I sat with my legs crossed and my head in my hands, just listening to the waves as they rolled up the shore and then back into the sea. Slowly, I clenched my eyes and took a shuddering breath as I dragged my hand down my face. My eyes were stinging from the breakdown I had the second I was alone out here but the spray of the sea was soothing. As I peered out at the horizon, the gentle crunch of the rocks and sand behind me caused me to lurch and turn around.

"Papa?" Lily said with a concerned frown painted on her face. I hesitated and she held up a hoof. "It's just me." I furrowed my brow as she slowly trotted up and sat beside me, at which point we both turned forward and stared off together.

"Did Gerry do something wrong?" She eventually asked with her ears back. I winced at her question and leaned forward on my knees.

"Ah," I sighed, slowly shaking my head and stuttering. "Momma Orange- She asked me a long time ago, when we first found you, that if-" I clenched my eyes briefly as I folded my arms.

"If I felt like I was- Was about to react," I glanced at her for a brief second before looking away again. "To be reasonable." Her ear swiveled and she tilted her head to look at me.

"I, ah, had to clear my head," I eventually added. She stared at the ground as she considered my words before scooting closer to me.

"What were you gonna react to?" She pressed, causing me to grimace and turn away.

"He's a griffin," I murmured, shaking my head. "I fought and killed a hell of a lot of them." I hissed and glanced down to meet her eyes.

"Some folks say I ruined their whole country all on my own," I grunted, a sour frown appearing on my face as I glared into the horizon. "That's bullshit, but that's what they think." Lily frowned at my words and I continued to stare off. After a second, I closed my eyes to hold in my tears.

"Every time I get comfortable," I huffed, curling my knees into my chest. "Every time I'm happy." I clutched the top of my head as I fought off another breakdown.

"Every time I find a home," I quailed, clenching my teeth. "Someone comes along and takes it all from me." The tide was the only response I received and I shook my head hard.

"I can't-" I paused with a sob. "If he's part of some scheme to get revenge on me through you, I-" I coughed and heaved as the tears began to stream down my face.

"I can't lose you, too," I croaked. I wept openly for a few moments, but I felt Lily rear up and wrap her hooves around my arm. I reached over and hugged her tight for a while until I finally caught my breath. Lily sniffled and wiped her eyes with a hoof before nuzzling me.

"No one's trying to take me from you," she replied, leaning forward to look me in the face. "I'm not stupid, Papa." She hopped in front of me and turned her side to me.

"Whats this mean?" She asked, gesturing to her cutie mark.

"It's your talent," I murmured with a weak shrug, earning a nod from her.

"What's my talent?" She pressed.

"Figuring things out," I grumbled, with a nod. She smiled weakly and turned back toward me.

"So, don't you think I could've figured it out if he was out to get you?" She asked, causing me to wilt with a sigh. She sat and scooted closer to me.

"I'll give you that I didn't realize how antsy griffins made you," she said with a shrug, reaching forward and resting her hoof on my knee. "But I figured since the war was over and you won, it wasn't a big deal." She leaned forward with a nod.

"I'm sorry," she added. After fixing me with a brighter smile, she shook her head. "But I promise, he's not out to get you and he's not trying to hurt me." She snorted and winked.

"If he tries, you'll be the first to know after I kick his beak in," she declared. I sniffed and blinked at the burning in my eyes as I stared at her. Her smile never wavered and I slowly nodded before hanging my head.

"I'm sorry, Lily," I huffed. In response, she scooted forward and hugged my neck.

"I love you, Papa," she said as I hugged her back.

"I love you, too," I replied.

Eventually, we made our way back to the manor and then the lounge where Orange was waiting and chatting with Gerry.
"And after that, he walked right in and just blasted him!" She chirped causing the young griffin to shiver at which Orange giggled. Then, she looked up and gasped upon seeing us. "There he is!" She flew up to meet me and hugged me.

"You okay?" She whispered as I hugged her back. I considered her question and Gerry as Lily trotted up beside him. He looked at her with concern before turning to me. I hummed and nodded.

"Yeah," I whispered back before letting go. I took a breath and strode right up to him before kneeling. "Alright, Gerry. Apologies for walking out on you like that."

"Ah! T-that's alright!" He said in an anxious titter. I nodded and held my hand out to him causing him to recoil.

"Let's try again," I offered. "I'm James Cutter." He blinked before glancing at Lily who nodded. Then, he cleared his throat and grabbed my hand.

"Gerry!" He declared as we shook. "Nice to meet you!"

"Likewise," I replied, managing a smile.

I cried out in a wheeze as Lily, cause who else could it be, slammed into my stomach. My eyes shot open and I scanned my room in an abject daze. As expected, Lily was standing atop me giggling and just beside my bed Orange and Gerry stood by. The former was thoroughly amused while the latter had a pained grimace on his features.

