"Oh, it's just a letter to a friend... a personal letter to a friend"
Edmond grasped for the row, looking to Fernand.
"We need to find land, he needs help! Grab a row!" Dashie hollered to Fernand, trying to be louder than the roaring sea.
Fernand was laying back in the row boat, but he sat up. He rolled his eyes and grabbed a row.
"How do you do this all day Edmond?! This is already tiring!" Fernand hollered after three rows.
Edmond chuckled, but had no response.
"I was being serious," Fernand said quietly, so Edmond wouldn't hear.
They rowed on, not engaging in conversation, just rowing, hoping to find land.
A few hours of tired rowing passed, and then, Edmond saw it. Land.
"Fernand! Look! Land!" Edmond shouted, pointing towards the island he saw.
Fernand turned, looking to where he pointed. His eyes widened.
"Edmond, we can't go there. They kill "visitors", no mercy," Fernand said, concerned, ears laying back as he turned back around to face his friend.
"Well, they don't know who they're dealing with," Edmond said confidently.
Fernand rolled his eyes once more, proceeding onward with the rowing.
They watched as the land grew closer and closer to them.
"Land ho!" Edmond yelled as the boat hit the sand, dropping the row, running and jumping off the boat. He flapped his wings and he lifted upward. Fernand watched in jealousy. Then, a bullet flew past Edmond. He dogged it, not on purpose though. They both looked as some guards that had appeared, were firing at them. Edmond lowered to the ground,
"We mean no harm! We come in peace!" He shouted to the guards wings up, but they kept firing, not listening.
Edmond walked towards them a bit, Fernand watching in horror. He was worried he would get shot. Edmond flew up to them, dogging bullets left and right, making sure they didn't hit Fernand either. He swopped down and grabbed a gun strait out of a guards hooves, and grew angry. He fired at some of the guards, not caring about what the consequences would be. He shot at them all, flying back towards Fernand, who was staring in horror.
"WE MEAN NO HARM!" Edmond shouted.
For fear of death, the guards stopped when their leader came out of the blue. Edmond dropped his gun and landed, watching the man.
"Who are you and what do you want?" The man asked.
"My name is Edmond Dashie, this is my friend, Fernand Monsparkle, and our captain is in a coma. He needs help, and when he's better, we'll leave, I promise." Edmond said, taking authority of the two.
"Alright then. Follow," the man said, turning and walking, the guards following.
Edmond turned back to Fernand. He gestured towards the group led by the man. Fernand stamped the ground.
"Edmond! You almost got us killed! I'm a little upset!" Fernand said through gritted teeth.
"I'm sorry, and I know that. I'll be more careful next time. I promise," Edmond said, then turning and trotting to the others.
Fernand turned and looked at the sea, raising his ears to the sound of the peaceful ocean, and then back to Edmond and the other ponies. He calculated for a minute.
"You make a lot of promises Edmond..." he sighed, but followed the rest.
The man sat down at his desk, the rest of his men carrying Edmond and Fernand's captain, Edmond and Fernand behind it all. They layed the captain down on a table, and examined him.
"Don't hurt him!" Edmond said, coming closer to see what they were doing.
Fernand grabbed his arm, and gave him a look. Edmond snorted, but listened to his wiser friend.
"If he truly is in a coma, he won't feel the cut of my knife," One of the nurses said to them.
Edmond looked at the length and height of the knife, but most important, the sharpness.
"I said, don't hurt him!" He shouted.
"I won't," the nurse whispered.
He put a small cut in the captains arm, staring angrily at Edmond as he did so. He then, cut deeper, and deeper. Edmond snorted again, and ran and jumped onto the table. He grabbed the knife from the nurse and made a stabbing gesture at him, making the pony flinch.
"Edmond!" Fernand yelled at him, making him stop.
Edmond dropped the knife, snapping back to himself, and got off the table. He went back over to to Fernand. Fernand punched his arm. He looked at him and rubbed it, ears back, knowing what Fernand wanted.
"Sorry," Edmond whispered, ashamed.
Fernand looked at him for a minute, but then, looked back at the nurse, snout up.
