> Lost Harmony
>  by Miner
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Chapter 1
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

A thousand years ago, the once was a great and mighty nation called Equestria. It was ruled by the two immortal sisters, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. The eldest ruled the day, and the youngest ruled over the night. Peace and harmony ruled across the lands under their reign; until the day the Lord of Chaos Discord came into the land. As the last of the Draconequus, he and he only control all the powers of chaos in the world. And with it, he can bend and change the very face of Equestria to his own will with the snap of his claws. And when he saw the lands of the Princess had made for their ponies, working together in harmony, it filled him with disgust. And thus, began the war of the immortals.

They fought against each other for years with no hope of victory for the Princess as the war raged on. The Princesses were forced to use their land's greatest treasure in a final attempt to stop the tyrant Discord, The Elements of Harmony. These precious stones embodied the peace across the land: Laughter, Kindness, Loyalty, Generosity, Honesty, and all together, they form the last element, Magic. If one pony were to wield all six elements, they would have access to the land's most incredible form of magic.

On the year's final day, the Princess activated them to seal away Discord. However, he blasted the elements with all the chaos at his disposal, hoping to destroy them, but failed. For once the elements were activated, nothing could stop them. A rainbow of colors emerged from the elements and imprisoned the Lord of Chaos in a stone prison. The war between the immortals was finally over. However, there was no celebration that night. For Discord may have failed to destroy the Elements of harmony, he did manage to do something far worse. The elements of harmony become the elements of chaos. But not before the spell was finished turning Discord into stone.

Soon after Discord was turned into stone, the elements were surrounded by a glow of dark violet magic and shot into the sky as the opposing magic fought each other. The princesses and their subjects watch helplessly as the sky darkens with thunder, and lightning bolts fill the heavens as rays of colors shoot in all directions. The land shook as massive earthquakes forced mountains to emerge from flat ground dividing the country, sending water across Equestria. It wasn't until the elements scattered across the sky in six different directions did everything stop. 

Once the dust settled. Equestria was left in ruins. And the sisters didn't understand to what extent the damage Equestria was until two days later. The land of Equestria was separated into eleven islands scattered across the face of our world. In hopes of saving their ponies, Celestia gathers a group of ponies to go to the islands to restore order to the ponies that were lost to them. But they soon discover something hazardous about these new oceans. 

For once a pony leaves their island and ventures into or above the ocean, they can't use any of their natural magic: Earth ponies grow weary and weak, Unicorns couldn't keep their horns glowing, and Pegasus couldn't fly. Not even the Princess themselves were immune to the power of the sea. They believe that the elements of harmony sent all the chaos magic in them into the oceans, preventing anypony from using harmony magic in its waters. Ships were built to help join together the islands of Equestria; however, with so many islands to rule over, two Princesses were not enough. They assign leaders to each island to help lead the ponies and other species of the islands. 

The Princesses had restored order to five of the eleven islands in three years. However, none of the ponies on the remaining island were willing to rejoin and secede to look after their own. The Princesses pleaded with them to reconsider, but their minds were up. With no way of restoring the land of Equestria to the way it once was. Life continues for the ponies and creatures of the eleven islands. Then a prophecy was made by Star Swirl the Breaded. That if Elements of Harmony were ever to gather once again. Then the islands of Equestria would become together again and restore the land to its form and glory.







Entry 121

Canterlot stands proud as the capital city under the Princesses' rule, located at the center of their five islands. Canterlot represents what was left of the old world. As time went on, the two sisters divided their control over their kingdom among themselves along with the arrival of the Princess of Love Candance. 

Despite the advancements made in the ship over the years, the Great Sparking Sea was still as ruthless to anypony or thing which would dear travel its waters. At best, ships would only lose at most three ponies per trip; however, no matter the risks, we must sail. For not, all the ponies who live on the other islands were as fortunate as we are here. Los Pegasus, Tall Tale, and Dodge won't make it through a hard time of the year without ships coming and going between islands. With that being said, I had made a decision. I want to become one of the sail ponies who risks their lives daily so that others may see another day of hope. I haven't told Celestia about it, but I hope she will listen to my reasons for why I want to do this.



"Hay Sunset, what are you doing?" somepony asked nearby, interrupting Sunset's train of thought.

Sunset Shimmer closes her diary and turns to the mare next to her. It was her roommate Twilight Sparkle, another student of Princess Celestia, just like herself. She a purple unicorn mare with a long straight indigo mane and a pink highlight running through it with a matching tail. "Nothing important, Twilight, but I need to ask you something." She then levitates her diary in her orange aura and puts it away in her saddlebags before she stands up and faces Twilight. 

"Oh! Really what is it?" Twilight said with a hint of excitement in her voice,

"Now, first out, I don't want you to panic. So I needed you to hear me out." 

"Now why would I panic," Twilight said, but Sunset just stared right back at her blankly. Twilight blinks in confusion. "WHAT!?"

"Need I remind you of when you forgot it was somepony's birthday a few years ago. So, then you woke me up in the middle of the night, dragging me into the store so we could get the last minutes gift, along with supplies for the party for Spike thinking it was his birthday, only to find out that it was not his birthday, but MINE INSTEAD!" Sunset shouted the last part, which caused Twilight's mane to fly backward before resting back on her shoulders. Twilight turns a little pink in the cheeks as she remembers the event a few years with an embarrassed smile.

"Oh, right. Hehe, I forgot about that." Twilight said, rubbing her foreleg another the other in embarrassment,

"Anyways, Twilight, just hear me out, please." she nods. "Ok, Twilight, I want to help with the supplies runs between Equestria islands," Sunset said with a smile.

