Chapters "Spike…..Spiiiikeee? Spike wake up!"
"Huh, whu… I'm up, I'm up!"
"Come on Spike, we need to finished making the plan for reorganizing the to-do list for how we are going to sort the new books for the library. I told you this yesterday"
"Sounds exciting. *Yawn*"
"You'll enjoy it once we get started, now- Oh, I wonder who could be coming to the library this early… Come in Granny Smith, oh my let me take that it looks heavy!"
"Darn tootin it's heavy. Eh, I found this 'ere monster in the attic! My mother told me about her great-grandmothers diary, said we still had it somewheres. I always wondered if she was right, so when I found this I thought maybe she was right… but I can't read the darn thing! It's so old the letters are all faded, the page nearly broke in two when I tried to turn it. I was wonderin' if you could see about restorin it. Do you think ya can?"
"Well there is a spell that could work, but it would completely destroy the original copy…"
"Any other options?"
"I could do it by hoof, but it would take much longer. I could get it done in about three weeks"
"Well, if y'all are busy I could mail it to Canterlot and have a professional do it…"
"Oh no, I would be happy to restore this for you. Besides you know the mail-pony here, as nice as she is I'm not sure I would trust her with something this delicate."
"Just so long as it ain't a bother. Thank ye kindly Twilight, I come back in three weeks to collect the finished product. Thanks again!"
"No problem Granny. Spike, we are going to need paper, quills, and a lot more ink."
" *Sigh* It's going to be a long three weeks."
Well, I've never been the best at writing, but some of the tall-tails that you may have heard about me are way off as to the actual events so I have taken it upon myself to correct some of these stories, as well as just get my adventures on paper so that songs can be written about them. Some of these chapters might be better written than others and that's because my good friend Sun Drop, who was raised a bit better than me and knows her way around the parchment more so than I, agreed to help write a few. I've always been better at telling em rather than written em, but Sun insisted I do more than just sit here a yap at her all day, so here I am doin' my best to tell you a bit, maybe a lot, about the life of "Peanut" Caramel Toffee. Now how I got the name Peanut is as good a starting place as any. It was long before I meet Sun Drop, why I was still a blank-flank then. It's starts off a bit sad, but believe me it gets better. But I am rambling, let's start the story!
Mother, father, little Joy and I lived happily in port city Trottingham, that is until the pox. Mother was the first to get sick, she lay in bed for days at a time. Father was a doctor, but medicine had run out all over the city so all we could do was sit and watch mother die, the pox took father and little Joy in the same way. We didn't even know that Joy had the pox until she was half-dead with it, that was always her downfall, she could break all four hoofs at once and smile about it. I would always cry my eyes out when I my ear got pinched in the cabinet, but dear, sweet little Joy would always come and comfort me. I was making lunch one day, if you can call it that, peanuts and old jam don't make much but it's what we had, when father came in. Tears where welling in his eyes, which instantly made me tear up as well because I knew something terrible had happened. He choked his way through telling me that mother had died, we both started blubbering at that, then little joy stumbled in to the kitchen. Her ever-present smile was gone, her yellow coat was pale, she moaned a weak mumble and then collapsed on the floor. Father rushed over to her, I started crying that much harder making myself absolutely useless. Two days later father and little joy passed away. The body-sellers came then, the bank kicked me out of the house and since I was just a little filly then and father had no next-of-kin the house was put on auction, I got to keep only the clothes on my back and the food in cupboard, one thin sleeping gown and a bag with two peanuts. I was sitting on the steps of what used to be my home, while all my family's worldly possessions got auctioned off. Even the bodies of Father and little Joy, they went to Spade. Spade was the lowest form of scum you will ever find on this earth, he made his living taking the dead bodies of the townsfolk and selling them to the doctors, surgeons, and professors who were willing to do business with such a shady pony. Some say Spade even robbed graves, which is a possibility, but they never caught him at it. As Spade came out of the house, and dumped father and joy's bodies into his wheel barrow, he spied me sitting there crying and crying. He walked over to me and puts his ugly face way to close to mine, and his bad breath was washing over me like I just fell in the sewers, and then he says.
"I'll give you three days, then I'll be comin back round ere for you too. I know a guy who has been wantin some young filly, your little sister ere might not be enough for 'im, but you'll do just fine" Those words haunted me down to my very soul, I panicked and ran away down the street crying and screaming in terror. Spade's cruel laugh following me down the street. I ran and ran until I came to a dirty back ally. I curled up in a little ball of sadness, and prayed to whatever Alicorn it was I had heard about in church all those days ago when we was happy, begging her to be merciful on me and let me die and get run over by a passing cart so that Spade couldn't sell my body for a couple a bits. I don’t know how long I stayed there, but it was well past when the sun set that I heard hoofsteps approaching on the cobblestone of the ally. I curled up a bit tighter and hoped that whoever it was would leave and go away, but instead they came up and one of them nudged me and said, "Ya think she's dead, Chip?", he sounded no older that I was."She seams dead." the colt continued.
"Nah she's still breathing, can't be dead if you be breathin'." The pony I assumed was Chip answered. At that point I lifted my head to look at the two colts, one of them was small, brown, pegasus clothed only in ragged trousers barely held on him by a piece of thread-bare rope. Then there was Chip, he was a pale orange unicorn, slightly taller than the other colt. His trousers where in the same state, but he also had a small vest that looked like it used to be red.
"See I told ya' she was alive Tot. What's your name little missy?" Chip asked, but I was too choked up on tears to answer.
"Is she a mute Chip, like Puff?
"Nah Tot, she's just scared. Listen, it'll get right cold out here soon. I can tell yer like us; poor, no home, orphan, stop me if I wrong." As much as I hated to admit it he was right on all accounts. Still unable to make myself speak I just nodded my head. He took that as an answer and continued, "So, unless ya want to end up in one of those homes wheres they barely knows yer name, and gives you chores all day and a hard bed, I would suggest you come with us. It's basically the same only we care for the fillies under our protection, and if you tell us your name I promise to remember it." I gingerly stood up, accidentally dropping my bag of peanuts. I watched as one rolled out into the ally between me and the two street-colts. "Well the gang would greatly appreciate your contribution, but one peanut is gonna be hard to split between all seven of us." Chip said with a laugh, as he scooped up the peanut and handed it back to me. "We have ta get back to our hideout. The coppers don't like us out this late, they think were gonna steal somthin'. Which we did but they don't know that. If you want to come with us, Peanut, then we will be glad to take ya in and show ya the ropes of the city."
"Shouldn’t we ask the others Chip?"
"Cmon Tot, One, I am the leader of our gang so what I say goes. Two, when have we ever turned away a decent pony in need?"
"I wouldn’t say any of us is "decent" Chip"
"Fair enough. Well your welcome to follow Peanut but we're going so choose fast." Chip said as he and Tot turned to leave.
"Um, my name is not..*sniff*… Peanut…" I said weakly.
"Ah she speaks!" Chip exclaimed. "Well if it aint Peanut, then what is your name?"
"Uh, Caramel… Toffee."
"Why, yer that doc's filly anit ya?" Tot piped up.
"My father…was…a doctor…was..." my eyes began to fill with tears, I thought I would have run dry hours ago, but more came.
"Oh sorry, I heard about his passin' yesterday. He would help us street kids out whenever he could. Yer father was the best sort of stallion. The world is a darker place without im around." Chip said as he moved over and put a reassuring hoof around my solder. "Now this may sound harsh but, in the street life, ya get used to death. We see it every day, if it's somepony ya know you say a prayer and maybe feel bad. But if ya don't know them, you loot the body afore anypony else can. But whoever it is, ya move on. Ya need to in order to survive. Speaking of survival, Peanut we need to get going."
