinced of her words and turned on Bolton, “Don’t like that, do ya, blondie!

“Ha! So you do have fire in your blood, excellent! Consider yourself part of the crew, lass.” commended Bones, rewarding Babs a slow singular applause, but his tone darkened, “However, there’s one thing you need to be before you can join us.”

“What’s that?” asked Babs, suddenly devoid of her earlier confidence.

“Unconscious.”

With a single thump of his hoof, Bolton sent Babs Seed face down into the sand. Apple Bloom gasped at this seemingly random act of violence, and wanted to rush down, get Babs away from the pirates and yell at Babs until she lost her voice for sheer worry at the situation.

“Don’t take it personally, rookie, you really had that coming, after what you pulled back at the farm.” said Bolton smugly to the unconscious Babs, looking as though he could just as happily kill her as he could continue to mock her prone form.

“If she has any second thoughts, they’ll be out of the question once she’s aboard the Crook. Make sure she gets aboard without a fuss, Bolton. I’ll cover our escape.” commanded Bones, looking suspiciously about him, his keen sense of smell tasting for ponies watching them leave.

Apple Bloom dug at the ground and scooped out some grass and loam from the ground and covered herself from head to hoof to mask her scent, slowly edging away from the precipice, keeping her eye to the sea in case Red-Scale Bones noticed her. She lay perfectly still as Bones ascended into the sky, and through a series of ungodly belches, sent thick clouds of black smoke into the sky, fanning them out with his wings. The lapping of the longboats’ oars upon the waves was the only farewell Apple Bloom had for Babs Seed, as she discerned her form aboard the boat floating into the black mist. Apple Bloom looked once more towards the bay; flames soared into the sky from ships blasted by the Jolly Crook’s cannons, fishing rigs that posed no threat to her. The white sails of the pirates’ flagship were once again obscured by the smoky veil encircling around it. Apple Bloom tried to peer through the smoke, but knew any attempt to get a closer look would lead to being exposed for Bones to finish her off, and she felt almost certain that Bones suspected her presence; a sudden glance from the airborne dragon towards her hiding place solidified that fear. Torn between certain death by dragon fire and losing sight of Babs and her captors, or worse, co-conspirators, Apple Bloom stayed put, unable to save her cousin, the crushing feeling of failure weighed her down.

After a long time in hiding, possibly mere minutes or possibly hours, Apple Bloom rose from her hollow in the field; Red-Scale Bones had finally flown off to rejoin his cohorts. The flag of Celestia and Luna sailed atop the town centre; the Diamond Dogs must have been repelled. The light from the flames were being extinguished by the local Pegasi of the weather team, bringing in rainclouds from the highlands, darkening the land and covering the town in thick showers. Apple Bloom rose, her joints ached from being stuck in one place for so long. She wandered north towards the city, stumbling a bit along the way, desperately trying to reach Hayseed Harbour before the lights went out; there were no stars to guide her back. Unexpectedly, a flash of colour pierced the night; Apple Bloom spotted a white coated Pegasus soaring through the night sky, his royal golden armour faintly glistening against his lantern. Apple Bloom’s heartbeat quickened, and bounded up and down, waving her hooves, crying out; “Over here! Over here!” The young Pegasus guard glanced below and swooped down to Apple Bloom, giving a reassuring smile, in spite of the seriousness of the situation, she guessed he was no older than Apple Bloom or Babs.

“Miss, I believe the town is much safer than out in the orchards. Only a few stragglers remain.” announced the guard warmly, much to Apple Bloom’s own comfort.

“Can you guide me back to Hayseed Harbour? Are my friends still there?” pleaded Apple Bloom.

“We can find out together.” assured the guard, “The infirmary is packed tight with ponies, and they might still be there. By the way, my name is Max Speed.”

**************

Spike dreamed. His thoughts wondered away from thoughts of the sea and Hayseed Harbour, thinking of his old home of Ponyville, recalling the warmth of Celestia’s sun and the oaky scent of the library. He held a bowl of shiny, succulent garnets to dine on, and there was absolutely nothing related to the sea, cider or angry bar-ponies. Twilight Sparkle was there, amidst her books by the window, she gave him a warm smile, and it was almost time to meet up with her friends at Sugarcube Corner. There, he truly felt he was at home, content to assist Twilight Sparkle and be her No. 1 assistant, now and for always. But a chill fell. The warmth of Celestia’s sun was gone, the lights blown out, Twilight’s friends were nowhere to be seen, but Twilight stood before him, stern and sour, staring at him with bitter, reproachful eyes. Spike felt cold inside, and dread hung over him from this particular memory he did not want to relive in his mind.

“I am not happy, Spike, I am more disappointed now than ever before.” stated Twilight angrily, “You made complete fools of us in front of all of Canterlot!”

“Like I said, I never meant to actually crash Rarity’s stupid party!” retorted Spike defensively.

“Your accidental destruction does not change the fact that you hurt Rarity’s feelings and reduced her to a shrieking, crying mess of a mare.” responded Twilight, even angrier.

“She asked for it when she called me a jealous reptile who’s always wanted more!”

“Right, because calling her a vain, fickle attention seeker can just as easily be forgotten.”

Twilight’s words stung Spike, he felt foul after having insulted Rarity, but it was hardly his fault that the cake he landed in would unleash its content all over her famous purple Gala dress, again. Rarity lost her temper and he reacted in kind.

“Well, I’m not sorry. My only regret was spending years of my life ogling her.” growled Spike. He turned to leave, but found a thick magical barrier blocking his path. Twilight was not finished yet.

“You condemn yourself with your own words, Spike. Ever since you grew out of your baby dragon skin, you’ve grown more selfish and hot-headed. You’ve hurt all your friends, not just Rarity. Rainbow Dash is barely coping with the tension within the Wonderbolts as it is.”

“So? Let them talk, they’ll see things my way, eventually.” spat the young dragon, as he pounded on Twilight’s barrier to reach his bed to be by himself. He glared at Twilight, but his glare faltered when he saw what Twilight had in her magical aura. Her furrowed brow portrayed her cold anger, but her eyes were inconsolably sad.

“Celestia herself sent a letter, via post, to suggest a change.” She said flatly.

“Oh, great, she’s heard about it too?! Maybe she can shut those Canterlot snobs at Rarity’s party in a dungeon.” retorted Spike, more petulant than his age would allow. Twilight unfolded the letter, revealing the official seal of the Princess of the Sun.

“She’s not about to do that Spike. I consulted her after the party about your loss of temper, and we’ve reached an agreement. For the improvement of your behaviour in the light of recent events, Spike, I am retiring you as my assistant, and now ask you to leave.”

The words hit Spike like a bullet to the heart. All warmth left him, and yet he felt no cold, indeed he felt nothing, because nothing could counteract the overwhelming pain inside of him.

“Twilight, wait, please! Don’t do this! I’m sorry I was mad, I’ll be good! I’ll be good, I promise!!” cried Spike brokenly, tears flowing from his eyes like water from thawing ice. He fell to his knees and felt the icy tears drench him, and he felt himself sinking into the dark bottomless chasm below the waves, where the warmth of the sun and of friendship’s glow would never find him.

Spike awoke with a start. His nightmare had ended just as he found himself drenched in cold water. It was barely dawn, and yet the tall imposing figure of Apple Bloom’s uncle, Calville stood sternly over him. Spike quickly rose and brushed the splashes of water off his scales.

“Oh, uh, morning Mr Calville.” said Spike as awkwardly as he tried amiably.

“Up and at ‘em, lazybones! We barely survived the night, and yet you’re still here, untouched!” barked Calville gruffly, “Now get your sorry hiney out there and help with the repairs! OUT!”

Spike, frightened out of his scales by the stallion’s loud orders, bolted out of the room, thorugh the house and into the open air before anypony could say ‘apples’. The sun rose red over Hayseed Harbour, and Spike feared that there had been bloodshed that night. The local members of the Apple Family gave him unfriendly glances, judging by the heavy bags under their eyes, frizzy manes and overall gruff demeanour, Spike deduced something had gone drastically wrong that night. Something caught his nose, a burnt, rotten odour emanating from the scorch marks around the farm. Spike sampled some of the burnt earth from the ground with his finger and sniffed it. There was something familiar about the scorches, he froze in realisation; another dragon was here. Not wanting to be under even more condemning eyes, he gathered his wits, and jogged out through the fence gate and on towards the smoky houses of Hayseed Harbour.

**************

Through the sooty streets of Hayseed Harbour, ponies rushed to and fro about their hurried errands, while Royal Guards marched in pairs escorting injured ponies, or stood by the charred remains of the odd burnt out house, overlooking the beach in case the pirates returned. Spike felt a pang of guilt; if he had not been drunk, gotten himself unconscious and stayed with Apple Bloom and her friends, he might have been able to help with the fighting. The more he passed ponies in distress and took in the ruined state of the town and the ships in the bay, the more he felt guilty and ashamed of himself. He had failed Twilight and her friends, had he failed Apple Bloom and her friends as well? Finally, he noticed the red cross on the white background, representing the area of tents around the town hall reserved as the infirmary. Spike picked up his pace and entered the tents, the nurses and doctors too busy to stop him. Upon entering, watching out for occupied sick beds, he glanced towards a corner in the infirmary and noticed Apple Bloom looking as gloomy as Big Macintosh after a bad year’s harvest, Sweetie Belle asleep on the bedside table of an injured guardspony and Scootaloo pacing back and forth.

“Hey guys!” he called out awkwardly, but neither seemed particularly keen to acknowledge him, “Eh, sorry about last night, just a bit emotionally fragile that night.”

The three young mares remained silent still, Scootaloo only vaguely acknowledged him with an indifferent glare. Spike anxiously continued.

“So, I noticed that the down took a bit of a beating last night, and there was some sort of disaster, and has anypony noticed that Babs hasn’t shown up?”

“Of course Ah’ve noticed, you big dummy!!” shouted Apple Bloom, “Ah was there!”

“Apple Bloom told us; Babs was either press-ganged into a gang of pirates or she actually joined them.” explained Sweetie Belle, slightly rising from her position atop the bedside table.

“We haven’t been getting a lot of sleep, but I see you have.” remarked Scootaloo, much to Spike’s own enhanced feelings of self-doubt, in addition to the shock that Babs would willingly join the company of pirates. He almost wanted to fall back into shame, but brushed such thoughts aside.

“Look, I’m sorry, I really am, but what could I have done?” asked Spike, “This is not my fault.”

“Nopony’s sayin’ it’s your fault,” reassured Apple Bloom gently, tired of being angry all the time, “But you still could have helped if you weren’t all…”

“Plastered?” offered Scootaloo. Sweetie Belle came over to Spike's side and placed her hoof warmly over his shoulders, giving Scootaloo a reproachful look.

“Right, but now that we’re all awake, sort of, Ah ain’t about to leave Babs with those mongrels!” declared Apple Bloom defiantly, stomping her hoof.

“Then, what are you all doing here, shouldn’t you be asleep?” said Spike.

“We’ve had a few hours of rest earlier, but now we’re just waiting for the one of the Pegasus scouts to return with news on the pirates’ location.” answered Scootaloo.

A low groaning noise came from behind her, Sweetie Belle’s eyes widened and brightened as Storm Sword shifted in his bed, coughing and quickly regaining consciousness.

“Storm Sword! Thank goodness, I thought you’d never wake up!” exclaimed Sweetie Belle, gently grasping his hoof, and smiling warmly. Storm Sword returned the smile in spite of his injury.

“It takes more than a single pirate to get the best of me, Miss Belle!” he chuckled, before snapping back to seriousness, “I may have been incapacitated, but I’m not entirely unaware of the events of last night. I know it was pirates, but did they say which vessel they belonged to?”

“Ah think they were from… what was it? Oh yeah, the Jolly Crook! I saw the outline of their ship, it was huge!!” said Apple Bloom, gesticulating wildly.

“I see.” growled Storm Sword, his eyes filled with vengeance, “So it was him. I’ll see him caught and condemned for this.”

“What? Have who caught?” asked Spike, even more confused. Storm Sword hoisted himself up to allow his voice to carry further.

“Captain Peregrin, pirate, thief and murderer. If you’re from Ponyville, like these good mares, you may have known him as Pipsqueak.” Spike gasped and his pupils shrank.

“You don’t mean that! But, he was such a sweet little colt!” he said, equal parts shocked and saddened, much to the verification of the three former Crusaders in the tent, “Wow! Who’d have thought he could go so wrong in life?”

“Ah didn’t want to believe it at first, but Ah think Storm Sword is right! Pip did this, it was his ship and his crew, and needs to be brought to justice.” said Apple Bloom with steel in her voice.

“Wait, how do you know it was Pip? For all we know it could have been some random pirate who managed to pirate Pip’s pirate ship for his own pirating pleasures!” said Spike, cautiously optimistic.

“And how are you going to find him? He’s gone out to sea and won’t want anpony following his trail.” remarked Sweetie Belle, just as puzzled.

“We need to know where he’s heading before we can pursue him.” admitted Scootaloo.

“Commander! Aerial Scout Max Speed reporting, Sir!” called out the young Pegasus guard as he swooped into the tent at full pelt before decelerating firmly, and saluting his superior.

“Have you located the Crook, what is her course, Max?” asked Storm Sword.

“Affirmative, Sir, the winds are taking the Jolly Crook south-east at fifteen knots towards Zebrica.”

“Did you see my cousin, Babs? She’s an orange pony with red hair.” interrupted Apple Bloom.

“I’m afraid not, Miss, I couldn’t get close enough without some Pegasus, intercepting me.” explained Max Speed, “No sign of Captain Pip on board either, Sir.”

“Fifteen knots you say? Curses, that’s faster than a first-rate ship of the line can accomplish. Pip must have some advanced machinery or magic to increase its speed, or worse: slaves.” murmured Storm Sword, much to the strong discomfort of the civilians around him.

“If it’s true that he’s stolen the Quarter-Map, sir, then there’s a good chance we know where exactly he’s headed.” said Max Speed stoically, but Apple Bloom looked at both stallions, confused.

“Pardon me, but what exactly is this ‘Quarter-Map’ you mentioned?” asked Apple Bloom. Curiosity stirred within her once again, the prospect of a map to buried treasure stirred memories of her Crusading days. As Storm Sword relayed his account, the faces of her friend's lightened up around her.

“The Quarter-Map is one part of four cloth pieces of an ancient map charting course to an island far to the south of the vast Zebrican coast.” explained Storm Sword, his voice now clearer thanks to the pain in his shoulder subsiding, “I’ve carried one of the Quarters with me ever since it’s half was snatched right out of my hooves by Captain Pip when I last duelled him all those years ago. I foolishly left it in my office at Town Hall the night I met you and your friends in the Sea Turtle.”

“That would explain why he would bother with a tiny seaside village,” said Apple Bloom pensively, before hardening again, “But it don’t explain why his crew would steal my family apples!”

“To gather food and supplies or to add insult to injury, most likely.” said Storm Sword grimly.

“It would explain the pirate reports in Manehatten and other cities. What’s on the island?” asked Sweetie Belle, intrigued.

“We don’t rightly know; most rumours seem to suggest a temple filled with gold and jewels beyond count. Though Pip’s been pirating for years, I can hardly see why he needs more riches! With that amount of gold, his naval power will grow.” said Storm Sword ominously.

“Well, it seems we have a need to go after Captain Pip and bring him to justice.” declared Scootaloo, determination across her face, “Apple Bloom’s lost her cousin to his pirates, they stole my Airship Corps badge and many ponies have been hurt, or worse, because of them.”

“All well and good, Scoots, but you’ve surely noticed they blasted all the ships in the port, we’re stuck!” countered Apple Bloom. Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle and even Spike shared knowing smiles.

“Would you like to see how we came to Hayseed Harbour?” offered Scootaloo.

**************

Scootaloo led them a good half a mile west from Hayseed Harbour, with Max Speed pushing the bandaged Storm Sword in a wheelchair from the infirmary boundaries, after much persuasion. The trek led them uphill towards the protective cliff faces overlooking the sea. They reached a copse of elm trees and nestled among them was a large green canvas, Scootaloo took the canvas in her mouth and with a single competent pull she unveiled her pride and joy. The airship was a vast machine, fitted with propellers and a rear rudder and stabilizers, ideally sized for a crew of four or more, dominated by a large red gas envelope, fastened by a tight rigging, hoof-painted with cloud and lightning bolt motifs over a spacious metal framed gondola, protecting the occupants from the elements.

