With my eyes shut softly and my breathing long and steady, I gripped Venator firmly just below its lowest spike, grounding myself as I stretched my legs above me, my body balancing upside-down with a slow, deliberate ease. I let my legs drift outward, feeling the tension shift in my muscles, then returned them to their original position, riding the thrill of the wind whipping past us as the ship soared high through the endless, cloudless sky. Despite the altitude, the sharp scent of sea salt clung to the air, filling my senses. Around me, a few of the crew passed by, casting brief glances in my direction before moving on, accustomed by now to this strange ritual I’d adopted during our journey. It was just another of my quirks in their eyes, my odd form of meditation hardly a novelty anymore after the past few days.

Nearly four days had passed since our departure—three and a half at least—without anything particularly notable happening. The journey had gone so smoothly that it was almost boring, and though I was used to long stretches of unbroken travel even before I’d arrived in Equestria, something about this trip kept me on edge. Ever since we’d left Ponyville, I’d caught glimpses of strange shadows, barely-there apparitions, strange figures that seemed to move at the periphery of my vision, melting into the darkness between the crew members as if they were somehow part of the ship. They were hauntingly familiar, too, with a tall, lean build, armoured gloves and boots, and a long coat that fell to their calves—eerily similar to a figure I had spotted on the outskirts of my own home. Strangely enough, I sensed no real threat from them, only an uneasy curiosity. But what unsettled me most was that none of the others seemed to see them; even Ghost appeared unbothered, as though these figures were visible only to me.

"You know, when my aunts said he was a unique man, I can't say I expected this," I heard Cadence say somewhere nearby, her voice tinged with curiosity.

"Trust me, you’re barely scratchin’ the surface," Ghost replied with a chuckle.

"Yes, so I’ve heard," Shining Armor added, sounding intrigued. "I’ve also heard rumours that he has some rather...unusual skills."

"That he does," Ghost chuckled. "I know a handful of them, but I haven’t seen half of what he can do."

There was a pause before Shining spoke up again. "I heard a rumour that he can manipulate all four elements—and even use them to create illusions."

"Shining Armor," Cadence said, chiding him in a lightly scolding tone. "It’s unprofessional to discuss your commanding officer like that." A brief pause. “Wait—seriously?”

“Yeah, some of it. Some of them are just straight-up ridiculous. But as far as I'm aware, that one is true, although the illusion part is new,” Ghost replied with a slight cough. "But knowing him, he can probably hear us right now."

“Hear us?” Cadence sounded incredulous. “We’re on the other side of the ship.”

At this, I couldn’t help grinning as I shook my head, lowering my legs carefully and hooking my foot around Venator’s handle. Bracing my peg leg on it, I reoriented myself, adjusting my grip as I let my weight settle back on the deck with a slight thud. As I moved, orange flames flickered over Venator’s surface until only the handle remained, allowing me to hook it harmlessly onto my belt. With a grin that I didn’t bother to hide, I strolled across the deck toward the stern, where the trio was gathered, noticing Ghost’s amused chuckle as I approached.

“Oh, good morning, Sir,” Shining Armor said, recovering quickly from his surprise. “We were just talking about you.”

“I know,” I replied with a wide smirk. “I heard.”

I nodded toward the ship’s helm, where Skipper was making his way up the steps. “Skipper!” I called out in greeting. “How’s our progress looking?”

Skipper, dressed in simplified, functional clothing, took hold of the ship’s wheel, his gaze sharp and steady. “Thanks to the guards here learning a bit of basic weather magic and keeping our balloons filled, we’re moving along at a better pace than expected. I’d say we’ll reach the coast in about four days—five at most, despite the wind working against us,” He raised a brow. “For how well-prepared everything is, I’d wager the Princesses have been planning this for quite a while.”

“I’d say so,” I replied, nodding as I took a deep breath, savouring the brisk air. “Still, best to take it one day at a time. No need to pile on unnecessary stress.”

Skipper held my gaze for a moment, studying my expression with a subtle intensity. “You’ve led people before, haven’t you?” he asked thoughtfully.

“What gives you that idea?” I replied, a faint smile tugging at the corners of my mouth.

“The way you carry yourself,” he replied without hesitation. “The way you handle the crew, the confidence in your voice. The Captain noticed it too.”

I chuckled softly. “Maybe once or twice,” I admitted, nodding.

“So, if you’ve got the experience, why leave Cadence in command?” Skipper asked, his curiosity evident. “The Captain and I figured you’d be the one leading us.”

