The Interceptor cut across the waves, with Pinkie at the wheel. Rainbow tightened a rope, and then began to sharpen his sword.
"For a stallion whose made an industry of avoiding boats, you're a quick study." said Pinkie.
"I worked passage from England as a cabin boy," said Rainbow, "After my mother passed, I came out here... Looking for my father."
"Is that so?"
"My father. Jetstream Dash."
"I was one of the few who knew him as that. Most everyone called him Wave, or 'Sharp-Winged' Wave."
"'Sharp-Winged' Wave?"
"Good pony. Good pirate. And clever. I never met anyone with as clever a mind and hooves as him. When you were puzzling out that cell door, it was like seeing his twin. Well, son, I guess."
"That's not true." said Rainbow, holding his sword more tightly.
"I swear, you look just like him. And not just because of the mane."
"It's not true that my father was a pirate."
Pinkie shrugged, "Figured you wouldn't want to hear it."
"He was a merchant marine! He was a respectable pony who obeyed the law, and followed the rules-"
"He was a pirate."
"My father was not a pirate!"
Rainbow pointed his sword out at Pinkie, who sighed.
"Put it away, Rainbow," he said, "It's not worth getting beat again.
"You didn't beat me. You ignored the rules of engagement. In a fair fight, I'd kill you."
"Then that's not much incentive for me to fight fair, is it?"
Pinkie suddenly kicked a lever on a wench. The sail boom suddenly whipped around, and slammed into Rainbow, sweeping off the ship. His sword clattered onto the deck, and Rainbow dangled above the water. Pinkie slipped a loop of rope around the wheel to hold course, and picked up Rainbow's sword.
"As long as you're just hanging there, pay attention. Must, should, do, don't, shall, shall not: those are just suggestions. There are only two absolute rules. What a pony can do. And what a pony can't do," Rainbow looked away, uninterested, "For instance: you can accept that your father was a pirate and still a good pony... Or you can't. Now me, I can let you fall off and drown, but I can't bring this ship into Poni by myself."
Pinkie swung the boom back in, and Rainbow dropped onto the deck. Pinkie pointed the sword at him.
"And you can have the sword pointing at you," he tossed the sword around, and Rainbow caught it in his hoof, "Or you can be the one holding it."
Rainbow stood up, and Pinkie returned to the wheel.
"You ready for Poni?" he asked.
There were pirates, privateers, thieves, drunkards, and so many more in Poni. There was rotting docks, weather-beaten buildings, and livestock running free everywhere. Pinkie and Rainbow moved through the crowd, and a mare noticed Pinkie.
"We need a crew," said Pinkie to Rainbow, "We can manage the ship between islands, but the open sea, that's another matter."
The pony walked up to Pinkie, who turned to look at her.
"Why hello, Sea Sw-" started Pinkie, before the mare slapped him and walked off, "I don't think I deserved that..."
"Pinkie." said a griffin, walking up to him.
"Gilda!" said Pinkie, before the griffin snapped him and walked off.
"I suppose you didn't deserve that either?" asked Rainbow.
"No, that one I deserved," said Pinkie, "Don't worry. I've already got my Quartermaster!"
Pinkie quickly grabbed two buckets, one for him and one from Rainbow, that were filled with water. Rainbow looked at Pinkie in confusion, but didn't say anything. Pinkie walked over to a drunken pony laying on the ground, and splashed the water over him. The pony sat up sputtering.
"Hey!" he cried, before realizing that Pinkie was the one who threw the water, "Mother's love, Pinkie! You know better than to wake a stallion when he's sleeping! It's bad luck!"
"Well, fortunately, Applejack," said Pinkie, "I know how to counter it. The pony who did the waking buys the pony who was sleeping a drink, and the pony who was sleeping it drinks it while listening to a proposition.
"Aye, that'll about do it." said Applejack, getting to his hooves.
Rainbow suddenly threw the water he was holding at Applejack, who took a step back in surprise.
