Go With the Flow

~~~

Flowing and Star Point sailed on through the morning in relative peace.

The sun rose over the ocean and the sea calmed as it did. The wind was blowing from the south, which meant they didn’t have it entirely at their backs, but they were still making good time nonetheless.

There was enough splash from the sea spray shooting off the gunwhale to keep Flowing nice and wet as she lounged with Star Point inside the sailboat, laying her head against his lap while he steered them onwards through the warming dawn.

“Y’know... I could be fooled into thinking this was a date,” Star Point said with a little chuckle, idly running a hoof across her headcrest.

“Mm. We oughta get a sailing boat for you. You’re good at it,” Flowing replied, nuzzling her snout against his chest.

“Yeah. I dunno if I’d really trust sailing so far at sea without you for back-up, though.”

Flowing laughed. “Cause of the sea monsters?”

Star nodded. “Yeah. I mean. They do exist, right?”

“Oh yes. Tons of them. Sharks the size of fishing trawlers. Or bigger. Giant kraken that could drag a ship down with ease. Sea dragons that would eat a little guppy like me up as an appetizer. You name it.”

Star Point wilted, his hoof wavering on the till. “Not exactly aspiring confidence, dear.”

“Sorry, sorry... Just being honest.” She smirked. “Besides, they don’t actually really attack all that often. They keep to themselves and hunt bigger prey. Most of the time.”

“Have you ever been in danger from a sea monster before, Flow?”

“Me? Oh yes. There’s not many by Seaquestria because they don’t really like the cool water as much, but if you wander too far, there’s some nasty stuff. Once, me and my marefriends got chased by a whole group of, er. Do you know what a lusca is? Sometimes called ‘grabber shark?’”

“Is it related to a ‘sharktopus?’”

Flowing snorted. “Is that what you ponies call ‘em? Creative.”

“Hey, it’s not any worse than ‘grabber shark!’”

“It’s a shark, that grabs. It seems pretty fitting to me!” Flowing stuck out her tongue. “Well, imagine, like, four of those guys. All chasing innocent ol’ me and a few friends through an old shipwreck. Now that was a terrifying day.”

“What’d you even do to piss ‘em off?”

Flowing shrugged a little. “I 'unno. Probably nothin.’ They’re a moody bunch.”

“So, you were always a bit of a troublemaker then, huh?” Star Point shot her a devilish look. “Not just with us land lubbers?”

“Me? A saint of the seven seas.”

“Mmhm.” Star chuckled. “Anyways... I do like the sailboat, though. Maybe you’re onto something there.”

Flowing smiled, but she felt as though she had to force it on her lips. Thinking of Star at the till of one boat only reminded her of the other, that was now occupying the bottom of the ocean. A nice little microcosm for all the ruination she might have brought to this poor stallion’s life.

She was caught within a strange limbo, between exaltation at being on an adventure with her lover, and an unshakable guilt at the reasons why.

“When, er... Star, I’ve been doing some thinking...” Flowing started a little shakily. “I think... That I should come clean to Queen Novo, about... What I did. They deserve to know what I’ve been up to.”

“The Queen who’s forcing your people to stay in hiding because she commandeered leadership over them out of necessity deserves to know what you’ve been up to?”

Flowing’s ears fell. “She’s really not that bad, Starry...”

“I know, I know. I’m probably biased against her...” Star sighed. “But do you seriously wanna tell her you’re banging some earth pony in a podunk fishing town?”

“Star. I’m not ‘banging you’, I’m in love with you.”

“I’m just saying, that’s probably not how your Queen is gonna see it. And as much as I’d like to be there to vouch for you, I can’t.”

Flowing sighed. “Maybe you should.”

“I can’t just up and transform into a seapony just like that. Otherwise, I’d be down there with you every single day.”

“B-but. Even if we could do something with the Pearl... I can’t ask you for that. You have a life and friends above the waves, too.” Flowing’s ears stayed pinned to her head, and her gaze sunk, the seapony staring sadly at the water rushing past them over the side of the sailboat. “I don’t wanna make you choose.”

“Well...” Star brought a hoof to her chin, easing it up gently to meet her eyes. “I already have made my choice. If there’s a way for me to spend my life with you below the waves while we wait for someone to take care of the Storm King once and for all... I’d like that.”

Flowing managed a smile, small but honest. She wrapped her fins around him and hugged him tightly. “Starry... I don’t know what to say. Thank you.”

“Trust me. I’ll wear a scuba suit, and I’ll go beg your Queen if I have to.”

“I wish I knew what that Tempest mare’s deal was. Didn’t even get a good look at her.”

“One mean lookin’ mare.” Star confirmed. “Taller than me. Dressed in... Er, dominatrix armour?”

