Author's Note

Sorry readers, this chapter will be skippy because I would like to move the story along and also because I don't want this story to have like 50+ chapters detailing Jack's family's life together. Hope you all aren't too angry about this!

Chapter 21: A change

Another month passes as Jack arrives at the meeting point he and his wife chose after paying a visit to Portuga to pick up more rum, food, and other necessities when he releases his hold on the wheel and says, "Furl all sails and drop the anchor, we wait for my family to arrive!"

Several miles east of Canterlot

Celestia holds her filly in her hands, playing with her as two guards take them to the meeting location. She lifts her above her head and blows another raspberry on her stomach, sending her filly into a fit of wild giggles while kicking her legs with glee.

Summer and Elizabeth enjoy the attention for a while until their mother holds her in her arms, allowing her a look out to where they are going when she sees black sails on the sea below the chariot and points her tiny hand at it and says with happiness in her voice, "Papa!"

The princess smiles and says, "Yes sweety, there's daddy! We are going home for a little while, to get away from those stuffy nobles in Canterlot."

The baby filly looks at her mother and points at the ship asking, "Home?"

Celestia nods as her smile gets a little bigger, saying, "Yes sweetie, the Black Pearl is our home for a little while."

An hour later, on board the Black Pearl

Jack watches as the chariot lands on the deck, with his wife and child getting off a few moments later as Celestia uses her magic to move the trunks holding Summer's clothes and diapers onto the deck. He makes his way to her from the aft deck saying, "Hello dear, how was your trip from Canterlot?"

The princess looks at Jack with glee as she makes her way to him, her hooves clack on the wood as she hurriedly walks toward her husband saying, "It was wonderful because it brought us home, to you and the Black Pearl. I have learned a few rather disturbing things about the 'nobles' in Canterlot, shall we begin dealing with them after we get settled back in?"

He grins and nods his head saying, "Aye love, we shall. Then, we shall begin your training as a pirate, which you shall participate in attacks occasionally when not looking after our daughter."

Summer and Elizabeth reach for their father and try to grab him with their fingers saying, "Papa!"

Celestia hands her over to her husband and says, "I look forward to having our honeymoon dear, will you tell me what you have planned?"

Jack grins and holds his daughter with his right arm, shaking his head saying, "Of course not love, it would ruin the surprise. Let's finish unpacking your things so we can begin training, you are going to need it for our honeymoon..."

She narrows her eyes and frowns with disappointment, then looks at the rest of the items on the large chariot and encompasses them in her magic, then brings them all onto the pearl. She then swings her hands beside each other, brushing any dirt off of them and looks at the team pulling the pegasi saying, "Thank you very much guards, you all may return to Canterlot until I notify my assistant that I am ready to return."

The captain watches the team look at Celestia and nod, then take off quickly. He then looks at the crew and says, "There, now we can get underway lads! Weigh the anchor then unfurl all sails!" He then looks to his wife and says, "I shall take us away from here so we can continue posing as privateer merchants, and you can get yourself settled back in darling."

Celestia smiles as she watches her daughter make a funny face and then start crying as she needs her diaper changed saying, "Oh sweetie, you really do love your daddy, don't you?"

Jack turns to his daughter and grins saying, "Oi, I'm going to start training you to use the proper facilities so you stop making me change your diapers. Just so you know, I will be remembering this so that I can embarrass you when you become a teen and look for a boyfriend."

Elizabeth gasps as Summer makes large puppy dog eyes at her father, begging him for mercy while Elizabeth says in Summer's mind, 'Oh no you will not, I will not allow you to embarrass me in front of a man I'm interested in!' Summer hears what she says and begs her daddy, "No, papa!"

He sees her begging and tries to fight against it, but ultimately fails and sighs saying, "Fine then, if you behave and stop making me change your diaper all the time...perhaps I will be merciful and occasionally tell your friends if you tease me too much."

Elizabeth sighs and says in Summer's mind, 'I suppose I can live with that, because I can always get around it.'

