Chapters Chapter 1: Celestia's Request
''I hope Princess Celestia is alright. Her letter just told us to come to Canterlot quickly. Hopefully the Changelings have not returned.'' Twilight muttered while she nervously paced back and forth in the train car.
''A task can be interpreted in many ways darling. Maybe she needs us to make a new royal dress for her and Princess Luna. Or maybe a new look for the Royal Guards. Or new curtains for the castle.'' Rarity listed with glee.
The train started slowing down, and the ponies realized that they had arrived in Canterlot. As they exited a group of Royal Guards greeted them.
The guards escorted the ponies all the way to the throne room.
''Earlier today Luna and I received a message from Baltimare informing us that one of Equestria's trading partners had cut off all trade with us and set up a trade block prohibiting goods to be transported to or from their land.'' Celestia explained to the ponies.
''Maybe they just had a change of leadership, and the new king wants to change the terms of the trading arrangement?''
''Do you suspect that someone has usurped the throne from King Ironheart?''
''So if I understand the situation, you need us to travel to Coltalla and investigate what is happening over there and, after we have found out the cause, try to fix whatever has happened?'' Twilight asked.
Celestia asked a guard to bring her an inkwell, a quill and parchment. When brought to her she wrote something onto the parchment before handing it to Twilight.
Chapter 2: Baltimare Harbor
''We will be arriving in Baltimare within the hour.'' The conductor announced as he moved through the train car. Twilight and her friends had boarded the first train to Baltimare as soon as they reached Ponyville. She had given Spike a long list of chores to keep him busy in the library while she was away, which the little dragon was not too happy about. He had begged to go with them, but Twilight told him to stay and keep the library clean and organized in her absence.
Everypony else had also taken care of whatever business they had before departing. Applejack reminded Applebloom to do her homework and help Granny Smith and Big Macintosh at the farm, Pinkie had asked the Cakes if they would be fine for a while without her, Fluttershy got somepony to look after her animals, Rarity finished some pending orders and Rainbow had given Scootaloo one more flying lesson.
''So what's next Twilight? Are we gonna have a look 'round town first or head straight for the harbor?'' Applejack asked.
Once the train arrived at the station the ponies headed for the harbor. The sun was setting and Twilight had hoped that they could find a ship before it did. As they made their way to the harbor, they did buy the few odds and ends that might be useful.
Once the ponies reached the harbor, they had to take a moment to take in how big it was. There were ships left and right. Big ships and small. Some were docking, others were loading up cargo and some were departing. There was one huge ship departing that had a whole lot of ponies waving it goodbye. On the deck of the ship were more ponies yelling their own goodbyes. As Twilight and the rest passed the ship and the crowd, she noticed that the ship was named Ponic.
Further in the harbor there was a small ship getting ready to depart. On it a grey and white pegasus was moving stuff around. Twilight approached the ship and asked: ''Excuse me, but we are trying to find a ship that could take us to Coltalla. Is there a possibility that you might be able to do that?''
Even further in the gang found a big, sturdy looking ship into which ponies were carrying boxes and very heavy-looking crates. Near the workers a pony was shouting orders and various curses at them. Twilight figured that he must be the captain of the ship and approached him.
''Speaking of questions, you still have not answered Twilight's properly. Are you or are you not the captain of this ship?'' Rainbow Dash said.
Wind Jammer stared at the ponies for a while. Then he simply said: ''No.''
''We can pay you!'' Twilight shouted. This made Wind Jammer stop and turn around.
Twilight looked at her friends. They all nodded. They needed to get to Coltalla by any means necessary.
Chapter 3: En route to Coltalla
It had been two days now since Wavechaser had departed from Baltimare. Twilight and her friends had been given a small cabin to sleep in while on the ship. It was a tight fit, but all six of them managed to fit in. Sadly there were only four beds, so two of them had share a bunk. Rarity offered to share a bunk with Applejack, who politely refused, remembering what had happened at Twilight's library during their sleepover. In the end Rarity and Fluttershy got their own beds while Twilight and Applejack share one bunk and Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie shared the other one.
During the day they had been given various jobs to do to earn their keep. Rarity was given the task of repairing the sails. While glad to work with fabric, she was much less enthusiastic when she found out that she'd be working while the sails were in use. This meant that she had to climb up with all of the supplies and work in less then ideal conditions.
Pinkie Pie was put work in the galley. Wind Jammer introduced her to Wavechaser's cook Mutton Chop, who was an earth pony with a brown coat, black mane, a large build and one hell of a temper. It wasn't long after Pinkie had started working that she started singing a merry little tune. She stopped soon though as a knife flew past her head into the wall. Mutton Chop growled and stated that if she insist on singing, she can jump off and go sing with the Seaponies. But in his kitchen ponies didn't sing, they worked. He also added that if he heard so much as a note, he'd aim better next time.
