Chapters Piracy and pregnancy (edited by:ponyfan30)
It had been five months since Applejack and Rainbow Dash had married each other. They were happy, life couldn't be better. They had each other, they had friends and most of all, they had freedom. All of them had changed.
Pinkie had become more responsible. She still loved partying, and she was still the silly pony she always had been.
Twilight was still the first mate, but she was more strict. She still cared for others, but she was more battle ready.
Rarity was more into it now, at once she had been regretting it. She enjoy it.
Fluttershy had almost lost her shyness, she had become more of a fighter.
Applejack didn't miss her title as a royal, she loved the freedom. She would never go back, maybe only to visit her sister, but she didn't want the throne. She also became pregnant.
Rainbow Dash had become softer. She had seen the light, the good warm light that came from her lover. She didn't want to lose that, even if it took her life.
Applejack lay in bed sleeping, Rainbow looked at her with a smile. Rainbow sat on the other side of the room, studying a map to find more treasures. But in truth she had already found it. Rainbow walked over to the bed and layed down next to her beloved wife, she ran her hoof over Applejack's stomach. It had already started to grow, it was four months in. Applejack smiled at the touch, her eyes slightly opened.
"Hmm... You okay?" She asked, Rainbow jumped slightly.
"Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to wake you!" Rainbow said and rolled out of the bed, still a bit shocked.
Applejack quickly pulled her back and said "I didn't say you should leave..." She smiled.
Rainbow smiled in return, and pushed Applejack to her chest, Rainbow wrapped her hooves around Applejack and placed her head on her shoulder. Applejack closed her eyes, feeling safe in Rainbow's arms.
Suddenly the door shot open. Twilight came running in, she blushed as she saw Rainbow and Applejack cuddle.
"Am I interrupting something?" She asked.
Rainbow rolled out of the bed and blushed hard as she gave nervous smile. "N-No you didn't... Its fine, what is it?"
"Royal army from Vanhoover" Twilight said.
Both Applejack and Rainbow sat up. "What?!"
"Get ready"Rainbow said to Twilight, then she quickly turned to Applejack, who sat straight up in the bed. She looked at Rainbow in worry. "Stay here" Rainbow said, and left the room.
"Be careful..." Applejack muttered.
Rainbow and Twilight looked over at an army of royal ships. Rainbow looked worried back and forth to the army and where Applejack was.
"What do we do captain?" Twilight asked.
"We fight..."
"Everypony get ready!" Twilight yelled. Everypony began to move, Pinkie and Rarity began to pull the sail. Fluttershy and Twilight prepared the cannons. The other part of the crew did the same thing, preparing for battle.
"Aim..." The sound of cannons ready to fire was music in everypony's ears "Get ready...." A little pause..."Fire!" All the cannons fired. Two of the royal boats sunk at first shot. But Vanhoover fired back, it only hit once or twice. The battle didn't last long, in the end only the royal ship stood, it was damaged, but it still stood. Rainbow moved her ship closer. they got onboard the royal ship, they completely emptied the place, not one bit was left. Now it only stood between Rainbow Dash and the king of Vanhoover.
They were locked in a sword fight in the kings room. He was a bit worse than Applejack at first, but he could fight. Then Rainbow got him to the ground. "Please spare me..." He begged.
Rainbow smirked. "You know, give me all you have and maybe..." The king quickly got up and emptied all gold he had. As Rainbow was about to leave she said "You know... A princess I know is better than you with a sword." She chuckled. She turned her head slightly to see the king become angry.
On Rainbow's ship, Applejack sat on a chair in front of a mirror brushing her mane. She had stopped braiding it, now she used a simple ponytail held together by a grayish red ribbon. She had a golden ring in her ear, she also had another ribbon wrapped around her hoof in the same color as the one in her mane and tail. Underneath it was a deep cut, she had gotten it when she had an accident with a sword. She looked down at her stomach. "Your mother better not get captured" she joked, she knew Rainbow would never get caught.
She began to sing to herself, she did that often now. She couldn't wait until the baby was born. Applejack looked out of a window that showed the battle with Vanhoover. She smiled as she saw Rainbow come out unharmed.
After the battle was won. Rainbow returned to the room Applejack was in, when she entered, Applejack was nowhere to be seen. Rainbow quickly ran inside, only to be tackled by her loving wife. "GHAA!!" She yelped as Applejack landed over her "don't sca- I mean, what was that?!"
