Chapter 2: The Brother and Magic

10 Years Later

Calm Seas hid in the bushes peering out from the tangled branches searching the yard in front of the cottage for the creature that had been chasing all morning. He sunk further into the shadows trying his best to hide himself from the grey winged monstrosity. As he pushed further into the growth a grey blur wiped around the cottage and disappeared. Calm Seas let out a sigh of relief when a crashing sound came from above and a burst of broken branches heralded the appearance of an upside down grey pegasus in front of him. Calm Seas reeled back tripping over a root falling over into a heap.

“Found You!” The joyful voice of his brother rang out. As he tackled Calm Seas to the ground. The unicorn and the pegasus colts rolled around on the ground until they rolled out from under the bushes covered in twigs and leaves.

“Ok, you got me.” Calm Seas got up, pushing Stormy off while dusting himself off glaring at his little brother. “Did you have to scare me like that Stormy?”

“Yup!” Stormy nodded and then started giggling again.

Calm Seas sighed then shaking his head. “Ok it's your turn to hide,” he said with a grin. “, and no trees this time!” He shouted at the young pegasus as he flew off fast as his wings could take him. Disappearing over the ridge of the hill towards the town.

Calm Seas turned around and covered his eye counting down to ten before spinning around and shouting, “Ready or not here I come!” Before running in the direction, which Stormy had flown off toward.

Calm Seas ran along the road that twined from the cottage to the village of Safe Harbor that they called home. The village itself was small only being about the size of two city blocks in total along with the numerous cottages that spread out around it. The main feature of the village where the empty docks that normally housed the boats of the fishing fleet. They stretched out into the calm waters of the naturally formed harbor that had originally brought ponies to settle here. While the waters of the harbor where a beautiful sight the docks where a sorry sight, worn with age and missing planks every few feet they matched the shape of the town itself. The only other thing that would distinguish it from any other fishing villages along the coast was the large wrecked galleon to the north of the village. For as long as the town ponies could remember the galleon had sat on the shore looming over a graveyard of wrecked hulls that covered the beaches north of town. The buildings of the town where all run down, most were made of grey weathered wood that had been salvaged from the bone yard of ships to the north not many had even a scrape of paint on them and if they did it was faded and peeling. The town had once been a center of trade, acting as a supply depot for the equestrian ships that would sail across the Celestial Sea to trade with the Griffon Kingdom, but with the construction of the deep-water ports, Baltimare in the south and Manehatten in the north. Diverting the trade fleets leading to the ruin of many of the smaller ports along the coast, Safe Harbor only survived since the larger ports did not bother with the salted cod trade.

As Calm Seas ran through the town he passed by many ponies who smiled and waved at him. Most of the ponies in town where mares, the elderly, or the very young. As all of the Stallions, and older colts were out at sea with the fishing fleet. As he rounded a corner, he ran into a tan stallion knocking both of them to the ground.

“Well lad I wasn’t expecting I’d run into you today at least not without the threat of your mother dragging you to my office, Where are you of to, with such speed?” The stallion asked as he picked himself up and dusted himself off.

“I’m so sorry I knocked you over Doctor Saw Bones, I was playing hide and seek with Stormy Sky and wasn’t looking where I was going.”

“Its fine lad just be more careful next time. Now I think I saw a grey winged menace heading off towards the fruit stand if you’re quick you might catch him.”

“Really?! Thank you Dr. Bones” Calm Seas said as he ran off through the streets.

“Don’t forget you two have an appointment to day!” Saw Bones called out to the colt as he ran off.

“I Won’t, See you later Dr. Bones!”

Calm Seas made his way to the center of the town where the market was held. During most of the week, the town center only had a few stalls in operation, but today was the day before Saturday, which meant that there would be no work tomorrow allowing ponies to come and trade for supplies and goods at the market. Therefore, the center of town was a bustle with local farmers setting up there stalls and traveling merchants claiming their spots for the next day. Calm Seas payed no heed to all of the activity around him and headed straight towards the water fountain where an old purple mare had set up her fruit stand like the one she had every day for as long as Calm Seas could remember.

“Why hello there Calm Seas it nice to see you today, are you here to purchase some fruit?” the mare asked.

“No Mrs. River Berry I’m just looking for my brother have you seen him?”

River Berry smiled and gestured underneath the stand. “No I haven’t seen him I’m sorry I couldn’t help you.”

Calm Seas nodded his head and said, “That's ok Mrs. River Berry I’m sure I’ll find him somewhere.” He made loud clopping sounds making it sound like he was walking away before creeping back around the stand on tip hooves. He carefully lifted up the cloth draped over the stand and saw his brother crouched up in a ball with his back to him. Calm Seas slowly moved forward and reached out his hoof poking Stormy in the back.

“Boo!” Calm Seas shouted

“Waaah!” Stormy shot up into the air and hit his head off the table. Landing hard on the ground, he began to cry.