“Well, Ah’ll be!” exclaimed Apple Bloom, her eyes wide with wonder, “Scoots, it’s beautiful!”

“You mean she is beautiful. Airships aren’t that different from normal ships in their naming.” said Scootaloo, tapping the framework with her hoof, “Rainbow Dash let me name this beauty the Red Mistress.”

“So she’s yours?” asked Apple Bloom, struggling to get the entire airship in one glance and instead settling for looking up close at every little aspect.

“Yep, with Sweetie Belle as navigator, Spike as temporary chief engineer,” Scootaloo gave Spike a punitive look, to which Spike snapped to attention, “and myself as the qualified pilot.”

“You realize, miss, without your badge, you have no proof of your pilot credentials.” said Storm Sword sharply, which stung Scootaloo as she understood the rules of having a pilot’s badge at hoof at all times when taking the airship, but his expression softened “No matter, for this one occasion, I give you dispensation to fly this airship on the condition that you return with your silver badge.”

“Oh, thank you! Thank you!” squeak Sweetie Belle, tightly hugging Storm Sword around the neck, while Scootaloo shook his hoof rapidly, grinning and saying ‘thank you’ at a pace that could give an excited Rainbow Dash a run for her money. The formal commander was fairly overwhelmed by the sudden and affectionate reactions of the young mares, but smiled in spite of it all.

“So is this for sure, Scoots?” said Apple Bloom, wide eyed and immensely gratified for the chance to take action, “Are we really gonna go out into the wild blue yonder on an adventure?”

“You bet!” replied Scootaloo with a fiery look of daring, “We’ll have an adventure of our own and see a bit of the world while we’re at it.”

“Can I still come?” asked Spike tentatively, Scootaloo deferred this decision to her two friends.

“Of course you can, Spike!” said Apple Bloom, feeling all the more genial and in control of her earlier negative emotions, “We’ll need all the help we can get. But you gotta do exactly what we say!”

“All right, Spike, you heard the lady! Get this tin can ready for flight!” commanded Scootaloo.

“Yes, ma’am!” saluted Spike, before dashing off to prepare the take-off wheels and channel the gas into the envelope to provide lift.

“You four are absolutely certain about this venture?” said Storm Sword in the cautionary tone of a concerned uncle, “You may be brave but you’re not soldiers.”

“It’s the only way to make sure Babs isn’t hurt by those pirates,” said Sweetie Belle earnestly, “who knows, maybe Pip will realise what he’s done and put an end to it.”

“That may well be, but I’m through being lenient with him.” Retorted Storm Sword bitterly, much to the cold discomfort of the three friends reluctant to have the blood of an old friend on their hooves.

“Any last minute advice?” asked Apple Bloom. Storm Sword nodded and drew himself closer to the young mares to whom he owed his life.

“Continue south-east for as long as you can, the Crook should be easy to spot from the sky. Observe her, take note of the actions of her crew. If you manage to, find a way to get the Quarter-Maps away from him, he'll never have his treasure that way. Once I’m recovered, I’ll lead a fleet to track down Pip. Rescue your friend and find out what he’s after, our forces will see to the battle. Good luck and may Celestia’s light shine on you.”

The piebald unicorn and his silent compatriot saluted the young mares and dragon, in a moment of kinship just beginning to grow. The Red Mistress started to gain lift as gas channelled into the envelope, the three mares ascended the stairs into the cockpit, and sealed the door. Propellers began to spin rapidly and Spike gave the airship a solid push, sending it forward from the copse down the hill. The young dragon, running as fast as he could, grabbed hold of the free-flowing rope ladder and gained his passage on board. With a quick wave to Storm Sword and Max Speed, he descended down the narrow chute into the gondola. Once within, he saw the land rushing past him as the cliffs grew ever closer. With the gas gaining strength and propellers and full power, the airship gracefully ascended from the cliffs. Scootaloo’s firm hold on the controls kept her steady as she set her course south-west into the unknown, and the full light of Celestia’s day basked them in heart lifting warmth.

“Wait! We haven’t said the thing!” exclaimed Sweetie Belle excitedly, grinning from ear to ear.

“What thing?” asked Scootaloo, her eyebrow raised, fearing it was not what she thought she was.

“Oh, I know! The thing you three did whenever you were about to do something crazy or dangerous to get your cutie marks!” Spike pitched in.

“Go on, Scootaloo! You know you really want to!” chimed in Apple Bloom, beaming, ready to savour the moment. Sweetie Belle's eyes went wide and dangerously closer to watering up, Scootaloo felt guilty just looking at them

“Oh, all right.” moaned Scootaloo, slowly caving in, “On three. One - two - three!”

“CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS PIRATE HUNTERS!! YAY!!”

The Crusaders Take to the Waves

The Red Mistress gleamed under the bright rays of the easterly morning sun as it glided between skies and the azure vaults of the ocean below. Strong gusts shook her as she glided, beckoning the crew to grapple for the railings and firm seats. Scootaloo was engrossed in the art of guiding her vessel, keeping her eyes on the world ahead and hooves at the controls. The winds had changed, the eastward air currents were gone, replaced by a distracting northerly wind that buffeted the Mistress as she flew. Sweetie Belle levitated her telescope, stretching her neck almost comically to survey all around her, a little too much weight out of the window and it would take one of her friends to pull her back up. Now that Apple Bloom had an opportunity to look about the Mistress interior, light flowed in from the many wide windows of the airship, and she could see the dust particles drifting under their glow. The wooden panelled floor and walls had an almost rustic quality, reflecting something of Ponyville in their design, with elaborate, friendly motifs, wood carvings and pictures of Wonderbolts and early airship schematics. Above the control panel an old fashioned clock from Ponyville hung from the wall, striking eight o’clock. Cabinets and dressers were stacked against the left wall, with labels for the items contained within. The brightly seats and sofas had extra cushioning, and were fastened to the floor. Apple Bloom opened the windows to let the free breezes, and leaned out to let the wind fill her mane, grinning under the bright sunshine. Spike whistled as he tightened the rigging and checked the pressure gages to ensure the Mistress was in top form. Scootaloo checked the compass; they managed to keep on a straight course south east despite the difficulty with the wind.

“Just think, in a few more hours we’ll soon see the Jolly Crook and give those pirates a real buckin’ in the backside!” exclaimed Apple Bloom all too audaciously.

“Now hold up, Apple Bloom, Storm Sword said to follow them. What can we do against armed pirates?” posited Spike, wiping of beads of sweat from his brow as he entered the bridge.

“Well, we’ve still got all this sea to cover, and worrying isn’t gonna make it go away.” remarked Scootaloo, as she scanned the world around them for any sign of life, “Luckily, we’ve got enough food stored to last us a month.”

“Have you ever seen so much water before you?” asked Sweetie Belle in wonder, “It makes Ponyville feel so small and us even smaller!”

“You’ve lived in the big city, Sweetie Belle, doesn’t the sea strike you as a bit boring?” wondered Scootaloo.

“Not at all, Canterlot is nice and all, but the freedom, the size natural beauty of it is just incredible.” replied Sweetie Belle dreamily.

“The sky is kinda like the sea,” said Scootaloo, “if you go up too high, you won’t be able to breathe. But the secrets of the seas, well, they’re pretty well kept aren’t they? Personally, I prefer the sky.”

“Oh, I don’t know, Scoots, just look at how the waves glisten under the sun! Like every flash of light is a diamond in an enormous sapphire! Or a blue topaz glistening under light!” murmured Sweetie Belle dreamily, hugging herself much like Rarity would when wrapped in silk pyjamas.

“Stop it! You’re making me hungry!” moaned Spike as he clutched his stomach, remembering that he missed breakfast, “Wait, Apple Bloom, did you tell someone in your family about leaving?”

“Well, no…” said Apple Bloom slowly, seemingly unfazed by the development of having not told her family the full story of Babs’ disappearance and her sudden jaunt into the open seas. Her pupils shrunk, she had been so caught up in worrying about Babs and trying to assuage the shock of the earlier attack that she forgot about the others.

“Apple Bloom, what gave you the nerve to say nothing to your family?!” yelled Spike, gesturing wildly, “This is your family; they might not ever see you again and they deserve more than that!”

“Spike, it’s not as though Storm Sword won’t tell them where she’s gone.” defended Scootaloo tersely, “No need to snap.”

“Don’t mind Spike, dear, he’s just jittery because our departure was very sudden.” said Sweetie Belle, patting Apple Bloom on the back, while Spike looked away sourly.

“Well, you’ll have to forgive me if Ah’m a tad anxious as well, being the first Apple to set to sea in a long while, after all.” said Apple Bloom, suddenly feeling the accumulating effects of motion sickness, clasping her stomach with her hooves, as she kept her eye trained on the horizon to lessen the effect as the Mistress buffeted in the wind. Spike snapped out of his earlier ill mood and helped Apple Bloom onto a chair.

“If you’re having a tough time of it already, imagine how Babs is probably feeling now!” said Spike worriedly, earning a sharp look from Apple Bloom. Sweetie Belle suddenly bounced and squealed in delight, as happy as Pinkie Pie at a party.

“How about a sea shanty?” she asked excitedly. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo gave her quizzical looks.

“A sea what-now?” asked Apple Bloom, unfamiliar with the word.

“You know: a song that sailors sing at sea?”

“Try saying that ten times fast.” murmured Spike, aside.

“Okay, sounds fun!” accepted Scootalo, Sweetie Belle bounded on the spot and cleared her throat and began to whistle a familiar tune that even the landlocked Earth Pony had heard once, and soon all four friends were singing this merry tune;

All

I’ll sing you a song, a good song of the sea

Way, hey, blow the mare down!

I trust that you’ll join in the chorus with me

Give me some time to blow the mare down!

Apple Bloom

Down by Sweet Apple Acres, there I went astray,

Way, hey, blow the mare down!

I drank enough cider to fill Horseshoe Bay,

Give me some time to blow the mare down!

Spike

A pretty lass hallooed me on Manehatten’s quays

Way, hey, blow the mare down!

She promised her heart and the Key to the Seas

Give me some time to blow the mare down!

Sweetie Belle

As I was sailing due north by the Griffons’ tall towers

Way, hey, blow the mare down!

Fair winds filled me sails by fair Celestial powers

Give me some time to blow the mare down!

Scootaloo

Oh, many fine voyages has this sea dog had

Way, hey, blow the mare down!

Mayhap I’ll never see dry land again, me lad

Give me some time to blow the mare down!

All

Lace her up, ‘earties, in a blue silken gown

And a way, hey, blow the mare down!

And we’ll blow her away from ol’ Trottingham town

Give me some time to blow the mare down!

The song left a smile on each and every one of them; Sweetie Belle continued to whistle until something crossed her mind, bringing a confused look to her face.

“So, what is that song really about?” pondered Sweetie Belle, much to the quizzical looks of her compatriots.

“Knowing sailors, it’s probably not something you can bring up in pleasant company.” suspected Spike, earning a quick smile from Sweetie Belle, taking a shine to the ‘pleasant company’ part.

Scootaloo checked the clock it was only ten minutes to nine, their gambit to make time fly whilst singing had not paid off as well as they had hoped, and there was still no sign of the Jolly Crook.

“Um, can’t you make this thing go any faster?” inquired Sweetie Belle.

“The Crook was reported to have been going at around fifteen knots, and we’re managing fifty knots, or fifty-seven miles per hour, with this wind rocking us a bit. So, catching up to the Crook could take three to four hours, assuming she hasn’t changed course.” explained Scootaloo evenly.

“Maybe we could ask a passing ship if they’ve seen it!” said Sweetie Belle hopefully.

“That would be a cheerful visit; I mean, what exactly would we say? ‘Top of the mornin’, sailors, we were just wondering if you’ve been pillaged by any pirates.’ ” said Scootaloo sarcastically, taking on an over the top sailor’s accent.

“I think our pirate foes are keener to avoid being spotted than we give them credit for.” said Spike. A silent recognition followed, the longer the four friends kept quiet the more they realized the truth. As time slowly ticked on, and the passengers reclined in their chairs, nibbling on cereal and fruit for breakfast, their enthusiasm died down somewhat. Though they were mostly safe at their present altitude, the constant droning of the machinery and the noise of the wind against the Mistress drove them into boredom. Finally, Scootaloo broke the silence.

“Spike, would you be so cool as to take the telescope and look outside?” she requested.

“What? Outside? It’s not safe! What if I fall?” panicked Spike, rapidly rising from his seat.

“Calm down! Just keep your claws on the railing as you go out the back and check to see if we haven’t passed any ships.” explained Scootaloo sharply. Spike winced; months of rigid pilot training had not been wasted on her. He mumbled in compliance, picked up the telescope and passed through the back door. The wind was fierce as the Mistress streamed through the sky, flapping Spike’s loose ears about like a pair of scaly kites. He stretched out the brass telescope and peered through it; no sign of any ships anywhere. An unexpected school of dolphins caught his eye, breaching the waves not too far away from them, and Spike happily trained his eye on their sleek movements, their playful leaps and perky whistling, savouring the illusion of proximity.

“They sure as sugar look happy, don’t they?” came a voice right next to him. Spike spun round to find Apple Bloom smiling, but her eyes divulged no happiness.

“Apple Bloom? What are you doing out here?” inquired Spike.

“If there’s a chance that you’ve spied the pirates’ ship, Ah’ll know you’ve found Babs.” said Apple Bloom a little distantly, letting her eyes gaze out over the waves and sky.

“Did you get a good view of their ship?” asked Spike, now properly using the telescope to scan the horizon, but his efforts were proving fruitless.

“Ah didn’t, it was too smoky, that darn dragon must’ve had somethin’ to do with it!” admitted Apple Bloom, Spike’s spines stood on end, he remembered the scorch marks from earlier.

“Dragon? Oh, gosh, that reminds me! I saw the scorch marks, I first thought they were from cannon blasts, but then I realized, I recognize the scent of this dragon. Was he red with gold scales, a kinda grown-up dragon? If so, I think I met him before” babbled Spike in rushed, worried speech, his pupils shrinking with worry, hoping his suspicion would not prove correct.

“Yeah he was, he was a lanky teenage flyin’ dragon, a nasty look in his eye! Ah think his name was Red-Scale Bones.” Spike sighed in relief.

“Well, then it’s probably not who I thought it was, if this dragon you saw was just a teen. The one I met is probably a lot bigger now.”

“I’m sorry I snapped at you earlier. I was thinking about Twilight, and how I shouldn’t have let things get out of hand.” said Spike sombrely, “And, I miss her.”

Apple Bloom’s breath hitched, she now understood what must have been going through Spike’s head.

“Oh, don’t worry about it, its forgotten.” reassured Apple Bloom, placing her hoof on his claw, and speaking as tenderly as possible. “Ah heard about what happened in Ponyville, Spike, Ah’m so sorry about all that. But I have to ask, why did you volunteer to join us?”

Spike took his time to answer, as though he himself was unsure. He had chosen to follow them on a whim, but what bound him to carry on was something he had almost forgotten.

“Have you ever lost something you thought you’d never loose, only to realize you treasured it more than you knew?” pondered Spike knowingly, as both pony and dragon shared a look of mutual grief.

“Ah suppose it was about the time I heard about Granny Smith’s health, and later she passed on.” mumbled Apple Bloom, unhappy to be reminded of that day, filled with rain and sparse beams of light illuminating the final resting place of the ancient matriarch of the Apple Family.

“I realized it when Twilight and I… went our separate ways.” Spike was unwilling to say ‘sent away’ even though that was the truth, he held onto the memory of her as though it would break in his claws. “Then, just before I joined Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle, I received a pair of letters, sent by Celestia’s magic. The magical link is still there, and I could still contact her if we need to. One was from Princess Celestia, the other from Twilight.”

“What did they say?” asked Apple Bloom, a little too eagerly, “Sorry, Ah didn’t mean to pry.”

“That’s all right.” began Spike, his quiet voice beginning to break as he recounted his story, “Anyway, in the first one, Princess Celestia encouraged me to go out into the world to do some good, make a change, so that I could feel better about the way things are. The second one was from Twilight, asking me to talk about things. But I was so caught up in how angry I was towards her; I chose not to write back. I thought she was just going to lecture me. So I ran off, I turned my back on her, and I didn’t realise what a stupid, selfish thing it was until now.”