Applejack chuckled. "Did I scare you..." She said, she said it like she was talking to a child.
"N-No... You just worried me" Rainbow said, she got up and kissed Applejack.
"You don't need to be overprotective... I can take care of myself" Applejack said, but before she knew it. She was in Rainbow's arms carried over to the bed.
"I'm not taking any risks" Rainbow placed Applejack on the bed carefully. She kissed her again, and rubbed her hoof on Applejack's belly.
"So how much?" Applejack asked as she sat up, Rainbow's hooves around her.
"A lot! And I got something for you..." Rainbow pulled out a box, which she gave to Applejack.
"Thanks..." Applejack said and opened the box. Inside was a big emerald, it was shaped like a flower. "It-It's beautiful..." Applejack said, she was overwhelmed by the beauty.
"Just as beautiful as the pony I gave it too" Rainbow whispered into Applejack's ear. She smiled as she saw Applejack blush like crazy. "How's the baby doing?" She asked.
"Its doing fine..." Applejack said as she placed the box on a nearby table. "But both of us need a hug..." She added slyly.
Rainbow chuckled and started to hug Applejack. Suddenly Applejack needed a toilet, she ran outside and leaned over the edge of the boat. Rainbow Dash short came out to see Applejack vomiting over the edge. She placed her hoof on Applejack's back and gently petted it.
"Let's never... do this again..." Applejack said between vomiting.
"Hehe... Sure?..." Rainbow said, with a humorous smile.
"You know... This is your fault..."
"Maybe, maybe not" She smirked.
"Are you okay?" Rarity asked as she noticed the pair on the edge.
"Yeah we're okay" Rainbow joked
"Speak for yourself!" Applejack snapped, just then she stopped vomiting. She turned around to see Rainbow Dash and Rarity giggle like school fillies. "Shut up!" Applejack shouted, she walked grumpy back to the room, she smashed the door so hard it almost fell off its hinges.
"Sure she's okay?" Rarity asked.
"Yeah.... Mood swing" Rainbow said with a sly grin, she kinda liked the way Applejack was acting.
Rainbow's boat was floating between two huge hillsides. It had been standing there some days now, Rainbow thought it was best the ship was hidden while some of the crew was out getting supplies. Rainbow was being werry overprotective, Applejack wasn't allowed to leave the room at all. Applejack had also become more cuddly to Dash, she didn't want to leave Dash's side anyway.
"Come on..." Applejack moaned as Rainbow had to fight to get Applejack to bed. Rainbow was having Applejack in her arms, while Applejack was fighting to get out.
"Sorry Aj, but I'm not taking any risks on you... I just can't lose you... Again..." Rainbow said, the memories of almost losing her forever, played before her eyes. One small tear came from her eye. She quickly turned her head to avoid Applejack seeing her tear, but Applejack saw it.
"I'm sorry hun... " she apologizes, she leaned up and kissed Rainbow's cheek, Rainbow looked at Applejack with loving sorrow. She placed Applejack on the bed, as she was about to leave she was pushed onto the bed by Applejack. "If we have to stay here, you have to stay here with us."
Rainbow smiled and turned around to face her lover. Just when her head was turned she was surprised, Applejack smacked her lips together with Rainbow's, at first she was shocked but she calmed down and enjoyed the kiss. Rainbow had to force herself to break the kiss. "I have to help the others, I nee-"
Applejack shushed her. "Don't you dare..." She locked her hooves around Rainbow, she was actually stuck she couldn't move one inch.
"Applejack... Let go..." She said trying to look and sound as serious as possible. But it failed, thankfully the others came into the room. They stood there for some minutes watching Rainbow struggle against Applejack, who did not give in. When they saw how funny it was and that Rainbow was losing to her pregnant wife, they couldn't hold it. They bursted out laughing, getting the attention of the silly couple.
"Stop laughing!" They yelled while blushing. Embarrassed by this Applejack let Rainbow go. Noticeing this Rainbow took the chance and quickly got to the air, Applejack sighed and gave Rainbow a angry glare.
"What is it?" Rainbow asked.
"It's another ship blocking the way out." Twilight said.
"And everyone is back with the supplies." Rarity added.
"And now we can't leave" Pinkie said.
