Sea

"I only know what I learned over the course of my travels with the navy," Somerset prefaced. "However, I do think that it should be enough, at least until you can find one of the more knowledgeable ponies in Sunsport or Royale.

"The most important part of understanding the Great Barrier and, indeed, many things here in Eastedge is the books of Equestria, in my opinion. It's a series of three books that lays down the foundations for most of our folklore, legends, and religion. They're called, in this order, Diaspora, Exodus, and Renaissance.

"Diaspora is, essentially, prehistory. Diaspora tells of the first ponies on this plane; how they propagated all across the world, building cities and empires; and how they were, inevitably, destroyed by their own sin. According to the book of Diaspora, civilization began a very long time ago in the valleys of Hiridah, somewhere far to the west. There, the first ponies were created by the images of Sun and Moon, and in their likeness they began to dominate the plane. They spread eastward until they inhabited most of the world; but the ponies of this time were a sinful and evil people, so Sun and Moon worked together to scorch and freeze the land until only a small group remained. This small group eventually repopulated the world, spreading goodness and peace instead of the evil and war they had before. They also created a church that, to this day, still goes strong: the Church of the Holy Trinity, named after the trinity of Earth, Moon, and Sun.

"Next comes Exodus. It is easily the longest book; it details how the earthly incarnation of the sun, a mystical alicorn called Solana, crossed the world from west to east, choosing ponies for her Day of Reckoning. Those who were chosen were given individual marks based on what talent or quality had made her choose them; thus, they became known as Marked. That includes you, by the way. Forty years after she'd originally moved from west to east, Solana came again to take all her ponies in an enormous flying Ark to the East, where she constructed the Great Barrier to keep those she hadn't chosen from tainting the pureness and goodness of the new land of Equestria.

"The third book, Renaissance, is the newest. Where Exodus and Diaspora were written upwards of three thousand years ago, Renaissance came around only about five hundred years in the past. Unlike Diaspora and Exodus, it talks of the future, not the past. Specifically, about the day that Solana will open up the Great Barrier after sending out her Prophet to tame all the lands of the West. I think you can see why, now, it might not be a good idea for you to flaunt that mark just yet; we wouldn't want ponies thinking that you are the prophet of the Goddess, after all.

"The Great Barrier itself lies to the east of here. You probably know about it; you've already been through it, since you came from Equestria. Essentially, it's a massive storm far to the east of Eastedge. I don't know much about the expeditions that've tried to pierce through it - that information isn't the kind that we captains get, in case we're sent out there - but suffice it to say that not a single expedition has broken through and returned. It's not like there's no return; there's just no conceivable way through. The storm slowly gets more and more intense as you go deeper, to the point where any ship large enough to survive the waves will have its sails and masts torn off by the wind, and any ship small enough to survive the wind will be destroyed by the waves. Honestly, it's a miracle you made it this far already."

Twilight interrupted. "Wait, why were you so close to the Great Barrier, then? If that storm was-"

"That storm we picked you out of was nowhere near the intensity of the Barrier." Somerset said with a level gaze. "Now, if you excuse me, I think that I've spent enough time on this question and answer section. We need to look sharp when we make port in Sunsport tomorrow." He got out of his chair, knocking over an empty bottle or two. "Any last questions?"

"What's Sunsport?" Twilight asked.

"A city. A city where I grew up, as a matter of fact," Somerset said. "Now, if you don't mind, I must retire to my quarters. I suggest you do the same." Somerset did a small bow, before turning around and heading towards a large bed. When Twilight looked around, confused as to where to go, he pointed to a small bunk, usually empty, taken from the crew's quarters the previous day.

Sleep came quickly to Twilight Sparkle as the ship tirelessly forged its way west.