I leaned casually against the ship’s wooden railing. “For the sake of avoiding confusion, mostly. Having orders come from two different sources is a recipe for disorder and disaster. Besides, Cadence—” I nodded toward her, “—is a Princess of Equestria. She has experience with diplomacy and leadership, but not so much with commanding troops or handling field operations. This mission could give her valuable experience in that area.”

Cadence gave a slow nod, her expression thoughtful. “That’s actually a fair point,” she said. “It sounds like my aunts had reasons beyond the obvious for sending you along.”

Shining, however, still looked sceptical. “I’m still not sure I understand your reasoning. Why are you so certain Cadence lacks the necessary experience?”

I glanced at him. “How far back does Equestrian history go?”

He thought for a moment, his expression growing pensive. “That would be the Long Days—about five thousand years ago, if I remember correctly.”

“Well,” I said, a slight smile crossing my face, “Before I was ripped back to the modern day, I had been around long before then. At that point, I had been alive longer than both Princesses put together.”

Shining’s eyes widened in disbelief, while Skipper seemed equally astonished. Cadence, however, only looked mildly curious, since I had already hinted at my age a few prior. None of them seemed to notice Ghost’s subtle nod of affirmation.

“That—that’s impossible,” Shining stammered. “You’d have knowledge of events lost to history!”

“And then some,” I replied quietly, my gaze distant. “There’s a lot I could tell you, but some stories are better left buried.”

For a moment, they exchanged uncertain glances, and Ghost’s steady look seemed to silently caution them against pressing any further. After a stretch of silence, Skipper cleared his throat, breaking the tension.

“You know,” he said, his tone light, “The Captain and I were planning on having a drink tonight. Why don’t the lot of you join us? I know he’d be happy to have some extra company.”

Cadence and Shining exchanged quick nods, their expressions brightening. “We’d be glad to,” Cadence said. “A little relaxation would do us all some good.”

Skipper turned to me and Ghost. “Sirs, what about you two?”

Weighing the invitation, I found myself hard-pressed to refuse. “I can’t exactly get drunk, but fuck it, why not? Ghost?”

Ghost nodded, his eyes holding an expression of mild amusement. “I could use a hard drink, sure..”

Shining looked curious, tilting his head. “You can’t get drunk, Sir?”

“Not really,” I replied with a hint of exasperation. “My healing factor clears toxins out of my system damn nearly instantly. But at least I can enjoy the burn on the way down.”

“Wonderful,” Skipper said with a grin.

“Where will we meet?” I asked.

“Captain’s quarters,” Skipper confirmed, nodding.

“Perfect,” I said, giving him a final nod. “We’ll see you there.”

~~

I leaned back in my chair with a heavy sigh, tempted to crumple up the parchment and start from scratch. Instead, I shook my head, folding the page neatly and numbering it, then tucking it into the side pocket of my large travel bag. Taking another blank sheet, I set to work again.

After my conversation with Cadence, Shining, and Skipper, I immediately returned to my room, determined to make progress on my designs. But I was getting nowhere fast. Figuring out the attachment point was still a problem, and how to make the thing actually move seemed beyond me. None of it was coming together how I wanted. Hours passed—five, maybe six—without interruption, and even Ghost hadn’t come by. It was rare to get this much solitude, and I wasn’t about to complain. But as always, it couldn’t last forever.

A knock sounded at the door.

“Just a sec!”

Opening the door, I found Spike standing there, looking nervous, hands twisting together.

“You alright, wee man?”

He glanced up, shifting his weight. “Uh…could I talk to you?”

I didn’t need to ask what it was about. I moved aside, and he walked in, settling onto the bunk opposite mine. He brought his tail around, fiddling with its end as his gaze darted around the room, reminding me of Fluttershy on a good day. I closed the door, put my half-finished papers aside, and sat down.

“What’s on your mind?”

He took a deep breath. “How do I get strong like you?” He asked quietly. “You always seem so brave, like when you went up against Discord or fought that Hydra. Nothing scares you. How do I get like that?”

I couldn’t help but chuckle softly. “Want to know a secret, Spike?”

“What?”

“I’m not as fearless as I seem,” I admitted. “Every time I face a dangerous situation, I’m scared shitless. It’s not that I’m not scared; I just keep going anyway, because I know the alternative is worse,” I smiled. “Honestly, I think Fluttershy’s braver than I am.”

