Sails

“You can not change the course of the wind, only adjust your sails.” - Unknown

The blue ocean boiled and frothed as a heavy wind laden with moisture blew from the south mixing with the cool northern wind to create grey clouds thick with rain. A small white sail pokes over the waves. Trying earnestly to stay above the water. As waves crash into the bow dunking it below the water line. An old man sits hunched over the rudder trying in vain to control the small boat. Finally the sail is torn away from the mast by the wind as easily as a child would tear a piece of paper. The old man gives up on his fight for control and collapse exhausted to the deck. He grabs the necklace around his neck and held it tightly in his hand. It was an ancient trident made from bronze though it had turned green from centuries of being subjected to the salty spray of the sea. The necklace was a keepsake paced down from generation to generation of Hulls. Each one adding a hand carved bead to the necklace.

The old man grabbed the bead that was his father’s and asked for forgiveness in the fact that he was never able to pass the necklace onto the next generation because he was the last of the Hulls.

Waves continued to batter the small boat as the storm grew stronger, but the old man did not rise from where he lay. Instead he began to think of the past and everything he had done up to this point. He remembered the fun he had had as a boy sailing of the shores of Massachusetts. He remembered the friends he had made in Annapolis and the friends he had lost during the naval engagements of the Northern War. He remembered the bitter sweetness of retirement and of signing up with one of the last dieing transport companies. Now at the age of 83 he had only had two regrets that he could not have lived in the past like his great ancestors during the time of adventure. His other regret was never getting the chance to start a family, but alas it was too late for that he thought.

As he prepared himself for the end a giant wave came rushing at the small boat. So powerful was it that it capsize the craft and snapped its mast like a twig. The boat was plunged into the dark embrace of the water as the old man’s leg was caught by a rope and he was dragged below with the ship.

‘How fitting,’ He thought ‘That I will have a boat for my coffin and the sea for my grave.’

His conscience slowly faded as he rain out of air and the cold of the water surrounded him.

The old man heard a voice calling out to him.

‘That’s strange, how could I hear a voice?’ He thought

He opened his eyes and looked around. He found that he was floating underwater. Sunlight filtering through the crystal clear surface of the water. He began to panic until he realized that he could still breath even though he was completely submerged in water.

He turned about looking all around. He found that he was floating before a castle made of corals. The castle's walls were decorated by shells of every kind. The shells seemed to reflect the light back into the water causing the castle to glow. All around the castle the man could see something swimming around it. When he squinted his eyes he could see that the some of the creatures swimming around the castle where half human half fish or half pony and half fish.

“Ah I see that you have awaken Horatio.”

A commanding voice called out to Horatio. He turned around and was shocked to see an old man swimming towards him. Horatio wasn’t surprised because he saw an old man swimming towards him. He was surprised because the old man’s lower body was that of a fish, he had blue skin, and his hair was made of seaweed. There was also the fact that the old man seemed to be able to talk under water.

“Well aren't you going to ask me any questions?” The old man asked Horatio.

This surprised Horatio even more because the old man didn’t move his mouth at all yet Horatio was still able to hear him. He just stared at the old man as his mind tried to process what was going on.

‘Okay….I’m either in a coma,  gone insane, dead, or a combination of the three because that is the only way I would be talking to a old man that looks like Poseidon underwater while still being able to breath.’ Horatio thought as he continued to stare at the old man. The old man just smiled as if he could read Horatio’s thought.

“Well lad I’m sorry to say but you haven't gone insane and you aren’t in a coma. Sadly you have passed away. Which is why I brought you here.”

Horatio’s mind once more drew a blank until he thought ‘Wait if I’m dead why am I here I’m sure I was destined for another place that was much warmer than this.’

The old man smiled again before he cut Horatio’s thoughts off. “To answer your question lad, yes you are dead, yes you were destined for hell but  I was able to make a deal with Satan seeing that we were old drinking buddies, and yes I am Poseidon.” Seeing that Horatio was about to ask him a question Poseidon quickly cut  him.