Three months later, in the South Luna Ocean

Gibbs holds Summer as they watch Celestia and Jack spar, trading blow for blow until Jack sends her off balance, then trips her up and holds his sword to her neck. He then looks to Summer and says, "Yer mum has improved quite a bit the past few months, soon she'll be able ta hold her own in a fight."

Celestia sighs in frustration and says, "Ugh, I can't believe how skilled you are with a sword...it is so unfair."

Jack then returns his sword to his sheath and offers her his hand saying, "Aye, but I fight like a pirate. We do whatever we can to get the upper hand in a battle as we see fit, so you need to adapt your mind and your training to be a little more flexible. Just remember that your wings are your biggest liability because they are delicate and easily damaged. It would also benefit you to improve your footwork, think of the swordfight as a dance of sorts like I do."

She takes his hand and is helped to her hooves, letting her get her balance before asking, "What do you think of the progress I have made so far?"

He then puts the thumb and forefinger of his right hand on either side of his chin and thinks for a moment before answering, "Well, to be honest, you are learning quickly. I would guess you are about as skilled as Gibbs is darling. Could you bring yourself to take the life of one of your subjects if it means you survive?"

Celestia is shocked by the question and looks out at the sea, utterly shocked at being asked such a thing and asks, "Why would you ask such a thing from me, my dear? You know I am a princess, I don't know if I could handle taking one's life even then..."

Jack then looks at her and says, "Aye, my love, it is not something that should be asked. Life as a pirate means that if you want to claim something that doesn't belong to you, you will most likely have to fight the other to get it. Taking one's life definitely changes you, which is why it must never be taken lightly or without a good enough reason."

She continues thinking it over and asks, "So, that means it would be okay to kill someone to make it back home to my little girl?"

He then smiles gently and says, "Of course it would be, love, if it was unavoidable. If you could find a way to avoid such situations, then that is great. Life's greatest gift is the choice, the chance to choose your own actions and path to follow in life. What are you trying to achieve, why are you trying to achieve it? What purpose does it serve? Decide on a goal in life and formulate a plan to achieve said goal, improvise for it if you must."

Celestia then smiles and looks at Jack with half-lidded eyes and says, "Oh Jack, I'm so glad I married you."

Jack looks at her and then asks, "About these nobles' dealings, how do you view them with Equestria's well-being in mind? Would you spare the lives of those involved in them, or would you condemn them?"

She then thinks about the list of their dirty dealings and says, "It would depend if they would willingly surrender and give up their life of crime and spend some time in the Canterlot dungeon as punishment, however, I would rather deal with them harshly if they refuse the offer."

He then grins and says, "Welcome to the crew, love. I do believe that you have earned your first taste of piracy, shall we get our honeymoon started and deal with those corrupt nobles, my dear?

Celestia smiles widely as her eyes sparkle with delight saying, "You mean that our honeymoon will be for the good of Equestria?!"

Jack then chuckles and nods his head saying, "Of course love, it is also to give you a taste of what it is like to be a pirate."

She then blinks away tears of joy and says, "I would love that very much, let's go destroy some of those corrupt nobles..."

*Timeskip covering the first years of Summer's life*

Summer's life on board the Black Pearl is relatively peaceful as she learns how to walk on a ship, to the dismay of her mother and father as she nearly wanders off the sides of the ship several times before her mom casts a short barrier to make the ship safer for her. Normally she is permitted to wander the ship under supervision, except during the times that she is confined inside the cabin within a small golden shield that blocks out sound. She watches curiously each time a couple of crew members come into the cabin to pull a small square door up, and push the long metal object forward where it produces a brief flash of light after a stick with a brightly glowing end is lowered to a spot on the rear. After producing a brief flash, it shoots back a short distance before being stopped by two thick objects attached to the side of the ship. A piece at the back is replaced as some cylinder is slid into the end followed by a big ball.

As the months go by, she is spanked by her father for putting a stick with a glowing end to the long metal object, scaring her and hurting her ears by the loud noise it produces. Her mother and her return to a big castle every once in a while, but her mother is not happy there. She notices that she is always happiest when on the ship with daddy, so she figures that the ship is home to her. She always has someone taking care of her while her mother is attending some kind of court, managing to elude her watcher long enough to find her way there on a few occasions. Every so often her mom would take her on a flight around the city, then visit a few candy stores there before heading back to the big place that makes them both unhappy.

