"Experience keeps a dear school, but fools will learn in no other, and scarce in that."
~ Benjamin Flanklin, Fillydelphia
As much as it was the hottest it would ever of been in Equestria, not even Ponyville was spared from it, for it was practically steaming with the aura of a warm summers day. As noon progressed, many of the ponies had already taken shelter within their cottages while others trotted casually along trying to stay as much as possible out of the sun and catch as many shady places as could be done.
As for the vibrant rainbow-maned equine, Rainbow Dash repeatedly nagged about the weather, while sitting underneath her umbrella and waving a fan across her face.
"This sun! Could it get any hotter?"
"My, my, my. Is it too much for you, Rainbow Dash?" Rarity cheerily chirped underneath her fashionably wide-brimmed straw hat that kept her face protected from the sun.
"It can't be this hot. It just can't!" Rainbow moaned flapping her wings vigorously in order to keep her cool. "There must be something wrong with the weather. The Wonderbolts had to cancel training practice today because it was too much practicing in the heat."
"Well, don't you know exercise in such weather is practically dangerous, let alone precocious. What pony would have the sense enough to do such a thing?"
Just then, Applejack with her straw-colored pony tail wiping away the profuse amount of perspiration slipping down her forehead in beads emerged from Sweet Apple Acres; having harvested the last of the apples she had been bucking for three straight days.
"Pshew-wee! It sure's bin the hawtest ever on record! Aw ain't experienced this much heat since ay was a lil' filleh! Oowwee! This here'sa real cook out!"
"Ooooo! And what are we gonna have, huh? Salisbury steak with a baked potato--mmm yum yum yum!"
Pinkie, as was her usual hyper-frenetic custom bounced around the ponies sitting beneath a large umbrella; Rarity lounging upon a chez lounge, Rainbow sitting underneath the umbrella reading "Daring Doo: The Curse of the Black Saddle"
"And where's Twilight?" said Applejack.
"Over at the library lookin' over a few maps and stuff."
"On such a hot day as this?"
"She said it was important. You know how what an egghead she it."
"And what about Fluttershy?"
"Fluttershy? She--"
Rainbow looked around.
"Heh, that's funny. She was just here a few minutes ago."
"Oh, I think I saw her go tend to some poor widdle wood-land critters in the forest who needed a nice widdle cool shady place to stay."
Pinkie, bored with bouncing around, had now leapt onto the very tip of the top of Dashes umbrella and gleefully began bending it back and forth.
"Hey! Pinkie! Cut it out!"
"Whoooooooo! Look at me! Look at me! I'm a rooster! BA-GAWK!"
"Pinkie." Rarity quite blatantly began, "I do wish you'd stop exerting yourself in such a most un-fashionable manner. Besides, why would any pony even so much as lift a hoof in such fine weather. Go ahead and relax!"
The commotion was interrupted suddenly by the sound of quick hoof beats. It was Twilight Sparkle.
"Hey girls!" she said quite pleasantly yet with a sense of it being forced.
"Why, hawdy there Twilight!"
"Where's Fluttershy?"
"She ain't been around fer a while. Pinkie says she's been busy tendin to the needs of the woodland critters. Anyways, what gives?"
"The mayor is hosting a celebration down by the Ponyville Dam and has requested our immediate presence. Princess Celestia sent me a reminder. It's important that we all be there on time."
"Really? On such a hot day as this?" Rarity perturbedly objected. "I'm quite comfortable here, giving my absolutely dull coat a perfect tan."
"Seriously Twilight, why the falls?" Rainbow groaned.
"You'll see when we get there."
After a considerable time getting everything together, the five equines, soon to be accompanied by Fluttershy trotted off towards the Dam. Luckily, by the time they arrived it had gradually cooled off to some extent which greatly relieved their sun-weary bodies from the overbearingness of the heat.
And yet, it was there that the discovery was made. Tethered to the dock and bobbing gracefully above the crystal waves was a great white yacht.
"Look at that!" Applejack was speechless. Indeed, it must of been a massive sight; something like a quadruple decker boat, decked in a pure coat of be-speckling white, with a red line circumferencing the lower portion. It carried upon it's prow a rather regal touch.