Calm Seas face went from ecstatic to a worried look in an instant and he ran over to his brother. “Are you ok, it was just a small bump, please don’t tell mom and dad.”

His brother stopped crying and rolled over pointing a hoof at him and laughing. “Ha got you!”

“Hey, that’s not funny I was worried.”

“Yeah, but the look on your face is so worth, and take it as revenge for cheating.”

“How’d I cheat?”

“You asked Mrs. River Berry for help.”

“So, that's not cheating its using your resources.” Calm Seas said puffing out his chest.

“You sound like grandpa.” Stormy said as he rolled his eyes.

“I do not!”

“Do too.”

“Colts,” Mrs. River Berry ducked her head under the table, “I do believe that I heard someone say that the fleet is pulling back in. Shouldn’t you two be there to help your father?”

Both Calm Seas and Stormy Sky shot up and dashed out from under the stall. “See you later Mrs. River Berry!” They both cried over their shoulders as they ran to the docks.

They slowed down and sat at the end of the longest pier looking out across the horizon, where they saw white sails coming closer. As they neared, they were able to make them out the shallops that the village used for fishing. There were only three of the boats but the village still treated it as if a whole convoy was coming home. Especially as they drew closer and the village could see the cod piled high on the decks of each of the boats. Ponies began to run off into the town to gather the others and grab supplies.

Calm Seas and Stormy Sky jumped and waved at the grey painted shallop as it neared the pier and the ponies aboard threw them lines to tie to the cleats along the dock. They quickly tied up the boat, as Steady Stone jumped off the shallop and onto the dock to greet Serenity Pearl who had just made her way to the dock.

“Would you look at this catch?” Steady said gleefully as he pointed at the pile of fish on his boat stacked almost as high as two colts put together.

“Yes, dear I do. We’ll be able to trade for some extra supplies this year.” Serenity said happily, as she hugged Steady Stone.

“It won’t do much good if we don’t get these fish salted ya two love birds, chop, chop.” Fish Bones said as he hopped of the boat and started to help the town ponies load the fish off the boat and into carts.

“Alright old stallion just give me a moment.” Steady called out as he hugged his wife again. “I’ll see you after the chores are done dear.”

“See you then my dear.” Serenity said as she kissed him and walked off with the other mares to clean the fish.

Calm Seas and Stormy Sky had both been moving fish into a cart when their father walked up to them.

“Alright colts I have this you two go help pack the barrels.”

“Yes, sir” Calm Seas said as he immediately moved to leave.

“Do we have to?” Stormy whined as he slowly began to follow Calm Seas.

“Do it or no plum duff tonight.”

Stormy Sky’s eyes widened and he shot past his brother. “Ok, bye!”

Calm Seas looked at his father with a quizzical look, “Are we really having plum duff?”

Steady shrugged his shoulders. “Maybe, now go help your brother.”

“Yes, sir.”

Calm Seas made his way towards the warehouses where the village stored the salted cod once they packed it into barrels. He saw Stormy Sky with the foals of his father’s crew taking down the dried cod and packing it into barrels then adding a layer of salt. Repeating the processes of layering fish and salt until they filled the barrel to the top, and an adult came to hammer a lid onto the barrel and move it into the warehouse. Calm Seas grabbed a scoop in his mouth and started to shovel salt into the barrel Stormy was working on.

“Hey Calmy,” a green earth pony filly called out.

“Hi, Spearmint.” Calm Seas replied through his teeth as he scooped more salt into the barrel.

“Hey Calm could you use your magic stuff to make this go faster?” A large orange colt asked.

“Sorry, I don’t know how to use it yet. Forge Fire” Calm Seas said apologetically as he started picking up fillets of the cod and laying it in the barrel.

“Oh well, guess we just have to do it the old fashioned way.” Forge grunted as he picked up another scoop of salt.

The foals all turned back to working on packing the fish in silence. Broken occasionally by one of them to tell a joke or complaining about the smell of the fish. This went on until the sun was low in the sky and they had packed away all of the dried fish and all of the fresh catch was.

“Calm Seas, Stormy Sky, It's time for supper.” Serenity called as she walked past the warehouse.

Stormy Sky and Calm Seas got up from where they were sitting and said goodbye to the other foals before following their mother down the road. Along the way, their father and grandfather joined them as they said goodnight to the other fisherstallions. When they got home, Serenity started to chop up vegetables throwing them into a pot while Steady Stone grabbed a bucket by the door and went to go pump water from the well. Calm Seas, Stormy Sky and Fish Bones sat at the table and began to discuss the events of the day.

“So what trouble did ya two get into, while me an yar pa were at sea?” Fish asked.

“We played hide and seek. I won!” Stormy declared.

“No you didn’t it was a tie!” Stormy said indignantly.

“No you cheated so it didn’t count!”

“I didn’t cheat I just used my resources wisely.”

Fish chuckled and looked at Stormy. “How did he cheat, did he peek while countin?”

“No.”

“Did he fake the end of the game?”

“No.”