“Starry!”

“What? It’s true!” Star Point was blushing instantly, much to Flowing’s chuckling amusement. “Seriously, it was like. A skin-tight battlesuit. To confront a fisher. Bit much, mare?”

Flowing snort-laughed. “Well. I guess she’s working for the Storm King. We don’t really know much about what kind of agents he has working for him, just that he likes airships and has been trying to kidnap seaponies.”

“Yeah. She seemed pretty determined to catch you.”

“Enough that we can’t convince her not to?”

This time, it was Star Point’s turn to snort-laugh. “Yeah, no. If she’s still chasing us after that storm, she’s in it for the gold.” He gave her a boop. “You’re the gold, by the way.”

“Aw, that’s sweet.” Flowing smiled. “You’re sweet.”

Star Point nuzzled her by way of reply. Their boat continued to skim over the waves as the morning haze continued to turn to the warm glow of noon. The lovers fell silent, Flowing resting her head against Star’s withers while he steered them onwards to the east.

Flowing knew that Star didn’t really have a set destination, besides ‘east.’ It was a luxury they didn’t really have. Without a map, or a compass, or really any way to tell their direction besides the placement of the sun in the sky, they had to rely on vague compass directions and thin prayers that they’d bring them where they needed to go. The coast of the Griffon Empire was a large area to hit and one they were unlikely to miss, and even if they overshot it and reached the Dragonlands or East Kirinia, instead, they could at least follow the coast North until it took them where they needed to go.

A few hours after they’d first set out, Flowing spotted signs of life on the distant horizon.

Not land, but a small pinprick of smoke rising into the clear blue sky.

“Uh oh...” Flowing pointed a fin in the direction.

“...Huh...” Star squinted as he looked, too. “Ship. Gotta be.”

“Storm King?”

“I... I don’t think so,” Star replied. “Just going off the amount of smoke I’m seein’ comin’ outta it. Tempest’s ship made a mess, remember?”

“Mmm... That’s true.” Flowing frowned. “Want me to swim over and take a look?”

“I don’t really want to bug anypony or slow down if we can help it...” Star admitted. “But at the same time. They might be able to point us in the right direction, so we don’t have to continue sailing blindly.”

“Yeah...” Flowing nodded in agreement.

“I’ll get you close... You swim up, and if the coast is clear, I’ll follow? Sound good?”

Flowing nodded again. “Sounds good.”

As they got closer, Flowing slunk out of the sailboat, slipping into the warm waves with only the smallest of splashes. Her tailfin swished the water as she swam towards the underbelly of the ship growing closer and closer... And this time, she was paying a bit more attention for any nets, or fishing lures, or any other risks that she really should have been better at paying attention for.

From its underside, Flowing could tell that the ship was large--larger than Tempest’s dreadnaught--though it wasn’t really large in the looming, intimidating way. A cargo ship, most likely hauling freight across the Celestial Sea to Equestria from Griffonstone.

Tentatively, Flowing poked her head above the waves. A cargo ship indeed, with several sailing masts and what sounded like a medium-sized engine to Flowing, from what she could hear underwater.

Not really a Storm King battleship that she had to be afraid of. She supposed it wasn’t technically a very good decision to trust anyone in her current situation, but somehow she still felt more comfortable leaving the cold, mean, cynical attitudes to ponies like Tempest. Starry was right--Tempest, the Storm King... They were what she had to be afraid of. Not the goodness of ponies and the pureness of her love for them.

Still, she stayed under the water while swimming back to Starry, poking her head up and accidentally giving him a bit of a start when she did.

“Oop! Sorry!” she said sheepishly. “For sure a cargo ship. I think we’re safe to go ask ‘em for directions...” She gripped the tow-line at the front of the sailboat in her teeth, and began to swim her way towards the cargo ship proper.

As they got closer once again, a few faces came to the sides to watch the spectacle. Flowing saw ponies and griffins in at least equal measure, some peering at the approaching seapony and sailboat through binoculars. One of the griffins took off with a few flaps of their wings, flying over them without landing, swirling back around, watching them from above as they came closer and closer to the cargo ship.

Flowing heard Starry let out a nervous chuckle from behind her. She kept swimming, but gave him a backwards look and a small smile to assure him everything was going to be alright. They were just curious about their guests, so far out in the middle of the sea. Who wouldn’t be?

There were half a dozen sets of eyes on them, peering over the gunwhale, as they approached. Flowing gave a nervous little wave of her fore-fin.

