==P==I==P==
Ten years earlier...
==P==I==P==
Gulls called and wheeled in the clear air over the Baltimare harbor. A fresh seaward breeze kicked up gradually as the port city bustled with energy and motion. It was about an hour before the tide normally began to turn and the crews of the many ships resting in the bay were hard at work loading them with cargo and making last minute repairs. Cranes groaned and clattered as tons of cargo at a time were loaded onto the decks of massive merchant frigates, while several trains of porter stallions sang sea shanties in varying levels of baritone all along the docks.
At the end of the harbor, at anchor right beside a wharf, one ship was preparing to make its last voyage of the year before the winter storms struck. She was a stout, good sized vessel with three sails and space in the hold to fit cargo enough to buy Ponyville. At the moment though, it was loaded with a cargo of food and medical supplies making its way to Antlerantis on the other side of the Stable Sea as part of a relief effort from Celestia to the Elkish kingdom. A nightmare of a winter had left the island nation in a bad state and Celestia had collected food from across her domain to help them survive to the next growing season.
On the dock beside the idling ship the vessel’s captain bid a melancholy farewell to his family. This voyage was a last minute event, and a dangerous one at that with the winter storms approaching, but it had been a request from Celestia herself, and this particular captain would do anything for princess Luna’s sister.
Pipsqueak wrapped a foreleg around Sweetie Belle’s neck and hugged her fiercely, burying his muzzle in her bouncy mane and drinking in her scent. Sweetie hugged him to her just as fiercely, giving a soft sigh of sadness as she was forced to let go of him far too soon. Pipsqueak gave looked her in the eye and reminded her, “I won’t be gone long this time. A month, at most, less if the wind’s with us.”
Sweetie nodded and took a deep breath, “I know... It’s just that, we were going to have a picnic on Saturday.”
“Yeah!” A small green Earth filly sitting beside Sweetie added eloquently, “And now you’re gonna miss it.”
Pipsqueak smirked slightly as Sweetie frowned and flicked their daughter in the back of the head with her tail. He always found it funny whenever Sweetie reprimanded her for being too loose with her tongue, especially when he remembered how spunky and forthright she herself could be at times.
Pipsqueak knelt down and nuzzled his daughter, who was now glaring at Sweetie, “I really am sorry about that Tea Leaf, but you remember what aunt Luna said. This cargo is very important. It needs to get to the elk soon or they might not make it through the winter.” A horrible blizzardy winter followed by a dry summer had left Antlerantis in a bad way. The food in the ship’s hold would get them through to summer, and hopefully give them a second chance.
Tea Leaf’s mood reversed rapidly and she sniffed sadly, giving Pipsqueak a hug around the neck, “I don’t care what Luna says,” She grumbled, “I want to have a picnic with you and mom.”
Pipsqueak returned the hug, touched by the rare show of genuine affection. He let go of her and stood up, whistling sharply at a stallion loading up a crate with bags of grain. The stallion turned to look at his captain, who beckoned him over, “Hey Squall, come here for a moment. Tell Tea Leaf here about the time you had tea with the Zebran Empress.” He winked discretely at the sailor and the burly stallion nodded before grinning broadly at a curious looking Tea Leaf.
Squall had never been to the Zebra homeland, had tea with an empress, or probably ever even met a zebra, but he was the biggest liar Pipsqueak had ever had the pleasure of knowing. He could spin a tale like no other, usually in the pursuit of free alcohol in some tavern or other. In fine form the stallion began nodding sagely as Tea Leaf trotted over to hear his story, “Oh yes, I remember that time. Never felt so honored in all my days. It was three years ago I believe, or perhaps it was four. Ah, no matter. Well, I was sailing with the royal navy on a scouting mission along the Zebran border when all of the sudden we saw a wing of griffons attacking a...”
As Squall held Tea Leaf’s attention Pipsqueak sat down beside his wife and leaned toward her, “So, what’s the matter?”
“I already told you. I don’t like it that you’re going to miss-“
“You don’t get teary eyed over picnics,” Pipsqueak interrupted, “If anything you should be angry at me, not looking as if I were heading to my grave. What is it really?”
