Sea

"Is everypony aboard?"

"The entire crew is onboard and accounted for. Ms. Sparkle is currently on the bow, and Ms. Cross has been in the stern cabin for the last fifteen minutes."

Somerset nodded to the boatswain. "Great. Have a runner tell the Governor we're ready to set off."

The boatswain bowed and turned to leave, but before he did he asked: "We will remain docked for the duration of the Governor's speech, yes?"

Somerset nodded, flicking him away with a hoof. The boatswain nodded again and started running down the deck. Somerset took a deep breath and looked around. He looked up the mainmast with nothing particular in mind, before shrugging and walking towards the cabin, walking down the steps towards the door with a dignified expression. He opened the door - and immediately closed it.

"I'm indecent!" Cross' voice shouted out from inside. Somerset leaned against the wall and began twiddling his hooves, occasionally peeking at the door. A loud battle rang through the wooden walls, accompanied by the sounds of Cross repeatedly jumping up and down. Somerset sighed as he looked out at the ship, before knocking on the door with a hoof.

"You ready yet?"

"Almost!" Cross replied through the door. "This dang thing doesn't want to fit correctly!"

Somerset sighed. "Well, hurry up! The governor's going to be here for his speech at any time, and you're supposed to be there!"

The door flew open, almost hitting Somerset. He jumped back just in time. "Whoa!" he yelled.

Cross walked out. Her golden hair flowed loosely, and over her cream-white coat she wore a simple and modest yellow dress. Her blue eyes sparkled, and she wore a set of fairly expensive earrings. She smiled expectantly. "So, how do I look?"

Somerset patted her head. "You look great. Head on up to the stern railing, and I'll be with you in a few minutes."

Cross nodded, walking off, as Somerset made his way into the room. He walked directly to the mirror and first neatened his hair with a small brush. He then washed his face and, once it had been sufficiently cleaned, walked over to his hat-rack. A trifecta of tricorn hats sat upon the rack; each one with a black body, but one with silver-colored trimming, one with gold-colored, and one with simple white. He opted for the gold-colored one, making sure it fit snugly over his head. His horn poked out through a hole in the front.

He walked out onto the deck and headed straight for the bow, where Twilight still sat. He walked up to her and with a small nudge got her attention. She turned to face him. "What?" she asked.

"The governor's going to be here soon," he said. "You need to freshen up quickly."

"The governor?" Twilight asked. "Sounds important."

"He runs Sunsport and the surrounding settlements," Somerset said. "In other words, he's probably the most important pony you'll meet until we reach Solstead."

Twilight sat motionless for a moment, before slowly getting up and heading to the back of the ship. Somerset followed closely. Where Twilight went into the cabin - presumably to wash up and make herself presentable - Somerset walked up the stairs to the stern deck and found Cross leaning against the railing, looking at the quay with a smile on her face.

"Are you excited?" Somerset asked as he took up a spot at the railing next to her.

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't," Cross said with a small smile. "It's not often that we get to see the governor, and now he's actually going to be talking to us," she said.

Somerset nodded. "I'm just hoping that we don't get swarmed by ponies trying to steal a ride with the Prophet," Somerset confessed.

Down below, Twilight looked at herself in the mirror. Over the past few hours, much of her color had returned to her coat and eyes. Her mane, while a bit messy, was fixed with only a few seconds of combing. She looked down at her clothes - unwashed, but not quite dirty - and shrugged, deciding they were probably good enough. For good measure, though, she peeked into Somerset's wardrobe and picked out one of his fancier-looking coats. It was a bit awkwardly large across her body, but in her opinion it looked quite nice. She made her way out of the cabin and up to the stern deck.

"Come here, Twilight. I think it's about to start," Somerset said as he looked out at the quay from the stern. "Look, that's the governor's carriage."

A large, black stagecoach rolled up to the side of the quay, drawn by a team of four strong stallions. A door opened; out stepped an old-looking stallion with a curled white wig and a brown coat and dressed in quite fancy yellow and red garments. He was almost instantly surrounded by a group of random civilians who all wanted to hear what he had to say. 'This must be the governor,' Twilight thought to herself as she looked at the stallion. He turned to look at the ship for a moment before looking back at the crowd.

"Mares and gentlecolts," the governor began. He spoke with a loud, refined voice reeking of high society and rich culture. He cleared his throat. "Mares and gentlecolts, if I may have your attention please. Today, we are here to celebrate a momentous, once in a lifetime event. No, not once in a lifetime; it is unique. Across all generations of history, from the first founders of this wonderful Eastedge to our descendants a thousand years from now, we are the only ponies blessed by Solana with the presence of her Prophet." Cheers and applause erupted from the crowd.

"Unbeknownst to us, the Prophet, our savior, has been living with us in Sunsport for over a week. Specifically, she has been living in the dwelling of the good captain Somerset. She sailed from the west some time ago, crossing through the Great Barrier with little difficulty - as was predicted by the Great Prophecy of Solana's Return - and was rescued by the good Captain after her vessel was tragically destroyed in an unexpected squall.

"Today, the Prophet must unfortunately leave our presence. The great Queen Alana has requested her presence at the bright city Solstead, presumably to join in her just Royal Court. It is with great sadness in our hearts but mighty optimism that we bid the Prophet well on her journey west, and we hope to be blessed by your presence once more.

"If the Prophet would like to step forward, we now have a song to be sung in your honor courtesy of the Navy Seapony's Choir."

Somerset and Cross took a step back, leaving Twilight alone against the railing. The governor turned to look at an aide that stood next to him; the aide nodded.

A group of uniformed ponies stepped forward, forming a neat line. Another, dressed in the same uniform but holding a golden baton, stood in front of the line and, clearing his throat, began to count.

"One, two three...

"Joy to the world! The Prophet is come!

The Sun is again shining!

Let every pony see its bright light!

And all the world will sing!

And all the world will sing!

And all, and all the world will sing!"

Twilight had a small smile on her face as the choir sung, although she felt a minor uneasiness. For the first time since she'd arrived in Eastedge, she realized how big of a thing her heading through actually was. She managed to maintain the smile, if only for external appearances, but inside she felt something gnawing at her; an inborn feeling of unworthiness, almost like she was stealing these ponies' joy and grace.

The song went on for about two minutes. Once it was over, Twilight began to clop her hooves furiously together. "That was beautiful," she said loud enough so that the ponies could hear. They all seemed to immediately share a large grin before bowing. Suddenly, the entire quay erupted into applause.

"And with that, Prophet, we wish you well on your journey to Solstead and wherever else the winds may take you!"

The ship's bell rang, the sails were unfurled, and the Eagle was once more underway.