Pirates of The Equestrian

Chapter 4: The Curse Of Blackmane

With the stars dotting Luna's sky, the once foreboding sea was now glimmering with the luster of the moonlight. The calm, glassy water was only rippled by the giant sea turtle lumbering across the surface. On his shell, Rarity provided an illumination spell while Applejack rode atop Super Tanks's head as if she were on a stagecoach.

"Woohoo! Get along, little turtle!"

"Rainbow Dash, it's been hours." Rarity whined as she lay with boredom. "Haven't you spotted anything yet?"

Rainbow sat perched atop one of the palm trees attached to the shell, rolling a frond into a tube and using it as a telescope. "I can't exactly see that well at night, Rarity. Man, isn't there a single boat out here?! I know it's a big ocean, but at this point I'll take anything! A cargo ship? A clam boat? A freezing couple barely floating on a hunk of wood?" She continued to scout the vast sea until something finally caught her eye. "Wait a minute, look! I can see light ahead! Land ho!"

Applejack and Rarity stared forward where she was pointing. A mile or two away was a speck of orange light emitting from an unknown source. As Super Tank slowly paddled closer, the three could now see a flat lumpy silhouette that appeared to be an island or even a peninsula. The light was revealed to come from a town sprawling across the coast of the land form, and the shadows of old fishing trawlers could be seen rocking in place as they were tied up at dock. At last, the ponies had found civilization.

"Yeehaw!" cheered Applejack. "We're finally makin' port, girls!"

Rainbow whooped and Rarity sighed with relief before Super Tank floated up to the docks and stopped to let his little walking passengers off. After finally stepping on dry land, Rainbow turned back to her new friend.

"Thanks again, Super Tank. Catch ya later!"

The giant turtle licked her with a humongous slippery tongue, leaving her covered in reptile spit. Then, Super Tank lowered his head once more and cruised off in search of a nice private beach to sleep.

Rainbow, Rarity and Applejack turned ahead and wandered into this mysterious town. From the looks of it, the town appeared old and rustic, lit only by oil street lamps. The cobblestone roads were grimy and the buildings were poorly maintained as well; but it was far from empty. Everywhere on the dirty streets were vagrant ponies partying like there was no tomorrow. Some were drunk on cider while others commingled with bawdy looking mares among the sound of Celtic music and breaking windows. Applejack watched the scene with disgusted confusion.

"Where in the name of Celestia are we?" she asked.

Rainbow spotted a sign and read the town name. "Horsewater. Population 1,583." A scream was heard from among the town followed by a loud crash. "Population 1,582."

"Good gracious!" scowled Rarity. "This town is absolutely revolting! Is everypony on the sea a lowlife?!"

"Well, what do we do now?" asked Rainbow.

"I say we find some help." Applejack replied. "If we're goin' after a bunch of zombified pirates to save Twilight, Fluttershy, Pinkie and Shelly, then we gotta rustle up as many rough n' tough sailors as we can find in this stink hole."

The trio entered the muddy streets of Horsewater in search of any place that might house ponies with nautical experience. Before long, after avoiding the rowdy citizens trying to flag them down, they came upon a tavern called the Barnacle Bar. The bar seemed to be the hub of all the chaotic partying in town as Applejack stepped through the saloon doors with her friends at her sides. She surveyed the gaggle of hearty sailors, complete with scars and scowls, who drank and cursed in conversation and even picked a few cider induced fights. Applejack raised her voice.

"Alright, listen up!" The sound of accordion music ceased as every bar patron stopped in dead silence and looked back at the stranger. "I'm roundin' up a crew to help me! Blackmane and his crew have returned from the dead and he's fixin' to raise heck on the ocean all around Equestria. So if ya'll think yer tough enough to stop him, then join me!"

The sailors stared back at her with blank expressions. Then, in unison, they all broke out in hysteric raspy laughter. "Blackmane?! The Pirate?!" said one sailor between breaths. "He's nuthin' but an old sea legend now!" added another. "Yer not from around here, are ya missy?!" rasped the bartender.

"Um, Applejack," said Rarity. "Did you ever think that our story might sound a little...far-fetched?"

"Well what else was I gonna say?"

"You could just say we're rounding up a rescue party for our friends." Rainbow rolled her eyes.

"I was gettin' to that!"

"Blackmane, ya say?" came a brooding voice from the corner of the bar.

The trio looked to a dimly lit booth where a shadowy figure sat alone. Staring soberly back at them was a gray middle aged stallion in a blue captain's jacket with a white navy cap to match. His face was lined with a trim white beard and featured a sagely complexion that had seen too much. He spoke to the mares in a deep yet handsome tone, with some pirate-like speech traits.

"Now there'd be a tale not for the weak of heart." He said softly with a swig of cider.

Applejack knew this pony had to be of some help and sat down across from him with the other two. "You believe Blackmane's come back?"

"Aye," the captain answered with tired teal eyes. "I know everything there is to know about Blackmane; and the curse he left behind."

"Curse?" repeated Rainbow. "What curse? Who are you exactly?"

The pony took another drink then stared at them. "I am Nemo, Captain in the Equestrian Royal Navy...or at least I used to be. I must ask, what brings three young mares like you around Horsewater? You seem to be more mainland types."

