Chapters The air is thick with the smell of the sea, and crowded with the sounds of seagulls flying overhead along with the restless waves. One small ship sails across the waters, without the sight of land for miles. The gleaming sun creates a glare along a telescope, frustrating the mare peering through it. The beams have sweat trickling down her banana-yellow coat of fur and red mane. "Darn sun," she mumbles.
"Would you put that thing away?!" One of her crewmates calls from below the mast. The mare peers over the rails of the bucket atop the mast she's perched in to see her crewmate shielding her eyes from the sun. It’s easy to spot her despite how high the mast goes, as her orange coat of fur nearly glows in the sunlight. “You don’t need it to know that there’s absolutely nothing ahead!”
“Ya sher about that Scoot?! Because I do think I see somethin’!”
“Oh, really? Hold on.” Scoot spreads her wings, and flies up to the top of the mast, hovering near the rails. “Let’s see, Apple Bloom. Show me what this ‘something’ is.”
“Take a look fer yerself,” she says as she hands over the telescope. Scoot moves her messy, fuchsia mane away from her eyes to gaze out at the ocean.
“Well, would you look at that?”
“I know, I can’t quite tell what it is.”
“I’ll tell you what it is. It’s what we’ve been seeing since day one, miles of sea.”
“Are you. . ? Yer not even lookin’ the right way.” Apple Bloom slightly adjusts the telescope. “Now look.” Scoot can now see something floating in the water ahead.
“Huh, I wonder what that is.”
“Right. Should we check it out?”
“Nah, it just looks like some trash that must’ve fallen off somepony else’s ship. I say we keep going the way we’re going.” Scoot then gives back Apple Bloom the telescope before fluttering back down to the deck. Apple Bloom puts the telescope back to her eye, not ready to quickly assume what she sees is nothing more than pointless debris. She twists the telescope to try and get a closer look at the object, and finds that it is in fact nothing more than a wooden barrel. Just as she’s ready to dismiss it, she notices something peculiar tied to it. Suddenly, she’s struck with the realization that it is in fact more than just a barrel.
“Scoot!” she screams.
“What now?” Scoot groans.
“There’s a barrel in the water!”
“So?”
“Somepony’s tied to it!”
“Are you serious?!”
“Yes! Get Belle!”
“On it!” Scoot pops open the hatch leading down to the lower parts of the ship. “Sweetie Belle! Sweetie Belle you awake?!” A marshmallow-white mare peers out from one of the rooms. She whips her curly, pink mane out of her face to reveal her tired eyes.
“What is it, Scoot?” she asks clearly overcome with morning fatigue.
“Apple Bloom’s found somepony out in ocean!”
“What?”
“Yeah, tied to a barrel! Come on!” The both of them make their way back up on deck, meeting up with Apple Bloom who’s climbed down from her perch.
“Belle!” says Apple Bloom. “Quick, take a look.” Sweetie Belle takes the telescope, and holds it up to her eye. “Right out there, can ya see it?”
“Yeah, I do.”
“We gotta help ‘em!”
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”
“What’ya mean? We can’t just leave ‘em out there!”
“That pony could be dangerous.”
“Dangerous? Are ya nuts? The only thing that pony is, is he’s in need of help.”
“Just look at what he’s wearing. That’s clearly pirate attire.”
“An’ what about it?”
“I’m thinking he might not be too much of a ‘friendly’ pirate considering he’s been thrown overboard.”
“Even if he was, we would have the upper hoof! There’s three of us, an’ one ‘a him! Scoot, are you with me?”
“Well. . ." Scoot glances between Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom. "Sure, I'm in.”
Apple Bloom turns back to Sweetie Belle. "Belle?"
"I just. . ." Sweetie Belle begins.
“Look, the longer we decide on what to do, the closer he could be to death. If he’s not dead already. We can’t just leave knowing we just might’ve saved his life if we had tried.” Sweetie Belle ponders for a moment, then nods her head in agreement.
“Alright,” she says. “Let’s go.”
“Alrighty then! I’ll take the wheel. Scoot, give us some breeze to get this ship movin’!”
“Got it!” Scoot salutes as she flies up near the ship’s sails, and Apple Bloom grabs hold of the wheel located on the stern of the ship.
“Now, Scoot!”
“Coming right up!” She flaps her wings, sending enough winds to push the sails along with the ship. It continues to gain speed as Apple Bloom guides it towards the barrel. In a matter of seconds, the barrel comes into view. “Belle! Git ready to bring ‘em aboard!”
“I’m ready!” Sweetie Belle shouts as she leans over the edge of the ship. She watches as they approach the barrel, and just as it’s underneath Sweetie Belle, her horn generates a greenish hue that is also cast around the barrel. “I got it!” It is lifted up and out from the water, and lowered down to the deck. Both Scoot and Apple Bloom leave their posts to gather around the pony tied by rope with his belly to the surface of the barrel. From what they can tell, his coat of fur is gray and his mane is such a dark color of brown that it appears almost black from being soaked in the sea.
“Come on, girls. Let’s cut ‘em loose,” says Apple Bloom. Each of them pull out their daggers from their sheaths, and begin cutting the rope until the young stallion’s body is freed and falls to the floor.
“Is he breathing?” Scoot asks.
“I . . . I don’t know,” says Sweetie Belle.
“Well . . . isn’t there somethin’ we can do?” Apple Bloom asks.
“I’ve got an idea,” says Scoot as she kneels down near his body. She takes in a deep breath, then violently punches the stallion in the chest. He suddenly springs to life as water spews out from his mouth. He curls up, coughing relentlessly as the last of the blockage leaves his throat.