Fluttershy was sent to the sickbay where she would be assisting the ship's doctor, a griffon by the name of Darius. Unlike other crew members, Darius was much more open and hospitable. He talked a great deal with Fluttershy and showed her some tips on how to better treat the sick and injured. Fluttershy wondered why Darius was the only griffon aboard the Wavechaser, but thought that it'd be too rude to ask about it.
Rainbow Dash was sent to the crow's nest to keep a lookout. She shared this job with another pegasus, a youngster named Calm-Before-Storm. He was exited to finally have someone to talk to while up in the nest, and the fact that it was a pretty lady as well made it even better. Rainbow herself was less enthusiastic about the whole thing, but gritted her teeth and went along with it. After all, this was the only way they could get to Coltalla right now. The ponies had asked Wind Jammer if he knew anything about Coltalla's current situation. He had told them that all access to the island had been cut off, and that there were constant patrols to prevent any and all entry be it by sea or air. This was unpleasant news to Rainbow especially since she would have rather flown to Coltalla then having to take a ship.
Applejack had been instructed to go below deck and into the cargo hold. There she was introduced to a unicorn who was hard at work moving, securing and inspecting the cargo. Wind Jammer told Applejack that he was known as Storage Unit. The unicorn was glad to have an additional pair of hooves to help him and it didn't take long for Applejack's strength and tenacity to impress Storage.
Twilight's job was in the captains cabin with Wind Jammer. She was to assist him in plotting a course to Coltalla and anything else that he needed help with. While Wind Jammer knew the way, he wanted to know if Twilight had any ideas or suggestions. Twilight was unfamiliar with navigation, but she had read a few books about it. This proved useful and it didn't take long until the two of them had figured out a more or less optimal route to the island kingdom.
Being in the captain's cabin made it possible for Twilight to ask all sorts of questions from the captain.
''To answer your previous question,'' Wind Jammer said as he turned around towards the windows, ''the last captain was a tough old pegasus called Thunderstorm, or as most of the crew and his enemies knew him, 'The Eye of the Storm'.''
Early the next day Twilight entered the captain's cabin. Inside she found Wind Jammer sharpening a sword.
After working for a good while and having lunch afterwards, the two returned to Wind Jammer's cabin. Twilight saw that she now had another chance to ask Wind Jammer about his past.
Twilight gasped, but before she could say anything a pony ran into the cabin.
Chapter 4: Trouble on the ship
Twilight followed Wind Jammer as he ran out of his cabin and onto deck. A mob had gathered there, and they were armed as well.
Wind Jammer pounded the deck. ''Shut up!''
Twilight could see that Wind Jammer was in agony, and she wanted to help him stop this. If the mutiny kept going and they replaced Wind Jammer with somepony else, then she and her friends would be thrown overboard without a second doubt. And there was no way they could swim to Coltalla. So Twilight leapt in and stood between Wind Jammer and Deep Blue.
Deep Blue looked at the princess for a moment. He then let out a chuckle.
That was when Wind Jammer planted a hoof into Deep Blue's face.
Deep Blue shook his head to recover from Wind Jammer's punch, after which he drew his sword.
''You don't need to do this! You could-'' Twilight spoke out before she was stopped by Wind Jammer's sword pointing towards her.
''I do apologize Miss Sparkle, but I'm afraid I can't have you interrupting this fight. Whatever you were planning might have ended with both of them living, but that would have been only a temporary solution. And right now we need a permanent one.''
Wind Jammer glanced back to where Twilight had been standing not a moment ago. Darius had stepped in at just the right moment to prevent any harm from coming to her or her friends, and he was thankful to the doctor for that.
The sound of steel meeting steel rang out as the two ponies crossed swords. Wind Jammer used his magic to hold onto his sword, which allowed him to move it around a lot more, while Deep Blue held his in his mouth. They blocked each others swings a few times, and the ones that connected did nothing more then flesh wounds. Both fighters were skilled with the sword, but Deep Blue held the advantage with more power and combat experience.
Deep Blue noticed what he was doing and swung around, hitting the floating sword with his own and throwing it overboard. He then turned back towards Wind Jammer only to get punched in the face again.
Deep Blue charged in again, aiming to end the fight with a well aimed thrust. Wind Jammer jumped to the side to evade the thrust, but Deep Blue knew what he was trying to do and spun around and managed to put his blade through one of Wind Jammer's hooves. He cried out in pain and Deep Blue picked him up and threw him towards the mast. Wind Jammer hit it with a loud thunk and slumped down. At this point he was bleeding badly and had most likely several broken bones. Deep Blue walked up to him and laughed.
Before Deep Blue could reply, Wind Jammer used all the strength he still had to plant a hoof into his gut, causing him to cough and gasp for air as well as drop his sword. Wind Jammer then picked up the end of a rope, spun it around Deep Blue's neck and with a swift kick, he flipped a lever that caused a counterweight to drop and lift Deep Blue up towards the crow's nest.