Twilight smiled back. "Oh, that's wonderful!"  

Sunset looks back at her in confusion. "It is? I thought for sure you would have a different reaction."

"Why would I? It is a wonderful idea that you want to help out those brave ponies." Twilight runs on over to the other side of the room towards a sleeping dragon in his bed. "SPIKE!" she shouts, causing the young dragon to frightfully jump out of bed before falling on the floor. He rubs his head with a claw as he sits up. He would complain to Twilight for the rud awaking, but she cut him off by putting a hoof to his mouth, "Hold that thought, Spike; I needed you to write a letter to the Princess first." 

The young drake yawns as he gets up rub the sleepiness from his eyes as he gets a paper and quill from a nearby table "Which one?"

"What do you… never mind Spike. Just take a letter, please." He nods. "Dear Princess Celestia. I am writing to you today on Sunsets' behalf. She had told me that she wishes to help out with the supply runs between the islands of Equestria. And we wish to seek an audience with you to discuss this further. Your faithful student Twilight Sparkles. Ok, send it, Spike." Spike nodded as he breathed fire onto the scroll, turning it into magical smoke flying away out the window.

"Wait, WE! Where did WE come from, Twilight?" Sunset said, pointing her hoof at the mare. "I am the one that wanted to talk to the Princess. What is up with that?"

"Oh, for a couple of reasons," Twilight said, smiling. "One, it would be an interesting experience to see those ships, and two, I want to see the princess."

*Sigh* "Of course, you would," Sunset said, rubbing her forehead, "But I guess I can't blame you; it has been a while since either one of us has seen her? Right, Spike. Spike?" Sunset said, only to find out that he had gone back to sleep. Sunset then looked at a nearby clock to see that it was an hour past lunchtime. She then looked at Twilight and as they nodded in agreement. Twilight uses her purple magic to pull the blanket away from him, but Spike holds on to his blanket for dear life until his bed is turned upside down by an orange aura and falls on a pillow Sunset moved earlier. 

"Ok, ok, I am up, girls, sheesh," Spike said, getting up. "Can't a guy get any sleep around here anymore?"

"Actually, Spike, you have overslept today and yesterday. I believe you have had more than enough sleep already." Twilight said while looking at a sheet of paper levitating in front of her. "In fact, you have been sleeping more these past few weeks than any other month this year." The silence was her only response to her statement. Confused, Twilight looks back at her friends to see that they are bug-eyed at the moment. "What? Was it something I said?"

"Uh Twilight, why do you a scroll of that list when Spike is sleeping and when he is not?" Sunset broke the silence and took the scroll away from Twilight with her magic. 

"Oh! Mom said I need to make sure that Spike's sleeping and eating habits aren't bad. So that he will grow up nice and healthy."

"But don't you think this is a little too much," Sunset said as she looked over the scroll. 

Before she could reply, Spike burped out some flames from his mouth that condensed into a scroll that he grabbed to open up to read aloud. "Dear Twilight and Sunset. Your meeting request for such a topic surprises me, but not unwelcome. Please head on over to my study as soon as you two can, and I will meet you there. Sincerely your Teacher, Princess Celestia. p.s. Spike can come as well." 

The two mares looked at each other before Sunset broke the awkward silence. "Well, we better get going." 





Fifteen minutes later, in Celestia's study,

Two mares and a dragon found themselves waiting to see the Princess. Spike is relaxing on a pillow he found and was relaxing peacefully without a care in the world; however, the same cannot be said about the other two in the room. Sunset is pacing back and forth in front of a fidgeting Twilight, trying to calm herself down. "I can't believe this is happening; we haven't had a moment to talk to the Princess in ages." 

"Twilight, I am not sure I should scowl you for making such a bold move to see the princess or thank you for not thinking about your plan through and getting us here."

"Uh, thank you?"

At that moment, the door to the study opened to reveal a large white Alicorn mare with a soft blue, green, purple, and pink mane waving in a nonexistent wind with a matching tail. Once her presence was made known in the room, everypony and dragon bowed down to pay their respect to their Princess. "Rise my ponies and dragon." Celestia said, "It is good to see you all again."

The two students moved to Celestia for a hug. "It is good to see you, Princess," Twilight said as the hug ended. Then they all moved to take a seat as a maid pony came in the room with a cart of cookies and tea. 

Spike grabbed some of the cookies and sat back down as the rest of them served themselves some tea after Celestia took her first sip before she started the conversation. "Now then. I believe you two called me here on a matter of the trading routes?" 

"Yes," Sunset spoke up as she set down her teacup. "I want to help them."

"And in what way did you have in mind, my dear Sunset?"

"I want to become one of the crew members onboard one of the ships." This caused Twilight to do a spit take away from anypony nearby. 

Every pony looked towards her as she quickly cleaned up her mess with an embarrassed smile and a laugh before she turned to address Sunset. "A Crewmember?! I thought you wanted to help with scheduling, office management, or even the loading docks. Not going out into the sea!"

"Well, what is wrong with being a crewmember Twilight?" Sunset irradiated,

"A whole lot of things, Sunset! You can lose your life just being one of them!"

"Might I ask why the sudden interest in becoming a crew member on board one of the ships Sunset?" Celestia asked,

Sunset takes a deep breath and lets it out, "Everyday ponies risk the lives so that others can still have hope to see another day. And I want to do that."

"If that is the case. Why didn't you go to the harbor and apply for the position instead of asking me this then?"

"Well, to be honest, I didn't think I would get to talk to you if it weren't for Twilight. And if I do become a crewmember onboard one of the ships, I won't be able to stay here and continue my studies as your student Princess. So, in the end, if this works out and I do get the job. I would have rather told you in person rather than in a letter. I guess I am trying to say that I no longer want to stay here as your student princess."