"I told you…my name isn't Peanut."
"Yeah, but I kinda like the sound of it. Besides it fits you, bein as small as you are." He was right, I've always been on the small side, shortest earth pony of the family. There have been new-born fillies with legs longer than mine. Seeing no other option, I went back with Chip, and Tot. Their Hideout was a old abandoned storehouse, where they used to build ships. Somepony had packed up in a hurry, the large supports left towering up into the wide open area of the storehouse. When we got there I was introduced to all the other ponies in the gang, there was Lemon Twist, Hunter, Cloud Runner, Puff Ball the mute, and Green Gray. Chip was determined to tell them all that my name was Peanut, I corrected him each time but he insisted.
Just as Chip had promised, the gang readily accepted me. Me and Lemon got along splendidly, both of us being earth ponies. Hunter was the muscle of the gang, he was the same height as Chip, but twice as strong. But he lacked the brains to match, but he was always happy to do anything to help, he even flew us up to hard to reach places or sometimes the roof-tops of the city, even though I am sure we bent his wings. Puff Ball, the only other unicorn besides Chip, was indeed a mute, she talked with some form of signs she made with her hoofs. It took months before I could fully understand her. Green Gray was an odd earth pony, he was quick to tell a joke or slam you with harsh reality. He played the penny whistle, and he even taught me how to play a few tunes.
So our happy little gang lived, begging in the street for bits, dodging carts heading for the market. Green would play his penny whistle sometimes, I would walk around with a tin cup and ask the few that stopped to listen for some bits. We would scrounge together what little we could and go buy bread. Chip taught me how to pick-pocket, but I never did it. He told me I would need to one day, but it just felt wrong.
One day, I was out looking for a corner not guarded by the cops when I walked past a tavern called the Raining Sky. Through the open door I heard some of the sailors singing and telling stories like they always do, but tonight I heard something that made me stop and listen. One of the sailors was talking about a new land that his ship had discovered.
A land out in the middle of uncharted waters, populated by a strange sort of intelligent creature, living in small tribes much like the griffons when pony-kind first stumbled on them. He described them as lizard folk, with scales like dragons, who walked on two legs and had tentacles or something on the ends of their legs. They used their upper leg-tentacle-things to grip spears, and they could climb trees as easy as walking on the ground. The sailors went to one of their villages, and where amazed at the huts the lizard folk had built in the trees. Swooping walkways connected the huts into platforms, vines hanging from the jungle trees where used to swing from platform to platform. The Lizards that the sailors meet where a peaceful tribe of farmers, but they warned the sailors of other tribes there.
I for one wanted to ask how the lizards spoke equine, but a copper noticed me and chased me off before I could hear the rest of the story. But it stuck with me all day; the lizards, the jungle trees, the huts, the walkways. They sounded glorious, and I wished with all my heart that I could see them. I did eventually, but that's another story entirely. Before that ever happened I had to start my life as a sailor. Now how did that happen…?
After hearing about the new land, with the strange lizard folk and jungle fortresses, I dreamed of one day seeing them for myself. I returned to the hideout, and while we waited for Chip to return from buying the days bread, I told all the gang about what I heard from the sailor in the tavern. They all shared my amazement, though they laughed when I revealed my desire to see them for myself. Then when Chip returned we are stumbled over one another to tell him about it, when we noticed something was off.
"What is it Chip?" I asked
" The Buckwater street gang has issued a challenge for the mid-town market." Chip answered. See the way things worked on the streets where as such; Each gang had their territory in which they could beg, steal, and make ends meet in. To cross into another gangs territory and take their bits, was an act of war. If one gang thought that they had more right to a place than the gang that currently had it, they issued a challenge, a fight would take place and the winning gang got the territory. A Very diplomatic and reasonable system.
Now, the mid-town market was a prime piece of real-estate, it was actually the only profitable territory we owned. We had mid-town market, and the factory graveyard where our hideout was, so if we lost the market we lost our food supply.
"I talked to the Bridge-way gang, they can't help us cuz half their gang is sick with whatever new plague is coming down the river. Seein' as how we still ain't on good relations with the Maggot crew, we have this fight to ourselfs." Chip continued, head down, thinking of the coming fight. The Buckwater gang was a good ten ponies larger then our little group, half of them as big and strong as Hunter. The whole gang was quiet, all thoughts of jungle lizards gone from our minds, then an idea struck me.
"We might have a chance!" I declared. "They'll be expectin' us to come at them from the ground, like gangs always do, but if we hit them from above it just might give us the chance we need!" Chip mulled it over.
"Ya' know, that just might work Peanut. The fight is tomorrow at noon, if we get enough rocks and other such weapons up on the roof; You, Lemon, and Puff could pelt them from above. While me, Tot, Hunter, and Green hold them off from the ground. It is just crazy enough to work!"
So the preparations started, all through the evening we worked, grabbing every stone, bottle, discarded picture frame, or china plate we could find and hauling them up to the roof of the Mid-town Market. By the time the sun had set, we had enough garbage up there to cover the whole city of Trottingham. Well, we'd like to think so. We all stumbled back to the hideout under the light of the full moon, tiredly awaiting the fight the next day.
"Hey Peanut?" Lemon whispered as I was drifting off to sleep.
"Yeah Lemon?" I yawned back.
"Do you really think we have a chance tomorrow? The Buckwater gang is twice our size…"
"Well, Chip will probably try his Scare-them-with-sickness tactic first, if that don't work he will go to his knife with Hunter, Tot, and Green as backup with hoofs of furry. All we need to do is toss stuff of the roof-tops. Chip and the others can hold their own, especially if we keep 'em distracted by dropping rocks on their heads like it was rainin'. So, yeah, I think we do stand a chance."
"Good, *yawn* I'm glad one of us has ho*yawn*ope. I for one am scared silly."
"That's because you are good, kind, and loveable. Not a hurtful bone in your body, your less scared of losing the market than you are of anypony getting hurt."
"Well, the Buckwater gang can go eat moldy puddin' for all I care. If it means keeping our gang safe, let's rain the whole city dump on 'em" Lemon finished with shy confidence that made us both giggle and laugh uproariously before saying goodnight and snuggling down to a nights rest.
In the morning, we stole a quick breakfast from a bakers market stall before getting ready for the Buckwater gang. Hunter flew me, Lemon, and Puff onto the roofs. I did a quick run around the roofs, to make sure our stock was still there, and oh boy it was. The rocks and rubble practically gleaming in the early sun-shine, begging to crack open a Buckwater melon.
As the morning drew on, I began to think back on the two years I had spent with the gang. The time Puff got sick that first winter, and we all thought she was a goner, but she pulled threw and soon returned to her energetic ways. The penny whistle songs, the begging for bits, dodging coppers in the alleys, that one time Green stole a whole pie from somepony's window sill. The good memories all bonded together in my brain, into a resolve that no matter what it takes I would not let the Buckwater gang take our territory. With a new passion I double checked our supply.
The sun slowly rose into the sky, and at high noon we heard a ruckus come down the street. Lemon, Puff, and I ducked down so we would not be seen. I peaked over the edge to get a good view of what was happening in the street. The leader of the Buckwater gang strode up to Chip, towering over him by a good two feet. I strained my ears to hear what words where exchanged.