"T-They said, they wanted to talk to you" Fluttershy finished.
"Someone want to talk to me?" Rainbow asked, she looked over at Applejack in worry, she returned the worried look. "Okey lets see who this is..."
The five mares went outside, Rainbow saw the ship blocking their way. She got Twilight to move the ship closer to the other ship. As the ship got closer and closer. The feeling that something was wrong grew, the fear for Applejack and the baby.
The ships stood next to each other, Rainbow's boat was loaded and ready to fire just in case. To bad the other boat was ready to fire as well. Rainbow looked over at the boat the drew looked weak compared to hers. Then two yellow stallions came out of the captains room, Rainbow remembered the two unicorns at once, Flim and Flam. She growled as she saw them smile at her.
The three ponies walked to the edge of their boat stareing at each other. "Rainbow Dash, a pleasure to meet you again" Flam said.
"We have missed you, last time we met you left us to the army of Canterlot." Flim said, both of them smiled evils.
"You two deserved it" Rainbow growled. "I left you because you are traitors."
"We? We are the traitor?" Flam said, both their hooves to their hearts.
"You tried to take my ship and kill me!" She shouted.
Then the door to Rainbow's room shot open and Applejack came running out with her hoof over her mouth, she quickly ran over the edge of the boat, the opposite side that Rainbow stood on. She leaned over and started vomiting. Rainbow, Flim and Flam just stood there for a second stareing at Applejack.
"Who is this?" Flim asked.
"Isn't that... The princess of Appleloosa..." Flam said.
"No, not anymore" Rainbow said as she smiled at her wife, she felt bad for her but she couldn't help but be happy for her as well.
"How come?"
"None of your business!" She shouted.
"Werry well, it's nice seeing you again... Rainbow Dash." They said, then they walked back into their room.
"I hate them..." She said angrily. "Twilight get us out of here!"
"Aye!" Twilight shouted, she drove the ship away from the place. Rainbow got over to Applejack seeing if she was okey, she was and Rainbow got her back into the room.
"Brother, think about it! That princess might be the key to get revenge on Rainbow Dash" Flam said. They sat in their room planning the revenge on Rainbow Dash, they had waited for this in almost ten years.
"Maybe, but we don't know what or how or anything at all!" Flim said trotting around in the room. Suddenly he got an idea "what if we take her as.... What do we call it?"
"Prisoner?" Flam asked plain
"Yeah!!" Flim said a huge grin formed on his face
"How are we supposed to do that? If she belongs in Rainbow's room, I believe Rainbow is protective over her." Flam said as he got bored of the idea, it was a good idea, but how?
"Yeah, but when are she not in the room?" Flim asked with a smirk.
"Well she wasn't in the room when she talked with us..... If one of us distract her, the other can take the princess!" Flam's excitement grew like wild fire.
"Then it's settled, we find Dash and take her princess as our own" they smiled at each other then bursted out laughing.
"Applejack, are you okey?" Rainbow said as she helped Applejack to the room.
"Yeah, the baby just a little upset" Applejack said, she rubbed her belly as Rainbow wrapped her wing around her. The soft feathers felt so good against her back.
"Are you going to bed?" Rainbow asked, as they entered the room.
"Do I have a choice?"
"Nope" Rainbow laughed.
"Kinda figured"
Rainbow got Applejack to the bed and fell asleep with her.
Author's Note
Sorry for both of these chapter have been so short, I hope the next will be longer. But thanks to everyone that like the story so far, I am trying, my best.
Love is a challenge (not edited)
Applejack was sleeping in the bed, like she used to. Not that she had a choice, but it was nice. She dreamed about the future she, her wife and their soon to be born baby. Applejack, even asleep she rubbed her belly with a smile. She mumbled something. "I can bearly wait..." She said. Unknown Rainbow sat in a chair on the other side of the room, watching her loving wife sleep. She knew she was being a little creepy watching her sleep, but she couldn't help it. Applejack was beautiful asleep or not. Rainbow slowly got out of the chair and walked outside.
The ship was sailing north, Rainbow though it would be nice to get the crew to rest a little. They had been working their bones off. They needed it, they had deserved it. "Twilight, is it possible to go faster?" She asked.
Twilight got closer to the captain to not use the rest of her power to yell. "No... The crew is... We don't have anymore power... We're all tierd..." She said, taking long breath with each word.
