Gulliver's Last Travel

Chapters

Witchfire
The Gallopacos Islands
Finding a Crew
Luau
Setting Sail

Witchfire

Gulliver's Last Travel
Chapter 1

By Boss Hoss

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"I, Doctor Lemuel Horatio Gulliver, write this now from yet again another mysterious spot no man can find on any chart or globe. If any Yahoo... human man reads these words now, know you there is no going home.

Unlike many of my other disastrous travels through the passes held by Djinn into a more mysterious Middle and Far East, or the strange green Witchfire mist of the West Indies out toward Bermuda, which a more learned sailor suggests is what took me to Liliput.
Nay, not even like the time the sea again went strange near the place Asia and the Americas nearly touch, sending me to the land of giants; Brobdingnag, I now had both the desire and the belief I could ever return to a place I had been. ~A place where the seas had also raged with storm and green fire while I was held by my mutinous crew, passing from the South Seas bound for the Indian Ocean.

My family had insisted my first, and now it would seem only, visit to that land of fair and graceful people who lived in eternal harmony was to be my last trip ever away from home.

So I had once sworn to my wife, Elanore, my son, Alexander, and my daughter, Elisabeth. Never more would I roam, nor seek out the perfect people, perfect despite the fact they walk on four hooves...
The land of the Houyhnhnms.

Fate had other plans for my vow, yet still held me to it in a strange way none could anticipate.

Hark! Read ye now, the tales of Gulliver's last travel..."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Captain's logbook, H.M.S. Alicorn
August 15, 1720 ~Anno Domini

Waves boomed and crashed against our merchantman vessel, the Alicorn.

The ship heaved and tossed as the two horses in our hold screamed that they were feeling quite seasick.
Fortunately, I was the only one to understand their pitiable cries for it was quite physically impossible to relieve their queasiness by vomiting. I could only help them by feeding them peppermint in small amounts, and naught else until this monstrous storm is over.

Like the hurrucan' that had wrecked me onto Lilliput, and the typhoon storm that my last ship had survived before my mutinous crew had marooned me on fair Houyhnhnm lands, this storm had an eye of calm seas that would be upon us soon.

The Japanese Sages we had visited two days before warned us what this month brings to the Dragon's Sea, Southeast of Japan. What they spoke of is the peculiar, rare typhoon they call a Kamakaze' storm, or, "the divine wind"!

What they described, down to the location it would haunt in this near miss of Japan, matched the storm that had sent my last ship to pass near the land of the Houyhnhnms! My personal salvation seemed at hand!

Now if only my ship would hold out long enough to save us all in getting there...

"FATHER! The Crew! They are taking to the boats!"

Quickly answering the shout from above, I scrambled up the ship's ladder to the main deck and drew my cutlass. "What is this madness!"
I had found my son staying out of reach of their blades as the crew wrestled the ship's only boat to the gunwales, and two were rigging it to be lowered.

Grimly, the crew set themselves to defend the two rigging the boat, while the first mate glared at me "The madness is in stayin’ aboard, Cap'n! See?! The sails are tatters! The rigging a'dangle! We be enterin' the calm o' th' storm, sar! And we will leave while the gettin' is good!
Th' lookout has spotted green Witchfire in the coming wall o'storm. We will not spend another moment with a madman who courts death with a typhoon from Hades!"

Alexander turned to look at me beseechingly. I set my mouth in a taut line for a moment before taking a step toward the mutineers. Then I pointed with my cutlass to the storm above "You dull-witted louts! Look! Look above and behind, you will see the same green lightning is forming. If you leave now, if you Yahoos arent' swamped and drowned like rats, there is no telling where you will find yourselves! Have you not read my books?
-The ones that paid for this voyage to save my life? I would not have begun this journey if I thought any but myself was in mortal peril!"

First Mate Higgins laughed mirthlessly as the boat was swung overboard "Only I and th' navigator can read, sar! We think yer th' biggest liar there ever was!"

With that, the crew piled into the longboat with what supplies they had grabbed. First Mate Higgins gave a mocking bow and jumped into the boat "Fare thee well, "Captain"! Say hello t'the Devil fer us!"

Immediately, the fools cast off in the bobbing swells, heading away from the Alicorn as fast as they could row. I waved my cutlass at them angrily "You foolish sots! You Yahoos are going to die!"

Alexander put a hand on my shoulder. His touch made me shiver involuntarily before I could stop it. I have made great progress in not seeing and reacting to my own family as Yahoos in five years, but I still have far to go before I stop reacting like that at all to the people I should love above all others. He cleared his throat and spoke. "Father! Without a crew, we must use every second we have in the running of this ship before we pass out of this storm eye!"
He cast a worried glance at me "Do we have time before your next bout?"

Sighing, I sheathed my cutlass. "I hope so, Alex, I certainly hope so..."
To change the subject, I nodded to the Quarter deck where the wheel stood. "I see the ship's wheel is tied off already. Go put out the bowsprit sail. It should give us enough speed and control to get us into the storm without losing the sail.
In the meantime, I shall get your mother and your sister. Every hand we can get is needed if we are to survive this."

Alexander nodded and saluted "Aye, Father!" and ran across the deck, up onto the forecastle to rig a small sail

Meanwhile, I raced into the sterncastle cabin to get the rest of my family and bring them on deck. It was a desperate time but at least they had picked up some of the skills in knot tying to keep from being bored stiff.

My wife was already standing, holding our daughter against the tossing of the storm. She had already dressed them both for the storm outside, reminding me again one of the things I loved about her was her almost Houyhnhnm sense of practicality. "Lemuel! What is happening? Are we sinking?"

Quick as a flash, I went to them and held them for a moment. My relief holding my ingrained reaction at bay for the nonce. Much as I had wished they had not insisted on accompanying me on my final voyage, it did wonders for my courage and resolve that these people could love a miserable yahoo enough to face peril at my side. "Eleanore, 'Lizabeth, My darlings... The crew has abandoned us to our fate. We all must go on deck and do what we can to survive. We must shore up the rigging as best we can before we hit the storm wall."

Elisabeth hugged me fiercely "Oh, Father! Do you think we shall make it?"

My heart swelled as I kissed her forehead tenderly "My daughter, if you believe in me, We shall."

With time against us, I shepherded them out and we all set to running the ship, 6 sets of hands short of the minimum the ship needed. At least the Dutch build deucidly good ships...

A small eternity later, the crackling of green, fiery lightning was more evident in the storm as the eye was passing us by. We began to notice an eerie St. Elmo's fire forming on the masts, rigging, and rails. Not blue as is commonly seen, but a bilious, glowing green that was quickly spreading over the ship from the bow.

Elisabeth shrieked at the eerie light crackling 'round her while Alexander took the wheel on my command.

It was coming, like I had experienced before. I had to appear calm for my family. I hauled on the rigging to trim the lone sail for the storm wall we were entering. It was difficult to shout over the rising wind. "Be prepared my darlings! It is happening! Now you shall see what I have been through all too often! It will be quite rough! Now we put our lives in the hands of the Almighty and pray for mercy..."

The ship suddenly lurched to Port as the storm hit us in its fury the moment we pierced the wall. It bounced and rocked on the waves as the rain hit us as a physical force.
Still, the green Witchfire did not abate in the storm's fury, but increased until I was sure I could read in the dark of the storm.

A cry came from below < Water! Water in the ship! >

It was with mixed feelings I heard the cry of my horses. While I could now get the women off the deck, the fact we were taking on water was far from comforting.
Still, if it gets my wife and daughter away from being swept overboard... I grabbed my wife's shoulder "Elanore! Take Elisabeth and man the pumps! We're taking on water!"

Relief swept over me as the ladies went below and I set about the tasks keeping us moving forward.
Unfortunately, the constant battering of spray and the sheets of rain kept me from noticing the first sign of another attack of my illness, the chills, as I was soaked to the bone. Sudden dizziness and nausea struck me as my hands went numb.