" Afternoon, Pale Mane." Chip greeted, with a cough. He was going to try the sickness scare, just like I predicted.
"Where’s tha rest o' yer crew Chup?" Pale growled.
"Back in the hideout, caught some plague from a body we looted. *cough* I figured it would be unreasonable to deny you a decent fight. I hope you don't feel bad about fightin' with sick ponies."
"I know yer tricks Chup. Yous jus' tryin ta scare us off. Where are they?"
"*Sigh* Well if you must know, They are currently right behind you." As soon as Chip said this Pale and the rest of the Buckwaters whipped their head around. Chip reached into his vest and pulled out his secret weapon, his trusty knife, and slashed at Pale, cutting the side of his head. Pale countered with a hoof into Chips gut, while Hunter, Tot, and Green leaped at other Buckwater members. I signaled Lemon and Puff, and we began a barrage of rubble and litter. I myself, was whooping with delight as our flying trash storm pelted down on the trespassers, scaring several of them off. But my excitement was short lived. I looked down to check on Chip, and noticed with sudden dread that he had lost his knife and Pale was bucking him back into a wall. I ran down the roof towards Chip, tossing trash down aimlessly as I ran. As I got closer I jumped down onto a market stall, down onto some barrels and boxes next to it, and landed in the street at a full gallop. I ran up behind Pale, jumped towards him, and slammed full force into his head. I rolled into the street, stars swimming in my eyes from the impact. My vision clear just in time for Pale to spin around a buck me full on in the face, and I went spinning backwards down the street. After skidding to a stop on my back, I painfully rolled over and tried to haul myself up onto my hoofs. The jolt of pain my spine and head gave me when I tried to move quickly made me collapse, banging my already throbbing head on the hard stone street. I watched through one blurred eye as Pale turned his attention back to Chip, who was thankfully back on his hoofs. The two squared off, Chip obviously worse off than his opponent. Pale lunged at Chip, who ducked and rolled out of the way, countering with a quick downward chop, that bounced harmlessly off the stallions flank. Chip was to focused on recovering to see what hit him next, Pale spun around rapidly, grabbed Chip by the horn, and slammed his face into the ground. I hid my face, not wanting to see what else Pale was going to do. I heard Chip anguished cry, then suddenly I head Pale roar out in pain himself. I looked up and saw a broken roof shingle sticking out of the side of his torso, and more sharp rubble flying in for an encore. Pale dodged most of the onslaught, but caught a few spines in his hoofs, legs, and flank. He limped away as fast as he could down the street, in the direction the few remaining consciences members of his gang fled.
I groaned, and dragged myself up onto my hoofs. My head spun and throbbed, and my spine expressed its discomfort loudly as I shuffled down the road towards Chip. I took a quick, one-eyed look at the aftermath of the battle, there was no clear winner of the fight. Puff and Lemon were fine up on the roof, but Green lay behind a market stall, his legs up in the air. Hunter was covered in scratches and quickly forming bruises, but he could at least walk. Tot was tossing cookies off to the side, nursing a black eye. Lemon jumped down, and ran over to help Tot, I limped my way hurriedly to Chip. When I reached him, I rolled him over and immediately regretted it. His face was a bloody mess, his nose, jaw, skull, where obviously broken. His horns tip had been broken off, and he was missing several teeth. If he did survive, he would certainly not look the same.
"Did….we…win?" He asked weakly.
"Yeah Chip, we did. We won, they're gone. Buckwater won't be bothering us for a while."
"Glad ta hear it….How's… every…pony else?"
"A few cuts and bruises, Tot won't be tasting anything the same for a while but we'll live."
"Oh lord!...They…cut out… his tongue?" Chip eyes bugged out as he tried to get up.
"No Chip, they just stole his lunch. Took it right out of his stomach. He'll be fine, you on the otherhoof, need to rest." I knew he was hurt more than he looked, Chip was not one to jump to such conclusions.
"Pea…nut?"
"Yeah Chip?"
"Did the sun set?"
"No Chip, it…it's right there up in the sky."
"Funny….it's….so dark. Any chance… you could find me… a blanket? I think…Tot took mine again, and I'm getting cold."
"No Chip, don't say that! Your gonna be fine! It's nice and warm, the sun is shining, and we still have the market! Now you just rest, you'll be fine." If I wasn't crying before, I sure was now. I had heard stallions that my father took care of, talking in the same way right before they died. I would not, could not, let that happen to Chip.
"Peanut… why….did the sun go away? It was…just there….a moment…ago. Did you… get the… left-hoofed smoke shifter? We need…. that for the BBQ. The one….on the island."
"No no no, Chip stop talking. Just rest." Chip slowly babbled senselessly on, quieter and quieter, until his head rested down limply in my hoofs, and I felt the life leave his body. He was gone.
I sat in the hideout, staring blankly at the wall. We had pulled ourselves out of the wreckage of the fight, taken Chip's body to the river and set him off in the most respectful way possible. After a restless night, we all sat around the hideout with no idea where to go from there. The buckwaters weren’t goning to stay away, and there was no means of keeping them back, now that they knew about the roof.
"Peanut?"
"Yeah Lemon?"
"What are we going to do now?"
"I don't know, we won the fight. But the gang is lost, the buckwaters are too strong. We could join another gang, but few gangs will take us since we don't have any property to offer." It was then that I had a thought, the one way I could change things for the better, for me at least.
"I know of one thing. The navy is always looking for ships colts, we are able bodied, hard workers, we could even see the world!" A faint light of hope forming in my mind.
"That will never work." Green called from the corner. "The navy only takes colts. There is some superstition about fillies and mares bringing bad luck to the ships. Plus with the pirate war at such high tensions it would be suicide to join a battle ship."
"Well it's the only option I can see, I'm not cut out for factory work. The merchants wont higher street rats like us, the navy is the only hope I have."
"But, would you really leave us Peanut?" Lemon pleaded, distress obvious in her voice and a pleading look that begged for nothing else to change.
"I… no I just…. I don’t know Lemon!" My mind was reeling now, unsure what I could do. All the other gang could find some less-than-two-bit factory to work in. Puff was still young enough to charm her was into an orphanage, but I was too small for the factories. I could do it, very slowly, but the factory managers never let me try. "I don't want to leave but… it's my only option. Maybe I could find a fishing boat…"
"No they need strong stallions to haul in the nets."
"Green, you are not helping."
"No, he's right Lemon. No ship is going to take in Peanut, the tiny filly. But Peanut the young and eager colt!"
"Peanut! Are you suggesting what I think you are?"
"Yes Lemon, I am going to have to disguise myself as a colt."
"Do you have any idea what the navy will do to you if they find out that you…"
"Green!"
"Sorry. I'm just sayin."
"It's worth the risk! I need to do this. I'll miss you, I promise to come back in one piece."
"Well, if you won't have your mind changed there is nothing we can do about it." With Green's statement the choice was made. I gathered my few possessions, hugged the gang goodbye, and headed towards the port.
"Wait!"
"Something to remember us by, while you're off at sea. Tell the lizards I said hello." I hugged Lemon tightly, she was too sweet for the life fate handed her. I took the vest and put it on over my rags and slipped Chip's knife into the make-shift sheath he had on the inside. With one last look at the gang that had been my family for the past two years, I set out for my new life. I had no idea what I was about to sign myself up for.
Author's Note
Hey, I would love to get community feedback on this story. So give me your comments, criticisms, etc. etc. anything to let me know what you think. Thank you!