“Hey! Hey, are ya alright?” Apple Bloom asks.
“W-Who. . .” The stallion begins. “Who’s there? Who are you?” The stallion asks as he tries to look up at the three mares, but the sun’s light attacks his face.
“We found you at sea, but you’re alright now,” says Scoot.
“A-At sea? I’m-I’m . . .” The stallion struggles to form words as his body shivers and mouth quivers.
“Apple Bloom,” says Sweetie Belle. “Check him, he might have a weapon.” Apple Bloom lifts up the stallion’s black coat, and finds no weapon on him.
“Look, Belle. Nothin’.” Then, her eyes are drawn to one particular piece of clothing. A red bandana tied around his neck with a distinctive insignia sewn into the crimson cloth, a white, six-pointed star. Apple Bloom can feel fury building up inside of her, and her crewmates immediately take notice. The stallion looks down at his bandana, then dreadfully back up to Apple Bloom’s glare. “You’re one of them.”
“N-No . . . No. . .” The stallion fearfully repeats.
“Apple Bloom, just . . . take it easy,” Scoot advises.
“Belle, you were right.” The stallion glances between all three of them, trembling not from the cold, but from dread as his eyes make their way back to Apple Bloom’s. “We should’ve left him.” She gets back to her hooves, as does Scoot and Sweetie Belle.
“W-Wait. . .” The stallion begs. Apple Bloom bashes the stallion’s head with her hoof, immediately sending him unconscious.
The stallion stirs with an aching pain on the side of his head. He can hear the calming, gentle sounds of the waves smacking the sides of the ship. His check is in pain from laying on the cold, wood floor, and lifts up his head as his vision becomes clearer. Illuminated by the moonlight, Apple Bloom looms over him as fear immediately sinks down into his chest. “Well now, look who’s finally awake,” she says. “I can’t tell ya how long I’ve been waitin’ for a moment like this.” The stallion tries to speak, but finds his mouth is wrapped up with a filthy rag. “Don’t even try. I jus’ want you to listen.” Apple Bloom kneels down so that she can meet at eye level with him, taking pleasure in his fearful quivering. “Now, you ever hear of a little island called Red Apple Isle?” The stallion shakes his head. “It’s the name of my home, or at least it was.” Apple Bloom grabs the stallion but the collar of his coat. “That is, until it was attacked and pillaged by you an’ yer captain!”
The stallion shuts his eyes, breathing heavily. Apple Bloom then releases him, and brings out a book. She lays it down before him, opening the cover. “Open yer eyes,” she commands, but the stallion refuses. Quickly growing impatient with him, she bashes him in the side of his head with her hoof. “I said, open yer eyes.” Dreadfully, he opens he gives in to her demand to see that the book is in fact a photo album. “Now, do you see this pony right here?” she asks, pointing to a photo of a mare in a brown, ranch hat. “This is my sister, Applejack. An’ this here, this is my brother. This is my granny.” She begins flipping through the pages. “Here’s more of my family, and here are my neighbors!” The stallion squirms, watching Apple Bloom grow more furious with every page. “An’ now, everypony in this book is dead! An’ it’s all because of you!” She slams the book shut, causing the stallion to flinch as she pushes it aside. “You and the rest a’ yer crew are nothin’ but heartless scum. After what you all did, I suppose it’s only fair I return the favor.” Apple Bloom draws her dagger out from its sheathe, and the stallion’s eyes grow wide as his heart brims with anxiety. He attempts to wriggle his hooves free from the rope tied around them, but it proves useless. “What I’m going to do with this blade can never match the years of pain I’ve gone through, but nonetheless, you deserve it.” She clenches the handle of the dagger, and readies herself as the stallion’s muffled screams fill the air.
“Apple Bloom! Stop!” Scoot shouts as she bursts through the hatch and onto the deck of the ship. She spreads her wings and darts towards Apple Bloom, restraining her.
“Let me go, Scoot! I need to do this!” Apple Bloom struggles to free herself.
“No. . ! You don’t. . ! This isn’t going to solve anything!”
“It will for me!”
“Okay, and what would ‘they’ think?! Would your sister want to see you murder this stallion? Would she say it’s the right thing to do?” Apple Bloom gives in, ending her attempts to break free and drops her dagger to the floor.
“Alright, now let’s head back down to our quarters and try to get some rest until morning.”
“Y-Yeah, right.”
“And let’s make sure we get him locked back up too.”
“I’ll take care of it, just . . . wait.” Apple Bloom’s eyes are drawn to something out in the distance.
“What? What do you see?”
“Is that . . . land?”
“No way. It is! We gotta wake up Sweetie Belle!”
“You go an’ do that. I’ll make sure this filth gets locked up.” Scoot hurries back below deck, and Apple Bloom turns to the stallion. “Yer lucky she came to stop me. As far as I’m concerned, you should be dead.” She bites onto the back of the stallion’s collar, tugging him all the way back to the open hatch. She shoves him down, watching him painfully tumble down the short flight of steps. She then drags him all the way to an empty room as he moans from the pain, slams the door and locks it with a ring of iron keys.
With Sweetie Belle, Scoot and Apple Bloom gathered above deck, they gaze out at the incoming mass of land. “Yeah, that’s something alright. It’s too dark to tell if it’s inhabited though,” says Sweetie Belle as she peers through the telescope.
“Well, it’s better than nothing,” says Scoot.
“Even if nopony’s livin’ there, we might find some fruit er somethin’ fer the journey ahead,” says Apple Bloom.
