A New Voyage

'Damn. This girl's pretty fast' thought Newgate as he surveyed the scene before him.

The level of detail that was put into the festive event couldn't possibly have been done in the time he watched it happen. The very second he agreed, he found himself surprisingly, practically being dragged to some little shop in the town. It seemed like some kind of sweet's shop from what he could tell.

Again there didn't seem to be too many folks about, nor did it seem like it was prepared for any sort of party. That was until the little pink pony suddenly burst through the building's front door, despite the fact Newgate was certain she was standing next to him, a tall stack of boxes over flowing with nonsense upon her back.

"I've been saving all of this stuff all day!" She said giddily, and with that she was off.

Even Newgate's eyes could barely follow her movements, she didn't even appear to be stopping, rather it looked to him like she was simply running to and fro allowing the contents of her boxes to drop everywhere. Yet some how this worked, as in a time almost too short to be called a heartbeat, the dull lifeless area had transformed into a huge event. Table's lined with food, and drinks, balloons, streamers,  all in abundance. Yet as he looked over everything, he could tell something was off.

"Oi, where's the-" he was cut off by a pink hoof suddenly appearing before him presenting a bottle perfect for one his size. The scent eagerly betrayed its contents. The old pirate grinned wider then he had his entire time since coming to this place. He didn't even bother to ask how she was holding the thing, he simply grabbed it with his teeth similar to how he managed before, and drank up.

"Now all's I gotta do is invite everypony! I'll be back!" and with that the pink mare was gone, leaving Whitebeard alone, not that he noticed. Rarity had stayed behind to finish her project which she claimed she would present to him by day's end. He let out a satisfied sigh as he set the still filled bottle back down.

"Gurararara, to hell with the forest and demons, if that kid's got more of these to share, I'll gladly endure living this close," He sat down where he was and, closing his eyes, allowed a feeling of contentment to wash over him. This may have been the most relaxed he's been since coming here.. not that anything that challenged him thus far asked much of him, but still.

A sudden rush of power from some unknown source, followed by the sound of a light impact nearby told him that may change soon.

"Then again.." He said as he opened his eyes and looked towards the interloper "If there's more folks like you running around, I supposed I'd have to go without anyway,"

The two locked eyes, allowing a grim silence to fill the air. She was almost as tall as he was, if a great deal thinner, and beyond daintier; all of which hid away some serious strength from what he could tell.

Princess Celestia of the Royal Sisters, and Whitebeard the Pirate Emperor. Neither moved an inch, for neither wished to be the one to instigate a fight, as a clash between these two would be troublesome for either party. For Celestia, she had her ponies to worry about, and for Newgate, while he had considerably less to lose, it was more about being bothered as he wasn't interested in meaningless fights.

Then again.. beating respect into some brat's skull was a pretty decent reason in his eyes.

'Good, he's right where I told them to meet me,' She thought.

"Who the hell are you," He suddenly demanded

"Princess Celestia of Equestria. I would have a word with you," She responded after a moment.

"Gurarara, is that so? Did you bring any good booze?" He said with a wry grin

"No," Her eyes never left his.

"Then piss off," He said narrowing his gaze. A tremor just small enough to shake the tables and their contents, and certainly enough to dissuade those of weak constitution, was felt through the area. "Its been a long day, I'm not in the mood for upstart nobles,"

"A fight is not my reason for coming here." She declared, not even slightly harassed by the show of force. "I need to know that you are not a threat to my little ponies,"

"Ah? Well... I've had a conversation like this already, but I don't mind repeating myself.. So long as they don't start anything, neither will I. That goes for you too, Princess," He said placing emphasis on her title.

"I see," Her demeanor not lessening "And should somepony offend you, what of those who have not part in it?"

His own expression held strong "Hmph, it's not my problem if some idiot gets caught up in-"

"I assure you, it WILL be your problem," She said having suddenly cleared the distance between them, her expression visibly fiercer. Such an expression would have forced any normal pony to relent.

Whitebeard is no pony.

He grimaced, as if she had told a terrible joke and expected him to laugh, and leaned back, clearly to relax rather then out of shock or surprise.

"Bah, what do you think you're scary or something? A kid like you?" he huffed and leaned down to meet her gaze dead on "Don't make me laugh. Just because you're a bit bigger and stronger than the rest of the brats I've seen, you think you can hold a candle to me? You're a hundred years too early, little girl," Meeting his gaze while he's annoyed on its own would cause any normal man to faint outright.

Princess Celestia is no man.

"I am no court jester, nor am I a foal. I am this lands ruler. I will not be intimidated, nor bullied." she pushed forward, nearly touching snouts with him "And I will not allow you to harm my ponies," The silence that followed, which lasted longer than either of them realized, would overwhelm any mere pony or man present, though there is nothing mere about either of these two.

Of course the same could be argued about the one who suddenly burst in between them.

"HIYA PRINCESS!! I heard you'd be here! Great to see you! Have you met Mr.Whitebeard?" Pinkie Pie burst in. The two of them looked past her, as if she wasn't even here.

'That's one.. I just have to hold his focus a little longer,' The Princess thought.

"Princess??" The pink pony questioned, oblivious to what was occurring. She backed away a bit and looked them both over, then noticed their locked gaze "oooh I get it.. Princess you're a bit old for him though, aren't you?"

Again, she was completely ignored. Her ears folded back and she began to ponder what to say next.

"Pinkie Pie?! Where is he?!" A country laced voice ringed out, which caused Pinkies ear's to rise again.