Instantly, Alexander was at my side, having tied the wheel again. I had not even been aware I had fallen to the deck.
"Father! Is it another bout?"

At a dazed jerk of my head in the affirmative, he swiftly tied me to the mast so I would not be swept overboard and raced back to the wheel.

As I lay there helpless, fading in and out of consciousness, the dancing green light spread over every surface and grew brighter. My mind was reeling with a buzzing hum in my head, drowning out even the sounds of the storm for me.

Suddenly, there was a brief sensation of falling, a great slap of the hull on water, and I knew no more...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Elsewhere….

Wavedancer had not meant to stay out in the reefs so long, and now she had been trapped by the storm.
Her lime green body was wedged into a space between two boulders as the storm-generated riptides raked over the reef.

The Hippocampus mare groaned as her dolphin-like flukes ached from pressing against the opposite wall of stone. The itch of wild magic leaving an ashen taste in her mouth was hardly helping her comfort level.
This storm was full of the stuff, shimmering a toxic green above the raging sea over her head.

The mare squeaked as she looked up through her yellow mane when a shadow, large as a sea-drake, loomed over her.

*BOOOOM*

Her heart beat in terror as the shadow resolved itself as a ship, now bobbing in the water overhead. Waves rocked the ship onto the higher parts of the reef to hang a moment, then be pushed into the lagoon beyond.

Wavedancer’s ears perked eagerly.
The silly landwalker vessel was going to be trapped when the storm abated.
-Trapped unless some enterprising Hippocampi were to offer their aid…

The mare giggled softly, wondering how much of a reward her herd could gain from Princess Celestia for rendering aid to some poor, silly, lost land ponies.

She could contain her joy no longer and broke out into song;
“Shoo-be-do, shoop shoop, she dooo….”

Author's Note

For the new readers who have never had the chance to read the original tales, You may find it on Project Gutenburg for free in all e-book formats; Here

The Gallopacos Islands

Gulliver's Last Travel

Chapter 2 ; The Gallopacos Islands

By Boss Hoss

Captain's logbook, H.M.S. Alicorn
August 16(?), 1720 ~Anno Domini

It was the great fortune of literally dropping upon a safe harbor that likely saved our lives from the raging typhoon. That much I saw before I was taken by my family to our cabin to wait out the storm. Thank the Lord my son has grown to be such a strapping young man to aid me so.
The ship bobbed gently wherever we were, lulling me to remain abed despite the glorious dawn creeping through the cabin’s gallery window.
My exertions of the night before, combined with my illness left me to savor every moment in my bunk.
Yet as I lay there, I gradually became aware of a sound that I now realized had been with us all night, as low as it had been.
It was… singing! Singing that was now rising in volume about the ship.
Singing from a miraculous choir in perfect harmony, no matter which direction you listened, and even using the ship as a huge sound box to amplify it. The words were strange but easily understood; “Shoo be do, Shoop, Shoop, be doooo…”

As if on cue, my dutiful children entered the cabin.
Alexander coughed politely and laid a hand on my damp shoulder “Father, we… we have visitors, to put it lightly.”

Adding her sixpence and accumulated wisdom of sixteen years to the matter, Elizabeth wailed “Father! We are beset by… by… map decorations!”

Alexander rolled his eyes heavenward “Hippocampus, if I am not mistaken, dear sister.”

I took this news in stride, and not with a little hope. I had never asked the Houyhnhnms if they had neighbors in the sea but it would make sense.
With a dry chuckle, I replied as I sat up and moved to stand “The plural I believe is “Hippocampi”, my dears. Come, show me our guests.”

Once on deck, I heard the singing much clearer now.
On the Starboard side, Elanore stood at the rail, looking over the side in wonder.

Curiously human sounding gasps, giggles, and ooohs of wonder sounded from below, mixed with equine words; < Monsters! >, < Did they eat the crew? >, < …What if they are the crew, silly? >

Turning at the sound of our feet on deck, Elanore smiled at me “Lemuel! Oh my word! I have never seen such darling creatures! How I wish you had brought us here before!”

Chuckling, I gave her a weary hug and a kiss. “Would that I came here first, rather than the petty, nasty little land of Lilliput, my Darling.”

As I leaned over the rail, there was a chorus of more gasps and looked upon a rainbow of many equine bodies sticking from the water down to their waists.

Occasionally one would dive back under with a flash of a dolphin’s tail fringed with a strip of tail hair.
Booming a laugh, I waved at the oddly round-headed creatures, calling out < Good morning to you all from the sailing ship, Alicorn! I am Captain Lemuel Gulliver! Have I arrived at the land of Houyhnhnms? >

After a moment of silence, there was a sudden spate of chatter from the Hippocampi from all sides of the ship.

One of the strange equines, colored a bright lime green, with a yellow mane paddled right up to the side with her hooves and waved. “< Excuse me Captain, sir! Hi, I am Wavedancer of the Gallopacos herd.
You are at one of the Gallopacos islands, for which our herd is named. This one is Windy Corral Island, to be exact. The Southernmost one. We have not heard of the land you seek, but perhaps the mighty Alicorn, Celestia, Princess of Equestria, Guardian of the Sun, Protector of the Moon would know? Her land lies to the Northwest. >

Alicorn? The land is ruled by a piece of unicorn horn? Surely not!
I looked down to the strange mare. < Could you explain that please? Where I am from, ‘Alicorn’ refers to the horn of a unicorn itself, or the tooth of a Narwhal sold to the gullible.>
I snorted and pointed toward the bow < The Yahoo that sold me this ship tried to convince me the carved ivory horn on the figurehead was such an artifact and not a Narwhal tooth. All to wring a few more Pounds from my pockets. >

Scrunching up her face in thought, Wavedancer stared up at me. < Oh my! You are a long way from home indeed to not know the Princess. …I guess that would explain why the carving lacks wings. May I come aboard? I think we need to talk without a lot of shouting. >

Tapping my fingertips to the rail, I had to think for a moment before replying < Certainly Miss Wavedancer. You may come aboard, but it may take a little time to rig a sling to winch you aboard and to fill a washtub with sea water… >

Wavedancer giggled and flipped her flukes < Oh, all you need is a wet blanket to put over me and make sure nothing sharp is on deck. Is the way clear? >

A quick glance over the deck, then back to the water < It is, but I do not understand what you mean to do. >

Grinning at some joke, the mare giggled before backing up < Oh, just stand back, Captain. Here I come! >

With that, she flipped tail-over and went under. The crystal clear water let us see she was swimming in a circle, faster and faster… Surely she is not…

Elizabeth leaned over the rail from the Stern Castle, watching the mare “Look how fast she swims! What is the silly thing doing, Father!”

My eyes went wide as I waved my son and wife away from the rail... “Back! She means to jump up here!”

There was a great fountain of water and a streak of green somersaulting over the rail to roll on the deck with a splash.

An impressive jump given it was fifteen feet from waterline to rail!

High pitched giggling filled the air as two hooves clattered on the deck. Wavedancer quickly righted herself and pulled herself up on a large coil of rope to settle on it like a seat or a nest. Belatedly, I bowed to the Hippocampus mare. “My darlings, this is Wavedancer. Alexander, please fetch a blanket and a bucket of sea water to keep her wet.”

Grinning at seeing the incredible mare up close, Alexander saluted and ran off “Aye, father!”