Sweetie Belle looked at her hooves for a moment before turning to look at Pipsqueak, “I’m worried. I’ve got a horrible feeling about this trip, and I... I’m afraid something’s going to happen to you.”
Pipsqueak reached out and gave Sweetie another hug, letting her rest her head on his chest, “I’ve gone on dozens of voyages since we got married, a lot of them were much more dangerous than this one. I’ve always come back, even if I did have a few new scars to impress you with, I’ve always come back.” He smiled at the faint snicker he heard Sweetie make, feeling her nuzzle his chest.
“I know,” She mumbled, “I know you’ll come back... I just... I want you to promise.” A fierceness entered her voice as she pressed herself forcefully against him, surprising Pipsqueak, “Promise you’ll come back. I know you will, but I need you to swear.”
Pipsqueak was becoming worried now. He’d never seen Sweetie Belle this distraught before. She had always been the most strong-willed of the two of them, and probably the most strong-willed mare he’d ever met. Applebloom and Granny Applejack might have been physically strong, and Twilight Sparkle was still the mightiest non-goddess unicorn he’d ever seen, but Sweetie Belle had always possessed an indestructible emotional strength. Nothing could make her back down or surrender when she had a mind to keep going. She had been the master of her emotions since he’d met her, and now to feel her shivering against him was deeply disturbing.
This wasn’t the first time she had gotten a “feeling” either. Twilight had once called it an “ethereal attunement” like Rarity’s ability to sense gems but stronger and, different. It wasn’t quite premonition but it was similar, vaguely. Neither Twilight nor Sweetie had ever been able to really explain it, but it was seldom wrong, adding a whole other level of worry to Pipsqueak’s mind. If Sweetie Belle didn’t like this trip then he would be on high alert until he was back on Equestrian soil. In the past he had cancelled voyages because of Sweetie Belle’s “feelings” and he’d usually been wise to do so, but this one was too important to cancel, or even postpone. The cargo had to get to Antlerantis now.
“Alright,” The mottled stallion said soberly, “I swear by the moon and my life that I will come back to you safe.”
There was a long pause during which Sweetie Belle slowly stopped shivering, and she muttered, “Thank you.” She then pulled away from his chest and loudly cleared her throat, fixing her mane with a few sweeps of her hooves. Any trace of worry was gone from her face as she smiled at him. Pipsqueak smiled back, giving her a kiss before turning toward Squall and Tea Leaf. It was good to have the Sweetie Belle he remembered back.
He approached Squall and his daughter just in time to hear a bit of what he was telling her. “...and so she naturally wanted to thank me for saving her from the pirates. I’m a pretty handsome stallion as you might have noticed, and by Celestia she certainly did. She took one look at me after the attack and practically dragged me to her bedchambers where she proceeded to-“
“Shouldn’t you be readying the ship for departure right about now, mister Squall; Hmm?” Pipsqueak asked loudly, giving the sailor a warning glare over the top of Tea Leaf’s head.
Squall blanched slightly at Pipsqueak’s intervention and rubbed the back of his neck with a grin, “Er, right you are captain.” He smiled down at Tea Leaf and gave her a pat on the head, “Sorry lass, gotta go. I’ll finish telling the story later.” Tea Leaf let out a groan of disappointment.
“No. No you won’t,” Pipsqueak muttered to Squall as he passed, the sailor still grinning and snickering. He squinted at Squall as he passed Sweetie Belle, hefted the crate of grain he’d been loading onto his back, and ascended the gangplank. He wished he could believe that Squall had just been playing with him and hadn’t actually been planning to tell his daughter that sort of story, he really wished that, but he’d known Squall for years now. That stallion had no sense of propriety, whatsoever. Maybe getting him to distract Tea Leaf had been a mistake.
Many ponies up and down the docks, including Pipsqueak, Sweetie Belle, and Tea Leaf, looked up from their work as the huge Baltimare clock tower tolled out the hour. The tide would be on the turn now and the wind was fair, making it the best time possible to set out. Pipsqueak naturally began glancing over his ship, the Moonbeam, to make sure everything was set when he heard Tea Leaf moan beside him. He looked down to see the little filly looking saddened by the resounding notes of the bell inside the clock tower. He sat down with his legs folded under him so he was at eye level with her and nudged Tea Leaf’s shoulder, “Hey. You alright?”