"I told you that was too hard," he murmured, being the only member of this family who cared about my well-being. I groaned with a nod as Lily and Orange cackled.

"Listen to your man. Oh, you can't do that anymore," I heaved as she slowly slid off of me. I nursed my bruised gut and groaned. "You're gonna kill me."

"Sorry!" She chirped with a giggle, before tapping her hooves on my chest. "C'mon, the guests are all starting to arrive." I groaned and fixed her with a weary leer at which she nudged me toward the edge of the bed.

"Come on!" She pressed. When I refused to move, she smirked and leaned in close. "And you have a visitor." I furrowed my brow at her and she nodded toward the door. Turning, I jolted at who I saw.

"Hoh! Well hello, Your Majesty," I declared as I swung my legs off the bed to stand up. Celestia beamed with a nod as she stepped inside.

"Happy Birthday, James," she greeted once she was in front of me. I bowed my head slightly as she gave a smile to the rest of the family.

"How have you been? We haven't talked in a while," she asked, tilting her head at me. I scoffed in response while Orange hummed and hopped up on the bed to nuzzle my side.

"I can feel all my old wounds catching up to me," I huffed, massaging my leg where a certain cat had once stabbed me. I shook my head with a bemused scowl. "All the fuckers who tried to kill me just had to go for my legs, didn't they?" Lily hummed sadly at my words while Celestia nodded.

"I know of a tea that helps with such aches," she offered, earning another scoff from me.

"Hoh ho! So do I," I chirped gesturing to the wine glass on my nightstand. She considered it for a moment before chuckling.

"Well, I hope it doesn't keep you from attending Lily's seminar next month," she said, offering Lily and Gerry a proud leer as they shared a smile. "The Bureau of Transportation is very excited to hear her report on lighter-than-air travel. She's sure to go down in history, James." Lily beamed at her words, but I snorted and folded my arms.

"She damn well better!" I declared, wagging a finger at the princess. "I'll fucking haunt you in particular if you don't tell everyone about how aces my girl is." Lily balked and jabbed me in the hip, causing me to wince as Celestia laughed.

"I'll keep that in mind," she hummed, before nodding and turning toward the door. "I think they're ready. Shall we?" I smiled and glanced at the rest, who nodded in response. And so, we walked out as a unit, making our way to the landing at the top of the stairs. There, the gathering of local ponies all noticed us and went quiet as they turned their attention my way. I hummed as I looked over the crowd. Other than the staff who were currently serving the attendees, I didn't really recognize anyone.

I spotted a couple of Lily and Gerry's friends, but that was all. Regardless, I shared a look with Orange and Lily before holding my arm out to the party.

"Thank you all for coming and thanks to my head of household for putting this together," I declared, bowing toward Silver at the side of the foyer. I pursed my lips and rolled my head. "I'm probably expected to give a speech commemorating the advanced age I've reached as though that's some achievement to be proud of." A couple of the ponies chortled at my words and I nodded.

"Well, to that I'll just say you all have this lovely bat pony and the darling pegasus beside her to thank for my making it this far," I said, gesturing to Orange and Lily who beamed at my words. I fixed Lily with a smile. "I can't imagine the state I'd be in otherwise." A few ponies stamped their hooves in applause and I turned back to the crowd.

"That's the most you're getting out of me," I declared with a shrug before throwing up a hand. "Fuck yourselves. Carry on!" A few better-dressed townsponies balked at my language before falling into hissing whispers, but I paid them no mind. Instead, I descended the stairs alongside my family and the princess before making my way to one of the cheese platters.

The clock ticked by slowly and to my partial relief, many of the snootier ponies chose to focus on Celestia rather than me, giving me time to slip away outside. There, I leaned against the wall beside my door and just leered up at the moon, a warm smile fixed on my face.

To my surprise, a pair of hooves clicked against my porch beside me and I turned to see an older unicorn with a severe but thoughtful frown across his features.

"Oy, oy, party's in there, pal," I said as he trotted out. He offered me a weak smile and waved his hoof.

"Yes, yes," he hummed before sitting down and looking at the moon. "Just need a break from the noise is all, sorry to intrude." I slowly nodded before doing likewise.

"Ah, right, right," I replied. "No worries." For a few moments, the stifled murmur of the party was the only noise, but eventually, he chuckled.

"Honestly, seeing you up there with your family really changed my perception of you," he said, drawing my attention to him. He wore a genuine but still sad smile. "Especially when I saw the bright smile that young mare gave you." He looked up at me with a nod.

"She's a beautiful young lady, Sir," he hummed. "She reminds me of my own." I smiled back.

"Thank you, kindly," I replied, before considering the party through the window. "Is your daughter here? I'm sure she and Lily would-"

"Ah, no, no," he huffed, waving a hoof and looking up at the moon. "She- She passed many years ago." I recoiled with a quiet gasp. After a moment, I sighed hard.