Tears began to fall down Spike’s cheeks as he contained bitter sobs in his chest, Apple Bloom leaned her head into Spike’s cheek, wiping away his tears with her hoof.

“It’s okay, Spike,” she cooed soothingly, “Just think; now you’ve got a chance to prove yourself!”

“I hope you’re right, Apple Bloom, I really do. I admit, I’m scared, but you saw the pirates and look at you, willing the chase after them around the world and back! Now that is awesome!” praised Spike, excitement rising in his voice, Apple Bloom blushed bashfully at the young dragon’s earnest words.

“Ah just want Babs back safe and sound, but if this helps you get back into Twilight’s good graces, Ah’m glad you’ve come with us, Spike.”

**************

After a long hour surveying the surrounding ocean, Apple Bloom and Spike eventually retired indoors as it became too hot. Another hour passed. Scootaloo was on edge, she was certain they should have seen some sign of the pirates, and now she manned the controls like a mad pony, keeping her widened eyes trained towards the relentless, sunlit sky and ocean, tiring herself out to the point of desperation. The heat of the day had driven the ponies indoors, and the lazily drifting airship only added to their isolation. Their appetite was gone with their earlier enthusiasm.

“You know, this may not be as fun as you three think it might be.” said Spike lowly, as he, Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom reclined on separate sofas, bored and dispirited.

“Maybe we’re on the wrong track.” Mumbled Sweetie Belle through her pillow, too bored to raise her head, “Maybe we’ve lost them, only to get ourselves lost!”

“Nah, that can’t be.” snapped Scootaloo, “we haven’t strayed from our bearings, if we haven’t caught up to her by now, she must have changed course.”

A dread silence fell on them, Sweetie Belle hoped Scootaloo was wrong, pawing at the floor in anxiety, while Apple Bloom cast her eyes down in despair, the prospect of getting lost so far from land and hearth and home chilled her to the bone. Tiredness fell over them, the price for remaining active for much of the preceding night and the earlier lack of sleep was coming back to haunt them. Scootaloo herself would simply nod off for hours without anypony to watch or wake her. As the hours dragged on and the late afternoon sun began to soar further west, humidity and pressure started to build up; Scootaloo recognised the signs of a gathering storm.

“We should keep away from those clouds.” she warned, her eyes fixed on the darkening mass ahead of them, “We could double back west and land until the bad weather blows over.”

“No, we need to around it, or above it, for all we know the pirates are in that storm, we could catch them!” urged Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Spike gasped.

“Apple Bloom, we don’t even know if the pirates are even in this stretch of the ocean!” said an exasperated Scootaloo, as her firm grip on the controls started to wane, “The winds are picking up, we’re going to have to turn around! The weather at sea isn’t controlled by Pegasi, like in Equestria.”

“NO! We sail around this storm or through it!” insisted Apple Bloom forcefully, “Ah haven’t crossed a hundred miles of ocean to just turn around now! Please, Scoots!”

Scootaloo looked up at Apple Bloom, her eyes dead serious and overwhelmed by Apple Blooms steely resolve. But it was not enough to change her mind. She took hold of the wheel and swayed the Red Mistress to the right, intent on avoiding the growing storm. Gritting her teeth, Apple Bloom lunged upon Scootaloo, forcing the airship to keep true, forcing Scootaloo away from the wheel. The two mares struggled and shoved to keep each other away from the wheel, grunting and squealing in effort to force the other to surrender. Sweetie Belle squeaked in shock and galloped over to pry Apple Bloom off Scootaloo, while Spike dashed over to the cockpit to stabilise the airship. He opened the back door to release the sacks of ballast to gain altitude. However, for all their efforts, it was too little too late, the moment’s hesitation was enough for the winds of the storm to sweep the Mistress in. The thick sheen of rain met the windows of the airship, covering her in a thick pall of water flowing over her. The world around them darkened as Mistress was sent through a vortex of dark cloud and swirling rain. Apple Bloom was subdued, as Scootaloo took control of the wheel once again, trying to keep her stable as the storm forced the Mistress up and down and side to side, swirling her beating her to the rough rhythm of the winds. Worse still were the searing flashes of lightning followed by deafening clamour of thunder, so close they could almost feel it vibrate through them. Sweetie Belle shrieked in panic, holding her hooves over her ears, terrified running down her cheek, Apple Bloom only looked on with a dead expression, understanding that they were reaping what she had sewn. She glanced around, there was no sign of Spike. Rainwater seeped through the windows and filled the gondola with the thick airborne mist.

“I’ll try and get her above cloud level!! Hang onto something!!” bellowed Scootaloo as she struggled to keep a steady course through the overpowering air currents.

The taut rigging began to snap as the Mistress was forced up and down through the cloud. Scootaloo kept the wheel firmly locked, determined not to let the ship fly out of control, but she was fighting against the mighty air-currents. She spied a thin ray of light that seemed to be a break in the cloud, a place where the winds were at the weakest, and a chance to get out. Keeping the wheel tightly locked on course, and with the gale bearing down on them, the Mistress was caught between the indomitable will of Scootaloo the pilot and nature’s fury. Scootaloo summoned every inch of her strength, the heroic image of her idol, Rainbow Dash, urging her on in her head, she was almost there. This time, nature triumphed. The pressure was too much, a rope snapped, and the rigging binding the gondola to the gas envelope snapped and whipped undone from position as the Red Mistress rocketed downwards through the column of cloud and rain, parting with its means of keeping afloat. A lightning strike tore through the sky, and another blinding flash followed as the gas envelope burst into a plume of red flames. Gravity and the shockwaves of the blast sent the lower half on a piercing course downwards. The three mares screamed and held on together for dear life as the black vaults of the sea rose to claim the broken half of their airship as it descended nose first into the dark, frothing waves.

**************

Midnight lay over the endless sea, the waves had calmed and low lapped at the wrecked gondola of the former Red Mistress. The storm was not very big, and she could have made the distance had the rigging remained intact. Aboard its ruined, waterlogged deck, four friends lay together, too tired to shed a tear or defy their fate and attempt to sail home. Their supplies were ruined and the pithy remains of the rigging and gas envelope floated helplessly around them. All they could remember was the fierce blur of trying to stay together through the gale winds and the roaring waves. It was the combined might of Spike and Scootaloo’s determined flapping that kept the nose-diving Mistress from sinking to the bottom. The four friends were utterly spent after having fought the wind and rains to escape. Now an hour had passed, no one said anything, no one had the strength to raise their voice. But all the while, Apple Bloom cursed herself for letting her rash desire blind her to the danger of the storm. As the darkness of sleep closed in on her once again, she spied a ship ahead, against the lunar beams, she feebly raised a hoof to raise its attention, but relented when she saw the black flag flying above the mast. She saw nothing more that night.

Sawlty Towers

Apple Bloom’s head throbbed as she stirred from an uneasy and troubled sleep, filled with dark visions of the sea engulfing all the land and Sweet Apple Acres crumbling under the weight of so much water. Her eyes opened with a start, she counted four hooves, two ears, two eyes, and a whole snout; she was alive and whole. Upon regaining more of her senses, she realised she was swaying on a cloth hammock within the dark, damp hull of a ship. She glanced around, Sweetie Belle lay curled up in a neat little bundle in her hammock, while Spike and Scootaloo snored loudly and leaned over the edges of their respective hammocks. She let out a short mirthful laugh, silently thanking Celestia for sparing her life and the lives of her friends, forgetting the seriousness of the situation. Suddenly, her stomach rumbled, she and her friends must have been going for hours without food. She smacked her lips together, her mouth felt dry and rancid from exposure to the salty seawater. Upon closer inspection of the enclosed wooden walls and limited living space, she realised that their cabin must have been the smallest on the entire ship, possibly reserved for the cabin boys or whoever held the lowest rank in the crew.

“Scoots! Sweetie Belle! Spike! Wake up! Wake up!” urged Apple Bloom softly, trying not to draw any unwanted attention. As if on cue, the three friends stirred from slumber and groggily opened their eyes, rubbing away the tiredness and jilting up in shock as they noticed where they were. Sweetie Belle ran towards the door and attempted to turn the nob, only to find it unable to budge.

“Oh no, the door’s locked!” squeaked Sweetie Belle worriedly, attempting to manipulate her telekinetic magic to undo the lock, but to no avail.

“Ugh, oh I feel like I’ve been hit by a volcano…” groaned Spike, nursing his head, “Hey, where are we anyway?”

“Inside a ship, but whose, your guess is as good as mine.” said Scootaloo, tapping the wood to check its build, “Though I think we know who to look to for this particular situation.”

Scootaloo glared at Apple Bloom, recalling the storm and the sundering remains of the Red Mistress in the midst of the storm, Sweetie Belle gave her friend a serious look of disapproval, while Spike only glanced fleetingly at her, reluctant to feel critical. Apple Bloom started sweating and backed quickly against the wall, looking the very embodiment of guilt. At first, she hoped to retain her confidence despite the situation, but it was no use, she sighed and cast her eyes down.

“Ya know what, forget it. Ah know what you’re gonna say; ‘this is my fault’, ‘if we hadn’t gone into that storm’, yadda yadda yadda.” She conceded softly, still guilty.

“It’s not enough that you admit that you’re sorry,” continued Scootaloo forcefully, angrily advancing, “we’re now further from home as we’ve ever been and can’t get back!”

“Ah only wanted to save Babs from those pirates!” retorted Apple Bloom defensively.

“Well, if she’s sooo important to you, why don’t you just trundle off this boat and go looking for her yourself!!” she yelled hoarsely, Apple Bloom glared and pushed forward.

“How dare you?!” she yelled in Scootaloo’s face, “Babs is a fellow Crusader, we should never contemplate abandoning her.”

“We would have found her in time, but you wanted her found “right now”! Because of you, my airship, our transport, is gone!!” Now Apple Bloom’s eyes were brimming with tears as she curled against the wall.

“Scoots, Ah know Ah did an extremely foolish thing, and Ah’m so, so sorry!” she sobbed pitifully, holding back from bolting away from Scootaloo, “Ah promise to replace your airship.”

“On a farmpony’s salary, not likely.” muttered Spike, earning him a hard knock on the head from Sweetie Belle. Apple Bloom’s stifled sobs eroded at Scootaloo’s anger as Sweetie Belle stepped in.

“Girls, please! No more fighting.” pleaded Sweetie Belle, coming between her two friends, “We may be far from home, we may be captured, but are we gonna take this lying down?”

“Well, in case you haven’t noticed, we’re locked in.” retorted Scootaloo, still not impressed, “And the owners of this particular ship may not exactly be the friendliest bunch.”

“Well, that just leaves us only one option; commandeer the ship!” declared Spike, raising his hand to strike a conqueror’s pose.

“Spike, even by your standards that idea just stinks, it’s pathetic, it’s contemptible… it’s worth a try!” said Scootaloo at length, unable to bring any new ideas forward.

“Even better, we’ve got the strongest apple-bucking pony east of Equestria with us!” piped Sweetie Belle perkily, giving Apple Bloom a reaffirming nudge,

“I think you mean the only apple-bucking pony east of Equestria?” corrected Scootaloo dryly.

“Apple Bloom, if you would?” Sweetie Belle indicated the door in front of them, still optimistic.

“I’ll do mah best.” She said simply, knowing that she was nowhere near as strong or experienced as Big Macintosh or Applejack, she would try nonetheless. She flexed her muscles as she got into position to kick the door down, gauging the distance carefully, and aiming for the rusty hinges…

BANG!

The door came crashing down from its hinges in a thunderous clamour, chips of wood flapping left, right and centre. The four friends smiled as the next cabin turned out to be empty, save for a few crates and barrels laden with supplies.

“All right! Way to go, Apple Bloom!” exclaimed Spike delightedly, “Now let’s –” Apple Bloom hushed him.

“Not so loud!” she whispered as authoritatively as possible “We’re lucky no-one’s come down to investigate. Let’s all fall in slowly, pick up anything that used to fight and meet by the stairway.”

The other three nodded in agreement and pressed forward in single file, keeping an ear out for any sign of approaching hoof-steps. They progressed as lightly and swiftly as possible, Spike started sniffing around, honing his mineral-sensitive nostrils for any traces of metal, and sure enough, he unveiled a barrel of cutlasses, somewhat rusty but serviceable. Eventually, they noticed dabs of light streaming from above onto a simple flight of stairs. Apple Bloom edged forward, checking her surroundings for signs of danger before signalling Spike, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo to follow. Gently lifting the hatch by less than an inch, she checked her surroundings. The midday sun beat down on the brows of the crew, and Apple Bloom felt the heat of the day radiate her coat. She peered across the narrow deck, perceiving a small if efficient crew of ponies and more exotic creatures such as gazelles and even deer were present. The vessel was an Equestrian trading schooner; a sleek vessel designed for speed rather than assault, with two tall masts each with a main sail and a topsail, and flapping above them was the black flag of the Jolly Roger, emblazoned with a white griffon’s skull. Apple Bloom turned to her friends, seemingly ready to leap out after her.

“Okay, on three, we raise the hatch, charge out, take down the crew one by one and tie up them so we can get some answers.” she said with quiet fervour and authority.

“Are you sure we should be doing this?” asked Sweetie Belle, now more doubtful than when she left the cabin, “They may be pirates but they’re not the ones we’re looking for, and they did save us!”

“Yeah, the more I think about this the more I remember that we’ve never fought ponies like them before!” asserted Scootaloo, frowning. But Spike was undeterred, and drew his newly acquired sword.

“Well, if they meant us well, why would they lock the door? Either we fight to be free, or we walk back to our cell, so what’s it gonna be?” declared Spike, raising his cutlass, once again revelling in his heightened sense of adventure.

“All right, we’ll do it your way.” conceded Scootaloo, on behalf of her Crusader friends.

“Okay! On three; one – two – three – CHAAARRGE!!” he roared at the top of his voice, Spike raised the hatch, brandished his stolen cutlass and darted headlong into a group of sea ponies who barely had enough time to react. Swishing and blasting fire. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle stuck together, with Apple Bloom bucking barrels and crates across the deck, and Sweetie Belle levitating chords of rope to tangle their opponents, while Scootaloo propelled herself forward, kicking and boxing, yelling at the top of her voice. The frightened crewmates jumped back and unsheathed their own swords, holding the hilts between their teeth, swishing and stabbing to and fro, while light-footed gazelles leapt into the rigging and jumping right next to them, causing many a startled pony or dragon to take a step back. An emerald green Unicorn held two rapiers in the grasp of his magic and clad in a red sash and sailor’s cap, and crossed swords for a cutie mark, stepped out from among the crew, smiling confidently as the rest of the crew rallied around him. Quicker than the four friends could react, the rapier-wielding Unicorn swished and spun around and sent their weapons either sliced in half or flung across the floor. Spike attempted a feeble blast of fire, but was stifled when the rapier Unicorn pressed his blade to Spike’s throat, even flaunting a toothy grin as he gracefully subdued his quarry.

“It can certainly get boring out at sea,” he said in a voice both genial and boisterous at once, but his smile began to vanish behind a stern mask, “I’d almost thank you four for breaking the monotony if you hadn’t almost killed one of my mates!”

“If you hadn’t locked us in that cabin, we wouldn’t have thought we were captives!” retorted Apple Bloom, stamping her hoof in defiance, but their Unicorn captor merely raised his eyebrow, bemused.

“Now lads, the captain’s instructions were quite clear; keep an eye on our guests until they awoke. Which of you dunderheads thought it would be funny to see a starving pony fight?” he growled and eyed each of the crew members with every ounce of terror a captain could instil in such an unruly crew. The assembled pirates parted down the centre, revealing a single, scruffy looking grey goat. He grinned as sheepishly as his crooked and unkempt face could allow.

“Heh, I only wanted to see how well they fight? Not bad, I’d say.” he uttered in a thick, mumbling voice, still showing his crooked set of yellow teeth. The four captives’ faces were livid as blood flushed to their faces, disgusted by this creature’s cruelty.

“Think it’s funny seeing ponies starve do you? Let’s see how you handle a month in the brig!” barked the Unicorn, as he gestured one of his fellow ponies to grab the goat by the arms. Suddenly a loud bang pierced the growing noise of shuffling crew, the black shot pierced the goat’s thick chest from the sky, and he collapsed in a thick thud.

