A New Voyage

In the highest tower of Canterlot Castle, Princess Luna of the royal sisters, sat in her personal library, enthralled by the contents of a grey spooky looking book.

"My my.. Enthralled, bringing out the BIG FANCY literary nonsense eh? Certainly too much for anyone who holds an interest in anything you write to understand" Spoke a voice from nowhere in particular that had best keep its mouth shut if it wishes to have a future role in this story, as I do not take well to taunts.

"I got it, I got it.. YEESH"

Good, then do your role.

"Right right, AHEM. PRINCESS LU-"

"What is it Discord?" Spoke the ethereal maned royal. "And who is your friend?"

"SHE'S ON TO US! RUN FOR IT!" The spirit of chaos shrieked as he attempted to flee, only to be barred by a wall of clear blue magic.

"Otherworldly voice's aside, I assume you had something important to discuss when you decided to interrupt my reading. You know I do not like being disturbed over nonsensical things" She said with a glare.

Discord, having been running continuously into the wall to no avail, stopped and met the princess's gaze "Ah well I was.. eh.. LINE!"

The book, you dolt.

"AH YES! I noticed you were ENTHRALLED with the contents of that book, and decided to ask what you find so ENTHRALLING about it?" He said in earnest which doesn't change the fact that I'm writing him out of future chapters.

Despite knowing him to be a nuisance, the princess was eager to talk about her latest literary escapade "Ah, well as you know-"

"cough, which means, I'm going to be speaking to the audience for the next few minutes cough cough" Interrupted Discord, whose character had suddenly been replaced with a nameless royal guard for this scene.

"Oh you're no fun! I'm going home" Said the spirit as he left from wherever I sent him.

Silence filled the library for a few moments before the aforementioned royal guard spoke up. "Uh.. Anyway, what were you saying Princess?"

"Hm? Oh yes, well as I was saying, being the Princess of the Night, I've developed a sort of interest for things of a darker nature." She said levitating the book for the guard to see "This particular tome, is on the subject of spirits, ghosts and the sort."

"Ghosts, your majesty?" The guard asked after looking over the book a few times.

"Yes ghosts" Said the royal waving her hooves in an attempt to appear spooky "According to this book, ghosts can be classified into two categories, 'vengeful phantoms', and 'lingering spirits'" The guards blank stare beckoned her to continue

"Well you see, vengeful phantoms are found when a given individual dies in a manner they find less than preferable. This lead to their spirit becoming indignant and in some cases, they manage to return to this plane of existence, with a burning desire to avenge themselves in any way possible." She brought her book back and opened it back to where she was previously.

"Hm, I see.." He lied, wishing to hurry this conversation that he wasn't sure how he got involved in without being rude "... And, what about the.. uh OTHER type your majesty?"

"Lingering spirits? Well you see, should a pony die and feel they've failed in horrendously one way or another in life, the powers that be may find it acceptable to.. give them a second chance as it were" She explained with a roll of her hoof.

"Ah, I.. see"  He responded awkwardly.

"No you don't, you need not lie" She said with a smile. "Never the less, thank you for listening, I do enjoy being able to share my interests with others. You are dismissed" The guard bowed and began making his way to the door, which flung open and smashed him in to the wall, another higher ranking guard standing in the opening.

"Your majesty! Princess Celestia requested I inform you that she is preparing to depart for Ponyville" He announced with a salute.

"Hm? Whatever for?" Asked the princess as she approached the guard

"Her prodigy, Princess Twilight Sparkle recently turned in some troubling reports regarding an unnatural series of earthquakes in the area." He said standing at ease "Though the report indicated she had already requested the civilians remain in doors, your sister wished to investigate personally. She and her personal guard have already departed via chariot"

"Ah, and I'm sure it had nothing at all to do with the fact that day court was about to begin, how very convenient for her..." Luna said to herself "I suppose she also asked that I take her place in the court for today?"

The guard saluted "You are correct your highness"

"Well then let us be off" she said making her was through the door, followed not far behind by the guard. The doors magically shut behind them, allowing the previous nameless guard to fall from the indentation he had formed.

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

High above the streets of Ponyville, a certain azure pegasus was currently doing stretches in preparation for her aerial assault.

"HAHAHA I LOVE Plan E! Hope you've said a prayer or two, cause here." Rainbow Dash took a stance "I-" Before she could finish her spiel, the rainbow maned speedster's ears were suddenly filled with the overwhelming sound of honking.

"ow.. What?" Rubbing her ears, she was now face to face with a very, VERY perturbed flock of geese. A particularly indignant, and old looking one flew up right in front of her.

"Honk hak ha hak HONK!" the thing bellowed.