“Before you ask any more questions let me tell you a tale that will explain your situation a little.” The old man took in a deep breath and then began his tale.

“Along time ago in a country whose name I forget there lived a normal man by the name of Zephyr Anargyros. He was a simple farmer who loved his family and took pride in his work. Every day he would pray to the local earth good thanking him for his good life and his family.”

The waters around Poseidon began to swirl and form air bubbles. From these bubble began to form a picture of a man who Horatio presumed was Zephyr kneeling over the bed of a sick looking girl.

“One day his daughter developed a disease and became bedridden. Zephyr prayed everyday to the earth god asking for his help but the earth god ignored him and Zephyr began to fall into despair.”

The scene that Poseidon had been weaving from the bubbles changed to show Zephyr walking towards a great temple and talking to someone dressed in the robes of a priest.

“Zephyr went to the priest and asked for advice. The priest told him that to regain the god's favor he would have to give his whole harvest from this year to the church along with all of his livestock. Zephyr did this immediately but it was for not. Just a day before the god’s  harvest festival his daughter passed and Zephyr slipped into depression.”

The scene changed yet again, and Horatio could see Zephyr reclining on a tree near his daughters freshly dug grave downing yet another bottle of alcohol. He threw the bottle away once it was empty and began to walk towards the temple pushing through the celebrating crowds. When he got to the temple he collapsed in a drunken haze and vomited on the steps.

“During the day of the Harvest festival Zephyr committed the horrible sin of desecrating a god’s temple.” Poseidon said this in a tone that suggested that he was amused at what Zephyr did.

“Now the Earth god was furious at the mortal who desecrated his temple and so he bestowed a curse upon Zephyr. Everything he grew would shrivel up and become poisonous to those who ate it and any animal he raised would inexplicably waste away and die. This curse would be passed down to Zephyr’s son and to his son’s son and so on for all eternity.”

The scene changed from the temple and showed Zephyr in a field surrounded by shriveled crops and dead livestock. Zephyr and his wife both seemed to be starving and the villagers seemed to avoid them at all cost.

“For almost a year Zephyr tried to remain in the village helping other farmers grow their crops instead of tending his own fields, but the curse seemed to spread to every farm he worked at so one day the villagers chased Zephyr and his wife away from the village.”

The image now showed Zephyr and his wife going from village to village looking for asylum but in the end always being chased away.

“After years of travel Zephyr and his wife finally came across a village that would except them. It was a small coastal village that was protected by a sea god.”

The bubbles swirled and changed once more showing Zephyr and his wife bowing before the statue of Poseidon.

“He asked me for my protection and to give protection and prosperity to all of his descendants. I agreed to his wish but on one condition the first born son of all of his descendants would have to belong to the sea. If any of his descendants strayed from this path than I would make the curse of the earth god look weak.” After he said this Poseidon chuckled

“I thought that he would be like any other mortal. That he would forget his promise and be cursed like so many others, but I was wrong.”

The bubble image began to shift again. This time it showed Zephyr going to the local blacksmith and having him make a bronze trident to wear when he was at sea for good look. The image speed up and the decades became seconds.Zephyr gave the necklace to his, who gave it to his son, who gave it to his son and so on and so forth. Each one of them added a bead to the necklace.

The Image speed up even more and showed one of Horatio’s ancestors there for the roman invasion of Britain. Another showed his ancestor steering a viking craft towards the rocky coast of a village. While another showed an ancestor shipping out on a ship bound for the new world. The images continued until suddenly it came to a halt at a picture of Horatio’s father handing him the necklace before he sailed off for the last time.

As the seconds ticked away there was no sound but that of the ocean around them. Then Poseidon's low voice broke the delicate silence that had formed.

“I was very wrong when I thought that the descendants would ever go back on Zephyr’s word. They remained loyal each one going to the sea when it was their turn, but everything must come to the end and so here you are.”

Horatio just floated there trying to organize his thoughts. After several seconds of silence he finally spoke up.

“Why did you bring me here instead of letting my soul go to hell like it should?” He asked Poseidon.

