I am Captain Jack Sparrow, savvy?

Jack enters the tavern to hear a familiar husky voice shout, "How many times have I told ya to keep outta the ale ya filthy bilge rat, it's fer the customers!" He then hears a sharp crack come from the back and calls out, "It's hard to get any service with no one out front you know!"

A gruff-looking earth pony with light brown fur, very dark brown eyes, and a black mane and tail with a scar over her left eye stomps out of the back and tosses a cane into the corner as she scans the room for the pony that just spoke. Not seeing any customers, she hollers, "If ya don't show yerself, I won't serve ya! Stop hiding and come out where I can see ya, or get lost, ya landlubber!"

He chuckles nervously and steps further into the light saying, "Is it just me, or did you get even more cantankerous you old bat? You surely have an interesting way to show love to others."

She looks quickly at the one who just stepped forward as her jaw drops open and says, "Jack? Jack...is that truly you before my very eyes?" Her eyes begin to tear up, hoping that she is really seeing her grandson before her.

Jack smiles and says, "Aye, it's me Grandmama. It's been some time since I saw you last, and you are just as harsh as I remember."

Grandmama quickly grabs her cane and rushes towards Jack with open arms, giving him a brief hug saying, "Oh it is nice seeing you again." Her tone swiftly changes as she pushes him away and raises her cane and begins whacking Jack on the head and on various spots around his body saying, "How could ya just run away from home like that ya miserable wretch, I had no one else good enough to beat on!" She then breaks down into tears and throws her arms around him saying, "Blast the magic of this world, forcing me to behave like this. Why are ya still human if ya died, what caused ya not to come here a pony?"

He rubs his aching head and says, "Well I was chased around the Caribbean by my ex-lover Angelica, who turned out to be Blackbeard's daughter. After I supposedly murdered her father and saved her life in the process using the fountain of youth, I marooned her on an island where a twist of fate led Barbossa's daughter Carina to captain the Queen Anne's Revenge. After she found Angelica on the island where they both started wanting revenge against me for ruining their lives, they caught up to me and left me for dead on my ship when Goddess Calypso appeared with Davy Jones and said my fate was not to die on that world. So she had Davy Jones bring me to this world instead, is the one you were beating back there still alive?"

She briefly looks to the back and says, "That explains the green flash my son saw a couple of days ago when he went to school, Tacky Jack get out here and say hello to yer nephew!"

A scrawny male pegasus steps out as his eyes widen saying, "JACKY BOY! Is it really you?"

Jack looks to the pony and smiles saying, "Uncle Jack? When did you get here?"

Tacky Jack chuckles and answers, "Well I am 8 years old now, but I think that time may be different here. What year was it when you were brought here?"

He thinks for a moment and says, "I last saw a wanted poster that offered no reward but demanded I be brought in dead or alive, I think it was 1765."

The scrawny pegasus colt nods his head and says, "Then time is different here because it is currently 1780, what brings ya to my mom's tavern in Baltimare Jacky?"

Jack then smiles and says, "I was hoping to find rum here, would you happen to have any? My bottle is nearly empty after I shared some with a friendly nurse, I kissed her after she called me handsome."

Grandmama grins and says, "Of course we have rum here, let me compare them to see what the difference is."

He pulls out his bottle and hands it towards her saying, "Here you go. Hopefully, the taste is the same and is just as potent."

She takes the bottle and heads behind the bar, setting it down then grabs a clear bottle from under the bar. Setting the clear bottle on the counter before pulling the cork out of Jack's bottle and taking a swig, coughing a few times before returning the cork and setting it back down on the bar. She picks up the other bottle and pulls the cork, taking a swig out of that bottle before returning it saying, "I hate to admit it but the rum ya brought with ya is much stronger in flavor and more potent than ours is, may I take the rest of this to a friend so he can match it and improve it?"

Jack nods and smiles saying, "It will cost you three bottles of rum if the taste is that different, I am quite sure you are going to be receiving more customers the faster you can match it."