"How long will it take?"
"A day... I believe"
"Good, go take a nap somewhere" she ordered, Twilight nodded and went off. "Stop the ship!" She yelled. Everypony on the ship stopped moving, they looked at Dash confused. "Everyone here need a break, take a nap or whatever!" Just like light, they all fell to the ground. Not long after snoring was heard. Dash couldn't help but chuckle.
Inside Applejack had woken from her slumber. She was looking at something, it was her old crown. The leaf like thing was still as good looking as it had been when she first took it off. The good and bad memories running around in her head.
"Mac! It's not fair! I am grown up now! Can't I just take five minutes outside the gate?" A filly Applejack yelled at her older brother.
"Nope, Applejack even if your grown up. I don't take the chance of you outside that gate!" He said calm pointing at the gate.
"But it's not fair! You go outside all the time!" She said.
"You are not me! I am allowed, I rule in this land. You are the next to take the throne... Please, just.... I want you safe, I don't want to lose you too." He said, trying to get her to feel guilty over the hole deal.
"I know... I just want to see the world outside the gates..." She said, a soft sniff came from her nose. His plan on making her feel guilty was a success.
"Can you promise me to not go outside that gate?" He asked, he moved his face closer to hug her. She accepted the hug from her older brother.
"I promise..." She said, small tears came from her eye. She felt so guilty taking his word in so easy.
"I was such a fool, why did I belive in him... Jerk..." She said, it was pain that he was her brother and he had done something so horrible to her. A brother wasn't supposed to force their little sister into a unwanted marriage. A brother shoud be happy by her choice to marry in love. Even if it was a pirate.
"Mac?" A filly applejack asked. She and her brother was in the royal library, the teacher was rrying to teach them something.... Something about the royal family and how it was in the world.
"Shh, we talk later..." He whispered as he went back to the book.
"Hmph...." She hated sitting still so long, she didn't even follow what the teacher said.
"Applejack?" The brown stallion with gray hair and a book as a cutie mark said. "Do you know what I just said?" He asked.
"Ehh... I- I umm, well...." She had to think fast of an excuse, but she had always been a bad liar. "No..." She said in deaft.
"Hmm, I suggest that you follow from now on." His gaze turned to Mac. "Mister Macintosh, do you know what we are talking about?" He asked.
Not even looking up from his book he said "the political rulers of Equestria and how the system work"
"Correct, really good my prince." He turned back to the lesson.
"Angel kid..." She said under her breath.
The door to the library opened, two earth ponies came inside. A mare and a stallion, the mare was bright red with long blond hair, her hair was made into a braid but it still reached the floor. The stallion was huge, he almost crashed in the doorframe, his coat was bright orange with brown mane. Crowns was on their heads, they were the kids parents.
The teacher looked at them and bowed. "My lord, your highness..." He said.
"Good afternoon mr. Lesson, how are they doing?" The queen asked.
"Your highness, your son is doing well and your daughter... Well" they looked at Applejack and her dad as they made a paper fly.
When they saw they had been busted they both smiled like nothing had happened.
The queen sighed and shook her head. "anyway, is she doing better than last year?" She asked.
"Well she is doing better than last year, she got ten right on the last test... Its ten more than last year" he said. It was no secret that she was bad in school. She was a kid, in her own head she thought that she didn't really need to learn all this, it was useless. She had only told this to her father, he told her that it was useful, one day she might need it.
"That's good, what about Mac?" She looked over at her son as he was still studying.
"He, as always has top characters." He said.
"Thats good, honey... We have to go" she said before turning to leave "and Applejack... I know your hiding in your fathers crown" Applejack came crawling out of her fathers big crown, she gave a annoyed face to her mother. Her eyes begging her to leave with them, but no. Her mother didn't buy it.
"Sorry sweetie." Her father said before he left as well.
A small smile had grown on her face, small strems of tears escaped her eyes and small sobbing came from her mouth. She missed them dearly, but still. She didn't want to give the life she now had to get them back. She loved her new life, she loved Rainbow Dash. She couldn't leave her. Not now, not ever.
Filly Applejack sat in front of two tomestones in the castle garden. It was her parents stones. Flowers, roses, apples, lights surrounded the small place that had been set only for them. Applejack didn't cry, she just sat there in the rain. Her mane and cat was soaking wet, but she didn't care.
