The Chronicles of Eponia

The carrack had been sailing for half a day and was already in the open sea. In her cabin, Sunset Shimmer was lying on her bed while levitating the horn, observing it better. She couldn’t wait for the day when they finally reached Eponia and they could explore that land, maybe then she could discover the meaning of the artifact. Lots of thoughts crossed Sunset’s mind: Would Eponia look like Equestria? What kind of ponies lived there? What about the rest of the creatures that inhabited the place?

When boredom overtook her, she decided to keep the horn inside her saddlebag and go on deck to get some fresh air. It was already mid-afternoon, and Sunset found her friends engaged in different activities. Applejack was with Bowsprit on the quarterdeck with him explaining the proper handling of the wheel, Pinkie Pie who had already recovered from that terrible hangover was chatting happily with Fluttershy in the bow deck, Rarity took the freedom to sunbathe, and Twilight and Rainbow were reading together Daring Do’s Logbook.

Sunset approached the two mares, which had lost themselves in the reading. If she knew Twilight well, and if that this Rainbow Dash was like the one from her world, she could deduce that Twilight was reading the diary to learn more about Eponia, while Rainbow did it to know the details of the very first adventure of her idol. On second thought Twilight would be doing the same.

“Hey girls, how's it going?” Asked the orange unicorn.

“Hi there Sunset, we are learning more about Eponia, Daring Do’s diary is fascinating.” Said Twilight.

“And the adventures she lived in there are so awesome!” Said Rainbow Dash excited.

“Did you know that Eponia is divided into three kingdoms? One is run by Pegasi, it’s called Prydaddain, another by unicorns called Horntriu, and the last by earth ponies called Cobernia.” Explained Twilight. “But there are also a kingdom of dragons, tribes of hippogriffs and, clans of deer in the mountains which, apparently, are pretty good with magic, magic of elemental forces of nature…” Twilight was visibly fascinated about speaking of Eponia, so much that Sunset started to doubt who was most eager to get there.

“That’s pretty amazing Twilight,” said Sunset.

“And there are some dangerous regions.” Added Rainbow Dash. “Daring Do was ambushed by bandits in northern forests, and she says that there is plenty of pirate activity.”

“We hope we can avoid them at all cost.” Said Blowing Wind who appeared suddenly at the side of the mares. “The Scobii pirates are a real headache for all sailors of good, I've seen them in action...”

"Really?" Asked Rainbow Dash, intrigued, to which the captain nodded.

“We were in the port of Mareffraw, exchanging tobacco for beer when those scoundrels attacked the city. I thought we would die there, but thanks to the Pegasi Legions we left unharmed from that ruckus.”

"The Pegasi Legions?" Sunset Shimmer asked.

"Yes, Daring speaks about them here," said Twilight, turning pages until she found the one she was looking for. "The Pegasi Legions are the elite corps of the Kingdom of Prydaddain; there are three legions in total and in them they are some of the best warriors of Eponia.” Twilight turned his gaze away from the book. “She also says that all pegasi at sixteen, have to serve a minimum of 25 years in the Legion. Once that time has passed, they can graduate or remain in the army with multiple possibilities of promotion.”

“It sounds like Flash Magnus’ Royal Legion, imagine being able to see them in flesh and blood, it must be amazing!” Said Rainbow Dash looking at the page.

Suddenly a yell that came from the warehouse alerted all the ponies in deck. Jimmy Shanty galloped up the stairs almost tripping, over a look of terror on his face. He ran to Ish who hugged the poor foal to reassure him.

“Jimmy! Jimmy! Easy there kiddo, what's wrong with ye?” Asked Ish comforting the poor terrified foal.

“I... I've seen...” Jimmy tried to calm down while hyperventilating. “I've seen a monster in the hold!”

Most of the ponies shared an expression of incredulity, others seemed curious by the statements of the cabin foal, and Fluttershy cringed at what the colt said.

“A monster? Jimmy, ye didn’t drink from the grog barrels secretly, right?” Asked the captain.