“Er, hiya, boys!” she said, letting the tow-line fall out of her maw as she spoke up. “Nice ship!”

The ponies and griffins all shared a glance together. Flowing got the impression she was looking at more or less the entire crew of the ship, given its modest size. Her greeting hung without response for several seconds, their eyes travelling from Flowing to Star Point.

Eventually, Star himself broke the silence.

“We’re together,” he waved a hoof between himself and Flowing. “We, uh. Were wondering if we could come aboard for some directions?”

More silence, though this time it was for the crew of the ship to glance amongst themselves, until a short little earth pony wearing a captain’s hat trotted forwards.

“Yer a seapony, ma’am!”

“I am?” Flowing looked back at Star Point, and then back at the Captain with a smirk. “Goodness, I hadn’t noticed.”

There were a few chuckles from the ship’s crew, the captain included. “I say it, lass, because you’re the first one I’ve seen in just ‘bout twelve years of sailing.”

Flowing smirked. “That just means you’ve had good luck! Otherwise, you would’a seen us when we bailed you out!”

“So the tales go.” The captain was all smiles and chuckles. “Together, huh?” He nodded at Star Point.

“She’s my marefriend,” Star explained. “We’re, er. Sailing to the Griffon Empire.”

There was some surprised, hushed conversation between the crew, and the Captain said; “Griffon Empire! From Equestria? Hell of a sail, kiddo!”

“Yeah, but he has a one of a kind life-raft if anything goes wrong,” Flowing chirped, splashing Star with her tail, to his blushing chagrin and the collective chuckling of the ship crew.

“We just... Wanted to maybe board for some directions. Lost our map in the storm, you see.”

“Aye. That tracks. Or, arr... Doesn’t, in this case.” The Captain gave a few short nods. “Shoot, why not? Tie off anywhere... Your fishy friend want up, too?”

“Please and thank you!” Flowing nodded.

She pulled Star’s sailboat in, flush against the cargo ship, where they tied it off and Starry folded up the sail and tucked it under the rear-most bench on the sailboat.

Then, a ladder was extended for Star to climb up. For Flowing, a net was lowered instead. A bit patronizing, and the sight wasn’t without a few stifled snickers from the crew of the cargo ship, but it at least got the job done. She was helped out once they were on the dock, and Star let her climb onto his back like was typical for the two of them by now.

Flowing could tell that the mood of the ship was one of excitement, as the crew and captain both watched her and Star’s routine. A seapony surely must have been a rare sight, as rare as a long sailboat in the great sea. For them to have been together, an established couple? Flowing liked to think they’d made their day a bit more exciting.

The sun had hidden behind the clouds when they finished boarding the cargo ship. A refreshing coolness swept over them, while Star extended a hoof to shake hooves with the captain proper.

“Name’s Star Point, sir.”

He shook Star’s hoof with a smile. “Captain Misty Foam. And the lovely lass on your back?”

Flowing smiled warmly, extending a fin of her own. “Flowing Sands, Captain!”

He shook her fin, sharing her smile himself. “Long way from home, are ya, Miss Sands?”

Flowing pursed her lips. It wasn’t that she distrusted this fella, but... Well. The less ponies that knew, the better.

“Home’s where my sweetie is,” she said, nuzzling the top of Star’s mane with her chin.

Misty Foam nodded cheerily at that. “Touche, I spose. Where are you from, Mister Star Point? Equestrian?”

“Yeah. Little fishing town on the coast, outside Baltimare.”

“Long way from home for you, too, then.”

“Yeah we’re...” Star glanced back at Flowing, and she could tell he was contemplating being a bit more earnest about their situation. For her own part... Flowing didn’t really want to involve any more ponies in her journey. The less these folks knew of them, the better. Star seemed to read the skepticism off her face.

“...Guess you can say we’re on a bit of an adventure,” he continued, without really missing a beat. Flowing supposed the best ‘lies’ were the ones that were entirely true. “We’ve always wanted to go on one together. She spends enough time on land, 'bout time we spend some at sea.”

“Ha! I’d bet! Griffon Empire ya said, eh?”

“That’s right.”

“Shoot. You’re lucky you ran into us than. You woulda wound yourselves up in Dragon territory, ya kept on the course you were goin’.”

Flowing saw a heavy exhale leave Star Point, followed by a little chuckle. “Really.”

“Really! C’mon, ya foalish lovebirds. I’ll get ya pointed straight and true,” Captain Misty Foam said, and began trudging his way towards the superstructure of the cargo ship.

Sharing one more glance with each other, Star fell into step behind him, following him on towards the interior of the cargo ship.