In turn, I pulled up a water keg and sat before Wavedancer to put our eyes on a level out of courtesy. <Wavedancer, I would like you to meet my family; Elanore, my wife. My Son, Alexander is fetching your blanket, and coming down the ladder is my daughter, Elisabeth.>
He looked to the strange mare expectantly
< Now, you were going to explain “Alicorn” yes? >

Nodding, the odd mare curved her tail for comfort as Alexander laid a wet blanket on her.
< Certainly! First, to understand the one, I must explain the others. Landwalker ponies are in three kinds; Earth ponies, who draw their strength from the land, Pegasus ponies, who fly and control the weather, and Unicorns, who are magic itself.
The Alicorn is an immortal who rules us all, who combines all the powers in one body. Her wings and horn are truly majestic! It is said she controls the Sun and the Moon.>

Diplomatically, I did not show my disbelief. Surely every ruler I have met in my travels made the same claim of godhood.
Instead I pressed on <Fascinating! By the bye, I am afraid my crew fled overboard in the storm. Have you seen others of our kind today? >

Wavedancer waved her hoof at each of the humans in turn, then sighed < Oh dear, I am afraid you are the only ones the herds have spotted overnight. Your ship came alone with the wild magic. For that matter, just what are you creatures? >

Hanging my head, I sighed. If luck was with them, they were bobbing in the seas off Japan. If not, I hope whatever lands they find a fair one.
At worst, I hope their end was quick…

Turning back to the mare, he nodded < I see…That will be problematic, Wavedancer, for my ship is meant to sail with a crew of no less than fifteen.
I need eleven more to sail anywhere. I had hoped to offer them parole after a night of being battered into submission by the waves, but now… >
Shrugging helplessly, I changed the subject < Anyway, My species is called humans, though the place I seek call us Yahoos. Does that sound famil… >

From below came whinnies < Friend Gulliver! Friend Gulliver! Who is that mare we hear? Are there more horses aboard? Can we get off the ship now? >

< Yes! Yes! We still feel sick from all that rocking last night! >

Startled, the hippocampus turned < I thought you needed eleven more than the four ..huu-mans I see ? Sounds like you have some more landwalkers aboard, and ponies at that. >

Shrugging off the blanket before I could explain, the mare wiggled her way like a seal to the main cargo hatch which Alexander had apparently opened for air that morning.

Sticking her head over the edge, she called < Hello from the Gallopacos herd! I am Wavedancer, a Hippocampus. What sort of pony do I speak to? >

A dapple grey stallion and a chestnut mare looked up from the loose-box they were in, the net slings for their safety taken down after the storm.

< Two stone-horses if you please, mare. Friend Gulliver took us in for companionship. I am Angus. >

< And I am Daisy. Saved us from a life of slavery in the quarry, he did. Such a kind man! Would that he was a stallion, I could perhaps entice him to make me part of his herd. >

Wide-eyed, Wavedancer turned to look at me, then giggled < That is quite a vote of confidence, Captain. Why are they not up here helping you? >

Sighing, I knelt beside the lime mare < Aside from the fact they are not as flexible as a Houyhnhnm, unable to even pick up a tool in their fetlocks, they are twice your size.
No human ship was made with a horse in mind. They must be lifted in and out by winches. >

Shaking her mane in wonder, she looked at me < Poor things, to be so limited. Perhaps the Sun Goddess will smile upon them in your behalf. >

Suddenly, she slapped her tail on the deck and looked to the island with a grin
< In the meantime, you need a crew. I may know somepony who can help…>
With that, she bent her foreleg around in an impossible direction no Houyhnhnm ever could manage and patted her back.
< Feel up to a little swim to the island? Once I’m back in the water, I can carry you easy as pie, Captain… >

Finding a Crew

Gulliver's Last Travel

Chapter 3; Finding a Crew

By Boss Hoss

Captain's logbook, H.M.S. Alicorn
August 16, 1720 ~Anno Domini

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Windy Corral Island was much like any in the South Pacific or the Caribbean, save for a lack of human inhabitants.
Parrots and other tropical birds called from the trees overhead as I walked along the narrow beach.
To my surprise, I enjoyed seeing my daughter enticing a parrot to come and land on her shoulder. More surprising, the bird was trying to hold a conversation with her and started working out an English-Equine pidgin with her.
At least my attempts at teaching my children the Houyhnhnm language will finally help her.

After careful reassurances there was nothing dangerous on the island, Wavedancer had convinced me to allow Elanore and Elisabeth to join me and rode other Hippocami to shore.
Alexander had of course elected to stay on board to keep things secure.

Soon we had come into a small lagoon, following the shore while Wavedancer swam nearby. The mare soon sat up in the water and pointed to a hut made of bamboo and palm fronds, with a figure lying in a canvas hammock. < There! He can get you a crew! >

I grew uneasy as I saw brown bottles of a strangely familiar shape. It only increased as we came closer. The smell of unwashed horse blew over us, mixed with the smell of rum
I looked at the pony with abject horror, the tan stallion was hopefully his natural color for I did not want to imagine that was dirt.
The brown mane was fixed in dreadlocks held upright out of his face by a red bandanna, and his upper lip was adorned with a stringy mustache that would be the glory of any pirate or Chinese nobleman.

The stallion opened a green, bloodshot eye and fixed me with a stare. < Well, yer a fine hallucination! Why not? Minotaurs are supposed to make fantastic wine. Right then, Mate! Make with the wine! Give me ever’ drop ya got! >

Trembling, I backed away a step, and the impure stallion sat up holding his head with a hoof in a very human manner. He groaned and raised his other forehoof, a bottle stuck there as if glued.
Surely my eyes went wide in horror as I heard the bottle slosh a bit. Frantically, I snatched it away and threw it into the jungle where I heard it shatter.

The stallion looked at his empty hoof in shock, then at me, then back at his hoof. < The rum’s gone! Why’s the rum gone? >

I could take no more and grabbed his shoulders, shaking him angrily. < You bloody sot! You are supposed to be a proud Houyhnhnm! Here you are acting like a blasted Yahoo monkey! >

He grabbed my arms in his hooves in a surprising grip and looked at my hands blearily.
< I, sirrah, am a Celestia-damned good PONY.
While I am a confirmed drunkard, and you, a hideously deformed Minotaur of some kind, I at least can quit drinking, Mate… Wait… Why…why is the rum gone?... >

Unable to take any more of an equine acting like any common Yahoo sailor, I turned and stumbled away. Sobbing, I fell to my knees in the sand, facing the lagoon.
Wavedancer pulled herself up onto the narrow strip of beach and pawed a hoof in worry. < Gulliver! What is wrong? He is the best sailor this island can offer! He just cant’ handle dry land so well, is all.
Rumrunner! Come quick! I brought someone with a ship in dire need of your service, but he’s sorely unhappy. He is Captain Gulliver. >

There was a sudden comforting nuzzle from behind, with a strong smell of rum. <Ay, Mate. I dunno how I upset yer, but I never meant to. I-i am sorry. I truly am. You will find I am honest in all me dealings. -I do my part ta find me place in the Harmony of Equestira, savvy? >

A moment later, Elanore and Elisabeth knelt in the sand beside me “Lemuel! Is it another attack? Oh my! And who is this scalliwag?”

Elisabeth spoke up “Mother, this parrot says the pony is named Rumrunner.”

I shook my head “No dear, not an attack… I am just… “disappointed”. He wears the shape of a pony but acts like any human man.”

To my shock, Rumrunner looked at Elisabeth with surprise, then a pleased smirk < Ello, and who might this fine Minotaur hefer be? Jolly seems to have taken a liking to ‘er. >
Groaning, I put my head in my hands < That is my daughter, sir! >

At least the tan stallion had the decency to blush. < Oh! Um, forgive a lonely sailor, Mate. No disrespect was meant sir. >

Just then, someone else joined the conversation, with the patient coaching of Jolly the parrot.
< Me Elisabeth. Careful please of Sire mine. Bad sick! Need strong medicine. Crew gone, no hope but you. >

Eyes wide, Rumrunner backed off a step < Sick? Crew gone? Dead? Yer not carrying Pony Pox to my fair island are ye? >

Shaking my head sadly I replied < No sir, what I have is not communicable by breath, but blood and other fluids.
I was scratched up by a young Yahoo monkey girl who had chanced upon me naked and thought I was a good specimen of… stallion for her needs.
She did not take rejection well and only the intervention of my guardian on that island saved me from worse injury.
It took years to show but the wench has likely killed me that day. I only connect my illness to her because I had spoken with Houyhnhnm Doctors to trade information. -Doctors who are primarily Veterinarians to Yahoo monkeys and other livestock since illness is rare for the Houyhnhnms themselves. I seek their land again for the cure to save my life. -Even if I must spend every penny I have in getting there.
As for my crew, the cowards fled in the face of the storm that brought us here, all green with Witchfire it was. Who knows where they have landed now? >