Poseidon smiled a little ruefully. “Its very simple my lad, I’ve been watching over your family for centuries. I thought that since you were the last of your family and the last of my servants than I should do something for you with what little power I have left.”

“Okay if this is all than will you please let my soul rest I feel quite tired.” Horatio said as he thought over what he had just been told.

‘Wait did I just talk underwater, and did Poseidon just say he was dying!’

“Yes you can talk underwater because you are in my domain, and Yes I am dying just like any other god.” Poseidon said.

Horatio looked slightly annoyed at the sea god. “First stop reading my mind, second could you please elaborate the part about an immortal god dying.”

Poseidon shook his head as if he were exasperated by the antics of a child. “Lad let me ask you a question, Where do you think gods come from?”

“They are immortal beings that have existed since the universe excited right?” Horatio cautiously replied. To be completely honest he had never put much thought into it.

“That’s where you are wrong lad.” Poseidon said before taking a deep breath and beginning his explanation. “You see when the world was forming there was no gods just uncontrollable energy moving about chaotically in a never ending cycle. This energy would create and destroy worlds, make new species appear on planets, or have stars explode killing whole solar systems. This all changed when one species on a planet began to believe in something collectively. They believed in a being that presided over all of them. This being was an all powerful creator and destroy. It was this species that birthed the first gods, and started a never ending cycle of the gods living and dying.”

“To put it simply. By believing in gods as a group these species formed the energy into a beginning. Then through continued belief they gave power to their gods. As more people came to believe in a god or worship the god that god would gain even more power, but if the people begin to worship other gods than the original god will lose power. Once all of the gods followers have left that god will cease to exist.”

It was then that Horatio cut in. “But what if a god ceases to exist after people stop worshiping them how are you still here?”

“Ah I was wondering when you would put that together lad, the reason why I still exist is quite simple really. Its because of you.” Poseidon said grinning at the surprise spreading across Horatio’s face.

“What do you mean by that, I was a christian for most of my life I never worshiped you.” Horatio blurted out angrily.

“Its very simple because Zephyr dedicated the first born son of his family line to me any action you took was in my name any achievement you received was also dedicated to me. The same goes for all your prays. Now to the real reason for bringing you here.”

As Poseidon finished speaking three objects appeared in front of him. One object was a huge leather bound tome. Cracked with age and seemingly unaffected by the water around it. The second object was an officers sword like does of the time of the tall ship. The third object was an old looking sextant.

“Before I say anything about why you are here I have a few gifts for you.”

The book floated towards Horatio.

“This book was written by everyone of you ancestors. Before their souls passed on to the next life I had them write everything they knew of the sea in it. This book contains thousands of years worth of sailing knowledge.”

Horatio stared at the book he was holding in astonishment. It took all of his will power not to just sit down and read the book right there and then.

“Next I have a sword that had been passed down through your family, it was lost during the battle of Trafalgar but I think it might be of use to you in the future.”

Poseidon floated the sword over to Horatio. Then he grabbed the sextant that had been floating next to it.

“This sextant is enchanted so that no matter what world you are on you will be able to find your position.”

The Sextant also floated over to Horatio. With his arms full Horatio waited for Poseidon to finish telling him what was going on seeing how he was never told why he was there.

“Finally I have three gifts to give you from myself before you leave. The first is the ability to comprehend any language used upon the sea. The second is youth so that you may once more live a full life. The final gift is a secret that only time while reveal.”

Poseidon then waved his hand over Horatio’s head chanting words in a language Horatio had never heard. When Poseidon stopped chanting Horatio felt a strange power wash over him as he began to shimmer with an ethereal light.

He Looked at his hands and watched as the turned from the wrinkled and weathered hands he had seen for the last decade to the smooth hand of youth completely unmarred by the passage of time. He also felt the constant pain in his joints leave him and his hunched back straitened.

Watching Horatio’s reaction carefully Poseidon noted the astonished look on his face before continuing.