~~~

Tempest breathed a lengthy sigh of relief by time her hooves were back on the solid ground that were the docks of Broken Beak Cove.

The poor Thespis wasn’t the proudest she had ever looked, but she had still made good time on her urgent bee-line to the coasts of the Griffon Empire. If the seapony and the earth pony were travelling their fastest, it would still take them at least a day to reach the coast themselves. Where exactly they ended up was a matter of uncertainty, but in some manner it didn’t truly make a difference. There was only one railway out of the Griffon Empire and across the Northern Tundras back into Equestria, and it would have to cross through Broken Beak Cove.

As such, Tempest had stationed one of her guards at the station, to inspect the train when it arrived, on the off-chance that her two targets had (somehow) beaten her to the coast.

As she trotted onto the solid, rocky ground of the puny little griffon harbour town she’d arrived in, she heard a flapping of wings from directly above her. She braced immediately, but part of her already knew who was approaching her before they spoke.

“Cirrus Bolt.”

“Hi, Tempest.” A dark blue hippogriff landed in front of her, giving a curt nod that was somewhere between a bow and a casual greeting. “Rough sailing, huh?” He nodded his head towards the Thespis.

“Could say that.”

“Storm?”

“Yes.”

“Bummer. Real bummer.”

“Yes,” Tempest said again, already growing impatient with the hippogriff in the time she’d been talking to him. “You have been keeping out of trouble?”

He gave a little chuckle. “Sure, sure. You in port for long? Or just stopping for repairs?”

“A day, several days maximum.”

“Good! Enough time for a drink, then.”

Tempest narrowed her eyes. “If you think you have even a chance of--”

“Please.” Cirrus Bolt snorted, shaking his head and raising a wing. “Just a drink, I’m not trying to get you outta your armour. Pretty sure you'd kill me if I tried.”

Tempest’s narrowed glare turned volatile. Gods, what she wouldn’t give for the chance to buck the impudent ‘griff into the drink. But... Cirrus Bolt was a helpful annoyance. He was one of the few hippogriffs Tempest even knew in the first place, and considering the subject of her own hunt... She supposed there was no harm in grabbing a drink with him.

“Fine.”

Cirrus cracked a wide smile, and began to flap on towards one of the skeevy taverns that looked like they were one bad tectonic event away from sliding into the drink. Tempest watched him as she trotted behind, the hippogriff flapping low to the ground and slow enough that she could trot along behind him.

She’d met Cirrus Bolt... Gods, had it been five years already? She wasn’t a general of the Storm King’s army back then, though she had at least still been employed by them in some capacity. A bounty hunter and a head-hunter in equal measure, unleashed upon the hinterlands of civilized Equine society to slowly and surely prepare the rest of the world for the Storm King’s inevitable conquest.

The dark-coated hippogriff had been an... interesting sight, in those days. Tempest’s original plan had been to interrogate him for information towards his people’s current location. He’d been the target of a bounty, like a dozen before and after him, and like the seapony on her mind now.