"Oww, oww! Some one catch me, I'm about to faint!" Rarity egregiously fanfared.
"It looks so tasty!" Pinkie drooled.
"It's so--coool!" Dashie breathed as her wings gave out and she dropped to the ground.
While amongst this stupor, none of them seemed to notice Fluttershy as she nudged her way through the group.
"I'm sorry I was late. It was just that angel was being such a naughty bunny."
Just then, Rarity, having satiated as much as her eyes could handle of the magnificent vessel suddenly keeled over.
"Oh, my. Did I miss anything?"
Before anypony could of said anything in reply, there issued the sound of the trumpet blast followed by the magnified voice of Mayor Mare.
"Hear-ye, hear-ye! Fillies and Gentlecolts!"
It was that down by the river docks, a considerable crowd had gathered before the yacht while the mayor stood proudly alongside the gangway.
"Come on, hurry!" Twilight urged, snapping herself out of her enamored trance.
"I am pleased and humbly grateful to be witness to the crowning of Ponyville's greatest honor. May I give to you the Canterlot Rose."
"Rose?" croaked a familiar voice. "Isn't that supposed to mean red? It's as white as the smoke I puff out my nose when I'm the middle of my gem-hoarding dreams."
"Spike!" Twilight whispered, trying to attract her scaly-assistants attention while she and the rest of the ponies carefully pushed their way through the crowd who met their attempts with vocal resistance.
"Hey!"
"Look out!"
"Be quiet!"
"Sorry." Twilight apologized profusely as she made her way towards the front.
"Hey Twi!" said Spike, "Thought you wouldn't make it. Say, is it me or is that--."
"Ssssshhhhhh!"
"Eghh-eghmm!" came the sound of Mayor Mare clearing her throat. Twilight beamed scarlet.
"As I was saying. The mayor of Manehatten was pleased enough to join me in the royal ribbon cutting ceremony symbolizing our grand token of filly-al mutuality." To which that towns mayor, carrying a pair of very large shears in her mouth placed them before a long stream of tinsel tied from one end of the hatchway to the other, and with some difficulty and with a great hurrah, cut it .
"Hurray!" Exclaimed the jubilant crowd.
"Let the celebrations commence!" proclaimed the mayor. "May everyone step inside to be the first to receive a grand tour of the Canterlot Rose!"
"Dude, it's white!" Spike soundly objected to which Twilight patted him gently on the shoulder.
"There, there now Spike."
"There's cake, and punch inside!" exclaimed Mr. Cake peaking his head out one of the many portholes.
"Well then," Pinkie began "Come on, everypony! Let's get this party started!"
"I must bestow my humble apologies but--simply put, it is the most divine of all vessels in Equestria!"
"Indeed. We built it in honor of the founding of Marelantis." replied the captain of the yacht which, had it not been with mayor Mare's permission was gliding almost silently and motionlessly for roughly an hour.
"Marelantis?" exclaimed the ponies
"So, is it me or is this whole yacht just one suave de oeuvre?"
"What is Marelantis?" Rainbow asked.
"Why, don't you know?"
"It's just an old mare's tale!" Rainbow snorted to which Rarity heatedly replied,
"What--mare's tale! Humph! I've heard it's real!"
"What's so real about it?"
"Well, for one, I've heard that the place is possibly the only known city where unicorns where first believed to exist."
"She's right," Twilight concurred, "I remember reading about it in the Canterlot library not too long ago. It said something about the ancient city being the home of thousands of primitive unicorns known for their acute powers for detection and discovery especially of gems below the ground. The legend also says that the entire race of unicorns can only be traced back to Marelantis and to no other city within or outside of Equestria.
"Then one day, the ancient city was struck by a powerful earthquake that is said to of caused a rupture in the earth which in turn swallowed the entire city and it's population, never to be seen or heard from again."
"What happened to the rest of the unicorns?"
"It mentioned that only three unicorns were able to escape being trapped, and that those three have since saved and continued the lasting legacy of the unicorns."