“I think we’re going a little too slow, by the time we get there it’ll be sunup. How’s about we get this ship moving a bit faster?” Just as they did before, Scoot and Apple Bloom take their positions.
“Belle!” Apple Bloom calls. “In case somepony does live there, make sure you git that horn covered. It’s too risky for you to wander around anywhere without it hidden.”
“Good call. I’ll get it taken care of. By the way, is that stallion still in that room?”
“Yeah, an’ unfortunately, he’s still breathin’.”
“Alright, well we’re going to have to figure something out. We can’t just keep him locked up in there forever.”
“I’m workin’ on it. I had one idea, but it’s probably not the best. Hey, if no one lives on that island, we could always drop ‘em off there!” As Sweetie Belle returns below deck, Scoot chuckles.
“You know,” Scoot begins as she creates a breeze to push the sails. “It’s funny how you cared so much when he was just a body floating at sea! Now that you know who it is, you’re wishing him dead!”
“So? I’m allowed to change my mind, aren’t I?”
“I mean, he’s still a pony!”
“Are you tryin’ to defend him?”
“I’m just saying—”
“Scum like him deserve to be dead! Unless yer sayin’ that all murderers should be saved?”
“Never mind!” Scoot shakes her head. “Shouldn’t have even brought it up,” she mutters to herself. Once they are close, they anchor the ship. Sweetie Belle returns with her head covered with a white cloth. “Well, it looks empty so far.”
“We need to go in deeper to be sure. Let’s git goin’.” Apple Bloom lowers a rope ladder for them to descend. As Sweetie Belle climbs down to the shallow waters below, Applebloom stops Scoot before she can join her. “Hey, you should hide yer wings too. Just to be safe. Meet up with us on the beach.”
“Yeah, sure,” says Scoot, rolling her eyes. She then goes back below deck, and into her quarters where she retrieves a black vest from her hammock. She passes by the room where the stallion is held up, and pauses for a moment. She glances at the door, throws on her vest, then forces herself to not waste any more time. The stallion listen’s as Scoot’s hoofsteps leave the hall, and the hatch slams shut. Hoping that the coast is finally clear, he opens his coat as Apple Bloom’s dagger drops to the floor. He grabs it and carefully slides it behind the rag tied around his mouth. Pushing and sawing at the cloth, it tears and gives way allowing him to breathe freely. With the handle of the knife clenched in his teeth, he proceeds to saw at the rope tied around his hooves.
Scoot climbs down the ladder and into the shallow waters. Galloping towards the beach, she rejoins with Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. “There ya are,” says Apple Bloom. “Now, let’s stay cautious. We don’t wanna git caught in case anypony that lives here is bad news.”
“Well, couldn’t I just fly up and get a better view to see if anypony’s around?” Scoot asks.
“I don’t think that’d be a good idea,” says Sweetie Belle.
“I’ll only be up in the air for a second.”
“That’s still too risky. Whoever lives here might not take too kindly to a Pegasus scouting their land. The only reason a Pegasus would come down to the land would be for nothing good.”
“Yeah,” Apple Bloom adds. “An’ we’re lucky we haven’t run into any of those Vultures. Let’s just stay close, an’ keep an eye out.” The three of them make their way off the beach and into the mass of palm trees ahead.
“Hey, you smell that?” Scoot asks.
“Yeah,” says Sweetie Belle. “Maybe somepony does live here after all.” They soon come to a clearing, and their hearts instantly sink to the bottom of their chests once their eyes gaze upon what lies ahead.
“No way,” says Scoot.
Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scoot breathe in the smoke from the charred remains of what used to be a village. The ground is covered in ashes, and the wind carries the flickering lights of embers into the sky. “How could this have happened?” Sweetie Belle asks as they spread apart and investigate the ruins.
“Maybe it was an accident,” Scoot proposes. “Maybe a fire spread, and they all left before it got to them.”
“What makes you think they all escaped alive?” Apple Bloom asks.
“. . . Well, there doesn’t seem to be any bodies anywhere.”
“Then you’re not looking hard enough.” Apple Bloom beckons them to one of the remains of a hut. Sweetie Belle and Scoot notice something nestled on the opposite side of the hut. A pony-shaped figure lies, barely recognizable from the severe burns. Both Sweetie Belle and Scoot turn their attention away in disgust as their stomachs churn. Sweetie Belle leaves nearly gagging, while Apple Bloom looks on without any noticeable emotion.
“H-How can you just look at this?” Scoot asks.
“Once ya see what happens to somepony right before they turn into this, seein’ what happens after don’t really effect ya anymore.”
“Guys!” Sweetie Belle calls. “You need to come see this!” Apple Bloom and Scoot rejoin her as she stares down to the ground at a pile of ashes.
“What’s the matter?” Apple Bloom asks. Sweetie Belle kneels down, and grabs hold of some red cloth poking out from the ashes. Upon revealing the entire thing, they find it’s a red bandana with the same white, six-pointed star just like the stallion’s.
“Th-They were here,” says Sweetie Belle.
“Oh, you bet they were,” a completely new voice startles the three of them. Two stallions, one tall and thin, the other short and chunky approach. “And I can guarantee you they left no survivors.”
“Not one,” the taller stallion adds.
“Who are you two?” Apple Bloom asks. “An’ what’re ya doin’ here?”
“We could ask you the same question, lassie,” says the shorter stallion.
“Yeah,” the taller stallion adds once again. “The same question.”
“Will you quit repeatin’ me, Snails?!”
“Yeah, Snails, quit repeatin’ . . . oh, wait. Oh! Now I got ya, Snips! You mean stop saying what you’re saying.”