To my surprise, the rugged stallion grew teary-eyed and gave me a comforting hug, which I sheepishly returned. < That’s a rum do, Mate. We can figure my wages later, but count me in on this little adventure. How many sailors d’ye need, by the bye? We can hold a fine luau tonight in yer honor and sign up yer crew then, Savvy? >

I gave him a more heartfelt hug < I.. Oh, thank you Rumrunner! I apologize for my actions earlier. You pony folk must act more like my people than the Houyhnhnms I seek. It is most… jarring to me.
Anyway, I need at least eleven crew…ponies, though you can probably be a better judge of what ponies can handle if you see my ship.>

Nodding, the pony trotted over to his hut and plopped a brown tri-corner hat on his head using an improbable motion of his hoof.
He then gave a jaunty grin at the prospect of sailing again and dipped forward on a forehoof in a bow to me and my wife and daughter < Aye Captain, lead the way. Let’s see what we have to work with shall we? >

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Soon we were back on the deck of the Alicorn, with a little surprise involved on the part of Rumrunner as he was the first to scramble up the rope ladder Alexander tossed down, as agile with his hooves as any sailor man.
The stallion trotted round, investigating everything while Jennifer and Jolly continued their lessons.

After a few minutes, mainly in flirting with Daisy and my daughter when he thought I was not looking, he reported back to me in my cabin.
< ‘Tis a fine ship, Mate. -As fine as any in the Canterlot Merchantmen fleet. What can ye tell me of it’s class? >

I had anticipated his questions and laid out the ships papers on the table and waved for him to sit as I pointed to the drawings of the ship’s plans. < This ship is a Dutch-built merchantman, called a Flute, built sturdy to take on the hellish storms of the North Sea. Because of this, they can take on any sea.
Tonnage is decent, the three masts use a simple square-rig, her hull is flat-bottomed for maximum cargo capacity with a draft of one and a half fathoms.
Maximum crew is two-hundred and fifty, with a minimum of fifteen… >

Here I paused, wondering if these ponies were as innocent as I hoped. < I must ask if there are dangers of the sea here? My ship has ten guns, but it has the capacity for fourteen. I sold four to make room for my family to be with me, but kept the rest in case of pirates. Those raiders of the South China Sea are vicious in the extreme.
We still have a score of muskets and horse pistols for boarding actions, but I am afraid only we can use them since we have hands. >

After a long moment of Rumrunner rubbing his chin with a hoof, he spoke < I wondered what those strange tubes were positioned at the weapon ports. They had not the look of Lightning Casters such as the Royal Equestrian Navy warships employ.
To answer your question, Mate, there would be no warships under the flag o’ the Princess at all were it not for pirates and privateers bedeviling honest merchant ships, nor rogue Sea-drakes and other beasties in their employ.
The greedy scum are from the Griffon and Minotaur kingdoms and their colonies.
If ye have weapons they have never seen, all the better t’ surprise them with should we meet them, savvy? > he finished with a feral grin.

While I had hoped they would be as innocent as the Houyhnhnms they resemble, having pony-eating neighbors that actually use weapons would likely shake even the logical aloofness of Houyhnhnm kind should they ever meet.
Silently, I prayed my old friends would never meet Griffons, as legend described them craving horse flesh like it was a drug.
Despite my misgivings, I decided I liked this brash, human-like stallion willing to fight a shipful of fearsome predators.

Cheerfully, I flashed a sly grin of my own < Indeed, I savvy. >

Luau

Gulliver's Last Travel

Chapter 4; The Luau

By Boss Hoss

Captain's logbook, H.M.S. Alicorn
August 16, 1720 ~Anno Domini
(Mid-day to Evening)

Luau!

The herd sang and leapt like dolphins across the waves as they raced off to spread the invitation.

Luau!

The few Pegasi on the island picked up the cry, scattering ahead of the Hippocampi like brilliant flocks of birds.

Luau!

Word spread to the farthest islets of the Gallopacos chain in under an hour.

Luau!

Sails and rainbow flocks, or herds actually, winged their way to Windy Corral.

Sails soon revealed the boats beneath them. -Boats from small coastal sailboats and catamarans, and other odd craft. -On up to a couple of Sloops, and a battered old Lugger.

There was even a strange colored board as long as a canoe, as I had seen at some South Seas islands, but with a tiny mast on it manned by a grinning orange pony. This he sailed by balancing on his hind legs and holding a cane bar attached to the sail for a yardarm and a handle.

This wild maned pony did the most astonishing tricks on the waves as if he himself were a Hippocampus instead of an Earth Pony on a carved board.
My children were fascinated, but I pray not enough to ask to try it…

To my shock, teams of winged pegasi presented themselves to me and volunteered to lift my horses from the hold.
In an amazingly short time, the two horses had been hoisted in net slings from the depths of the ship all the way to the shore, each by a pair of the winged ponies. Good Lord! What strength these Pegasi have!

We all watched in rising joy as Angus and Daisy ran up and down the beach like foals, splashing in the surf.

Beyond the lagoon, the boats were grounding on the beaches, and some of the smaller ponies joining in the antics of my horses, with a growing number of bare-flanked foals racing with them, made conspicuous by the absence of those markings.

Now that there were more of these ponies arriving, I could see the pictures I had dismissed as decorative brands or tattoos on their flanks were on every adult pony, even the Hippocampi. This was more than merely decoration.

I knew I must ask the next pony to come to me, and with a curious sense of timing, Rumrunner and a wizened old zebra stallion trotted up to me.
A zebra, who even himself had an abstract version of these marks on his flanks made of stripes! I had to wonder what other surprises this island had for me.

Surprisingly, the perpetually wobbly stallion motioned for me to bow to the old zebra and whispered < Ay Mate, this old bloke is the Shaman what lives on the North end o’ the island, an’ the unofficial leader of Windy Corral. Best hoof forward, Mate! >

Hurriedly, I dropped to one knee and took off my hat in salute. At least I had left my coat onboard as it was already so warm here. The extra weight would have been awkward in that pose. < Greetings, Sir. I am Captain Lemuel Gulliver of the good ship Alicorn. I hail from England and bid you greetings. >

Curious, the elderly stallion leaned on his gnarled staff and watched how I moved, then grinned broadly, one tooth replaced with gold.
< Greetings, Friend Gulliver, many greetings!
I am named Zeram, of the Clan Quickstride.
But, called “Old Stripy” in most proceedings. >

Peering at me, the zebra motioned for me to sit, and began to examine me once I did.
< Young Rumrunner came to me today.
Talk of Luau, and a patient most brave
-Like apes we have out Unyasi way.
I agree that for him, you I would save. >

Amused at his speech, I bore the examination. < I myself am a Doctor, but yours’ is a second opinion that I hope can make a difference. >

By now the zebra had opened my shirt and held his ear to my chest.
< A stallion of learning and a sea captain too.
Glad I am you also have an open mind and true. >

I coughed politely as he lifted my left hand and shook it in a wave that went through to my right hand. < Perhaps you might answer some questions as you examine me, Zeram.
I have noticed these odd marks on all you equines. They cannot all be brands, or tribal tattoos like I saw upon the Maori natives. Whence did they come? What do they mean? >

Rumrunner chuckled < Are ye serious mate? Ye don’t have Cutie Marks where ye are from? >

Raising a brow, Zeram brayed softly to himself in wonder in whatever language zebra possess here, then spoke in equine;
< Ai? Tis’ true? Your kind do not bear Harmony Marks? …Do you? >

Here he pointed to Rumrunner’s flank.