“Fluttershy? She’s scared of her own shadow.”

“Exactly. And still, when her friends need her, she’s right there, even if it terrifies her. Bravery isn’t about not being scared; it’s showing up in spite of it. Fearless?" I chuckled to myself. "If you're not scared of something, that doesn't mean you're brave, it means you're either numb or dumb. Fluttershy’s courage is the real thing. She keeps going in spite of her fears. That's real bravery.”

He nodded, absorbing that. “But what about power? How do I use the kind of magic you use?”

“That’s another matter. Unlike Unicorns, we lack the necessary catalyst to be able to use magic” I tapped my forehead, where a horn might have been. “And what I use isn't magic in the usual sense; it’s raw energy, untamed, different from unicorn magic. The closest analogue would be pure, unfiltered magic, and even then, what I have is every cubic inch greater and denser.”

"You were right you know?" I said quietly. "I've taught people before. Powerful people. A lot of them very important to me."

Spike’s brow furrowed. “You know, I figured you’d taught before, especially when you showed me how to fish. It seemed natural for you. Do you know if they're still around? The people you taught, I mean.”

I paused, the memories bitter. “I...I don't know, Spike. Strength doesn’t always guarantee survival.” I looked him in the eye. “And the kind of power I could teach you is unorthodox. It’s dangerous, especially for anyone who isn’t like me.”

“What do you mean?” he asked carefully.

“I mean that if you choose this path, you’d have to put yourself at risk. It wouldn't be easy. It would be hard, brutal, painful work. You’ll sweat, you’ll bleed,, you'll cry and there will be moments you’ll question it all. And there's a real risk you won't make it to the end. Are you really willing to go through that, especially with someone you barely know?”

The silence that followed was heavy, to say the least. Spike had stopped fidgeting with his tail and stared off, lost in thought. Shockingly, his determination was still there, the spark in his eyes holding strong but there was now a lingering doubt, and uncertainty now that he was aware of what my teachings could mean for him.

Sighing, I rose from my chair and sat beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Tell you what. Give it a month. Think it over. If you’re still sure, come back and see me. Just...take everything I said to heart, alright?”

Spike nodded. “Yeah…I will,” he said quietly, getting to his feet. “Thanks for listening.”

“No problem,” I replied, walking him to the door. “Just make sure you’re certain before diving in.”

“I will,” he said, glancing back at me before disappearing down the hall. “See you, Percival.”

“Take care, kiddo,” I called after him, watching until he rounded the corner.

I turned back to my work, but as I headed toward the deck, unaware of a faint glow escaping from the seam of the Yamato’s sheath, wisps of light trailing briefly before they dimmed, vanishing into nothing.

As I made my way to the deck, I felt the weight of the crew's gaze on my back. It wasn’t just that I held the rank of Commanding Officer; it was my silence that drew their attention. It didn't help that I would usually be speaking to pretty much anyone whenever I made an appearance, and now that I stood at the ship's bow after spending hours by myself in my room, uncharacteristically quiet. My sudden appearance seemed left many on edge, yet none approached me.

A very dark feeling was washing over me. Something told me that everything was about to turn South. My stomach was nauseous and a feeling of inevitability seemed to settle down into my bones. As soon as we left I had a bad feeling, my instincts once again warning me of a coming danger. There were too many important people on this ship, never mind the Guards and the crew. I had an idea should things go south, but I wasn't sure it would even work.

Man, I wish I could get drunk.

Day slowly rolled into night, a dark blanket taking the place of the bright blue sky. I had spent most of my time on the foremost section of the ship, keeping my eye on the endless horizon, the feeling never wavering even when I was approached to join the others in the Captain's office.

The Office was surprisingly comfortable. In that, it was smaller than expected but orderly, easily able to fit more than just the six of us, the smell of the wood seasoned by years of salt spray and sunlight wafting in from the outside. A heavy oak desk, scarred and pitted from countless voyages, dominated the centre of the space, its brass fixtures tarnished yet dignified, a booth on either side of it on each side of the room. Maps and charts lay strewn across the surface, alongside a cracked compass and a leather-bound logbook whose pages were yellowed and brittle at the edges. Several dim, wall-mounted lanterns cast a steady off-white glow throughout the room.

The alcohol was quick to come out of the Captain's own drinks cabinet, the man more than happy to share his best scotch, whiskey, rum, what have you with the finest glasses he had on hand. I did my best to put the feelings I had in the back of my mind, wanting to enjoy a night of merriment and fun.

