I am Captain Jack Sparrow, savvy?

Jack opens a door to the manor and takes a few steps forward when he hears the door close, glancing back to notice that the ex-princess just closed the door and turns back around to see his grandmama exiting a side room and says, "Pardon my intrusion grandmama, but I remembered that you were searching for an assistant. You are still searching for one, aye?"

Rich Bit turns right and makes her way down the stairs, then heads towards her grandson with a smile on her face for a few seconds. She forces the world's magic away and scowls saying, "What do ya want now ya thieving backwater barnacle!? To answer yer question, yeah I am so what's it to ya?"

He steps backward and to the right, revealing the snow-white griffon behind him and then gets right behind her, then places his hands on her shoulders and grips them lightly before guiding her forward saying, "Perhaps this young lass may prove useful to you, she is a one-time lover of mine and has come into some hard times after I had slain her father before her eyes. She knows about our peculiar lifestyle, and I told her that if she tells anyone about it, she's likely to wind up having breakfast at the bottom of the sea."

She grins and nods her head saying, "If my scallywag of a grandson can attest on yer behalf, ya must have done something to impress him. Ya start tomorrow, so be here by sunrise to begin learning what ya'll be doing strumpet. What be yer name hun?"

Lyrupa looks down nervously and says, "Umm...my name is Lyrupa ma'am, I am grateful for you giving me the chance to work for you."

Rich looks to her grandson who is trying to hide from her and says, "My name is Rich Bit, so either call me Mayor Bit or Rich. So tell me what ya were doing before that barnacle of a grandson of mine brought ya here, Princess Lyrupa?"

Her eyes go wide at being recognized and says, "Well Mayor Bit, I was looking for a way to get out of the brothel that I was working in after leaving Griffonstone."

The mayor narrows her eyes as she suspects that her grandson did something she wouldn't like and asks, "What happened before that lass?"

Lyrupa looks up to her with a sigh and decides to tell her and says, "Well it is a somewhat short story, but it began when I left my closet to go to my bed to sleep and saw a strange creature standing in my room looking like a pirate. I was about to scream for the guards but the creature got to me first and threatened to cut off my wings then give me to his crew if I did, that then led to our single night of romance. The next day came and I woke up hearing the sounds of fighting coming from down the hall, I was oh so fortunate to reach the throne room in time to watch the pirate lop off my father's head with a flourish with the head landing just before me. After struggling from intense nightmares for two weeks, I fled the castle with only one dress and what coin I could carry. I did what I could to get food to survive, I never had to steal to satisfy my hunger and thirst before. I got caught and was forced to make a deal with him to keep my hands, and after some time passed I found myself pregnant. After so many were lost in the war, I couldn't get rid of it. As it got harder to find food, I happened across another hen who had young to care for and she took me in. Things got tougher so we were left with no choice but to come here to find work when we heard that this port was finished, however, when we arrived there was no other choice but to live on the boat and run shipments. Eventually, things got tougher, and we were forced to sell it to get a proper place to raise them, leaving us no choice but to work in a brothel."

Rich becomes angered at hearing her story, and how difficult her life was. She glares daggers at her grandson as a tear rolls down her cheek, grabbing her cane in a swift motion and storms her way down the steps towards him saying, "You good-for-nothing gods-be-damned bastard! You know better than to steal yourself into a lady's room late in the evening, I don't know if you have no respect for women or if you just want to lose your manhood!" She resists throwing daggers at him and instead stops just beside him, grabs him by the collar and throws him onto the floor before raising her cane into the air saying, "MAYBE THIS WILL GET THROUGH TO YOU AND TEACH YOU SOMETHING!" then begins repeatedly whacking him with it on various parts of his body, changing to a new spot when he tries to guard against the hits.

Jack tries to guard himself against her vicious beatings with the cane for a while before spitting up blood saying, "I'm going to be a father, so stop beating me!"

Lyrupa sighs at the severe beating Jack is getting and feels guilt welling up at what she had caused for him and starts to say something, but is cut off by Rich Bit as she resumes shouting.

She continues the savage beating her grandson deserves and shouts, "HA, THAT IS REALLY FUNNY! YOU WOULD NEVER WANT TO BE A FATHER BECAUSE YOU WOULD NEVER GIVE UP THE SEA AND CLEAN UP YOUR ACT! EVEN IF YOU DID, THERE IS NO FEMALE ON THIS PLANET STUPID ENOUGH TO LET YOU GET THEM PREGNANT WITHOUT BEING THERE WITH THEM TO RAISE THE CHILD AND NOT BE MARRIED!"