< Look here, Sir! His is a bottle of Rum!
His Cutie Mark is a life calling, not dumb.
Making, selling and sneaking his wares.
Past the Griffons and Minotaurs unawares. >

He turned his weary behind my way to show a swirl of stripes forming a firey cauldron

< Mine, as you can see is special
All Shaman kind use this vessel
My place in Harmony and Life,
My mark guides me from strife. >

Amazed, I fell back on my rear in the sand.
A world so organized, everyone finds their place in it by a mark on their body, and comfort in that knowledge that they are specially placed.
Even the Liliput political election system pales in the amount of strange-but-right sense this makes.
< Good Lord! I do not see these on the foals! How does one get these marks? Is it all thinking beings here? What happens if I get one? >

Both equines laughed; a good, honest laugh with me at my questions.
Zeram finally spoke.
< Questions, many questions good and shrewd,
Thoughts that would not occur to me have ensued.

All things equine, are what Harmony enshrine.
‘Twas we herds first given the spark divine,
All else are newcomers, and not Unity entwined.
The gift of Marks to give you is not mine…

When the time is someday right,
A foal will strive day and night
Talent, either mental or might,
On one special day come to light. >

Laughing, Rumrunner shook his head < As he says Mate. I had me an epiphany when I had an idea to help make rum faster, when I helped me Sire makin’ th’ brew. An so I go me brewer’s mark on my flanks when I succeeded, Savvy?.
Th’ other creatures never get cutie marks, ‘cept Hippogriffs, seein’ as they’re half Pony, half Griff.
Ol Stripy here thinks they came through long ‘afore, as you just have, so they aint got th’ connection to th’ world, savvy? >

He suddenly stroked his mustache and turned his hoof to cup his mouth in a whisper.
< That reminds me. We got one Hippogriff might sign up, Mate. Sad thing, result of rapine an’ pillage, but a damn good fighter ye’ll need I wager. -No awkward questions tho, Savvy? He’s touchy about that eagle half… >

As the examination progressed, I watched my family helping with preparations for the Luau. Alexander was helping dig the pits and ready the coals to go in, while Elanore and Elisabeth helped prepare the foods for cooking, laughing and giggling with the mares like old friends with Jolly’s help.
I could see plantains, yams, coconut dishes, bread fruit, and such being readied for the pits. As for the cold dishes, a strange root was being hammered to paste, and large wooden bowls with either fruit or vegetable salads were being readied.

To my surprise, the Hippocampi brought various fish, which my darlings were more than happy to help prepare.
Since their hands were proving very capable, the ponies were quite satisfied to leave it to them alone after demonstrating how to stuff and wrap the fish for the pits.

Getting Rumrunner’s attention, I pointed to the fish < I thought all Pony kind were herbivorous. Is there something I am missing here? >

Grinning, he chuckled < Ay Mate! Shocking is it not? Takes great amounts of energy ta’ fly it does, an’ so the Pegasi race must supplement their diet with things like fish and eggs when they can. That extra protein must be why they have a reputation as great and aggressive fighters, savvy?

Oh, and Swifthoof the Hippogriff will be wanting more than most Pegasi get as well. >

He winks < The Hippocamps also love a bit of fish now and then too. I take it ye will be wantin’ some? Plenty for all who like that sort o’ thing. Me? I’ll stick ta’ plants and rum, Mate! >.

Soon, the zebra was done with his examination, even performing a short ritual in front of me as I sat on the beach, complete with flashes and purple smoke.

After an uneasy silence, the aged zebra bowed his head.
< Much as otherwise I wish to say,
I have no answer for you today.

For your illness I have seen no like,
To someone better you must hike.

It attacks your spine and brain,
Soon it will bring you great pain!

Off to my hut I must speedily repair,
For slowing medicines I must prepare.
-Strong enough to ease your despair. >

With that, the stallion waved his staff in signal to the Pegasi above.
After a moment, there was a wooshing sound like roaring surf, and a lemon colored stallion picked up the Shaman and carried him to the far end of the island...

It was with a heavy heart I checked the time on my pocket watch, and drew a bottle of my medicine out of my pouch. Carefully, I poured a small dose into a telescoping cup and drank the brew.
That news was grimmer than I expected, but hopefully that insight I could never have of what was happening to me might give the zebra an edge in this.