Cadence leaned back in her chair, letting out a contented sigh. “This is what I needed,” she murmured. “No formalities, no obligations. Just…this.”

Shining Armor gave her shoulder a little bump, the corners of his mouth lifting in a relaxed smile. “It’s been a while since we’ve done something like this,” he admitted, glancing around the room. “Feels good to be…off duty for a bit.”

Captain Broadside snorted, swirling the amber liquid in his glass. “ ‘Off duty’…a rare phrase. But don’t get too comfortable, or you’ll end up like me,” He laughed loudly. “Once, off the cliffs near Whispering Bay, I got tangled in my own line. Wave came out of nowhere and yanked the rigging—next thing I knew, I was hoisted up in the air, dangling like a cod on a hook. I was just trying to reel myself in when I saw Skipper here doubled over laughing, not even thinking to cut me loose.”

Skipper cackled, slapping his knee. “What was I supposed to do? You looked like a caught fish floppin’ around! Besides, I knew you’d be fine. Old Broadside here has a knack for escapin’ the clutches of the sea… and his own mistakes.”

“Cheers, I'll drink to that,” I chimed in, tapping my glass on the table in front of me before raising it. Throwing it back, I savoured the burn. “To tangled lines, to the brave, if baffled, Captain, and to whoever’s daft enough to sail beside him,” I grinned playfully.

Cadence shook her head, watching the banter with a smile as she curled her legs beneath her. “And here I was thinking you were the responsible one, Captain. But I guess that’s the nature of these kinds of bonds, isn’t it?” She glanced over at Ghost, who sat quietly, a watchful presence behind his skull mask.

Shining Armor followed her gaze and raised an eyebrow at Ghost as if to prompt him to join in. “What about you Ghost? You’ve been around longer than me. You’ve gotta have a story to tell.”

There was a long pause, and then Ghost lifted his glass his lips, his dark eyes peering out from behind the slightly folded mask. “I’ve got stories,” He said with just a trace of humour. “But if I told them, I'd have to kill ya,” The group chuckled uneasily, not quite sure if he was serious, and Ghost leaned back as he drank.

Skipper laughed loudly. "Well, when I'm on my deathbed, I'll be sure to give ya a call. Till then, keep your secrets yourself," He then refilled his and the Captain's glasses “All mysterious and brooding over there like he’s the spirit of the sea or something.”

Broadside rolled his eyes, setting down his glass with a thud. “Please. The Spirit of the Sea has a lot more to say than Ghost here. He’s probably hiding more secrets than any of us know.” He gave a wry smile in Ghost’s direction, to which Ghost only wordlessly raised his glass. "I'd wager Percival's stories would be better anyway."

"Boy, do I have stories to tell," I laughed.

Cadence leaned forward, resting her chin on her hands as she looked around at each of them, her eyes thoughtful. “You know,” she began softly, “Sometimes I think we’re all hiding something. Everyone here’s got their scars, their stories, their masks,” Her gaze lingered on Percival, her words carrying a gentle but perceptive undertone. “It’s good to be able to just…share a space, even if we don’t say it all.”

Skipper broke the momentary silence with a bright laugh. “Listen to you, a drink or two and you turn all wise and wistful! You keep talking like that, Princess, and you’ll have us all in tears.”

Cadence gave a little laugh, the light in her eyes dancing. “Maybe, but it’s true, isn’t it? But, I wouldn't mind a story or two.”

"Well, if it's a story you want, I've got a few," Broadside said, reaching to his mouth and pulling away a false tooth with a wheezing cackle, placing it in the pocket of his jacket before looking at the military Captain. "Hey Shining? Put your hand underneath my cap," He said, leaning forward as Shining did just that. "You feel that little lump? Knocko Nolans, Easter, Manehatten harbour."

Skipper leans back into the booth he was sitting in with his Captain, knocking back a gulp or two of his drink. "I got that beat," He said, looking at the rest of us. "I got that beat," Rolling up his sleeve, he revealed a thin line just below his below. "Morey Eel. Bit straight through my wet suit when I was fifteen."

"Well Skipper, I don't know about that but, this arm," I said, lightly tapping the nub of my right arm. "When I had it, I was in an arm wrestling competition in an Oakie bat near San Fran. Couldn't extend it fully," I continued, mimicking a slight bend with my left as I laughed. "Got to the semi-final, big fella, he pulled me right over!"

