Pony Treasure Island

At the Admiral Benbow

"I was Celaeno's first mate that voyage. Three days east o' Griffon Stone in the Everfree Sea. Celaeno knew o' an island, that's where we buried the treasure. A lone island, it was, and clearly cursed which is why Celaeno chose it. Bits and blood, they were Celaeno’s trademarks. She’s leave both behind them that day. She took only a hooful of us to the island, secrecy and the like. They braved perils of the jungle, crossing hither and yon to find a suitable spot to bury the treasure. It ne'er took too long afore they found a place, but Celaeno, she couldn't leave the others with knowledge of the location of the treasure. It's like the sayin' goes, ya see. Dead Mares tell No Tales. Oh aye, fifteen creatures went ashore that day and only Celaeno, her own self, returned. Aye, then old Celaeny, up and died afore she could get back to the accursed island, and dig up the treasure," Boyle, the elderly parrot, said to the drunken patrons of the Admiral Benbow Inn.

"Now isn't that a story worth a' hearin'?" he asked, the patrons repeating in unison.

"It was the first dozen times we heard it," Lyra Heartstrings muttered.

"I'll drink to that!" Berry Punch, the perpetual drunk, slurred.

"But who has the map now, eh? Some black hearted, squid sucking buccaneer? Or maybe it's our very own Applebloom?! Eh, Bloomy?" Boyle called. Applebloom, a yellow filly with a red mane and bow, smiled as she wiped down a few tankards.

"If I had it my friends and I wouldn't be here serving ya cider, Mr. Boyle," she said.

"That's right! We'd be off searching for that treasure!" Sweetie Belle, a white unicorn filly said.

"Hah, not me. If I had that treasure map, I'd be trading it for a decent meal," Scootaloo, an orange pegasus filly, muttered. She approached a discarded plate of food near Boyle and smiled. "Hey, Sweetie, you think he's gonna eat this?" she asked, reaching for the food.

"AYE! Beware the three-legged mare. She's the one to fear," Boyle growled, causing Scootaloo to recoil

"Don't worry, Cap'n. We'll watch for her," Applebloom said.

"Even old Celaeny feared her. If she comes poking around here, you all run for me lickedy split!" Boyle said, as a snort went through the Inn. One of the patrons named Lickedy Split was a bit miffed. "Beggin' yer pardon, Miss. I meant no offense," Boyle said with a small smile.

"ALRIGHT EVERYCREATURE! IT'S CLOSING TIME! PAY YOUR BILLS AND THEN SHOVE OFF!" a voice called out! All the heads turned to the second floor where the current owner of the Admiral Benbow descended down the stairs. In a stained apron, and a scowl that could curdle milk, Starlight Glimmer entered the first floor dining room with a candle clutched by her magic. The patrons mumbled, as chairs scraping across the floor rang out. “Girls! Look at this place! How is it I always manage to find it so messy, huh?” Starlight asked her young charges.

“Here’s to you, girls. I’m away to me room!” Boyle announced, hobbling away from the table and up the stairs. Starlight was ushering the patrons out, enticing them with what’d be on the menu the next day, before closing the door with a scowl.

“Alright girls, when you’re finished in here, go clean in the kitchen. I left some table scraps in there for supper,” she said, snuffing out the candle in her magic. “Oh, and girls, one more thing. LAST NIGHT YOU FORGOT TO PUT OUT THE LANTERN! FORGET AGAIN, THERE’LL BE NO TABLE SCRAPS FOR A WEEK!!”

~~~~~~********~~~~~~

“I hate my life,” Applebloom grumbled.

“The feeling’s mutual, AB. I hate it too,” Sweetie Belle replied, struggling to snuff out the lantern with her magic. She was on Scootaloo’s shoulders, who in turn was being held up by Applebloom.

“If I had anything resembling a life, I’d agree with you both,” Scootaloo said. After a bit more effort, the lantern was put out. The three fillies brushed themselves off and looked out to the horizon. The waves licked at the shore, as the moon shone down.

“I’ve been thinking, ever since Mom got sick, I should run off to sea like she did,” Applebloom said, as the wind whipped at her mane. “She was my age when she sailed to Manehatten as a cabin filly, and wound up a first mate, to boot.

“Wait really? Run off to sea and just leave everypony?” Scootaloo asked.

“I mean, you two can come too. Imagine it, our lives being just like one of Captain Boyle’s adventures!” Applebloom said, pulling out the silver compass her mother had gifted her years ago. “Navigating Mom’s old compass to wherever the wind’ll take us!”

“That’d be great!” Scootaloo whooped.

“To the south west! Pirate galleons!” Applebloom announced.

“To the south east! Multi-limbed sharks and there exploding wings of death!” Sweetie Belle giggled.

“TO THE NORTH WEST! DIRTY DISHES!” the shrill voice of Starlight Glimmer echoed.

“Okay, how does she do that?” Scootaloo asked.

“Come on, girls. Might as well start. I’ll wash,” Applebloom said, heading back for the entrance.

“Yeah, I’ll dry,” Sweetie Belle replied.

“I’ll break,” Scootaloo added.

As the three fillies walked inside, a dark figure headed up the path to the Admiral Benbow. There eyes sparkled, as they saw the door close behind them. This was the last place they needed to check for their old shipmate. There cutlass swinging at their side, they set there brow, hoping they wouldn’t have to use it. Hoping they could convince there old shipmate to give them all what was owed. If not, then there’d be no choice. They would be granted a pirate’s death sentence, they and the unfortunate souls at the Admiral Benbow.