She supposed it was fitting that an ex-bounty had turned out to be one of the best bounty hunter allies she knew.

He had been exiled from Seaquestria over a decade ago. A troublesome teen, with a penchant for trying to encourage dissent and ideas of warfare among his peers. Mind wiped clean of any geographical knowledge of Seaquestria on the order of his Queen, and shunted out to the old ruins of Mount Aris, to fend for himself. Tempest imagined it was hard for him to be sympathetic to the plight of the rest of his species, nor their seapony cousins. In some capacity, his abandonment was one she understood.

She wouldn’t call them friends, but they had at least become reliable allies.

“You’re looking tyrannical as ever, Tempy,” Cirrus chirped out, landing and pushing the swinging door to the tavern open.

“And you, ever an irritating thorn in the side.” Tempest chose a booth off to the corner, where she could survey the rest of the tavern and whoever entered, but still tucked enough out of the way that they wouldn’t be unduly bothered or looked upon.

Cirrus chuckled. The bar was one of those quiet sorts, run by one barkeep who was nowhere to be seen, probably tending to some chores elsewhere in the building. Cirrus helped himself to two mugs of mead from the tap behind the counter and slapped the necessary bits down, carrying one in each wing and setting them down on opposite ends of the table before taking a seat across from Tempest.

“You in town for work?” Tempest guessed, taking a sip of her mead.

“Mm. Just kinda... Kicking around a few leads.” Cirrus admitted. “Nothing really biting.”

“Posters.” Tempest tapped a hoof on the table. “Bring ‘em out, birdbrain. Let’s compare notes.”

Cirrus smirked, and nudged his beak into his pack, drawing out a small little collection of bounty posters and placing them down on the half-cleaned tavern table between them. Tempest took them, shuffling through each quickly.

Debt collection bounty between griffons--typical sort. A few posters for small-time thieves--two of them thestrals, one of them a griffon.

“Any familiar faces?” Cirrus ventured.

Tempest frowned, shaking her head slowly. “Think I might’ve seen the bat stallion outside Wrangly Roost. Others... Nope.”

“Shame, but figures. Small potato bounties, anyways.”

“Mmhm. Work ain’t what I used to be.”

“Blame the Elements of Harmony bringing ‘fwiendship’ to Griffonstone. This place is changin' for the better, and it's makin' folks like us obsolete.” Cirrus rolled his eyes. “What about you?”

“One bounty. A seapony.”

Cirrus rose an eyebrow. “No kidding? Seaquestrian?”

“Not sure. Not a particularly loyal one, if so. Caught her shacking up with an earth pony in Equestria.”

“Wild. What’d she do?” Cirrus chugged back his mead, tucking his posters away with a wing. “Or is this a commission job for He Who Shall Not Be Named?”

“Everything’s a commission job for the Storm King now. I’m on his payroll.”

“Mm, you did it for the sexy armour, didn’t you?” Cirrus waggled an eyebrow.

“I can still turn you in, you know.”

“Aw, but you wouldn’t.” Cirrus stuck out his tongue. “You love me. So, this seapony got a name?”

“Flowing Sands. And her stallion is Star Point, not that I really need him besides to tie up some loose ends between the two.”

Cirrus nodded. “Was gonna say. Plucking an Equestrian’s marefriend as a bounty is a risky gig.”

“Outskirts Equestrian. You know as well as I do the Princesses can’t be bothered to check every nook and cranny of their kingdom,” Tempest said. “Still risky, but a measured risk.”

“Hey, I ain’t trying to talk you out of it. How hot are you on the tail of this seapony, then?” Cirrus asked, tilting his head curiously. “Ocean’s a big place.”

“It is. But she’s got that colt of hers in tow, and knows that I’m lookin’ for him, too. So they’re kinda stuck together until she gets him to safety,” Tempest replied. Gods, that was some vile tasting mead. She hadn’t really been focusing on it until now, noticing as she came upon the half-empty point of her mug. “Seaponies are a funny sort. Don’t wanna leave folks to danger, even if it puts ‘em into it.”