"Sounds incredibly sappy." Rainbow yawned.
"Sappy?" Twilight said starring Rainbow down. Rainbow looking at Twilight's horn and getting the picture merely rolled her eyes.
"Barely anyone knows the story of how the Pegasus were created."
"That's not true, Rainbow."
"Ooooo! Somepony's jealous." Pinkie giggled.
"I am not!" Dash stated matter-of-fact. "It's just no pony ever talks about how we--the Pegasus,--founded the first civilization up in the clouds." she said giving Fluttershy an encouraging bump on the shoulder who taking it unexpectantly shot down out of sight underneath a table.
"Come on! It was just me."
"Oh. Okay. But next time Dash, just tell me your gonna do that?" Fluttershy said sticking her head out from underneath the table cloth .
"Ugh--way to go Fluttershy. Is that how you represent team Pegasi?"
"I'm sorry."
"Hey Twi, check this out." said Rainbow about to pull off a rather tricky dive underneath a table in the hopes of impressing a rather unconscious pair of winged Pegasus, "Hey, Twilight? Are you okay?"
Twilight seemed to be glaring at something outside.
"Twi? Hey!" Rainbow prodded, "TWILIGHT!"
"Oh," Twilight exclaimed nearly leaping out of her skins, "I'm so sorry!" she apologized.
"You looked kinda like you've just seen a ghost."
"I--I--just thought I saw something that looked extremely weird. Never mind." she said partaking in a crème puff. "I'm sure it was just my imagination."
"Pshew-wee! Enough of this gabbin." suggested Applejack, "How 'bouts we go up on deck and see what's goin on around there."
"Great idea!"
Though it was still considerably warm, the ponies found that being on deck amidst the swift breeze only added to their being comfortable and no sooner had they arrived but each of them threw themselves back on a lounge chair and relaxed.
"Ahhh. This is the life." muttered Dash taking in a deep breath.
"Ooooo. Aghhhhhaa!" Rarity shuddered with delight. "My one and only dream was to sail on the most magnificent yacht of my dreams, and I can't believe it is happening!" And girlishly she leapt from her chair and fell to kissing the deck, the sides of the yacht, and even leading up to the captain himself.
"Do ay smell the sea?" Applejack said sniffing the air meanwhile.
"Why? Does it still smell like cake?" Pinkie garishly replied licking her hooves.
"Not even close there, Pinkeh."
"Well, technically," Twilight mused, "we have been traveling down this river for quite a while now. According to my calculations shouldn't we be getting closer to the ocean?"
"Ya mean the Gulf of Marexico?"
"Gosh! Why does every place I've heard so far have the word 'mare' in it?" Rainbow Dash suddenly cried.
"Because it just does?" Applejack returned snarkly.
"Seriously, we should be a lot closer to the sea by now."
"And those mysterious looking clouds." Pinkie pointed out.
In the distance a threat of ominous looking clouds obscured the horizon, big, black, and rather strangely foreboding. The others looked up troubled.
"Looks like there's gonna be a storm a brewin. And yet, why the hay are we still heading into it?"
Twilight looked around.
"I say. Wouldn't it be wise if we were to head back to shore?" remarked one of the guests to another pony, "Those clouds certainly do look like they are harboring something down-right menacing."
"Something's not right here." said Twilight alighting from her chair, "You wait here, I'll be right back."
"Wait! Where are you going?" said Dash.
"I'm going to see what's going on and why we aren't turning back." And with that she trotted into the ship only to emerge a few minutes later with a look that was far from appeasing.
"Ugh, girls? I think we've got a problem."
* * *
"Confounded contraptions! Can't even work when you want them too." the captain growled. The problem was the steering wheel which appeared to of jammed for some reason no on could explain.
"You mean to tell me that we've been traveling like this for all this time without anybody knowing?"
"Well, I wouldn't put it that way." whimpered the captain. "It had been working till about a few minutes ago."
"Is there anyways you can stop this boat--"
"Ah, ah! She's called a yacht, darling." Rarity impulsively corrected.