“Cap’n, I swear to Celestia,” said the convinced cabin foal “I went to the cargo hold because Salmagundi asked me for some oranges, I did it and when I took them I heard a noise coming from the apple barrel, I approached a little closer and saw a creature with bright green eyes... I was so scared that ... I dropped the damn oranges and ran away.”

“Jimmy, I’m sure there is a logical explanation for all that, maybe you got confused by a shadow or something.” Twilight tried to find a rational explanation for the event, although she had to admit that all of that was very strange.

“Shadows don’t grab apples and suddenly release them, ma'am!” The cabin foal defended himself firmly.

“Unless, it was a ghost.” Said Flutteshy almost scared as Jimmy Shanty.

“Ma'am? Look kid I'm not that old, and I'm not even married" Twilight replied a little bit outraged.

“Aw right everypony, shut up ye all.” Said Ish putting order. “I will go down there and clarify all this issue.”

Ish approached to a barrel on the deck, took out a huge harpoon of serrated blade, and went down to the hold. The intrepid Rainbow Dash wanted to follow him, but the captain advised her not to do it.

Ish moved through the darkness of the cargo hold, but it was so dark that he could only see something because of the small oil lamps that rested on some beams. As he went deeper into the hold, the harpooner saw the barrels of food and some oranges on the floor, he deduced that those were the ones that Jimmy Shanty let loose in fright. Suddenly, a noise near the apple barrels caused the pegasus to be on alert.

With the harpoon at the ready, Ish approached cautiously to the barrels. He couldn’t see what was in there, because a small smoke burst blinded him momentarily. A creature not much bigger than a foal ran away while Ish rubbed his eyes.

“Come back here ye vermin!” Shouted Ish chasing the intruder.

The stowaway got up the stairs followed by an enraged Ish who was pointing him with the harpoon. They both arrived to the upper deck when everypony could see the appearance of the food thief. The crew was surprised, confused and, somehow, a little bit frightened, but the girls were petrified when they saw the identity of the stowaway, specially Twilight…

“SPIKE?!” Shouted the mane six and Sunset Shimmer.

“Help! He’s crazy!” yelled the poor little dragon scared.

After the first shock the crew started to laugh seeing that the “monster” that scared Jimmy Shanty was an infant dragon who run terrified away from Ish’s harpoon. He definitely didn’t look like a menace. However, Blowing Wind wasn’t laughing, a dragon, little or not is still a dragon.

“Do ye all know that dragon?” Asked the captain concerned.

“Yes, of course, but what is he doing here?” Asked Twilight.

“Take care of that later, Ah think Spike needs your help!” Said Applejack pointing that Spike was still fleeing from Ish.

Twilight, seeing the little dragon running away from the harpooner, acted without thinking…

“STOP! YOU BOTH!” Twilight teleported herself between those two and with a spell she paralyzed them. “Ok, now you’re going to calm down” Said pointing Ish who was still surprised by the spell. “And you are going to tell me why in Celestia’s name are you here and not in Ponyville. Understand?” Twilight was visibly angry, so neither Spike or Ish said no word. The princess understood them silence as a yes, so she broke the spell and both fell down in the floor.

“Dammit, what a nasty feeling.” Said Ish recomposing himself.

Spike look at Twilight with a scared look and a little bit of regret.

“You, come with me.” Said firmly the princess. Spike couldn’t remember the last time he saw her so angry, even though there was more than anger in her look. They went down the deck, towards Twilight’s cabin while their friends looked at them with an expression of concern, hopping that the princess wouldn’t be so hard with the dragon. Down in the cabin, Twilight talked to Spike. “Would you mind me to explain what are you doing here? No, scratch that, how did you get in here?”

“Uhm... Hidden in Rarity’s luggage, their suitcases were big enough to hide comfortably in them.” The dragon explained before the hard look of his protector. "Twilight, I’m sorry, I really did not want to scare that foal, I was hungry, and those apples looked really good.”