His daughter shrugged, “You have to leave now, don’t you?”
Pipsqueak felt a pang of guilt. Tea Leaf needed a father, not a captain always at sea. His cutie mark was no lie though (an anchor and a ship’s wheel), he was a born seapony, and it was what let him live a comfortable life with his family when he wasn’t at sea. Maybe he’d see about just going into fishing instead of trading after this voyage. At least then he’d come home every day. At the moment though there was nothing for it. He sighed and nodded, “Yeah. I guess I- erk!”
He gagged a bit as Tea Leaf suddenly grabbed him around the neck and squeezed as hard as she could. He regained the ability to breath and smiled, sitting up on his haunches. He wrapped his forelegs around Tea Leaf and hugged her back, “Mmmm, I’m gonna miss you my little Tea Leaf.”
“I’m gonna miss you more daddy,” Tea Leaf countered, making Pipsqueak grin as he set her down. His heart twisted a bit at having to let her go.
He walked over to Sweetie Belle with Tea Leaf trotting beside him. His wife was looking at him with a neutral stare. Tea Leaf sat back a bit and Pipsqueak stood in front of Sweetie. He cleared his throat as she continued to stare at him, the air between them becoming awkward. “I’ll see you in-“
He was caught off guard as Sweetie grabbed his head in and aura of magic and wrenched him toward her. She met him halfway and kissed him hard. No, beyond hard. She kissed him ferociously. Pipsqueak’s brain melted and his legs felt like giving out as she ravaged the inside of his mouth. Before long though, he began returning the kiss with equal enthusiasm. He was vaguely aware of Tea Leaf shuffling in embarrassment and several sailors whooping in approval but he ignored both. That was another thing about Sweetie Belle’s emotional strength. When she wanted to she could be extremely emotional; sometimes in bad ways and sometimes in oh so very good ways.
After what could well have been several minutes, Sweetie Belle finally let go of Pipsqueak’s head and they separated, reluctantly, with an audible pop. Many of Pipsqueak’s crew were staring and nudging each other with lewd smiles, while Tea Leaf was blushing hard and trying to sink into the dock. Sweetie and Pipsqueak were both panting and grinning at each other. Sweetie leaned in and kissed him briefly on the cheek, whispering, “Come back soon so we can finish.”
Pipsqueak grinned even wider and Sweetie Belle giggled, her earlier worry just a memory for the moment. Pipsqueak returned the kiss on the cheek, making Sweetie hum happily, “I’ll see you in a month. I promise.” He turned and smiled at Tea Leaf, who had her hooves covering her head in an attempt to hide from her parents’ nauseating shows of affection. He chuckled and nudged her with a hoof, “And as for you,” She lifted a hoof to peak up at him, “I’ll bring you back a present. I’ll give it to you over a picnic. How does that sound.”
She set her hooves back on the ground and stood up, smiling. “I think I could live with that.”
Oh yeah. She really wanted some loot. Pipsqueak could see it in her eyes and the way she tried to act cool. Pipsqueak chuckled and ruffled her mane, making her squirm, “Glad to hear it.”
“Don’t you worry lass!” Squall shouted from the deck of the ship, “I’ll make sure ‘e brings y’back somethin’ nice.”
“Thank you Squall!” Tea Leaf shouted in response, making everyone in earshot laugh.
“Yes, thank you Squall,” Pipsqueak agreed sarcastically, turning his hooves toward the gangplank. The rest of the crew was already onboard with the ship ready to sail. They were just waiting on him now.
As he crossed the gangplank Sweetie Belle walked close to the edge of the dock, near were Squall was leaning against the ship’s railing. She fixed him with a stern glare that only a mother and wife could accomplish, “Now you listen to me now mister Squall. You make sure my husband comes back safe or by Celestia’s fiery ball I will turn you inside out and back again with my bare hooves. Do we understand each other?” Pipsqueak dipped his head down near his chest to hide his grin.