I walked along the wharf, mouth agape in awe at the size of the ships towering above my head. The ships where taller than any building I had ever seen, and longer then the hoofball field in the Trottingham park. I wandered aimlessly down the docks, carefully avoiding the large stallions loading and unloading supplies. It was a good half hour before I spotted what I was looking for, a group of street-colts gathered around a large, official looking stallion. I ducked into the nearest alleyway, took out Chip's knife, and began to make myself look like a colt. I peeked out of my hiding spot and found a colt who I could easily make myself look like. Using him as a model, I cut my mane and tail to as closely match him as I could. When it was done, I looked into a puddle on the ground to inspect my hoofwork. I would have to remember to keep it short, but it would pass. I returned Chips knife to its sheath, and ran over to join the group of hopeful street rats. I got there right as the official pony began talking.
"All right, what can any of you colts do?" There was a silence, nopony had expect a question like that. Figures though, I assumed this wasn't a "Raise your hoof if you want to join the navy!" type of deal. One colt broke the silence by saying him and his brother knew several knots, and they rattled off a few when asked what kinds. They where motioned up the gangplank behind the stallion.
"So, anypony else got anything of value to offer?" More silence. "Hmm, let's try this. This ship that I'm assigning you all to is a combat vessel, name Eclipse, galleon class, twenty guns on both sides, able to hold up to seventy-five stallions comfortably. Its mission is to hunt down the fleet of the dread pirate Scabbard Peg. Peg is confirmed responsible for sinking sixteen navy ships, suspected on at least eight other accounts. Peg hold port in past the seas of dismay, were storms are almost as consistent as Celestia's sun. Very few ships have ever made it through there with their crew intact, and we are charging headfirst into there. So if any of you colts think you can't handle that, then step away now." A good half of the group moved away, scared out of their minds. I held my ground, but just barely, I noticed now that there was just eight other colts besides me remaining. One of them got called up on account of him looking like the strongest muscle out of us. Two got picked because they were unicorns.
"That leaves room for one more of you." it was down to me, two pegasus, and two earth ponies, one of which looked like he wanted to leave earlier but was too scared to move. The stallion moved down the line of us, inspecting each of us closely. He stopped at me, looking up at him made me feel incredibly small but I held my chin up and gave my best impression of the salute I had seen other navy stallions do.
"You look like you've been run over by a cart." The stallion said, chuckling at my salute. I chose to take the laugh as a complement.
"Well, uh, Sir. If I had been run over by a cart I wouldn't be standing here right now. I've seen ponies get hit by carts. They rarely get back up."
"Hmm, tell me then. If it wasn't a cart that beat you up, what was it?"
"Pale Mane. Leader of the Buckwater gang." I heard surprised gasps from some of the colts next to me, they knew about Pale and the Buckwaters. I guess it surprised them that I survived an encounter with him. "He was trying to take some territory that belonged to my gang. We fought him for it, and I got the short end of the stick when it came to bucking."
"Interesting, did you win the fight?"
"Well we scared them off, but…" I hung my head, trying not to break down into tears. "They… Pale… killed the leader of our gang. They also outnumber us three to one, so if they ever came back we all would die. So the gang broke up to go find work, and, well here I am." I looked back up at the stallion, his face was unreadable. He stood there for what seemed like forever, then finally spoke.
"It's obvious you've seen combat, and you look like the clever sort. It would be a shame to let the navy spoil that, but we could always use clever ponies. Your hired, get up the gangplank and check in with the master at arms." It was all I could do to stop myself from skipping up the gangplank, colts don’t skip. I think.
"Name?" A light blue stallion with a white mane asked when I stopped in front of him.
"Peanut. Peanut Toffee." I replied.
"Strange name ya got there."
"My parents where strange ponies…sir."
"Ha, you will be read into the ships log as Ships-Colt Toffee." He chuckled. "Until we are underway your duties are to stay on the ship but out of trouble. I suggest you get to know the other ships colts, you six are going to be very close for a while."
"Thank you sir." I tried a salute again, and was rewarded with more chuckling. They were just surprised at how good I was at it, I told myself.
I went over and found the other ships colts huddled in a group talking wildly amongst themselves, mouths and eyes wide open pointing and starring at the many amazing parts of the ship. I walked over to them and was instantly greeted by one of the two brother who got picked first.
"Hi, I'm Slip. This is my brother Hitch." Slip and Hitch were twin earth ponies, they both had deep yellow fur and light blue-green mane and tail. The only differences where that Slip talked a lot more, and their cutie marks; Slip's was a needle with thread going through the eye, Hitch's was spool of thread. The thread on both was the same color, a light gold that stood out from the rest of their fur. The strong looking one was a pegasus, he had very dark brown fur, and a multi-earthen colored mane and tail. He introduced himself as Mossy, he also had his cutie mark; a rolling boulder. I was glad to see that neither of the two unicorns had their cutie marks, I wasn't the only blank flank on board. One of the unicorns was entirely white, his mane and tail only a shade darker then his fur. He introduced himself as Cloudy Glass. The other unicorn was Purple, with a black mane and tail. His name was Midnight Sky.
We all got along splendidly, once we realized we were allowed to climb the ropes going up the poles that held the sails we were off into the air. We spent the rest of the day finding our way around the ship, looking at all the equipment onboard, and just being colts. As evening came we were ushered down into the lower level of the ship by the Master at Arms. He showed us to a corner where six hammocks were hanging on hooks from the walls, they all had one blanket and a small pillow sitting in them.
"This is where you will sleep, get some rest wile you can, the whole ship has to be up by first light so we can catch the tide."
We all excitedly picked out hammocks, and jumped in. Sleep was the farthest thing from our minds at that point, we were all excitingly chatting away. Eventually we got board of talking about the ship, and the conversation turned to each other's life stories. I went first telling a short version of how I lost my family, joined and left the gang, and then ended up here. Slip and Hitch where next, Slip did most of the talking, Hitch just filled in the details and reminded Slip to breath. Now let's see if I can remember what they all said…
Author's Note
Seriously though, give me your comments! I want to know what you think, even if you hate it let me know so I stop caring if you read it (Grammar Nazis are sort of welcome). Thank you!
We were woken up by a burly stallion who barely fit in his sailors uniform. He showed us to the dining area where we had a breakfast of biscuits and stew. That is apparently where his duty ended, because after we finished eating, we sat there for a good half hour with no idea what to do. Our awkward silence was broken when a black stallion, with a milky off-white mane, in a deep blue uniform came in and called all us shipscolts out on deck.
“I am Midships-Stallion Wilhelm Ink,” He introduced himself “I have been assigned to get you colts up to navy standards. If you do what I say, when I say it, and to the letter, then we will get along fine. Disobey, and I will see to it that the only time you spend above deck will be cleaning the head and picking off the barnacles. Understand” I snapped my sharpest salute and lead the colts in our heartiest, Sir, yes sir! Again it was received with a light chuckle, I was going to find out why.
“What’s your name colt?” Ink asked.
“Peanut Toffee, Sir.” I replied
“Well, Shipscolt Toffee you have demonstrated to me exactly how little you all know about Navy etiquette.” I thought that was slightly unnecessary, but I didn’t say anything. “But don’t worry, I’ll have you all ship shape by weeks end.” Ink declared with a smile. It almost looked like was was going to break into a song like all the plays me and the gang used to sneak in to watch, thankfully he didn’t.