“Why Spike?” Simply asked Twilight changing her look by one of sadness. "Why did you escape and hide in here?"

“Because I didn’t want to stay taking care of the school, I wanted to accompany you.” Said the dragon. “The last time against the Storm King was very dangerous, and I assumed that I could be more useful with you again.”

“And you haven’t thought of anything better than hiding without saying anything to anypony and leaving me worried about not seeing you at the train station?” Twilight’s anger let see her disappointment with that last words, which was clearer when Twilight's eyes began to shed tears. “I thought you were so angry and disapointed with me that you didn't care about me leaving. Do you know how bad I felt with that?”

Spike couldn’t stop the tears from coming, too, he didn’t expect hurt Twilight’s feelings, the one who was his older sister, and the closest thing to a mother that he ever had.

“Twilight, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry.” Said he, hugging the mare while some tears came out of his eyes. “I didn’t know you felt so bad, please forgive me.” Twilight felt the repentance of the dragon, and she returned the hug back.

“Don’t worry, I'm not angry, just a little disappointed,” Twilight let some tears flow too and pet his scally back with one of her hooves. “But you could have just insisted, sure it would be harder to convince me, but we could have saved us all this mess.”

“So, everything’s all right?” Asked the dragon wiping away the tears.

“Not yet, you have to apologize with the poor Jimmy Shanty, You gave him a scare to death.” Spike blushed embarrassed and he nodded.

The pony and the dragon went back to the deck, with everypony worried about them, Twilight approached the girls and told them that everything was alright. "Have you been too hard with him?" Asked Rarity worried.

"Not too much." Answered Twilight smiling.

Spike approached the cabin foal to apologize with him, while Twilight explained the situation to the captain and the rest of the crew. Although at first, he was suspicious, Jimmy Shanty ended up making good friends with the dragon, he even lent his guitar and showed him some sea shanties. Twilight looked tenderly at Spike along with Jimmy Shanty and was glad that everything went well.

“So that dragon is like... yer son?” Asked Ish who approached the princess.

“Well... something like that.” Said Twilight with a nervous laugh. “Spike came out of the egg thanks to me, and since then we haven’t separated; so yes, I have served as elder sister, mother, protector... and although he's still a mischievous little dragon, he is becoming more and more mature. By the way, I'm curious, how did Jimmy ended on your ship?”

Ish closed his eyes and drew a half smile on his face.

“A few years ago, Salmagundi was looking for ingredients for grub when he noticed a silhouette behind a cask, he approached and saw a foal trembling of fear with an apple in his hooves. Salmagundi presented him to the cap’n, and he decided to welcome him, and took care of him.” Explained Ish with a nostalgic tone. “He is the best cabin foal that we could ever ask for, he is hard-working, loyal, and he always knows how to cheer the sailings. Poor Jimmy is an orphan, so we are the closest thing to a family that he has...” Twilight looked at the harpooner and smiled tenderly at the story of the young cabin foal.

“It's funny that the captain welcomed him right away." Commented Twilight.

“It's not that weird... Blowing Wind is a good-hearted pony if ye manage to get to him, but he hadn’t an easy life... and I'd better keep me mouth shut before I say anything I regret…”

Twilight looked at Ish confused but she didn’t say nothing. She turned her head to see the bridge and there he was the captain watching the sunset while smoking his pipe. With that image came a memory to her head, and a question that had escaped yesterday related to the fact that Blowing Wind agreed to take the girls to Eponia after so many refusals.

“Hey Twilight, Salmagundi says dinner is almost ready.” Said Applejack, but her friend was distracted. “Are ya aw’right sugarcube?”

“Oh, yes Applejack, it was nothing.” Said the princess with her mind being elsewhere.

“C’mon, Twilight, ya can’t lie ta me, what's bothering ya?”

"Applejack, can I tell you something? But you have to promise me that you won’t tell anypony…" Said the alicorn in a serious tone.

“Sure thing sugarcube, Pinkie Promise!” Applejack made the same gestures than her pink friend, making Twilight smile satisfied. “So, tell me what happens.”