"What!" Twilight exclaimed, "But Sunset! You can't just do that!" 

"At ease, Twilight, it is ok," Celestia said.

"But!" Twilight continued but stood down when Celestia lifted a hoof towards her. Celestia then turned her attention towards the other mare.

"Sunset before you pack your bags and leave Canterlot; would you like to hear about a proposal of mine first?" This causes Sunset to pause for a moment. The last time this happened, she became her student. She can only imagine what the Princess has in store for her this time.

"What is it, Princess?"

"Recently, on the island of Los Pegasus, an important item was discovered, and a ship is scheduled to depart in two days to retrieve it. Perhaps you would like to go on this expedition to get a feel for the seas before you make your final decision?"

Sunset thinks about this for a minute and agrees, "Yes, I would like that." She picked up her teacup to drink but paused, "So does that mean I am still your student princess?"

"That is for you to decide once you have returned." Celestia smiled as she finished her tea. "Also, I would like Twilight to join you on this expedition."

"WHAT!?" Both students said,

"Twilight, I want you to oversee this expedition as my student, not as a pony looking for a new career. And the trip alone would benefit your studies."

"Oh! Well, if you put it that way. It will be an honor to go with Sunset." A guard pony could be seen outside the room that Celestia noticed.

"I am afraid our time is up," Celestia said as she got up from her seat and walked to the door. "If you have any further questions about what to take. Please talk to Captian Shining Armor. Have a good day, my ponies."

"Bye!" everypony said in unison as Celestia left the room, closing the door behind her.





"Well, that turned out better than I expected," Sunset said as she was packing a suitcase. Twilight was coming into the room with some supplies she took from the closet and setting them on the bed.

"Maybe for you. I didn't even predict this outcome would happen from meeting Celestia." Twilight said, looking between two raincoats. Sunset saw what Twilight was doing and sighed. 

"Twilight, just take both; you can never be sure if you aren't going to need a spare."

"Oh! Good idea." Twilight said as she put both in her suitcase. "So, how long will we be gone again, Sunset?"

"Hum? I'm not sure, but if we are heading to Los Pegasus, it will probably take a whole week for the entire trip." A low whistle could be heard across the room as the mares turned around to see Spike packing a suitcase.

"Sound like we are going to be gone for a while. It's a good thing I am bringing plenty of snacks for the trip." Spike said as he tried to close his small but over stuff suited case and failed.

Twilight walks over towards him as he started to use his body weight to close the case before jumping on it. "Uhm, Spike, what are you doing?" Twilight asked, causing him to momentary stop what he was doing before resuming.

"Uh, what does it look like I am doing Twilight?" he started to jump again. "I am… getting ready… for the… trip" *Click* *Click* "There! Ok, I am ready to go." He said, standing proudly next to his bag.

However, Twilight gives him a sad smile as she shakes her head. "Sorry, not this time Spike." She said as she used her magic to lift his suitcase away from him.

"Huh! What, why not Twilight?!" Spike said, shocked by what he had just heard.

"Yes, why not Twilight?" Sunset said, joining in on the conversation. 

Twilight looks at them and realizes that she is now the pony in the middle. A sigh leaves her mouth as her ears fold against her head. "Ok, you two, I am not trying to be the bad pony here. I don't think that the ocean is a safe place for a baby dragon to go to."

"Uh? Twilight, you realize that we aren't any better off than he is." Sunset said, "Not to mention that Dragons are one of the few species that can still use their natural gifts out at sea, right." This gave Spike some hope in his eyes of a chance to change Twilight's mind.

"Yeah, I can totally help your girls out!"

"Spike, listen, we will only be gone for a week. Nothing bad is going..." Twilight was stopped by Sunset putting her hoof in her mouth.

"Don't even think about completing that sentence, Sparkles." Twilight looks back at her, confused. "Look, I am not one to be superstitious, but I have seen that anything can happen, no matter how hard you plan for it. There will be a chance for the unexpected to accrue. So, Don't JINX it, got it." Sunset said as she released Twilight.

"Ok, I got it. However, I still stand by my statement earlier." Twilight said as she went back to packing.

"Oh, come on, Twilight, when is he ever going to get a chance to do something like this again." Twilight remains silent. "You are going to be by his side all the time. And if you still don't feel that it is safe for him after the trip, then we never bring the subject up again." Spike was going to say something, but Sunset cut him off. "And if you don't, he will probably find his way on the ship and come with us anyways."

Twilight then turns to look at Spike with a glare. Spike then gives a glare towards Sunset. "Hey, stop putting words in my mouth!"

"Don't even try to deny it, Spike. You would."Sunset said, grinning back at him before looking towards Twilight, "Think about it. I am right, aren't I?" Twilight lessened her glare as she took in Sunset's words.

"Yes, your right" Twilight then went over to Spike and gave him a playful noogie. "There is nothing I can say to change your mind, Spike?" 

"Haahahaa noop" 

"Alright, then, but I need you on your best behavior, Spike, and always listen to what we tell you."

"Yes, ma'am!" he said with a salute,

Sunset then looked at the clock as she finished packing. "We better get going then. It will take us a day to get to the harbor by train, and then we are off." The others agreed, and they all grabbed their respected suitcases as they left the room, closing the door behind them. 

Unknown to them, a lamp on a table was no longer there, and a window was closed quietly.
> chapter 2
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"WAIT! Hold that Train!" Sunset shouted as their train started to pull away from the station. Twilight and Spike were right behind her, running as fast as their hooves and feet could take them. Sunset was the first to jump on the train's caboose platform, followed by Twilight as she levitates Spike and their luggage.