“Yeah, that’s what I’ve been saying.”
“Wait, are you saying I just said what you said?”
“. . . What?”
“I think it’d be best if you two goons leave before you hurt yourselves,” says Scoot.
“On the contrary. . .” Snips draws his cutlass from its sheathe. “You’re the one who’s going to get hurt.” Snails then draws his cutlass as well.
“Ha! Right. There’s three of us, and two of you.” Scoot and Sweetie Belle draw their daggers. “The odds really aren’t in your favor.”
“Actually, it seems pretty even to me. Because it looks like one of you forgot something ‘pretty’ important.” Scoot and Sweetie Belle turn to Apple Bloom, who is searching all over for her dagger.
“Apple Bloom! Where’s your knife?”
“I don’t know!” says Apple Bloom. “I think I left it on the ship!”
“Now, about those odds,” says Snips with a dastardly grin cast over both him and his partner’s face. They both hunch over, staring down the trio as they walk towards them.
“Apple Bloom,” Sweetie Belle mutters. “I need to get us out of this.”
“You can’t,” Apple Bloom whispers. “You can’t give yerself away. Especially not to these two. If they find out, an’ they escape, everyone will know. Soon, every pirate across the sea will be huntin’ for ya.”
“Then, should we just retreat back to the ship?”
“We can’t just give this up. We’re short on food, an’ we can’t afford to hope we find another island very soon.”
“Think about if we win,” Scoot whispers. “Not only would we get to explore the rest of this island, but we would also get anything these guys got. Who knows? They might have something valuable.”
“See? We’ve got too much to gain to just run away.”
“. . . I guess you two are right,” says Sweetie Belle.
“I mean, come on, we can take these two meat-heads,” says Scoot.
“Well, then what are we waiting for?” Apple Bloom bends down to grab a burnt stick of bamboo. “Let’s show ‘em why ya don’t pick a fight with The Crusaders.” Snips and Snails charge forward as Apple Bloom and the rest stand their ground. Snails takes on both Sweetie Belle and Scoot as they dodge and block the swipes of his cutlass with their daggers. Snips takes on Apple Bloom, as he swings his sword wildly and without recourse. Apple Bloom struggles to keep up and must guard against every attack towards her legs, but his cutlass can’t seem to cut through the bamboo.
Sweetie Belle and Scoot attempt to overtake Snails, but since they are armed with daggers, they aren’t able to get close enough to land a hit. Surprisingly, he’s swift enough to block each and every attempt they make. Because of his relentless attacks, Sweetie Belle and Scoot are pushed back far from Apple Bloom and Snips. With one hard swipe, he manages to break Sweetie Belle’s dagger. With only half the blade she had, she is left stunned and unsure what to do. Snails turns and gives her a swift buck to the chest, sending her down to the ground. “Belle!” Scoot shouts. Feeling confident, Snails approaches Scoot who is now on full defense.
“Looks like it’s just you and me now,” Snails taunts. “Any last words, girly?”
“Just two.” Scoot spreads out her wings from under her vest, as Snails’ eyes widen with shock. “Back off.” With one, strong flap of her wings, a gust of air sends Snails flying backwards into the trunk of a palm tree. Sweetie Belle leans up from the ground in pain, and notices Snails against the tree. He appears to have the wind knocked out of him, but is trying to get back to his hooves. Granted the perfect opportunity, Sweetie Belle focuses on a charred log of wood. Using her magic, she lifts it up out of the sand and hurdles it towards Snails. The log of wood collides with his head, sending him unconscious.
Apple Bloom and Snips are running out of energy, but Snips still angrily presses his attack. He tries to land a blow by putting all of his strength into one swing at her throat, but she ducks and counters with a thrust of the bamboo into his stomach. He staggers back, rendering him vulnerable to a series of whacks to the head with her bamboo. He bruises and bleeds, but uses his foreleg to block her next swing. Now wide open, Snips swings his sword creating a gash across Apple Bloom’s leg. She is overcome by a sharp pain, but refuses to look at her wound. Watching Snips wind up for a chop, she tries to block it with her bamboo, but her weapon shatters from his attack. Thrown off balance, she lands on the ground as sand and ash dirty up her wound. Out of breath, Snips points the tip of his blade towards Apple Bloom as her blood begins to run cold.
As Scoot is trying to get Sweetie Belle back to her hooves, she catches Apple Bloom out of the corner of her eye. Realizing the danger she’s in, Scoot uses her wings to project herself towards her. Until something causes her to skid across the sand to a stop. She watches as the stallion, whom she thought was still locked up back at their ship, has Apple Bloom’s dagger pressed against Snips’ throat. “Oh, come on,” says Snips breathing heavily from the fight. “How many more of you are there?”
“Lower your sword,” the stallion demands. Snips lowers his weapon, allowing Apple Bloom to get back up as she grips her cut.
“You,” says Apple Bloom. “You’re supposed to be locked up.”
“You think you’ve won, huh?” says Snips. “How about you let me go, and we can have a real fight?”
“What is the matter with you two?” Somepony asks. Everyone’s eyes turn to a pony shrouded in dark, tattered clothing. A black cape drapes behind this pony, and the voice is clearly feminine. Due to a large hat with a wide brim her facial features are difficult to see.
“Captain! It’s a good thing you showed up!”
“I know. It’s clear you two cannot control yourselves, and feel the need to impulsively pick a fight with anypony you meet.”
“These scum belong to you?” Apple Bloom asks.