Skipper grinned widely as he shuffled over to the middle of the booth, swinging his leg over and onto the table, rolling his trouser leg up. "Look at that," He laughed, tapping a blotch on the back of his calf. "That was a Bull Shark! Scraped against my leg in my first year of training!"

Captain smiled, lightly slapping Skipper's leg. "I've got something for you," He grinned, placing his own leg over the top of Skipper's, also rolling his trousers up passed the knee. On his shin was a long line, starting just before his ankle and stopping below his kneecap. "That was a Thresher. See that? A Thresher's tail."

Cadence, who had thoroughly enjoyed watching the display of comparing scars, tilted her head. "Thresher?"

"It's another kind of Shark," Shining replied.

"Yeah, well," I joined in, laughing as I brought my peg leg up, the metal thudding loudly against the wooden table, shaking the glasses sitting on it in the process. "I got you all beat."

The room burst out into uproarious, uncontrollable laughter, the distraction and mirth I was after filling the room as we all enjoyed the relaxation. Our giggles continued as I reached for another drink and I saw Cadence glance at me, her gaze settling on my arm as she gave an odd look.

"What's that one?" She asked.

"What?"

She pointed near to the nook of my arm, to a small slightly discoloured patch near the elbow which would normally be covered by my gauntlets. "That one there on your arm."

"Oh uh," I coughed lightly. "That was a tattoo. I got that removed."

"Wait, don't tell me, don't tell me," Skipper said, holding his hand up as he struggled to keep his giggles under control. "Mother."

His laughter quickly burst out as he slapped the table, the other joining in while I only smiled, my eyes glancing away.

"Ok, ok, what is it?" Skipper said, his laughter dying down. "What is it?"

"Skipper, that was the U.S.S Indianapolis."

Hearing my even tone and seeing my now distant eyes after the previous merriment, the group seemed to very quickly sober up, their laughs dying down just as swiftly.

"The U.S.S Indianapolis?" Shining repeated.

"One of your stories I take it?" Captain Broadside asked.

"More like a history lesson," I said quietly. "And history has a bad habit of repeating. This is part of a period I'm glad hasn't been repeated since."

There was a long pause. "What happened?" Cadence asked.

"Japanese submarine slammed two torpedoes into her side. I was comin’ back from the island of Tinian to Leyte. We’d just delivered the bomb. The Hiroshima bomb. Eleven hundred men went into the water. Vessel went down in 12 minutes."

All eyes were on me as I stared into the soft grain of the wood, a smirk gracing my lips as I spoke, my voice low as an accent began to slip through.

"Didn’t see the first shark for about a half-hour. Tiger. Thirteen-footer. You know how you know that in the water? You can tell by lookin’ from the dorsal to the tail. What we didn’t know, was that our bomb mission was so secret, no distress signal had been sent," I let out a dark chuckle, downing the entire glass I had in my hand. My brow furrowed as the memories flashed in my head. "They didn’t even list us overdue for a week. Very first light, sharks come cruisin’ by, so we formed ourselves into tight groups. You know-kinda like ol' squares in a battle, like you see in a calendar, like the Battle of Waterloo and the idea was the shark come to the nearest man, that man he starts poundin’ and hollerin’ and screamin’ and sometimes that shark he go away… but sometimes he wouldn’t go away."

I tilted my head as I continued. "Sometimes that shark looks right at ya. Right into your eyes. You know the thing about a shark he’s got lifeless eyes. Black eyes. Like a doll’s eyes. When he comes at ya, he doesn’t even seem to be livin’… ’til he bites ya, and those black eyes roll over white and then… oh then you hear that terrible high-pitched screamin’. The ocean turns red, and despite all your poundin’ and your hollerin’ they all come in and… they rip you to pieces."

By then My hand absentmindedly started tapping on the table surface, my lips pursed as I finally turned my eyes on my now captive audience. "You know by the end of that first dawn, lost a hundred men. I don’t know how many sharks there were, maybe a thousand. I do know how many men, they averaged six an hour. Thursday mornin’, I bumped into a friend of mine, Charlie Denam, a Griffon from a place that was called Bucharest. Baseball player. Boson’s mate. I thought he was asleep. I reached over to wake him up. He bobbed up and down in the water like a kinda top. Upended. Well, he’d been bitten in half below the waist."