He puts up with the beating a bit more and says, "I don't need to be there with the child all the time, we could take turns after the first few years of the child's life! My father did it, so why can't I?!"

Rich continues beating on her grandson and shouts, "THAT WILL NEVER WORK OUT LIKE YOU WANT, YOUR FATHER WAS AN UTTER DISAPPOINTMENT!"

Jack finally has had enough and draws his pistol with a single shot and cocks it back shouting, "STOP BEATING ME, WITCH!" He shakily gets up to his feet as blood trickles lightly down his cheek saying, "I hate how you raised me. I thought that perhaps you could change just a little bit so I could let your great-grandson or great-granddaughter meet you once Celestia gives birth, I was very wrong apparently. I must thank you for showing your true colors with this beating, for I will ensure that my child never meets an evil sea hag like you." He then keeps the pistol pointed at her, then starts to back up towards the door after returning his hat back to his head saying, "This will be the last you will ever see of Captain...Jack...Sparrow, may Davy Jones have mercy on your soul sea hag." before turning around at the last word and uncocking his pistol, returning it to its holster, and walking hastily towards the door.

She is stunned beyond words at what she hears her grandson say as her grip on the cane weakens to the point where it falls from her grasp, landing onto the floor with a loud noise. It then bounces along the floor a couple more times before rolling across the floor as Rich turns her eyes up to him, watching as he moves further and further away from her with each step he takes. She weakly raises her hand out in front of her as Equestria's magic continues to hold her, trying to reach out and stop her grandson saying, "D-Don't run away again my boy, come back!" and slowly begins reaching her other hand up to clutch her chest as pain takes hold of her.

Lyrupa starts to hastily make her way over to stop Jack, making it to the door when she hears something fall onto the floor. Stopping to look behind her, she sees that Rich Bit is lying on the floor with her hand outstretched on the floor towards the door when she hears the heavy door quickly open and slam shut. Unsure of what to do, she runs after Jack to tell him that his grandmother collapsed.

He continues his way down the steps of the manor, eager to get far away from it and back to his ship when he hears someone running towards him. Drawing his pistol and quickly cocking it, he aims at the one running towards him saying, "Stop unless you want to die, but this bullet is not meant for you hag." then turns around, expecting to see his grandmother behind him. He is mildly surprised to see that it is the griffon and lifts his head up slightly and cocks one eyebrow asking, "Why are you running after me, you have your job so leave me alone."

She pants and leans forward, resting her claws on her knees saying, "It's your grandmother Jack, she just collapsed."

Jack uncocks his pistol and puts it away saying, "Okay...what am I supposed to do about it?"

Lyrupa stares at him in disbelief saying, "Well, you need to go see if she is alright and care for her. Then you two should apologize to each other for what you both said."

He lets out a hmmph and turns around, then keeps walking away saying, "No I don't, and most certainly will not. She won't die unless she is damn well ready to, and besides, she has you to take care of her now."

She follows after him for a distance, trying her best to get him to turn around to go back to his grandmother. She gives up after he starts to ignore her completely, sighing as his mind is made up. She then turns around and hurries back to the manor with tears in her eyes as guilt wells up inside her.

Jack makes his way towards his ship, hoping his crew has the ship unloaded by now so they can set sail immediately. As he finally reaches the dock where his ship is at, he walks up the boarding ramp and calls out, "Gibbs, is the cargo unloaded with the exception of what we'll sell elsewhere?"

Gibbs walks down the steps from the aft deck saying, "Aye cap'n it is, what be our orders?"

The captain turns and heads up the stairs to take the helm saying, "Cast off those lines and row us out of here, it's time to do some...creative bartering."

As the Pearl exits the bay, Jack gives the order to hoist the sails saying, "Bring to me to the isolated kingdom of Aquastria..."

At the Grand Galloping Gala, three months later

Jack stands at the back of the line, waiting eagerly for the greetings to be over with so he can return to his beloved Pearl. He ensures that his frock is hiding his cutlass and pistol so the guards won't notice, discretely checking his outfit for anything that might give away his intentions.

Celestia sees her love making his way towards her slowly as the line gets shorter with each greeting when she looks down at the next guest, smiling as she says, "Greetings my loyal subject and thank you for attending the Gala this year, please enjoy your evening."

Ten minutes pass as Jack finally stands in front of Celestia as she stands at the top of a set of stairs, bowing before her and taking his hat off saying, "It is an honor to meet you once more, Your Majesty. It was about six years ago when we first met, it is rather remarkable at how time can pass by so quickly when you are entertained or not paying attention."