"Edmond, Fernand, come! I'll give you a room as my men take care of your captain," the man said to them, and directed it towards his men a bit as well.
Edmond walked towards the man in the door way, Fernand following.
They sat in their room, drinking. Edmond laughed a drunken laugh, at nothing.
"So, when are you and Shycedes gonna get married?" Fernand asked, taking another gulp of his drink.
Edmond shrugged, and took another gulp too. He ended with a delighted sigh.
"When I can afford a ring," Edmond said, clearly upset.
"W-Well, if you ever need a lone, just go to the bank," Fernand said, laying back on the couch some more.
Edmond said up, stretching his wings and yawned.
"The bank said that we can't have any more lones until we pay off our debt we already owe," Edmond replied, folding his wings back down.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door. Edmond's ears perked up, and he went to answer it, setting his drink down on the way there. He opened it, and it was the man from before.
"Edmond, take a walk with me for a minute?" The man asked.
Edmond looked back at Fernand, but saw that he was sprawled out on the couch, asleep. He nodded "yes".
They rounded the corner, and reached a balcony. Edmond looked around, staring at the pinkish sunset. He thought of Shycedes, and sighed.
"So, you're from Canterlot, right?" The man asked, staring off into the distance as he said this.
"Yes, why do you ask?" Edmond said, looking back at him.
"Well, I have a friend in Canterlot, that I haven't seen in a while, and, well, Edmond? Can you keep a secret?" He asked him.
Edmond nodded "yes" once again.
"Good, well, I need you to deliver this to a friend of mine," he asked Edmond, handing him a letter with his vibrant green magic.
Edmond stared at it, blank faced for a moment, but then he took it, shoving it into one of his pockets.
"Yes sir, but, may I ask, what is it?" Edmond asked, sheepishly.
"Well, it's just a letter to a friend... a personal letter to a friend," the man said, getting closer to Edmond's face, practically touching snouts with him.
"Yes, s-sir," Edmond said, backing up.
"Good boy. Now,' he whispered a name into Edmond's ear 'can you remember that name?" He asked the colt.
"Yes sir, that's Princess Luna!" Edmond said, smiling.
"Good, now, back to your room with you," the man said, gesturing towards the corner of the balcony.
Edmond nodded, smiling, and turned and trotted back to his room. The man sneered at the young, foolish, colt.
Edmond had slipped back into his room, noticing that Fernand was still asleep. He watched his sleeping friend, and found a comfy spot on the couch right next to him. He soon dozed off. As soon as the snoring had stared from Edmond, Fernand's eyes opened. He got a devilish grin, and reached for Edmond's pocket, where he saw the letter sticking out. He grabbed it, and tore it open, and of course, read it. When he finished, he calculated his master plan, and put the letter back into Dashie's pocket without waking him.
"Now I know, you're not a man of your word, Dashie," Fernand chuckled quietly.
He feel back into his comfortable sleep, and dreamed of what was soon to be of Edmond Dashie, and most importantly, him.
"Men! Awaken!" The man had yelled at them, swatting them with a news paper, so they would awaken.
Edmond awoke with a groan, stretching his wings, and yawning. Fernand snorted and rolled back over, asleep once more.
"Your captain has been dead for hours boys! Get up, it's time for you both to head home! I have a ship waiting for you," the man informed.
This woke them both up, and like they had just had a cup of coffee, they snapped up, full of energy.
"Yes s-sir! Lead us to it!" Edmond said, hoof over his forehead.
"Okay, follow," the man said as he turned around.
Edmond got up, helping Fernand up as well. He yawned, but took Edmond's hoof and got up. They followed the man out of their room, which wasn't theirs anymore, and onto the shore. They reached the water, which was splashing all over the sand, getting Edmond's and Fernand's hooves wet. They climbed the wooden staircase to the ship, and boarded. When they were safely on, Edmond turned and waved to the man, smiling. The man waved back, but his face was still blank. Fernand rolled his eyes, and trotted to the back of the ship, Edmond following.
"That was very nice of the man, don't you think Fernand?!" Edmond shouted over the roaring waves that crashed against the boat.