"At noon on the fifth day, a Lockheed Ventura swung in low and he spotted us, a young pilot, no younger than Spike actually, anyway he spotted us and a few hours later a big ol’ fat PBY came down and started to pick us up. You know that was the time I was most frightened. Waitin’ for my turn. I’ll never put on a life jacket again. So, eleven hundred men went into the water. three hundred and sixteen men come out, the sharks took the rest, June the twenty-ninth, nineteen forty-five," My voice wavered right a the very end, and another low breath of a chuckle escaped my lips before a smirk again spread on my lips.

"Anyway, we delivered the bomb.”

The air had become heavy and the silence that followed was awe-filled. The Captain and Skipper seemed to share a knowing look, a wordless conversation happening between them as Cadence and Shining Armour never once left me. Ghost had at some point placed a hand on my shoulder and I had been so enraptured I hadn't noticed. Unsure how to break the silence, I sighed.

"Farewell and adieu to you fair Spanish ladies. Farewell and adieu you ladies of Spain."

My voice came out soft and melodic, a familiar tune my Grandfather had shared with me not long before his passing. The last thing he gave me. What I wouldn't do to have just one more conversation with that man. What I'd give to see him again.

"Show me the way to go home. I'm tired and I want to go to bed." Skipper's voice came out slow as he looked out the window, the Captain looking at him with a soft smile as I did as well.

"I had a little drink about an hour ago
And it's gone straight to my head."

The Captain and I joined in on the shanty, our voices weaving roughly but harmoniously with the tune, catching onto its rhythm despite our imperfect timing.

"Wherever I may roam on land or sea or foam
You can always hear me singing this song
Show me the way to go home."

The song began to pick up pace, and to our surprise, Ghost chimed in, jolting both the Captain and me before we picked up again, our laughter blending with the song. Hands drummed the table, our grins wide as we lost ourselves in the moment.

"Bom bom bom."

"Show me the way to go
I'm tired and I wanna go to bed
I had a little drink about an hour ago
And it's gone straight to my head."

As we sang, a flicker at the edge of my vision pulled me back. My voice trailed off as I straightened, eyes narrowing in on the source. There, barely visible through the slightly ajar door to the Captain's office, was the figure I had been seeing throughout our voyage, standing silent and unmoving like a shadow cast in stone.

"Wherever I may roam on land or sea or form
You can always hear me singing this so-"

I rose, and the others' eyes turned to follow me as I moved toward the door. The instant I shifted, so did the figure. I stepped out, brow furrowing, eyes narrow, while my companions watched in a tense hush. Just as I reached the Captain's office doorway, I caught a glimpse of the figure at the far end of the corridor. It paused, as if beckoning me to follow, then vanished around the corner, retreating further down the corridor.

"Percival?"

I trailed the figure through the winding corridors, each turn bringing it just barely within reach, a silent guide leading me to the top deck as I followed it through the maze-like passageways. Finally, I pushed open the doors and stepped out, my companions trailing behind. My gaze swept over the deck until it found the shadowy form again, by the edge of the deck—this time closer, close enough to make out details I hadn’t noticed before.

What stood before me wasn’t a mere apparition. The figure was distinctly male, young-faced with dreadlocks bound tightly at the back of his head. A sharp goatee framed his mouth, which was further accentuated by a handlebar moustache that gave him an air of audacity. His coat, a faded yellow, looked both familiar and foreign, as though drained of life. Wisps of energy drifted from his form, giving him a blurred outline, but what caught my attention was the familiar gleaming katana he held, its sheathed form firmly gripped in his off-hand.

"Sir?" Ghost’s voice broke through, his eyes fixed on the figure as well. Relief flickered in me—at least I wasn’t the only one seeing this.

"Yeah, I see it too, Ghost," I murmured, barely above a whisper, as the figure watched us with an intensity that was impossible to ignore.

Without a word, the figure extended his arms, pointing the katana's pommel out over the edge of the ship.

"What is it?"

Glancing behind us, the four others looked at me and Ghost with worried expressions, but when we looked back, the figure had disappeared, gone without so much as a hint he was there. My heart thumped in my chest as I inched my way forward, my gut lurching as I peeked over the edge. Down far below us seemed to be the wreckage of a ship, blasted to nothing but driftwood held together by nothing but tattered ropes and a ruined sail. But there was something else. If I squinted my eyes, I swear there was something else amongst the wreck.

"Captain?"

"Aye?"

"Do you have binoculars or a looking glass?"

"I do, why?"

I looked up just as thunder sounded in the distance ahead of us, flashes of white dulled through heavy, back clouds. "I have a bad feeling about this."