"Well, that was a close one, wasn't guys?" Sunset said as everyone was catching their breath. Sunset then burps as she rubs her belly with a weak groan. "Not a good idea to run after a train with full bellies."

"Well, we wouldn’t have to if somepony didn't have to stop by the donut shop before our train would leave, now would we?" Twilight said as she stared at her small companion. 

"Hay, nothing can ever go wrong with one or two donuts, right? Besides, you seemed to enjoy it yourself." 

Twilight then puts a hoof to her mouth, stopping her from throwing up. "Point taken,"

Spike looks back, a little embarrassed as he rubs his belly. "Hehe, *Burp! * but hay, we made it, didn't we?" he said with a sheepish smile. 

"We are just lucky Twilight thought ahead of time to buy our tickets before we decided to have a donut eating contest. Otherwise, it wouldn't have mattered if we made it or not, Spike." Sunset said as she tried to get on her hooves.

Twilight then put a hoof to her chin in thought. "You know, if I recall, you were the one who insisted on our little contest Sunset," Twilight said, opening the door into the train.

"Hay! No pony in their right mind would have turned down free food, Twilight." Sunset said as she entered the car with the others right behind her.

"Right. We are staying in cart three, and I would love to find a place to set down to settle my stomach." Twilight said as the others groaned in agreement. 

They found the conductor, and he showed them to their sleeping courters. They were surprised that they were going to share the same bed cubby, and when they asked about it, they were told their tickets were the family plan sharing the same bed. Rather than arguing, the trio climbed to the bed and got as comfortable as possible. Before long, they fell asleep.

In the morning of the next day, Spike got up and looked out his window and had his eyes lit up with excitement. "I can see it!" he shouted. This causes Sunset to wake up suddenly as she stretches out her forelegs, pushing Twilight out of their cubby. With a loud thud as she hits the floor, yelping in surprise. The two remaining occupants of the bed looking down at the mare to see her glaring right back at them with hatred.

"Heehe, Sorry about that," Sunset said with an apologetic smile before she turned to the dragon. "So, what is the deal, Spike? Why the rude wakeup call?" she asked as Twilight right herself up.

"I can see the Ocean outside!" he said, making everypony forget earlier events; as they rushed to look out the window. However, that is very hard to do when everypony tries to get front-row seats.

"Really! Let me see!" 

"Ow, stop pushing!"  

"Hay that my tail!" The three ended up in a mess of hooves and limps with Spike sandwiched somewhere between the mares where they tried to look out the window. 

“Can’t breathe!” Spike said weakly. The girls noticed this and tried to untangle themselves, but they fell on the floor with a loud thud.

Before the trio could do anything else, a new voice was known nearby. "Excuse me." 

The trio looks to their left as they can see a unicorn mare with a light green face and indigo-colored mane coming out in a pink robe, staring at them. "I am not sure if this is your first time riding a train, Darlings, but I do believe I speak for everypony here when I say this *ahem* would you please be a little bit more QUIET!" then the other ponies agreed, coming out of their beds before they all went back inside.

"Sorry." The trio said softly as they slowly retreated into their bed. Soon after, they stared out the window to see the ocean; however, it was mostly dark outside, not getting anypony much idea what was out there, let alone an ocean. "Spike?" Twilight whispered to him. "I can't see a thing." 

"But I can see it. It is right over there." He replied.

"Spike. Our eyes don't have a vertical slit pupil like you have, so we can't see in the dark." Sunset said.

"Oh, I forgot about that. But it looks very bi..." Twilight cut him off.

"You know what, Spike, I will be quoting you right now. *ahem* 'Wake me up when the sun is in the middle of the sky.'” Sunset agreed with her as they got comfortable again to go back to sleep.

“Huh! But I never said…” a double glare by the mares quickly hushed him. Fearing their wrath, he hushed up and went back to sleep.





The train stopped at the station, waking up anypony that was asleep. Everypony started getting out of their beds, and thankfully, the trio got out of bed without any more incidents as they made their way on over to the luggage cart.

“Well, here we are at….” Sunset started but stopped with a surprised look before looking at her companion. “Uhm, Twilight, where are we at exactly?” 

“Oh, this is Equestria’s Port City Number 5.” She replied, but the others stared at her with an unbelieving look. 

"Is that the name of this town?" Spike asked,

*Sigh* “Also known as Pony Ville.” 

“Now that is better. For a second, I thought you were serious about that name earlier.” Sunset said as she looked through the pile of suitcases in front of her for hers. When she found it, her case was lifted away from her in indigo-colored magic and multiple identical cases that didn’t belong to them. She turned to see a white unicorn mare with curly indigo mane and tail moving the cases onto a cart. Before she could stop her, the mare removed all the tags on the cases and proceeded to leave the station.

“Excuse me, miss,” Sunset said as she walked towards her. “But I do believe you have my suitcase.”

The white mare looks back at her and then to her cart. “Oh my, ah, which one.”

“Umm. No, not this one.” She lifts three in her magic, looking at them all. “umm, nope.” She repeats this several times before she gives up. “I have no idea which one I can’t tell them apart. But I know it is here somewhere.”  

The white mare put a hoof to her face in thought. “Oh, well darling, the answer is simple we will just have to open them all up to see which one is yours.” She levitated them in the air before stopping and looking around. 

Sunset looks back in confusion. “Is something wrong?”

“No, dear, but a lady does value her privacy, and I would like to take this matter to a more private location. My boutique isn’t too far from here. We can go there to find your case.” 

“Alright then. Hay Twilight something-” Sunset could only stare at her companion as she saw her talking to an orange stallion with a blue mane while looking embarrassed. 

