Sealegs

The sea blue pony trotted up to Shining, collecting a large pouch of bits.
He turned to face the group, observing them carefully.
There was a dark-coated unicorn staring him down, oblivious to the situation behind him.
Looked like some Pegasus was trying to stop a tearful breakdown, and a violent outburst at the same time.
He always got stuck with weird groups.

"The names Sea Breeze, at your service. Follow me, I can take you to my captain."

Without looking back, the stallion turned and took off at a fast trot.
Shining signalled his companions to follow, before trotting off after him.
The piers were crowded, with sailorponies speaking to each other in strange accents everywhere.
Braeburn never once broke his angry gaze at the back of Sombra's head.
Fluttershy managed to dry her tears, before continuing to explain her worries to gold.

"I'm just not okay with him treating me that way anymore. But I don't have the courage to stand up to him..."

Fluttershy whimpered, thinking of Sombra's booming voice.
Gold looked up, deciding on what to do.

"D'you want me to get Shiny to talk to him? Shiny isn't afraid of anyone."

Fluttershy nodded, sniffling.
Gold patted her on the back, before increasing pace to trot at Braeburn's side again.

Sea Breeze stopped at an impressive looking vessel, turning to face the company with a look of pride on his face.

"I give you, The Equila! You won't find a finer ship on the eastern sea!"

Sombra Grunted.
Braeburn let out a whistle.
Shining began to trot aboard.
Sea Breeze followed close behind, seemingly interested in Shining.
Braeburn nudged Gold lightly in the side, whispering into his ear.

"Isn't young love cute?"

Gold struggled to hold back roaring laughter, and boarded the ship.
Sea Breeze lead them to the captains cabin, knocking on the door.

"Oi Green. The ponies are here."

The door swung open, revealing a muscular, light green pony.

"Ahoy there! The names Green Flash, pleasure to make your acquaintance!"

One by one, he grabbed each ponies hoof, shaking vigorously.
Sombra grunted, keeping his hoof far away from its attacker.
Green Flash ignored him, instead shaking Fluttershy's hoof.
Fluttershy struggled to keep balance with the shaking, a single tear flying off of her face and onto Sombra's.
Sombra turned to look at her, mild curiosity in his eyes.
He once again dismissed it, instead trotting below deck to check out the ships hull.
Green Flash showed the rest of the ponies to their cabins. 3 private cabins.
The company made themselves at home, before heading into the captains cabin to discuss their business.
Huddling around the captains desk, the ponies poured over a large map.

"A friend o' mine over on this island here sent a messenger back to me about sightin's o' strange bugponies in the caves. Yer changelings sound a lot like what he described."

Shining nodded slowly, his brow furrowed.
Gold and Braeburn stared at a tiny ship in a bottle, fascinated.
Fluttershy hung back near the door, Sombra giving her occasional looks of mild concern.
Green Flash trailed his hoof along the map, outlining the route they were to take.
"This tradin' route here will get you to the island quicker than any other routes. We can get you there in about 2 or 3 days."

Shining stood up in anger.

"2 OR 3 DAYS? WE DON'T HAVE THAT TIME TO SPARE!"

Green Flash stood up, not taking kindly to the outburst.

"WELL YER WELCOME TO TRY FIND ANOTHER WAY TO CROSS THE OCEAN, THEN."

Shining Armour stared for a moment, then sat down, defeated.
Gold patted his friend on the back, trying to console him.
Shining, his voice weak, spoke out.

"When's the soonest we can leave?"

"Right now, laddy."

The Equila left the port behind in a matter of hours.
The waves thrashed against it's strong hull, spraying foam all about.
Green Flash stood at the helm, the Sea wind flowing through his long, moss green mane.
Sea Breeze stood next to him, directing the ship with expertise born from many trips at sea.
Shining Armour leaned up against a barrel, fighting seasickness.
Sombra lingered around the entryway to the hull, Fluttershy distancing herself from him.
Gold stood at the head of the ship, wings unfolded, enjoying the cool wind.
Braeburn stood next to him, trying desperately not to lose his hat.
The sun bore down on them all, its burning heat weakening the ponies with every move they made.
Green Flash stared straight into it, his Blue eyes defiant.

"YE AIN'T GONNA STOP ME!"