A second later, the Captain stood next to me, offering me a collapsed telescope. Extending it fully, I once again peeked over the side, scanning the wreckage. That's when I see it.

"MAN OVERBOARD!!" I yell at the top of my lungs. "I want flyers down there now! Get them out of the water! Bring up some food to the deck and water! Retrieve a spare set of clothes and some blankets! NOW!!!!" I roared across the deck and everyone rushed to fulfill my orders.

Several crew members hurried down the length of the ship, gathering the items I’d called for. But no one took to the skies, and I quickly realized that everyone was waiting for someone else to make the first move.

"För fan-" Suppressing a growl, I glanced back at the Captain. “Hold altitude.”

With a resigned sigh, I moved to the rail, stripping off my coat. The crew gasped as I leapt over the edge, the air immediately at my back to propel me downwards, plummeting toward the ocean miles below. An alarm rang out across the ship, and I heard the shouts of “Man overboard!” echo above me. Ignoring the chaos behind me, I let myself fall faster, bracing for the inevitable strain on my body as I hurtled toward the water.

The impact was brutal, forcing my eyes shut and instinctively tensing every muscle against the jarring blow. The sheer speed drove me tens of feet underwater. Fighting the pressure, I opened my eyes beneath the surface, searching the moonlit shadows for any sign of life. A faint silhouette emerged near the wreckage; I propelled myself toward it, realizing as I got closer that the figure was a woman, barely clinging to a shattered piece of wood—possibly the remains of her ship.

I reached her, steadying the makeshift raft while assessing her condition. Her fingers were pruned, evidence that she’d been in the water a long time, and she was unconscious, her body slack with exhaustion. Long, dark hair clung to her face, and traces of jewellery still glinted at her neck and hands. She wore a single gold earring, though her other earlobe was torn, likely from a missing match. A golden chain lay tangled beneath her, perhaps a remnant of a necklace—though it was impossible to tell in this state.

Glancing up, I noticed the airship hovering overhead, holding position. The water beneath me began to churn, then surged upward, propelling us both through the air as I gathered her into my arm, my wings bursting open in a flash of light. We shot back toward the ship, and I tightened my hold on her, hoping she would survive to tell her story. Whatever had happened to her might be the key to the silence between our continents.

As we landed on deck, a circle of onlookers closed in, their eyes fixed on the stranger in my arms. Unacceptable.

"Back to your stations! All of you! Cadence! I need you I need you to use any healing magic that you might know!" Turning to look around I saw Blossomforth rushing onto the deck. "Blossom! I need you to prepare a room, stat!" Without a moment's hesitation, she saluted me and ran down back where she came to the haul, while Cadence ignited her hands in her magic.

"That was very reckless, Percival," Cadence said, igniting her horn, a pink aura enveloping her hands as fire washed over me for a second, drying both me and my clothes in an instant and ridding me of any salt, everyone jumping and moving to put me out, only to see me perfectly fine.

"Stick around. I'm full of bad ideas," I replied as Ghost handed me my coat. Glancing around, I scanned the deck for the apparition. It was gone.

"Sir, do you think she knows the cause of the communications blackout?" Shining asked

"Highly possible. But we won't know until she recovers. So until then, we keep an eye on her."

Making my way to the front of the ship again, fire flashed over my eyes as they lingered on the dark thunderclouds. Something wasn't right. Something was very, very wrong here. All I could see was red. The nausea in my stomach intensified, that feeling of foreboding returning as it had before I joined the others in the Captain's office. The wreckage only helped to solidify that sense of dread. I hate that no matter how many times I face danger, I always feel this way. It's made me realise my time in Equestria before getting bamfed away I was spending it being dumb and reckless. Guess that happens when you're still young. Still no excuse.

"What are you thinking?"

The fire flashed over my eyes again, the wall of red in the distance disappearing. "Nothing good Ghost. Nothing good."

"Percival."

Looking over my shoulder, I saw Blossom, Shining and Cadence standing behind me with apprehensive expressions. This can only mean good things.

"What's the sitch?"

"Sir...the woman you received from the wreckage is the Princess of Saddle Arabia," Blossom told me and I let that sink in.

"She appears to be okay for the most part, other than a little malnourished. The kids are watching over her as we speak. We believe that she may have been in the water for three to four days. Unfortunately, all of our attempts to wake her have proved pointless. She's exhausted and will most likely be unconscious for quite a while," Shining Armor told me.