“To begin, show me that salute of yours again. All of you.” He ordered. We all raised our fore hoof up to our eyebrows, and snapped them out a half inch or so from our heads before dropping them down to the deck again. Ink chuckled to himself again, that was getting really annoying. “Try again, this time hold your hoofs up until the officer you are saluting acknowledges with either a salute of his own or by nodding.” We all did as he instructed, waiting for his signal to drop our salutes. “Now, before you drop your salutes, tell me what Toffee here is doing wrong?” I almost jumped in surprise, I was the one who told the others to mimic the stallions and the first to try it myself. What could I be doing that was so off? Keeping my hoof in the air, I turned my head to look at the other shipscolts, it was then that I noticed all the other colts had their right fore hoofs raised and I had my left raised, I had not even noticed it just felt natural. I quickly shifted to my right fore hoof, eliciting another chuckle from Ink. I frowned at him, he responded by laughing at loud. “No no no no colt. You have the right hoof now, but you are still doing it wrong.” I was getting frustrated now, why not just tell me? I looked again at the other colts, frowning at Slip who was stifling his own laughter. It felt awkward standing on my left fore hoof and the shifting to look at the other colts made me lose my balance and fall on my right side, crashing into Midnight Sky, knocking him into Hitch who fell into a pile of supplies not yet packed away, sending nails, brushes, and bars of soap rolling down the dock.
“Come now, stand up!” Ink ordered with a smile. “I guess you found out the hard way that you were leaning to your right by at least seventy points. Now all of you pick up the mess, then fall back into ranks here.”
It only took us five minutes to pick up all the supplies, and as we walked back over to Ink we soon found out once again that we knew next to nothing about navy protocol. We could not “Fall into ranks”, or stand “At ease”. We did not know the difference between port and the crows nest, masts and rigging were as clear as night watches were warm. That’s something we found out that night, always sign up for day watches.
We had been going over everything, Inky (as I had started calling him in my head) pointed out everything there was to know about the ship, and by early afternoon we had learned enough to pass his “Quiz of Sailor-hood”, as he so enthusiastically called it. Having become full fledged sailors, we were given a break for lunch and to review everything we had learned. We had been so wrapped up in learning the ways of the seas that we did not notice that we had cast off from shore and were well on our way into the open sea, with the harbor fading away in the late sunlight. I could barely make out the old warehouse that had been my home for the past two years.
Latter that night, when we were out on the high seas, we had been “volunteered” to take shifts on the night watch. And each of us learned the hard way that the ship was still getting used to us, or visa-versa. All six of us were awake all night giving our dinner back to the sea. When the morning came, all of us were cold, green, tired, and surly. Much to Inks amusement.
Over the next four days we got used to the rocking of the waves, learned more and more from Inky, and got official duties from the Lieutenant, (The captain's second in command). Slip and Hitch were assigned to help with the sails; trimming, opening, repairing, anything that had them up on the masts, in the rigging laughing away. Cloudy was assigned to help the cook, Midnight Sky and Mossy were on cannon duty, maintaining the cannons, making sure the tracks were greased and ready to be used at a moment notice. As for me, I was assigned to the main watch. I got to go up in the crows-nest and look out onto the vast ocean, I was supposed to watch for ships but I always had some other stallion up there with me, and they got the spy glass so I spent most of my time watching the ocean, the birds, the crew way down on deck. They looked like ants down there. Every day I had a different watch horse, and one was a lazy, good for nothing earth pony named Sea Salt, that only came up there to sleep. At those times Slip would come up to the crows-nest if he had nothing better to do, which was most of the time apparently. We would sit up there for hours on end; talking, watching for sea animals that might be following the ship, once Slip had found himself some charcoal and we drew a mustache on Sea Salt. Our laughter woke him up, and Slip barely got out of the nest before he was caught. Life was going fine, then three weeks into the voyage we hit our first storm....
Author's Note
I know this does not continue right off of the last chapter, I am having writers block on the back stories. Once they are written I will add them as extra chapters here, or something else...Ideas?
The sea had gone from calm and beautiful to violent and frightening. Waves towered over the sides of the ship, soaking everything and everypony on board. The sails had been torn by the violent winds, and the scraps wiped around like a squid reaching out for it’s next victim.
Captain Storm Wind, the leader of our expedition, lived up to his name. He stood calmly on the main deck, calling out orders over the screaming winds. The ship lurched, and everypony got flung off their hoofs, except the captain. He spread his deep teal wings to balance himself, and gracefully slid to one side, avoided falling over like everypony else. It was one of those times I wished that I had wings. I snapped back into reality when the barrels of fresh water I was helping to tie down lept out of their bindings and very nearly crushed me, had Slip not been to pull me out of the way. I quickly thanked him and we both charged after the runaway barrels.
We had just finished refastening the barrels, when the lieutenant ran over and ordered me up to the crows nest with a lantern. I thought I misheard him over the wind, so I just stood there confused.
“Listen to me colt!” The lieutenant shouted over the screaming winds. “We can’t see past these waves, we need you to go up and get a view over them, and signal to us what’s ahead by moving the lantern towards the safest direction” He paused as another wave of water crashed into the deck. “I know it’s dangerous, but your small size will make it easier for you to stay in the nest! Trust me, now go!” and with that he dropped the lantern into my hoofs. Somehow it was still lit, even with all the water crashing everywhere. I took the lantern in my teeth, and jumped onto the net leading up the main mast to the crows nest. The wind got worse as I climbed higher, I was thrown in all directions, bouncing with the loose net. I nearly dropped the lantern countless times, I barely clung to it with my teeth as I struggled upwards. The rain made it almost impossible to see, my hooves and legs were numb from the wet and cold, but I eventually made it up to the nest. I quickly tied myself to the mast with the safety rope that was kept up there, and peaked out over the edge to look at the ocean. It was the most surreal sight I had ever seen. The waves stretched to impossible heights in the sky. The sky was pitch black with brief flashes of lightning illuminating patches of the ocean. I did my best to move around to point myself in the direction where the waves were lowest, but it was impossible to predict whether the waves were growing or shrinking. On and on it went, for hours I ran back and forth with the lantern clasped in my hooves, the rain stinging my eyes and the wind chilling me to the bone. I risked a quick glance down, and I could barely make out the lieutenant at the helm. He was straining his eyes upwards at me in the nest, madly twisting the wheel to direct the ship, his face set stern with grim determination.
Suddenly the ship lurched to the side from a hidden swell that came up behind me, and I was tossed over the edge of nest. I dropped the lantern in fright as I plummeted down towards the deck, when I was jerked back by the safety line. I hung there,the breath knocked out of me, watching the lantern descend towards the ship. After it crashed on the deck, I snapped out of my scared trance and began looking for a way to get back to any bit of solid ground. I could barely see through the dark and rain, I got the feeling that I was being swung around by the tossing of the ship. I found out I was right when a bolt of lightning flashed in the clouds, and I saw the mast flying up towards my face. I kicked my legs out, and barely managed to skip off the mast sending myself spiraling through the air. I whipped back around the mast in a wide arc, still spinning wildly. As I swung through the air, I caught a glimpse of a familiar deep-yellow fur on the rigging.
“Slip!” I call through the storm, but the wind overpowered my voice. I swooped past Slip and heard him call out. I tried my best to get my spinning and swinging under control, but the storm tossed my around like a cat with a ball of yarn. My wide arc through the air was suddenly cut short and I backflipped towards the mast, slamming into the net leading up to the crows nest. I clung to the net and glanced up to and saw Slip holding a long pole with a hook on the end in his mouth, the hook had the rope I was tied to wrapped around it. I could have hugged Slip for saving my life, but we were still in the rigging and colts don’t hug other colts.