“It is time to say goodbye Horatio, but before you leave I must tell you of your mission. I am sending you to another world one where no man has ever set foot. Once there you must find the Princess of the sun and the moon. They have created a country of peace and prosperity but they believe that they will never come in conflict, they have a simple army and no navy to speak of. Your job shall be to help them create a navy and to fight and protect them at all costs. Do you accept?”

Horatio had to think it over for a bit. ‘On one hand it means I get to relive my life, on the other it means I will never see earth again, but it also delays my visit to hell, so….yeah going with this hell sounds like such a boring place after all.’

When Horatio existed his thoughts he looked up to see that Poseidon was smiling as if he had already known what he would have chosen.

“I guess you already know what I’ve chosen lord.” Horatio said bowing towards Poseidon.

“Indeed I do my lad, I bid fair seas and following winds to you.” Poseidon said with just the barest hint of sorrow as Horatio disappeared in a flash of pale light.

Once Horatio disappeared Poseidon was left alone in his domain, as everything around him began to fade away until there was nothing left but himself floating in a white void.

Silently a crack appeared in the the void and black tendrils pushed it open. Out of the crack stepped a creature clad in black robes covering everything save its hands, which were completely stripped of flesh.

The creature silently glided towards Poseidon standing next to him for a moment before speaking with a rasping voice that was not one but many.

“Are you sure that he is the one to succeed you?”

“You know as well as I that fate cannot so easily be discerned, but I have hopes that he will do what he must.” Poseidon said.

He floated there for several seconds before sighing and turning towards the figure that stood behind him. Before asking in a depressed tone.

“It's time isn’t it.”

The black clad figure just nodded his head and gestured towards the rift that had opened for him. Poseidon walked towards the rift pausing in front of it to take one last look at what was once his glorious kingdom.

Sighing heavily he turned back to the portal and said. ‘May you find the life you hoped for Horatio and may you not curse my name to heavily when you find out what I have done.”

With that the lord of the sea disappeared into the abyss heralding the end of one age and the beginning of another.

Luna awoke suddenly from her slumber feeling a great pulse of power spread across the land. She had never felt anything like it. It even made the power of Discord dim in comparison to it. It was as if an ancient god had descended from heaven to once more walk the material plane. She quickly summoned her guards and donned her armor rushing to the throne room to meet her sister.

Rushing through the halls of the castle she could see that many ponies cowered in fear. Many believing that Discord had finally returned to reap his revenge against pony kind. Luna hated to see her subjects like this and made up her mine that who ever was to cause for would answer to her or feel her wrath.

When she entered the throne room she saw that her sister had already summoned the generals and the advisers. When Celestia say that Luna had arrived she quieted the court and began to discuss what happened with her sister.

“Sister have you ever felt anything that powerful before?” Luna asked Celestia worriedly

“Nah, I have never felt this power but it seems to have passed and nothing of malice has taken place. Therefore I believe all we can do is send out patrols and see what has happened and then determine whether it is dangerous or not to our ponies.”

Seeing the truth in her sister's words Luna readily agreed. Although she still felt a tugging feeling in the back of her head as if something was telling her the relative peace they have had since the fall of Discord would not last much longer,

A figure suddenly appeared in the middle of the forest with a flash of light. The figure was dressed in an officer’s uniform similar to the ones worn by america captains during the war of 1812. The figure was clutching a sword in one hand, a sextant in the other, and had its’ arms wrapped around an ancient looking books. The creature seemed to be unconscious for the moment but none of the animals went near it.

After some time passed the animals lost interest in the creature and went about their daily live. Only to be disrupted once more by the feral howl of timber wolves. The animals fled the clearing not wanting to become meals for the wooden abominations. Leaving the strange creature alone in the clearing it had first arrived in.

The timber wolf pack raced into the clearing hoping to find easy prey only coming across a creature they had never seen before. The pack warily began to circle the creature hoping that it would be a simple kill. It was right before one of the Timber wolves was about to go for the kill that the creature jerked awake.

“Fuuuuck, that hurt!” it screamed out completely oblivious to the danger it was in.