Hoof steps was heard not far behind her. She knew who it was, the weight was clearly what gave away Mac away.
"Go away Mac..." She said.
"Applejack, come inside. You are gonne get sick, please..." He said.
"I don't care! I don't want to live anymore... Just go away!" She cried in anger. "Now!!"
She heard his hoof steps go away from her. At that moment she couldn't hear him anymore, she fell down crying.
Applejack just started at her old crown. She wanted to throw it away, but the good memories kept her from doing it. She placed the crown back into the box and pushed it back behind the closet. She walked back to the bed and layed down. Her eyes began to feel heavy from the cry and the heavy memories, slowly she fell asleep.
Rainbow drove the ship as the crew got their energy back. As she saw the island not far ahead she heard a bell ring behind her. She turned around to see the ugly ship to the Flim Flam brothers. The ship was sailing on top speed and was heading toward them, since they had warned her they weren't suppose to kill er and everyone onboard.
Their ship stopped right next to hers. She looked at them in discust, but something was wrong. Only Flam stood there smiling at her.
"Where is your fithy brother?" She asked.
"Sleeping... But I wanted to talk to you"
"What do you want?" She asked, she looked at him careful. She knew they were up to something.
Under deck in Flim and Flam's ship, Flim opened the window and looked at Dash's ship. The window was of course closed, he used his magic to open the window carefully. The window made a loud squeeky sound, he stopped dead in his track.
"Did you hear that?" He heard from above, it was Rainbow Dash.
"Probably my ship, it makes all kind of noices." His brother said.
Flim moved the window a little more open, he could easily get inside now. He jumped, he just made it. He looked around inside, his eyes cashed what he was after. The orange earth pony in the bed. He smiled. He rushed over to get her before Dash would check on her. One wrong step, he stopped. The floor made a high squeeky noice, he looked at the mare in the bed. She didn't notice, she just turned around and groand. He sighed in relief.
He made his way more careful over to the bed, gently lifting her with his magic,he covered her with the blanket she was snuggled up in. He carefully lifted himself and the sleeping mare over to his own boat. He gently layed Applejack in his bed. He closed both windows just so it would look like nothing had happened. Then he went outside to give his brother the sign.
"So, you followed me... Just to ask about my wing power?" Dash asked.
"Yeah..." Flam said, he was running out of things to say.
"16.9" dash said.
He just caught the sight of his brother and finished "uh.. Thanks, good bye." There ship took off as lighting.
"That was wierd" she said confused.
"Did you get her?" Flam asked his brother as they walked toward the room.
"See for yourself..." Flim said, he pushed the door open and tokk his brother over to his bed. They looked at her a little, before smiling at each other. "What now?" He whispered.
"We have her as our prisoner to Rainbow Dash gives herself to our comand." Flam said proud.
"Do you really think she will fall for that?" Another voice said, they looked down at the mare. She looked angry at them.
The brothers stared at each other a little sceard.
Meanwhile at Dash's ship.
Rainbow Dash walked in land on the island. Other parts of the crew had started setting up camp, they were going to stay here for a while. The camp looked nice, tents and fire was made. It looked like a perfect place for her wife to give birth, she and Applejack knew it wasn't long to now. Maybe a week, maybe two or three. But Dash was excited. She went over to the room to get her wife.
"Applejack...." She sang as she opened the door.
No respons. Dash started to get worried. "Applejack, if this is another joke.... It better be a joke..." She looked around, nothing. She threw away the blankets, she looked everywhere. But nothing... Her wife was gone, this made Rainbow push all the buttons of her panics. She ran outside and yelled "Applejack!? Have anypony seen Applejack?!"
Author's Note
Commet what you want in the next chapter.... I need an idea for what to do... No idea is a bad idea
Applejack was stuffed. For some reason Flim and Flam took care of her. She had a lot of food, a decent bed and a warm room. Applejack stuffed her mouth, this weird soup thing tasted good. She had helped them get some food. The last thing they had tasted like dirt, and she knew how dirt tasted. A little bit of cinnamon Now everyone was eating it, Applejack had her face buried in it.
"You're enjoying I aren't you?" Flim asked, he had been sitting in the room guarding Applejack for the longest time.
"The food ain't to bad" Applejack admitted.
Fim used his magic and moved all the food away from her.