"Aw, hell, I'm sorry," I murmured at which he hummed a laugh.

"No, no! Don't be sorry," he said, shaking his head. "It's not your fault." He turned to me and looked me up and down before winking.

"I just decided," he added with a smirk. I scoffed and nodded.

"Well thank you, I appreciate that as well," I laughed. Another pause fell between us.

"Be sure to cherish her on my behalf, Admiral," he finally urged before turning to head inside.

"Surely," I called after him. "Enjoy the party! Ah, hold on! Let me tell Silver to bring you a bottle of my good stuff." I paced up beside him and winked.

"My gift to you," I said. He stared at me for a moment before smiling again.

"Thank you, Sir," he replied.

"Ah," Gerry murmured as he considered his hand. Across the dining table, I raised an eyebrow as I idly shuffled my chips with one hand. He squinted his eye and then the other one before slowly nodding. "I. Raise." He slowly reached over and grabbed a single chip before dropping it in the pile with a confident nod.

I gave him a nod back before matching his bet. "Call," I declared, causing him to wince.

"Ah," he murmured as I displayed my cards. Considering my hand with a wide frown he sighed and did likewise. I leaned forward and grimaced at his cards.

"A pair of twos? Really?" I scoffed, at which he shrugged with a weak smile.

"I didn't expect you to call my bluff," he chuckled. I snorted and shook my head as I swept the pot my way.

"Man, Ben would've taken you to the cleaners," I chortled before stacking the cards and handing him the deck. Before he could shuffle them, however, Lily came trotting in.

"Papa," she murmured. I considered her for a moment before wilting and leaning on the table. Before I could sink too deep in dread, Gerry reached across the table and grabbed my arm. I looked up at him, and he gave me a firm nod which I matched.

Slowly, the three of us made our way upstairs, past the maids who were carrying old linens out, and stepped into my room—She'd specifically requested it when the doctors explained the situation, and fuck, how could I refuse her?

The doctor glanced at us as we entered before resuming his hushed conversation with Silver, gesturing to Orange occasionally. She hadn't moved from where I set her, but she was curled up tighter and nuzzling my pillow.

Her ear twitched. "Is that you?" She asked, craning her grey-maned head up with a hum. I winced before stepping up and sitting beside her.

"Yeah, it's me," I finally replied, reaching out and gently petting her. In response, she purred and weakly smacked my hand.

"Nah, you know what I want," she hummed with a weak laugh, opening her eyes to look at me. I tilted my head and she strained before scooting to the side a little and patting the spot next to her. As I considered the spot, she bent her head toward me and flicked her ears. "For old time's sake, Captain." I looked at her in surprise before smiling and depositing myself beside her. With a surprising degree of energy, she hooked herself against me and rested her head on my chest before cooing quietly as I began scratching her ear.

Elsewhere, the doctor gave Silver a nod before slipping out while Lily and Gerry hugged up on a nearby sofa. The former had tears in her eyes while the latter gently petted her back. I sighed hard and considered my long-time companion.

"There was a time when I had to practically beg you to let me stop," I said as she nuzzled me. A weak smile formed on my face. "Don't suppose I could convince you to dredge up some of that feisty spirit that nearly made me lose a prize more than once?" I reached down with my free hand and held her hoof.

"I'd take it if it meant you stuck around," I added in a whisper. She hummed quietly and slowly shut her eyes.

"Sorry, Jim," she finally replied before relaxing against me. Her ear continued to twitch against my fingers for a little while.

Eventually, it stopped.

I stood on the shore, alone, a bouquet of jungle flowers hanging from my drooping arm. My eyes drifted across the horizon, just watching the waves roll and boil for a while. "Just me," I whispered before gently setting the flowers in the water and setting them adrift. As I watched them float away, a pair of hooves crunched the sand beside me. Turning, I blinked and then recoiled at who I found.

"Captain Cutter," a certain pale brown unicorn with a white goatee declared as he adjusted his coat and hat.

"Holiday," I gasped. He stood beside me and leered at the horizon, giving me a chance to look him over. "You got old. The hell are you doing here?" He raised an eyebrow at me before nodding.

"On a return trip from seeing our old crew and the deer. I'm making my way to Naysow, and from there to Abyssinia," he declared with a hum. To my profound shock, he drew his pipe and began smoking like it was nothing. "I've expanded my knowledge of medicines since our last encounter, so I wanted to share my knowledge with Mr. Pine Needle." I balked as he spoke and smoked without issue.

"We talked about you," he added after a moment, causing me to pause. He leered up at me and nodded. "They're happy for you, Captain. You and that girl of yours." I recoiled and he blew a plume of smoke to the side before smiling at me.