She smiles widely while keeping her lips together, not wanting the others to see how excited she is at this day finally arriving and says, "I appreciate the gesture, you may rise. I was taken by surprise by the arrival of your ship and the rough condition it was in when it sailed into Baltimare Port, I must once again thank you for assisting us during the war a few years ago. Thank you for being able to attend this year's Grand Galloping Gala Captain Sparrow, please enjoy your time at the Gala."

He stands up and returns his hat to his head saying, "I will most certainly do that Your Majesty, would it be inappropriate for a privateer to ask you for a dance?"

Celestia hears a few gasps around the room, shocked and surprised at what he just asked as she takes a few seconds to recover. Offering him a smile, she says, "Your request surprised me, forgive me for not answering quickly. I find no reason to deny your request, let's head to the dance floor."

Jack then offers his left arm as he saw the upper class do at a few balls he attended in disguise, watching as Celestia makes her way down the stairs towards him and says to her, "Thank you for granting my request Your Majesty, I only hope that I do not disappoint you due to not attending many occasions that require one to dance with another."

She reaches the bottom of the stairs as her heart starts to beat faster at the idea of dancing with her lover while in the early months of her pregnancy before the eyes of other important guests from around Equestria, placing her arm in his and says as her lips part a little due to her being unable to fully control it saying, "It would not bother me in the slightest unless you are very bad and cause me to trip or fall."

He smiles and then starts guiding her to the dance floor as all eyes are on them, with every guest watching them with dumbfounded faces with looks of shock on each one. He looks around at the shocked crowd thinking, 'After this dance, it is going to be quite amusing watching them panic when I take their beloved princess hostage.'

As they reach the center of the dance floor, Celestia discretely looks around at the ponies still staring at them in shock when she hears Jack say, "OI, are you lot going to continue playing music? It is rather hard to dance without any music you know." forcing herself to bite her tongue to keep from laughing out loud when the orchestra finally gets the hint and looks to the princess for instructions. Nodding her head saying, "Sorry for distracting you all earlier but Captain Sparrow is correct, it is rather challenging without a rhythm so please continue to play.

Everypony slowly recovers from their shock as the orchestra begin to resume playing. They watch with great curiosity as the two dance together without any slip-ups by either of them, finding themselves drawn in by how well they danced together and start to find partners to join them on the dance floor.

Jack finishes the dance by dipping Celestia, then brings her back up and stands before her, taking both of her hands into his, saying, "You dance very well, Your Majesty. Thank you again for granting my request."

Celestia has a gentle flush on her face as her heart races in her chest, taking a breath to calm herself before saying, "As do you. Thank you for requesting this dance, I enjoyed it."

He then releases her right hand with a wide smile saying, "I have only been here a brief moment, but I already feel very underdressed for such a glamorous event. I feel my home calling to me, so let us be on our way shall we, Princess Celestia?"

She hears the room go silent then acts like she doesn't know what is going on and giggles saying, "Well that is unfortunate to hear Captain Jack Sparrow, but I cannot accompany you there because I must remain here to lead my precious subjects."

Jack then scoffs and laughs saying, "Oh how silly of me to forget that you have your royal duties, allow me to reword what I said." He then takes a brief breath and drops the smile saying, "You shall be coming with me, whether you like it or not Princess Celestia." he then prepares to roughly pull her to him and draws his cutlass.

Celestia pretends to back away from him, keeping her wings close to her back as she sees him draw his cutlass shouting, "GUARDS, SEIZE HIM!" before being roughly jerked towards him and spun around so her back is against his chest, making her heart beat even faster from the excitement of the act they are putting on.

He hears guards start rushing into the room and start to surround him as he quickly brings his sword to her neck, putting a little force into it so they know that he is serious then releases her other hand and draws his pistol and cocks it before putting it to her head saying, "Uh-uh-uh....not so fast. Don't try to use magic to remove my blade or pistol, they are both enchanted against magic. If I see any horns light up or any aura start to surround my weapons, your beloved princess dies!" he then watches as the guests start to panic and run every which way while screaming in fear.

Her eyes go wide as she wasn't expecting him to be serious in this act and then says, "Guards hold your attempts to free me, I do not wish for any blood to be spilled this day."

A guard glares daggers at Captain Sparrow and then looks at the Princess briefly as he stands ready to attack her assailant saying, "Forgive me for saying this Your Majesty, but we cannot obey that order!"

Celestia looks to the guard, recognizing them and narrows her eyes saying, "Guard Sturdy Shield, do not disobey a direct order I have given you! If you or anypony try to rescue me and fail, who is going to raise and lower the sun and moon each day and keep the kingdom from falling into chaos and freeing Discord?! Obey the orders I have given you and speak to my assistant Swift Quill to organize search parties to find me. Do you understand me?!"