“Unfortunately, yes. Would you please release him? I didn’t mean for this to happen. These two are just . . . a bit absent minded.” The stallion takes the blade away from Snips’ throat, and shoves him in the direction of the mare. He joins her as Sweetie Belle and Scoot join up with Apple Bloom. The mare notices the red bandana around the stallion’s neck, and immediately grows curious. “Say, why would somepony like you be protecting another sailor? I thought pirates such as you were a bit more . . . violent.”
“Do my eyes deceive me?!” Snips asks noticing his bandana. “He’s one of them! A White Star!”
“Look,” the stallion begins. “I am ‘not’ a White Star.” He emphasizes. “Nor would I ever consider myself one to begin with.”
“Then why would you join their crew?” Apple Bloom asks accusingly.
“You don’t understand how it works. Some choose to become a White Star, others are instead chosen. I was one of those who was forced to join.”
“You liar!”
“Actually, he speaks the truth,” says the mare.
“And how would you know?”
“Why don’t we discuss this over a meal, hmm? Perhaps, ease all this tension between us.”
“No, we have better things to do than waste our time with all of you.”
“Apple Bloom,” says Sweetie Belle.
“Belle, I know what yer gonna say. You can forget it.” Apple Bloom turns to walk back to the ship, but Scoot grabs her and holds her back.
“Apple Bloom, we shouldn’t just leave,” says Scoot.
“Why not? I’m not gonna sit down an’ eat with that mare an' her two meat-heads, an' I’m definitely not gonna even be near that filth.” Apple Bloom points directly at the stallion.
“Look, you even said we’re short on food. If they’re offering, why not take it? And have you ever considered that stallion isn’t what you think he is?”
“No I haven’t, because I ‘know’ what all White Stars are. They destroy, steal and kill.”
“Then why would he save you?” Apple Bloom pauses, thinking of how to retort. She glances to the stallion, to the mare, then back to Scoot.
“Apple Bloom, let’s just give this a chance,” says Sweetie Belle. Apple Bloom takes a few deep breaths to calm herself. Then after another moment of pondering, she gives in.
“Fine,” says Apple Bloom.
“Wonderful,” says the mare. “Snips, go wake Snails and retrieve some food from the ship. I’ll go and get a fire started for us.”
“Aye aye, captain,” says Snips as he goes to smack Snails awake.
“We should go find somewhere else to set up camp. Too much pain surrounds this place.”
A campfire crackles, providing warmth to everypony during the chilling night. Snips and Snails have brought plenty of fruit and bread from their ship to share amongst the group. Sweetie Belle is tending to Apple Bloom’s wound, cleaning and dressing it with torn piece of cloth. Snips and Snails devour their portions like animals, and their captain sits far away enough from the flames to stay hidden by the shadows and brim of her hat. The stallion sits furthest away from anypony, intimidated by Apple Bloom’s occasional glare. “Again, I must apologize,” says the mare. “Your wound isn’t serious, is it?”
“It’s fine,” says Apple Bloom sternly with her eyes still glued to the stallion.
“The cut’s a bit deep,” says Sweetie Belle. “But she should be fine. The bleeding’s stopped, so that’s a good sign.”
“Well, that’s good to hear,” says the mare. “I’d hate to be responsible for the recklessness of my crew to harm an innocent pony.”
“Why don’t ya just get on with what you were goin’ to say?” says Apple Bloom impatiently. “Whatever nonsense you were ready to spew.”
“Well then, I suppose I’ll just get to the point. The captain of the White Stars follows some disgusting morals. If you’re not with her, you’re against her. Thus you must be punished, according to her. However, times will arise when she needs to recruit for the labor done around the ship. So, she’ll offer only some a choice. Either join her crew, or perish. Guess which option they all choose?”
“An’ how do you know how she runs her ship?”
“We snuck aboard, disguised as members of the crew. We’ve witnessed to entire process. First, she finds a target. In this case, a rival ship. Once they get close, the cannons are fired, and her crew invades. Cutting them down until a mere handful of them remain. Once the offer is presented to them, the first one usually turns it down. Then, with a simple glance to one of her crew members, he’s silenced and dumped into the sea. After that, the rest immediately accept her offer. They do nothing but work; swabbing the deck, scraping the barnacles . . . you know, the lowest level of the crew. Their minds become weak, and the captain’s babblings get inside their head. Next thing you know, they become mindless puppets that will listen and do whatever she pleases. It seems this one here was one of the stronger-minded ones.” The mare motions her head to the stallion.
“That’s sick,” Sweetie Belle comments.
“You think that’s sick, wait until you hear what she drills into her crew’s heads. She preaches about her philosophies, and her plans for this world. She infests their minds with her dreams of a perfect Equestria, and that only she can bring it to fruition. She has them fooled into thinking she’s some sort of savior, and they treat her like she’s a demigod. Well, I suppose that may not be entirely false.”
“What do you mean?”
“You all know the story, right?”
“No.”
“Not me,” Scoot adds.
“What do you mean by ‘not entirely false’?” Apple Bloom asks. “She’s just another pony like us, ain’t she?”
“Oh, not even close,” says Snails. “The story goes that she was only a crew of one. It was her and her little rowboat, against a massive ship with a crew of at least twenty!”
“She took them out in a matter of seconds,” Snips takes over. “Sending them and their ship to the depths of the sea. Of course, no normal pony could ever achieve such a feat. We all know the only possible answer.”
“. . . W-What’s the answer?” Scoot stammers.
“A unicorn,” he whispers. “Now, I-I haven’t seen one myself, but they say there’s still a few of them left! The queen of Ruby Root Island is one, and the captain of the White Stars is another. I’ll tell ya, no hunter is brave enough to go for either of them.”