"Buh.. HEY hold on a second! Your buddies started it! I was just minding my own business, when BAM! They ran right into me! They got the whooping they deserved!" Rainbow Dash spat out crossing her forehooves

"HAK honk ha ho ho HONK!" It screeched and flailed it wings, causing Dash to recoil.

"Uh.. Assault charges???.. Hey hey now.. There's no reason to get the authorities involved in this." She said nervously, floating back away.

Before she could get far however, she was barred by two exceptionally large geese in police uniforms. The two each wrapped one wing around her given wings and, not even reacting to her struggling, flew off with her in a way many would argue to be impossible. The rest of the flock followed.

"HEY hold on! I have to.. I.. but Plan E!!!" she sighed. "I get one phone call right?"

Down on the street's below, the small group of worker ponies were continuously crowding Whitebeard, attempting to ask him all manner of questions such as "how much can you bench" and "can you spot me?". The only answer they received was a violent shove, not enough to injure but enough to get the point of "screw off" across. After muttering a few obscenities his way, they returned to their work allowing Newgate to leave.

"Noisy brats wasting my time, at least they know when to call it quits. I guess that blue punk is unique here.." He said to himself as he continued down the road.

Though it was a very clean looking town, the presence of a few piles of debris, and the group of what appeared to be clean up workers told him that this town had recently endured some damage.

'Hm.. I guess I did that. Ah well, when you live next to a demon infested forest in hell, you'd better expect a few disasters now and again.. Mm, I don't think this is the best place for me to hold out in.. If it's close enough that those light attacks reached it, its too close for my taste' he thought to himself.

As he walked he noticed signs depicting various things such as fruits, vegetables, books and clothes, as well a few empty stalls here and there. From what he could gather, he had found the shopping district of this little village. Though it was vacant now, he decided to search it over.

"Gurararara, with any luck, I might be able to find something to wear, maybe even some actual booze." He mused.

He lifted a few carts here and there to see if any merchants had left anything behind or under them, and more than a couple found themselves falling and breaking afterwards, as he still wasn't completely used to not having hands. How a society could function like this was beyond him, but placing such thoughts in the back of his head, he continued his search.

"Geh, all the sales folk I know of wouldn't let something like a few earthquakes scare them off.. hell, they'd take it as an opportunity to get into the emergency supply business." He grumbled, quickly becoming frustrated. It was then that he something truly bizarre. A large circular building, which could pass for a circus tent. Obviously whoever lived here had a peculiar sense of taste he thought as he approached.

"MY WORD!" An obviously feminine voice echoed from above.

Looking up, he caught sight of a white furred pony with a purple mane done up in a odd curly style, looking down on him with awe. "You are a large one, aren't you?" She said.

"Compared to you I suppose" He replied. If she lived in this area, maybe she was a merchant, and maybe just maybe, she'd be able to help him find the items he had in mind.

"Hohoh yes I suppose so. Hm tell me, what brings somepony such as yourself to Ponyville?" She questioned.

"Clothes and booze" He said plainly

"Hm.. While I'm not sure I could help much with the latter, in regards to the former, you've certainly come to the right place my dear sir." She said with a wide grin "In fact, I was just about to ask if you'd object to letting me create something for you to wear. I've never had a customer your size, and simply couldn't let such an opportunity pass me by"

He smiled back "Well since you're offering.. I'll have you know though, I'm a bit short on money.."

"Oh no trouble at all, really! I'll consider the rare chance of making something for Ponyville's first giant gentlecolt to be payment enough" She smiled sincerely

"Heh, how generous of you... a bit too generous though, but I won't complain. Say whats your name?" He asked

"I am Rarity, Ponyville's resident fashonista, owner of the carousel boutique and expert in all things FABULOUS" She declared.

"Heh, I am Whitebeard, though Newgate will work as well" he replied.

"Well then Mr.Whitebeard, it's a pleasure to work with you." She said with a slight bow "Here, my front door might be a bit uncomfortable for one of your size to fit through, so if you'd please make your way around the back. There's a larger entrance for large shipments of fabrics and other materials. I'll go unlock it for you" And with that, she disappeared inside.

"Heh, bout time I got some respect" He chuckled, making his way around the building.

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

Inside the boutique was all manner of material perfect for clothes making. Fabrics, fine silks, buttons, you name it. Though some of it was still laying about, no doubt from the quakes, the fact that nothing seemed too far out of place, made it easy to tell the owner of this establishment had a knack for up keep.

"Now then, lets see about your measurement's" Rarity said levitating a measuring tape. As she approached Newgate however, she examined him, then the tape, then him again, before levitating several more measuring instruments to her side.

'Must have been a devil fruit user in life.. now that I think about it, that blue brat from before was flying wasn't she..' Newgate thought to himself, as the young dress maker began taking his measurements.

"So tell me Mr.Whitebeard.." She said as she worked "Where do you come from? I've not heard of anypony your size in Equestria before."