Sturdy Shield glares at the Captain and hesitantly nods his head, slowly saying, "Y...Yes...Your Highness, I understand and shall do as you command. The royal guard will not rest until you are found and rescued!"

Jack grins and then says, "Now that you have said your farewells Your Highness, teleport us to your old castle. Once we are there, I will have you take us somewhere else."

She sighs in aggravation and then charges up her horn saying, "Very well Captain Sparrow, but you are going to be hunted and captured, then thrown into the dungeon to rot for taking me hostage." then teleports them both to the old castle.

After arriving just outside of her and Luna's old castle, he quickly lowers his sword and returns it to its sheath while uncocking his pistol and returning it as well saying, "Forgive my roughness my love, but I had to make sure that they bought our act."

Celestia takes a couple steps away from him and turns around, then glares at him saying, "I know we planned for you to abduct me during the Gala, but I didn't know you were going to be that serious about it! What if something happened and my neck did get sliced open, or what if I did get shot!?"

Jack chuckles and raises his hands into the air saying, "The worst that would happen to you if the pistol would have fired is a powder burn as there is no ball loaded. As for the sword, did you even notice that I was holding the back against your neck?"

She then huffs and looks away saying, "N-No I didn't because I was too wrapped up in the excitement of it while it was happening."

He then walks up to her and places his hands on her shoulders, then softly says to her, "By the way, I love how good that dress looks on you. I wouldn't dare let any accident happen that might ruin the beauty of your white coat or that dress. Perhaps it would be wise for us to go to the ship now before they start hunting me?"

Celestia smiles and blushes at the compliment saying, "You are such a thoughtful pirate, I can't wait for our foal to be born. Where am I going to be teleporting us now my love?"

Jack then smiles and says, "The Pearl is due east of here, near the shore between the small town of Manetown to the north and Fillycity to the south."

After Princess Celestia teleports them both to the east coast, it takes them a few hours of walking to find the ship resting several yards away from the shore as Jack gestures to the dinghy saying, "After you, my love, I will push us out to sea."

Celestia climbs into the small boat as her heart refuses to calm down as she says, "We will finally get to spend some quality time together my love until it is time for me to return to Canterlot with our foal..."

Jack smiles at her and pushes the boat into the water, then climbs in and grabs the oars to start rowing out to the ship saying, "Yes we will, our foal is going to love the sea. But guess what dear?"

She feels the boat start to move as he rows then asks with a slight blush on her cheeks, "What's that darling?"

He keeps rowing and says with a smile, "Congratulations on gaining your freedom my dear, for your life as a pirate begins today."

Celestia's smile widens as the boat draws nearer to the ship where their life together awaits and says, "I am so happy and excited right now that I just want to fly over to the ship and crawl into bed then watch the coast shrink into the distance through the windows as you steal me away."

Gibbs watches Jack and Celestia row to the boat and throws a rope ladder over the side so they can climb to get on the ship saying, "Welcome back Cap'n, I take it the plan went well?"

Jack smirks and rows alongside the Pearl saying, "Of course it did, do you see any guards chasing us with their spears and swords drawn?"

He looks along the shore and in the sky where they got on the dinghy, seeing nothing over there saying with a chuckle, "Not this time Cap'n, what be our orders this time?"

The captain looks at Celestia and gestures towards the ladder with his hands saying, "Ladies and princesses first, my love."

She pretends to be insulted by that and huffs, "You just want me to go first so you can see what is under this skirt, you scoundrel. Some gentlestallion you are..." turning her head away as her frown turns into a smirk.

Jack smirks at her and says, "Of course I do love, and I am no gentlestallion... I am a pirate, as are you now."

Celestia smiles and starts up the ladder, taking Gibbs's hand as he offers it when she nears the top of the ladder and assists her onto the deck. She then moves to the side to wait for Jack to come on board next and faces Gibbs saying, "Thank you for assisting me Master Gibbs, it is greatly appreciated."

Gibbs then bows his head to the princess saying, "You are quite welcome, Princess Celestia."

She hears Jack and looks to the rope ladder, unable to see him yet, and turns back to Gibbs saying, "I shall be staying on this ship for a while, but in disguise to keep the royal guards from recognizing me if they find this ship. If it is okay with Captain Sparrow, could you notify the crew to not call me by my name or bow to me when I am around?"

The captain starts his way up the ladder and says, "I agree with her suggestion, no treating her like a royal. Instead, treat her like a privileged member of the crew...and with respect."

The first mate looks at her and then asks, "What shall we call you, Your Highness?"

Jack straightens up after climbing onto the deck and answers for her, "We shall let you know what her pirate name shall be, once we have decided on what her new disguise will be during her time with us."