The white mare followed Sunset's gaze before sighing then walking closer to Sunset. “You know, I know you are new to town, so I am going to tell you this. That stallion right there will break her heart if you let him.” 

“What!”

“Well. Not so much has a heart breaker but rather more like a disappointment. Trust me dearly; he is not worth it.” 

“Well then.” *Ahem* “Hey, Twilight!” Sunset said as she walked towards them, which startled them.

“Huh! Oh, hay Sunset, I would like you to meet-”

“Twilight. We are on a tight schedule here, and we need to be on the boat bound for Las Pegasus in ten minutes.”

“WHAT! But I thought-”

“No time to think this through Twilight; if we don’t hurry, we will be,” pause for effect. “Late.”

Twilight eyes widen in horror. “NNNOOOOO!” Then, there was a bright flash of light, and she was gone. 

Everypony blinks in confusion, then the stallion turns to look at Sunset. “Uh, what just-” but she holds up a hoof silencing him.

“Give her a second. Oh, and Spike, would you join us over here.” She said as she walked back to the white mare. She then notices Spike seems to be in a trance staring at the mare beside her, but she drops it. “She will be coming back in three, two, one-” 

And on cue, Twilight reappeared in front of her friends, startling the white mare. “SORRY I FORGOT ABOUT YOU TWO!” she said as they all disappeared from the station, leaving an empty cart behind and one confused stallion.

They reappeared at the docks of the town with Twilight out of breath. Spike somehow wound up on the white mares back and Sunset under the pile of suitcases. As Sunset got out of the pile, the mare wasn’t happy about being ponynapped.

“My word, it is not polite to just go and teleport a lady across town without her consent first and not to mention what if it didn’t work and you send us all over town instead.”

“Sorry," Twilight apologized, "I guess I wasn’t thinking, but at least we made it right?”

“Maybe so, but there is still the matter of finding my suitcase,” Sunset said before she noticed something on the floor. “And what is up with the yellow lines here?” 

Everypony looks down to see what she is talking about. Multiple yellow lines ran across the floor in straight lines going diagonal, along with something written in yellow. The white mare lifted Spike off her back as she looked closer. 

“What does it say, Miss?”

“It says… ‘Caution Unloading Zone!’” Before they could do anything, they heard a loud cry from above.

“Look Out!”

Crash!





“Ow ow ow ow,” Twilight said as she laid down on a bed as Spike puts an ice pack on her back. 

“Well, now we know it is a bad idea to teleport three mares, a dragon, and twenty-five suitcases in the middle of an unloading zone.”  

“Easy for you to say, Spike,” Sunset said as a nurse pony was warping some bandages on her middle section. “Some of us here don’t have armor on them twenty-four seven. Just in case a tactical retreat isn’t an option.”

“To be fair, miss, I do believe you are the one who got us all in this mess in the first place.” The white mare said, nursing a bruised hoof. Sunset was going to say something, but she cut her off. “Now now, what done is done, so why don’t we start over. Hello, my name is Rarity.”

“Hello Rarity, I am Sunset. This here is Twilight and Spike.” She said as the others replied with a nod or a wave.

“It is nice to meet you all despite what has happened earlier. So, why are you three doing here, might I ask?”

“We are on our way towards Las Pegasus,” Spike said, getting another ice pack for the other one he had earlier melted.

“Really now? Not that I am complaining, but why might I ask. It is not the best place to visit this time of year.” Rarity said as the nurse finished with Sunset. 

“We are on our way to retrieve an important item that was discovered there,” Spike said.

“Oh! Really? Fascinating.” Rarity said with a hint of excitement in her eyes. “And might I pry what is it that you all are retrieving?” 

“Actually, we have no idea what it is, only that it is important.” He said, sitting down.

“Oh, how mysterious.” 

“Regardless, we have to be on our way now,” Sunset said, getting up from her bed, “and I am sorry for trouble earlier, Miss Rarity.”

“Don’t worry about it; it’s nothing a good hot bath can’t fix. And are you sure you are ready to get up right now?” 

“I don’t have much choice in the matter,” Sunset said as Twilight got out of bed, wincing when she touché the floor. 

“You know, Sunset, maybe we could get some rest before going on the ship. I may not have been on a boat before, but I am sure it is bad to go on a ship when we can barely get up ourselves.” Twilight said as she sat back down.

Sunset looks back at her to say otherwise, but it was at that moment her left hoof gave way, and she fell onto the floor with a quiet thud. “Ok, you win Twilight, but I got a solution.” She then turned to look at the nurse in the room. “Can we have some wheelchairs, please?”





Spike struggles to push both mares and their luggage up the ramp to the ship. Sunset and Twilight would have helped, but there was little they could do in their condition without their magic. Before he lost control of them, he was assisted by some of the sail ponies on the boat. Once onboard, they thank the sailors before returning to their duties.

“Well, that was nice of them,” Twilight said as Spike put the bags on the back of their respectable mare chair.

“Yes, it was. Now let’s find the captain of the boat, so we can know where we will be staying for the duration of the trip.” Sunset said, using her hooves to move the wheels of her chair. Twilight was right behind her with Spike.

“Come on, slowpokes, or you are going to be left behind,” Sunset said 

“Hey, wait up!” Spike said, trying to catch up with them before some guard ponies stopped them. 

“Uh, can we help you?”

“I am afraid you all will have to come with us.” One of them said.

“Look if this is about the dock incident earlier. It was just a miss understanding.” Twilight said,

“No, this is not; however, we strongly advise you to comply with us.” Another one said, causing Sunset to feel uneasy about what was going on before Twilight put a hoof on her shoulder.

