The Storykeepers

Chapter 15: Sink or Swim Part 3: Battle for Freedom

Celestia, Luna, and Fluttershy arrived at the ship's galley, led by one of the soldiers.

"Celestia the teacher and her family reporting for duty." The guard said calmly. The cook turned around to reveal a hideous stallion with a bulging eye, a bulbous muzzle, and horrible teeth.

"Quiet!" The cook said. "I'm making soup for the slaves!"

"I thought he was washing the dishes." Luna said in disgust.

"Now that's one rotten tomato." The cook said to himself as he poured in ingredients. "One tiny slice of carrot."

He then grabbed a live chicken and dunked it into the soup before putting it back in a cage.

"And finally, one fresh chicken." The cook finished.

"Now what do you want?" The cook asked.

"We're here to help with the bread." Celestia explained.

"Bread?" The cook asked. "Good. I could use some help. Everybody loves my rolls, and they really came in handy against the Dominion."

"So I heard." Luna said with a sigh.

"Well, we'll do our best, sir." Celestia said.

"Good." The cook said. "But remember, it's not just a roll, it's a military secret."

At the lowers decks with oars and the like, Applejack was handing water to the soldiers.

"Get over here with that water!" The guard called out.

Applejack began walking to him when she saw a withered old stallion at the oars.

"Just a little sip." He begged. Applejack immediately gave him some.

"Filly, I said over here!" The guard called out and pulled Applejack to him.

Back at the galley, Fluttershy was working with the cook when he smelled something.

"That smell." The cook said. It's not supposed to smell like that."

The cook went to the bread, Celestia and Luna's finest as Fluttershy pulled up a stool for him.

"Perhaps you should taste it and tell us what we're doing wrong." Luna suggested.

"But I've got so much to do…" The cook said before he grabbed the bread and began eating it.

"We can finish in the kitchen for you." Celestia said. "Take your time with the bread."

"Yes." The cook said as he continued to eat. "Yes, good idea."

As Applejack continued walking around, she gave more water to the old stallion.

"I told you to stay away from him!" The head guard called out.

"He's dyin' a'thirst!" Applejack called out.

"If he doesn't row, he'll die of much worse." The guard said darkly.

"I'll take his place." Applejack said, pointing at herself.

"You?!" The guard laughed.

"At least 'til he gets better." Applejack said calmly.

"This I've got to see!" The guard laughed. "Okay, Little Mare. Row."

Applejack sat down next to the orange mare from before.

"Well fillies and gentlecolts," the head guard stated. "Since we have some new blood, let's go at attack speed for a while."

"You're just determined to get us killed, aren't you?" The mare said.

"I was only tryin' t'help." Applejack said.

"If you wanna help, keep silent and row!" The mare said sharply.

Meanwhile, Celestia and Luna worked on the soup while Fluttershy kept the cook busy.

"Is this batch any better?" Fluttershy asked.

"No, no, it's still too soft." The cook went on. "Please pass the butter."

The rowing was going as well as could be expected with the head guard telling the others not to worry about Applejack.

"Must be nice to be free." The orange mare said after a while.

"It's not as nice as you'd think." Applejack said sadly. "My dad's a slave, and I don't know where he is."

"Keep your back straight and bend with your knees." The mare said helpfully.

Eventually, it was time for dinner as the slaves and Applejack went to the galley.

"That smell." The old stallion Applejack replaced said. "It smells wonderful."

"What is it?" A mare asked.

"It's dinner." Celestia said as he opened to door. "Come and eat."

The crew ate the soup Luna and Celestia made as Celestia told of Jesus to pass the time.

"And then Jesus went back to Caperneighm." Celestia said. "Ponies had heard all about him, so they came from all around the countryside to listen to him. He was teaching ponies about God's way, but the place was packed. No one could get in or out. Four mares had brought a paralyzed mare for Jesus to heal, but as they couldn't get in, they went to the roof and dug a hole just above Jesus and lowered their friend down.

"When Jesus saw the trust these four mares had in him to help their friend, he said to the paralytic, 'Young mare, your sins are forgiven.'

"'Why does the stallion say things like that?" Another mare behind Jesus exclaimed. 'Only God can forgive sins.'

"'Is it easy to say to this mare, your sins are forgiven or get up, pick up your mat, and walk?" Jesus asked the mare before turning to the paralytic and continuing, 'Get up, pick up your mat, and walk home.'

"To everyone's surprise, the paralyzed man managed to get onto her hooves. She picked up her mat and walked home with her friends."

"That was an amazing story, Celestia." The orange mare said. "And an amazing dinner." He then helped clean up and walked up to Applejack.

"Hey Applejack." The mare said. "The name's Sunset Shimmer. You did a good thing rowing for the old guy today. I'm sure wherever your father is, he'd be proud."

"Thanks, but I'm not even sure he's alive." Applejack sighed.