“Well, I think that took long enough.” remarked a sardonic, husky female voice. Reluctant to have to crane their necks to face yet another winged adversary, the four friends complied to look up. It was a griffon. She was lean and muscular, with raggedy lion fur indicating a life under assault from wind and sea spray, with tan feathers and a white head and chest, with a cluster of feathers forming a sharp fringe. Her fierce golden eyes were cold and unfriendly, but not inexperienced. Around her neck and scarred talons were gold bands and necklaces of pearl and garnet. More to their alarm, her buckles were laden with pistols and utility pouches for shots, one of them still smoking in her talon, and only carried a plain iron sabre on her belt.

“I apologise on behalf of Goates, there, he’d just reached the end of his tether, after chewing on my patience for so long.” remarked the griffon, too casually after having shot one of her own crew.

“Let me guess, you’re the captain of this ship.” stated Apple Bloom, cautious not to anger their well-armed host.

“Yep, the name’s Gilda, former professional speedster of the Griffon Kingdoms and present-day professional pirate.” She announced proudly, flexing her wings and talons in mid-air. Scootaloo felt a twinge of admiration towards this griffon; in spite of her glaring arrogance she was not too dissimilar to Rainbow Dash, before snapping back into urgency.

“Where’s the Red Mistress? My airship, have you seen it?” grilled Scootaloo, her breath withering in dread at the possibilities.

“You mean the red wreckage we hauled up from the sea? Look around you.” She gestured towards the schooner’s forecastle; Scootaloo turned around and bolted up the stairs and lost her breath as she beheld the sorry remains of the Red Mistress. Half of the rigging was lost and the remains were frayed and unwound, the wooden gondola was split in two and badly drenched, and the loose remains consisted of the wrecked cockpit, wheel and shards of glass and chunks of broken furniture and controls. Scootaloo gently pawed at the crumbled red remains, her ears fell, and the strength in her hind legs left her. Her eyes watered as her breath seeped out of her as though her capacity to respire had perished with her beloved craft. Sweetie Belle wrapped her arms tightly around Scootaloo as she fought the urge to cry, unwilling to appear saddened by the Mistress’s ruin. Apple Bloom glanced up and realized that parts of the Mistress’s red hull were also panelling the griffon’s schooner, as well as lumps of mattered metal being cleaned for recycling. But above all, she felt the weight of her poor decision way down on her, only Spike’s warm, gentle claws on her shoulder kept her guilt at bay.

“We picked her up just after the storm blew over, and you four were clinging on for dear life. I can smell a green Airship Corps pilot a mile away and you stink of inexperience, flying into the storm like that.” said the griffon nonchalantly, still hovering above them, Scootaloo glared at her with renewed temper, ready to leap up and strike, but Apple Bloom stayed her hoof.

“It wasn’t her fault, it was mine.” Said Apple Bloom stoically, standing guilty before the griffon, “Now, Ah suppose introductions are in order, we are alive thanks to you…” said Apple Bloom steadily, humouring the griffon captain, who simply nodded and gave an aloof smile, “Ah’m Apple Bloom, this here Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and this young dragon here is Spike.”

Gilda twitched at the mention of Spike’s name; she rapidly dove down to examine the young dragon up close. Her wide, analytical eyes narrowed into baleful black holes.

“I remember you! You’re the dorky little dragon from Ponyville! Twilight Sparkle’s little pet!” sneered Gilda, yanking Spike by his chest scales. The young dragon angrily brushed her talon off and glared straight into her.

“That’s Number One Assistant to you, griffon!” he snarled, before clamping down on his mouth in shock as crewmates angrily drew their blades on him, Gilda merely chuckled.

“Ex-Number One Assistant by the looks of things, still it’s an improvement from namby-pamby Ponyville.”

“Ponyville was a better home than the sea could ever be to you, birdbrain!” the young dragon barked back, smoke sifting angrily out of his nostrils.

“Ha! I’ve been called birdbrain since before I could fly, it’s practically a nickname back at Cloudsdale and Beakheim.” she remarked glibly, “Now what’s a quartet of spring chickens like you doing this far out in the open water?”

“HEY!” barked an angry Scootaloo, obviously irked by the chicken remark, only for Sweetie Belle to quickly place her hoof over her friend’s mouth.

“Ah don’t think we can tell you.” said Apple Bloom lowly, Gilda twitched in suppressed anger.

“And why not? It’s not every day I find three ponies and a dragon this far out in the ocean. I’d hate to have to ruin that by throwing you all to the sharks.” she warned, placing her talon over her sword hilt.

“No need for savagery, captain!” interjected the rapier-Unicorn, his blades sheathed, looking as brazen and glib as ever, “After flying a storm like that, I’d just be glad to still be alive. Jack the Rapier at your service.”

He bowed low before the three young mares and took his sailors cap off; a gentlecolt gesture that had a marked effect on their uneasy disposition, and returned his smile.

“Good to see at least one more friendly face out here, uh, no disrespects, Captain Gilda!” assured Apple Bloom, as Gilda gave her a vaguely offended look.

“We may not be your average law-abiding ponies, but we don’t take kindly to dishonourable cads like Goates abusing lost ponies.” declared Jack; his eyes narrowed as though to read their minds, “Now, this here is no jolly holiday, you’re after something or someone, are you not?”

The three mares did not respond all immediately, and Spike fidgeted on the spot, they could not keep the secret up for long. Sweating with apprehension, Sweetie Belle could contain herself.

“How do we know you’re not in league with… him, with Captain Pip?” murmured Sweetie Belle, quivering as Jack’s easy smile became a menacingly knowing smirk, while Gilda just shrugged.

“Do I know him? Yep, I know him.” she admitted warily, “Am I his lackey? Not in a million years.”

“Aye, I am; Captain Pip’s first mate and finest sword at his disposal!” bellowed Jack with vigour, brandishing his rapiers in his magic, “A cheer for me old chum, mates!”

A loud chorus of ‘hurrahs’, ‘ayes’ and ‘arrghs’ rose like a tide along with a wave of hats thrown in the air, even Gilda gave a cursory ‘aye’ as a feeble mark of respect. Scootaloo found her fiery voice again and glared at both Gilda and Jack, but the other three stood perplexed by the crew’s display of loyalty.

“He used to be our friend before he became a pirate!” informed Sweetie Belle indignantly.

“Yeah, and your Captain Pip kidnapped my friend’s cousin, and we demand her release!” shouted Scootaloo, pointing an accusing hoof at Jack, who stood on behalf of the absent Pip. Jack did not smile or brag; he simply placed his hoof over Scootaloo’s and gently lowered it down. Something seemed amiss in his bearing now, his eyes misted over, as though a secret he would have preferred buried was being unravelled.

“So you four say you’re from Ponyville, and you knew Pip when he was a little colt?” inquired Jack quietly, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle acknowledged with silent nods. He sighed and turned to Gilda, who was now striding across the deck to take the wheel, and the Crusaders and Spike followed behind Jack.

“Cap’n! I believe we are due for a change of course!” he suggested glibly, but Gilda merely stared out across the waves, doing well not to show any reluctance.

“Are these four fools captain now?” she hissed back at him, “If we change course for southern Equestria now we can dump them there and be on our way south. What are they to me, or you?”

“They may be something to Pip.” he said firmly, “Aren’t you the least bit curious about this kidnapping? Our mutual pinto pirate friend never raised a hoof against any landlubber pony.”

Gilda digested his words for a moment, and gave a momentary glance towards the four friends, and back at Jack, letting Jack’s insistent stare wither away her determination.

“All right, maybe there’s something worthwhile over at Sawlty Towers, check on the old boy and all, but I’m sailing off when I drop them off, got it?”

“Is that a promise?” said Jack, arching an eyebrow and grinning again. Gilda huffed and grimaced.

“No, it’s not a promise…” she muttered, she turned to her crew and raised her voice, “All right, you scabrous pile of empty horseshoes, we have our heading! Set sail for Sawlty Towers!”

The eclectic gathering of ponies, gazelles and deer cheered once again and set about to tightening the rigging and hoisting the sails for a new course, even Scootaloo despite the damage done was able to crack a fleeting smile. But Apple Bloom, Spike and Sweetie Belle ecstatically leaped and bounded with the excited crewmates, the dread of the pirates who assaulted them at Hayseed Harbour was gone, before snapping back to the situation.

“You girls hear that?” exclaimed Spike, “We’re that much closer to finding Pip, and Babs!”

“Ah’m not so sure anymore,” admitted Apple Bloom uneasily, “Ah mean, these particular pirates don’t seem so bad, but Babs is still far from here.”

“And what exactly is Sawlty Towers?” wondered Scootaloo curiously.

“Only the finest pirate port city in the whole world,” said Gilda, who smiled in relish of the three young mares looks of terror, conversely Spike’s eyes widened in wonder.

“This is so cool!!” he exclaimed, “It’s just like out of the comics I read”

Her stomach rumbled loudly, followed by loud rumblings and sheepish grins from her compatriots, “Oh, shucks! We’re all starvin’!”

“Beggin’ your pardon, dear fillies, and dragon,” Jack interjected with his usual panache, “I believe you haven’t had supped today, if I might interest you in a serving of Captain’s rum, hay biscuits, dried fruit and seaweed, you may follow me!” However, the three young mares and Spike, having never heard of the edibility of seaweed, simply stared and attempted to hide their disgust, “I assure you, lasses, the seaweed’s much tastier than it sounds.”

*********************

Jack the Rapier helped Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo and Spike to a fair portion of fine roasted seaweed, providing a crisp and refreshing flavour, aided by a healthy serving of Equestrian apple cider, after politely refusing the rum. They accepted him as their guide and go-between for Gilda, who seemed intent on keeping her distance from them, as well as keeping memories of Ponyville in check. As the hours went on and the sun began to drift further westwards into late afternoon, the Gilda’s schooner traversed the waves with great speed and purpose. Sweetie Belle continued to soak in the endless ocean around her, more entranced by its beauty than by all the gems in Rarity’s keeping, humming gently to herself. Spike merely dozed off in the crow’s nest, dreaming of gems to feast on. The unease between Apple Bloom and Scootaloo began to thaw, but the young Pegasus was still apprehensive and withdrawn. She looked out over the bowsprit, looking out for any sign of land, while Apple Bloom gently trotted over.

“Hey, Scoots, are you feelin’ any better?” asked Apple Bloom, giving Scootaloo a gentle nudge.

“Well, aside from the fact my Airship Corps badge is lost and possibly gone, my pride and joy is in ruins, I honestly could be better.” she sighed in a tone swinging between sarcasm and honesty.

“Ah know Ah mucked this up for all of us, but just think about this; we went from thinkin’ we were in danger to findin’ somepony who can help us. This Jack Rapier fella seems friendly enough. Now we’re gonna confront Pip and save Babs!”
Scootaloo smiled at Apple Bloom’s determination and vigour, but as she pawed at a stray piece of wood from the Red Mistress, and placed it before Apple Bloom.

“I’m sorry I snapped at you earlier, Apple Bloom; the airship can be replaced. But even if we do rescue Babs, I’m not gonna stop until I get my badge back!” Scootaloo pounded her hoof on the ship’s hull, a mark of iron resolve, “It’s not just a piece of metal, it represents how far I’ve come; you remember our school days when I just couldn’t fly? That badge is a reminder that I can fly, and those schoolyard foals were wrong.”

“The pirates who kidnapped Babs were from Pip’s crew, so they must have your badge as well.” assured Apple Bloom, unwilling to give up the hope that their voyage would be completed soon.

“I’ve got a feeling that it’s not gonna be at this Sawlty Towers place. What if they don’t have it?”

“Aye, there are many pirates on these waters, and many treasures and trinkets” said Jack boisterously and trotting up to the bowsprit and levitating a telescope with his magic, before lowering his tone, “I’d be careful not to get your hopes up.”

“Not to sound ungrateful, but this really isn’t about you, Jack.” retorted Scootaloo.

“No? So you have utterly no interest in reclaiming something precious guarded by bloodthirsty thieves armed to the teeth. Whoever’s claimed your badge now considers it his own, you’ll have to pirate it off him if you want it back.”

“So? I can fight!” she exclaimed, proving so with a series of rapid-fire punches and hind leg bucking.

“Aye, but can you fly?” returned Jack, a little too coldly as Scootaloo’s eyes seemed to mist again beneath her furrowed brow; “It’s not untrue, now, is it? Take heart; I once fought alongside a Unicorn without a horn, finest hoof-fighter I ever met, but he’d been a pirate for years. You’re spanking new to life at sea.”

“I can learn.” She said staunchly.

“Aye, but who will teach you, our good captain over there?” He motioned towards Gilda, who kept firmly at the wheel of the schooner, guiding her with fluid grace, “You’re brave enough, but you need a pony who’s been at the ropes since he was a colt.”

“And what’s in it for you; teachin’ a stranger you only knew for half a day?” questioned Apple Bloom, eyeing the older stallion suspiciously and arching her eyebrow.

“Just sounds like a bit of fun, it’s easy to get bored at sea!” he quipped idly, much to Apple Bloom’s frustration. Scootaloo smiled a little; Jack seemed incredibly earnest for a pony used to sailing and plundering, but it did not change the fact that he was a pirate, a criminal.

“Look, I do really appreciate the offer, but I can’t just become who you are. I mean, you’re all right, but I don’t want to end up like Gilda or Pip.”

“Aye? And what makes you so sure about Pip?” he questioned curtly, raising his telescope to eye level, “I’ll wager my blades you’ll not look at him the same way twice once you’ve really met him.”
He scanned the horizon for a few seconds when he suddenly barked in raucous laughter;

“Land ho! Sawlty Towers! There she rises on the horizon!” he bellowed mightily across the deck, bellowing ‘land ho’ to his crewmates as they scurried excitedly about the rigging and sails. Sweetie Belle snapped out of her trance and glided down through the rigging to stand by her friends, while Spike woke up with a start and scampered down the mast to stand by Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo as the vague, dark outline of the island seemed to grow. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo smiled in determination, Sweetie Belle on the other hand, merely grinned as the chance of adventure beckoned. Jack signalled to Gilda, who bellowed in in harsh, aquiline authority from the poop deck.

“Brace the foreyard you lily-livered cads! All ashore who’s going ashore! Perchance you’ll meet the stallion himself!”

“Lads, I believe you know this song;” Jack announced to the crew, as they broke out into lively, romping song along with him.

We’ve sailed from Prance to Zebrica
We’ve seen a world beyond belief
And we’ve spied Draconia’s shores
Sailed by the Kraken’s Reef
From Shanghay to Dromedor
We’ve fought for treasure
From coast to coast
Now we’re heading for the land
We pirates love the most

By sundown we will be there
You will not believe your eyes,
Full speed ahead to Pirates’ Paradise!

Welcome, welcome to Sawlty Towers!
Where water sparkles in ten shades of blue
It’s true!
Welcome, welcome to Sawlty Towers,
Enjoy the ocean breeze, sleep under swaying trees,
The pirates here do anything they please!

Pip’s kingdom is an island hop
From Gallopfrey and Whoazambique
Maybe it’s all there for you,
Go find the pleasure you seek
Perchance to forget your ill-deserved woes
And freedom you may find
Betwixt the golden sand and waves
Bliss unlike any other kind

By sundown we will be there
You will not believe your eyes,
Full speed ahead to Pirates’ Paradise!

Welcome, welcome to Sawlty Towers!
Where water sparkles in ten shades of blue
It’s true!
Welcome, welcome to Sawlty Towers,
Enjoy the ocean breeze, sleep under swaying trees,
The pirates here do anything they please!