"Well ya see," explained Applejack. "We were stranded from our cruise ship and we eventually found this old ship. Turns out we walked into an ambush by Blackmane and his crew who captured us. After a while, we managed to escape, but we left three of our friends behind. Now we're tryin' to find 'em again."

"Trying to find Blackmane again?" queried Nemo. "That'd be a fool's errand there."

"Mr. Nemo," said Rarity.

"Captain." He urged.

"Sorry. Captain Nemo, how did Blackmane return in the first place?"

That's when the captain sat back and became lost in bitter memories. "That I'm afraid was partly my doing." The mares listened closely, eager to hear Nemo's story. "It was no more than a month ago. I was leading my vessel, the E.S. Thresher, on a routine patrol across the Western Sea. We came upon an island to replenish our food and water supplies when some of my crew went off searching in the jungle. My first mate returned with an unearthed chest full of gold coins and jewels. He urged me to take it aboard my ship and share the riches amongst the crew. But something didn't seem right about that treasure; it was some sort of evil vibe. I ordered my first mate to leave it behind out of superstition. But then, after we set off, I found that the greedy rat had snuck a piece of the treasure onboard; a very large and fine cut emerald. Furious, I demanded that he throw the jewel overboard in order to rid my ship of any bad luck. That's where I made the mistake I regret to this day."

"Um, are you getting to the Blackmane part soon?" asked Rainbow. "I really have to pee after all that sea travel."

"Rainbow, hush yer tongue!" barked Applejack.

"As I was saying," said Nemo, clearing his throat. "After I tossed the gem, a storm started brewing around my ship. I told my men to hunker down below deck. That's when I saw it; a withered old vessel, armed with forty maybe fifty cannon, that seemed to burst out of the rocking waves. And on board that old clinker was a pony I never thought I'd lay eyes on: it was none other than Blackmane, piloting the dreaded Queen Chrysalis's Revenge."

"Hold up!" interrupted Applejack. "Ya mean Blackmane just showed up when you dropped that fancy jewel into the ocean?"

"That seemed to be the only explanation." Nemo answered.

"But how is that possible?" asked Rainbow.

"Well, it was only after this incident that I studied the legend of Blackmane to make sense of what I saw." Nemo continued. "After his long reign of pirating, Blackmane was confronted by Princess Celestia, who eventually sank his ship along with his crew. Before being executed, Blackmane revealed that he had buried the last of his loot on an unknown island. And he cursed that if any of that treasure were to be removed and put into the sea, he would return from his watery grave. Believe me, my dears, when I say that a pirate's curse is just as powerful as any dark magic."

"Dear Celestia," said Rarity in horror. "He really is undead!"

"So what did you do when he returned?" asked Applejack.

"I was too dumbstruck to do anything. Before I knew it, the Revenge opened fire on us, and in mere minutes my ship burst into flames from the barrage and I found myself hurdling into the drink. Miraculously I survived, but only to watch the Thresher sink out of my sight, with all of my crew aboard. Eventually I washed up here in Horsewater, where I took the time to read up on Blackmane's curse and realized what I had done. I was too ashamed to show myself around the navy again, not only because I brought utter chaos upon the seas, but because I was too cowardly to go down with my own ship and crew. And so, I declared myself missing, and have been wallowing here since." Nemo emptied his glass with remorse.

"So that jewel your first mate took was part of Blackmane's treasure, and that's what brought him back?" recapped Applejack. "This is just gettin' crazier n' crazier!"

"Don't you get it, AJ?" said Rainbow. "That's how we can get rid of Blackmane! All we have to do is find that jewel and return it!"

"Rainbow, surely you jest," replied Rarity. "That emerald is lost somewhere at the bottom of the ocean. It would be impossible to locate!"

"Aye," agreed Nemo. "That is why I regret casting it away in the first place. I do not even remember the location of where it all happened. I am afraid I am nothing but a useless old sea salt who will make things worse. If you three want to continue searching for your friends, I suggest finding somepony else."

"Now wait just a minute, salty!" Applejack slammed on the table. "I ain't gonna let you sit here drownin' in cider! You couldn't have know about what ya did, and there's no use in sulkin' about it. Out there is a no-good fish-breath undead pirate raisin' heck in the ocean, and he's got our friends. Yer the only one who can help us now, and I ain't gonna sit around afraid to get wet. Now it's time you man up and be a gosh darn sailor!"

Nemo stared back at her with a cocked eyebrow as he listened to her tenacity. Then he spoke without changing his stony expression. "Missy, you've got a lot of nerve speaking to an old captain like me...which is why I like ya! You're right, it's time I stopped mulling and set sail once again to undo what I've done." He stood up from the booth. "My dear ponies, you got yourselves a captain! We shall find that emerald!"

"Whoo! Now we're talking!" beamed Rainbow. "I'm tired of running for help. Let's take that greasy sea thug down!"

"But Captain Nemo," said Rarity. "How would we start to find the jewel anyway? You don't even have a boat anymore."

"You're right, I don't have a boat." Nemo then gave a knowing smile for the first time since his tragedy. "At least not the kind that stays above water."