Squall gulped and nodded as Pipsqueak boarded the ship and the gangplank was retracted, “Er, yes ma’am. Understood ma’am. Please don’t hurt me ma’am.” The crewmembers watching the exchange snickered until Sweetie fixed them with her glare as well. Pipsqueak’s heart swelled; oh how he loved that mare.
Pipsqueak braced himself against the gentle rolling of the ship and a part of his mind seemed to realign itself. The sounds of the ship and sea rolled over him in a subtle rhythm as he sensed the direction of the wind playing in his mane. The shape of the clouds and the direction of the waves took on new meanings to him as he stood for a moment on the deck of his ship. He looked around at the faces of his crew, all looking to him, waiting for their orders. He turned around and looked at the dock, where Sweetie Belle and Tea Leaf stood, smiling and waving to him. He waved back, pondering for a moment why he felt sad all of the sudden...
But such musings would have to wait. The crew of the Moonbeam might have been loyal and skilled but their patience wasn’t quite as admirable. Pipsqueak took a deep breath and settled into his role as captain. He began walking purposefully toward the helm, shouting orders as he went, “Alright you dogs! Enough lazing about! Cast the lines, raise anchor, and loose the sails! The winds and tide are with us so I want to be under way at ten nauts in half an hour! By sundown I don’t even want to remember what the coastline looks like! Move y’scallywags; I swore I’d be back here in one month and I’ll personally pickle the stallion who makes me late!”
The crew sprang into action, voices hollering from one end of the ship to the other as they set to their appointed duties. In short order the sails were unfurled with the anchor and mooring lines safely stowed away, and the ship began to pull away from the docks. Pipsqueak stood beside the helmspony, a light yellow unicorn stallion named Charms, as the unicorn angled them toward the open sea and Antlerantis far beyond the horizon. The wind caught the sails in earnest, causing them to belly out and the ship began gaining speed.
Pipsqueak couldn’t resist looking back at the docks one last time. Baltimare was laid out before him in a fantastic panoramic visage, but his attention was only on two little dots on the docks; one white with a splash of purple, and the other green. That strange feeling of sadness fell over him again as the ship began its voyage across the sea. As Baltimare got smaller and smaller from his perspective he couldn’t help but wonder, remembering his wife’s sense of foreboding, if it was Sweetie Belle and Tea Leaf shrinking away into the distance, or him.
==P==I==P==
Two weeks later
==P==I==P==
Pipsqueak had never seen an elk before. He’d seen pictures of all sorts of races of course, and as a sailor he’d met more than most ponies. He’d met zebras aplenty; in fact some of his crew were zebras. He’d met griffons and wolves from the north of Equestria, along the coasts near the Crystal Empire. He’d met deer and horses from nations across the Celestial sea, on the opposite side of Equestria. He’d even met camels and giraffes in the Savannah, far southern homeland of the zebras. All of those encounters with the broader world had been exciting and invaluable experiences, but meeting an elk was an as of yet unattained pleasure. The elk were a reclusive and noble race, known primarily for their immense power in the art of magic. The vast majority of their population lived on a single densely forested island roughly a third the size of Equestria, where they had lived for countless generations. Very few elk ever left their secluded island nation, most of them believing in a strict philosophy of isolation. Only ponies such as Pipsqueak and the crew of the Moonbeam, acting as emissaries for foreign rulers, had the fortune to meet them. Even then Pipsqueak had only expected to meet some dockhooves and perhaps a representative of the royal court.
To be met on the docks by the queen of the elk was an honor he had never expected.
As a trio of elk relieved the ship of its many tons of cargo using nothing more than simple telekinesis (their twisting racks of horns blazing with white light) Pipsqueak and his crew were bowing low on the dock before the majestic figure of queen Terrona. Much like the sun princess of Equestria she towered over the sailors, proving to be at least thrice their size. In fact, many of the elk seemed to be quite a bit bigger than the ponies and zebras amongst Pipsqueak’s crew, though not dauntingly so; only about half a head taller usually.
The queen gracefully inclined her head to the sailors in return, her delicate coronet of silver and pale leaves glittering in the late afternoon light, “You have the deepest gratitude of my people, noble ponies of Equestria. Give my thanks to your princess Celestia upon your return for her generous and selfless gift. And for your sacrifice, braving the sea across such great distance and risk to yourselves, please rise.”