“You alright!” Slip called down. “You were screaming like a filly up there.”
“I...I’m fine now!.... Th...thanks!” I squeaked back, still clinging to the net. I was in no mood to go flying again anytime soon.
“You want to head down?” Slip yelled over the winds. I was content to sit there squeezing the life out of the net. “Come on” Slip urged as he climbed down towards me. “Let’s get down from here, some of us don’t have a safety rope!” Right, there wasn’t any rope for ponies climbing up the rigging, only on deck and in the crows nest. I quickly untied myself from the rope, and we both slowly made our way back down to the deck clinging to each other and the net. I was shaking by the time we got down, from the cold and wet as well as the shock from my unplanned flight.
“Let’s get you to the doctor!” Slip edged towards the hatch leading below deck, his hoof over my shoulder.
“I don’t need a doctor,” I answered with a shiver. “I’m fine”
“You’re shaking worse than a old mare in an earthquake” Slip said sternly. “You at least need to lay down. We earth ponies aren’t built for flying, leave that to the pegasus.”
“Fine, if you insist.” I relented with a laugh.
On way to the hatch, we passed under the helm where Lieutenant Thunder still stood.
“Ships-colts Toffee and Bend! Glad to see you made it down. don’t worry about the waves the storm is dieing down. We’ll be fine from here on out!” It would have been much more reassuring if he had not been creamed by a wave, he was still there fighting the sea when Slip and I ducked below deck.
“So, your last name is Bend?” I had realized he never mentioned that, and walking in silence was getting awkward.
“Yeah Toffee, it is.” Slip responded with a nervous smile, which I found odd but I chose to ignore at the time.
“Why didn’t you mention that before?”
“No reason, just didn’t seem relevant at any time.” He seemed eager to get off the subject, so I dropped it with a simple “Oh”.
We arrived at the small cabin that served as the doctors office, it was nothing like the room father used to have but it did it’s job. A few tables had Stallions with various storm related injuries; broken legs, bruises and bad scrapes from tripping or getting hit with something. The doctor was bandaging a sailor pony’s head when we walked in.
“I’ll be with you two in just a moment” The doctor said waving at us to come in. “Just sit down there and I’ll get to you as soon as I can.” The doctor was a middle age unicorn stallion, right on the verge of being old. He was mint-green with a dark brown mane and tail, his cutie mark was a bundle of bandages.
I sat on an empty table, trying to get my hooves to stop shaking, and Slip sat in a chair facing me.
“Now then, what can I help you with?” The doctor asked as he walked over to us.
“Peanut here fell out of the crows nest and flew around the main mast.” Slip answered with a tired chuckle, I noticed he was rubbing the back of his neck.
“Well colt, shouldn’t you wait till you grow wings to start flying.” The doctor said with a laugh. “Well let’s check to see if theres any serious injuries.” As he was checking to make sure I didn’t bruise or break anything, he stopped suddenly and hmmm’ed. Which made me nervous, that is one thing you never want to hear a doctor say. He looked at me with a confused face, then at Slip, then at me. He then saw Slip rubbing the back of his neck, and you could see an idea pop into his head.
“I assume you were the one who cut the flight short?” The doctor asked Slip.
“Yeah, with one of those hooks we have laying around.” Slip answered.
“Hmmm, you look like you might have pulled a muscle in your neck.” The doctor said as he grabbed a bottle and cup from a small table in the corner. “Drink this” he said pouring a small bit of a blue liquid into the cup. “It will relax the muscles and keep them from locking up.”
Suddenly Slip’s eyes rolled back and he collapsed on the ground. I jumped up startled, but the doctor put his hoof on my shoulder and told me to sit down. As he moved Slip up onto a table he explained.
“I meant to knock him out, he’ll be fine don’t worry. I needed to talk to you about something.” I was worried now, nothing good comes from a doctor telling you that.
“W..what about?” I asked
“I know I am getting on in years, but I can still tell a filly from a colt when I see one.” I gasped, how did he know? My uniform, although soaked still covered me, and I hadn’t been here long enough for my mane to grow out too long. I stared at the doctor with surprise and terror, if the captain found out I would be booted off the ship as soon as possible.
“You do know the navy has rules against having fillies and mares on board during voyages?” The doctor asked, to which I only nodded. “I assume you had your reasons for joining anyway?” again I nodded. “Well, my duty as a member of the navy is to report this at once.” I jumped and started to beg him not to report me, but he cut me off saying. “However, if you tell me why you came here I might be obliged to forget this ever happened and no one will be any wiser.” I sat back down on the table, and recounted all the events leading up to me disguising myself as a colt and joining the navy. The doctor sat leaned back in a chair, staring at me with narrowed eyes. I sat with my head hung in silence, waiting for him to decide what he would do. After what seemed like hours he leaned forward in his chair and smiled at me.
“The way I see it, you had no other choice in the matter and you took what resources you had and made the best of them. I have to admire your bravery in signing up on a battleship headed off to fight notorious pirates, but be careful. Some ponies might not be so understanding, let’s keep this between you and I.”
“Thank you doctor.” I said, releasing the breath I had been holding.
“Please, call me Bundle, or Patches. Patches Bundle if you are feeling extra polite.”
“I like the name Patches.” Patches was a good name for him, it fit his odd personality.
“Well then you can call me Patches all you like. But what shall I call you?” he asked with a mock bow, as if he was at a ball or something.
“My name’s Caramel Toffee, but my friends call me Peanut.”
“Peanut, odd nickname. However it sounds more like a colts name.”
“I had that nickname before I was pretending to be a colt.” I said faking annoyance.
“Oh, of course....What I meant to say was...um.....” Patches fumbled over himself, I burst out laughing and he relaxed realizing I was joking.
“Do you have any family Patches?” I asked after we stopped chuckling.
“Yes, I do.” He answered, with a far off look in his eyes. “My wife, Daisy Chain. Our son, Straw Bail, and our two daughters, Lilly Rose and Water Drop. Two of the most beautiful fillies you will ever see.” He finished with a sigh.
“Did you have to leave them? Why did you come on this journey and leave them behind?”
“Well, my son is away at the military college. He’s been there for three out of his four years, I hope to make it back before he does. As for my wife and daughters, I had to leave them. Not because of money, we had enough bits to get by. It was to fulfill a promise, you’ll notice that Captain Storm Wind is the youngest captain in the navy. I was serving alongside him when he was just a sea-pony. He and I became good friends, even though I am almost twice his age. He was just nineteen when he became a captain, it was after a battle with a colony of Gryphons. He showed bravery beyond the calling of his rank, he fought like I have never seen any pony fight before. He was given one of the highest awards for bravery, and promoted to the rank of Captain. After the ceremony he approached me, he told me that he never would have made it without me. I told him that he did it all by himself, but he insisted I let him finish. He said that I was one of the few ponies he would trust his life to, and he asked that I stay by his side. I was planning on retiring then, to settle down with my wife and then newborn son. So he and I agreed that when he got his own ship, I would accompany him on it’s maiden voyage. He was injured later that year, it took him two years to recover from the pain in his wing, he had trouble even just walking in that time, and it was three more years until he was declared fit for combat duty, and given the command of the Eclipse.”
“What happened?” He asked groggily.
“You fell asleep, I didn't want to wake you. You looked exhausted when you came in.” Patches answered. “You two should get back to your quarters and get some rest, you both had a wild night. Thankfully you both are fine, you just might be a bit sore for a while.”