Sunset was about to continue when there was a ruckus above deck.

"All slaves to oars!" A guard called out.

"What's happening?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"We're under attack by the rebel ship!" Sunset said looking out the window.

"And it's headed right at us!" Twilight added.

"Hold oars in!" Starlight shouted from the deck. "Hard to starboard! Bring her about now!"

The ship moved as best as it could, but the ship slammed into them, forcing them to stay still in international oceans, with the hole getting filled with water.

"We have them now!" Starlight said. "To port! To port now!"

"Ma'am, some of the oars were damaged in the pass, along with the engine room."

This was bad news for the crew as the ship quickly turned back around, with the ship stranded in international oceans.

"Prepare to be boarded!" Starlight called out.

Back in the galley, everyone was ankle deep in water.

"Where'd the ship go?" Rainbow Dash asked. "I don't see it."

"I do." Twilight said as the rebel ship rammed into them again, catching Twilight in its wake.

"Give me your hoof, Twilight Sparkle!" Celestia called out, now shoulder deep in water.

"Hold on, Twilight!" Celestia said as Twilight was pulled out with the boat. "We'll get to you somehow!"

Luckily, the crew saw Twilight and pulled him onboard according to Celestia keeping in telepathic contact with her.

On deck, the rebels boarded the ship and fought hard against Starlight's mares.

"Allow me!" Twilight said as she charged forward and assisted in the fight, ending up fighting Starlight herself. "Hope you can swim!"

Twilight then tossed Starlight over board as she held onto a piece of drift wood.

The kids used the cleaned out pot from dinner for a boat.

"We can get out through the kitchen." Celestia said as they got there with Winona standing there panting.

"Good old Winona." Celestia sighed. "As calm as can be."

Applejack was relieved at first, but then she heard the call from the slaves.

"The slaves are still chained up!" Applejack called out. "They'll drown!"

"I saw some keys in the captain's quarters while Applebloom and I were cleaning." Rainbow stated.

"Let's go!" Celestia said as they headed for the captain's quarters.

"It's locked!" Rainbow said as he tried the door.

"What do we do?" Applejack asked. "It won't budge."

"Look out!" Rainbow called out as she pointed out Applebloom with Winona.

"Ramming speed!" Applebloom called out as Winona plowed through it.

"Good work, Applebloom!" Applejack said happily as she ruffled her little sister's mane.

"I've got them!" Rainbow said as she tossed the keys to Applejack.

"Luna, you and the kids get to the other ship." Celestia said calmly. "Applejack and I will free the slaves."

"Be careful." Luna said.

"We will." Celestia said as she and Luna hugged.

Twilight quickly met up with the group on deck and led Luna and the kids to the other ship before looking up in shock.

"Celestia, Applejack, look out!" Twilight shouted, but too late. Just as they got to where the slaves were, a piece of flaming rubble slammed over the entrance to the oars.

"I think I can make it!" Applejack said, pointing to a small opening.

"Give me your hoof." Celestia said as she lowered Applejack down. "Easy. Easy."

"Applejack!" Sunset said happily as she was holding up the older slaves.

"Sunset, I've got the keys!" Applejack called out.

"Start with them!" Sunset said, pointing to the other side, where the hole was. Applejack quickly freed them as they were helped up by Celestia and Twilight and rushed to the boat.

"Everyone, hold on!" Applejack said as she unlocked the other side, but Sunset was stuck, and the water was rising higher and higher.

"SUNSET!" Applejack called out.

"Go, kid!" Sunset said, but Applejack managed to help Sunset get free, and they all just barely made it onto the other ship just as Starlight's sank into the sea, and they quickly got onto the other ship, which headed back for Canterlot immediately to drop off Celestia and the others.

On the way, the old stallion Applejack helped retold the story, but Applejack could barely take any of it in. She had gotten her only chance to find her father, and she'd failed. However, Sunset walked up with a white unicorn stallion.

"Hey Applejack, I said I didn't know your father, but here's a stallion who does. Applejack, meet our captain, Hondo Flanks."

"So you're the daughter of good ol' Hank." Hondo said.

"You know my dad?" Applejack asked.

"Know him?" Hondo asked. "I'll never forget him. Your father saved my life during the Great Fire. Last I'd heard, he escaped from his ship and went searching for your mother on the farms of Hollow Shades. I've never met a braver stallion, and you're just like him, don't ya know?."

"Do you have any stories about Daddy?" Applebloom asked.

"As a matter of fact, I do, kiddo." Hank said. "Once off the coast of Saddle Arabia, he and I were exploring one of the old ghost towns."

As the ship left her sight, Starlight clung to the board with the cook and the head guard.

"We've got to get to land now!" Starlight called out. "Once there, we've got to get a ship and go after them! By the way, what do you think the port will have for dinner, cook?"

Just then, a giant serpent sprung out of the water.

"Oh no." Starlight groaned.