“You see, yesterday when I spoke with Blowing Wind and asked him to take us to Eponia, he was elusive and reluctant during the whole conversation. For a moment I thought I would never convince him to help us,” explained Twilight, Applejack was listening carefully. “However, I don’t know why, but just after Sunset Shimmer approached me to tell me that Pinkie Pie was drunk, her attitude changed, and it was there when I convinced him to start the journey…”

“And do ya think that seadog has somethin’ to do with Sunset?” Asked Applejack rising an eyebrow.

“I would say yes, but I don’t have any proves, I think it’s better not say anything to Sunset right now.” Explained Twilight.

“If you’re sure about that, Ah won’t tell anypony about this, just call me if ya wanna have some words with the cap’n.” Said the farmer winking an eye to her friend. Twilight just similed.

The mares shared a small laugh, and went down to the lower deck to eat the grub prepared by Salmagundi. It was nothing special: oatmeal with apple and orange, but it was filling enough to support the day. At night, Bowsprit stayed in charge of the wheel, while Blowing Wind went to his cabin to have some sleep. The rest of the crew stayed in the lower deck enjoying a pleasant time of drink and music, all Pinkie Pie’s idea, of course; Silver started playing the flute before it was his turn to go up to the lookout post, while Ish grabbed a fiddle and Jimmy Shanty took his guitar.

Together, they play a catchy song about a drunken sailor.

Sunset was drinking a jar of cider while watching Pinkie Pie dancing with Salmagundi and Spike dancing with Rarity. However, she noticed that a certain purple pony was missing among them. She got up and went to the cabin where she found Twilight reading Daring Do's diary, again...

“Twilight, you're missing the party.” Said the orange unicorn approaching to her. “Didn't you read that book like five times already?”

"Actually six," she said smiling, "but there’s something that keeps me thinking, listen to this: "Who was that Epona by the way, if I ask the pegasi, they’ll tell me that she was a great and honorable leader, with great charisma, and an expert strategist; if I ask the unicorns, they’ll say she was a wise pony, with great knowledge in elemental magic, and a magical talent not available to everypony, specially an earth pony; and speaking of which, the earth ponies will tell me that she was them protector, the one who gave them the chance of a better life. But all of them are agree that she was them mother… The Great Mother, that’s how they call her… An earth pony living in a small village near Mareffraw spoke about her with these words: Mater Mara, rigani nertaca, benoulati epon… In his language is something like: Great Mother, Mighty Queen, Mistress of Horses… Those words are repeated in my mind again and again , and with all the temples that I saw, I can swear, without any doubt, that they see Epona like a goddess, so the rest of the Founders; but it can’t be, right? Nopony ever ascended to deity like that, not even Princess Celestia, and she is the closest thing to a demigod that we have… but if that it’s true… why can I feel her presence in every place of this land, even though she passed away centuries ago…? "

“Are you saying that Eponians worship Epona like a goddess?” Asked Sunset surprised.

“Celtos.” Said Twilight.

“Sorry, what?” Asked Sunset confused by her friend’s answer.

“That’s how they call themselves: Celtos.” Explained the princess. “It seems that’s the name Epona gave to her subjects; and look at this.” Twilight turned pages and pointed to one in particular. “According to certain legends it was said that Queen Epona was capable of travel to a place some ponies call Antumnos, there she was capable of… changing form, being younger in the way of a bipedal creature… sounds familiar?"

Yes, what Twilight mentioned was certainly familiar to Sunset Shimmer, but it could not be, could it?

“Are you saying that in Eponia there was another portal to my world?” Asked surprised Sunset while she already knows the answer.

“It is perfectly possible.” Said Twilight. “We know very well that we are not the first ponies to visit that world; Clover the Clever was already there to bury the Memory Stone, and Star Swirl the Bearded, already knew of its existence when he sent the Sirens there…”

“Ok, but what do you think Epona would do there?”

“I really have no idea.” Confessed Twilight. “Maybe we’ll discover it once we arrive.”