"Blast it, I'm already awake!"
"I know," said Rainbow, "That was for the smell."
"Can't argue with that..."
Pinkie and Applejack sat at a table in a bar, where ponies were stumbling around and yelling. It made an easy cover. Just to be on the safe side, Rainbow was standing away from them, keeping watch. Applejack lifted up his tankard to take a swig, when Pinkie interrupted him.
"Just the one drink." he said.
Applejack paused, and then took a small sip than he had previously planned. He then set the tankard down, and looked up at Pinkie
"Make it fast, then," said Applejack, "Now, what's the nature of this venture of yours?" he picked up the tankard, again.
"I'm going after the Black Pearl."
Applejack straightened up like he'd been hit, and stared at Pinkie. He gently placed dwon his tankard.
"Say again?" he asked.
"I'm going after the Black Pearl," repeated Pinkie, "I know where it's going to be, and I'm going to take it."
"Pinkie, it's a fool's errand! You've heard the tales they tell about the Pearl!"
"Aye, and that's why I know where it's going to be. I know where Sparkle is going to be. All I need is a crew."
Applejack shook his head, "It's a fool's errand.
Pinkie grinned, "Not if the fool has something Sparkle wants. In facts, he doesn't even want it, he needs it."
"And you've got that, have you?"
Pinkie's smile grew, and his eyes shifted over to Rainbow. Applejack raised an eyebrow at Pinkie.
"That there is the son of Sharp-Winged Wave," said Pinkie softly, "His only child."
Applejack's eyes widen, and he glanced at Rainbow. He then smiled, and looked back at Pinkie.
"Well, lookee there," he said, "I'll allow you may be onto something, Pinkie. There's bound to be sailors on this rock as crazy as you. I'll find you some ponies.
Applejack drained down what remained of his drink, and slammed the tankard down on the table. He glanced at Rainbow, again, and then turned to Pinkie.
"You know, once you think about it," he said, "The mane color makes it pretty obvious."
"Eh, kinda." said Pinkie.
On the docks, a disheveled, motley, and weatherbeaten group of about a dozen ponies stood in a ragged line-up. Pinkie was looking them over, and Applejack was smiling. Rainbow was sharpening his sword, again.
"Feast your eyes, Cap'n!" said Applejack to Pinkie, "All of 'em good, sea-faring ponies. Faithful hooves before the mast. Every one worth their salt," he lowered his voice so only Pinkie could hear, "And crazy, to boot."
Pinkie nodded, and faced towards the ponies.
"All of you!" he said, "Danger and near certain death are nearby if you wish to be part of this crew. For we are going to sail to the Isla de Muerta! And-"
"What's in it for us?" snapped a familiar voice.
Pinkie paused, and walked down the line to someone who's face was blocked by a hat. He pulled the hat up, to reveal Gilda, who slapped Pinkie, again.
"You stole my boat!" snapped Gilda angrily.
"Merely borrowed it!" said Pinkie, "Your boat is fine! And if you aren't satisfied with the condition its in, I'll get you a new one."
"I'll hold you to that."
Pinkie nodded, and continued looking down the line. He stopped in front of a white unicorn with a spiky blue mane, who had a colorful parrot on his shoulder.
"Vinyl here is mute," said Applejack, "Poor devil had his tongue cut out," Vinyl opened his mouth to prove it, and Pinkie grimaced, "So he trained the parrot to do the talking for him."
"Okay..." said Pinkie, "Mr. Vinyl, do you have the courage and fortitude to follow orders and stay true, in the face danger, and almost certain death?"
"Wind in your sails!" cried Vinyl's parrot, "Wind in your sails!"
Pinkie glanced over at Applejack.
"We mostly figure that means 'yes'." said Applejack.
"Alrighty, then!" said Pinkie, "Let's get moving! The Pearl is sailing, but we are going to get to her soon!" he glanced up at the sky, and saw that it was rapidly darkening from storm clouds that were being blown in, "Hope you can all deal with some weather..."