Months turn into a couple of years when her father takes her to a place called Portuga for the first time, finding the place very different from where her mother takes her. She holds her father's hand as he visits a shop in town, then buys her a bag of candy to enjoy while he does business. After he finishes at the shop, he goes someplace different that smells like the stuff the others enjoy drinking. He gives her a sippy cup filled with apple cider made by someone with apple in their name while he talks to a few others, making his way back to port after visiting a couple more shops. By then, she is too tired to walk anymore and is carried back to the ship in her father's arms.

On her third birthday, her mother gets her a small dollhouse, a few dresses and of course striped peppermint sticks that she has loved since she first had them when she turned one. Her father gets her a small hat, a frilly shirt, a pair of colt's breeches, and a wooden sword which makes her happier than the dresses as Elizabeth sighs saying to Summer's mind, "I had a feeling that you would be happier about the clothing your father got you, he is definitely raising you to be a pirate instead of a lady...oh woe is me.'

Summer then turns to her left and talks to the voice, "Quiet Lizzie, or I put you in the naughty chair!"

Jack then looks to his wife and asks, "Who's Lizzie?"

Celestia giggles and says, "Oh, that is her imaginary friend that she made shortly after she turned two."

Three years later, nearing Portuga

Celestia and the crew hustle about the ship, furling all the sails as the hurricane causes the ship to tilt dangerously to the port and starboard sides as Jack fights to maintain their heading. Her heart pounds in her chest as she listens to the howling wind as the rain blows sideways, pummeling her coat, and drenching her mane and tail. She and Gibbs barely manage to get the mainsail secured when she hears a heavy crack, looking around to see what is breaking.

Gibbs looks around as well and sees the foremast wobbling dangerously from side to side when another crack is heard and calls out, "WE MUST SECURE THE FORE OR SHE'S GONNA BREAK!"

Jack fights to control the ship, watching his crew struggle to get the rest of the sails down, barely managing to keep the foremast from breaking completely and coming down on the ship. As the crew keeps a couple sails open, the foremast settles as it is braced to maintain their heading into the waves.

In the cabin, Summer trembles with fear as she has a hard time keeping in one spot due to the motion of the ship. Scared of what is happening, she holds onto Shining Belle in hopes that the ship will calm down soon.

The storm finally passes as the next day arrives, the crew starts scooping out the water in the hold of the ship as Jack, Celestia, Gibbs, and Barbossa look at the foremast when Jack says, "There's a month in damages including needing a new foremast, let's get to Portuga and get started. I also need to get the crew paid for these last few years."

Celestia watches Summer as she plays on the deck saying, "It is unfortunate what happened at the Storm King's Realm six years ago, I still feel sad for what happened during our last trip there..."

Jack looks at his wife and sighs, thinking back on the accident saying, "It was unfortunate indeed, but we had no control of how the Queen was crushed by a stone column."

She sighs as well, still feeling guilty at their last diaper pranking. She then turns to Jack and says, "I know that dear, but I can't help but feel sympathy for what they lost."

He places his left hand on her left shoulder and says, "All we can do now dear, is to let them know somehow that we are sorry for their loss." He then looks around to Gibbs and Barbossa then says, "Unfurl the sails on the main and aft masts, go easy on the fore."

It takes a day for the Pearl to arrive at Portuga, with a couple of weeks passing as the repairs get underway. Celestia sighs and looks to Jack saying, "Honey, can we please go visit grandmama just once and introduce our daughter to her?"

Jack grumbles under his breath and then asks, "If I agree to take you both to see that seawitch, will you stop asking?"

Celestia smiles and says, "If you pretend you're glad to see her for Summer, I'll even do 'that thing' you like..."

A smile splits his face in two as he cheers up instantly and says, "REALLY?!? You'll do that little dance on the pole for me?"