"The engineer might be able to help." the captain returned calling to one of the crew.
"Well, that's what I've been trying to tell you sir," replied the skinny looking colt. "The engine--"
"Yes?"
The colt gulped.
"Well--SPEAK!"
"It's not working!"
"Look, Rarity!" exclaimed Applejack suddenly. They looked at Rarity who had turned pale white--not that she had already a white coat to begin with.
"Stay away from me! Get back!" she said backing away.
"What's the matter, Rarity?"
"Eghhh!" She screamed and tore off.
"What's wrong with her?"
"Never mind, we gotta ship to save!" Twilight proclaimed in her decisive moment of action. "Applejack I need you to go below and help fix the engine. Fluttershy, I need you to go explain to the passengers that everything is in control and that there's no need to panic. Pinkie, your job is to keep everypony entertained while we sort this out. Rainbow, I need you to help me with--"
"Twilight, I hate to be a downer about this, but I think we got more serious problems on our hooves."
And with that Rainbow firmly pointed to what appeared to be a bunch of jagged rocks and shoals in the not-so-far-off distance that they were gradually encroaching upon.
"We're doomed!" cried Spike having spent this entire time filling his face with gem cakes and other refreshments.
"Don't worry." Twilight said using her magic. "I've got this!"
By now a brisk wind had picked up ruffling the dresses and knocking off the hats of the other ponies aboard. Fluttershy, to the best of her ability had corralled all the guests inside where Pinkie tried her hardest to entertain them without betraying the slightest emotion of fear and trepidation. Meanwhile, Applejack had tried, unsuccessfully, to fix the malfunctioning engine only to end up being splattered with grease and oil in the process. Apart from the rest, Twilight's magic in solving the problem only met with stalwart resistance.
"It's as if it's been jinxed!" she admitted having done her utmost to free the yacht from the be-laboring extremities. "This isn't normal, It should of already come loose."
"There has to be another way!" Rainbow returned, and darted out an open window.
"Where are you going?"
"It's time to do this the hard way!" to which Dash flew in front of the bow, bracing her back against it and beating her wings in a futile effort to impede it's unchecked path.
"Rainbow, stop! It's too big! You're going to hurt yourself!"
"What are we going to do!" The captain, who had since been patiently observant the entire time now burst out in terror.
"Quick there's no time! We have to get everypony off this yacht before it crashes against those rocks!" Twilight yelled regardless.
"Abandon ship! Abandon ship!"
* * *
It wasn't long before the wind howled above their heads and many of the passengers knew what danger they were in, that Twilight sprung into action. Fortunately, the yacht always carried a lifeboat in case of possible emergencies.
"Now if you just stay calm, Pinkie will give you all a grand hug." Pinkie assuaged, as most of the passengers, including the mayor herself seemed to be nearer to mass hysteria than in need of a hug.
"We've got to get off this boat!" a gray-haired mare insisted.
"Please, I have a family with two small fillies. Let us off this thing!" cried another.
"Oh, don't worry." Fluttershy tried vainly to subdue the equine, "It'll be fine."
"All right, everypony!" Twilight's voice rang out like sweet-sounded thunder compared to what was raging outside; she had managed to gather every single pony on board into the main Fourier of the yacht. "If I may please have you attention."
"Ugh, Twilight?" Applejack said, "I reckon, their attention has been had long enough now."
"It is imperative we do this properly and without panic." Twilight shot back, "May I please have everypony listen so that no one is left behind? Please, follow Fluttershy to the rear where you will find the lifeboat under the supervision of Spike. Please enter one at a time so as not to create a scene."
"Yes! Yes! We understand! Now, can we get off this boat?" pleaded the passengers.
For a brief moment Twilight paused, figuring she had forgotten something of even trivial importance before finally announcing,
"You may now--Aghhh!"
Before she could of finished, they burst forward, knocking her aside and making a mad dash towards the Lifeboat. Fluttershy, who was the last one anyone would of thought of to of handled such a rowdy crowd and now the only one blocking their path was instantly hurled in the air.