Sunset smiled at her friend and returned with the others to celebrate.

The next day passed without complications and by the time the night came, they were all quite sure that they could rest at ease, for which Captain Blowing Wind prepared himself by studying his navigational charts in his cabin.

“Bowsprit, are ya aw'right?” Asked Applejack to the Boatswain.

“I think we have to batten down the hatches.” Said Bowsprit in his sailor talk.

“Ya mean a storm?” Said Applejack looking at the sky. “Ah don’t think so pal.”

Bowsprit laugh tenderly at Applejack’s thought. “Ye’ll tell me that later gal…”

When night arrived, everything was apparently calm. The girls slept peacefully on their cots when suddenly the noise of the crew running from one place to another and the sound of a bell woke them up.

“All hooves on deck! All hooves on deck!” Bowsprit shouted ringing a bell.

They realized that the ship was shaking more than usual and went out to investigate.

When they reached the deck, they watched in horror as a huge storm had the ponies scared and trying to keep the ship steady.

“Sweet Celestia!” Shouted Twilight.

"We have to help them!" Yelled Applejack. "C’mon ponies!”

Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy flew against the strong wind to help Ish keep the ropes of the mainsail tightly tied; Sunset, Twilight and Rarity used their magic to hold several deck casks that looked like they were going to break off; Pinkie Pie and Spike decieded to go with Salmagundi and Jimmy Shanty to tie the supplies casks of the hold; and Applejack ran to the bridge where Bowsprit was fighting with the wheel.

“Applejack! I'm glad to see ye, can ye stay the ship on course? I need to call the cap’n!” Said the boatswain.

“Ah got this partner” Said Applejack grabbing the wheel. The country pony kept the rudder straight as Bowsprit indicated her.

The boatswain notified the captain, who was still in his cabin, extinguishing the candles and keeping the maps and navigation charts at safe, so that they would not suffer any damage. Blowing Wind came out with a determined look. He watched in horror as the strong gale stirred the mainsail, threatening to break it.

"Quick, fold the ratchet and mainsail! I want it at half sail!" Blowing Wind shouted once out. "Twilight! Tight the safety cables!”

“Immediately Captain!” Replied the princess doing her with her magic to leave the ropes well secured.

Suddenly a bell rang from the lookout post...

"Giant wave on starboard!" yelled Silver.

“Applejack, all to starboard!” Ordered Blowing Wind. “If we arrive in time we can take that wave head on!”

“Ah don’t like this.” Thought Applejack remembering the last time she saw a big wave in the sea, only this time was a hundred times worse.

Applejack tacked the ship as best she could following the captain's orders. The wave was getting closer and the country pony just hoped it wouldn’t end like the last time, since this time there was no land nearby to flee to.

"Hold on everypony!" The captain yelled as the crew and the girls tied up with the safety cables or looked for something to grab onto.

The wave hit the bow and the water ran down the deck without brake, but the ship managed to tame easily. The Northern Star looked like it was going to overturn, but fortunately she stayed straight. However, the wave was strong enough for several ponies to lose their balance, including Sunset, whose safety rope broke and without being able to hold on to anything she fell overboard ...

"Sunset NO!" Yelled Twilight, trying to catch her with her magic, but she had fallen into the water and was beginning to get lost. Twilight tried to jump to catch her but she was stopped by Bowsprit.

“Stop! If ye jump too, ye’ll be lost." Shouted the boatswain.

“It's my friend I have to save her!” The princess shouted starting to cry.

Before she say anything more, one pony jumped into the water with a cable in his mouth. It was Blowing Wind.

“Captain overboard!” Bowsprit shouted heading to the ship's rail.

Everypony was attentive to the water in what seemed like hours, when miraculously, the captain came to the surface holding an unconscious Sunset.

“Hurry up! Pick the cable! Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, help me with this!” Shouted Ish to the pegasi.

Together they began to flap their wings making, force with them, while pulling the cable. Blowing Wind firmly gripped Sunset and little by little they went up until reaching the deck of the ship.