She blushes and places her hand over his mouth to shut him up, nodding quickly saying, "Yes! Will you keep it down, I don't want everypony to know that I learned how to pole dance...it is unfit for royalty to do such things."

Jack smiles and says, "Okay honey, let's go pay a visit to Grandmama's house and introduce Summer to the wicked witch of the east."

Celestia cocks her eyebrow suspiciously and says, "Really now, is that how you are going to let our daughter remember her?"

He crosses his arms defiantly and huffs saying, "She would be so lucky if she did, for that woman is a cantankerous old bat that is nearly as old as you are."

She chuckles and whacks the back of his head as a warning saying, "It's rude to talk about a mare's age you know, but let's go and introduce our little filly to her."

The governor's manor, looking over the port a few minutes later

Lyrupa is bringing Rich her dinner when she hears the doors open and turns her head to see who it is, her jaw drops open in shock as she recognizes Jack as a mare walks beside him with a little filly holding her hand. She recovers just enough to manage to say, "J-Jack, you...came back."

Jack groans and continues walking towards Lyrupa saying, "My wife bribed me into coming here, so I must act like I care for our daughter's sake."

She smiles saying, "Wait one moment and I will go let her know you're here." and turns around hastily and makes her way towards Rich Bit's bedroom.

Rich Bit is at her desk, looking over the documents pertaining to operating the port when the door opens. She turns her head to look at who it is and sees Lyrupa coming toward her with a plate of food, unable to give her a happy smile due to her continued depression saying, "It's Lunch time finally?"

Lyrupa looks at the depressed mare with a warm, tender smile and says, "It is Ma'am, but there are some guests outside that I think might be able to lift your spirit."

The depressed mare sighs and says, "Oh I highly doubt that anyone could cheer me up, I drove away the only family that I truly care about aside from my son Tacky. I may as well do my duty and greet them, then hear their request." She then grunts from the effort as her depression drains the strength from her, and heads for the door.

Jack watches a tired, depressed shell of a mare trudge her way up to her chair and says, "Wow, I had no idea that you let yourself turn into a hollow shell...you cantankerous old bat."

Rich Bit's eyes go wide at the voice, recognizing it instantly as her neck nearly snaps with how fast she turns her head to look at her grandson. Not caring about the world's magic forcing her to feel this way, she ignores it as her eyes start to water and grow to the size of saucers. Her throat closes up, rendering her unable to speak like she wants to. With no other option, tears stream down her cheeks as she drops her cane to the ground and starts walking towards him with a few staggering steps at first.

He watches his grandmother start jogging towards him without her cane, making him wonder if she had gone insane, and says, "What's wrong you old bat, did you lose your mind after I left?"

She starts to sob with joy at seeing him return and barely manages to choke out, "...Jack...you...back..." before finally reaching him and wrapping her arms around him tightly as she begins to cry openly.

Jack nervously pats his grandmother on the back as she cries and buries her head in his frock coat, sighing as he then says, "Not by choice Grandmama, you have my wife Celestia to thank for me coming to visit you."

Rich Bit continues to cry for a few more minutes before what he said registers in her brain. She then looks over to see Princess Celestia with two bands around her left hand and hurries over to her, grabs her right hand, and places a rapid succession of kisses on it saying, "Oh thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you! I thought that I would never get to see my grandson or his family ever again." She then breaks down into more tears and hugs her tightly.

Celestia smiles warmly at her as Summer cocks her head in confusion at what is going on and rubs the crying mare's back affectionately saying, "I understand that you have a peculiar way of showing your love to others, which is through violence. I will not tolerate this behavior anymore towards our daughter, or my husband... Do you understand? If you continue expressing your affections through such a manner, I shall have no choice but to punish you by keeping my family and away from you."

Jack then sighs and says, "Look Grandmama, I know the magic of this world is affecting your emotions. What is actually occurring is that the magic is bringing your buried affections to the surface. I learned that while I was entertaining a mare several years ago during my stay in Canterlot, funny thing is that it is the spirit of this world who made it this way."

Equis glares at the image of Jack and stomps her hoof saying, "Don't you dare blame me for how this world operates, I just look after it you bloody, rum-soaked, wobbly-legged pirate!"

