Pirates of Equestria: Curse of The Black Pearl

In the middle of a deep, dark mist we find a large ship, the EMS Dauntless, sailing on the seas. On the bow of the ship was an alicorn filly with a pink coat and a purple and dark pink mane and tail, both of which had a yellow highlight. Her name was Cadence, and she was the daughter of the governor of a newly-established port called Port Royal. Cadence was singing a merry little pirating tune as the ship sailed across the dark waters.

“Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate’s life for me. We foalnap, we loot, we cheat, and we don’t give a hay, drink up, me hearties, yo ho. We’re Discords, we’re black mares, we’re really bad apples, drink up, me hearties, yo ho. Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate’s life for me,” sang Cadence.

Before Cadence could start the next verse, a hand belonging to an orange Earth Pony mare with a blonde mane and tail wearing a tan cowboy hat covered her mouth.

“Quiet! Cursed pirates sail upon these waters. You wouldn’t want to bring them down on us, would you?” hissed the mare.

“Miss Applejack, that’s enough,” said a bold pegasus stallion. With him was his daughter, who was about Cadence’s age and was the spitting image of her father. They both had turquoise coats, and amber manes and tails.

“She was singing about pirates! It’s bad luck to be singing about pirates with us stuck in this unnatural fog. Mark my words,” said Applejack.

“Consider them marked. Move along,” said the stallion.

“Aye, Lieutenant,” said Applejack as she left with the stallion, leaving Cadence and the young pegasus behind.

“You know, Lightning Dust, I think it’d be exciting to meet a pirate,” said Cadence.

Lightning smirked. “I don’t think so, Cadence. Vile and dissolute creatures, all of them. When I’m big enough to join the navy with Dad, I’m going to see to it that every pony who sails under a pirate flag or wears a pirate brand gets what’s coming to them: a hanging,” said Lightning.

From behind came an older, red alicorn stallion who greatly resembled Cadence. “Miss Lightning Dust, while I appreciate you fevor, I’m worried about the effect this subject will have upon my daughter,” said Governor Romeo Mi Amore.

“Sorry, Governor Mi Amore,” said Lightning before she went to find her father.

“Actually, Dad, I find it all quite fascinating,” Cadence told her dad.

“What do you think concerns me?” asked Romeo before he moved off.

Cadence groaned and looked off the side of the ship. That’s when something caught her eye.

Huh. That’s a weird place to leave an umbrella,thought Cadence.

Quickly following the umbrella was a much more frightening sight: a unicorn colt with a white coat and a dark blue mane and tail, both of which had a light blue highlight , and wearing a soaked gray shirt, brown vest, brown pants, stockings and buckle shoes on his hind legs, on a piece of driftwood.

Cadence gasped. “Look! There’s a colt in the water!” she yelled.

The crew of the Dauntless looked over the side of the ship and saw the colt.

“Pony overboard!” yelled Lightning’s father. “Haul him aboard! Fetch a hook!”

The sailors hauled the colt onboard, where they learned he was still breathing.

“Lauren, mother of Faust!” yelled Applejack.

It was quite obvious as to what Applejack had exclaimed about: a merchant ship that completely engulfed in flame.

“What happened here?” asked Governor Mi Amore.

“It’s most likely the powder magazine, merchant vessels run heavily armed,” said Lightning’s father, even thought the words sounded empty even to him.

Applejack shook her head. “A lot of good that did them,” she said. She looked at the gathered ponies. “Oh, come on, everypony’s thinkin’ it, I’m just saying it: pirates.”

“Come on, there’s no proof of that, this is probably an accident,” said Governor Mi Amore.

As Lightning’s dad barked orders, Governor Mi Amore gave his daughter an important task.

“Cadence, I want you to accompany the colt. He’ll be in your charge,” said Mi Amore.

“Yes, father,” said Cadence.

As the crew set out to search for more survivors, Cadence sat and looked at the colt. She ran her hoof through his mane.

The colt woke up with a jolt, gasping as thought he had just broken the surface of water.

“It’s okay. My name’s Cadence Mi Amore,” said Cadence.

“Sh-Shining Armor Sparkle,” gasped Shining Armor.

“I’m watching over you, Shining Armor,” said Cadence.

Shining Armor passed out again, and something caught Cadence’s eye: a necklace. Picking it up, Cadence realized it was a golden medallion with a silver skull dead in the center.

“You’re a pirate,” she gasped.

“Has he said anything?” asked Lightning’s Father.