The song itself fuelled their spirits and hearts with vigour as the schooner careened closer to the island itself, and the four friends could see the pirate port for themselves. As the dusk rolled on, the light in the stone lighthouse flashed and guided Gilda’s schooner to safe harbour. The town itself as a hodgepodge of different building styles, ranging from stone houses with brick tile roofs, grimy wattle and daub halls and towers filled with a seedy glow, painted wooden shacks and huts with thatched roofs and upturned corners of ships converted into houses, adorned with rickety bannisters and balconies and overhanging floor levels, with working windows and all, indeed there seemed to be more ship and timber in the city’s construction than stone. Lanterns and torches illuminated the crowed and rowdy cobbled streets, and barrels, wicker baskets and crates lay strewn outside the many houses lining the streets. Rising above the whole town, in a crowded hilltop were the three towers from which the town took their name; each tower consisted of three white galleons, their masts sawn off, hoisted on their rear tapering upwards to form one of three such spires, held together by solid timber framing, the fiery glow of lanterns blazed within, from the tallest of them all the great black Jolly Roger flapped in the breeze. No doubt the master of the town took his residence there. Before them, the sprawling wooden quays were filled with ships from giant galleys to tiny dinghies, and a variety of black or red flags bearing the symbol of the pirate captain’s choice. As they came into the bay, the ramp lowered and the crew stampeded off to rollick in the town’s delights. Apple Bloom, Spike, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo disembarked Gilda’s schooner, and edged closer to discern the fullness of Sawlty Towers, and couldn’t help but smile at this whole new world that was not as threatening as it seemed. Gilda and Jack walked alongside them.

“Well, we’ve made it. Ah suppose we owe you thanks, Gilda, for savin’ us and…” began Apple Bloom, only to be cut short.

“No thanks are needed, kid,” she said with a faint warmth to her voice, “it sure feels good to be back.”

“Consider us you’re friendly guides.” declared Jack, grinning once again, before snapping to seriousness again, “Now, I can imagine you’re a little anxious to see Pip, and he’s not one to suffer insults or wild accusations, which is why you’ll leave the talking to me.”

As Gilda and Jack wove their way through the streets, the Ponyville natives found themselves surrounded by an array of creatures from every walk of life; ponies of all varieties, surly donkeys, exotic deer, hardy wild boars from the frozen north, mysterious zebras, graceful and swift antelopes, ponderous camels, long-striding giraffes and even a hippo and an elephant in the crowd, swaying to the lull of rum. A wide collection of exotic creatures including griffons of every temperament, noble hippogriffs, goat-like satyrs and the occasional Minotaur also made Sawlty Towers their home. The town was utter chaos, stallions chased after mares, while music played freely, boars brawled with griffons, rum, cider, brandy and mead flowed freely from the barrels, and gunshots pierced the din. Through all this, Jack waded through the rabble like an Apple among the orchards, while Gilda glided above the mess and glared at any creature foolish enough to look twice. All the while, their guests kept tightly knitted together, keen to avoid eye-contact with the natives, who were altogether too rambunctious for a Ponyville resident’s taste.

They escaped the ruckus of a local brawl to come towards a large stone building, a warm light emanating forth, which seemed to be the town hall, and within, the light-hearted laughter of a young stallion caught their ear, a true undiluted joyous noise that Pinkie Pie would be proud to hear. His hearty guffaws were met by a chorus of stallions joining in and mares’ melodious giggles. Music of whistles, fiddles and accordions filled the hall, playing a jaunty tune. Jack and Gilda shared a knowing smile; they had found their stallion. They pushed the doors forward to find a teeming crowd around the central table. The remains of a feast lay strewn from wall to wall, as a chandelier swung as a Pegasus grappled for life. A gaggle of ponies and other creatures surrounded the main table, and rising up and down was a large pinto stallion, singing at the top of his hearty voice, joined in by his admiring rabble;

Yo Ho, Yo Ho! A pirate’s life for me
We pillage and plunder, we rifle and loot
Drink up me ‘earties, Yo Ho!
We kidnap and ravage and don’t give a hoot
Drink up me ‘earties, Yo Ho!

Yo Ho, Yo Ho! A pirate’s life for me
We extort, we pilfer, we filch and sack
Drink up me ‘earties, Yo Ho!
Maraud and embezzle and even hijack
Drink up me ‘earties, Yo Ho!

Yo Ho, Yo Ho! A pirate’s life for me
We kindle and char, inflame and ignite
Drink up me ‘earties, Yo Ho!
We burn up the city, we’re really a fright
Drink up me ‘earties, Yo Ho!

Yo Ho, Yo Ho! A pirate’s life for me
We’re beggars and blighters and ne’er-do-well cads
Drink up me ‘earties, Yo Ho!
Aye, but we’re loved by our mommies and dads
Drink up me ‘earties, Yo Ho!

“Captain Peregrin Squeak!” bellowed Jack as he strode among the crowd and the boisterous clamour of laughter subsided, and the crowd became a little subdued. The stallion stepped forward, his mere presence as sacred to them Luna’s stars. To call the titanic stallion before them ‘Pipsqueak’ would have been highly inaccurate and likely offensive, his large hooves and muscled withers, haunches and legs strongly reminded Apple Bloom of Big Macintosh in his early adulthood. He was clad in a black linen-tweed coat with gold braiding around the sleeves and lapel edges over dark red waist jacket and a weather-beaten linen shirt. He wore an ornately buckled shoulder belt where he kept his cutlass and daggers beneath his coat. Topping this ensemble of was his characteristic red bandana, gold earring, and large black tricorne hat, bereft of feathers. True to his poster, an eyepatch covered his left eye, just like his brown patch, but his roguish grin dispelled all qualms from his guests, despite the thick brown stubble from a beard recently shaved. Apple Bloom felt anger swell up in her, Scootaloo wanted to slap him twice across the face, Spike just stood in awe at the sheer size of the famous pirate before them; he was grand in body as well as charisma. Sweetie Bell simply stood entranced. Captain Pip stood before Jack and Gilda with a stern, commanding glare, displeased for their untimely interruption. Then, his cheeks began to crease as he broke into another gale of laughter as he embraced Jack with both arms and hoisted the much smaller unicorn into the air.

“By the stars, am I blessed to see ya, Jackie!” he exclaimed in his thick Trottingham accent, somewhat saltier in flavour thanks to a life at sea, “Couldn’t stay away for long, could ya? And how are you, Gilda, still sailin’ round in circles?”

“Further than you’ve sailed, lately, Pips.” quipped Gilda as she ruffled the stallion’s hair and even affording a wide grin.

“Well, there’s plenty to be had for old friends,” promised Pip warmly. Jack’s smile waned as he addressed his friend in a softer tone.

“I’m afraid it’s not all pleasantries. I believe, cap’n, the past has come back to haunt you.” He gestured towards the Ponyvile group, clasping his friend on the shoulder, encouraging Pip onwards, and at first he could not quite believe his eyes. His face remained blank, but his eyes swam with many emotions; joy, surprise, shock, even a little grief. Sweetie Belle herself did not expect the dread pirate Pip to be so quiet and entranced by the mere sight of them, and yet her heart fluttered; he remembered them. As his memory returned, he broke into a wide grin and let loose a hearty laugh.

“Well slap me thighs and call me Nancy! Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo!” he cantered amiably to greet the three mares and dragon, oblivious as Apple Bloom and Scootaloo strode up to face him head on, their eyes blazing with ire, “You even brought Miss Twilight’s dragon with you! Spielberg is it? The more the merrier! Now let’s –”

Smack.

Scootaloo delivered a solid slap across the cheek of the pirate stallion before them, sending him reeling from the strike, his crowd gasping in utter shock. Spike merely huffed smoke and strode up to him, standing alongside Apple Bloom.

“He got my name, wrong, how in Equestria could he get my name wrong?” he cried incredulously.

“We’re not in Equestria, anymore.” Scootaloo muttered in an aside to the annoyed dragon.

Pip merely looked at Jack in mid-reel, who shrugged innocuously.

“Not sure I deserved that.” he remarked, before straightening himself to find Apple Bloom looking him directly in the eye, though a head shorter than him she commanded his presence.

“All right, Mister Big-shot pirate!” she snapped, stepping forward and forcing Pip to back up, “We’re not here for yer songs and silver tongue!”

“We aren’t?” asked Sweetie Belle innocently, looking disappointed, Spike nudged her sharply.

“Give Apple Bloom her cousin back! Give me my Airship Corps badge back! Turn yourself and your crew in for assault on Hayseed Harbour.” snarled Scootaloo, daggers in her eyes. Silence fell over the group, no one laughed, and no one drew their cutlass to defend their captain. Instead, Pip, merely lowered his brow, looking very blasé indeed.

“Seems their cutie marks came at the cost of their sanity!” he remarked in a deadpan tone, eliciting a chorus of laughter from the onlookers.

“This ain’t a joke, pirate boy!” snapped Apple Bloom, “Do you deny leadin’ a band of bloodthirsty crew of ponies and diamond dogs to steal the Quarter-Map at Hayseed Harbour?”

“And do you deny completely forgetting my simple, one-syllable name of Spike?” butted in Spike.

“As a matter of fact, I do.” he replied firmly, “Though, I do apologise on the name part, Master Spike. I’m afraid I’m not the pirate you’re looking for, lass.”

“You’re lyin’! It was your ship, the Jolly Crook that attacked us two nights ago!” retorted Apple Bloom; but Pip simply looked at her sidelong, lost and confused.

“You’re either mad or misinformed, miss. I’ve not set hoof to sail for nigh a year! I lost the Jolly Crook in a game of Liar’s Hoof, most annoying that. Sounds like your aforementioned cousin-nappin’, badge-pilferin’ pirates were the new owners of the Crook.” assured Pip, his earlier boisterous tone gone beneath mask of sombreness.

“Is this true?” asked Spike, looking at Jack and Gilda, who nodded.

“I was there with Pip the night he lost the Crook, he hasn’t owned that beast for half a year now.” confirmed Jack as he realized what this meant.

Apple Bloom felt a cold sinking feeling fill her stomach, to have come so far only to learn that their target had truly slipped well beyond her reach. She had denied Jacks words staunchly, holding onto the hope of ending it there. She had no tears left to shed, and instead, with ears lowered, plodded slowly out of the hall, under the pitying eyes of the onlookers. Spike and Sweetie Belle wrapped an arm each around her back as she never looked back. The only one to look back was Sweetie Belle, and her eyes glistened with tears and disappointment. Pip let her eyes pierce into his heart. Scootaloo’s eyes also refused to meet Pip’s.

“We’re sorry for wasting your time. Get back to your party or whatever it is you do all day.” muttered Scootaloo brokenly as she turned to leave. Pip hesitated for a moment, looking between Jack and Gilda, and finally at his assembled party. He cantered forward, his hoofs ringing on the stone floor.

“Wait!” he called out, beckoning the four friends to stop, “Perhaps, it’s within my capacity as a captain and master of Sawlty Towers to offer you my hospitality?” he offered hopefully. Apple Bloom nodded, a hint of a smile flickering in and out. But to Pip, it was as good a reply as he wanted to see.

Dinner with the Captain

Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo and Spike waited outside by the entrance as Pip announced his unexpected departure to the assembled crowd, the familiar unpleasant taste of a party interrupted hung over everypony. His sombre words were met by a mixture of disappointed groans and subdued mutterings as they departed from the hall. But there was no point in dwelling long on the matter, as Pip, Jack and Gilda guided them through the narrow, winding streets to the base of one of the three ship-wrought towers, up a wide stairway. Opening the pocket in his jacket, Pip produced a large copper key and stepped towards the large oaken doors. Through their windows, a dim glow of lanterns filled the hallway and as the chill of night descended they welcomed the warmth within.

“You know, he lives pretty large for a pirate, there’s not much really stopping the somepony from stealing his key and taking over the place.” whispered Spike to the Crusaders, hoping he was out of earshot of their pirate escort, breaking the monotony of quiet.

“I may be reckless, but I’m not deaf, sonny!” called Pip, somewhat annoyed and looking over his shoulder towards Spike, “And yes, that’s a risk I’ve run every day for the past year. Hence the accommodation is shared between me mates and I.”

“Aye, it would be presumptuous of one pony to keep such a large home for himself.” murmured Jack with little fondness in his voice for the alternative lifestyle.

“Besides, he’s a pirate king, voted in place by the pirates, so he does as he chooses.” added Gilda.

“Well, I wouldn’t vote for him.” remarked Spike in an aside, while Pip, still able to hear the dragon’s poor attempts to conceal his voice, brushed it off as he pushed both doors wide open.

“Please make yerselves right at home.” He said, flaunting a welcoming smile, as he allowed Jack and Gilda to take the lead of the four friends as they came into the entrance hall of Sawlty Towers.

The hall was broad and hung low, with chandeliers and melted candles along its many dressers and shelves. Colour seemed drained out of this place, with only the dim yellowish glow of the candles providing fleeting flickers of vibrancy. The floorboards and walls were knotted timber, clearly hewn from ships that had known many years at sea, with woodcarvings of the rolling waves lining the wall. All in all, the guests felt as though they were back beneath the deck of Gilda’s schooner. At first Apple Bloom began to dread the possibility of seeing Pip’s chamber as a bare barracks of no comfort and minimal hospitality. Pip led them up the stairs and unlocked an elaborately carved door, and swung it proudly open.

Apple Bloom stepped in, her eyes widened as she beheld a rich chamber fit for a Canterlot pony, filled with red carpets, paintings of ships at sea, trophy blades hanging on the red-painted walls, velvet and canvass curtains, fancy dressers, carved tables, sofas and chairs conveying an almost Equestrian feeling of comfort. On another raised level, a long dining table lined with candles stood readily to be laid. At the end of this expansive chamber, a four-poster bed that was most likely where Pip laid down to rest stood with its left side facing the tall windows overlooking the lights of the port and the rippling waves beneath the moon. Pip hung his coat and hat on a nearby rack and placed himself on a nearby sofa, stretching his legs.

“Please, make yerselves comfortable!” declared Pip, stretching his foreleg out as the guests entered, “Dinner will be served at seven o’clock, and I know you’re mighty hungry.”

“Now, I’m not one to complain when somepony has a flair of fancy to his lifestyle,” began Sweetie Belle as she took in the vast amount of decoration with wide-eyed admiration, “But I’m starting to see what Spike meant by ‘living large’ – how many pirates live like you do?”

“I’m not sure what you’re implying, Miss Belle.” said Pip warily, cocking an eyebrow.

“I’m implying that this is pretty nice for a pony who’s been plundering gold and jewels.” she replied pointedly, her eyes narrowing. But Pip remained unfazed by her attempt to guilt him.

“Now, you’re wonderin’ if I stole all this, aren’t you?” he asked, she nodded, “Well, you’re only half right. Let’s see, I’ve nicked that dresser, that figurine, this very cushion, those odd things, those candles…” he lazily pointed his hoof around his room towards all sorts of odds and ends and knickknacks adorning the room, until his voice became a quiet rambling to himself as though to remember which items he acquired himself.

“What about the rest of the stuff here?” inquired Scootaloo, looking up from her cider, hoping to snap Pip out of his memory trance.

“Oh, the rest are actually presents from a few old friends, like the sofas, the dining table, dressers, the bed – I used to sleep on a hammock for nine months before Captain Fleetwing came to dinner on me birthday, smashing chap! Saved me life, ya know!” he recalled, smiling, eyes misty with nostalgia. Jack opened a casket of cider and poured some for Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo and Spike, while Gilda absently flickered through the pages of a book, quietly declining the offer. He watched with astonishment as the four of them guzzled down their drinks after a slight taste of the brew.

“Ah recognize Sweet Apple Acres when Ah taste it! And you’ve got great taste, Pip!” exclaimed Apple Bloom, her eyes brimming with satisfaction from the refreshing cider.

“Did somepony say cider!” a jolly voice blasted from the door, as a large, almost as large as Pip, muscular tan coloured Earth Pony with a telescope cutie mark barged into the room like he owned it. Following in his wake was an eclectic array of colourful creatures. The first among them was a red fox striding along on his hind legs and clad in a waistcoat and feathered hat, followed by a stocky male zebra with strong black stripes, an elegant acacia tree cutie mark and gristly whiskers for a beard. Trotting in with them was a tall dark stag with sharp antlers, chiselled features and a scowl of perpetual vigilance, finally followed by a scarlet macaw with a prosthetic leg flapping clumsily behind.

“Harold Hornpipe! Lads! Good to see you housekeepin’ for your captain.” welcomed Pip, taking the stallion in both arms and patting him heavily on the back, the arrival not caring for the splashes of cider over his coat.

“Aye, somepony has to, you lazybones.” replied Harold in a slow gravelly tone, like the sound of the waves crashing upon rocks, “You’d lose your socks if you weren’t sitting on them –”

“Ahem! There’s a time and a place for that, Harry!” said Pip in a rushed tone, as beads of sweat filtered down his brow and he looked about in a vain attempt to hide embarrassment.