Could Zeram create a better medicine than the one I made to slow down the attacks, and buy more time for a cure?

~~~~~~~~~~~~

At last, the assembled ponies tell me the Luau is about to start with the return of Zeram from his hut.
As the Honored Guests, we found ourselves placed in a prominent location with a close proximity to the food and to the part of the beach cleared as a stage of sorts.
Our ship formed the backdrop to whatever was to happen as the coppery sunset illuminated it from behind.

( Background music to the song is similar to the Fhloston Paradise tiki song from the movie, 5th Element. Thanks for everyones help in my finding this. :D )

< Harmony…>

The gathering ponies started the song as a whisper, the volume growing with each repetition.

< Harmony… >

< Harr-mooo-nyyy!!! >

Spellbound by the sight, we watched as the Hippocampi leapt and danced on the surface of the lagoon, with the Pegasi joining in above flying in complex weaves as they carried fluttering banners.

In the foreground, Earth and Unicorn ponies danced and pranced in ways the Lipizzaner trained horses of Vienna wished they could match, flanked on two sides by choirs of Hippocampi singing the background melody, acapella.
As the music swelled, the rest of the ponies began to sing;

< Heeerrrreeee~

Between the Sky and Sea
Between the Land and Sea
Between You and Me
Living in Harmony~

Here you will see,
Ponies of the Land,
The Sky, and the Sea.
Living in sweet Unity!

Harmony!
Harmony!
Harmony!

Heeerrrreeee~

Between the Sky and Sea
Between the Land and Sea
Between You and Me,
In Harmony~

Come, meet and see,
Strangers from the sea,
Teach them how to be,
In sweet, sweet,
Harmony~

Harmony!
Harmony!
Harmony!

Heeerrrreeee~

Strangers from the sea,
Come and sing with me,
With ponies of the Sea,
Land, Sky, ~and we,
Teach you Unity,
And we all shall be,
Part of Harmony~

Harmony!

Harmonyyyyy! >

As the song faded down and segued into a rapid drum jam, we all looked at each other with great smiles on our faces, even our two horses were smiling.

Suddenly my family all share a look of confusion, and it hit me. At some point we had all joined in the song, the humans and the two horses, and we had all understood!

The aged zebra chuckled and nodded, strong rum breaking up his rhyming speech pattern a bit. < Yes, you now know our Harmony and what it can do. In Harmony, our hearts speak true. One only has to listen to our hearts.
Your family will find it easier now to learn Equestrian, my friend. If they but do their parts.
-Now that they have heard Harmony! Now that they have touched Unity and it has touched them in their hearts. >

He chuckled and winked as he touched my shoulder, breaking with his rhymes entirely for a serious moment < Now, Friend Gulliver. I hope you find Harmony with yourself, for your road has been long and torturous. –And if you cannot do this yet? >
He passed over a bottle of rum from the net bag hanging from his back < One small cup and no more, should at least keep you in peace with yourself for the night, and help in other ways. >

With that, the old fellow trotted off, braying a chuckle.

Beside me, my wife and children ooohed and ahhed as an orange and red Unicorn mare wearing a grass skirt danced on her hind legs, leaving momentary trails of fire we were told were illusory. She twirled and spun with a staff tipped with real fire on both ends.

As if the bottle was a summons, Rumrunner plopped down nearby. The stallion pretended not to see the dancing unicorn. < Cheers Mate! That’s the stuff, aye? Ol’ Stripes he be an understandin’ Shaman, innit’ he? >
Chuckling agreement, I nodded and offered some of the bottle. To my surprise he raised a hoof and waved it off.
< Oh no, Mate! He gave that to you special. That is rum made by Sugar Cane himself, the first pony to start the trade in the islands, an’ me GrandSire.
Ol’ Stripes only uses it fer special occasion, Mate. He only has a precious few left after all this time an’ he adds things to ‘em ta’ help in special cases, an’ yer as special as they come, savvy? >

Stunned, I looked from him, to the bottle and back. Could this help stave off my illness in part, as well as my muddled feelings? I certainly hoped so.

As I watched, the fire-dancing mare pranced close, making my two horses lean back in fascinated, stunned shock.
For all their ability to talk to me, they are still but horses and not Ponies. -And fairly afraid of fire.
To my surprise, Rumrunner flinched back as well, as she gave him a playful smirk and a wave of the staff in salute. Surely he was not afraid of fire?

At my glance, Rumrunner blushed and looked down at the sand < Well, she might be my type but I’ve tried ta’ go out with her, see… An’ well, I’ve been “burned” by her before… >

She suddenly laughed right behind him, making him jump fifteen feet in the air easily. < And ye deserved it, Rummy! > She giggled as she went back to finish the dance as everyone and pony in view laughed.
-How had she gotten behind us when she had been in front of us?

Meanwhile, the food was being passed around, with portions of fish making their way to us.

A stout Earth pony a little smaller than Daisy trotted into the open space as the fire dance ended. Wavedancer sat on his back like an English Lady of Quality sitting side-saddle on a fox hunt. Her sun-yellow mane and tail crest was combed and shining in the firelight as her tail flukes hung freely against the right side of the stallion.

After a moment, she raised a hoof to the crowd and spoke;
< Greetings to you all!
We of Gallopacos Herd called this Luau to aid these strangers from afar. They need brave sailors to get to the mainland and meet with the Princess. >
She winked < I need not remind you how generous the Princess is in rewarding rescues… > prompting a few chuckles and cheers from the crowd.

Here, her face turned serious < Gulliver and his Herd need at least eleven ponies for crew. We are afraid he will need more! Word from the Kelpie herds are the pirates are active around Gallows Reef Island at this time so they may range into their path no matter what we do. This ship will need stout-hearted fighters, even with the mysterious weapons Rumrunner told me of.
If you wish to try and join the crew, leave your name with Ol’ Stripey, and come back here in the morning and both Captain Gulliver and Rumrunner will check you to see if you are in for the voyage. >

She then pointed a hoof to me < Friend Gulliver and his herd will be here for you to meet tonight if you have questions.
And now, I hereby declare! Let the feasting begin! >

As she said this, the moon rose from above the trees behind us to bathe her in silvery light and the sky lightening to a strange, dusky purple. With a loud chorus of whinnies, the large crowd broke out into excited and hungry cheers.

Elanore passed me a wooden plate with a steaming portion of sea bass and several of the other side dishes, smiling as she put her hand on my arm. “Would that you had brought me to a romantic place as this without being deathly ill to do it, love.”

Suddenly, Elisabeth gasped from nearby “Oh dear Lord! The Moon!”

My wife turned to look before I could, and her hand stiffened on my arm. “Oh!”

I beheld a great silvery moon, but without the familiar shape of the black mara forming the vague features of the Man in the Moon.
No, what we saw was a majestic, perfect rendition of the side profile of a great, black unicorn with a pale, oval crater for an eye.

After a moment, I had to laugh. I half expected something really odd about this world to show we were not on ours instead of an uncharted land, but this was amazing!
My poor lambs were only now truly convinced we were no longer upon the world of our birth.

When Alexander finally cleared his throat and spoke, it was to point at the moon and ask “Father, did things like this happen a lot when you journeyed, um.. “abroad”…”
I could only laugh all the harder and lie back in the sand until I got my wind back.

After a few minutes, I was still grinning like a fool and finally ready to sit up. A shape nearby offered a taloned hand < Good evening, Captain Gulliver! >

I sat up to find myself facing a creature that must be the Hippogriff. The Pegasus half was a dapple grey while the Griffon end was a sooty grey with faint black streaks an inch long. His mane and tail were a rich, raven black as well, while his Cutie Mark was a winged horseshoe. This stallion would be hard to see against a stormy sky.
< Swifthoof, I presume? Well met, sir. >

His beak flexed in an improbable smile as he released my hand. < I am, sir. You and yours must be from far indeed for them to react to the Mare in the Moon as they have.
Tell them not to worry, the old mare’s tales say she will not leave the moon until the stars are right. > Somehow, I did not doubt this tale one bit.

Smiling, I looked into his golden eyes carefully < I see, are you a fair astronomer, sir? >

He grinned brightly, square horse’s teeth framed in his beak. < Aye, and I am trained as a Navigator, sir. I can fight, tie knots to rig a ship, and sail her, and use a sword like nopony on this island. >

Nodding, I motioned for him to sit and eat with us < Come then, Swifthoof. We have much to discuss… >

A navigator who knows the local oceans and can fight? Things were looking up already.
It can only get better from here on out…

Author's Note

Here is the first song and dance number in this tale.
The music that my head wrote it around was from "Fifth Elelment" -the hero's arrival at Fhloston Paradise, while I was stuck doing long boring work and my mind wandered.
*edit*
Thanks to everypony for their help in getting me pointed in the right direction on finding that song clip. :pinkiesmile:

Setting Sail

Gulliver's Last Travel

Chapter 5; Setting Sail.

By Boss Hoss

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Captain's logbook, H.M.S. Alicorn
August 17, 1720 ~Anno Domini

Dawn found me on the beach upon a palm frond mat.
I was leaning against a tree with my wife in my arms. The dawn highlighted her face like the statue of an angel as we lay there, fully clothed under the cool breezes of the morning.

How could I have come to feel miserable flat-nosed gray-skinned Yahoos had any connection to such loveliness?

Idly, I slipped my hand into my haversack nearby to be sure the special rum was there. It had been so long since I had felt so right with the world in my first moments of the day. Since the day I became aware I was ill, in fact. Yes, I owed the old zebra much for this blessing in liquid form. Would that he had the cure…

A gentle kiss woke my wife “Darling, I am afraid its time to get up, before our lambs come searching for us.”

Stretching, Elanore rose from her seat against me and put her hands on her back to work the knots out. “T’was a fine night, Lemuel. Oh, would that you had taken me with you before, when we were younger. This is a paradise on… Earth?” she added a little shakily, remembering last night’s full moon.

The growing romantic moment was cut short by a cheerful, bubbly voice. < Good Morning, Friend Gulliver and Wife! >

Our reactions must have been amusing for the fiery Unicorn mare from last night giggled like tinkling bells. < Oh, I must apologize for my interruption. I am Firedancer. You see, Ol’ Stripy sent me to fetch you. The tide will soon be running high and we can free your ship from the lagoon. There are enough ponies on-hoof this morning to do the task in minutes. >

She trotted down the beach a little ways and turned her head to look back with a smile