By this time the Canterlot Rose was entirely surrounded by furious waves and a heavy rain began pelting down while the winds battered the now perilous yacht like it was a mere toy. It wasn't long before the entire life craft was filled to capacity.
"Is everypony accounted for?" The captain cried and without waiting for a reply frantically pulled the rope that lowered the lifeboat.
"Wait! Where's Rarity?"
"Help!" Came an almost indistinguishable cry back aboard the yacht. It was Fluttershy, her mane caught underneath a table that had apparently fallen during the ensuing scuffle that tossed her like a rag-toy about.
"Oh no."
"Fluttershy!"
"I thought she was with us!"
"Don't worry!" Dash bravely ventured quickly perking up. "I got this!"
"Ha ha! Go Rainbow!" Spike cheered.
But just as she spread her wings and sprung out of the boat the wind met her full force nearly pitching her sideways and almost into the raging tempest.
"Rainbow Dash!"
"I can't make it! It's too strong!" Dash said falling back into the boat.
Just then the door to one of the cabins on board the yacht thrust open and Rarity, green as a toad, and quite tipsy from being sea-sick emerged on deck.
"Rarity!" The ponies cried.
"Huh?"
"Get in!"
"What about Fluttershy?" yelled Spike.
For a split second, Twilight realized the dilemma they were in.
"Rarity! You have to go back and get Fluttershy." she hollered.
"Hurry!" Spike yelled, "before it's too late!"
"But darling--"
"Just go!"
The wind was making it nearly impossible for them to correspond with one another.
"Don't worry about me!" Rarity returned swallowing her pride, as well the contents in her stomach and trotted back inside.
"Rarity...?" squeaked Fluttershy.
"Here I come Fluttershy."
"Oh, Rarity, I thought I was lost."
"Why in the wide world of Equestria would we abandon you?" Rarity grinned.
Upon freeing the poor lass, both returned on deck only to be met with disappointment for the lifeboat, at the protestation of both Spike and Twilight had finally managed to get free and clear of the doomed vessel... the fate of both Rarity and Fluttershy had yet to be determined.
"They're not going to make it!" cried the captain. "Yet I almost forget. There's a life raft tucked underneath the bunk of my cabin!"
"Rarity! Fluttershy!" Twilight cried at the top of her lungs and wasting little time spreading this new information. "There's a life raft inside the captains cabin under the bed! Use it to get back on shore!"
"What?"
"There's... raft... captains cabin... get back..."
But her cries were drowned out by the roaring of the waves and the peels of thunder.
"Oh, Rarity I'm soo frightened!"
"Leave it to me!" Rarity said forthrightly. "I know exactly what to do."
"Panic...?"
"Really, Fluttershy. I would of certainly thought that petty ululating would afford us little in times as this--"
There was a loud crack of thunder.
"Panic!" Yelled Rarity grabbing onto Fluttershy and both began wailing in despair.
Just then the bow of the yacht suddenly thrust into a steep trough of a huge wave sending everything, including the two ponies forward, sliding through the open door and to the front of the vessel.
"I think I'm going to be absolutely sick!" Rarity moaned as her head bumped up against the side of a tarp-like object.
"I wish Twilight were here." Fluttershy whimpered.
"Oh my! Fluttershy, look!"
"I can't!"
"It's something better than Twilight. Do you know what this means?" Rarity was flooded with joy. The tarp-like object was none other than the inflatable dinghy!
"What are we going to do...?" Fluttershy moped as a large wave passed underneath the keel of the yacht causing them to fall backwards towards the stern. Both knew that they'd have to think fast before they'd end up in the raging ocean and lost for all eternity.
"Though I am not sailor, at least I know when a life raft is readily aboard to assist a couple of ladies in their dire rescue." And pulling the tether dangling to the side of the package with her teeth while stifling another woozy belch, Rarity, held tightly by Fluttershy together tumbled out onto the listing deck, flung themselves heroically forward into the inflating raft as a giant wave swept across the deck they had been standing not a moment ago.
It was then they were entirely merciless to the elements... not even half of the trouble that was about to ensue...