Grandmama softly hisses at him saying, "Yer such a filthy pirate ya know, but I'm proud of how ya turned out. Be sure to stop by again if ya need to purchase more. I am called Rich Bit because when I was born, I almost bit the surgeon's thumb off as I was the first baby born with teeth." She then reaches under the bar and pulls out three fresh bottles of rum for him to take in trade.

He quickly waves a finger in the air and says, "That is quite amusing, but I wouldn't mention to anyone that the crew of the Black Pearl are pirates, the ponies here seem to dislike them. We are acting like privateers and earning coin to return her to her former glory, I will be searching for a way to make coin fast without causing much trouble. I will be sure to drop by again someday, I wonder if any others will come to this world when they die. Have you encountered Hector Barbossa yet, my old first mate?" He then quickly takes the bottles and stuffs them into his coat and waits for her answer.

She sighs and shakes her head saying, "Not yet, you are the first one I have encountered so far, ya best keep on moving. The princess is here and if she learns you are pirates, ya'll be going to Tartarus or fitted for a noose."

Jack chuckles and says, "Oh I've met her, she seems pleasant enough. Although she is royalty, I'm considering trying my charms on her, but if things go south I wouldn't have to worry about her chasing me through narrow doorways."

Rich Bit chuckles under her breath and says, "Beat it ya Bilge rat, or I'll beat ya black and blue!"

He nods and tips his hat to her and exits the tavern to see Princess Celestia making her way towards the hospital from a nearby restaurant looking a little worse for wear, he then walks towards her and says, "What a happy coincidence Your Highness, I was just about to come looking for you!"

Princess Celestia straightens her posture and looks for who just spoke and sees that it is the Captain from earlier and smiles at him saying, "It is nice to see you again, have you received treatment for your injuries?"

Jack removes his hat and bows gracefully towards her and replies, "I have indeed Your Highness, and I have given my crew a rundown of the situation and ordered them to find work until the Pearl can be repaired. Might we be able to talk in private to answer each other's questions?"

She nods her head and says, "We most certainly can, I was tending to a few matters while I waited for your crew to get the aid they needed before returning to Canterlot. Would you care to accompany me on a flight around Equestria's borders, then on to Equestria's capitol and see what it is like?"

He smiles and says, "I would indeed like to see what Equestria looks like from the air, there is no way for anyone to fly through the air of their own volition. Perhaps on the journey, we might get to know each other better?" He watches as a soft blush makes its way across her face, finding it adorable.

Celestia forces her blush to go away and returns to her chariot to send one of her guards back to Canterlot to fetch another chariot to take the healers back saying, "We will be showing our guest around Equestria from the air, we are going to have a private conversation inside a barrier. So keep calm and keep an eye on us to ensure we are both safe." She then enters her chariot and waits for her guest to enter the chariot and close the door.

Jack enters the chariot and sits across from the princess, shifting his sword to a more comfortable position, and closing the door as the chariot starts to move. He braces himself as the chariot starts to sway side to side saying, "This feeling is most unusual, it reminds me of standing on a ship's deck at sea."

She chuckles lightly and smiles saying, "It would take some getting used to if you don't have wings or sail on the sea, would you be able to tell me what is different about this world and the one you come from?" She then casts a silencing barrier around them and says, "There, now nopony will hear what we talk about.

He nods and replies, "Well first off, the only ones that can speak using words are humans like the crew and myself. Humans are not able to communicate with species other than themselves and are therefore treated as pets, food, or nuisances. There are many nations of different humans with a few having their own unique language, some indigenous nations aren't quite so civilized as your ponies are, and eat the humans of other nations. They are called cannibals and meet with some ships to trade items with them, one of which is called Long Pork. The other nations have not quite figured out that Long Pork is actually meat from other humans. The politics involving the nations and their relations with each other are very complicated and would take a while for me to fully explain. Magic does not exist in a regular manner in that world, the only magic I know to exist there is black magic which is very dangerous to dabble in due to the gruesome and terrible price you must pay for it. I have met a real goddess, so I do think that other gods exist. Curses are real there, as are ghosts. There are no ponies like you over there or other mythical creatures like unicorns, pegasi, griffons, or even whatever you might be. Those creatures only exist in myth and legends, the only creatures I have seen are mermaids and the dreaded Kraken." He then looks out the window at the ground below, then back to her and asks, "May I ask you something, Your Highness?"

