The Pirate Master

Rusty met up at the Ponyville Docks. He was 20 minutes late, which he assumed as one of Celestia's captains, was bad. He looked at Shadow, who seemed to be waiting for him. "Sorry guys, for being late," Rusty apologised, hoping to get forgiven by his friend Shadow.

"Well, 24 minutes to be excact," Shadow said. "By the way, the crew i recruited for you also had to wait."

"How did you make them wait 24 minutes?" Rusty asked.

"You do realise i bringed my sword with me?" Shadow asked.

_______________________

"Release the sails and secure the cannons!" Rusty shouted.

It was his first day at sea, but it seemed ok for him.

"So tell me, Shadow. Where did you find these sailors?" Rusty asked.

"They are part of the royal navy," Shadow answered.

Shadow was assigned to be Rusty's assistant during trades.

"There are some clouds in the distance," Shadow said. "I don't know if we should continue. Celestia told me you shouldn't sail through a storm on your first assignment," Shadow said.

"Don't worry," Rusty said. "I don't think it will become a storm now, Shadow. By the way, don't you know our sailors are from the equestrian navy?" Rusty asked Shadow.

"Ok, i get it. But please do what is safe for the crew," Shadow said.

"Ok, i will try to be careful," Rusty said. "But we will continue."

Rusty ordered the crew to release all sails for maximum speed. He hoped it wouldn't become storm.

The waves hit the ship hard, making it move to the sides a bit. It were beginning to come larger waves, but Rusty ordered the crew to continue work.

_______________________

It took several hours before they could see Manehattan in the distance. Rusty and the crew felt happy now. "What did i say, Shadow?" Rusty asked. But Rusty noticed Shadow didn't answer.

"Shadow?" Rusty asked.

"Rusty, there is a ship in the distance without any flag," Shadow said. Some of the crew were a bit scared.

"Pirates!" Rusty shouted to himself. "Okay everpony, set full sail towards Manehattan. We must escape the pirates!"

But it was too late. The pirate ship seemed to move faster than them.

Rusty took a close look at the pirate ship. It was what he feared. It was a large frigate ship armed with atleast 15 cannons per side.

"Rusty, what is our plan?" Shadow asked.

"Rusty?" Shadow asked again.

But Rusty were lost in his thoughts, trying to think out a plan.

"Captain, the ship is coming closer!" Rusty could hear one of the crew say.

"So let's fight back!" Rusty shouted. "Aim the cannons at the pirate ship!" Rusty said, seeming desperate. "We must not let the pirates take the goods," Rusty said.

Rusty took out his sword, preparing for a fight.

"No, don't do it," Shadow said. "Not against these pirates!"

"What's the point of a sword..." Rusty said angrily. "If it can't be used by the captain?!"

"Rusty, we must forfeit! If we fight now, the crew will be killed!" Shadow shouted.

This moment felt very intense for Rusty. What was he going to do?

Rusty levitated a cannonball into one of the cannons and fired it at the pirate ship. Blowing away a small chunk of it.

"Oh no... You've doomed us all!" Shadow shouted.

"No... wait a bit," Rusty said.

Rusty took some of te goods they trabsported, and threw it overboard.

"Rusty, what are you doing?" Shadow asked.

"Throwing away the goods," Rusty answered.

"What?!" Shadow shouted. "Are you insane?!"

"Do you want these pirates to get their hooves on it instead?" Rusty asked.

Shadow didn't answer, knowing Rusty was serious.

"You are going to evade a battle..." Shadow said, noticing Rusty really learned something on the duel.

Rusty ordered the crew to throw all cargo and goods overvoard until there wasn't anymore of it.

"Look, the pirates are slowing down!" Shadow shouted. "It worked!"

But what happened next was not expected.

Rusty noticed the pirate ship turn around and shot 3 rows of cannons towards their ship. Time seemed to slow down as they were bombarded by cannon shots. The last thing Rusty heard was explosions and the sound of cracking wood.

_______________________

Rusty woke up. He seemed to be laying on the cold ground below him.

"Oh Rusty," Shadow said, glad now that he knew Rusty was alive. "Thank Celestia you are still alive."

"Wha... what happened?" Rusty asked.

"The ship sank, but all of the crew survived," Shadow said. "We were lucky nothing more happened."

"No... we blew up the goods, we got the ship destroyed. I don't think Celestia will like those news," Rusty said.

"Rusty, it wasn't your fault. There was nopony's fault," Shadow said.

_______________________

Captain Rusty and the crew stayed at an inn. It was night. Everpony was asleep, but Rusty.

"Why?" Rusty repeated to himself.

Rusty thought about something. He could remember seeing some posters at the centre in Manehattan. He decided to check them out.

Rusty trotted to a building. There were some posters about ship builders. Rusty read through the poster.

[ Need a ship? ]

Equestria's finest ship builders can build any ship for you in a hurry.

This may cost you some bits, but it will seem worth it once our work is done.

Rusty skipped to the part where the prices of the ships were

Schooner - 500 Bits

Brig - 1500 Bits

Frigate - 3000 Bits

Galleon - 5000 Bits

Rusty checked his pocket. He had 2000 bits.

He decided to buy a Brig for now.

Rusty went back to the inn and went to his room. He decided to go to bed and instantly fell to sleep.