"I think she'd be happy, too," he added. I stared at him for a few moments before smiling back.

"Thanks, Doc."

I coughed myself awake and slowly bent over the side of my bed. Blinking the stars out of my eyes, I reached over and grabbed the glass of water I'd been left before straining with a gasp as I set my bad leg against the floor.

"Fucking feline," I hissed, against cursing Arnoso's name.

"That sounds like Papa's awake!" Gerry chirped from just beyond my door. I snorted a laugh just as the door opened.

"Papa! Papa! Papa!" Gilly and Jim Jr. squealed as the griffin and pale blue unicorn came galloping in. And fuck me if I understood how a pegasus and griffin could produce either of those. The pair of youngers jumped into my bed and all but tackled me from either side.

"You said a bad word!" Gilly cried, beating against my arm.

"Yeah!" Junior added with a huff. I smirked at both of them before tilting my head.

"Did I? What word was that?" I asked. Junior puffed up his cheeks and nodded.

"You said fu-" He choked and clamped his mouth shut before glancing at his dad, who first fixed him with a frown before glaring at me. As I smirked, the little unicorn grumbled and murmured before finally speaking. "Fu-eline!" He firmly nodded and jabbed my elbow. I fixed him with a bemused smirk.

"Huh," I scoffed, considering his words for a moment before nodding. "Whoops! My bad." I scooped them both up with a wink.

"Next time I'll just say fucking cat, how's that?" I offered causing them both to gasp and then cackle. Gerry's jaw dropped and then clamped shut with a smirking sigh.

"Thanks, Jim," he huffed as I strained and then stood up before carrying the pair out of my room, following his lead.

"No problem," I hummed before raising an eyebrow at him. "I ever tell you what Lily's first words after we first took her in were?"

"No, but I can put two and two together," he said in a chipper tone before we rounded a corner toward the foyer. "Not in front of the kids, please. Lily! He's awake!"

"Great! Everything's packed!" Lily called. As we rounded the corner and arrived at the stairs landing, I spied the staff down below hauling our bags out the door, but Lily came flying up to us. Once she arrived she nodded and straightened up before raising an eyebrow at me. "So, Admiral! You ready to partake in the maiden voyage of Equestria's first airship?"

"Sure am," I replied with a nod, squeezing Gilly and Junior. "Even got my boarding crew ready." She smirked at me as the kids giggled.

"Really? Cause you don't look it," she said looking me up and down. I furrowed my brow before looking down to discover I was still in my sleepwear.

"Aw, hell. Thanks, Gerry," I hissed before setting the kids down. "Be right back!" I stormed back to my room followed by a chorus of giggles from the little ones. Once I had gotten out my proper clothes and swept my coat on, I heard something rustle. Searching my coat pockets, I felt and pulled out a crumbled and old piece of paper. Upon examining it, I quietly gasped and smiled.

Then my arm sparked with pain and I bent over, gasping as I clutched my chest. I strained and gurgled quietly for a few moments before slowly breathing and blinking the tears out of my eyes. After a moment, the pain subsided, leaving me with a tingling feeling on my arm.

"Ah, damn," I panted as I flapped my arm. "You ain't got much time left, old man." I shook my head and took another breath before considering the paper again. A warm smile came across my face as I studied the old drawing of Lily and me aboard an airship.

"Can't say it was wasted though," I hummed before sighing hard as the tingling vanished. I looked up and surveyed my room before considering the drawing again. Nodding, I folded it and returned it to my pocket before making my way out. The family had moved to the bottom of the stairs, but Lily perked up upon seeing me and flew up to greet me. She gently pushed into my chest and hugged me, a gesture I returned with a laugh.

"Alright! Let's see get this cruise of yours underway," I declared. She beamed and trotted alongside me as we made our way through the door. Outside, just in the yard was a sloop hovering a few dozen feet off the ground, suspended by a massive balloon. Gilly and Junior squealed with delight as they scrambled forward and stampeded up the gangplank onto the ship. Gerry sighed hard before hurrying after them, leaving Lily and I to marvel at the invention they'd built.

I beamed with pride before turning to Lily who matched my smile before fluttering up to the deck. I gave one last look at the home behind me, giving a nod to Silver as he slowly closed and locked the door. When he returned the gesture, I faced forward and made my way up the gangplank.

There on the deck, to the audible alarm of the meager crew needed to keep the ship running, Gerry was scrambling and squawking after the kids as they scampered all around. I watched them run for a while before Lily fluttered up and stood on the rail beside me.

"I know you're used to seacraft, but I dunno, I feel like it's pretty similar," she said, gesturing to the lines that bound the ship to its balloon before tilting her head at me. "What do you think?" I watched the kids give their father the run around for a moment before turning to her with a smile.

"I think it feels like home," I replied.

THE END

Author's Note