"Yes, Edmond, that was very nice of them," Fernand said, lowering his head and taking a seat on a leather chair in the corner.
Edmond flew up into the air, and did a twist and a twirl.
"Soon we will return home! I can't wait to see Shycedes!" Edmond said, still twirling in the air.
Fernand rolled his eyes, flushing red with anger. He turned his head so Edmond wouldn't see. He was doing his twists and twirls in the air, singing every once and a while, his smooth voice like poison to Fernands rough one. They finally reached the docks of Canterlot a few hours later.
When the stairs to the boat came out, the two walked to the top of it, looking down at the other citizens. Fernand took a proud, puff of air, but then was knocked over when Edmond came racing past him. He took flight then, looking all around for Shycedes. Fernand watched as she noticed him, and flew up to meet him. They embraced each other as Fernand watched, jealous. He spun her a round, and their mouths were moving, probably talking about where the two had been. Fernand watched as her perfect pink main flew in the wind, her polished hooves, wrapped around... Edmond. Fernand snorted.
"Soon, they will be wrapped around me," Fernand sneered, and trotted down into the sea of other ponies.
"Edmond Dashie! Edmond Dashie there you are! I need to speak with you in my office!" Celestia had shouted, up from her castle.
Edmond looked up, and was surprised to see Celestia of all ponies calling for him.
"I'll be back in a moment dear," Edmond said to Shycedes, pecking her cheek.
"Oh Edmond, I'll see you soon as well. Don't get any older," she teased.
She always said that when Edmond was about to leave, because she feared he wouldn't return for years. He winked at her, then turned and trotted to the castle doors. Shycedes was watching as he ran, his wing feathers, fluttering in the wind. Soon, she was whipped around, as if she was a pillow, soft and easy to turn. It was Fernand.
"Oh, hello Fernand, did you take care of my Edmond well?" She giggled, he always was getting into trouble.
"Oh yes, he almost got us killed, three times, actually," Fernand said, wraping his purple hoof around Shycedes, walking her like a dog.
"Where are we going, Fernand?" Shycedes asked.
"The rocks, there, Edmond will meet us, and we shall all talk and have a good time. Come," Fernand said, continuing to walk her.
In Celestia's office, Edmond was seated next to Danglerjacks, someone he knew from his ship. Danglerjacks gave him a grimacing look, and snorted, making Edmond flinch.
"You're both probably wondering why i've called you here, is that right?" Celestia asked them.
They both nodded "yes".
"Well, I've heard that you're captain has died, is this true, Dashie?" Celestia asked him, taking a sip of her wine.
"Yes, he is dead," Edmond said, tears filling up his eyes.
"Well then, Dashie. I here by promote you to the captain." Celestia said, shocking him.
He sat, stunned, as Danglerjacks grew angry.
"But, Celestia, he was only first mate! Me, I was second! I'm supposed to become captain! Not him!" Danglerjacks shouted.
"Well then, you can have his job," Celestia informed, calmly.
Danglerjacks stopped his front hooves on her desk, making Edmond flinch again.
"So, you're telling me I'm getting demoted!?" Danglerjacks questioned.
"Yes. You can take the job or be fired. What is your option, Danglerjacks?" Celestia asked, making Edmond snort a small laugh.
Danglerjacks just sat there, an angry look on his face.
"Fired it is then. You two may leave, thank you for your time, and, congratulations Dashie," Celestia directed.
Danglerjacks shot out of his seat and stormed off, leaving Celestia and Edmond alone. He looked at her and laughed, kissing her hooves.
"Thank you so much Celestia! You won't regret it!" He said, getting up and trotting off to tell his fiancé.
Celestia chuckled as someone entered the doorway. It was Luna.
"Hello, sister," Celestia said without looking at her.
"Hello to you too my sister, and, by any chance, did someone have a letter for me?" Luna asked, looking around.
"Well, the two in here may have, you can go ask them. Their names are-" she was cut off by her sister.
"I know, Edmond Dashie and Danglerjacks Applebelles," Luna said, turning and leaving the room once more.