Gibbs nods to Jack saying, "Aye Captain, what be our orders?"

He looks at his first mate and says, "We head to the Dragon Lands, I have 'acquired' something from the Storm King when we last visited him. We are to pose as merchants until the child is born, so we must avoid attacking other ships as it puts the child at risk."

The first mate's jaw drops in shock as he quickly says, "B-But Captain, we're pirates! We know nothing of trading."

Jack frowns as he looks at Gibbs and sighs saying, "Listen to me Gibbs, it is quite easy to be a merchant. Whenever you are trying to sell, buy or barter, you must speak or rather...haggle with the one you are dealing with for the best price you both want...savvy?"

Gibbs closes his mouth and asks curiously, "Really? Is being a merchant all about how well you can use your brain to negotiate a price?

He smiles widely and nods his head while raising his hands into the air and flipping his palms up to the sky saying, "Precisely. Simple yet easy is it not?" He lowers his hands back to his sides and looks at his love saying, "Let us head to my cabin and figure out a new disguise for you while the crew set sail for the Dragon Lands."

The first mate nods his head and grins saying, "Aye Cap'n it is simple and easy." he then turns to look at the crew and calls out their orders saying, "Make sail for the Dragon Lands ye gobs, we are to act as merchants do and use our smarts and words to haggle fer fair prices." and makes his way to the wheel as the crew starts to get the ship underway.

Celestia follows Jack to the cabin while watching the crew raise the anchor, hearing a clank each time a link strikes the metal around the hawse hole as the anchor is brought up. She feels relief at finally having her freedom and smiles blissfully saying, "So this is what freedom feels like..."

Pintel chuckles as he holds onto the handle on the capstan as the chain is hauled in saying, "You ain't felt nothin' yet poppet, this is just the beginning of true freedom."

She stops for a moment and cocks her head curiously asking, "What does that word mean, I've never heard of it before?"

Jack stops at the door to his cabin and is about to open it, then looks back at Celestia saying, "It is just a term of endearment the British came up with my dear, are you going to join me in our new quarters?"

Celestia smiles and looks at Jack saying, "Of course I am my beloved, I was just distracted by hearing a term I never heard of before." Then turns back to Pintel saying, "I look forward to finding out what true freedom feels like during my time here among you all, enjoy the rest of your day." and resumes her way towards her captain's cabin.

The captain stands at the door as Celestia stops in front of it saying, "I have a surprise for you, my love, close your eyes."

She closes her eyes and blushes asking, "I wonder what surprise you have for me, let me guess...you cleaned it up and replaced the bed and sheets."

Jack chuckles and opens the door after her eyes are closed saying, "I replaced the bed and sheets two years ago love, but guess again." then moves behind her and gently urges her forward with his hands on her waist to catch her if she trips saying, "I'm behind you, so walk forward and feel for the top of the doorway so your horn doesn't hit the edge."

Celestia's heart beats faster as she moves one hoof forward cautiously while raising her hands up to feel for anything in front of her, feeling her fingers touch wood after a few steps taking another guess and asking, "Umm, let's see...you got me another beautiful dress."

He smiles and continues to guide her forward as she ducks under the ledge saying, "Nice try, take three more steps and then stop."

She then takes three more steps into the room with her eyes still closed and stops, then asks, "May I open my eyes now love?"

Jack grins and moves his hands to her head and angles her head to where the cage is hanging in the back right corner of the cabin saying, "Almost, just let me get into position first." and moves just to the side of the silver cage, then says, "Go ahead and open your eyes love." He then watches her open her eyes before gesturing to the cage saying, "Let me provide you a gift to commemorate this joyous occasion of gaining your freedom, this here is Philomena. I found her egg in the back of that skull rock cave where we found that accursed chest, the cook Shining Belle advised me that if I could keep it warm it would hatch so I did. Now she will be your companion."

Celestia's eyes go wide in shock as she gasps at the sight of the creature before her, raising her hands to her mouth in shock saying, "A Phoenix Matriarch! I thought they had been extinct for many years now. W-Why are you giving me such a precious gift like this, I think that you would enjoy her company."

He smirks and glances back at her saying, "Not extinct, just very rare as the cook told me. I would rather have you take care of her, the main reason being that she would cause fires if she lived on this boat. Aside from that, I wanted to give you a gift to show how much I love you."

Her eyes begin to tear up in happiness as she rushes towards Jack and gives him a big hug saying, "OH JACK...THANK YOU, I LOVE YOU TOO!" then tilts her head and starts to give him a deep affectionate kiss while using her magic to close the cabin's door.