'Damn, finally found me, eh?' Whitebeard thought.

"Oh! HI APPLEJACK!" She said waving her friend over, who upon seeing Whitebeard and the Princess glaring at each other seemed to loose a few shades of color.

"Princess Celestia?" Another voice called out.

"Twilight!" Pinkie shouted back.

"Twilight!" Celestia called out looking towards her student.

"Who's this now?" Whitebeard said noticing the attention drawing new arrival.

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

Shortly before...

"Spike? Have any more letters come through?!" Twilight shouted as she gathered the Elements of Harmony.

"No, just the one you read," A young draconian voice responded "What do you thinks going on?"

"I don't know, all Princess Celestia wrote was 'gather the elements and meet me at Sugar Cube Corner' " She quoted as she made for the door "Whats more her penmanship was off.. as if she was in a hurry when she wrote it! Something must be really wrong.. I hope Discord isn't acting up," She made her way through the door, followed not far behind by her dragon assistant.

"Alright, you know what you're to do, right?" She asked eager to head out.

"Go to Fluttershy, tell her to find Rainbow Dash and have them head to Sugar Cube Corner. Tell the same to Applejack and Pinkie if I see them," He said with a salute.

"That's right. Pinkie's probably already at Sugarcube Corner, but I haven't seen Applejack in a little while.. Oh, right I'd better stop and get Rarity on my way," She said as she turned to leave.

Hearing that name caught the young dragon's attention immediately "OH uh, I could go find her for you, you know. Don't worry about it," he said with a hopeful smile.

"Sorry Spike, but I need you to focus on finding Fluttershy. She lives the farthest away," She said sympathetically, placing a hoof on his shoulder.

"Oh.. yeah, I get it," He sighed dejectedly.

"Great. See you soon!" After a brief hug, they both began their hurried gait towards their given destination. Twilight, after a few minute of walking, however found herself stopped just short of the Carousel Boutique.

"HI TWILIGHT!" Her pink friend said suddenly popping up in front of her

"GAH.. oh Pinkie, hello. Sorry, I'd love to stay talk, but I have to hurry and find Rarity. Look, just head to Sugar Cube Corner. Princess Celestia's there an-"

She was interrupted by a drawn out gasp "Princess Celestia came to the party?! WOWIE WOW! Mr.Whitebeard must be really popular! I already found and invited Applejack, but what about Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy??" She said as she began bouncing with excitement.

"Oh I sent Spike to collect them.. wait, party? Whitebeard? What are you-"

"AWESOME! Alright see you there!" She then vanished as quickly as she came.

"Wait Pinkie!.. ugh.. well at least she and Applejack will be there.. Alright, on to Rarity's,"

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

In the present...

"Twilight dear? Where did you.. oh there you are," Rarity said trudging up along side Twilight. "Now.. what was this about.. Oh! Princess Celestia!" She quickly bowed. "An.. And Captain Whitebeard? What's going on?"

"Twilight! Where are the others?" Celestia asked turning away from Whitebeard, who had taken an interest in the new arrivals.

"I sent Spike to find them.. Princess.. who is that?" She said motioning towards the large pony behind her who appeared to simply be observing at the moment.

"He.. He's uh.. Ahem.. He's Mr.Newgate.. an' last I recall, he said he wouldn't be causin' no trouble.." Applejack said nervously looking up at Whitebeard.

"And I wouldn't have, had this bitch not decided to act up" Whitebeard said with a snort "To be honest, she reminds me of that blue friend of yours. Neither of them seem know their place, and if she insists, I'll gladly give her the same treatment,"

"What is that supposed to mean," Celestia demanded rather than asked, eyeing Whitebeard for a moment, then facing Applejack.

"Uh.. well.. Ya see.." Applejack shuffled nervously, not wanting to throw wood on the fire.

" 'That blue brat got what was coming to her' is what she's trying to say, Gurarara.." Whitebeard chuckled. "Maybe next time she'll think before picking fights with her superiors,"

Something changed. Though it couldn't be seen nor heard, it could be felt. Something about the way the Princess turned to meet Whitebeard's eyes was off. Twilight and her friends, even those who didn't have a full grasp of what was happening with this old stallion, knew it.

"Twilight listen to me. You need to leave here. Find and regroup with the other Elements before finding me again." Celestia called out.

"P-princess?" Twilight spoke trying to get a better understanding of things.

"Don't ask questions just do as I say! NOW!" She called out again this time with considerably more authority.

"uh.. Alright, come on girls lets-"

Whitebeard was having none of this. An intense stare in the girls direction caused something to flow forth, right through Celestia. Before any of them had a chance to register it, they were all unconscious. The only ones standing, a over sized old pony, and a Princess trying her best to contain her emotions.

"What have you done," She said quietly as she observed her student and friends lying on the ground.

"Hmph, I didn't like the way you spoke to her. It sounded like you might have been planning something." He grinned and stood up, almost like he was taking some sort of stance "As if I'd just let you do as you please against me,"

Celestia did not face him. She remained quiet for a few moments, and Whitebeard could swear she was glowing.

"I issued you a warning. I would not allow harm to come to my ponies, by your hoof, or any others," She said softly at last.

"Gurararara.. and I probably should have warned you to protect them properly,"

What happened next was far too fast to be fully relayed. One moment Whitebeard looked upwards and saw the Princess suddenly the air, wings flared out with an overwhelming light with a sound like thunder, and the next they were both gone. A singed ring on the ground, and residual magic in the air were all that remained.