“W-Wait,” Scoot intervenes. “If you were able to sneak aboard their ship, why didn’t you just try and—”
“Kill her ourselves?” The mare finishes. “That was the plan, but it proved to be nearly impossible. She has eyes and ears all over the ship day and night, and guards by her side at all times. We weren’t quite prepared for such conditions. One wrong word, action or look would put us at jeopardy. With a crew like this, I’m sure you can imagine how long we were able to last. Thus we had to cut our time their short, but we did uncover something quite intriguing.”
“What’s that?” Sweetie Belle asks.
“Any of you ever hear of ‘The Ruler of the Sea’?” Everyone shakes their head, and the mare reaches into her tattered coat to reveal a little book. “Here, you might want to read what’s inside this.” She holds the book out to Apple Bloom, who confusedly accepts it. She examines the book front to back. To her, it appears to be nothing more than an old, dingy book.
“What is this?” Apple Bloom asks.
“That, my dear, is what I’m calling ‘The Book of the Sea’. Tell me, what do you think the origins are of the Great Flood that befell Equestria?”
“I thought nopony really knew how or why it happened.”
“My, then you have some reading to do. What’s in that book will change everything you know about this world. I’m not sure who wrote it, but whoever did wasn’t merely writing a fairy tale. The book mentions an object labeled as the ‘Glass Dolphin’.”
“Glass Dolphin? Sure sounds like somethin’ from a fairy tale to me.”
“If I were you, I’d keep an open mind.” The mare then turns to everyone else around the fire. “That goes for all of you. From what I’ve learned at sea, you need to be ready to believe in the outrageous. The captain of the White Stars is indeed a lunatic, but she’s smart. No captain would put all of their faith in a fairy tale unless they believed it to be true. If she’s willing to spend the time and resources searching for this thing, then there must be at least ‘some’ truth to this story.”
“Well,” Scoot begins. “Can you at least tell us what the Glass Dolphin is?”
“The book describes it as a sort of key. It will grant whomever possesses it the ability to never drown, and will become untouchable by the creatures under the waves. The story says that it will be your guide to an underwater kingdom, where the Ruler of the Sea resides.”
“Okay . . . what happens then?”
“Well, it says that from there you’ll be granted whatever your heart desires most, and that is where the book ends. My apologies for ruining the ending for you.”
“So, if she finds it. . .”
“Who knows what sort of madness will come next?” Sweetie Belle adds.
“If all of this is true,” says Apple Bloom. “Then she needs to be stopped.”
“Or,” says the mare. “somepony must beat her to it. Which is exactly what I plan to do next. What say the rest of you?”
“Are you saying we should work together?” Sweetie Belle asks.
“That’s precisely what I’m saying. We both share a common enemy it seems, why not form somewhat of an alliance? You heard what Snips said. If no one else is willing to bring her down, why not be the ones to do it?”
“M-Maybe you’re right.”
“Well then, let us take an oath, shall we? Just so I know for sure we’re all together on this.”
“Sure, I’m in.”
“Yeah,” says Scoot. “Let’s do this.”
“Apple Bloom?” the mare asks. “You’re with us as well, are you not?”
“Yeah, a’ course I’m in,” says Apple Bloom.
“Very well, now listen carefully. The oath you make on this night, must be true to your heart. That no matter what is put before you, whether it be danger or hardship, you shall never revoke your oath. Do you all understand?”
“Yes,” they all say together.
“Perfect. Then under the night’s sacred light, and the sea’s restless tide, say ‘aye’ to seal the oath.” One by one, Scoot, Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom seal their oath to the mare. The last to swear his allegiance is the stallion, and the mare smiles. “Then your oath is sealed.” A sudden, strong gust of wind erupts behind them, blowing out the fire and startling everyone except the mare. “Well, I suppose it’s about time I shove off.” The mare and her crew immediately get up to leave.
“Hey-hey wait!” Scoot calls. “Shouldn’t we stick together?”
“That might not be the best idea. It’d be safer for all of us if we kept our allegiance from afar.”
“W-Well when’s the next time we’ll speak?”
“Don’t worry, I’ll keep in touch. You’ll know it’s me.” Confused, Scoot raises an eyebrow as the mare and her crew depart into the trees. “Hey! We never got your name!” Without a response, they disappear further into the island, leaving the four sailors puzzled. “So . . . what do we do now?” Apple Bloom turns to the stallion with an intent look on her face, sending shivers up his spine.
“Apple Bloom, this isn’t right,” says Scoot as Apple Bloom finishes up tying the stallion to a palm tree using vines she found sprawled across the ground.
“You might not think it’s right,” says Apple Bloom. “But I think it’s necessary.”
“Why? Didn’t you hear what that mare said? It’s not his fault!”
“Yeah, I heard her say that. Did ya also hear her insane babbling about a mystical ‘Glass Dolphin’ an’ ‘underwater kingdom?’ Obviously, she’s been sailin’ the sea so long that it’s turned her head into a bowl a’ mush.”
“Sweetie Belle, you’re with me aren’t you?”
“Well. . .” Sweetie Belle ponders. “She did sound a bit off to me.”
“Exactly,” Apple Bloom reinforces. “So, if there’s no possible way I’m gonna believe in nonsense like that, then why should I believe anything else she said?”
“But, Apple Bloom, I don’t think ‘this’ is the solution.”
“Well, if you think about it, I’m doing him a favor. If he truly doesn’t want anything to do with the White Stars, then this way he’s out of their hooves, and also out of ours.” Apple Bloom tightens her last knot, then stand up to leave.
