Chapter 1: Temple of the Ocean King
"A single tree first has roots to grow with. This is where it all began."-Hermit Lyons
The young mare trotted slowly down the dungeon halls, trained eyes watching carefully. A sword was strapped to her hips, gleaming and well maintained..She gave a slight yawn as she roved the halls, eventually coming to a wider space. Azura seemed to be able to make out a figure amongst the murky shadows..
“Huh?” A blue stallion in a magnificent blue coat and red scarf a, with a light blue vest appeared. He was screaming in pain "Ow my ankle! How would I get that treasure now? Ugh..." He jumped up and down, it was almost believable he was faking it, He took no notice of the young mare which roamed around the dungeon.
“What’s going on?” She called over, cautiously drawing her blade. She had to be careful..These ruins had a habit of tricking you into a false sense of security, and this injured stallion could be another trap. “Who’s there?”
"Mind your own business, kid! I'm injured over here." The stallion replied, not caring much of what she carried, nor her voice. "It's my treasure, not yours, kid!" The mare only could do one thing and is to look curious.
“I'm not here for treasure; I'm looking for a pony named Moonbeck.” She stated calmly. “And you looked trapped.” She looked at him, wondering if he was too pull a trick out of the Spoils Bag moment.
"Why, I'm none over then the great and fantastic Moonbeck, Have you lost your eye-sight?" The stallion glared of her, Any pony not knowing his 'stage identity' was crazy, at least that's what he thought. "Trapped? No, I sprained my precious ankle!"
“Hmph..Well if you didn't want to be rescued you could've just said.” She turned and started to trot away from him, a small smirk forming. “I’ll be seeing you then!” She waved her hoof a little, trying to grab his attention.
"Thought you said you was looking for Moonbeck, kid? Well, you are walking AWAY from him now, That seemed like a waste to me, Why enter a dangerous place like this, just to see me, then walk off?" Moonbeck looked at her, smirking
“I thought you would be slightly more impressive. Do you want to get out of there or not?” She turned and sighed, realizing he’d seen through her bluff..Maybe this guy was smarter than she thought?
"I am more then slightly impressive! I go through two temples before breakfast!" The cocky stallion replied "I am the great Moonbeck! And don't you know that ankle injury is VERY painful?" He jumped up and down a bit more. "Why yes, I'd love to get out, with the treasure in the great hoofs of mine!"
“Al-right then, what do I have to do?” she sheathed her sword, tilting her head. “Besides, jumping like that isn't going to help your ankle is it?” She went to take a step off the patterned flooring.
"You should know that this temple would suck the life out of you..." Moonbeck cautiously replied, trying to stop her from pursuing his ankle injury "Find a way to remove these spikes from me, I'm trapped here, as you said before!"
"Now you're telling me!? grr.." She sighed and ran from safe point to safe point, cutting off the trap and turning. “Did that do the trick?”
The spikes seemed to vanish underground and leaving Moonbeck free of the trap "Now, I'm getting out of here!" He was going to walk off out of the dungeon, without giving gratitude of any sort. "Maybe find a place which isn't as life-threatening..."
She heard him run and set off after him, “I'm not done with you yet! Get back here!..Jeez, for somepony with a bad ankle this creep runs fast.” She muttered that last part under her breath.
He stopped and looked behind him "What do you want, kid?" He looked at her with a sign of annoyance, He wasn't looking to say his gratitude to anypony
“Information. I'm here looking for information on the Ghost Ship.” She regained her breath, standing straight. “And what are you doing here?”
"Ghost ship? There's no such thing!" Moonbeck replied "Treasure. What else would I be here for?!" Moonbeck looked at her again before moving towards her and shaking her "What else would the amazing Captain Moonbeck be doing here?!"
“Agh! I don’t care, just stop shaking me!” She gasped and tried to break his grip, growling under bated breath. “Just get off me! And..grr..I’ll help you get your treasure!”
"So you're trying to get your mitts on the treasure! ... If that's what this is about, I'm on board!" Moonbeck replied "Isn't that so...? Your little hunt for this, Ghost Ship you speak off."
“My friend was..taken.” She looked down, clearing her throat. “I'm hunting them down, and I need a Captain like yourself to pilot a vessel to help me search. So I came for the best. I help you get the treasure you want, you’ll pilot me to where I need to go…Deal?”
"Aww that's cute, I think I'm going to cry." Moonbeck replied, pretending to drop a single tear "You obviously just did meet the best, and done nothing for me. I handled those spikes down over there with no problem at all!" Moonbeck smirked as he replied. "But why should I travel with a kid like you?"
“Really? Then why don’t you just go and grab your treasure right now?” She grinned back, touching the blade of her sword softly. A habit of sorts, but could it be a very veiled threat?
"I heard recently the treasure here is worthless." Moonbeck flipped a Rupee and caught it "A captain like me knows the Great sea by the back of his hooves, It was a mistake coming here."
"Nothing's useless if you know how to use it. What did you hear about it Moonbeck?” She offered her hoof, “Azura Moonlight. Just call me Blue.”
"Judging by my instinct and the way this dungeon is so terribly done and traps not done perfectly. I'd say the treasure here is terrible" Moonbeck replied, taking a step away from her "I've been advised against shaking a kid's hoof. Said that they trick you into their little plan.." Moonbeck smiled before speaking again "Your plan to rescue someone, doesn't seem to include famous treasure"
“I owe them my life. And now I’m going to save them, simple as that.” Azura looked at him, not breaking a sweat. Staying strong in this pose seemed heroic.
"Ah, so that's your game? Just let it be known, that I'm on board for the treasure. Not for these feelings or heartfelt reunions." The stallion replied "Well, Shall we get going? Or are you going to share your sob story somewhere else?"
“Yeah, well, I wasn’t expecting you too.” She started to walk out of the cave, leaving the other stallion to catch up on his own time.
By the time she was there at the dock, Moonbeck was already there, waiting for her to arrive "Well took you long enough! WELL then, Shall we get a move on?"
“How did you even?-..Never mind, I'm ready.” She’d attached a black cape buttoned up with a silver moon broach, embedded with small sapphires. She looked bored.
"Well let's set sail then!" Moonbeck walked into the ship, walking down the stairs to the engine room. "She's a fine vessel ain't she? Named it after myself. Well then, plot the direction you want to go, and we'll head off!"
“Yeah, she looks solid enough.” Azura nodded and charted out some coordinates. “get us here, quick as you can Captain.”
"That island hmm? That's a fine start, Alright, we'll head there. Be sure to avoid the traps laid out in the Great Sea as you look kid!" Moonbeck casually gave advice as he stayed in the engine room.