“Did he lie to get you to come out?”

“No.”

“Then what in tarnation did he do?”

“He asked Mrs. River Berry where I was hiding.”

Fish pondered this for a moment before saying. “Well, I agree with yar brother that he didn’t cheat, but what he did do was dishonorable.”

“What, why?” Calm Seas asked.

“It was a competition between ya and yar brother you should not have brought in another pony.”

“Oh.” Calm Seas said releasing his blunder.

At that point, Steady Stone walked into the cottage with Saw Bones in tow.

“Look who I found dear, I hope you don’t mind but I invited him to supper.” Steady said between his teeth as he carried the bucket to the fireplace.

“That’s fine dear, Calm Seas would you put out another bowel and cup for Dr. Bones.”

“Yes Ma’am” Calm Seas said as he got up and went to the cupboard and got a plate and cup balancing them in his mouth as he walked them to the table.

“Still can’t use your magic yet, then lad?” Saw Bones asked as he sat down next to Fish Bones.

“Yeah, but I heard a tutor was supposed to visit here sometime this week. Maybe he’ll teach me about magic.” Calm Seas said hopefully.

“Maybe, maybe, how about you old timer how are you?” Saw Bones asked Fish

“I’m fine ya butcher, just stay away from me and I’ll live to be a hundred.” Fish Bones declared as he scooched away from Saw Bones.

“If you say so, but don’t come belly aching to me.”

“Don’t ya worry I won’t.”

“Play nice you two.” Serenity said as she started putting the pot filled with chopped up vegetables onto the hearth. “Dr. Saw Bones since your here now why don’t you give the colts their checkup while dinner is cooking.”

“That’s a brilliant ideal lass, alright lads come with me and we’ll look you over.” He said as he got up and walked with the colts into the next room over. After about thirty minutes, the three came out and sat back down at the table.

“Well, your two colts here both have a clean bill of health; they're both on the right path to growing into fine young stallions.” Saw Bones said as he sat back down.

“That’s great; alright now that everyone's here would you like to say grace Dad?” Serenity asked her father.

“Sure thing,” Fish said, “Thank ya Celestia for yar sun that lets us go to sea and return home and that clears the stormy sky and thank ya to the guardian of the moon who guides us in the night and controls the tides.”

“Thanks Fish, now let's eat.” Steady said as he dug into his food.

Saw Bones looked quizzically at Fish Bones as they ate. “I’ve never heard of a grace like that?”

“Hmm… oh yeah ya’re from inland aren’t ya.” Steady said between gulps of soup. “I suppose ya wouldn’t know about it. Ya see it’s an old sailors tradition to thank the guardian of the moon for our ability to navigate at night and for controlling the tide.”

“Yes I understand that, but who is the guardian of the moon exactly?” Saw Bones asked.

“Who is the guardian of the moon, bah do ya ever look up into the sky? Her face is planted into the damn moon every night.” Fish spat.

“Do you mean the Mare in the Moon?” Saw Bones looked quizzically at Fish. “Isn’t she an evil spirit or something?”

Fish’s face contorted into a glare and his voice was on the verge of yelling. “What!? Ya damn inlanders knowing nothing of the old legends, what lies do they teach ya?!”

“Dad that is enough.” Steady said in a commanding tone. “If you cannot act civil towards a guest you may leave.”

Fish glared at Steady but took a deep breath and let it out before returning to eating. For the rest of the meal they ate in silence. When the meal was finished, the Serenity sent the colts to bed and Fish Bones left through the back door towards his hut. While Saw Bones, Steady Stone and Serenity Pearl moved into the sitting room to talk. Steady grabbed two glasses and poured himself and Saw Bones a glass of whiskey while Saw bones filled his pipe and Serenity took out her knitting needles. He handed the second glass to Bones and sat down in his chair next to Serenity.

“So Doc what’s the word on Calm Sea’s horn?” he asked after a moment of sipping whiskey.

Saw Bones sighed, “I really don’t know Steady foals his age should be learning how to deal with magic surges and minor spells but his never even once showed a scrap of magic. He is a conundrum, if you want my expert opinion what and see what that unicorn teacher has to say when he comes through and at worst send him to Canterlot and have a specialist look at him.”

Steady nodded and looked down into his whiskey glass. “I wish that weren’t the case the catch might have been good this year but it is barely enough to pay for that tutor much less a Celestia damned expert.”

Serenity reached over to her husbanded and patted his foreleg with her hoof. “It’s alright dear will figure something out.”

Steady just nodded and took another swig of his whiskey. Saw Bones downed the last of his drink and put out his pipe.

“I’ll be on my way good luck and good night.” He said as he walked out the door leaving them alone while they worried about the future of their foal.

Author's Note

I apologize for taking so long, but life and wanting to rewrite this chapter got in the way of posting it in a timely manner. Thank you for reading, and please tell me your comments, concerns, and criticisms so I may make this story better.

Respectfully,
Wandering_Skald