“Please,” the stallion begs. “Don’t do this. I saved you, doesn’t that mean something?”
“Oh yeah, thanks for remindin’ me. I appreciate that; guess you can consider us even then.” Apple Bloom ties the stallion's mouth shut once again and walks back towards the beach, but is stopped by Sweetie Belle and Scoot.
“Apple Bloom!” Scoot whipsers. “You can’t be serious! We’re just going to leave him here tied up like this?”
“Look,” Apple Bloom’s voice has now gotten low and stern. “Those knots aren’t that tight. He can easily wiggle himself free if he tries hard enough.”
“Couldn’t we have just dropped him off at another island that isn’t deserted?” Sweetie Belle suggests.
“I’m not going to risk keeping him aboard our ship any longer. If he was able to break himself free once, he’ll surely do it again. Next thing you know, he’ll be stabbing us in our sleep. I want us to get as far away from him as possible, and right away. Besides, it’s not like he’s of any use to us.” Apple Bloom storms off, as Scoot turns to Sweetie Belle.
“Sweetie Belle, we gotta do something,” says Scoot.
“I don’t know, Scootaloo. I agree with Apple Bloom, we can’t risk it.” Sweetie Belle leaves to join up with Apple Bloom as Scoot stays behind. She glances back at the stallion whose head is hanging low. With thoughts conflicting in her mind, she heatedly takes off to join Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle.
With both Sweetie Belle and Scoot shut up in their rooms and prepping for sleep, Apple Bloom holds the old, little brown book that mare gave her back at the campsite. She lays in her hammock with the book in her hooves, debating on whether or not she should even waste her time opening it up. Her curiosity soon takes over, and she opens the book to its first page. Just by the first sentence, she can tell that this must’ve been somepony’s journal.
‘I would have never dreamt that I would have to bear a secret like this. I cannot take it any longer. Hopefully, by pouring these memories onto these pages, I can put my mind at ease. Those ponies think they know the truth because of the lies she tells them, and what am I to do? I am weak; nothing more than a simple-minded pony forced to keep quiet. As long as she keeps me prisoner, she’ll take advantage of what she’s hidden from everyone else for her own gain. I need to write this down, so that this history can exist outside of my head. . .’
Intrigued, Apple Bloom reads on. Inside of Scoot’s quarters, her night is restless. She tries to keep her eyes shut, but to no avail as she instead stares up at the ceiling. She feels the desire to redirect her anger towards Apple Bloom, but instead it turns to butterflies that flutter in her stomach as her anger turns to guilt. Tossing and turning in her hammock, she is overwhelmed with thoughts of how she could’ve convinced Apple Bloom otherwise. She covers her face with her hooves while taking a heavy sigh. Her heart starts to race until it becomes unbearable. She hops out of her hammock and digs through her bag of belongings for a rolled up sheet of paper and writing utensil. She scribbles a quick note that reads: ‘Gone back to the island,’ and folds the paper before laying it in her hammock. Afterwards, she throws on her black vest as she leaves her room. She quietly closes her door, and sneaks by Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle’s rooms. She reaches the deck, gazing out at the sea for the island. With it nowhere in sight, she decides to take flight in the opposite direction the ship is travelling. Flapping her wings as fast as she can, fighting the wind as she finds herself racing towards the moon. Within moments, the island comes up into the horizon.
She flutters down to the sands of the beach, out of breath and her wings now sore. Regardless, she scans the island for any scenery that looks familiar. However, everything looks the same until she glances down to the ground. She finds hoof tracks that lead further into the island, and is immediately drawn to follow them. Galloping across the sand, she enters the mass of palm trees with her eyes darting in every which direction. Finally, she spots him.
The stallion struggles to free himself from the rope, and simply gives up as it proves pointless. Apple Bloom’s ship is nowhere in sight, and without the energy to continue wriggling, he exhaustedly lowers his head. Scoot, ready to call out and hurry to him, stops herself as another figure comes into view. It doesn’t appear to be the mare from earlier, so she hides herself behind the brush whilst watching from afar.
“Don’t look so sad,” a gentle, mare’s voice erupts from behind the stallion. He fearfully lifts his head back up as the voice giggles. “Everything will be just fine.” A pony dressed in a dull-red, long coat walks around the tree he’s tied to and stands before him. Her head hangs low with the brim of her hat blocking everything except the smile on her face. She raises her head, revealing her striking, violet eyes and pink streak that runs through her royal-purple mane. “Dear me, you look awful. Who could’ve done this to you?” At the sight of her, the stallion whimpers behind the cloth tied around his mouth, and turns his head away. “Now, now, don’t be afraid. Look at me.” The stallion refuses, trembling with fear. “I said, look at me.” Her voice grows more stern and sinister, forcing him to reluctantly look her in the eyes. “That’s better.” She smiles as she draws her cutlass. The sound of the blade scraping the edges of its sheathe sends shivers up the stallion’s spine as well as Scoot’s. She brings the tip of the blade near his chin, and his mind runs crazily with dreadful thoughts. She slides the blade behind the cloth, and tears it clean with one tug of the sword.
“W-What do you want from me? How did you find me?” The stallion stammers.
“Shh, just relax. You’re safe now.” She strokes his cheek with her hoof, only causing him to shudder even more so. “Yes, it’s alright now.”
“Stay away from me!” The stallion tries to lean as far away as the restraints will allow him, sending a saddened expression across the mare’s face.
“There’s no reason to be scared, I’m here with you. You know who I am, don’t you?” The stallion shuts his eyes, and mutters not a single word. “You poor thing. You don’t even remember who I am. Surely you must remember my name. Go on, say it.” He keeps his lips sealed, brimming with anxiety as she awaits his answer. “Say it!” She yells.