"hey!" Applejack yelled, she reached her hooves forward trying to get it back.
"You'll get it back later, now I want answers. Where is Rainbow Dash's base? Where is her treasure source?" He asked placing a hoof on the table.
Applejack folded her front hooves irritated. "ah ain't telling, why would ah go back on Dash anyway? Ah love her" She hissed.
Flim smirked "I know you wouldn't turn back on your wife, but what if I turned you against... " Flim took a walk around the table as he spoke, Applejack followed him carefully. "... A pirate?" He was right next to Applejack's ear, he smirked. " I know your not a pirate in blood, your born in royalty. A kingdom of riches, food, families, love and safety." He said while he walked passed her. Applejack didn't turn her head, instead she followed him with her eyes.
"What are ya getting at?" She asked, something about the way he was speaking worried her.
"I know that there is a bounty on a little missing princess." Flim sat down on the other side of the table. "A bounty so high, that you almost beat your little wife." Two bounty pieces of paper floated to her. The papers had a photo of Applejack and Rainbow Dash. The one featuring Dash had a bounty of 200.000 bits and said, dead or alive. The one featuring Applejack had a bounty of 190.000 bits, and said Alive.
"There looking for me?" She asked, looking down at the papers.
"Of course, as one of our crew members reported. Your land said your sister was unable to be a leader and they freed your brother and grand mother, they want you back alive." Flim smirked.
"What?" Applejack began to shake, after what had happened she almost feared her family. "So your just going to give me back for money?"
"No! We will trade you. We want ravage of your wife. She put me and my brother in prison, she dumped us. Now we plan ravage. We give you to your land for a trade of help from your army. Remember that they don't like your pretty little wife."
The plan shot Applejack in the core, the plan was good and it could cost her, Rainbow Dashs and her unborn foal's life. Applejack stared at Flim with open mouth and wide worried eyes.
Rainbow Dash had her crew working overtime, they were working their ass off to help get back their lovely member. The crew liked Applejack, she was so kind, caring, lovely, motherly and most of all smart.
"Come on! we have to get her back!" Rainbow yelled in worry, she was almost in tears. Tears of sorrow and anger, she was so mad at those who had taken Applejack.
"We're working as hard as we can captain." Twilight yelled. She used her magic to unhook the sails. "everyone one board." She yelled, as the ship took sail out to the sea again.
The ship sailed long over the sea, they tried to think of anyone that could have dared to take her. Then it hit her, The Flim Flam brothers. With that she cast her orders and sat sail for where she last saw them take off.
Flim and Flam's ship were not far away from Appleloosa, only some more hours, they would be rich an have their ravage.
"Your time has come princess." Flim smirked, he and Flam had used their magic to hold Applejack in place.
"You won't get away with this" Applejack growled.
Both the brothers laughed, when Flam answered "we already have"
Applejack smirked "that's the answer I wanted" she whispered, luckily they didn't hear her.
Their ship took in land. And Applejack was greeted with two frowns from her 'family' Her brother and Granny were standing there staring at her. When Apple Bloom ran forward and hugged Applejack.
"ah missed ya sis!" She smiled.
"ah missed ya too sis" Applejac smiled, gently returning the hug.
Meanwhile Big Mac and Granny were paying Flim and Flam and asking how they could repay them, more.
"We want ravage of the same pony who took your beautiful family member." Flam said bowing as he spoke.
Big Mac nodded and spoke "come with us to the castle, we'll talk there." They nodded and all of them walked to the castle.
"we thank ya for bringing Applejack back to us, now we need the fifthly pirate." Granny Smith said, of course Flim and Flam didn't tell them that they were pirates.
Rainbow had been looking at the map for hours, the way Flim and Flam had been sailing, Appleloosa. And of course, once she found that out. She knew their plan, return Applejack to her kingdom and somehow revenge her.
Rainbow sighed in sorrow and went over to a box behind the closet. She knew Applejack had been hiding her crown there, she pulled the box out and opened it. The leaf crown, it was all she really had left right now. When something hit her, Applejack could go into labour anytime soon. The thought almost made Rainbow faint, but she didn't. " I'm coming Aj, I'm coming."
Author's Note
I almost forgot about this story, I just had to watch "pirates of the Caribbean" to get some ideas, and I got some help. Well, the next chapter might come soon or many weeks from now on...