< He feels confident we can attend to the matter of a crew for you over breakfast, once the ship is free of the lagoon. Come on slowpokes! Cant’ move the ship without a Captain, now can we? >

Elanore giggled as we followed along “Oh my, enthusiastic darlings aren’t they? After last night, I think I am even beginning to understand them. They are going to move the ship, right?”

I could not help smiling at the infectious optimism of these creatures and the effect they are having on us. “Indeed they are, Dear Heart…”

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Soon, I and Alexander stood on the deck of the Alicorn to steer it while the Ponies readied to move the ship. Unicorns waded atop the reef or stood in boats piloted by Earth ponies, strange energies shimmering around their horns while flocks of Pegasi tied ropes to the masts and readied to pull with all their might. Indeed those ponies looked like flocks of birds as they stood or sat on the yardarms, awaiting the signal to take wing.

Below, the Hippocampi swam in a narrowing circle around the ship, drawing the water up in a great swell under the ship itself.

Off to Starboard, Wavedancer blew on a conch shell, signaling everyone to begin.
The Unicorns concentrated and threw their might into lifting the ship, while the Pegasi rose in a thunder of wings to haul forward on the ropes as they grew taut with high pitched twanging sounds.

As we braced in our positions on the ship, Alexander held tight to the ship’s wheel as it plowed forward down the growing dome of water that also rolled forward over the reef.
In moments, the ship had passed safely over the reef and skated forward into deeper water. At my signal, the Pegasi had let loose of the ropes as we bore to Starboard, parallel to the shore. < Bosun! Drop Anchor! >
Grinning eagerly, Rumrunner saluted with one hoof and kicked loose the belaying pin holding the capstan locked in place. < Aye Cap’n! >

He looked every inch a sailor despite being on four hooves as the capstan spun freely, letting the line run out as the anchor dropped to the bottom of the bay.
Working quickly, he dropped the pin back in and slammed it in tight with a forehoof as the line went slack.

Satisfied, he turned back to me and grinned < Anchor is secure, Cap’n! >

I and my son shared a glad look. It spoke volumes of his skill that he allowed just enough line to keep the ship in place while appearing quite casual in doing so. Certainly this pony continues to surprise me, even if he is as crude as a Yahoo…

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Soon, Zeram had come out to the ship on my request to help me figure what would be fair pay to the Ponies. To help boost the pot, I and my family had scoured the ship for what valuables of the crew had been left behind in their panic, turning up mostly pouches of copper and some silver.

I bade the zebra to sit nearby and let him survey the ship’s fortunes. < I must admit I am ignorant of the worth of things on your world. The sales of my books have brought me a decent amount of wealth I must admit. That bag there is Guineas –gold. That one is Pounds Sterling, a smaller coin also in gold, along with a few Spanish Dollars in that pouch. >

I pointed to another set of bags and stacks of coins < Those are silver. By weight we have Spanish Pieces of Eight, English Crowns, Shillings, and actual Pieces of Eight cut into halves, quarters, and eighths…>

Zeram shook his head in wonder as I pointed to the largest set of all, mixed with the “contributions” of the deserted crew. < Copper coins; Pennies, Ha’pennies, Farthings and similar of a dozen countries. >
At last, I pointed to a pouch with the contents spread out on black velvet. < -And this last pouch are gems, every bit as valuable as the gold, if not moreso. >

Ears twitching in thought, the aged zebra tapped his hooves together. < This fortune… You have placed from best to last? What is the average pay for a voyage over an ocean vast? >

I thought a moment, and pulled out appropriate coins to illustrate the amounts < Someone like Rumrunner, an experienced sailor; A Guinea and twenty-seven Shillings, or two Pounds Sterling and change, same for Gunners and Carpenters. >

Pulling out more coins, I set them in the appropriate order < New or inexperienced sailors, two Crowns and change or less, usually in stacks of copper. >

Silent in thought, the zebra sat for a few moments as he looked my modest treasure trove over. < The only coin current of Equestria old, quite frankly, is gold...
However, as things are sold, Silver and copper have more scarcity than gold.
Invert your pay, if I may be so bold, and your sailors will do anything they are told. >

To say I was stunned was an understatement. My modest fortunes in coin have seemingly quadrupled because common copper was now anything but, and silver was now worth more than my gold. All told- I had four times as much copper, and twice as much silver, than my Pounds and Guineas.
Clearing my throat, I dared ask < And what of my gems? Are they fair trade for much here? >

Nodding sagely, he ran his hooves over the small rubies, emeralds and sapphires, a jade the size of a hen’s egg, and a couple of small diamonds.
After a moment he spoke; < These are surprisingly tiny yet handsome. Where you are from… Are these truly considered a royal ransom? >

Coughing politely I nodded < They were cut down and parceled out from what I brought in my pockets from the land of the Houyhnhnms. These are all I have left.

Are they as common here as the ones on that land I seek? I found an entire beach where that was the gravel, as large as my fist and head and sizes between. So common, the average Houyhnhnm saw no value in them at all. When I left the island, I felt foolish stuffing my pockets with these gems as I had before my folly was pointed out by my… keeper. Still, I was being cast back out to my kind and knew I would need such trinkets to live among men. >

At that story, Zeram smiled and shook his head.
< Unlike among your Houyhnhnms cold, these baubles are worth their weight in gold, -which sadly is not that much, all told.
Even we have gem-filled beaches, clearings, and cliffs that draw Dragons bold.
In finished products their value grows.
Un-ripened as they are? Anything goes. >

He dipped his nose into a pouch and laid out a gold coin in my hand, marked with a stylized sun and the picture of a unicorn’s face on the reverse. It was about the size of a Pound Sterling coin.

< This! This my friend is the coin of the realm, a Bit by name.
The face and Cutie Mark are of our ruler of unequaled fame.
Frankly, their value may shock you.
-Does two Bits for an apple mock you? >

After a moment’s calculation, I was stunned, but glad there was ever so much more copper and silver. < Is there any gems you see of value then? -Something rare or not of this world? >

A moment of searching later, he spotted a separate pouch with my amber. One of the cheaper gems I had been advised to stock up on for trade. Several pounds weight in bits and pieces to trade with natives or sell to priests for incense.

< What is this? It smells of pine, it feels of rock... Ouch! Was that an electric shock?! >

Oh how I grinned! This was clearly something new and now hopefully worth more than my ship. < That my friend is Amber. Learned men of science are still scratching their heads over where it comes from other than Divine Providence, much less why some pieces have insects and small animals trapped inside.
As jewelry, it is unique and highly prized! It is valued by the holy men across the Earth, for when you rub one, it makes electric shocks and will even burn with a pleasing smell on altar stones. Such is the fate of much of the amber in antiquity, unfortunately. An expensive and showy tribute to many a heathen idol. >

After a moment, the look of wonder became a sly smile
< Friend Gulliver, please be wary and keep this Amber safe and secure,
When you display this to the Princess of the Sun, your fame will long endure. >

The wrinkled stallion’s ears went up at a thought, and put his charcoal-colored hoof on a modest piece the size of my thumb.

< A Healer is needed more than a village Elder, I say.
Let me come along, and this piece here is my pay.

The magic of gems give some potions healing power that is pure.
To experiment with this may bring to me many a miraculous cure! >

Well! That was hopeful news indeed! Gleefully, I took his aged hoof and shook it.
< Please! With my compliments, kind sir! Let us see what wonders you can work with that piece, and I will be glad to have you aboard, my friend! >

Chuckling, Zeram slipped the piece into a pouch. < Thank you, Friend Gulliver! It’s been too long since I have been on a voyage. I could do with the excitement. Now let us see to the crew, yes? >

Laughing, we left the cabin. < With pleasure! I’ve not been so hopeful since the day I left England! >

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Much of the remaining morning was spent speaking with the ponies wanting to sign on and setting some of them to repairing the sails and rigging upon hiring. On the recommendations of Rumrunner and Swifthoof, the goal was raised to several dozen ponies, with about a dozen Pegasi to handle the sails and fight any griffons we encounter on equal terms.

In the meantime, Zeram organized gathering the supplies that only equines could eat, as well as long lasting vegetables and fruit that they and the visiting humans could both eat.

As a healer himself, Zeram was quite surprised to hear about humans and our tendency to contract Scurvy and Ricketts without the right foods to eat. No Pony or other creature he knew had such difficulties, so once he learned what was needed, he personally oversaw the loading of local fruits with the same properties as limes, and a number of cheeses produced and stored in a cool sea-grotto on the island.

My mind was brought back to the here and now by a feminine “Ahem!”.
The fiery-colored unicorn, Ember Firedancer, was also applying for a place in the crew. The gender mix of the islands was roughly equal, and I must admit, their insistence in taking as many mares as stallions would keep us from removing many of the island’s stallions for what may be months. < Well sir? I am quite competent in knots and ropework, even making them move like a snake. I can create and control fire like no other in the islands, as well as snuff it out. >

Admittedly I was uncomfortable with the thought of so many, er, women aboard, but Rumrunner and Zeram were quick to tell me it was quite normal here. Ah well, my crew had been just as uncomfortable when I brought my wife and daughter on board...
Now that I think on what she had just said, I did have an idea…
< Just a small test first, Miss Firedancer…>

Quickly I took a small flask from my pocket and poured out six measures of pistol powder on the log I had been using for a seat, each pile just inches apart. < Light these piles as fast as you can. >

Puzzled, the mare nodded and narrowed her eyes. A moment later, her horn glowed red like an ember and all six piles flashed and exploded into smoke and flame simultaneously, making her jump back in surprise.

The ponies around looked at the puffs of smoke rising from the log as I passed the ship’s charter and a quill to the stunned mare. < Fantastic display, Miss Firedancer. I would like to hire you as one of the ship’s gunners…>

Shaking herself out of her surprise, she quickly signed the book in the blocky squiggles of their language. < Y-yes, Captain! I hope I won’t disappoint you, Sir. >