“No need to be bashful, Cap’n. You can’t keep any secrets from us.” said the fox slyly, comfortably placing himself next to Scootaloo.

“It seems some fair fillies have joined us tonight. Cap’n Pip, are they here for your own delight?” intoned the zebra with a rhyming pattern to Zecora similar to Zecora, looking at Pip sidelong and offering a teasing smile.

“Rraaawk! Pip’s delight!” taunted the parrot as he flapped onto Pip’s shoulder and affectionately nipped his master in the ear, eliciting a chuckle from Pip.

“If only that were true, matey!” guffawed Pip, exchanging a randy smirk with his mates. The three young mares glared suspiciously at the pirates, but Apple Bloom cut straight to the heart of it.

“And just what are suggestin’?!” snapped Apple Bloom, “If you’re thinkin’ what I think you’re thinkin’; forget it! We’re not here for that!”

“Yeah, talk about dirty-minded seadogs.” joined in Spike, disgustedly, getting off the sofa, eager to leave, before the zebra stretched his arm out and looked at them with wide, reassuring eyes.

“Fear not, young dragon, they were but jests! We were not informed that Pip would have guests.”

“It seems you’re double-booked, boy. Wouldn’t be the first time.” quipped Gilda snarkily.

Pip seemed to ignore Gilda’s earlier comment and introduced the Ponyville friends to his crewmates and vice versa.

“Now, you’ve met Harold Hornpipe, this here zebra calls himself Daktari, our local physician.”

“Long Toddy, at your service!” said the fox, taking a low brow and sweeping his cap off.

“Rraaawk! Captain’s off his drawers!” squawked Pip’s parrot, before allowing his master to continue.

“This lewd and tricky little bird is Hector, and the tall fellow with the antlers; Shady Sulion.”

The tall stag stepped into the light and looked down at both Pip and the mares, his tight lips seemingly refusing to part, and then he spoke.

“Charmed. But pray tell, what brings three landlocked mares and a little dragon so far from home?” he greeted them in a low, sonorous tone that seemed to weave its own spell, only his pirate companions seemed unfazed by his voice, and he certainly seemed less pirate and more a sorcerer.

“We… actually weren’t goin’ to tell more than Pip needs to know.” said Apple Bloom, sheepishly.

“Now, Miss Bloom, I will not have that!” declared Pip, stretching his arms out, filling the room with his exuberance, “Tonight, we shall all dine on the fruits of my island paradise!”

******************

In what felt like no time at all, the large central dining table was laden with napkins and cutlery for those who desired it. None of the Ponyvilleans expected a troop of monkeys to come scampering in and delivering the many meals for the day on platters, to the compliments of Captain Pip. Though much about Pip still left questions unanswered, the four friends feasted their eyes and palates on the exotic banquet before them. Cheeses, baked potatoes, bowls of local vegetables, salads, and mashed avocados laced with chili adorned the table for the main course, and everyone took a sample of each, followed by a fruit storm of bananas, pineapples, mangoes, coconuts, papayas, citruses, grapes. Pip even arranged for Spike to gobble on a bowl of cut topazes and glimmering opals, sparing any mention of finer gemstones like rubies or sapphires. Carafes and jugs filled with rum, wine and cider. The only one who took his place away from the table was Long Toddy, who reclined on his chair and strummed a quiet tune on his lute, after gulping down a serving of fried mackerels. Apple Bloom and her friends attempted conversation, but where drowned out by the often boisterous banter, and found themselves phasing out.

“You can’t be serious!” exclaimed Jack between mouthfuls of salad.

“I assure you; I am quite serious.” replied Shady Sulion with an expression of stoic composure battling a thin amused smile, “Took us three hours to thaw him out of the ice.”

“Ugh! I’ve been dunked in a frozen lake before, let me tell you, it’s no piece of cake!” said Spike a little indignantly, eliciting a few scattered laughs from the assembled shipmates as he recalled one of his first Winter Wrap-Ups in Ponyville.

“I can’t understand that a regular dragon wouldn’t see the appeal.” said Long Toddy, still plucking the lute strings, “But if you go far enough north, like I’ve been, there be Ice Dragons! And they love it!”

“Ice Dragons!?” exclaimed Spike excitedly and getting up from his seat, “You’ve seen Ice Dragons what are they like? Go on, please, tell me!”

“I said I’ve seen them, I can’t say I stopped to chat about the weather with one.” corrected Toddy, to Spike’s mild frustration, “Cheer up, Spike! You’re your own master now; you could go see one!”

“Now where was I,” resumed Sulion, “Ah, yes! So there he was, locked in a block of ice,”

“Those Unicorns of the Ice Merchants’ Guild were a rather miserly bunch, I imagine.” interjected Jack knowingly, “Not to mention icy.”

“Oh, Jackie boy, that is just old hat.” moaned Pip, joined by a chorus of disapproving groans, “Lucky for us he was a polar bear and partial to a little cold.” remarked Pip, taking another draught of his rum.

“Probably found it quite refreshing after being stuck with you on a ship off the coast of the Saddle Arabia!” joined in Long Toddy, “Did he have to shave before signing up?”

“He did, and he still complained about the heat, but still wanted his share of the Saddle Arabian gold. When we thawed him out, he said –” began Sulion,

“‘I wish you hadn’t thawed me, I was pretending I was back at home!’ ” finished Pip, the pirates and Spike broke into raucous fits of laughter, even Gilda let out a few chuckles. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo found themselves wrapped up in the warmth and the easeful atmosphere of Pip’s chamber, quietly taken in by the food and music, and smiled at the contentment shared. Apple Bloom, on the other hand, had finally grown tired of their incessant banter, pushed her chair out with a loud creak and proceeded to leave.

“Apple Bloom! Where are you going?” cried Sweetie Belle in alarm, Apple Bloom didn’t turn around.

“Don’t you girls realize we’re losing precious time!” she asserted with renewed resolve, “We’re here because we wanted to save Babs, not join these thieves!”

“Oi! I resent that!” cried Pip in exasperation, “We’re not mere thieves, Miss Bloom; we’re free. Free to see the world, enjoy the spoils of discovery, and give the griffons a right royal kick up their lion’s backsides!” A loud chorus of cheers erupted from the table, except from Gilda, to whom Pip sheepishly grinned, “Present company accepted, of course, Gilda.”

“Sure, no hard feelings.” she replied laconically.

“But why the griffons?” asked Spike, “They don’t seem all that bad.”

The chamber went quiet; Spike seemed to have invoked something primal and vengeful in Pip, as he adjusted himself to address the question. By his foreboding tone and narrow eyes, Pip the boisterous pirate became an ancient mariner.

“I’ve locked in a maritime feud with the fleets of the Griffon Kingdoms since I was just a colt; when I captained my very first ship when I was just thirteen! Don’t believe me? Jack was there!”

“Aye, remember the day he first stepped aboard our trading galley, like a ghost out of the mist, with only a dagger on his belt and a gold cup in his little rowing boat?” said Jack to the gathered pirates.

“It was a band of griffon brigands who sacked our ship; we were mere traders inches from losing our grip.” recited Daktari, “I was commissioned as physician too the crew, many recipes of herbal potions and medicines I knew.”

“You know, we know a zebra as well, she lives by herself in the Everfree Forest. Her name’s Zecora.”

“Truly?! Zecora still lives?” he exclaimed, his ears perking up with joy, before resuming his more reserved self, “Please, my excitement I hope you forgive. We were foals together once; while she grew clever I was still a hippo’s dunce.”

“You were still smarter than most ponies I knew.” said Harold Hornpipe warmly.

“Aye, and these same brigands took my first band of shipmates, and my captain, hostage.” continued Pip with a tinge of bitterness at the memory, allowing Jack to continue.

“He bought his way into the broken crew with a little chest of gold he’d pilfered, and proposed to hunt down the griffons within three days, if he would be named captain.”

“That must have gone over well.” said Scootaloo sarcastically.

“On the night of the third day, just before we were inches from throwing him to the waves,” began Harold with rising verve, sending a shiver of fear down the Ponyvilleans, “We spied the griffons’ ship, quietly anchored by a reef, snuck aboard and took back our dignity and their gold!”

“Did you kill the griffons?” asked Sweetie Belle anxiously, holding her hooves to her lips.

“Now, we almost did, but instead we tied them to the mast and let them untie themselves later” said Pip casually, but this did nothing to assuage Sweetie Belle’s shock, “Griffons have sharp talons, they can take care of ropes. And thus began my life of voyaging across the waves.”

Apple Bloom continued to stand away from the table, facing Pip as he reclined in his seat, relishing in the captivated faces her friends. Her eyes narrowed as she stepped closer.

“Tell me, Pip, if you had a ship, why didn’t you come home?” she asked pointedly.

Pip didn’t answer immediately, and his mates seemed just as reluctant to answer, their eyes shifting from Apple Bloom to Pip and back again. Silence continued to hang in the air as Pip’s eyes wandered across the room and refused to meet Apple Bloom’s. Gilda shifted in her seat before rising.

“Well, this has been an awesome dinner,” she said in a stilted tone, “I’ll let you Ponyville buddies do your little catching up. But me, I’ve got a ship to captain. You coming, Jack?”

“I believe my plans have changed.” murmured Jack in aside to Gilda.

“Very well, enjoy… whatever this is.” She saluted Pip casually before flapping out the doorway. Pip continued to be silent, his confidence melting under the three mares’ gazes.

“Destiny called.” said Pip evasively as he rose to face Apple Bloom, letting his voice seep into her, “My cutie mark appeared the day I put a stop to those brigands. You read about pirates all the time as a little colt, but who thinks of being one?” He shook his head, “So I embraced it gladly.”

“We could’ve helped you out.” insisted Apple Bloom hoarsely, “You could have visited.”

“And be arrested on sight? If I came back, it would be like a hyena walking into a lion’s den. And no, I don’t need anypony’s help.” he haughtily huffed, deciding he’d had enough company for one night. But then, Sweetie Belle placed her hoof on his shoulder, and for a moment he seemed in her thrall as he beheld her glimmering eyes. Sweetie Belle herself kept her unease regarding Pip’s wildly different nature locked behind a mask of excitement, yet something about Pip as he stood before her hearkened back to the bouncy little colt on Nightmare Night. She wanted to reach to for that.

“It’s not too late, Pip.” reassured Sweetie Belle gently, looking at him with a hopeful expression, “Okay, sure, you’re a pirate, but that doesn’t make you a bad pony, just one who’s made a few bad decisions. You could help us; help us to find the Jolly Crook.”

Pip’s head reared rapidly up, his face blank with bemusement, but Sweetie Belle was serious. Suddenly, he laughed, his mirth bursting out in a fitful gale. Sweetie Belle scowled reproachfully.

“You’re madder than I am if you think I’m going after the Jolly Crook, that ship was more trouble than it’s worth! Right, lads?”

Jack, Harold, Toddy and Daktari cried a disjointed chorus of ‘aye’ and exchanged shared looks of doubt.

“I’m afraid I agree with Miss Bloom, Pip was a big fish in his day, but the Jolly Crook is growing larger.” said Shady Sulion.

“If not for us, or for Babs, then what would ya say to treasure?” asked Apple Bloom, taking a seat at the table; the attention of Pip’s crew firmly locked on her. She smiled proudly; as the pirates were more enticed than she thought they would be.

“Our interest you may have, young mare, what treasure would you have us ensnare?” replied Daktari.

“Well, if Ah were captain, posessin’ an able bodied and eager crew,” began Apple Bloom with a sly smile, “Ah’d be goin’ after the treasure on the island of the Quarter-Maps.”

Low murmurs broke out among the pirates as they exchanged looks of intrigue and suspicion. Apple Bloom then found herself in Captain Pip’s shadow.

“And how do you know about the Quarter-Maps?” he asked with quiet menace, glowering down at her from above, “There’s only one other pony I know who knows of three of the Quarter-Maps, and last I duelled him I nabbed the one right out of his hooves. I had three of the maps, charting a way from Zebrica through rough seas and reefs to the island, ignoring the missing quarter.”

“Not long after we settled here, Pip and I voyaged south to waters unclear.” Daktari joined in with an ominous glint in his eye, “Found the island by wit and wiles we did, and we both agreed it was better left hid.”

“But if you had one of the pieces missing, how do you know you found the island?” asked Spike.

“By old sailing custom, X marks the spot, with half of that clue the trail was hot. An expedition inland confirmed the unknown, and there stood a great temple carved of stone. Things unseen stirred beneath in the undergrowth, to fight such an elusive foe we were loath. Whatever foul spirits stirred therein, we vowed to keep it secret that no soul may wander in.”

“I kept this voyage a secret from the lot of you because I feared the worst. Some treasures are locked in evil-lookin’ temples for a reason.” asserted Pip, and looked coldly at Apple Bloom.

He strode over to a black dresser and took out another key from his pocket, and unlocked it to reveal a long, wooden box. He placed the box on the table and unveiled the Quarter-Maps. The two, thin triangular strips of cloth stretched out with the tip of their corners meeting in the middle, designed to taper towards the centre of the map and fit together. In one, the long, thick line marked the small town of Tanga on the coast of Zebrica, with the sea stretching south west, on the second of the maps was a thin narrow strip of red ink marked with an ‘X’, amidst illustrations of harsh waves and reefs, the other half of the island was missing.

“This can’t be right!” exclaimed Scootaloo, and looked up accusingly at Pip, “You said you had three of the maps, where’s the other one? Are you hiding it?!”

As the gathered creatures studied the maps in quiet dread, Harold Hornpipe looked up at Apple Bloom.

“Someone stole one of the Quarter-Maps, didn’t they?” he asked grimly, Apple Bloom nodded, “All it takes is one of the Quarter-Maps to incite a pony’s desire for the treasure. If they've found the missing fourth, they now half have the island on their map. Any reason, Cap’n why they would have incentive to steal the other?”

Once again, Pip scowled and looked away, keeping his thoughts locked behind a grim façade, something sullen and testy bubbled underneath. Both the Ponyville friends and the crew looked upon him and saw a cold and distant creature, utterly unlike the warm and gracious host who welcomed them in his home.

“Y-you lost the th-third of your maps?” questioned Apple Bloom incredulously.

“Not lost, sold.” he said in a very matter-of-fact way, “And thank the powers for it, now some fool can go and claim that cursed treasure and die as they please. I’m done sailin’ and I’m not leaving this island.”

“You let those curs loose! If they didn’t have the map, they wouldn’t have gone to Hayseed Harbour!” shouted Apple Bloom, stomping over to Pip and glaring in his face. But Pip glared back at Apple Bloom and all courage left her as he slowly advanced towards her.

“I’ll ask nicely only once more, who told you about the Quarter-Maps?” he questioned through gritted teeth. Apple Bloom felt herself shrink in his presence, and even with Spike by her side, she still felt exposed before the pirate captain. Very attempt she made to reply came out as incoherent mutterings, yet somehow Pip understood it.

“It was him, wasn’t it?” snarled Pip, his voice rising with every breath, “He had the last of the maps with him, thinks I stole them, and who knows me better than old Captain Storm Sword? So, spies, enjoyed your last supper?!”

Apple Bloom sprang for the door, but Pip was too quick on his hooves, in a single bound he stood in her path, in a single fluid motion, Pip picked up a nearby cutlass and held it to Apple Bloom’s coat, snarling through gritted teeth. The ringing of metal sounded as the pirates raised their blades. Sweat flooded down Apple Bloom’s brow as her throat dried and constricted with terror. Spike was pinned down by Daktari, Sweetie Belle charged her horn to fire and Scootaloo raised her hooves to retaliate. Suddenly, a loud gust of wind blew all the candles out as a winged figure blocked the light from the moon and a crackling of flames sounded below.

“Someone’s burned by schooner!!” screeched Gilda angrily at the top of her voice, “I don’t know who, I don’t know why, but I’ll give them Tartarus when I get my claws on them! Wait, what’s going on here?”

The imminent fight seemed to dissipate, Pip lowered his blade and ran to the window, panic filled the streets as the flames from Gilda’s schooner went up higher into the sky, sending sparks and smoke floating along the quayside.