I thanked Patches and as Slip and I walked out, I looked back over my shoulder at the doctor, his old eyes stared back at me with strength and sadness. I waved goodbye and he winked back, reminding me that he knew my secret. and I would have to be careful to not let anypony else find out. When Slip and I got back to our hammocks, we meet Mossy and Midnight and they told us that the storm had died down to being just a trickle of rain. It had been a wild night, I slept like a log. In the morning we ships colts awoke to one of the most glorious sights we had ever seen.
A shrill, high-pitched whistle broke the early morning silence on the ship, jolting all us ships colts awake. We quickly got our uniforms on and ran up to the main deck to see what the call was about and as we emerged into the sunlight, we all gasped in awe at what we saw. Dead ahead of us on the sea, was scores of navy ships of all sizes.
As the Eclipse slid into a spot between two other warships of similar size, a massive galleon with three rows of cannons and four masts slid by in front of us. It’s massive size left me in awe, and the shadows of it’s masts crept across the entirety of the Eclipse. I ran over the the rigging, and climbed all the way up to the crows nest to get a better view at the fleet that had assembled. I counted twenty three ships, counting the Eclipse, There were two galleons, thirteen single deck sloops, five warships like the Eclipse, two scouting class warships with one deck of cannons but three masts for speed, and the flagship of the armada was a great Man of War: four decks for cannons plus two more for cabins and storage, and five masts that would individually be longer than the main mast on the Eclipse. Engraved on the stern of the Man of War was the title, Illuminator.
The next few hours were full of excitement. There was to be a meeting of the officers on the Illuminator, and during that there was to be an inspection of the entire fleet, so our day was packed with getting everything ready for the inspection. After the storm the previous night, the Eclipse was a mess, and it would take some serious effort to get it back up to navy standards in time. We were instructed to start with our quarters, then report to Lieutenant Thunder for our next assignment. Since us ships colts didn’t have much to keep clean, we were done and up to the deck in less than ten minutes. From there we were assigned to help the cook clean up the dining area, kitchen, storage rooms, and anything else he asked us to do. While I was busy scrubbing tables with Cloudy, a Sailor came in a called for me and Mossy. We followed him to the upper deck where Lieutenant Thunder was waiting.
“Ah good you’re here.” He called as we walked up to him. “As it turns out, the captain needs one of you for a special assignment.” He seem a bit more official than normal, probably from all the excitement. “As you both know, there is to be a meeting of the officers tonight on the flagship Illuminator. Admiral Salt, the earth pony in charge of this fleet, wishes to perform and inspection of his own during that meeting. He has requested that the captain of each vessel bring with him a stallion from each rank, “the most outstanding member of their class”, to quote his exact words. So, Captain Storm Wind has put it upon me to gather such stallions. I see Ships-colts as an official rank, therefore one of you will be joining that party on board the Illuminator. You both have been recommended by the crew for outstanding work, obedience, and diligence. So now I put the question before you two, only one of you can join the captain but I can’t decided which one of you should go. Are either of you unsure that you would be qualified to represent your fellow ships-colts?”
“Sir, I think...” I began, but then Mossy interrupted me.
“Suh, let Toffee go. He’s much more, uh, present’ble. Suh.” With the little amount that Mossy spoke, I had never realized his accent before. “Im not... much good at ‘mpressin ponies suh. I’m a work pony, Toffee’s cleva and much betta with....social situation suh. I think he would bettea’ represent us ships-colts suh.” For such a large pony, Mossy had a really young voice.
“Ships-colt Toffee, do you have any objections?” Lieutenant Thunder asked, snapping me out of my thoughts.
“Well, sir. I was just going to recommend you send Mossy. Him being a hard worker, down with the cannons. While I just sit up in the crowsnest or on deck, watching the ocean. He deserves a bit of a rest, in my opinion sir.”
“Hmmm,” The lieutenant rubbed his chin with one of his hooves looking us both over as we stood at attention waiting for him to decide. “You both present good arguments for the other to go, however I don’t think you fully grasp what you will be doing on board the Illuminator. It is not a party where you get to sing and dance, it is a game of who needs to be impressed and who needs to be show up. Since you are so keen to do extra work to make up for sitting around all day, Toffee you will accompany the Eclipse’s representation at the staff meeting. You will report to the captain quarters immediately for a briefing on what will be expected of you tonight, dismissed.”
Great, now I would be spending my evening with a bunch of boring stallions. Talking about whose’ uniform is better polished, and why-my-ship-is-better-than-yours. It struck me then that I would be surrounded by ponies, all of whom might notice my secret as easily as Doctor Patches had last night. I considered going back and asking the lieutenant to rethink his decision, but there was no easy way to explain my reluctance without revealing the truth. I walked to Captain Storm Winds cabin and reluctantly knocked on the door.
“Enter.” I heard called from inside, and I opened the door. Sitting around a table were four stallions, Doctor Patches and the captain. There was also the quartermaster, Midships-stallion Boxy Pile a unicorn who was a pale orangeish-tan from his horn to his hooves, and Head of the Watch; Eagle Wing, a pegasus with yellow hair and a blonde mane and tail.
“ Ships-Colt Caramel Toffee, reporting for duty captain” I saluted.
“So, you are the Ships-colt that Thunder chose to accompany our league of gentle-colts?” The captain asked.
“Yes sir.”
“I’m not surprised, I hear you were instrumental in getting our ship through the storm. Also a personal recommendation from the ships physician never hurts.” I looked over at Patches with surprise, he simply winked back. “It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Caramel Toffee. Please take a seat.” The captain pointed at a chair next to Patches, and as I took a seat he quickly introduced the stallions at the table.
“Lieutenant Thunder will be joining us as well.” The captain continued. “He has been briefed on the plan ahead of time.” I was more confused than a fly in a house of mirrors, why did they need a plan for a meeting? Wasn’t it all planning for the upcoming battle?
“I see you are confused Toffee.” Captain Storm Wind commented. I jumped, startled out of my thoughts, then tried not to blush for not knowing what was happening. “No worries.” Continued the captain. “While most of my time will be spent with the other captains making plans for the voyage on from here, the rest of you will be getting to know the other officers. As well as making a good impression on the admirals stallions. Our every action will be analyzed, and noted. The admiral wants to know who the best of the best are, who he can trust and count on in any circumstance. Our duty is to make him believe that we are the best ponies available. Not just for my sake, but for everypony’s on this vessel. History is written by the winners, and luck favors the prepared. We are all under close watch, this is this vessel's maiden voyage and for many of us this is our first time in our positions, we are being watched like newborn fillies. Others are waiting for us to make a mistake so they can pounce in and knock us out of the picture. So I assume all of you will be on your best behavior this evening, let’s put on a show.” Captain Storm Wind was apparently either very determined or very theatrical. Either way, for some odd reason I found myself more and more excited for the evening even though I still had no idea what I was supposed to do. The captain started telling the other stallions what he wanted them to do, who to talk to and impress and keep away from. I tuned out and suddenly noticed something at the base of his wing, right where it stuck out from his uniform. Lines of discolored hair stuck out from his normal dark green-blue colors like pale yellow seaweed on the ocean. That must have been where he was injured like Patches told me, I understood then how it could cause so much pain. The amount of scarring looked like his wing had almost been torn off.