His bellow thundered, splitting the silence.
Shining walked up to join Gold and Braeburn at the ships head.

"Did... Did he just yell at the sun?"

Gold shrugged.

"Maybe he's drank too much salt water?"

Braeburn chuckled, almost letting go of his hat.
Gold remembered Fluttershy's favor, leaning in to whisper to his best friend.

"Hey Shiny, you wouldn't mind talking to Sombra about the way he's treating Fluttershy, would ya? She's really upset."

Shining Armour furrowed his brow, and nodded, before leaning over the railing and throwing up.
A large tentacle erupted from the water, slapping down on the ships deck.
Green Flash bared his teeth in a savage grin.

"Aye, We've got company lads!"

Fluttershy squealed, as a large squid-like creature broke the surface of the water, tentacles raised.
Shining Armour reacted quickly, firing a magical bolt at the creature.
Besides tickling it, it didn't appear to do anything.
Sea Breeze buried his face in his hooves.

"That's not how you do it! Allow me!"

Sea Breeze's horn ignited with magic, beginning to envelop the ship with a deep blue bubble.
The giant squid had other plans, however.
With a screech, it struck down on the bubble, shattering it and knocking Sea Breeze back on his haunches.
Shining Armour raised an eyebrow, before raising his head high.
With a single blast of powerful magic, he enveloped the ship with a gigantic purple bubble.
The force of the energy knocked the squid backwards, enraging it.
It lunged forward again, striking the bubble several times with its tentacles.
Shining Armour's magic held strong, as he repelled the blows without so much as a flinch.
Sea Breeze regarded Shining with awe.
With a roar, Shining sent out another powerful pulse of magic, sending the squid skyward.
With a screech, it dove down into the depths once again, leaving the Equila without even a scratch.
Gold and Braeburn whooped, running over to Shining and showering him with praise.
Fluttershy was hyperventilating. Sombra put a hoof on her shoulder, but was shocked to find it made her breathing worse.
Green Flash roared down at Shining.

"Aye, that was impressive lad! Breezy here could stand to learn a thing or two from ye!"

Sea Breeze buried his head in his hooves, humiliated.
Shining saw, trotting towards him and placing a hoof on his shoulder.

"If you'd like, I can teach you about shield magic."

Sea Breeze looked up, shocked, and nodded.
Braeburn whispered in Gold's ear for a second time, chuckling
The two roared with laughter.

The sun disappeared over the horizon, night setting in.
Green Flash roared out.

"WAIT FOR IT!"

Raised eyebrows throughout the whole ship.

"WATCH THE HORIZON, LADS AND LASS!"

Everyone stared towards the horizon, as the sun slowly began to set.
Sombra trotted over to Fluttershy, attempting to enjoy the sunset with her.
He noticed as he got close, she tensed up.
She was afraid of him.
Sombra was hurt, but he hid it well.
With a grunt, he trotted over to the other side of the ship.
Braeburn snickered a little, and received a prod to the side by Gold.

"Jokes on you bud, Ah'm wearin' a vest."

Gold raised an eyebrow.

"Want me to hit you harder?"

Shining Armour ignored their playful banter, walking over to Sombra.

"You okay?"

Sombra grunted, turning away.

"I need to speak with you."

Sombra was motionless.
Shining began to speak in a hushed tone, with Gold and Braeburn looking their way, varying amounts of concern on their faces.
Green nodded to Sea, who pulled a small lever near the helm.
A stone slab was elevated out onto the deck.
Sea trotted down into the cabin area, returning with a brazier.
He set it on the concrete slab, filling it with wooden logs.
His horn ignited, and a magical flame began to dance around on the logs, setting them alight.
Green continued to stare towards the horizon, and as the sun finished disappearing, a huge flash erupted, filling the night sky with green.
Fluttershy squeaked in surprise, the rest of the company looking for the source.

"I TOLD YE LADS TO WATCH, THAT'S THE FLASH ME MOTHER NAMED ME FOR!"

Within minutes, the anchor had been laid down, and the company sat eating by the light of a large, magical flame.
Shining took a bowl of soup in his magical grasp, before sitting next to Sea Breeze.
He stared up at the stars, recognizing many formations that he and his sister had used to search for in the night sky.