“This wasn’t the result of cannon fire; we’d have heard something.” said Harold in a low tone, “Perhaps magic, but to what gain?”

“I noticed some of the woodwork looked melted through, I was able to salvage a piece.” said Gilda as the sight of her burning vessel hit her hard, her rage dissipating into grief. Spike took the sample in his claws and sniffed about, detecting the familiar odour of brimstone, he gasped and held it back, then smoke billowed from his nostrils.

“It was him.” he said, his fangs bared, “The Jolly Crook is nearby.”

“Could it be true?” wondered Sweetie Belle, “There was a dragon among the pirates!”

“I wouldn’t know, but I did find this on the pier.” said Gilda, revealing a folded up note with within her feathers, and presented it to Pip, and read it aloud.

To Captain Pip, come out of your rat-hole and bring out the two Quarter-Maps to the Jolly Crook by sundown tomorrow, or watch your island paradise burn to cinders.

Yours in good faith, Messrs’ S & S

Pip crumpled up the note and looked out over the balcony towards the sinking remains of Gilda’s vessel and the town below. He took heart in this place, for he founded it and helped to raise it with his bare hooves, it was his home for a whole year and he never thought that it would be threatened. He let his sword drop the floor, and faced Apple Bloom with a look of despondence and dread, the true face of a pony grown soft from his success rather than a hardened seafarer of many a tall tale.

“I have to confess; a few months ago, a pair of Unicorns came ashore with a proposition of trade. After a game of cards, which they won, I asked them their price they declared it; one ship, the Jolly Crook, and one Quarter-Map. I deliberately led them to believe I only had one, so I preserved the island’s location from them. But that ruse has run its course.”

“These Unicorns, did you ask them their names?” asked Scootaloo,

“Course I asked them, but I didn’t care to remember!” admitted Pip tetchily.

“Whatever the matter may be, it seems you’re little gamble has not paid off. Cap’n while you’ve been drinking and wenching your guts out, the price on your head as risen!” warned Jack.

“He’s right! Ah’ve seen the posters! You’re wanted for murder and treason! Storm Sword is huntin’ for you because he believes you’re the one captaining the Crook.” added Apple Bloom, who seemed to have regained calm despite Pip’s earlier attempt at violence, looking at him now there was no violent spirit left in Pip. He looked to his guests and his crew.

“Tell me, can there be any future for a seadog who’s but a shadow of his former self and feels the daggers close in on him?”

“That’s pretty much why I’m here,” said Spike hopefully, “that could be your reason too.”

“Pip, if it’s all the same to you, yes, we were told about the maps by Storm Sword. But he’s not the one holding ponies hostage and destroying ships!” said Sweetie Belle as she bent onto her knees to look Pipsqueak eye to eye, “If you’re afraid, then think of it as an adventure!”

“Very well,” he said finally, rising to address his astonished crew, “Mares and gentlecolts, I propose an expedition to set out at the crack of dawn tomorrow! We will sail for the first time in a year after the Jolly Crook, and then we’ll rescue Babs Seed, if these four landlubbers promise not to rat me out to Storm Sword, they can come and I promise their protection and safe return. And then, just for fun, we’re gonna sail south to Tanga, Zebrica and into the unknown, I will beat them to the treasure! All those in favour say ‘aye’!”

“AYE!”

High Winds Upon the Shore

The rolling waves glistened under the swiftly setting sun, and soon Princess Luna’s moon and stars would sweep over the land like a dark cloak, shielding her little ponies. The wind from the sea blew a salty breeze inland, welcoming the sailors back home, and rocking the many moored ships where they were docked, their mighty masts swaying in the breeze like young trees. Seagulls and gannets flapped back and forth to snatch at fish and shellfish, filling the evening with their shrill squawks. Ponies played along the golden sands of the beach, while mothers and fathers ushered young colts and fillies home for supper. This briny, windswept town was Hayseed Harbour, filled with whitewashed houses with slate roofs lining the quays, and a lighthouse illuminating the night sky. Merchant stalls were closing up for the night, and the streets seemed alive with the trotting of hooves on cobbled roads. The lights of the town illuminated the dimming sky, and could be seen as far as the outlying farmlands upon the tall hills encompassing the town. In one of them, an apple orchard, members of the prolific Apple Family were finishing their chores for the day. Their timbered homestead, painted bright red and capped with a slate roof, stood on a promontory overlooking the Horseshoe Bay and the town, and all around the farmhouse the orchards stretched for acres. Among those hardy mares and stallions was a mare with a bright yellow coat, braided red mane, and a cowpony hat in place of a red bow.

Apple Bloom of Ponyville had earned her cutie mark eleven years earlier, an artist’s palette coloured like a zap-apple, after winning the Ponyville Art’s Challenge when she combined her love of carpentry with painting, utilizing the zap-apple jam for her paint. The party to celebrate her cutie mark, the last of the original Cutie Mark Crusaders to earn hers, was the happiest she had been in a long time; she’d found her place in the world. But then, duty called, her cousin Babs Seed asked her to join her in expanding the Apple Family business in other Equestrian cities. She initially refused, but then the founding trio found themselves pulled apart. After discovering their special talents and earning their cutie marks, the other former Cutie Mark Crusaders became impassioned to pursue their newly discovered endeavours. Rarity had booked Sweetie Belle singing lessons in Canterlot, and Scootaloo had left earlier for Cloudsdale with Rainbow Dash on what she described as a top secret mission. They had discovered their special talents mere days before she did, and had made plans to pursue their talents. Understandably, Apple Bloom was deeply saddened by this turn of events to the point of bitterness. It took a few days for Apple Bloom to really accept the change, and eventually realized that she could not let them pursue their dreams and keep them in Ponyville with her at the same time. All these events compounded her decision to leave home. Ever since she settled in Hayseed Harbour, she still received letters from home, signed mostly by Applejack. She even received rather laconic letters from Big Macintosh and flourishing paragraphs from Fluttershy, seeing as the elegant earth-bound Pegasus had now moved in at Sweet Apple Acres living with Big Mac. In spite of all the change, she was finally content, relishing the gentle waves and looking on, hypnotised by the swaying masts and waves throing up plumes of spray.

Apple Bloom spotted Babs Seed ambling down to road from the town, her ears downcast and her face bleak. He becalmed mood. Her tail covered her flank; a sure if involuntary sign of humiliation and discomfort, even though her cutie mark, a half apple half orange, had long since bloomed.

“Hey Babs!” Apple Bloom called out cheerfully to her cousin, who just trotted past her, weighed down by humiliation, “Why so glum? Didn’t the business pitch go well?”

“No, those lousy Fillydelphia traders ditched us for Bayside Pears Incorporated.” moaned Babs in her thick Manehattan accent, “They made an offer Fillydelphia couldn’t refuse, a 25% discount, beating our 15%.”

Apple Bloom cast her eyes down, “Horseapples!! Oh well, they may have lost the deal with Fillydelphia, but they can’t budge us! No Apple ever got anywhere by being told to shove off!!” she said determinedly, looking up at the farmhouse, that she herself aided in constructing and painting. Babs smiled a little at her cousin’s bizarrely contrary expression, but still didn’t fully perk up.

“I’ll admit there’s no abandoning this place any time soon. But it’ll be a rough winter, and...” Babs trailed off, as though trying to hold off from telling Apple Bloom something unpleasant. A cold chill ran down both their spines as Babs plodded away from Apple Bloom, hoping to dispel the tension.

“Babs, what’s wrong?” asked Apple Bloom, concern growing across her face, “Babs!” she said more forcefully. Babs Seed turned about and looked up at her cousin with a look of confession.

“AB, remember a few nights ago when I didn’t come home till after you’d turned in?” she started uneasily, Apple Bloom nodded, “Well, I got caught up in a game of Liar’s Hoof at the Rusty Plough tavern, down by the south side. I was caught off-guard when they began taunting me and started talkin’ crazy with these rough lookin’ sailors, and then things went south when I wagered two thirds of my life’s savings on the next hoof, and…” she paused again as Apple Bloom’s look of realization hardened into anger, “I lost the bet.”

Apple Bloom stared at her first, and then cast her head down in despair, sighing heavily and furrowing her brows in growing anger. Now it was her turn to trot away from her cousin.

“Please, coz,” said Babs meekly, catching up to her, “I was gonna tell you tonight, if the sale went well I thought it wouldn’t matter, I never meant to let things get outta hand.”

“Babs Seed, what am Ah goin’ to do with you?!” cried Apple Bloom hoarsely, tears glistening in her eyes. “Ah understand it ain’t easy, shiftin’ from town to town, meetin’ and workin’ with other ponies we never met before, but why d’you have to blow our hard-earned bits? And why d’you have to go to the shady part of town?”

“I thought I could win some bits to support the farm, AB, I thought we’d be able to afford some new equipment and make things easier out here.” said Babs earnestly, her voice cracking with each breath, “Our Apple Family business trip was my plan to begin with, but everywhere we go I just keep fouling up, and you’re the one getting us out of trouble. I feel so guilty. And now I’m nearly broke.”

While Apple Bloom was more disappointed than tearful, Babs’ sobbing flowed freely. The sight of her miserable cousin melted the coldness in Apple Blooms heart, and she took her the crying Babs in a tight embrace, wiping away her tears.

“There there, Babs. Don’t cry.” reassured Apple Bloom, nuzzling Babs, “Every community we visited has flourished thanks to us and our travellin’ cousins. What does money matter while we still have family and our dignity?”

“Dignity ain’t gonna put food on the table or pay for the farm, coz.” said Babs, still morose.

“No matter what comes, we will face the weather, for we’re –” began Apple Bloom,

“Apples to the core.” Babs and Apple Bloom chorused together, causing them to crack into smiles, Apple Bloom even laughed a little. “That’s more like it, coz; smile! Why don’t we put this mess behind us and head down to the Sea Turtle for a couple of pints?”

“AB, I was thinking the same thing myself,” said Babs buoyantly, remembering an encounter she had earlier today with a couple of familiar faces; “Let me grab some bits.”

“No need, coz, the drinks are on me tonight!” quipped Apple Bloom,

Babs winced a little, the last thing she wanted now was to be more in debt to her saint of a cousin, and it stung her. But she put on a mask of a smile, and it seemed to put Apple Bloom at ease. By the time they’d left the orchards, the stars lit up their way into the outskirts of Hayseed Harbour. The seaborne winds continued to rise.

*******************

Ponies trotted through the streets of Hayseed Harbour in company and gaiety, or neither as sometimes the case with some shady characters, lamps dangled from their high posts, raising Apple Bloom’s spirits. Babs could only think on how she could get out of this jam; she’d paid them the money, but what worried her now was telling her Apple kin about the incident. The hanging sign for the Sea Turtle inn swayed in the nightly breeze, warmth emanated from the orangey glow of the lights inside, accompanied by the boisterous commotion of ponies laughing, talking aloud and shouting across the bar. The stone building was three stories tall and presided over a view of the harbour, as safe as any inn. As the two mares approached the entrance, the clamour rose, smoke wafted from the windows and a dozen or so angry shouts could be heard. Suddenly, a giant ball of purple and green somersaulted out the door, and the creature landed flat on his face.

“Next time you intent to binge drink, dragon, try not to burn the place down!” hollered Whisker, the bearded brown earth pony and proprietor of the Sea Turtle.

“Dragon?” asked Apple Bloom, surprised, turning to the unexpected creature. And true enough, there he was, Spike the Dragon, lying on his front and completely plastered. He was an early teen dragon now, a tall and lanky specimen with sharper spines, long tail, pointy ears, and a longer, pointy snout, she guessed he was about as tall as Big Macintosh at full height. When he noticed her, instead of rising, he reclined sideways and looked at Apple Bloom, rather like how Rarity reclined on her couch seductively.

“My, aren’t you looking fine, Apple Bloom?” He said softly, with an easy smile and a wink. Apple Bloom blushed and smiled awkwardly at her old Ponyville friend, while Babs was full on laughing at the dragon’s lewd expressions.

“Oh, h-hiya Spike,” she said nervously, baffled by his presence, “What brings you out in these parts?”

But Spike only swayed on his feet and hands, unable to keep balance, two familiar voices emerged from the noise of the inn.

“Well, great, Spike! You’ve completely ruined the surprise!” exclaimed a brash voice, as a young orange Pegasus mare with a purple mane emerged from the doorway, on her flank was a familiar cutie mark of a wheel under a lightning bolt, “I thought we told you to keep a low profile and wait for the right moment then spring from hiding! Last time we’re mixing dragon fire and cider.”

“It could be worse, Scoots,” said another voice, a light and lyrical one, belonging to a pure white Unicorn not to dissimilar to Rarity’s distinct voice, on her flank was the familiar mark of a treble clef enveloped in a red heart, “At least the fire was put out quickly.”

“Sweetie Belle! Scootaloo!” exclaimed Apple Bloom, brimming with joy as she bowled into her old friends, followed by eruptions of laughter from the three friends. Meanwhile, Babs stood at a distance, smiling shyly at this joyful reunion, before Sweetie Belle whisked her into the tight embrace with her magic. This was the first time the Cutie Mark Crusaders had reunited in many years.

“So good to see y’all! How’d you find us?” asked Apple Bloom, still grinning from ear to ear, forelegs around both her old friends.

“Applejack told us you were in Hayseed Harbour and Twilight gave us a map to get there. Hard to believe it was all in a day’s voyage!” said Sweetie Belle excitedly. Apple Bloom was puzzled; the eastward journey by train from Ponyville to Hayseed Harbour was about two days, five on hoof.

“It’s a long way from Ponyville, how did you make it in a full day?” asked Apple Bloom, intrigued by the possibility of such a quick journey.

“More like a day and a half, but -” began Scootaloo, only to be cut off by Spike using her to regain his balance, to which the young Pegasus glared at the unsteady dragon.

Apple Bloom then cocked an eye at the waddling dragon, “When did you become Spike’s legal guardians?” she quipped, but no one was laughing.

“The numbskull’s been like this for weeks now, it’s kind of a long and fairly sad story.” said Scootaloo, letting her smile falter as she regarded Spike.

“Nah, I’m-mmm f-fine!” stammered Spike, before letting out a massive belch of green flames nearly singeing the ponies, “jusht give me another pint and I’ll be shwimming!”

“Ah’ve never seen him act so cock-eyed and goofy!” exclaimed Apple Bloom, embarrassed.

“You mean drunk.” said Scootaloo flatly.

“Did something bad happen back home?” asked Apple Bloom uneasily, letting it sink in.

“We can explain inside, but first things first.” said Sweetie Belle as she approached Spike, who just seemed all the more miserable as the cider worked its way through his system. “Spike, would you be a dear and allow us a moment of privacy?” she asked sweetly, but Spike fell flat on his face.

“But I’m not that - hic - bad,” said Spike, his arms slipping under his weight. Sweetie Belle knelt down to his level, her eyes wide with sympathy, gentling lifting his head with her magic. She regarded him with motherly eyes, with the same grace and warmth Twilight and Celestia would regard Spike, what seemed years ago.

“We have some garnets and amethysts back at the airship for you, Spikey. Why don’t you have a bite to eat and rest up a bit? Come on, dear.” she said gently, nuzzling the dragon as he regained his balance, seemingly perked up by Sweetie Belle’s kinder tone. Apple Bloom raised an eyebrow at this ‘airship’ Sweetie mentioned and continued to regard this new Spike. This older Spike obeyed her with a sense of loyal obedience seen in dogs; his more dragonish faculties had gotten stronger and overridden his civilised pony mannerisms.

“The airship’s parked on the other side of town,” said Scootaloo, gesturing to the north end of the bay, “I don’t think he can make it back without tearing the place down. Let me take him back.”

“Allow me.” said Babs Seed, shifting Spike from Sweetie Belle to herself, “Our farm’s about half a mile outside of town, I’ll get this fella sorted out and join you later. I trust you’ll be staying for dinner? Only the finest brews from the Turtle!”

Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo nodded excitedly.

“All right, we’ll see you back at the farmhouse.” said Apple Bloom, giving Babs a quick hug before sending her cousin on her way. Spike seemed to start some semblance to intelligible speech.

“So what exactly do you do with a drunken sailor?” he asked Babs, much to his companion’s great annoyance, while Apple Bloom and her closest friends convened inside, sharing smiles between them.