~~~~~~~~~~~~

The repairs and loading of supplies proceeded apace throughout the later morning, where I found Rumrunner, currently serving as the Bosun and the Quartermaster until we can shake out the crew into a better order. That I had set to do once we see how they handle a ship built for human hands.

At the moment, he was loading aboard a quantity of crates that looked similar to ones I had seen in the East Indies. Quietly, I had moved close behind him as he directed the winch-load of crates to the hold. < Well, Bosun, what is this we have coming aboard? >

To his credit, he did not jump… much. Instead, he quickly spun around and saluted me. < Cap’n! Ah just the one I was looking for! Well y’see sir! I am taking some of me pay and signing t’be yer first customer shipping a cargo, savvy? My rum consignments have been piling up while shipping is disrupted good sir! I figger’d it’s a good time t’kill two flies with one tail swat, if y’savvy, sir?
Fifty and one cases of me finest rum, bound for Seasaddle Bay and points beyond.>

At that I shook my head and chuckled < Very well, though I ask for future reference that I or Alexander, the new First Mate, be informed of requests for cargo consignments. This has all been properly written in the ships records, yes? >

Sheepishly, Rumrunner scuffed a hoof on the deck. < Not yet, Cap’n Gulliver. I will report to the First Mate right after I finish loading and get the papers written and signed nice and legal-like. >

At that, I nodded < See to it then. Carry on, Bosun, and make sure my two horse friends come on board next. > With that, I left to see the other preparations.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Shortly after the Noon hour began, the ship and crew was ready and I only had a mild attack in that time. Zeram’s medicine was serving me quite well it seems.

It was with great pride that Alexander and the other ships officers stood with me on the Stern Castle. With us was Wavedancer, laying on a wet blanket and conversing with Swifthoof. –Our Sea Master and Navigator, respectively.

The Hippocampus and Hippogriff finally turned their attention to us, with Wavedancer speaking.
< Friend Gulliver, the ship is ready to sail. I and Swifthoof feel that it is best to stop overnight at our herd’s main trade village at the main island of this chain, Gallopacos Island itself. >

Swifthoof fluttered his wings in agreement < Yes, Captain Gulliver, it will be a short sail to the farthest island of the chain by mid-to-late afternoon.
There, the Sea-herd has built a harbor with a breakwater, and the volcano that is the heart of the island is an easy landmark. It will give us a chance to get familiar with your ship and figure out how to best work the various parts with their rather odd proportions.
-It will also be our last safe harbor before the risk of piracy so we had best plan on staying overnight as part of the shakedown cruse. >

I translated this to my son and thought a moment, then nodded < I agree! Set the course forthwith. We sail immediately! >

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cheers rang out from the shores of the island as a dozen Pegasi, six Unicorns and six Earth ponies, One Hippogriff, One Zebra, and four humans rushed about, readying the ship to sail.
With a creak of the capstan being turned by a burly Earth pony, the anchor was raised. The circling Pegasi landed on the yardarms and unfurled the sails, before dropping down to the deck to catch and set the rigging with the deck ponies.

While this was happening, Navigator Swifthoof was at the ship’s wheel. He shouted commands to one Unicorn pony, who waved signal flags to six of the Pegasi above. -He had already explained this earlier, but I had to see this for myself to believe it as the six sped away, up into the sky.

In moments the Ponies had returned, at the head of a gust of wind pointing the way we needed to go. No need for complicated tacking maneuvers to catch the wind at an inefficient angle when they can just whistle up the wind in any direction like the legend of Ulysses and the Bag of the Winds. “Good lord! What cant’ these Ponies do?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Our day trip proceeded smoothly, while Jolly the parrot, Zeram, and the stone-horses worked with my family in the hold teaching them to speak equine. Alongside the Alicorn, we were accompanied not only by the Hippocampus herd, but by the flotilla of boats that had arrived for the luau as the ponies headed back to their home islands. I found myself smiling as all the crews suddenly broke out into song, in perfect pitch and unison. This magic of harmony works in mysterious ways…

< Adventure calls to thee,
Out on the shining sea~!

How lucky you are to see,
Friends of Harmonyyy!

Frieeeends out upon the sea,
Adventures for you and me,
Nothing too tough for we,
Friends of Harmonyyy! >

Not to be outdone, the Hippocampi sang the chorus as if it had been written ahead of time;

< Friends forever, upon the sea, Friends forever how lucky are we, Friends in unity we shall be, Friends of Harmony~! >

The song went on for about ten more verses, with even my family joining in on the finale’. Good lord! This is clearly not normal for learning languages, but I shant’ complain. My family would likely be speaking like natives this very week!

Perhaps this strange magic of Harmony is seeping into our very flesh. This... Feeling of belonging.

I sat down heavily in surprise as a thought hit me! It suddenly occurs to me that perhaps the Houyhnhnms were too perfect. I was forever the outsider looking in on their perfect lives and held in mere tolerance like the cattle and donkeys that lived among them, and in disdain and loathing when my unclothed humanity was revealed. Their harmony was only with their own kind.
In contrast, these Ponies shared this sense of belonging with anyone willing. I finally saw my behavior to my own kind as the foolishness it was and wiped the sudden flood of tears with my sleeve.

A taloned hand gripped my shoulder as Swifthoof spoke to me < Captain, is it another bout of illness? >

After a moment, I patted his scaled forearm in thanks < Just an epiphany, my good fellow… I may need to buy some of Rumrunner’s wares to deal with my thoughts this night. >

Chuckling, Swifthoof twitched his tufted pony ears < Make it a small bottle, Captain. It is quite potent…>

~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was late afternoon when we arrived at Gallopacos Island. The southern shore made a crescent shape, with a sea-wall made up of coral and stone extending out from the point. The sea herd led us to the entrance where a red Pegasus harbor pilot landed and took over for the trip inside.

The view inside was charming, with bamboo and thatch buildings on stilts ringing the shore. Old masts stood up from the water as mooring points for flat-bottomed barges serving as floating docks. Rope bridges soared in elegant arcs from the barges to the buildings on shore. Tied up at the docks were several modest merchantmen, and a larger vessel painted in white and gold, flying a white flag emblazoned with a golden sun.

Seeing this, the crew cheered and waved at the ponies and officials assembled on the docks. Apparently a vessel from their navy was in port.

Longshoreman ponies pulled our lines tight, mooring us just as the sun dipped blow the horizon. I and my family were amazed to see the water below light up with regular streets and rounded, organic-shaped buildings of coral blocks and volcanic stone. All of those underwater buildings had roofs of glass or ship decking, giving the surreal feeling of flying above a European city and looking down from above.

The clear water revealed the mooring mast we were tied to was connected to the peak of the largest building, about 5 stories high, with hatches in the flat top taken from ship decks. The breakwater was their fortress walls, our safe harbor their very town. It was a sight fully as magnificent in its own way as the island-fortress of the air, Laputa.

I was shaken from my revere as Rumrunner trotted up < Beggin’ yer pardon, Cap’n. Both the Harbormaster, an’ the First Mate of Her Majesty’s Naval ship, “Eclipse” ask permission to come aboard. >

Nodding, I started for my cabin < Pipe them aboard while I ready my family and papers. We shall see what they make of us “poor, miserable Yahoos”… > I ended with a laugh.

Author's Note

My apologies for the delays. aside from the usual IRL problems, I also had to do my homework for portions of this, as well as finish the cover art.