Moby-Spike

Moby-Spike

Chapter 1: Setting Sail

Dear diary,

In one simple day of going to Horse Shoe Bay, so much has happened. I just have to write it all down, to make sure it’s real and that it happened to me.

When my train stopped at the station, I gathered my saddlebags and entered the Bay. There was so much to see, and everything constantly reminded me of the new adventures set ahead of me. The bay was surrounded by markets selling all sorts of sea-worthy goods, and countless ponies looking upon them. Some shops even sold dead fish by the bucket-load, but I can’t fathom why anypony would need a dead fish. However, I was in a new culture, so I figured it would be best to ignore their traditions rather than question them.

While I explored the markets, I saw ponies with varying degrees of apparent sea experience. Some ponies were just like me, lost and overwhelmed by the scenery of a place where new ships docked and left every few minutes. Some ponies were grisly and salty, and looked as though they had spent their entire lives washing with the ocean’s water. Strangely, there were few pegasi; I suppose that flying ponies have no need or desire to use boats for transportation.

My main reason for exploring the bay before leaving for the water was due to my obsessive tendencies; I needed. I say obsessive, although I really don’t think of myself that way too often; my old friends used to say that I was, though. My nostalgia sets in from time to time, but I won’t let it rule me; I have a new life, and I’m enjoying it already.

Anyway, I began asking shopkeepers where I could find a good map of the oceans around Equestria. Most of them seemed to have no knowledge where I could find such a map, and a good lot of them refused to even speak to a “yellow-belly” like me. Eventually, a teal-colored unicorn directed me towards an old pony’s house whom supposedly had maps for any place one could want to go. The crazy mare also tried to sell me a severed appendage, which she claimed came from some fantastical creatures called “humans,” but I rejected her offer and ran off in the direction she pointed me, while she yelled after me. Poor filly, she likely has mental issues from spending too much time on the open water. Or maybe she’s just dehydrated, who knows.

I had to navigate my way through a poverty-stricken shantytown in order to find the house, avoiding criminals along the way, but I did find the place I was looking for. It was a particularly decrepit house, with shingles hanging off the roof at conspicuous and random angles. Cardboard was taped haphazardly over the windows, and small bugs marched about the grounds as though they owned it. A barely legible sign was jammed into the sparse lawn, with the word “maps” scrawled across in a hurry. I knocked on the door, and received a hacking response of,

“Come in.”

The inside of the house was just as mangled as the outside. Neglected shelves lined the walls, all with countless sheets stacked upon them. Most of the maps were dirty and hard to read, and many were significantly damaged. The house lacked a floor, and instead I trotted upon dirt with weeds interspersed at small intervals. A long-broken cuckoo clock adorned the space above the door, and the model bird meant to hide within the clock hung upside down from the pieces inside. The only other thing in the room was a surprisingly clean table, sitting not far from the back. A fully-functioning cash register rested upon the right edge of the table, and looked as though it could burst from all the bits it was holding.

Before I could guess why the table and register would be clean in contrast to the rest of the place, a door on the back wall rattled and opened, revealing a cranky-looking earth pony. His appearance was startling, to say the least. One of his hind legs was missing, and in its place a piece of rounded metal was connected in ways I can’t imagine. He wore a withered, brown eye-patch over his left eye, which I assumed he lost at some point. He looked and smelled as though he hadn’t bathed in years, and he had several teeth missing. His coat was a dark shade of gray, and his mane resembled the color of the dirt floor he limped upon. His cutie mark was a red letter X, like one that would be found at the end of a treasure map.

He awkwardly stumbled his way to me, and grumbled,

“Whaddya want? I was napping.”

While I was somewhat appalled at his rudeness, I replied,

“I hear that if somepony needs a map, you’re the pony to go to. Is that correct?”

He simply shrugged in approval, and gestured towards his swath of maps on the walls.

“Aye, I’m the pony ye speak of. Anything yer looking for in particular?”

He asked raising his good eyebrow. I spoke up with,

“I want a good map of the seas just surrounding Equestria, please.”

He seemed a little uneasy at my politeness, but simply nodded and moved towards a high shelf. Despite his physical anomalies, he was able to reach up and grab an appropriate map quickly and with surprising dexterity. After getting himself back into a comfortable standing position, he rolled the map towards me, and inquired,

“Would that be good enough for ya?”

I opened the map with a bit of magic, and was highly impressed. It was an incredibly detailed, albeit somewhat dirty, map of the ocean blue. Equestria was minimized in order to emphasize marked locations across the map, so as to help the viewer. I also noted what appeared to be a series of dots which eventually faded out, and a treasure chest on a landmark, along with several breaks in the dots to point out dangerous areas. The chest was circled, with a question mark scribbled nearby. I knew what it meant easily; it was the location of some hidden treasure!

