Pirates of Equestria

4: Recruits

Shining Armor stands amidst the apple orchard of Sweet Apple Acres in Ponyville. It is a wonderful site, one that the prince has yet to be able to see. Close by is Big Macintosh, bucking away at apple trees. Shining keeps his distance for now, hoping to talk to Big Mac in secret. The rest of the Apple family is nowhere to be seen and the other Royal Guards are still at the outpost while the prince gathers aid. The only two around are Shining Armor and Big Macintosh.

Big Mac walks over to the area where Shining is hiding and gives a nearby tree an almost bored kick, knocking all the apples off into the baskets below.

“As strong as ever my old friend,” Shining says as he walks out from behind a tree.

“Eeyup,” the work horse replies. “It’s good ta see you again Shinin’ Armor.”

“And you as well. Tell me, is the rest of the family out?”

Big Mac gathers up the baskets of apples onto a cart as he answers. “Eeyup. Granny is in the house takin’ a nap. Applejack is with her friends on a break. And Applebloom is at school. Why the secrecy?”

“Still as perceptive as before.” Shining helps Big Mac gather apples as they talk.

“Do you remember Sky Runner?” Shining asks.

“Eeyup. What about him?”

“Well he has been accused of attempting to assassinate Princess Celestia and is now on the run.”

“Nope, not Sky Runner. He is far too loyal for that and would never do such a thing.”

“That is what I thought. So I plan to find him and find out if it is true. If he is not responsible then I will help clear his name.”

“So where do I fit in in all this?” The work horse stops, almost demanding an answer.

“I need your help in finding him and possibly bringing him down if it is true that he did attempt to assassinate the princess.”

Big Mac sighs, leaving a long pause before answering. He turns to the cart of apples, his demeanor changed. “I can’t help ya.”

“But Mac, I need you. What about everything we’ve been through?”

“All in the past!” Big Mac answers, nearly cutting off Shining. He hangs his head before continuing. “I know what we’ve been through. It was great for a while. But after that night...”

His voice trails off. He winces slightly at the memories that flooded his mind. “I don’t want ta go through any more loss. I don’t ever want ta see ‘that’ happen again.”

Shining goes to comfort his friend. “What happened then was not your fault. Plus, if you don’t help me, it could very well happen again. So please, I need your help. I don’t want anything like that to happen again either.”

The work horse hefts another basket onto the cart. “Sorry. But I’m a farmer now.”

“But-”

“I said no!” Big Mac cuts of Shining’s plea, slamming his hoof into the ground. “I’m really sorry, but I can’t. I don’t want to be reminded any more than I already am.”

Shining turns to leave his old friend in peace. “I understand.”

As Shining Armor begins to leave a nearby voices causes him to stop. “I’ll help ya.” Both he and Big Mac turn to see the Apple’s cousin Braeburn step out. The two old friends are shocked that some pony else was around. Big Mac puts a hoof to his face.

“I can’t believe I forgot about Braeburn’s visit.”

The prince starts to respond but Braeburn interrupts. “I overheard the whole thing about an assassin and such, and, well, I want to help. Any friend of my cousin is a friend of mine.”

Shining goes over to the settler pony. “Look, I appreciate the help but this is beyond you.”

“But-” Braeburn starts but is interrupted by his cousin.

“But nothin’ Braeburn. This ain’t your problem and is far too dangerous for you.”

Shining watches the younger Apple start to cower before his cousin. Though harsh, Big Mac knew full well what Sky Runner was capable of and is only trying to keep the settler pony safe. If Sky truly was responsible for the assassination attempt, then he would likely deal with any pony that got in his way in the same manner as the guards he had already killed. Braeburn wouldn’t stand a chance against Sky if it came to a fight.

Despite the lack of approval, Braeburn stood his ground. “I am gonna help. This is something that has a huge impact and if you won’t help then I will.”

Big Mac readies to respond but the settler pony continues his argument. “I know how to track and I know how to fight if it comes to it.”

“Do you even know what you’d be going up against?” the work horse demands.

“What does it matter? It’s gonna be dangerous anyways, right?”

“You don’t even know anything about Sky Runner.”

“He was a friend of yours and now we need to either help him or stop him. I know enough Big Macintosh. I’m gonna help and that’s that.”

While Big Mac fumes, Shining can’t help but admire Braeburn’s courage, and his foolishness. Although he is brave, he has little idea what he was getting himself into. But he does want to help, even if it means putting his own life at risk.

“Fine.”

“What?!” Big Mac shouts, almost attacking Shining.

“He’s made up his mind and it’s obvious that nothing we say or do will change that.”

The work horse hangs his head. “Alright.” He looks up at his cousin. “But you listen to everything that Shinin’ Armor says and do what he says without question. Ya understand?”

“Right. I won’t let ya down.”

“If you see Sky Runner let me deal with him. Stay away from him.”

“No problem Prince Sir.”

“Are you sure you won’t reconsider Big Mac? The kid is just going to get in the way.”

Shining looks to the sky for the source of the new voice. Despite another surprise visitor, this one is a welcome sight. “He’s not much younger than you Soarin.”

The Wonderbolt flutters down flanked by two other Wonderbolts. “So? He’ll still get in the way.”

“So tell me,” Shining asks, “what brings you here?”

“I heard about what happened to the princess. Spitfire started to organize the Wonderbolts to lend aid in loyalty to the crown and all, but when I heard you were leading the expedition I volunteered to go in her place.”

“And I accept your aid.”

Hearing this, Braeburn became frustrated. “How come you accept him so readily and not me?”

“Because,” the pegasus says, “we were all friends once.”

The settler pony relaxes, realizing that he was meeting another friend of Big Mac’s. Soarin looks around at Shining and Big Mac.

“It’s almost like we’re getting the old group back together.”

The prince hangs his head. “Except that Sky is now our target and then there’s…” His voice trails off as he recalls the final two friends, now long gone.

The prince raises his head, determined not to let the past haunt the present. “Now that we have our unit formed we can begin searching for Sky Runner and find out the truth behind his actions.”

Hidden behind his bold determination, however, doubt holds a firm grip. He still doesn't know what he is going to do when he actually finds Sky Runner. His biggest fear is that his old friend is truly responsible for the actions against Celestia. Only Big Macintosh sees through the façade of Shining Armor’s bold statement. A gut feeling overcomes the work horse that when he sees these ponies again, nothing will be the same.