“Look, Sunset, we did nothing wrong; let’s see what they want. Then we can be on our way.” 

“Alright, Twilight.” Before turning to the guards. “Ok then, lead on then.” 

They led them into the depths of the boat, passing by many ponies and rooms until they were led to the storage room. The Guards then took their bags before addressing them. “He is waiting for you all inside.” The guards said before leaving with their luggage. 

Sunset looks to Twilight and Spike with a nervous look. “Twilight, can you walk yet?”

Twilight then tested her hoof on the floor. “Yes, but I don’t think we'll be making a quick escape anytime soon.”

“That’s good enough. Let’s go on in then.” She said, getting up from her wheelchair but wincing and sitting back down. “But let’s use our chairs, though.” Twilight nodded as they entered the room. The room was filled with barrels of supplies and crates of who knows what. But what stood out the most was a stallion sitting at a table in the middle of the room. 

“Please come join me.” He said to them. 

Sunset looks at her companions before they did as he says. 

“My apologies for the sudden detour from your cabins, my ladies, but I have some urgent business to attend to with you.”

“What kind of business?” Twilight said

“Oh, I am sure you are aware that we are on our way to recovering an important artifact. But where are my manners? My name is Stormfront, Captain Stormfront of this vessel you see before you.” 

“I am Twilight Sparkles, and this is Spike and Sunset Shimmer.”

“Nice to meet you all. Now for the reason, I brought you all down here. From this point on, you, ponies, listen to what I say and do it without question when the time arrives; any questions?”

“Now hold on a minute Princess Celestia said that I was to oversee the voyage,” Twilight said, ignoring the pain and getting up from her chair.

However, Stormfront wasn't phased by Twilight’s outburst and replied calmly to her, “Do you want to see your families and friends at the end of this voyage?”

“Oh, course we do-”

“Do you know the way to Las Pegues?” 

“Well, no-”

“Do you know how to stay away from the danger in the seas?”

“Uh no-”

“DO YOU even know what we are risking our lives for?”

Twilight lowered her head in defeat. “No.”

“Then I expect your cooperation from this point on when the time calls for it. Everypony on this ship has a reason to be here. There is no dead weight on board this ship, and it will stay that way throughout this voyage. Do I make myself clear?”

“Crystal clear, sir.” Sunset said as Spike tried to comfort Twilight, “You can count on us when the time calls for it.”

“Good”





“And this will be your room for the duration of the trip, my ladies.” Stormfront said, opening the door for the mares as they entered, followed by a strong ‘ahem’ behind them. “My apologies Sir, but your courters will be in another room.”

Sunset turned to face the captain. “It is ok, sir. Spike will be staying with us.”

“Are you sure? It's rather improper for a stallion to be staying in the same room as two mares.”

“Yes, I am. This is how we normally do things anyway.”

“Very well then, and I hope you all don’t mind sharing the room with another guest for the evening.”

“Oh, somepony else is staying here as well?” Twilight said.

“Yes, we weren’t prepared for your sudden arrival. Thus, we ran out of room onboard the vessel. Thus, you three will have to make do until more room is made until then.” The captain said.

“That won’t be a problem, sir. We are very good at being roommates, and I believe we can get along with whoever we are sharing the room with.” Sunset said, finding her suitcase against the wall. 

“That is good to hear. We will be on our way shortly, so I suggest you all get comfortable. It will be a two-day journey to Las Pegasus we should be arriving there in the morning if the sea is kind. Let me or any of the crew know if you all need anything, within reason occurs.”

“Yes. I was wondering what’s going to happen to our wheelchairs,” Sunset said as Twilight was staring at one of the hammocks in the room.

“Oh, they are in one of the storage rooms below deck and will remain there until needed.” Storm said as Twilight struggled to get in a hammock but spun around in it a few times before getting tied into a knot, stuck.

“That makes sense,” Sunset said, not noticing what happened to Twilight as Spike tried to help her, “If I may ask, sir, was there a reason for meeting the way we did earlier?” she asked him while Spike tried to get Twilight out of her prison by pulling on her forelegs. 

“That was for my satisfaction, honestly. I was hoping that Celestia would send some dummies in need of a reality check so that I could have some fun with them.” He said before the sound of a window blind wrapping around itself could be heard behind them. They turned their heads to see Spike and Twilight stuck in the hammock. 

“How did you two end up like that?” Sunset said.

“Never mind that just help us get out,” Twilight said, struggling to get out but only making them turn upside down.

Sunset turns to face the captain with a nervous smile, “We will have to continue our discussion later.”

“Lets. Good day to you all.” Storm said, leaving the room closing the door behind him.

Sunset then turned her attention back to her friends. “Ok, let’s see, maybe if I just pull this here-” Sunset said, touching the hammock before she too ended up stuck with them.

“Glad to see you deiced to hang out with us, Sunset,” Spike said, snickering at the end.

“Not helping Spike!” Twilight said, moving her head back and forth and hitting Sunset. “Sorry” 

“Well, this is just great. Anypony here got any ideas.” Sunset said as they got quiet for a second. 

“Well, we could always join in a choir of help,” Spike said. As they were going to, the door to the room opened, revealing a cobalt unicorn mare with a silver mane wearing a purple hat and cape filled with stars.

She didn’t notice them as she entered the room as she yawns while taking off her stuff. “Um, excuse me,” Sunset said, but the mare didn’t pay her any mind as she went to another nearby Hammock. “Excuse Me.” She tried again louder but got the same results as the mare getting on the hammock with ease before sleeping. “HAY!” 

“Huh?”

“Finally, Hay, can you help us out, Miss.”

