A journey south, and into the mind
The day dawned bright and clear, the ships gently bobbing in the harbor. Their masts towered like leafless trees. The fishing fleet had already left for the day, but a veritable forest of spires clawed at the sky regardless. Many would be setting out within the hour, on a great journey south, past the zebra lands. Shining Armor himself, at his sister's request, would be overseeing this momentous voyage.
The royal guard captain and co-ruler of the crystal empire stepped from his cabin aboard the Emissary, the expedition flagship. His armor shining in the sun, Shining Armor took a moment to breathe in the new day. To him, it was a heady feeling. He would miss his Cadence, to be sure, but this voyage presented a great chance to get out of the house and, he secretly wished, to redeem him somewhat for failing against Tirek so many months ago.
The harbormaster soon arrived, his face a mask of frustration. Shining understood; precious space was being taken by his fleet and trade with other cities had begun suffering as a result.
“I hope you're planning on leaving today, sir.”
“Absolutely, harbormaster. The fleet will make sail very soon,” Shining replied apologetically. “We would have been gone sooner, but Twilight had some last-minute notes she dug up on ancient zebrican masks that she needed us to see.”
Soon enough, the fleet was underway, stocked with provisions enough to last the entire trip. They would stop at a zebra fishing village on the way, but only briefly to take on a few guides who knew the area they set out for.
“Captain Marlin, how soon do you expect we will arrive?” Shining asked.
“Well, with a favorable wind milord,” the captain replied. “The Emissary could make it to the village in just over a week. Some of the sloops could be there faster, but the fleet is only as fast as the slowest vessel. Those'd be the transport galleons lagging behind, carrying much of our supplies and, if this venture is successful, ancient zebrican and equestrian relics. They'll take two weeks or more to get to our first stop.”
“And if weather isn't favorable?”
“It should be, as long as we are in the shipping lanes. Weather teams are paid well to get ships moving faster. Once we skirt past the capitol though, things can get a bit unpredictable, and that might slow us down. Could take up to three weeks for the slower ships to get where we're going.”
His doubts satisfied, Shining Armor took his leave of the captain and made his way to the forecastle. Short of the crow's nest, it had the best view of any place on the ship, and was certainly more secluded than amidships. There, he took a moment to watch the sun shining on the waves around the ship as the wind tousled his mane. Sailing life was fun, he decided, and wondered if a channel in the north could be thawed. He was sure Cadence would enjoy it too. Soon, he heard splashing, and glanced down. There, pacing the ship, a pack of dolphins was cavorting in the wake.
“Quite a sight, aren't they,” a voice said to his left, startling him. The owner was an ancient looking earth pony who's gap-toothed smile had clearly seen better days. His mane and tail were both tattered, and the coat along his spine had large swaths of missing fur.
“Wha?” Shining replied in frustration. “Don't sneak up on ponies like that.”
“Oh shucks. Here's poor ol' Keelhaul, can't move an inch without his bones creakin', an' he sneaks up on the Cap'n o the Royal Guard.”
“The whole ship is creaking and it's windy. Of course you snuck up on me. Now, was there something you needed?”
“Not 't all. Just wanna share the view 'n chat.”
“Chat? About what?”
“No disr'spect, but I been around longer 'n you. Lot longer, I reckon. I can tell when ponies is beatin' themselves up, and I can tell you is.”
“What? How could you po--” Shining began, but he was interrupted.
“I just can, see? Now, I don't know you too well, but I reckon s'got somethin' to do with that big ol' monster what attacked awhile back, see?”
“Yes,” Shining admitted grudgingly. “Tirek.”
“He beetcha and took yer magic, right?”
“Yes, but we were betrayed by--”
“Shoot, that don't matt'r. Simple fact is, despite all yer trainin', you were outclassed.”
“Gee, is that supposed to make me feel better?”
“Now let me finish, see. You goin' up 'gainst somethin' big as that would be like me takin' a fishin' sloop 'gainst a fleet big 's this one. Never going to work. But, if that's what need'd done, then by gum I'd do it.”
“So what are you saying, exactly?”
“I'm sayin' you shouldn't be 'ard on yourself for failin' to stop him, but proud for tryin' anyway, knowin' it were useless.”
“Uhh, thanks, I guess? That still doesn't make me feel any better.”
“O'course it don't. But am I wrong thinkin' that in that mom'nt, you were ready to die for those you swore to protect?”
“No. I am always ready to lay down my life for those in my care.”
“Then, in that one shinin' mom'nt, you were doin' exactly what needed done. There's absolutely nothin' to beat yourself up for.”
“You know, Keelhaul, I think you're right,” Shin ing Armor said, giving the words some thought. “Thank you.... but how did you know about all that?”
“It's like I said, Cap'n. I been around a long time. Might be I used to be a royal guard m'self, but I can't rightly say.”
“Why not?”
“Well, Keelhaul weren't always my name. Got that after I got keel-hauled. Must've hit my head when it happened, 'cause I don't remember much before then. I remember bein' a guard though. Cap'n Marlin hisself fished me out, 'fore they sank the pirates what had me. I guess they figured I was dead, so they left me.”
“Wow, that's quite a life you've lived, even if you don't remember much.”
“Aye, but I always wondered...Anyway, Cap'n says i'm to tell you to either find some shade, or take that armor off and stow it belowdecks.”
“What? Why?”
“On account of it's so shiny, least at the mom'nt, that he can't see where he's goin'.”