"However, the more disturbing part is that we believe she was most likely sent on a similar mission as we were or she was coming to Equestria to ask for assistance, but something prevented her from doing so," Cadence added.

"I knew things weren't going to be simple," I mutter under my breath, shifting my attention to the Captain as he took the helm. "Captain! How goes our progress!?"

"I'd say four days but those clouds are going to slow us down!" He shouted back, pointing to the steadily approaching storm.

“Cadence,” I called, catching her attention. “Get a message to your aunts. They need to know about this.” She gave a quick nod and hurried off. I turned to Blossom. “Stay with the Princess and the children. Let me know immediately if she wakes.” Blossom gave a firm salute and disappeared back into the room.

“Shining Armor, you're with me and Ghost. Your expertise in shield spells may be needed.” He nodded sharply, saluted, and followed my command.

“Sir Percival!” The Captain’s voice cut through the howling wind, barely reaching my ears. “That storm ahead—something’s off! I recommend holding our course but slowing to half-speed! We may need to ride it out!”

I glanced at the sky, noticing the strange, almost unnatural way the clouds seemed to converge on a single point. “Agreed!” I shouted back over the rising gusts. “I trust your judgment!”

“Aye aye, sir!” He barked. “Brace the ship! Half speed!” His orders echoed across the deck as the crew hurried to their stations.

Peering back toward the horizon, I could see it clearly now—a swirling mass of clouds, resembling a hurricane but forming impossibly fast. Just minutes ago, the sky was mostly clear. Now, it was shrouded in a dense, foreboding canopy. Such rapid weather formation was unheard of back on Earth, but I had a creeping suspicion this wasn’t natural here in Equestria either. A deep sense of unease twisted in my gut, instincts flaring as I watched the storm intensify.

Suddenly, the ship lurched over choppy waters, and Blossom’s urgent voice called from behind me. “Sir!” She shouted from across the deck. I turned to see her face, pale with worry. “You need to hear this!” Without waiting, she darted back down the corridor.

I exchanged a glance with Shining Armor. “Stay on the deck,” I ordered, and he nodded as I headed below with Ghost trailing closely.

Reaching the Princess’s quarters, I found Cadence there, along with the children, who looked bewildered. Cadence and Blossom, however, wore tense expressions. I moved closer to the Princess of Saddle Arabia and noticed her lips moving faintly. “What’s wrong?” I asked, drawing their eyes to me. Both Cadence and Blossom simply pointed toward the Princess, urging me closer.

Her lips parted in shallow breaths, her mouth moving with barely audible whispers. I leaned in, straining to catch even a fragment. “...an…” The princess murmured, lost in her sleep. Intrigued, I brought myself closer. “…than… …iathan…” She repeated, her voice fading into whispers.

“What’s she saying?” Sweetie Belle’s voice broke the stillness, accidentally interrupting the princess’s next murmur. I put my ear directly by her mouth, intent on catching every sound as she repeated herself, softer each time. “...viathan......eviathan…”

It was maddening, the fragments drifting between meaning and mystery. Then, a sudden lurch in the ship sent a jolt through all of us, but I hardly noticed. My attention was fixed solely on the word she repeated, growing colder with each utterance. And then, the full meaning crystallized in her voice. “The Leviathan…” she whispered, almost reverent. I froze, a chill running down my spine as the realization hit.

"Oh shit."

Without another thought, I bolted from the room, ignoring the startled calls from Blossom and Cadence. The urgency in my stride cleared a path as I tore down the hallway, Ghost barely managing to keep pace at my side. Footsteps pounded behind me as the others joined, their concern growing at the tension on my face. Bursting onto the deck, I didn’t hesitate, nearly breaking the door off its hinges.

“Why the fuck are we descending?” I demanded, voice sharp.

“Sir!” Shining called out, drawing my attention. “There might still be survivors in the water!” he reported, his voice tight with urgency.

Rushing to the railing, I looked out, only to feel my stomach drop as the full scene unfolded before me. My eyes widened in horror, and my voice thundered over the deck.

“SOUND THE ALARM! ALL HANDS—PREPARE FOR BATTLE!” I bellowed. “KRAKEN!”

Author's Note

Ooooo shit's bout to go down!!

Recently watched Jaws as part of a classic horror marathon I did with a friend of mine and just knew I had to include something from it, it just felt right, especially the best monologue in cinematic history, god I love that film so much

Please point out any mistakes I may have made
Constructive criticism is always appreciated
Until next time, TTFN!