The governor's crying calms down into sobbing as she then asks, "Y-You mean, the feelings were already there?"

He grins and nods his head saying, "Precisely, if they were not there to begin with, you would not be depressed as you were."

Rich Bit starts crying again in relief, saying between sobs, "I-I thought...that my...emotions were...being...forced so...I fought...to keep...it at bay." She then manages to turn her head towards Jack a little and sobs saying, "I-I-I'm sorry...for how...badly I...treated you...my boy."

Jack looks away and says, "Thank you for apologizing, you cantankerous old bat. It will take some time for me to be able to forgive you after the way you raised me and treated me afterward. I just hope that no one else from our family winds up here or this world may be in grave danger from our dysfunctional family of pirates."

She laughs at hearing that and lets go of Celestia, then stands on her own with a smile saying, "Don't worry, I'll do what I can to keep 'em in line." while straightening herself up.

He then mumbles to himself, "That's what worries me..."

Celestia then clears her throat and says, "Okay, with that issue dealt with..." then guides her daughter out in front of her and continues, "Allow me to introduce you to our daughter, Summer Poppet."

Rich Bit's head snaps around to look at the little unicorn filly and sees that she has a painted black and white coat with a blonde mane and emerald green eyes. A smile crosses her face as she tries talking to the little filly, "Hello sweetie, I am your great grandmother Rich Bit."

Jack rolls his eyes at her and says, "Yes, she is your great-grandmother, but you can just call her nana or wicked witch."

Summer giggles and reaches out for her saying, "Nana!"

She reaches out and pulls the little filly in for a hug, sighing at Jack's choice of names and glares at him, quietly saying, "So what brings you to Portuga this time, you barnacle?"

He watches her hold Summer carefully with his hand on his pistol, prepared to shoot her should she try to beat her saying, " That bloody hurricane damaged the Pearl's foremast, among a few other things so we are here until everything is finished.

Meanwhile, somewhere in the market of Portuga

With one more place left to sell, a heavyset earth pony with apple green eyes, a cream coat, and a bright auburn mane and tail wearing a monocle bumps into someone while checking out some seeds at a visiting trader's stall. On instinct, he turns to look at them so he can apologize when he meets a slender, sea foam green mare with a butter yellow mane and tail. The most attractive thing that he sees on her are the three freckles on her left cheek that compliment her rose-colored eyes, making him accidentally say, "So beautiful..."

She gasps at the sudden contact and turns to the one she accidentally walked into and says, "Oh, I'm sorry for bumping into you. Are you okay?" She then remembers what he said and cocks her head as a light blush colors her cheeks saying, "Uhm, what did you say?"

He then looks at her and clears his throat, straightening his monocle and says, "No, fergive me, ma'am, I just think that ye're beautiful. My mane is Mister Apple, what might yer name be?"

The mare then blushes a bit deeper saying, "M-My name is Money Pear, I-It's nice to m-meet you. Are you enjoying your day?"

Mister Apple then smiles at Money Pear and says, "I am now because I have met ya. How is yers?"

Money Pear smiles sweetly and then says, "It is a bright and lovely day, is there anything that you might need assistance with?"

With the smile still on his face, he says, "I was taking a look at these apple seeds and wondering if I should buy them now or later after I sell the last place I own, then request a ship to transport me to Baltimare so I can find something that I enjoy and extend my family's line by finding a good mare and raising a large family with her."

She then smiles as her heart beats a little faster, a fantasy flashes through her mind of her being an older mare surrounded by hundreds of children, grandchildren, and her grandchildren's children. She then chuckles and says, "That sounds like a marvelous idea, I was thinking of doing the same thing when I find a good stallion. Perhaps we could both wander the world together in search of something that we like to do, what do you think of that idea Mister Apple?"

Mister Apple then smiles and thinks about it for a moment saying, "Why that sounds like a very fine idea, I think that we should do just that once the last place is sold. Is that alright with you, Money Pear?"

Money Pear smiles and nods her head saying, "I have no argument with that, let's buy a few things once we are ready to begin exploring various lands."