Swiftly hiding the medallion behind her, Cadence said, “His name’s Shining Armor Sparkle, that’s all I found out.”

“Take him below,” said Lightning’s Dad.

As the sailors and Lightning Dust’s dad brought Shining Armor belowdecks, Cadence looked at the Medallion.

That’s when she saw it.

Out in the distance, emerging from the fog, was a ship with torn black sails. From her point of view, Cadence thought she saw a griffon at the helm.

Atop the highest pole was a flag bearing a skull over a pair of crossed swords.

~

Cadence awoke in her bed, having awoken from the dream that had actually been a memory from eight years ago. She got out of bed and went over to her drawer. Opening a secret drawer, she found the medallion that she’d taken from Shining Armor.

Cadence put on the medallion and looked at her reflection in the mirror.

Beautiful, as always, she thought.

Just then, somepony knocked on her door.

“Cadence? Are you up yet?” came Mi Amore’s voice.

Cadence hurriedly put on a robe and slipped the medallion underneath it. “Yes, come in,” she said.

Mi Amore, who now had specks of gray in his mane, entered along with two maids.

“Still in bed at this hour?” said Mi Amore. “ It’s a beautiful day.”

As a maid opened a window, letting in the beautiful Mareibbean sunlight, Cadence noticed the second held a box.

“I have a gift for you,” said Mi Amore. He opened the box to reveal a beautiful dress.

“It’s beautiful!” said Cadence. “What’s the occasion?”

“Does a father need an occasion to dote upon his daughter?” said Mi Amore as Cadence went behind some changing curtains to get dressed. “Although, I’d hoped you’d wear it to the ceremony.”

“Ceremony?” asked Cadence from behind the curtain.

“Captain Lightning Dust’s promotion ceremony,” explained Mi Amore.

“I knew it,” said Cadence.

“Commodore Lightning Dust, as she’s about to become. She really is a good mare. Remember when you two were fillies? You never let each other out of your sight,” said Mi Amore. He frowned when Cadence gave a loud gasp. “Are you okay? How’s it fitting?”

“It’s… difficult to say,” said Cadence.

“Well, I’m told it’s the latest fashion in Canterlot,” said Mi Amore.

Well, mares in Canterlot must’ve figured out how to survive without breathing, thought Cadence.

Just then, the butler came in.

“My lord, you have a visitor,” he said.

~

Downstairs, Shining Armor, now a full-grown stallion with a long black case under his arm and wearing a brown coat, a black vest, a white shirt, brown pants, stockings, and buckle shoes, was looking for a place to hide the broken piece of candelabra he broke off. Finally hiding it in a umbrella rack, he waved as the butler walked by.

Governor Mi Amore came into the room. “Ah, Mr. Sparkle, good to see you again,” he said.

“Hello, sir. I have your order,” said Shining Armor, placing the case on the nearby entable and opening it.

Inside the case was beautiful sword. Mi Amore took out the sword and looked at it.

“The blade is folded steel. That’s gold filigree laid into the handle,” said Shining Armor. “If I may.”

Mi Amore gave Shining Armor the sword, who held it perfectly flat in his hand.

“Perfectly balanced. The tang is nearly the full width of the blade,” said Shining Armor, before he performed a neat trick with the sword.

Mi Amore laughed as Shining Armor gave him back the sword. “Commodore Dust is going to be very pleased with this. Do pass my compliments onto you master,” said Mi Amore.

Shining Armor froze. Once again, I’m not getting credit for my work, he thought. “I shall. A craftspony is always glad to hear his work is appreciated,” he said.

Cadence then started coming down the stairs. Both stallions turned to look at her.

“Ah, Cadence, you look absolutely stunning,” said Mi Amore.

“Shining Armor,” said Cadence, hurrying downstairs to meet the young unicorn. “I had a dream about you last night.”

“About me?” asked Shining Armor.

“Er, Cadence, is it really proper for you to-” said Mi Amore, but his words seemed to fall upon deaf ears.

“About the day we met, do you remember?” asked Cadence.

“H-how could I forget, Miss Mi Amore?” said Shining Armor.

“Shining, how many times must I ask you to call me Cadence?” asked Cadence.

“Well, at least once more, Miss Mi Amore… as always,” said Shining Armor.

“Well, at least the colt has a sense of propriety, now, come Cadence, we really must be going,” said Mi Amore.

“Good day, Mr. Sparkle,” said Cadence as she followed her father out the door and into the waiting carriage.

Shining Armor followed them out. “Good day… Cadence,” he muttered.