The Eighth Sea

In a small hidden port, an older mare is surrounded by dragon-like guards. Her body, once strong, is now much weaker and battle-scarred. Her fur is dark gray, mane and tail white.

“All right, Sea Storm, you are trapped. Lord Discord has quite the price on your head.”

“Why?”

“You defied him, you fled Equus, and you saved those he wanted to destroy. But we knew you would return. And he’ll surely have you killed. And as for your treasure-”

“Hey! Back off, beasties!” comes a voice from behind.

“Eh?”

“KYAI!” One of the offending guards finds himself rammed by a young caribou. Though her antlers are short, they are very sharp.

“What’s a little viking filly doing in this port?” asks another guard. “Don’t you know your kind aren’t welcome here?”

“Nor are your kind. Name’s Nisse, by the way.”

“Your kind is still unwelcome here.”

“What about my kind?” says another hidden speaker. The guard doesn’t have time to respond before hard hooves slam into his back.

He tries to scramble to his feet, but finds a sharp blade at his neck.

“N-not you! Not the bounty hunter!”

“Not her, beastie- she’s ‘Below’. But I’m of her kinfolk. And I don’t like you very much.”

The moonlight washes over the situation, coming out from behind a cloud, revealing a small but tough palomino pinto unicorn.

“You are just a foal.”

“Maybe. Name’s Goldmoon. By the bye, my age doesn’t mean I can’t clobber you.”

“Really? A little beast like you against my scales and armor?”

“Not just her,” comes another voice. The guard doesn’t have time to react before a pair of dark hooves slam into his face and knock him out.

A silver dapple smoky black horse comes out of the shadows.

“Nice move, Night Wind,” says the unicorn.

At this point, the guards realize they are under attack and go on the defensive.

“Run, miss!” says a pale young hippogriff to Sea Storm.

“Who are you?”

“Anaba- but no time for proper introductions! You’ll find another ally soon. You will know her, trust me!”

The pony finds herself very confused, but runs off. She’s soon greeted by a young bat pony.

“Come with me, miss. I’m Noctis.I’ll take you to a safe place. You can trust me!”

“But aren’t you bat ponies vampires?”

“No. Discord spread that rumor to eliminate us- our sonic cries can disrupt his magic, so he wanted us gone!”

“I’m still not sure, but judging by those guards-”

The bat pony shoves Sea Storm through a trapdoor.

“There is a protector waiting for you below.”

“Ok.” She runs away as Noctis takes to the air.

“Evening, miss,” says someone in the shadows.

“Not a guard!”

“No, I’m no guard.”

A silver tabby griffin steps into a pool of moonlight. “I’m a friend. My name is Awinita.”

“I thought your kind ate ponies…”

“The wilder ones do, but most of us prefer fish.”

“Why are you helping me?”

“Why not? Not your fault that devil-dragon Discord took over the realm.”

“How do you know he won’t catch you for helping me?”

“Griffins are of the Free Kingdoms. He can’t break us, or the other Free Kingdoms, no matter how he tries.”

“Amazing…”

Up above, a call rings out.

“The prisoner’s escaped! Halt those malefactors! Kill them! Make them pay!”

“You will find safe ground here,” says the griffin.“Tell the others of the Free Kingdoms that Awinita sent you. You will know them when you see them.”

“Thank you-” begins Sea Storm. But the griffin is already halfway up the passage.

“Come with me,” says another voice- an armored blue dragon.

“No! You’re a guard!”

“Shh, miss, it’s all right. My name is Azurel, of the Free Kingdoms.”

“How do I know you can be trusted?”

“I swear by dragon code I am on your side.”

“I don’t kno-”

Azurel puts her forepaw around Sea Storm’s muzzle.

“I smell guards coming close. Shh…”

There’s indistinct yelling and swearing above, then the sound of retreating footsteps.

The trapdoor opens again, and the creatures helping Sea Storm come below.

“They’re gone,” says Nisse, apparently the leader.

“Why did you save me?”

“We are of the Free Kingdoms. It is our duty to help others escape the Unholy Triad’s dark reign.”

“You creatures stand against the combined might of the Changeling Empire, the Chaos Demon and his pawns, and the Dark King and his army?”

“Indeed we do.”

“You are either incredibly brave, or incredibly foolish. What if those from the Triad catch you?”

Nisse smirks. “They’ve tried. They can’t.”

“I don’t understand.”

“We have our secrets, you have yours.”

“Indeed.” Sea Storm reaches into her saddlebag, taking out a strange map and handing it to the caribou. “But I’m keeping this secret no longer.”

“It’s a map,” says Nisse, perplexed.

“Yes, but not just any map. It leads to the legendary Treasure of the Eighth Sea, at the Heart of the World.”

“There’s only seven seas here though.”

“Or are there?”

“Why would we go on a treasure hunt when we are needed here?”

“Because the Elements of Harmony and the Crystal Heart  have been corrupted by the dark power of the Triad.”

“The what now?”

“Magical elements that can counter the Triad’s spells.”

“And we can’t just kill off the enemy why?”

“Far too powerful.”

“Better not tell our allies that. One of them has a grudge against the Dark King and plans to destroy him, one has a grudge against the Chaos Demon.”

“They might destroy their foes temporarily, but the dark power the Triads’ members possess is so strong they can come back from the dead as if they were never harmed at all.”

“So necromancy?”

“Basically. The only thing that can truly destroy them is the magic treasure of the eighth sea.”

“I think you might have been at sea too long, miss.”

“I haven’t. I’ve seen the Eighth Sea and glimpsed the treasure. But then it got me…”

“Huh?”

“The way to the treasure is guarded by poison mists, living rocks, eternal storms, sirens, mermares, krakens, wild seas, sea monsters, demonic spectres, and worst of all the Witch of the Sea! It’s enough to drive any sane pony mad! Mad, I say!!”

“That explains a lot,” mutters Nisse. “And how are we supposed to get past all this?”

“I know you can find a way.”

“Uh, thank you?” She’s nuts!

“You will need a ship. I can recommend some places. I’d give you my ship if it was still intact.”

“Recommend places, huh? How much though? We aren’t exactly rich. And also, we’re wanted dead or alive, preferably the former, by that dragon-beast.”

“There’s a secret shop for travelers. It’s near Honest Goldbrick’s Used Ships- don’t let that weasel of a unicorn Goldbrick con you into buying a bad ship, or you will not survive.”

“Uhh, thanks..? Listen, miss Sea Storm, you better follow the tunnels. Our allies in the Underground will give you shelter and food until they find a safe place for you to go.”

“Thank you, and blessings of the Four Winds go with you all!”

Sea Storm leaves.

“Should we trust her?” asks Noctis.

“Looks like we don’t have much choice. Come on.”