“Uh huh. I’m gonna have to agree to disagree with that one, Tempy.”

“That’s hippogriffs,” Tempest replied shortly, actually managing a little smirk as she teased the fellow bounty hunter. “You lot are a buncha back-stabbers.”

“Uh huh. If I’m a hippogriff, you’re a hypocrite.” Cirrus replied. “Besides, it’s useful for you then, in this case,” Cirrus levelled. He finished off his mead, wiping his beak clean with a wing. “I’m in. Give me... Twenty-five percent of the cut? And I can be with your crew in an hour.”

“There is no cut. Commission job. He wants the seapony herself, she is the bounty.” Tempest pursed her lips. She wished there was a cut... A fellow set of bounty hunting eyes--especially attached to a hippogriff--would be quite indispensable in her hunt. Not wanting to lose the opportunity, she continued; “But that doesn’t mean I can’t cut you in. Five hundred, up front, when we bring her in.”

“Sold!” Cirrus chirped, his beaked maw twisting into a smirk. “Alright. Well, first order of business... That ship of yours.”

“What of it?”

“I think you oughta pull it outta port. Hide it inland a bit. If that seapony sees it swimming into town, she’s gonna drop her coltfriend off and get the Tartarus out of Dodge.”

“And abandon him to the outskirts of the Griffon Empire?” Tempest shook her head. “It doesn’t seem like her.”

“Still a risk. Alternatively... They come into town, and there’s no sign of ya? They’re gonna assume they shook you off their tail. They’ll get confident. And that’s when I come in.”

“You.”

“Me! I’m a hippogriff! I can guarantee you that that seapony hasn’t seen one out in the wild before--not with that Type A of a Queen sitting on Seaquestria’s throne--but she’s sure as spit gonna know what we are. She won’t be able to turn me away.”

Tempest’s frown grew. Putting so much faith in a companion she’d just technically hired minutes ago wasn’t exactly a tempting prospect. But... She’d worked with Cirrus before. He was generally a ‘griff of his word, and Tempest herself was not entirely flush with other options at her beck and call.

“I think you’re flattering yourself a little unduly, Cirrus Bolt,” she said.

“I don’t. Besides, what’s your plan, Tempy? I’m all ears.”

“Not shooting your plan down. Just expressing my disdain for your ego.”

“Aw. You love it.”

“I assuredly do not. But fine. You’re at least right about the Thespis.”

“I know. You lay low, stay out of sight. Second either of them see your grouchy mug, they’ll be swimming off into the sunset. But if you leave it to me to reel in the fish? They won’t know what hit ‘em.”

Tempest was silent for a moment. She didn’t know how exactly the seapony would react to meeting one of her own--or, close enough, anyways--but the assertion that her reaction would predominantly be curiosity wasn’t a wholly unfounded one. Cirrus was capable of some degree of charm when he needed it, and his status as a hippogriff in Flowing’s situation would be in itself a boon. After all... If Flowing couldn’t trust her own people, who could she trust?