The mare turned in her hammock to stare at her neighbors with half-open eyes. “That is The Great and Powerful Trixie to you." She yawns, "And Trixie needs her beauty sleep right now. If you ponies got yourself into that mess, you can get yourself out.” Trixie said as she turned her back to them.

“Wait! You can’t just leave us like this.” Twilight said but got no response. “Trixie, please, it won’t take a minute.” Still no response “Trixie?" still nothing, "Oh, come on, no pony falls asleep that fast!” Nothing, “TRIXIE!”

Meanwhile, a shadowy black figure could be seen making its way onto the ship as it leaves port.
> Chapter 3
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------



Entry 122

A day has passed since myself, and the others had set sail towards the island of Las Pegasus. We slept in the hammock of doom until the next day, until one of the crew members came to see why nopony had seen us all morning. Once freed, Twilight wanted to have a word with Trixie. Spike wanted to eat as I went on deck to overlook how the crewmembers did their daily routines. 

I can see ponies coming everywhere, from down below deck to climbing up and down the rope ladders. There is no specific type of race for the members on board here. There are ponies with or without wings/horns, griffins, and a manicorn. To anypony else, they would think that there is no order to what everyone is doing here, but to me, there is a routine to what they are doing. No one here did anything without reason; nothing is wasted here. I can only hope I can also meet the standards these crewmembers are setting for me when I join their ranks.



As Sunset closed her diary, she started to hear some voices in the distance. It sounded like somepony was singing. She turns her head towards it and can see thick fog in the distance with a small glow of red in its center. Her train of thought interrupted when somepony appeared next to her, also looking towards the fog.

“Interesting is it not,” Stormfront said.

“What is it? I have never seen fog like before, but something about this one doesn’t seem natural.”

*Hee* “I figure as much. That is the sea of the sirens.”

Sunset turns to face the captain in fear. “WHAT! Sirens! But I thought there was none left.

“As far as civilians as yourself and your friends, they might as well be. But they are real to those who sail the seas and are a real threat.”

“Do we have to worry about them?”

“Surprisingly, no. They stay in their waters but will attack anyone who dares to venture there. You see those lights there in the center.” Stormfront said, pointing at the glow as Sunset nodded. “Those are the light of the Sirens. They are watching us right now.”

“Then why are we so close to them then!”

“Don’t worry, you little filly. If they were going to attack us, they would have done so already. They are just reminding passing boats that they are still there and to stay away.” The captain said, patting her shoulder. “Besides, we have more important things to worry about.”

“And what might that be?”

“Parasprites.”

“Parasprites?”

“Yes, like the one I found in your mane.” He lifted his hoof to show a small blue creature with two large insect wings and big green eyes with a slight smile on its face.

“Aawwee, it’s cute.”

“Cute, yes, but they are a pest on board. And I need you and your friends to round them up.” 

Sunset looks at the captain in confusion, looking back and forth between him and the bug in his hoof. “Might I ask why they are a pest?”

“AAAHHH!! THEY ARE EVERYWHERE!” A voice came from down below. Sunset can see a bunch of Parasprites come out from the lower decks. 

Stormfront groaned in annoyance as he put the one in his hoof in a bag. “That is why. It only takes one to doom a ship. They multiply fast and consume rations at an alarming rate.” He said as crewmembers ran past them with nets. 

“So, how do we deal with them?”

“Just follow what everyone else is doing and do it fast.”

Nodding in agreement, Sunset grabbed a nearby net and started to case some Parasprites towards the captain’s wheel. She caught ten but didn’t know what to do. “Okay, now what?”

A nearby Griffin had her bag filled and was pulling them. “Take them below deck. There is a storage room where we can put these until we can deal with them back on land.”

“Where is that?”

“This way, pony.”

She follows her until they can to where more crewmembers are stuffing the bugs into a room. Once she had put her bag in, she was handed another bag and repeated the process. She did see her friends at one point while chasing the Parasprites but didn’t stop to chat with them. 

She found a bunch of them in one spot like a statue. She was going to bag them, but the Parasprites flew away, revealing a pony underneath them. “I better be careful. One false move and you might get someone in that room along with the Parasprites.” Sunset thought to herself before she cases another bunch of Parasprites.





Struggling, the crewmembers push against a door as sweet drops from their foreheads while they continue to push the door close. “Come on, just a little more.” Twilight and Spike rushed on over to aid them after stuffing a rather large bag behind the door.

“How can there be this many of them on board?”

“Never mind that, JUST PUSH!” In one final thrust of pony power, a satisfying *click* was heard.

*Aaaww* “Finally. That the last of them.” Twilight said as she fell to the floor.

“Oh come on, guys, It wasn’t that bad,” Spike said, shrugging his shoulders and receiving glares from all the nearby ponies. “What?”

“They ate half the rations.” one crewmember said,

“Well-”	

“They drag me across the boat!” another said,

“Okay, that was your fault for not letting go.” 

“Okay! Enough of that, everypony.” Twilight said, calming down everypony. “What is important right now is that this door.” She gestor to the said door before putting a sign on it ‘don’t not open.’ “Remains closed for the rest of this journey. Does everypony understands?” They nodded. “Good, now let everypony else know as well.” Once they left, Twilight looked around, looking for somepony, to which Spike noticed.

“Uh, Twilight, what is wrong? Didn’t we get all of them?”

”No. I... that not it, Spike. I am sure we got all of them, but I am getting a strange feeling that we are forgetting something.”	

“What could that-” Spike was interrupted by a series of knocks behind the closed door before a voice came from the door.

“You know I appreciate your ponies effort to contain the Parasprites on board my ship.” The voice said with anger rising in its voice. “You did very well to get all of them very quickly in this room, but I am having an itching feeling that somepony goofed up.”