The captain coughed and tried to incorporate, quickly he went to see the status of the unicorn. Twilight also went to see her, fearing the worst. The alicorn's fears became true: Sunset was unconscious and not breathing.

“C’mon c’mon!" Blowing Wind tried to make the poor unicorn mouth to mouth.

Everypony were satic, and all watched the scene with anguish. Suddenly, Sunset's horn shone, sputtered and she opened her eyes spitting water violently.

“What ... what happened?” She asked confused while coughing.

“Sunset! You're fine!” Twilight shouted with tears in her eyes.

The stress won the battle and Sunset fell again unconscious, but luckily she was breathing this time.

“Princess, take her along with Scurvy, he would take care of her.” Said Blowing Wind still nervous and recovering from the shock.

“Got it!” Twilight levitated Sunset and took her to the lower deck with the doctor.

Blowing Wind looked towards the horizon, and what he saw, it petrified him. A tornado was coming towards them like a giant beast willing to devour them.

“Braze yerselves everypony! This isn’t over!” The captain yelled, heading towards the bridge.

“Oh for the love of… just give me a break!” Rainbow Dash yelled annoyed.

Applejack gave the ship control to Blowing Wind, which veered to larboard to avoid as much as possible the trajectory of the atrocious hurricane. That monstrous gale was getting closer and closer to the vessel.

“Plend the sails and hold on!” Blowing Wind shouted. “Hurry up ye scallywags, today no pony will have to greet Davy Jones.”

The tornado skimmed the ratchet and the ponies on the deck held fast to the first thing they found. Soon it passed by, and the ponies cheered for being safe. Now the storm continued being hard, but the strong wind and monstrous waves were no more. Blowing Wind released the wheel and dropped with his back against it. Bowsprit approached to the quarterdeck to congratulate the captain for his heroism.

“I’m going to me cabin to rest Bowsprit." Said sitting up and heading to his cabin. “I think I'm getting old for this shite.”

Although it was still raining, and the waves were breaking in the ship's hull, the storm was not as strong as before, and the sailors were able to do their jobs more easily and deploy half a sail.

Under the deck was Sunset Shimmer lying on a bed. She started to move her head slightly, and slowly she opened her eyes. A light pointed directly at her, coming from Dr. Scurvy's horn. Apparently, she was in her cabin with the doctor and her friends.

“Sunset!” Said suddenly Twilight, smiling with teary eyes and hugging her friend. “I thought we’d lost you.”

“Ouch! My head…” Said Sunset sobbing her head with her hoof. “What happened?” Asked the unicorn with fiery mane.

“The wave hit ye and ye fell into the sea, ye’ve been unconscious since then.” Explained the doctor finishing his inspection. "I have to say ye're a lucky mare."

“You gave us a scare of death darling.” said Rarity.

“It's my fault.” Said Twilight lowering her head trying to apologize. “I should not tie the rope well.”

“No Twilight, don't be so hard with you, the cable broke, you could not do anything.” Rarity trying to calm her friend.

“I think ... I think I remember, how did I get here?” Sunset asked.

“Oh it was amazing, but also scary,” started to say Pinkie Pie excited. “Twilight was about to jump, but Bowsprit said "no, you'll drown too", and suddenly splash, Captain Blowing Wind jumped into the water and grabbed you; then Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Ish were like: "quick, pull the cable!" and here you are now, at least you got rid of the tornado…”

“Yeah, well I have to say that we are a great team.” Said Rainbow without modesty and hugging Fluttershy, causing her shy friend to blush.

“A tornado you said!?” She exclaimed with wide eyes. “I think I'll have to thank the captain for all of this.”

“You must rest now, then you can talk with the captain.” Said Twilight.

Sunset nodded, lay down again and closed her eyes to rest for a while. The girls decided to make the same thing and they went to their respective cots altogether.

The next morning, all but Sunset, who was still resting from the incident, went to the deck to help the sailors with the damage caused by the storm.