Pipsqueak and his crew lifted their eyes off the dock and stood up again. The queen was smiling at them, which was magnificent enough, but on looking behind her at the path leading up the steep and heavily forested hill that constituted the edge of this small harbor Pipsqueak spotted an elk walking toward them, levitating a chest along beside him. The queen turned to greet the elk, giving the ponies a good view of her royal backside, which several of the more lecherous sailors grinned at. Pipsqueak tried to put his eyes back on the dock but it was a pretty magnificent view. Squall nudged his shoulder and Pipsqueak glanced at him. The lecherous sailor wiggled his eyebrows and grinned, leaning over to whisper, “Y’think that’s our reward?”
Pipsqueak ignored him and tried not to make his disappointment too obvious as the queen turned around again. The elk with the chest had joined them now and he set the chest down on the dock. The light around his antlers vanished, as did the aura supporting the chest. The dock groaned in protest as the chest’s weight settled on it. Pipsqueak eyed it cautiously, waiting for it to crash through the dock and sink into the harbor, while a few of the crew took a step or two away.
The queen smiled and gave a light laugh, making Pipsqueak’s ears wiggle in delight at the sound, “Do not be afraid little ponies,” Why did royalty always have to call common ponies little? “There is nothing in this chest to fear. Rather, I think you will be quite pleased with it.” She nodded to the elk who had brought the chest. The elk’s antler’s glowed and the lid of the chest swung open. The chest was filled with rocks. Some were larger than a pony’s head, some were only the size of a hoof, while in the spaces between were innumerable pebbles and bits of sand, filling the chest all the way to the brim. What caught the attention of the Moonbeam’s crew though was the color of the rocks. They were all yellow, or, more accurately, gold; solid gold.
The effect was powerful and immediate.
The visiting ponies stood and stared, dumbfounded by the sheer volume of gold before them. No one spoke as they all gazed in shock at the thousands of bits of ore, their brains gradually comprehending the sight. Pipsqueak was no exception. The chest had been laid right in front of him so he was practically swimming in its contents. He could smell its metallic tang in the air it was so close. As the light of the sinking sun played across its surface he could see his flabbergasted face reflected back at him in the surface of a particularly large nugget. There must have been enough gold in that chest to buy and sell anypony in the world. He wanted to touch it. Hell, he wanted to bathe in it.
Some other members of the crew seemed to have gotten the same idea in their heads. As Pipsqueak was still staring the crew began slowly pulling out of their shock. A big grey stallion started creeping forward, but Charms the helmspony saw him and quickly intercepted him. Meanwhile Squall and a zebra, the cook named Zither, were trying to shove each other away from the chest while trying to reach it themselves. Like dominos falling the entire crew slowly began to grapple over who would reach the chest first. The queen watched without comment, her calm smile withering on her lips. The elk who’d brought the chest shook his head and seemed to roll his eyes. The cook shoved Squall hard and reached for the chest.
*crack!*
The lid of the chest slammed down and ponies and zebras alike stopped, eyes whipping away from each other and their escalating riot to look at the chest again. Pipsqueak’s hoof rested on the edge of the lid he’d just closed. He cleared his throat forcefully and glared over either shoulder in turn at his crew, daring them to continue. He gulped and reminded himself that he had to keep them all in line as the desire to open the chest again nearly overwhelmed him. If any of the crew tried to make a grab for it he wasn’t sure if he could remain civil.
Thankfully, and to their credit, the crew did not attempt any such thing. Those who had begun grappling released each other and the small crowd of foreigners cautiously sat on their haunches, each individual keeping their eyes on their captain as he eyed them severely. Once they were all becalmed again Pipsqueak turned his eyes back to the queen. He took his hoof off the chest (with difficulty) and took a step back. He bowed gratefully, “Thank you, your majesty. Your gift is beyond generous and greatly appreciated. You are a beacon of your people’s greatness.” The crew bowed as well and murmured their agreement. After a few seconds Pipsqueak cautiously glanced up.