"Hey Sea. D'you have any siblings?"

Sea looked down.

"Nope. Only child."

Shining Armour stared into the flame.

"You know, this is pretty impressive. You have talent."

Sea Breeze shrugged, bashful.

"Not really. You saw me fail earlier today."

Shining patted him on the back.

"Everyone starts out shaky. You just have to keep at it."

Gold looked up from his bowl, soup dripping from his muzzle.

"Hey, Fresh Meat! Don't get any ideas, that's MY best friend!"

Sea Breeze cast Gold a foul look.

"Whats his deal, anyway? I thought the cowpony was his best friend."

Shining chuckled.

"He's just a loud stallion. And that isn't his BEST friend, that's his COLT friend."

Green Flash bellowed

"WELL NOW, YE DON'T SEE THAT VERY OFTEN. STALLIONS IN LOVE, AYE."

Braeburn raised an eyebrow, wrapping an arm around Gold.

"And Ah wouldn't have it any other way."

Sombra stared at Fluttershy, remembering his conversation with Shining earlier.
He debated trying to talk to her, but was surprised to find he couldn't pluck up the courage.
So he sat there in silence, eating his meal slowly.
Green Flash bellowed out once more.

"MATEYS, GATHER ROUND, AND LET ME TELL YE A LITTLE ABOUT THE FINE VESSEL YER SITTING ON."

The night sky shimmered like silk, and the flame in the center of the group burned bright, and warm.
Green Flash held a pipe to his mouth, his eyes glazed over, his mind in the past.

"It was a long time ago, when I was a wee lad. This here ship, she belonged to me father. He was a good man, ol' Sea Salt. A fine upstanding stallion. Me mother loved him very much. He spent many of his days at sea, with this beauty of a vessel. He'd transport precious cargo, explore new islands, and even clear out pirates when they dared to rear their ugly 'eads. The cannons in the hull were among the first magically powered cannons on the eastern seas. But now, with the Bug-ponies being sighted around the Eastern Islands, everyones too scared to go out to sea. And so, this fine vessel doesn't get to see the ocean as much as she should."

Green Flash looked poignantly at the dancing flames.

"Me father was always such a fine man. I always wanted to be a sailor like him. I've seen my fair share of the ocean, but aye, I can't help but feel like something is missing."

Gold nodded.

"I know what it feels like to really want to be like someone."

Sombra snorted.

"You don't have an inkling of respect in your body. You expect me to believe you have a role model?"

Gold frowned.

"Yes. Yes I do. And he's sitting right there."

Gold raised a hoof to point at Shining, who blushed, ever so slightly.
Braeburn squeezed Gold tight, resting his chin atop Gold's head.

"Yer well on your way, Goldy."

Gold nuzzled up to Braeburn, as Fluttershy looked on sadly.
Sea Breeze looked on, admiring the bonds that the three shared.
Sombra looked on as well.
Determined, he pulled Fluttershy away from the fire, gently.

Green Flash nodded towards Gold.

"Aye, Yer a good lad."

Gold grinned.

"Thanks. I appreciate the compliment."

Sea Breeze scowled at Gold.

"Don't get any ideas. This is MY best friend."

Gold raised an eyebrow, before looking up at the stars.

"Hey, Shiny. Wanna go stargaze?"

Shining nodded.

"Sure. Why don't we all stargaze?"

Gold grinned.

"Fine by me. Should I put out this fire?"

Sea Breeze scoffed.

"You couldn't put it out if your life depended on it."

Gold raised an eyebrow, before spreading his wings and taking flight.
He flapped hard and fast, sending a gust of wind down into the flame.
It was out within seconds.
With the light extinguished, the night sky was easier to see.
Thousands upon thousands of stars littered the silky black expanse.
The ponies laid back, staring up at the beautiful stars.
Sombra and Fluttershy eventually returned the group, seemingly reconciled.
Lying back together, they joined in, pointing out the glittering constellations.
Several hours passed, with the company lying back on the deck, enjoying the crisp, cool sea air.
The daytime may be dangerous, but the night seemed more beautiful than ever.
Eventually, Sombra stood up.

"It's late. We should get some rest."

The company complied, each pony returning to their private cabins, and drifting off to sleep.