In the afternoon the sky was mostly clear. Twilight levitated part of the mast that fell after crossing the tornado while Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash helped Ish and Silver to nail it well.

“Perfect! Ye can stop!” Shouted Ish to Twilight which stopped her spell.

Twilight then went with Applejack and asked her to follow her. "I think it's time to have some words with the captain." Applejack nodded. Together they went to the captain's cabin and entered after knocking on the door. Blowing Wind, who was sitting at his desk writing in what appeared to be his logbook, greeted the two mares.

"Miss Sparkle, Miss Applejack, what do I owe yer visit?" asked Blowing Wind.

“Well captain, first of all we wanted to thank you for saving Sunset Shimmer, that was very brave for you.“ Said the princess, and Blowing Wind simply made a gesture with his hoof implying that it did not matter. “And yet there's something I wanted to ask you since we left Neightucket. Does Sunset Shimmer have anything to do with your agreeing to take us to Eponia?”

Blowing Wind responded to Twilight with a cold, penetrating gaze. The princess started to get nervous when the captain got up and went to the window of his cabin. He didn’t say nothing, he just stayed in silence looking through the window.

"Have ye been listening to some scuttlebutt among the crew?" He asked with a monotone voice.

“No captain, but you have to admit that it’s quite strange that you only agreed to take us on your ship after having seen Sunset, when you said that you would never set sail for Eponia again.” Said Twilight firmly. “I just want to know what is going on here.”

“How dare ye lass?” Blowing Wind turn himself to face Twilight. He looked so angry and incensed. “I do not care if ye are a princess, or an empress, aboard me ship ye owe me some respect…”

“Look partner, we don’t intend to judge ya or anythin’, we just want answers, we need to know the truth.” Said Applejack in a soft tone.

“Ye could never understand... what will ye know what it is to promise to take care of someone and fail in that promise?” Blowing Wind seemed melancholy, as if from one moment to another was going to start crying. That surprised the two mares.

The old captain's expression of anger turned to desolation, he went back to look through the window of his cabin with glazed eyes. Twilight and Applejack approached Blowing Wind on both sides, and put their hooves on his back trying to make him regain composure.

“Actually captain... I think we both can understand you better than anypony else.” Said Twilight looking at Applejack, which responded with a wistful smile, and then returned to fix her eyes on the captain.

“Please, do not think badly of me. Maybe I made a lot of mistakes, but what I did in the past, I did it for...”

Blowing Wind could not continue since the door of his cabin suddenly opened. Who opened it was Bowsprit with news...

“Cap’n! We’re approaching...” Said the bosun.

“Look, maybe we can continue with this conversation later, but now there be job to do.” Blowing Wind said to the ponies almost whispering and the three went on deck.

The captain ordered everypony to light the lanterns. In front of the ship stretched an anomalously large and dense layer of fog.

“What in tarnation...? Ah've never seen fog like that.” Asked Applejack puzzled.

"It's a spell, druid sorcery…" explained Blowing Wind. "They say that centuries ago, after the attempt of invasion of the Crystal Empire, the druids of Eponia threw this fog to cover their land, and thus nothing nor nopony could ever find it.”

“What about us?” Twilight asked. “You sure we can get there right?”

“I know the way, this is not the first time we sailed these seas. Besides, I still have Daring Do's map.” Said the captain decided.

“Truth is that it is really creepy.” Fluttershy said shrunken.

“Don’t ye worry Fluttershy, stay close to the lights and everything will be fine.” Said Ish cheering the shy pegasus.

The ship continued moving closer and closer to the fog. Soon, all that mantle covered the carrack to such an extent that no pony could see beyond its snout.

“Awright fellas, lassies, those who do not have horns or something with a glowing light, stay close to the lanterns, I do not want anypony to panic.” Ordered the captain. “This is the hardest part; remember, the Fog could drive you crazy, always stay close to another pony.”

After these words, the Blowing Wind’s vessel sailed full sail in that mysterious hidden sea, heading for the unknown.