The calm smile had returned to the queen’s face and the elkish dockhoof looked indifferent again. Well, that was better than looking condescending at least. The queen caught Pipsqueak’s eye and nodded, “You are most welcome. Such metals as these have no true use to us, with our particular nature-“ She referred to their isolation “-but we know it has great value in other kingdoms. Take it with the gratitude of all elk, and my own blessing.” As Pipsqueak and his crew stood again they were surprised to see queen Terrona turn her eyes to the dock and lower her head respectfully. With her height it only brought her low enough to be about eyelevel with the sailors but the effect was still there. The elkish dockhoof also bowed, and chancing a look around Pipsqueak saw that the other dockhooves, still unloading the ship, had paused their work to bow as well. Pipsqueak had known this delivery of food had been important but perhaps he hadn’t realized quite how important. The queen continued, still bowing, “You as well are monuments to your kingdom’s generosity, and whenever the mothers and fathers of Antlerantis look on their children who would have starved if not for you, you will be remembered with joyful tears.”
Okay, he had definitely underestimated the gravity of this cargo.
Pipsqueak looked around at his crew as the queen and the dockhooves rose from their bows. His crew looked about as awkward and surprised as he did. Some of them seemed to be on the border between awkward and proud. He looked back at the queen to see her smile had taken on a sad tinge. She sounded slightly apologetic, but not very, as she spoke, “With that being the case, I am afraid I must now forbid you from stepping any further onto my people’s island. You may stay in the harbor for as long as you see fit, but the ancient traditions of Antlerantis do not allow those not born here to set hoof on the island. I apologize.”
Pipsqueak blinked forcefully several times as his brain tried to comprehend this. Such reactions seemed to be the norm on this island. First the queen was giving them mountains of gold and practically worshiping them, and now they were being... what, banished? And worse, he had explicitly promised his crew a few days of shore leave. A short walk up and down the dock wasn’t exactly what he’d imagined.
By the sound of angry muttering behind him Pipsqueak could tell the crew felt the same. He motioned for them to calm down, which did little to stifle their indignant grumbling. Squall stepped up beside him and rumbled quietly, “She’s not serious, is she?”
“You know as well as I that we have to respect her wishes,” Pipsqueak muttered back, “And don’t you dare give her shit about it, or did you not want your share of the gold?”
Squall raised his eyebrows, considering this new perspective. Still looking upset he nonetheless backed down and began to mutter amongst the crew as Pipsqueak turned his attention back to the queen. He inclined his head respectfully, “We understand and accept your traditions, your majesty. We would never wish to offend.”
Queen Terrona inclined her head in turn and replied, “It has been a pleasure to speak with you captain Pipsqueak. Give my warm regards to your princesses.”
Pipsqueak nodded as the queen turned and walked away. Meanwhile, the elk who had brought the chest of gold once again lifted it with his powerful telekinesis and began carrying it toward the Moonbeam, where the three other elk had completed unloading its precious cargo, leaving it in a large pyramid of crates and barrels at the head of the dock near the tree line. Pipsqueak turned to his crew, who were now milling about on the dock, and sighed. He’d been looking forward to dry land as well. “Alright boys, you heard the queen; back on the boat.”
There was a collective angry groan of irritation and many of the crew looked with undisguised longing at the end of the dock and the clearly marked trail leading deeper into the dense forest. Their groans weren’t quite so mutinous as before though, and they slowly began filing back over the gangplank as the elk lowered their newly acquired chest of gold into the hold.
Pipsqueak followed them across the plank. He stepped on deck and glanced around at the faces of his crew. They were all tired and upset. Some were openly angry while others just looked disappointed. Pipsqueak began to understand why the queen had shown them how much gold she was giving them before telling them about the island’s traditions. He doubted the crew would have been so quiet about the whole matter had their moods not been buoyed by a sailor’s natural appreciation for booty.
“Zither, do you think you could cook up some supper for us? Maybe some stew, and don’t skimp on anything. I think a pick-me-up is definitely in order tonight, and speaking of pick-me-ups, break out a cask of whiskey.” A trill of energy went through the crew but Pipsqueak quickly reminded them as the cook headed below deck, “I want you all sober enough to sail in the morning though. Any stallion who sees two of me when he goes to bed gets a good rousing dunk in the sea, understood?”