Reunion at the Sea Turtle

The atmosphere of the Sea Turtle had calmed down considerably since Spike’s earlier disturbance, the amber glow of the lanterns gave the establishment a warm atmosphere, fiddles and guitars played lilting tunes and the patrons seemed altogether less irascible. New customers began flooding into the establishment; apparently the news regarding the strange dragon had encouraged more curiosity than fear. An unseasonably chilly wind had fallen over Hayseed Harbour, and the windows were bolted shut to keep in the warmth, and obscuring the view of the bay. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo had settled on a table in the warm glow of the fireplace, away from some of the rowdier customers. Having been settled for some time now, the three friends enjoyed the sumptuous meals of the Sea Turtle’s fine cooks; Apple Bloom feasted on a hearty chickpea and fennel stew, with bread and butter on the side, Sweetie Belle daintily dined on a home-grown fruit salad, while Scootalo hungrily gobbled up some corn on the cobs and hay fries. Apple Bloom sat in rapt attention to her friends’ recounting of their experiences.

“That sounds so cool!” exclaimed Apple Bloom, gazing wide eyed at her friends’ recitation of their trip to Hayseed Harbour, a mug of cider in hoof.

“I know, right!” said Scootaloo proudly, presenting Apple Bloom her silver badge of office as pilot in the Cloudsdale Airship Corps, which she wore on a red band over her chest, “After putting up with years of ponies telling me I’ll never fly, well, feast your eyes on this!”

“I’ve heard only a tiny bit about these airships over the years,” admitted Apple Bloom, having learned how her friends arrived at Hayseed Harbour in such short time, “I’d love to see this thing up close. I’m so proud of you Scoots!”

“Well, I owe it all to Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash; Twilight organised a group of ponies who designed the plans and submitted them to the Cloudsdale city council, and Rainbow Dash escorted me to Cloudsdale and coached me to hone my wings to propel me forward. She never gave up on me, she promised me I would fly and she saw it through.” A fond smile came across Scootaloo’s face in spite of the stunted nature of her wings that would never sustain her in the air.

“You should her me sing sometime, I’ve gotten so much better,” said Sweetie Belle, beaming from ear to ear, “I’d actually still be in Canterlot if it weren’t for certain ponies…” her soft voice hardened.

“Oh no, let me guess; Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon?” said Apple Bloom with dread.

“Actually just Diamond Tiara, I haven’t seen any sign of Silver Spoon.” said Sweetie Belle, “Oh, anyway, her dad got her married to some rich earth pony stallion, what was his name? Bruce Mane? Tony Spark?”

“No, I don’t think it’s Tony Spark, he’s a Pegasus.” corrected Scootaloo, somewhat defensive of this Tony Spark before breaking out into a grin, “He’s also richer, smarter, better looking…” She was on the cusp of rambling when a loud knocking grabbed her attention.

“Citizens, your attention, please!” boomed a deep voice from outside; a tall, sinewy piebald Unicorn in steel armour stood in the doorway, his white coated blotted by large black patches along his body and face, “On behalf of Princess Celestia herself, I, Commander Storm Sword of the Canterlot Royal Guard, issue a warrant of arrest for the pirate captain, Peregrin Squeak and his crew of the, the…” he paused, clearly showing great disgust in what he was about to say; “the Saucy Celestia.”

Silence fell, then the entire tavern burst into laughter, ponies rolled off their seats and held their stomachs tight. Among them were Apple Bloom’s loud guffaws, Scootaloo’s naughty snickering and Sweetie Belle’s musical giggles.

Bang!

The laughter died down with a quick gasp as smoke billowed out of the pistol held in Storm Sword’s magical aura, looking very cross indeed. His glare could make Big Macintosh more nervous than Twilight on the night before an exam or public announcement.

“This is no joke, you foals! That foul pirate mocks our princess with his japes and ship names!” bellowed Storm Sword vehemently, before taking on a more cautionary tone, “He’s also known to be armed and extremely dangerous. News has been coming in from all the coastal towns. Sea raids emerge out of nowhere, no clear pattern or objective. If anypony has information regarding his whereabouts, meet me in my office in Town Hall at any time.”

Out of a knapsack fastened to his side, he fixed a large black and white poster to the wall of the tavern and waited expectantly for somepony to own up, only to find the entire inn resume it’s talkative and musical state. His frown hardened in dismay and disappointment and he turned to leave, then something drew his ear; the distinctive accent of young Apple Bloom.

“Excuse me, sir, can we see one of those posters?” she asked hopefully over the low noise of the inn, Storm Sword amiably obliged and trotted over to Apple Bloom and her friends. He unfurled a poster with his magic and levitated it before the three young mares. They caught their breath; the stallion in the poster was nothing like their childhood friend. At the poster’s centre was a likeness of a gruff and hardened creature with bared teeth and a long, wild mane. Gold earrings covered his right ear and a large feathered tricorne hat covered him in shadow. The only thing to strike them of their old friend was the brown spot over his left eye, covered in a black eyepatch, and the familiar red bandana over his forehead. In bold print, the poster read:

WANTED:

Captain Peregrin Squeak,

Also known as ‘Pipsqueak’ or ‘Pip’

By the Griffon Kingdoms, the Equestrian Royal Guard, and the city officials of Baltimare, Manehatten and Fillydelphia

For Crimes of Piracy, Looting, Impersonation of Nobility, Fiddling with the Royal Orchestra, Raiding Vessels of the Griffon Kingdoms, TREASON, MURDER, ASSAULT on Equestrian Coastal Towns

Reward: 50,000 Equestrian Bits, Dead or Alive

“Do either of you know anything about this pony?” asked Storm Sword imperatively.

“Actually, we used to be friends.” said Apple Bloom with a look of sadness, remembering the miniscule colt bound about, brandish his little toy sword and pipe up a sea shanty in his cute little Trottingham accent. The image of the innocent colt only deepened the stark and wild character in the poster, sending a cold shiver down her spine.

“Wait a second, what’s this ‘treason’ thing about? What’s he done?” asked Scootaloo.

“For his naming of one of his pirate ships the Saucy Celestia-” said Storm Sword, only to be cut off by the giggles of the three friends, now he was very angry, “You won’t think it’s so funny when you see it in full, cannons deployed and firing at will.”

“Oh, come on! It’s just a joke, and kinda funny, too.” said Scootaloo, wiping away tears from her eyes and stifling another gale of laughter.

“No it isn’t. It’s revolting. He’s even commandeered an Equestrian Navy flagship and named it the Jolly Crook to mock us. Armed with a hundred guns and able to make sail at fifteen knots, the Jolly Crook is the prime suspect for the raids. With multiple ships under his command, he’s the terror of the waves. Have you any notion where he may be right now?”

“I don’t remember seeing him after the Nightmare Night when Princess Luna visited Ponyville, what did happen to him?” asked Scootaloo, furrowing her brow and rubbing her chin in an attempt to jog her memory. Storm Sword only sighed and put his hoof over his head, these ponies were not the leads he was looking for.

“I think he mentioned going back to Trottingham on holiday, maybe a year after the Nightmare Night of Princess Luna’s visit. We heard nothing of him since then. He looks so savage here.” said Sweetie Belle bleakly, also thinking fondly of the sprightly, charming little colt.

“It’s a terrible shame too; he used to be sporting and gallant as a colt. Years ago, he was only a nuisance; he never raised a hoof against anypony in Equestria. He was quite the swordspony, always one for banter and fair play, even when he had a skull and crossed swords on his flank.” remarked Storm Sword, seeming to regard the pirate as an old friendly rival, not unlike the athletic relationship between Rainbow Dash and Applejack, giving the three friends a sense of comfort in this stallion’s large and assuaging presence.

“You fought him? What was he like?” asked Sweetie Belle eagerly, the very idea that little Pipsqueak fulfilled his dream to become a brave sea-voyager, not to use the word pirate, made her giddy.

“My dear, he was much a gentlecolt as he was a sly and unruly rogue, but not as much a gentlecolt as I, if I say so myself, Sweetie Belle.” said Storm Sword, as suave as any well-raised stallion in Canterlot, but unlike them, his military regalia and knightly bearing gave his words credence. Sweetie Belle felt her heart skip a beat; he was indeed a handsome pony. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo exchanged simultaneously confused and frustrated glances, and Apple Bloom was immediately regretting calling him over.

“Not exactly modest, are you?” teased Sweetie Belle, batting her eyelashes once or twice, earning a smile from Storm Sword, “And how do you know my name?”

“Miss Belle, your enchanting reputation precedes you, especially to an old Canterlot soldier like me; I’m quite the fan myself.”

“W-well, I-I’d b-be glad to...” stammered Sweetie Belle, blushing mightily and keeping a silly grin from blossoming over he cheeks, “What’s it like? Fighting, I mean?”

“It’s much easier with a band of comrades at your back.” He said sombrely, keeping less pleasant memories of combat off the table, “If you ever saw me lead a ship full of stallions into battle, you’d see why modesty is not one of my virtues. And yet, I’d do no less for you.”

“Yeah, yeah, that’s nice and all,” said Scootaloo, quickly, eager to break this conversation up, less than pleasant memories of that incident with the Love Poison coming to mind, “What about Pip?”

“Ah, yes, my apologies, miss! He could have killed me when he had the chance, once, but instead he bound be in a barrel and bucked me back onto my ship after repelling the rest of my crew! He won without spilling a drop of blood!” laughed Storm Sword, his fonder tone seeped out and gave way to a grimmer bearing. “As for what happened to the little colt you fillies knew, it would seem life at sea changed him, made him hard as nails and ruthless as the sea. By now he’ll be a hardened sea-rover, who knows how many he’s killed.”

“Rumour has it that he has a whole fleet of pirate ships, moored somewhere of the coast of Zebrica, and he demands ransoms to keep him from deploying this fleet.” a patron called out from the opposite end of the bar, nursing his cider.

“You’ve heard wrong! I’ve heard from his former first mate that he’s conquered Buckswana and now rules as king!” shouted a mare from another corner of the Turtle.

“Anypony would be lucky to have left his crew alive! Word among the Griffons is that he’d never let a ship mate leave his crew alive!” cried another stallion, only to be drowned out by more patrons claiming to know the truth about the pirate. None of them knew the full truth. Another blast from his pistol silenced the whole tavern, and Storm Sword grimly addressed the whole tavern.

“Rest assured, when we catch him, not even the mercy of the Princess of the Night will save him, least of all from me. Good night.” He turned to Sweetie Belle, “Enjoy Hayseed Harbour, Miss Belle, the town is brightened by your presence. And give my warmest regards to Captain Colthurst.”

He turned gracefully to leave the tavern, and the usual clamour resumed itself. Apple Bloom breathed a sigh of relief, she could not tell if this Storm Sword was a trigger-happy soldier or a mares’ stallion or even both. Sweetie Belle was still entranced, much to Scootaloo’s dread.

“Well, he was a very nice stallion.” She said pleasantly.

“Nice?! He’s the most womanizing Royal Guard I’ve ever met!” exclaimed Scootaloo, “Back in Cloudsdale, Wonderbolts aren’t allowed to date the recruits! It’s really bad manners to be openly flirty in the Airship Corps! You think that’s bad, the penalties are worse in the Royal Guard.”

Sweetie Belle was unwilling and unable to spoil the good camaraderie of the moment by arguing over a stallion she’d just met. But it was not unpleasant to think of this gallant guardian protecting Equestria. Apple Bloom, on the other hoof, seemed lost in thought.

“Makes you wonder what this kind of life does to a pony as young as Pip,” said Apple Bloom, her eyes cast low, “He had a skull and crossbones for a cutie mark, can you imagine it? Being destined to pillage and sail until someone brings you to justice.”

“Hang on, who the hay is this Colthurst?” asked Scootaloo, suddenly more curious of this unknown stallion, fearing him to be yet another suitor for her friend.

“Oh, Captain Colthurst, he’s just an acquaintance, but he’s the one married to Diamond Tiara. He goes to a lot of parties and drags Diamond Tiara along with him, and let’s just say it got difficult. I’d rather not talk about it now.” admitted Sweetie Belle, with a tint of bitterness, in the vagueness of her memories she recalled a night of humiliation, discontent, a lot of shouting and a divided Canterlot aristocracy. The old thread regarding Diamond Tiara had put a damper on the three friends’ mood.

“Ah’m so sorry to hear about that, that spoiled snake always seems to hound us wherever we go!” shouted Apple Bloom, perhaps too vehemently as she slammed her hoof down on the table.

“Don’t let it get to you, Apple Bloom, from what I heard, Sweetie Belle’s fans were shocked and distressed to learn their favourite singer was leaving them!” said Scootaloo perkily, successfully sweeping away Apple Bloom’s ire.

“Rarity says I could charm a dragon into giving up his treasure, but I’m not sure I’d like to put that to the test!” said Sweetie Belle, still cheerful. The three friends laughed, only for Apple Bloom’s face to turn grave and serious.

“Speakin’ of dragons,” began Apple Bloom, an image of Spike waddling about the street springing to mind, “What happened to Spike to make him take to drownin’ his sorrows?”

There was a sudden silence over Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo at the mention of Spike’s name. Of the two of them, Sweetie Belle seemed the most saddened by the young dragon’s situation, almost to the point of guilt for some crime that was not truly her fault. The more she thought about the events of the past few weeks, the more Scootaloo began to regret her harsh words towards Spike.

“Four weeks ago, while I was still living in Canterlot, Rarity started dating Thunderlane, you know, the Wonderbolt?” said Sweetie Belle, to which Apple Bloom nodded in confirmation. As Sweetie Belle continued, sadness began to weigh her voice down.

“And for a time it looked pretty serious. I can’t remember if Fancy Pants was already married or too old, but either way, Rarity saw much less of him. Spike was assisting Twilight in Canterlot when he bumped into Rarity and Thunderlane out on a date.

“At first, when I spoke to him, he seemed to be coping. But later that night, Rarity hosted a party for the Wonderbolts at her penthouse at the Castle, along with Twilight and friends. Spike was just sitting on the ledge, watching like a gargoyle, just digesting what he saw and not moving. It must have been an accident or bad luck, but the ledge where he sat just collapsed at he came crashing into the party. Rarity was furious; he had embarrassed her in front of her guests, Spike got defensive and angry as well, then they started insulting each other. Rarity angrily stormed away, tears in her eyes. Everyone was really angry at Spike, especially Twilight. He resigned his position as Twilight’s assistant and has been alone ever since.”

A couple of tears streaked down Sweetie Belle’s cheek, the thought of Spike heartbroken and angry made her unhappy as well. She wondered if she should have been there to assuage his pain when he needed a shoulder to cry on, then the debacle at the party wouldn’t have happened.

“Sweetie Belle’s been taking good care of him, and Fluttershy, Applejack and Pinkie Pie still visited him, but the guy is just broken. Rarity’s still mad at him, Rainbow was embarrassed by his antics and Twilight…” said Scootaloo gravely; Apple Bloom’s heart skipped a beat – Spike once told her of his greatest fear; “I don’t think she cares what happens to him anymore.”

“So he followed you girls to try and start over again out here?” asked Apple Bloom, to which the other two nodded, and it all made complete sense to her.

“In the years between us gaining our cutie marks and meeting you here, he’s been a really supportive friend.” admitted Scootaloo, rubbing her foreleg with her hoof, “It’s gonna take something crazy to shake him out of this.”

Before anypony could say anything, a low sound penetrated the din of the Sea Turtle; a low resounding BOOM. At first, the inn’s atmosphere remained laid-back and filled with noise. BOOM. Silence began to fall; the air seemed thick with fear. Apple Bloom glanced towards the boarded windows, smoke began to seep inside the Sea Turtle, thick black smoke from a distant source.

“Strange, nopony said anything about a storm tonight,” said Apple Bloom nervously, distinctly recalling the starry skies overhead as they came into town.

“That doesn’t sound like thunder to me.” murmured Sweetie Belle, “We should -”

“CANNON FIRE!!”

A high pitch whistling drowned out Scootaloo’s yelling voice. She jumped out of her seat, grabbed the two other mares and held them low. A mighty deafening blast rushed over them and all three ponies were knocked to the ground, debris shot through the air, their ears rang sharply as they tried to recover from the deafening blast. From the outside, the terrified cries of ponies amounted as the cannons continued to fire. The high winds had brought pirates to their shores.