Author's Note

Hey, everyone.

I know it's been a while since the last chapter, but I was having difficulty trying to peace together a good chapter. Whether this was good or not, I'll leave that up to you. But, to me, I think it turned out better. Let me know what you thought, if you feel the need to say anything.

P.S. Listen to this while reading, it might set a better mood: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubZhS-0l4wk

Chapter 9: Mourning On The Waves

The sun hid under the ocean as morning approached. The waves splashed gently against the hull of the Sea Master as it cruised across the water. The breeze was cool and filled with a salty scent. Perfectly peaceful and calm.

Black Helm stepped out from under the wheelhouse and made his way to the bow. Upon reaching the railing, he rested a hoof against it. His other hoof reached into his inner coat pocket and retrieved his pipe. It wasn't anything special, just a simple piece of oak with a helm carved into it. Carefully, he looked over the pipe as a memory entered his mind.

"Happy birthday, my brave sailor." A voice said sweetly as Black Helm laid peacefully in bed.

Slowly opening his eyes, he saw sunlight pouring into the room and a sky blue unicorn mare's face looking down at him. She had a warm smile and eyes as green as kelp waving in the current. Her hair was as blue as the ocean and draped down like a waterfall from her head and down her neck. To Black Helm, she was the sea in the form of a beautiful mare. And she was all his.

"Mmmm." He groaned, grinning back at the mare, "Hello, my ocean queen."

"Did you sleep well?" She asked, leaned down slightly.

"I did. Perhaps one of the best sleeps I've ever had. I even had a nice dream too."

"Oh, do tell. You know I love hearing about those."

"Well, I dreamt that you and I were living in a big house that sat near the edge of a small cliff. Nothing too big, but just enough to avoid high tide. The ocean reflected the sunset and sparkled grandly. And there you stood, overlooking the ocean with pride, looking as beautiful as the background."

The blue mare's smile grew slightly as she listened. It appeared that she truly enjoyed hearing his thoughts and dreams.

"What about you?" Black Helm asked, looking up at her, "Did you have any dreams?"

"Kind of." She replied, leaning in closer, "But it was more of a prediction than a dream."

"And what did you predict?"

"This."

Lowering herself further, her lips met his and melted into a passionate kiss. They held it for a moment before separating.

"What do you think?" She asked, pulling away slightly.

"Not bad." Black Helm replied as his grin grew devious, "But, I think it could be better."

Without warning, he quickly reached up and wrapped his hooves around her, pulling her onto the bed with him. The sudden act caused her to squeak with surprise and joy as she felt his strength. In an instant, she lay on top of him with the blanket separating both of them. They melted into another deep kiss before releasing each other. She slid down slightly and rested her head on his chest, where she heard the sound of a steady and strong heartbeat.

"Black?" She said quietly, keeping her head on his chest.

"Yes, Blue." He replied, brushing her mane with his hoof.

"Do you think we'll ever live free?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, live away from corruption, poverty, all of this. Just leave and live quietly in a nice home with a happy family. Never having to work for beasts like Sharp Edge, struggling to make ends meet. And not live in a place where danger is almost anywhere."

Black Helm thought for a moment as he rolled her words in his mind. His eyes drifted around and looked at the room. It was small with some cracks in the walls. The window was cracked as well with the paint chipped from the frame. The door hung loose on the hinges and appeared damaged. The only nice object in the room was the bed. It wasn't brand new, but it was stable and free of damage.

"I think," Black Helm said, continuing to brush her mane, "there will be a day where you and I will leave this behind us. When it will come, I don't know. But, I know that as long as we stay together, anything is possible."

Blue Reef looked up at him and smiled.

"I don't think there's another stallion like you anywhere." She said, resting her head back down on his chest, "Or a better husband."

"Well," he replied, "I have the most beautiful mare in the world for a wife. I think it worked well for both of us."

He felt the movement of her cheek on his chest as she smiled. Then he saw her horn glow and a small box float through the air.

"I bought you something." Blue Reef smiled, allowing the box to land gently next to them.

Black Helm stopped brushing and turned to open the box. Lifting the lid, he found a smoking pipe made of oak with a helm carved into it. It was polished and smooth, never before used. It sat neatly in a soft padded outliner that was unattached to the box.

"It's wonderful, love." Black Helm said, taking it out of the padding, "But, you know I don't smoke."

"I know." Blue Reef replied, looking back up at him, "But, I thought it would make you look more like a captain."

Black Helm placed the mouthpiece between his lips and closed one eye, pretending to smoke his pipe. His playful nature caused Blue Reef to chuckle.

"There's something else in the box as well." Blue Reef smiled, "Under the padding."

Curious, Black Helm took the padding out of the box and found a plaque. On it were the words;

My father is a brave sea captain. What's yours?

Black Helm chuckled as he read it. But, then he looked down at his wife and saw something different in her eyes. That's when he realized what the plaque meant.

"Are you..." Black Helm stammered, his pipe falling out of his mouth and landing on the bed.

"Yes." Blue Reef replied with joy, "Yes, I am."

Tears rolled down Black Helm's cheeks, as did Blue Reef's tears. And with that, they wrapped their hooves around each other and held tight.

"I love you." Black Helm whispered, kissing her head, "Both of you."

"I love you too." Blue Reef whispered back, nestling her head into his chest, "And so does our child."

Black Helm held his pipe, now worn and aged. He brought it up to his lips and stuffed some tobacco leaves in it, before striking a match and puffed until the heat took to the leaves.

"Mind if I join you?" A small voice asked from behind him.

Black Helm turned and found Surf Salt standing and looking over the ocean as the sun peeked over the waves.

"Of course." The captain said, gesturing the colt over to the rail, "You're welcome to almost anything aboard this ship."

With that, Surf approached the rail and stood next to the captain. Both watching the sun rise out of the water and greet them.

"Your mother..." Black Helm began, blowing a cloud of smoke, "Did she ever talk to you about your father?"

Surf looked up at the captain with some curiosity, but felt comfortable enough to answer.

"She mentioned him a few times." The colt replied, looking back over the railing, "Always told me that he was out here on the ocean, trying to find his way home. Trying to find a way for us to be free. I used to sit by the window and watch as the ships came to the harbour, hoping that one day I'll see him walk up to the door. But, after a while, that hope faded away and I gave up."

Black Helm puffed another cloud and thought, before speaking.

"You don't have to answer, but I'm curious." Black Helm said, keeping his eyes on the horizon, "How did she die?"

He looked down and locked eyes with the young colt, who had a tear rolling down his cheek.

"She died while protecting me." Surf replied in a hushed voice, "Sharp Edge came to the house one day and was demanding something from her. I wasn't sure what, but he was angry when she refused. Before I knew it, the door to my room flew open and he started marching towards me. Mom quickly tackled him and told me to run away. So I climbed through the window and down the roof, before disappearing into a crowd."

Black Helm knelt down to Surf's eyelevel and put a hoof on the colt's shoulder.

"I went back home a couple hours later, expecting to see my mother waiting happily for me." Surf continued, dropping his eyes to the deck, "But, instead I found her laying on the floor. Her eyes were half lidded and her colour had faded slightly. I walked over to her slowly, before closing her eyes completely and laying down beside her. I cried myself to sleep and prepared a burial for her in the garden the next day. She's still there, under the dirt and a bed of lilies. If my father had been there, it might've been different."

Black Helm pulled the colt in closer for a warm hug, trying to comfort him.

"Yes, it might have been different if he was." He said, closing his eyes and feeling the colt weep into his jacket, "I am so sorry, son."