The crew let out a chorus of varying levels of agreement, some of them being avid drinkers, as they began filing below deck to the galley. Pipsqueak followed in their wake as they began chatting about what they planned to do with their shares of the gold. A little camaraderie would do him good.
==P==I==P==
One Week Later
==P==I==P==
The storm came up without warning. One moment the sea had been calm as glass, then, in the space of ten minutes, it had turned into a raging froth not unlike a pot of boiling water. A roiling wall of black clouds, spewing rain, had seemingly spun themselves from the air as a blast of wind that never seemed to end had slammed into the side of the ship. The sails had been torn apart in the initial blast, and one of the masts had been torn up by the roots and fallen over the side only to be caught in the rigging. They were essentially dead in the water now, but that was a problem for later. Now the only concern was not letting the ship capsize.
Pipsqueak felt the deck pitch underneath him and stumbled. He quickly caught himself and continued to run toward the helm. Charms had gotten hit with a flying piece of rigging and Squall was dragging his motionless body below deck. The chunk of rigging had torn a gash on the top of his head and Pipsqueak caught a glimpse of bone under the large amounts of blood pouring out. He prayed to Celestia that he wasn’t dead, and he wanted to help Squall carry him down to where Zither was tending to the injured sailors, but with nopony minding the helm they were at the mercy of the waves and could sink at any moment.
He galloped up the steps, taking them three at a time, and leapt at the large wooden wheel spinning madly like a deranged clock. He grabbed it with his hooves and nearly had his forelegs torn out for his troubles. A blast of rain surged over his already drenched coat and stung at his eyes. He gave a wordless yell and wrestled for purchase on the slippery deck as the wheel continued attempting to turn. Inch by inch he dragged it back on course and pointed the bow of the ship into the waves. The ship slowly stopped pitching from side to side, threatening to send the whole thing down to the sea bed, and instead started rolling forward and back with the waves.
A bolt of lightning illuminated the scene around the ship. Half a dozen stallions were charging around the deck with the remainder of the dozen crawling through the rigging. Those on deck were trying to grab the larger pieces of debris leftover from the mast’s untimely end and throw them overboard before the wind and motion of the ship turned them into projectiles. Meanwhile the stallions in the rigging were trying to untangle the shattered mast. It had become nothing but a dead weight and was making the entire ship lean dangerously to one side.
A crack of thunder followed as the scene faded back into chaotic darkness. The roar was horrendous with sailors shouting, waves crashing, and the ship itself generally groaning in agony. Pipsqueak laid his ears back flat against his head and tried to stay focused on the helm. A massive wave struck the prow of the ship and Pipsqueak’s stomach flipped as they were practically thrown into the air. A salty spray attacked his face through the dark as he fought with the rudder. He clenched his eyes shut and held on to the wheel. A catastrophic crashing sound split through the rest of the noise and Pipsqueak hoped for a moment that the dead mast had been released and fallen into the sea, but when he opened his eyes and caught sight of the deck again as another bolt of lightning struck the sea he saw that not only was the dead mast still tangled up in the rigging, but he could see a huge gash in the mast right before him where the stress had become too much and it had begun to snap. Even as he watched it started to fall, praying razor sharp splinters into the side of a passing sailor. His cries of pain were lost as the mast collapsed, straight on top of the helm!
Pipsqueak released the wheel and jumped out of the way, sliding across the deck to cling to the railing. The wheel, free once more, spun madly for a split second before it was crushed into toothpicks, along with half the quarter deck. Pipsqueak felt the ship crack and moan under the assault, and he also felt it turn and wobble now that the rudder was relieved of duty. His forelegs, already feeling weak from their fight with the wheel, slowly started to slip as the ship was forced sideways and began taking the waves broadside once again. The ship lurched as a wave struck it with unbelievable force and Pipsqueak’s legs gave out. He immediately tried to regain his hold but it was too late. He slid across the deck, collided with the fallen mast, and began sliding backward.
