The Storykeepers

Chapter 14: Sink or Swim Part 2: Onboard the Ship

As soon as Starlight’s ship set in, Applejack and Twilight tied a life boat onto it, at night, for an escape route for the plan ahead.

The next day, there was a faux celebration for the ship’s victory against Saddle Arabia.

By this point, Fluttershy was much more confident in her juggling.

“And now a tribute to your glorious victory!”  Rainbow called out.

Twilight, Celestia, and Applejack then showed up behind a cardboard cutout of a boat.

We are the Saddle Arabians.

We sail the open skies.

No Imperial ship can stop us.

For we are the more wise.

The three then looked forward.

“Uh-oh.”  Celestia said.  “It’s the unbeatable…”

“Undefeatable…” Twilight added.

“Not real sweatable…”  Applejack continued.

“Starlight Glimmer the ruthless!”  They all cried out as Applebloom was there with Celestia and Luna's recently rescued dog, Winona.

“Retreat!”  Twilight called out.

“Ramming speed!”  Applebloom called out, and the three were knocked over like bowling pins.

After that, Celestia and Applebloom snuck down to the rowers while Applebloom and Winona cornered Twilight.

“Wait, I’m an officer!”  Twilight called out before she was knocked over.

As the soldiers cheered, Applebloom bowed to the audience.

At the water, Twilight quickly swam to the boat as Celestia opened one of the holes for the canons.  Twilight then handed a bag of food to Celestia, who then handed it to Applejack.  Applejack then slipped into the slave quarters.

“Be careful, Applejack.”  Celestia whispered.

Applejack looked around.  All the slaves were sleeping in rags and hunched to make room for everyone.  Applejack was shocked that anyone could be so inconsiderate of ponies.  She undid the bundle and took out some bread, vegetables, and fruit as she walked around.

“Daddy?”  Applejack called out.  “Daddy?!”

Just then, an orange unicorn mare with a fiery mane pulled her over.

“What are you doing here, kid?!”  The mare asked when she saw the food as Applejack let her have some.

“I’m lookin' for my father.”  Applejack explained.

“The only thing you’ll find here is trouble.”  The mare said after taking a bite of bread.  “Now get out of here before you get us all killed.”

On the deck, as Rainbow Dash was doing various acrobatics, a soldier rushed up to Starlight with a scroll.

“Ma'am!”  The soldier said.  “One of our ships was captured in a slave revolt!  Sombra orders you to set course at once and capture them before they reach the borders of the empire!”

“Then cast off immediately.”  Starlight said plainly.  “Sound the battle alarm!”

As the soldiers sounded the alarm, Rainbow Dash gulped.

“Uh, but the show’s not over yet.”  Rainbow Dash said nervously.

Meanwhile, Applejack had given food to all the slaves.

“Do any of y'all know my daddy Hank Apple?”  Applejack asked, when suddenly, a soldier opened the door.

“All slaves to oars!”  He called out, and they went to their posts.

“Wait!”  Applejack called out as they went off.  “Has anyone seen my daddy?!”

“I’m afraid he’s not on this ship, kid.”  The fiery-haired mare said.

“Applejack!”  Celestia called out soon afterwards as she pulled Applejack up.

At the deck, Luna and the other foals, were by the walls, not being noticed by the preoccupied soldiers.

“Sister?”  Luna whispered.  “Sister?!”

Meanwhile, Twilight was trying to stay near the ship until she got knocked off by one of the oars and quickly clung to the boat.

“Luna, what’s happening?!”  Celestia asked as the ship continued its hustle and bustle.

“We’re going into battle unless we get off this thing quick!”  Luna answered.

They went to the starboard side of the boat, only to find Twilight hanging onto a rope.

“Hey guys.”  Twilight said.

The soldiers then arrived and pulled Twilight in just before they left the shoreline.  They were all trapped on the ship now.

On the ship, the gang was tossed into the captain’s quarters where the captain would arrive to deal with them.

Everyone then looked around.  It was an elegant purple and green colored room with various, expensive, knick-knacks.

“Wow.”  Rainbow said.  “This is nice.”

“How can she live like this when so many ponies are sufferin' right under her hooves?!!”  Applejack asked angrily.

“Yeah.”  Applebloom added.  “Jesus said we should be kind ta ponies.”

“I don’t think the captain was listening when Jesus said that.”  Twilight responded.

“I’m afraid he’s like the stallion who built his house on the sand.”  Celestia said.

“Who?”  Applebloom asked.  She’d never heard of him before.

“A stallion Jesus talked about one day when he was teaching in Caperneighm.

“He said to the crowd, ‘Everyone who listens to me and does something about it is like a stallion who builds his house on a rock.  Then winter comes, but that house stands up to all because underneath is the rock.

“‘But whoever listens to me and does nothing is like a foolish builder who builds his house on sand.  Then winter comes.  And the rains fall, and the floods come, and the wind blows.  And down comes his house with a tremendous crash.’”

Just then, Starlight came in and Applebloom finally had time to notice Starlight’s purple eyes, pink mane, and violet mane.

“So these are the stowaways?”  Starlight asked.

“Actually, we’re-” Celestia began.

“Quiet!”  Starlight called out.  “I don’t know why you’re still on my ship, but I do know that we’re going into battle and every mare must pull her weight!”

Starlight then tossed a mop to Twilight.

“You, clean the ship!”  Starlight shouted as she turned to Applejack.  “You, give water to the soldiers!”  Starlight then turned to Rainbow and Applebloom.  “You two stay here and clean.”  Starlight then turned to Celestia.  “And you, what do you do?”

“I’m a teacher.”  Celestia said.  "But my sister and I also bake."

“Perfect.”  Starlight said with a smile.

“My cook makes the worst rolls in the entire navy.”  Starlight said as she took a roll and dropped it on the floor, and it bounced right back to where she dropped it like it was made of rubber.  “Absolutely indestructible.  The only thing they’re good for is ammunition.  You, your sister, and the other pegasus are to go to the galley at once!”

“Yes ma'am.”  Celestia said as she walked off with Luna and Fluttershy.