“...And as for you Toffee,” The captains voice interrupted my thoughts again, I would have to stop tuning out. “I am not sure weather to expect any other Ships-colts, if there are then you get to know them. Find out what ship they are from, how they fancy the navy, what amount of work is expected from them, etcetera. If there are not any others, you will help with the servants. My attendant, Silk Gloves, will instruct you on what would be expected of you in the role.” with that he reached over and pulled a small string, and I could faintly hear a bell ring below us. Not two minutes later, a tall, slender, earth stallion with light brown hair and a blond mane and tail entered the cabin.
“You rang sir?” He asked.
“Yes Silk, Toffee here may be assisting you and the other servants at the staff meeting tonight. If you would be so kind as to show him the basics, and see about getting him a dress uniform. On that note, the other ships-colts should have dress uniforms for the inspection! Blast it, why did I not think of that before.”
“No worries sir, I will attend to it.” Silk responded and he lead me out the door. “I am Silk Gloves,” he introduced himself. “but all my friends call me Silky, What is your name?” He was a bit less professional when the captain wasn’t in the area.
“Caramel Toffee, but all my friends call me peanut.”
“Very well then, Peanut. What do you know about fine dining?” He asked. I hung my head and answered. “Next to nothing, I was raised on the streets.”
“No matter, as long as you are a quick learner, I will have you fit to serve the King himself. But first the uniforms. Run along and get the other Ships-colts, meet me in the storage halls.” I galloped off and got the other five colts, and when we got to the storage halls Silky was ready for us. He swept us into a room, and took measurements, cut the fabric, stitched, detailed, fitted, and brushed all six new, fancy, white, dress uniforms in under half an hour.
“Excellent!” He exclaimed, obviously proud of his hoof-work and justifiably so. “Now, change back into your normal uniform. We don’t want to get it dirty before tonight.”
We went to Silky’s private chamber, and he set up a mock banquet table. Complete with plates, cups, and multiple forks for every seat. Over the next two hours, he walked me through all the proper ways to set the table, pour a glass of wine, the right order for switching plates between courses, and when to stay out at the table to refill glasses, or stay in the kitchen until the next part of the meal. When I finally, learned to balance on my hind legs and pour wine at the same time, Silky gave me my own pair of white gloves. He said to only use them if I was helping to serve, they were so lovely that I found myself hoping I would be helping to serve.
Silky took a peek outside to check on the time, he estimated that we had another hour before the captain called us back to get the representation party ready.
“Well, there is one thing.” This was going to be a risky question. “Why don’t they allow fillies and mares to join the navy?” I was expecting more of a reaction, but Silky seamed to take it in his stride, and answered unfazed.
“The official reason is that mixing genders on the ship would cause, distractions. The higher ups believe that colts and stallions can’t, shall we say, keep their hooves to themselves. There is a certain amount of reason there, but nothing tight discipline couldn't take care of. The real reason is that society as a whole believes fillies and mares to be weak and dependant on stallions for protection and sustenance. Mares are not allowed to support themselves because they are “too weak” to do it for any long. Now, I have meet plenty of mares that are thoroughly useless but I have also meet mares who could outsmart and out perform any stallion. Anypony with their wits about them can succeed, but somehow society has decided that fillies and mares are mearley possessions to be protected and fought over by young stallions. To allow such “weak” creatures into the navy, or any “respectable” business, would be an insult to everypony involved.”
It was clear what Silky thought about the issue, but I decided not to spill the beans to him. There was still no telling what he might do if he found out.
Over the next hour we talked about etiquette, how to stand, what to say to who, when to bow and how low, and through the whole conversation the only question Silky couldn’t answer thoroughly was: “Why do ponies always wear clothes?” He paused and had to think about that one. His only response was: “Decency I suppose.”
“Strange, when I was on the street it was as common to seen a pony bare as it was to see them wear clothes”
“The streets are different than higher society. Plus I am sure the naked ones froze during the winter.” We laughed at that, when he wasn't on the job Silky was really a pleasant pony to be around, almost like a big brother.
“It does make it hard to ever see a pony’s cutie mark, the only reason I know what the other Ships-colt’s are is because we showed each other.”
“Ahem, well. Let’s not go spreading that around, in many circles that can mark a pony as being...”loose” shall we say.” Silky said, with an air of disgust.
“Ug, really. Society ponies are so sensitive.” I certainly am not “loose”, whatever it means.
“You can say that again, the reason I am with the captain is because I accidentally put too much cheese and not enough crackers on a party platter at my former employers birthday celebration. The cook skipped out the night of, so the whole kitchen was in a mess. I did the best I could, but apparently “The strong scent of Mizithra was offending to the guests”. I have worked for these ponies for years, so you think I would be used to it but...” Silky started to mock cry, his eyes opening up to twice their normal size and his bottom lip jutted out in a pouty face. “I always took pride in my cheese platters....and when he said that....I.....I died a little on the inside.” He then dramatically swooned into his chair, accidentally leaned back too far and toppled onto the ground. At that point I couldn't hold it in anymore and started rolling around with laughter. “Hey! I’m serious.” Silky protested from the floor. “I was the Cheese Platter King! He had no right to belittle me like that!”
“Stop, Oh please...my ribs!” It felt like they might split from laughter.
“It was then I decided I had enough with ungrateful peons,” Silky stood on his hind hooves in his chair, raising his glass for effect. “The Lord of the Platter moved on to land where his skills might be appreciated!” I was sure I was going to pass out at this point, I don’t think I had ever laughed so hard in my life. It was then that Captain Storm Wind rang the bell for Silky and I to return to his cabin for final preparations.
I quickly changed into my new dress uniform, gloves and all, and we went up. We got there just as the officers of the eclipse were exiting the captain’s cabin.
“Ah, good Silky you got these uniforms for all the Ships-colts?” The captain asked.
“Yes sir, they are all dressed and ready for inspection.”
“Good, then we are ready to depart. I am glad you could accompany us Silk.” The captain said with a small smile. “I hear that the King of the Cheese Platter himself will be helping in the kitchen” It took every ounce of self-control I had to not roll on the deck laughing again, I had to content myself with snickering with everyone else.
“Curse these floorboards!” Silky faked disgust, casting a dramatic disapproving glance at the floor. “They have revealed my true identity! I can not hide my secret any longer!”
“Come now Silky.” The captain said, wiping a tear of laughter from his eye. “We all have secrets to hide.” That shut me up, thankfully he did not seem to be talking about me. “But we can discuss them later after the staff meeting, we must leave before we are late.”
At the Illuminator, I was happy to find out that there were no other ships-colts. I would get to practice all that Silky taught me, and wear my gloves. It was a largely uneventful evening, we served an appetizer and a light side stew, then the captains and the admiral broke off to discuss war plans. During that time, the other officers mingled amongst themselves, and I moved around carrying a platter of drinks to serve to the stallions. After a short while, the captains and admiral returned and the main course was served. How they managed to keep that many acorns and oats fresh I will never know. The only extra ordinary thing to happen was I got asked to stand in with the captains and admiral during the last bit of the planning and pour refills on drinks. I did eavesdrop a little bit, but there was so much sea lingo that I barely understood it. There was something about flanking the port bow-stern of the enemy booyah or something like that. After the planning was complete, we left the Illuminator and headed back to the Eclipse. I said goodnight to Silky and Patches and started to head back to the ships-colt quarters when the captain called to me.
“Ships-colt Toffee, I would like to thank you for your service this evening. You did a fine job, Silky taught you well. In fact, if you wish, you can assume further training under him, in between watch shifts of course. How does that sound?”
“That sounds wonderful Captain, thank you very much sir” I saluted, and headed back to my hammock. It was a wonderful day, I could hardly wait for tomorrow.