Celestia blinks wearily and nods her head saying, "Hmm? Go right ahead, Captain Sparrow."

Jack then looks her over and says, "What kind of a being are you? I see that you have a horn and a pair of wings on your back, are you some kind of a cross between ponies? Why does your hair and tail flow in the air when there is no breeze."

She chuckles softly and shakes her head saying, "No, I am not a cross, I am what is called an Alicorn. My mane and tail have always flowed like this ever since I was chosen to raise and lower the sun each day."

His eyes widen with amazement as he then says, "Wait a minute, you actually have to raise and lower the sun on this world? What about the moon or the weather, does someone control that as well?"

Celestia's eyes get heavier as they start to slowly drift shut, she attempts to fight it by shaking her head and clearing her throat saying, "Umm...yes, the pegasi are in charge of the weather around Equestria. I only raise the sun for Equestria, as for the moon. There was somepony that used to do that, but they turned evil and had to be banished to the moon as punishment."

Jack notices a certain sadness in her voice and asks, "Did you know them well?"

She sighs sadly and looks out the window to where the moon rests beyond the horizon and says, "I thought I knew them very well, though I seem to have made a mistake somewhere. I wish they could come back, I miss her very much..." She then starts to softly sob as she remembers the big fight she had with her sister when she turned into Nightmare Moon.

He battles his discomfort being around an authority figure and forces himself to sit beside the princess thinking, 'Please don't hang me for this, but I don't enjoy seeing a woman cry.' He then places an arm around her shoulder and gently pulls her towards him saying, "Might there be a way to restore them to the way they were before, by using a magic spell or something to that effect?"

Celestia's head comes to rest against his shoulder when she hears that and continues sobbing and answers, "There is something that would do that, but they have long since turned to stone after using them to banish my friend." She then cries a bit harder at how she forced the elements to banish her saying, "It is all my fault they don't work anymore, now she is doomed to forever be in the moon."

Jack then pats her shoulder and thinks of something and asks, "Who exactly did you banish to the moon princess, I swear on my honor that I will ne'er tell another soul what you say to me." He then watches her break down completely and explains what happened 600 years ago, how her sister started to try to force the citizens into loving her beautiful night sky and refused to lower the moon, eventually transforming into the twisted form of Nightmare Moon. He continues to hold her and pat her shoulder, trying to comfort her saying, "Is there a way to get these elements to work again?" He then begins to hear a high-pitched ringing in his mind, gradually getting louder with each passing second. Forced to close his eyes and wince in pain, he finds himself in a pitch-black space and says, "Umm excuse me, is anybody here? I had no ill intent when sitting beside the princess to hold her."

A female voice calls out of the darkness saying, "Be silent pirate, I care not what your intentions are with the princess, her subjects, or even the inhabitants of this world. My concern is the fate that befalls my spirit from your arrival at the assistance of another higher being, to correct that I must ask you a few questions. Do you intend on helping her make amends for her past transgression against me regardless of how it benefits you no matter what?"

He looks around for the source of the eerily attractive voice and says, "Umm...what's in it for me if I do intend on assisting her to accomplish my own ends as well?"

The voice scoffs in disgust and says, "UGH...YOU PIRATES ARE ALL THE SAME IN NATURE! Always having to get some sort of reward for doing a good deed...no matter. If you do assist her, your reward shall be what you wish for most. If you fail in your task, your reward shall become your curse instead! Tell no other creature of our meeting or you shall be punished, now return and make a choice, pirate."