“Fine. You’ve got a deal, hippogriff.”

~~~

Captain Misty Foam brought them into the superstructure of the cargo ship, which was larger than Star Point’s by a large degree but still a little claustraphobic for Flowing's liking. She found it fascinating, how a structure of bolts and brass and metal managed to stay afloat so well upon the waves.

They travelled up a flight of stairs and onto a deck that seemed to be some manner of lounge on one side, with the other side of the room covered in charts and maps and a navigation table. Star Point set her down on a sofa and sat beside her, letting her lay her tail across his sitting form.

If Flowing peered out the porthole window behind her, she could faintly see the sail of the cargo ship flapping waywardly in the breeze.

“So... Curious soul’s gotta ask about...” Misty Foam waved a hoof between Flowing and Star.

“How we met?” Star guessed.

“It’s, er. A bit of an embarrassing story. He caught me.”

Misty Foam stared, and then chuckled. “Caught ya. Y’know, I’d make a joke on the subject, but I reckon ya’ve heard just about every one in the book.”

“Ha! And then some!” Flowing replied, smirking.

“Still. Seapony’s a might rare sight. Weren’t even sure y’folks existed in the first place.”

“We, uh...” Flowing fumbled with her fins. “We keep to ourselves, these days. Makes things easier.”

“I see. Yer the exception, then?”

Flowing felt a pang of guilt in her chest. “I guess so.”

“Well. It’s a pleasure to meet ya, and I hope more follow in your stead. The waters kin get pretty lonely on some nights, and I reckon they’d be less so with more pony life in ‘em.”

“Yeah. I hope one day,” Flowing agreed, forcing a smile. “You from Equestria, Captain Misty?”

“Actually, I ain’t! One of them fishin’ towns in Kirinia!”

“Oh wow!” Star exclaimed. “You’re a long ways from home, then!”

“Aye! But... Like yer lass says. Somedays I feel right at home here, with the ocean, and my boat, and my crew. Home ain't a set place so much as a group of ponies and a job I like. Guess that seems silly to most folks.”

“Doesn’t seem silly to me,” Star replied quickly. “That’s how I was, too. Minus the crew.”

“Y’got a boat, Mister Star Point? Y’know, a boat boat, no offense to your current ride.”

Flowing could feel Starry shuffling a little awkwardly on the sofa, before he replied. “I... Er. I did. Fishing trawler.”

“Did, eh?” Misty gave him a sympathetic look. “How’d ya lose it?”

“Er. Capsized. In a storm,” Starry replied. “Was lucky she was close by.”

“Mm. No kiddin’. So why’re you head to the Griffon Lands?”

“That’s, uh. Unrelated. She wants to see the world, and I do too, so. We decided to go on an adventure together.”

Misty smirked. “I see. Well. Y’got a destination in particular?”

“Somewhere populated would be nice,” Flowing said. “I wanna try fish ‘n chips in another nation!”

“Populated, but quiet. But really anywhere would be nice. We’re planning on selling the sailboat, and taking the train back to Equestria.”

“Gotcha! Then... Hrm. I’ll point ya in the direction of Broken Beak Cove. Little bit south of Griffonstone, which you’ll take the train through on the way back home.” Misty trotted over to the maps in the corner and plucked one off the wall, heading back to Starry and hoofing it over to him. “So... We’re about here, see? And where you’re goin’... This direction. Y’two have a compass?”

“We, uh. Lost it.” Starry replied.

“Yeah. In the storm,” Flowing added.

“...Reckless adventurers, are we?” Misty Foam said with a raised eyebrow. “It’s alright. I’ll give y’two one. And y’can keep that.” He tapped the map with a hoof, and then flashed them a sly smirk. “Trust me, I know where I’m goin’ without it. Been doin’ this route awhile.”

Star and Flowing shared a look of shock, which mutually turned to gratitude in Misty’s direction.

“Thank you!” Flowing said immediately.

“Yeah, that’s... Wow. That’s really kind of you!”

Misty waved a hoof. “It’s nothin’. Y’two are cute. Wanna make sure ya get where yer goin’.”

“Well, we really appreciate it,” Star said, rising to his hooves and handing Flowing the map and compass to hold onto while she clambered back on top of him.“We... Er. We’ve taken up a lot of your time as is, though. And put your journey off schedule...”

Misty waved a hoof. “Ain’t nothin’, son. Why, I figure we were already makin’ good enough time ‘fore--”

The rest of Misty Foam’s sentence vanished when the cargo ship suddenly lurched violently, enough that Star and Misty lost their balance, and might have fallen completely if the two weren’t as used to the wayward whims of the sea as they were.

“What the...!” Misty Foam cried out. The lurch had been sudden, and there was no immediate follow-up, like one would have expected if it had been a particularly violent wave that had hit them.

“Did we hit something?” Star frowned.

“Anchored? And this far out?” Misty Foam shook his head. “Ain’t likely...”

Just as he had said it, there was another strike. Flowing could feel it, reverberating through Star, and through all of the hulls beneath his feet. A dull, heavy thud, which she could tell from the way the ship shuddered was against the bottom.

Flowing’s heart began to beat heavily in her chest. If it was the Storm King, it was something new. Some manner of submersible vessel, because she was certain it had been beneath them, and not a harpoon bolt to their side like she had seen before.

Still, the feeling was unmistakable.

“...I think something just hit us...” Flowing replied.