“Sparkle!”
“What else?”
“Captain! Captain Sparkle!”
“There,” her voice now calm again. “I knew you could do it. You know, I thought you were left out at sea. How did you get free? Surely somepony helped you. Although, it looks like they weren’t that much help after all. Such a shame . . . you were hoping you’d never see me again. Yet, here we are.” Captain Sparkle pulls her sword away from the stallion’s face, and turns her back to him to gaze out at the sea. “I know about the thoughts that cross your mind even at this very moment. You despise me, you fear me, you even wish to hurt me. Such terrible thoughts they are, and the treachery you brought upon my ship is simply inexcusable. I’ve done no wrong to you, so why must you cause me so much pain?” The stallion listens, baffled by her words coupled with the sudden sounds of weeping. “However, I believe in forgiveness; and I’m willing to forget all of this for just one thing in return.”
“. . . W-What do you want?”
“First, answer me this. . . The punishment for mutiny is death, is it not?” The stallion’s mouth quivers, not wanting to answer. “Is it not?”
“. . . Yes, y-yes it is.”
“Then when my order was for you to be dead. . .” Captain Sparkle whips back around with her face barely an inch away from the stallion’s as she glares into his eyes. “You should’ve stayed dead.” Her cutlass is thrust into the stallion’s shoulder as his eyes widen and jaw drops from the searing pain. Scoot gasps, but covers her mouth too late as Captain Sparkle turns her head in Scoot’s direction. “I think somepony is listening in on our little private time. Why don’t I go and take care of them? Don’t worry, I’ll be right back so we can continue our fun.” She rips the sword out from his shoulder, causing him to scream in agony. Scoot’s pulsing heart sends her dashing back towards the beach as her attention is constantly drawn behind her to see if she’s being followed. Due to her frequent glancing, she carelessly rams into a tree and falls to the ground. Once she comes to her senses, she finds that what she thought was simply a palm tree in the middle of her path is instead Captain Sparkle ominously looming over her. “I hope you enjoyed the show.” Captain Sparkle smiles. “But you know, it’s rude to eavesdrop on other ponies’ conversations.”
“Y-You stay away from me!” Scoot orders as she crawls backward.
“Stay still!” Captain Sparkle stomps her hoof down onto Scoot’s chest, causing her to spread her wings and gasp for breath. “My, you’re a little far from the nest, aren’t you? What’s a little birdie like you doing down here?”
“L-Let me go! My crew will be here soon!”
“Oh, more guests. Sounds wonderful.” Scoot notices a bandana just like the stallion’s tied around her neck, and immediately realizes who she is.
“It’s . . . you! You monster!”
“Well, that’s not very nice. How dare you judge me on my appearance?” Scoot’s face brims with fury as her body trembles, and Captain Sparkle leans closer whilst holding a deceivingly compassionate smile on her face. “For all you know, I could be the most loving pony you’ll ever meet in your life.”
“I doubt it. You’re a murderer!”
“Hmm, perhaps we should spend some quality time together, all four of us.”
“F-Four?”
“That’s right. I think we could really learn a lot about each other. I know you’ll find it in your heart that I’m none of those terrible things, and we can all become friends.”
“No! Let me go!” Scoot thrashes about, desperately attempting to free herself. However, Captain Sparkle’s foreleg seems impossibly strong as it holds her in place.
“Shh . . . Don’t fret my dear, because soon you’ll see . . .” Captian Sparkle’s voice has shifted to a pleasing melody, disturbing Scoot to her core. “That I am here, to set your heart free . . .”
“You’re insane!”
“So take my hoof . . .” Captain Sparkle raises her sword, striking fear in Scoot.
“What’re you doing? No! Don’t!”
“And live this dream with me .” She thrusts her sword downward as Scoot’s screams fill the night.
Apple Bloom jolts awake with the book laying on her chest and her forehead coated in sweat. Instantly, she climbs out of her hammock and bursts through her door and into the hall. “Belle! Wake up!” She shouts as she pounds on Sweetie Belle’s door.
“What. . ?” Sweetie Belle asks drowsily as she opens her door. “What is it?”
“I think Scoot’s gone.”
“What do you mean?”
“Just come with me to check.” Both she and Sweetie Belle hurry to Scoot’s room, and upon a moment’s inspection, they find it to be empty. “You see? I knew it!” Apple Bloom exclaims as she storms off to the stairs leading up to the deck.
“Wait! It looks like there’s a note—!”
“It says she went back to the island! Come on!” As Apple Bloom opens the hatch and heads above deck, Sweetie Belle stays behind in a state of confusion. She walks over to Scoot’s hammock to check the note, and is stunned to find Apple Bloom’s exact words scribbled onto the page. As she drops the note back into the hammock, she dashes out of the room to join Apple Bloom who is waiting by the wheel.
“Hey! How did you know Scoot was missing?”
“It was just a feelin’. Now, come on an’ help me turn this ship around!”
“Well, then how could you have possibly known what was on that note?” Apple Bloom pauses as she is stricken with a sudden realization. Due to the heat of the situation, it hadn’t dawned on her until now that there is in fact no way she could’ve known either of those things. The only explanation she can come up with is that her nightmare was truly real, but she shakes her head in disbelief before the thought has any time to sink in.
“I don’t know . . . an’ it doesn’t matter! We gotta go back fer Scoot! I’m willin’ to bet I know exactly what she went back fer. I just hope she’s not in any danger.”