I furrowed my brow, and looked back to the pony across the room, and asked,

“How did you know I was looking for adventure?”

He chuckled and shook his head, replying,

“Look, little filly, I’ve seen countless ponies through this place of mine. Some are more like me, ragged old sea-worthy ponies lookin’ for new loot and excitement. But most are more like you; land-lubbers lookin’ ta start an adventure on the wide briny sea.”

I grinned, and wondered,

“What if I’m just looking for a little geographical knowledge?”

His smile faded and his tone became serious, mouthing,

“Only one thing ever came into here looking for knowledge alone. That was Discord, just wanting to shake things up, as he would say. He’s the reason ma table and register are so clean; he cast some fancy chaos magic on them which keep them clean for eternity. He’s also the reason I haven’t died yet.”

He sighed at this, while questions flickered through my mind. The last time Discord was freed, my friends and I defeated him, and he never left Ponyville. The time before that was centuries ago…so this pony had been alive for hundreds of years? I immediately let my love for information take over, and began firing constant questions at him, but he just waved his hoof in my face. He yelled,

“Hey! This story ain’t fer you, and yer not gonna git it outta me. Leave it be.”

I hung my head, and whispered,

“Just one thing…are you happy?”

His eyes were sad as he answered.

“No. I curse that beast Discord for what he changed. I’ve seen countless ponies live and die, and I’ve lost everything and everypony important to me. Don’ never let anypony tell you that living forever is a good thing; it’s a nightmare.”

He grimaced, and opened the door to his back room.

“Now drop me my twenty bits fer the map, and git outta here.”

He slammed the door behind him, and I just looked at the ground. The map lay there, unfolded in its potential for adventure. I left him thirty bits, out of pity for his condition, and left with my map.

As I returned to the main area of the harbor, I stuffed my new map into my saddlebags and began my search for a ship that would accept my accompaniment. The ships varied widely in size and apparent use; some were enormous and shiny, obviously meant for cruises that only the wealthiest of ponies could afford. Alternatively, dinghies with grime galore dotted multiple available docking points, only big enough to hold one pony at a time. I began my search for a merchant ship, but after an hour of looking my hopes were nearly dashed. However, I spotted an office with the words “Harbor Master” written neatly above the door frame. I got excited, and rushed inside, startling a middle-aged unicorn. The colt’s mane resembled fire, although his pink coat starkly contrasted his fiery appearance. His cutie mark appeared to be a light bulb, although I can no longer remember for certain if that’s true. Purplish bags rested under his eyes, and countless cups of coffee lay strewn about the office. My entrance caused him to wake abruptly, and he fell out of the chair I assumed he’d been napping on. I helped him back up, and muttered a disgruntled thanks under his breath. After readjusting himself, he became more cheery and asked,

“What can I do for you, ma’am?”

I rushed out my response, saying,

“I’m looking for a merchant ship, and some adventure on board. Surely you know of one at the harbor today?”

He rubbed one hoof against his chin, pondering a response. When he got one, he stated,

“Nope. The only merchant ships that come here are the Equestrian Merchant Marine, and they left two days ago. They should be back in about a month.”

My ears flattened at the news; what if the adventure I sought would never come? He noticed my sadness, and suggested,

“There is something though.”

I perked up, and he continued while gesturing at a ship outside docked by the edge of the bay,

“You see that ship? It’s not a merchant ship, but I’ll bet anything you’ll find plenty of excitement on board. Just ask for the captain, and be wary; she’s real feisty.”

I nodded and gave him my gratitude, rushing outside once more.

I made it to the ship with excellent speed, and gave it a once-over. It was a slightly old vessel, of average size. Just like other ships, it was dirty and worn from days out on the sea. Strangely, both masts were made of wood, in contrast to the metal frame of the ship. There was a name on the boat, but the brine of the ocean had worn it away, so it read “S. S. L y  ty” only. I teleported onto the deck, in search of other ponies. However, there was nopony in sight. I saw a door, with “Captain’s Quarters-No Disturbances” scribbled above it. It was unlocked and I peeped inside, but nopony was there either. I was beginning to wonder if the ship was just one docked for display and I’d been tricked, when I heard scuffling from beneath the deck. I opened the door to the brig, and saw a pegasus inside looking through some box of provisions. I asked,

“Hey, are you the captain of this ship?”

The pony was surprised, and tripped into the box, although she righted herself quickly and looked up out at me.

She gasped, and immediately flew onto the deck with an excited grin on her face. She asked me,

“Twilight Sparkle, is it really you?”

I was shocked in ways I can’t explain. The mare had a gray coat, and a dull yellow mane and tail. Her cutie mark was one of bubbles, and her eyes spaced out in separate directions that were specifically unique to her. It was Derpy!

To be continued…