Jack opens his eyes to see Princess Celestia looking at him expectantly and says, "A thousand pardons Your Majesty, but I found myself wandering for a second or two. Would you mind dreadfully repeating yourself?"

Celestia looks eagerly into his eyes and says, "I said that there might be a way, but we will have to search through every piece of literature remotely mentioning the Elements of Harmony. Do you truly wish to find a way to save my sister?!"

He nods his head and holds up one hand with a single finger extended saying, "Yes I do, however, there are some conditions involved. Firstly, the cost of all current and future repairs to my ship must be paid by the current ruler or rulers of Equestria of the time. Secondly and lastly, the costs for the crew's current and future treatments be paid by the current ruler or rulers of Equestria at the time." He then watches as her face freezes at hearing the conditions and waits for her answer.

She pulls back from him a little ways and thinks about the heavy price he is asking and frowns saying, "That price is a very heavy one for wanting to charge me for your aid in searching for a way to save my sister..."

Jack grins and extends his right hand saying, "Do we have an accord, Your Highness?"

Celestia looks distastefully at the extended hand with a high price attached to it, growling audibly under her breath, looking off to the side growling, "Deal..." before taking it and giving it a firm shake to formally accept the deal.

He then smiles widely and says, "Well then, where do we begin searching, Your Highness?"

She thinks about it for a moment before saying, "Our best bet would be to start in the library at the old Castle of Two Sisters. We will have to check through every surviving book for anything useful, I don't think there will be much there though." She then dispels the barrier and calls out to the guards, "Take us to the old Castle of Two Sisters at once!"

A half-hour passes as they reach the hidden library through a hidden passage, Jack stands in the library and pulls out his compass underneath a lit torch. He looks at his compass arrow and follows it to a bookshelf in the far back corner, he then holds the compass in his hand and begins checking the books on the left side by pulling them out one by one and holding them next to the compass.

Celestia hears him toss a book onto the floor and shouts, "Be careful with them, some of these are older than me."

Jack continues to check the books with the compass and sets one down more carefully saying, "And how old are you per say, Your Highness?"

She blushes and says, "Don't you know that it is rude to ask a mare her age? If you really must know, I am 800 years old."

He looks up and turns his head in her direction with wide eyes saying, "WELL THEN, PERHAPS YOU COULD SHOW ME TO YOUR FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH, BECAUSE THERE IS NO WAY YOU ARE OF THAT AGE!"

Celestia chuckles as the blush deepens and says, "I don't lie, and Alicorns have long lives. Thank you for your compliment, I appreciate hearing an honest answer."

Jack nearly drops a book at her reply when he looks back down at his compass to see it pointing to the book in his hand. He closes the compass and puts it away saying, "You are quite welcome love." then walks towards a torch to look at it when he hears that same ringing in his head again, closing his eyes when he hears the female voice from earlier say, "The first clue." then fades away with the ringing when he reopens his eyes to see the title page of the book reading, 'The theories of harmony.' and turns the pages to find the first chapter then starts to read it.

Celestia goes to another bookcase, not finding anything useful there when she turns her head to see him sitting in a chair near a torch reading a book intently and asks, "Did you find something Captain Sparrow?"

He looks up and says to her, "This is a book that talks about theories of harmony and how it might work, it is probable that the elements decide on their own who is worthy of wielding them and only allow those who possess certain natural traits. He then holds it out for her to read and says, "Here, you check into it more and I will see if there is anything else here that proves helpful. If you consider us friends Your Highness, you may call me Jack."

She takes the book carefully and looks at him saying, "Okay then Jack, you may call me Celestia when not in a formal setting." She then illuminates her horn to hide the redness creeping into her cheeks and turns away from him to read further into the book.