'Equestria.. heh, do they name hell's territories then?' He thought "The sea would the place I called home."

"Oooh you're a sailor then?" A slight nod was the answer she received. She smiled as she continued her work "Oh it must have been lovely, traveling about, seeing the world.. Did you have your own ship?"

"Ah.. I did. The Moby Dick..." Memories of seeing his own ship blown apart and burned before his very eyes flooded his mind "It's gone now though" He said sadly.

"Oh I see.. I'm sorry to hear that. It must have been hard, I've heard captains see their ship as if it were a member of their crew.."

"That's right. She carried us through many a storm and battle... and in the end I let her down" He said quietly. A small white hoof came up to his shoulder. He turned and was greeted with an sympathetic smile.

"You really mustn't blame yourself Captain. I may have never sailed myself, but I know clothing better than any pony, and though inevitably when a dress or suit has reached the end of its life, what truly matters is not how it met its end, but whether or not it spent its life by making its owner look fabulous!" She thought for a moment "I suppose in a ships case what would matter is whether or not it carried you across the sea to the end of its days right?" Silence filled the room.

"Yeah, I guess that's true.." He chuckled. Rarity smiled in response.

"... IDEA~!" She suddenly blurted out.

"Hm? What are you talking about" He asked

"You used to be a sailor, a CAPTAIN right? Well, I've thought of something that I think you'll absolutely love!" She proclaimed clapping her front hooves together. She quickly finished her measuring, before rushing to some back room. Within moments the sound of cutting and stitching could be heard.

Newgate simply sat down, and lost himself in thoughts about the past... That was before the feeling of something approaching caught his attention. He turned and

"HI!!" his vision was suddenly filled with pink. Stepping back, he found that the source of this was another pony, completely pink from her mane to her fur. "My names Pinkie Pie, and I've been looking for you all day!"

"Where did you.." He started only for a gasp from the other side of the room to interrupt him.

"Pinkie Pie? Honestly, I know how you are with meeting new ponies, but please don't harass my customers." She requested making her way over to the two.

"I wasn't harassing him! I was saying hello!" she defended "Hi!" She waved to Newgate who only stared in response.

"No offense dear but at times with you.. It can be hard to tell." Rarity said.

"Well either way, you know its my duty as Ponyville's number one super duper party planner to throw Mr.Giant here a 'Welcome to Ponyville party'!!"

"Yes yes I know, but I'm sure Captain Whitebeard here being an older gentlecolt has more important-"

"Party eh? Will there be booze?" He interrupted.

"Yepper!" The pink mare said with a smile.

"Heh then I'm in" He said with a wide smile.

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

Sensing power is.. hard to explain.

In fact, explaining it to those who are unable to do so, would be like describing sight to the blind. What can be described however, is that some creatures are naturally more sensitive to things like, magical or physical might in others. Ponies are, more often than not, able to get a general feel for such things. Though a more accurate name for this is "instinct". Like a gazelle feels the threat of being stalked by a lion, similarly, ponies can tell when something truly dangerous and truly powerful is nearby, even if it means no harm.

It would be peculiar therefore, to have a creature as strong as Edward Newgate be able to walk about as he pleased and even meeting a few of locals, with out generating a reaction from the entire populace of such a close knit town. This however, can be explained.

If, for instance, a dragon was on a rampage in your city while you were present, you would easily be able to tell being near it is a fatal mistake. At the same time if you were to look in the exact direction a dragon was rampaging, from several dozen kilometers away, even if the creature was aware of your presence and was planning to attack you next, you wouldn't feel threatened.

For the gap between you and the beast is far too great, that you could not even perceive the imminent threat. The same can be said for sensing power, if the gap in strength is too great, nothing will be felt.

Due to being more physically powerful than most, Applejack and Rainbow Dash were able to feel out the threat of Newgate even if only slightly. In a general sense however, most ponies are unable to perceive just how close to death they really are with Newgate nearby. Compare how Discord is able to wander as he pleases lately, and not send the entire land into a frenzy. Though he is far more powerful, a mixture of restraint on his part, and the presence of this gap keeps the world in a state of peaceful ignorance. This is also the reason why the creatures of the Everfree repeatedly attacked Newgate, despite the clear difference in strength, they felt no threat from preying on him.

As an alicorn with supernatural senses and being powerful in her own right as Celestia is, however, that gap, that place's Newgate far beyond any other beings sight.. is more like a mere stones throws worth of distance. Especially now that she is only at the half way point between her home in Canterlot and Ponyville.

Needless to say, if her personal guard knew this, just how great a threat Ponyville and possibly even Equestria as a whole might be facing, they would not currently be objecting to her sudden leap from her chariot and blindingly fast flight towards the unsuspecting town.