He lost track of where he was going in the wet, howling darkness, and found fear beginning to grow in his mind. Up to this point he’d had a plan. He’d known what needed to be done to fix the situation, what orders to give and what measures to take. Now, with the sails and rudder gone, half the crew incapacitated or most likely dead, and the storm only getting worse, he began to realize what the situation was.
He felt the deck sliding beneath him, then felt his back slam into the railing. He scrambled to grab hold, but at that same moment a bolt of lightning fell from the sky to strike the last remaining mast still standing in the center of the ship. It exploded into smoking bits of firewood, striking several stallions and flinging them overboard. The sudden jolt was magnified as a wave struck the ship and sent Pipsqueak not just tumbling but flying over the back railing of the ship.
He felt the deck leave his hooves and the stinging rain pelt him from every side. The air rushed past him and time seemed to slow down. A flurry of lightning bolts striking all around the ship illuminated his beloved vessel’s demise. He saw one strike the hold, one struck the bowsprit; the fallen foremast and the mast right beside him. He wondered idly if there would be anything left to sink or if the entire thing would just be pounded to splinters. He saw fires beginning to take root even with all the rain and spray everywhere. He hoped at least some of the crew would survive, if only to tell the families of the dead what had happened... if only to tell Sweetie Belle what had happened.
He felt gravity’s insistent tug on him as he reached the apex of his flying arc. He looked down and saw the sea writhing below as he sailed out over the water. He tried to think of a way out of this situation but all he could think about was Sweetie Belle’s warning. Oh Celestia, he should have listened to her.
He looked up at the sky, hoping to see the moon through the clouds, or at least the stars; something to give him even the slightest bit of comfort. What he saw instead was an electric glow building in clouds, followed a split second later by a massive flash of light and an equally massive jolt of pain. He howled as he felt what must have been a veritable ocean of electricity flow through him. Some corner of his brain knew that much energy should be killing him, and yet he continued to writhe in agony for several seconds. Suddenly it felt like he was turned inside out and back again at the same time and the blinding light and pain vanished.
Almost brain dead he fell limply through space and splashed hard against the calm waters. He didn’t notice the gentle waves rolling around him in the sunny, tropical sea. He didn’t notice the still, warm air or cloudless sky. He didn’t notice the distinct lack of a sinking ship. He didn’t even notice as the sun was blotted out by the huge triangular sail driving the imposing, angular warship as it approached.
==T==E==A==
A Few Weeks After
==T==E==A==
Tea Leaf didn’t understand.
Dad had told her he would be back in a month. That had been a month and a half ago. She didn’t understand why he wasn’t home yet. She also didn’t understand why a pair of Canterlot guards had come to their house in the middle of the night. She sat at the top of the stairs, crouched down so mom wouldn’t see her and tell her to go back to bed because this was a discussion for “adults.”
She watched as Sweetie Belle anxiously opened the door. She saw the two guards say hello and take off their helmets. Tea Leaf was too far away to hear what was being said, but she could see by the faces of the guards that it wasn’t good news. She saw her mother shudder and tremble as the guards continued to talk. Their faces became sad and they paused. Neither one said anything for a long time, instead just looking at each other uncertainly. Sweetie Belle continued to tremble until she finally shouted, loud enough for Tea Leaf to hear.
“Tell me! Say it!”
One of the guards said something. Again, Tea Leaf was too far away to hear it, but she could tell he didn’t like saying it.
Sweetie Belle shivered on her hooves for a few moments afterwards, then gave a wordless scream and crumpled to the floor, curling in on herself and bawling her eyes out. The guards said something else, probably a goodbye, then closed the door and left.
Tea Leaf still sat at the top of the stairs, watching, then slowly crept down the stairs, toward her wailing mother. She didn’t really care anymore if she got sent to bed. She sat down next to her mom and leaned against her, feeling the tremendous sobs racking her body. Sweetie Belle gave no indication that she knew Tea Leaf was there beyond leaning against her in turn. Tea Leaf meanwhile simply stared at nothing, looking off into space. She didn’t understand why the guards had come. She didn’t understand why her mother was in tears. She didn’t understand why she was starting to cry too. She didn’t understand why daddy wasn’t home yet.
She desperately wanted to keep it that way.