Jack pulls out his compass again as it points to the same side of the bookshelf as before and starts to check books with the compass, he tries to remove a book from the shelf and hears a click followed by a brief puff of air from around the edge of the bookcase. He grins at learning of a secret hiding spot, expecting to find some treasure with the clue, he pulls the bookcase away from the wall to reveal a small square stone piece blending in with the stone around it. He pulls out a dagger and pries on the stone, it finally comes out to reveal a hollow space in the stone with a bunch of rolled-up papers bound together by string. He removes it carefully and sets it on a small table and moves it towards a torch and looks at the cover, seeing it written in a strange ink reading, 'Tall Tales, Fearful Legends, and Wild Imaginations.' He opens it up to the first page and sees that it is written in blood and begins reading the book, 'Some say I am mad or have lost it, but I have been told of a great horror that is yet to be loosed upon us all. In my dream, during a bitterly cold winter, I heard a beautiful voice calling me out of my warm bed to receive a message regarding a future to be foretold. As I stepped into the cold snow in only a wool overcoat, all went dark around me when I heard a lullaby sang to me. It went as thus... Heroes vanish into thin air, the gift is taken to keep safe. One who cant figure plain truth, forcing the other to give a sad fate. Oh poor victor suffers from the grief, to raise hope she creates heroes. The lone savior, clever soul, hunts for coin and gold. They'll come with green flash of light, but suffer in pain...deep, deep, pain. A ship appears black as night, with no nation to be seen. This one soul may choose their fate, choosing well avoids a grisly and dark fate. Oh poor creatures suffer from great fright, dark shades are revealed by night's light. The one redeemed, fights their love, gains faith love and cheers. Foes run from the ghost, shades loosed to sea, they sail to claim what's...held...most...dear. And that is when I awoke from my dream and tried to find ink to write it down with, but had none and decided to use what I did have with me...my own blood. Thank my lucky stars I won't be around much longer to see it for myself, see you in the next life.' His eyes look to the name below and sees that it is written by Sirius Scriblius, then looks to Celestia and says, "Oi, I found something hidden in a brick over here, you need to see this for yourself. It is most unusual and disturbing."

Celestia heads over to the table and sets the book down to keep her place and leans down to look at the ancient tome Jack had found and gasps saying, "That is even older than I am, from the looks of it I'd say this was here long before my parents were even born." She takes a closer look at it then says, "I-Is it actually written in...blood?"

He nods his head and slides the book over to her saying, "It is indeed Celestia, do you mind if I call you Celly or Chelly?"

She picks up the book carefully and reads from the first page, not really paying attention to what he just said and responds, "Of course not, I permit it."

Jack pulls out his compass as it points to the other side of the shelf and quietly says, "Why are you so intent on leading me to more books, what happened to finding treasure mate." He sighs and starts to look for the right book.

Celestia finishes reading the book and looks over to Jack and says, "Jack, this book seems to mention your ship and you in this strange prophecy. Do you understand anything about what is mentioned in the latter part of the lullaby about the redeemed or the danger?"

He sighs and checks another book with the compass and lies to her saying, "Regrettably, I find the lullaby rather confusing and don't understand a single thing it talks about." He finally finds the book the compass points to and reads the title, 'Thoughts and Conjecture' He sighs and puts the compass away, then opens the book and begins to read through it, eventually finding an intriguing passage reading, 'This is just a theory, but what if we could manipulate our own harmony, or even control the future itself. I think that in order to do something grand in years beyond, dark things must be done in equal measure with the same value. For example, if I was to rescue a town full of ponies, I would have to endanger the lives of another town. It would not be enough if I was to threaten a colony of insects, as it would not have the same value as the other. I could never bring myself to ever consider doing such a mean thing, I am a proud pony of Equestria.' He looks to Celestia and thinks about showing her this book, but changes his mind and puts it back on the shelf. He pulls out his compass once more and looks at it to see it pointing to her and smiles saying, "Well, I think we have found plenty of information here to get started on some sort of plan. What say you to the idea of returning to our flight around Equestria, after we think of something you can show me your capital."

She hangs her head slightly and tucks the book into her dress and answers unenthusiastically saying, "Very well, let's return to the chariot and formulate a plan so I can return to being the ruler of Equestria...yay."