“Uh, Captain, is that you?” Twilight asked nervously.

Another voice answered, “No, it is the Muffin Mare and Little Red Riding Bloom.”

“Really!” Spike said excitedly. 

“OPEN THE DOOR!” Sunset and Stormfront shout together

“Don’t worry. We will get help. Just hang in there.” Twilight said, leaving to get help.



 

“Two hours,” Sunset said while straightening her mane.

“Now, Sunset, it was not my fault." Twilight said, brushing Sunset's mane, "The crewmembers didn’t believe me when I said you were in there.”

“FOR TWO HOURS?”

“Oh, come on, I am not that strong of a mare to drag them to the door, and when I did, they started to put me to work around the ship. It took me that long before getting them even near the door.” Twilight tried to explain herself only to get a glare from Sunset. 

Sunset breathes in and out, slouching forward. “Well, at least it is over with now.”

Spike then enters their room while pulling in a blanket while getting the attention of the mares in the room.

“Uhm, Spike, what are you doing?” Twilight asked while walking towards him.

“Oh, You see, I am not planning to spend another night in THAT torcher device again,” He said, pointing towards the hammock across the room. “So, I went to the supply room and found this blanket. I might not like sleeping on the floor, but I prefer sleeping anywhere else.”

“I see, that makes sense,” Sunset said before noticing something. “Uh, Spike. That blanket isn't big enough for all of us.” This sudden realization made everyone in the room look at each other than at the blanket. Carefully, they thought of a reason to get the mantle for themselves. A power silence entered the room before they went with the quickest solution. 

“MINE!” They said together, running towards the blanket and crashing into each other. This causes a cloud of smoke and dust to form around them, causing random sounds and things to come out. As they continue the battle between siblings. One of them would be booted out only to go back in. 

This caused one of the nearby crewmember to enter the room investigating the noise. “What is going-” was all he could say before he too was pulled into the scuffle. “AAHH!”

Twilight sneaks out of the cloud towards the door with the blanket as the fight continues. Spike noticed this and went after her. As the dust settles, the stallion could be seen in a headlock by Sunset while he taps his hoof on her forearm. 

Sunset shakes her head, noticing the stranger letting him go. “Where did you come from, and where are the others.”

The stallion, gasping for air, weakly points his hoof towards the door. 

Sunset glares in the direction of the door. “THIS MEANS WAR, YOU TWO!” she shouted, charging out of the room, nearly hitting Trixie on the way out.

Trixie looks at Sunset turning the corner and then to the stallion in her room. She does this a few times before she jumps a little when she hears a crash nearby. “Did Trixie miss something?”	





“Get back here, Twilight! That blanket is mine!” Spike said as he climbed out of the pile of wood and random supplies. 

“Now, Spike, let’s talk about this. Whenever you or Sunset act like this, you two become uncontrollable and will do whatever it takes to get your way.” She said, stopping in next to the side of the ship. “I am just trying to minimize any and or all damage you two could cause,” Twilight said while Sunset ran past him towards her. Thinking quickly, she sidesteps out of the way, letting Sunset continue to run past her into a large white stallion with tiny wings. The sound made everypony cringe as she slowly fell to the floor. The stallion didn’t notice this as he continued to fasten the ropes to the boat.

Twilight lends in near Sunset. “Are you Okay, Sunset?” she asked while giving her a look over to see if anything is broken. 

“No, Mommy, I want peanut butter today,” Sunset said, raising her head, eyes spinning before dropping back to the floor.

“Yeah, I thought so,” Twilight said, getting Sunset on her back and noticing Spike getting the blanket. “Spike?”

“Yes?”

“Let’s get Sunset here back in our room. Then we will deal with the sleeping arraignment.”

“Okay, but this is still mine!”

Twilight rolls her eyes at his comment and continues her way back with Spike right behind her.

Once there, they know that there is a very ironic sight in front of them. Twilight and Spike have difficulty controlling their laughter while Sunset is waking up. “Huh, where am I?”

“Hay Sunset, good to see you awake. Something just came up that I am sure you will like.” Twilight said as Sunset got off her.

“Oh?”

“Yes. None of us are going to be using the hammock tonight.”

“And why is that?”

Twilight then points her hoof into the room. “Because Trixie is already using it.”

As Sunset looks into the room, she can see a hammock tie around itself, a silver tail coming out of it, and three blue hooves poking out of it. And now and then, the hooves would wiggle around.

“I-I-I can see that.” Sunset tried to say why trying not to laugh but failed miserably before she broke out in laughter. Spike and Twilight soon join her as well. 

“IT IS NOT funny! Now stop your laughter at ONCE!” Trixie said while continuing to struggle in her prison. 

Twilight calmed down enough to go toward Trixie. “Sorry about that. But I have to ask how you ended up like that?” she asked, grinning.

“It was not Trixie’s fault. She was helping the stallion on the floor, and then he throws Trixie into this hammock afterward.”

Sunset stops laughing when she remembers who Trixie was talking about and sits up. “Okay, that stallion is a lightweight, so I don’t see him doing that.” She was walking closer to Trixie as she continued until she was a foot away. “And two, why are you talking in the third person?”

“Trixie doesn’t know what you are talking about.”

“See right there, you did it again,” Sunset said, pointing her hoof at her.

“Alright, enough of that, you two,” Twilight said, getting in between them. “Can we focus on getting Trixie out of the hammock first and ask her questions later?”

“Trixie doesn’t need your help!”

“Oh, then do you know how to cast magic in an anti-magic zone or have an item that will allow you to use levitation without touching the item. Or are you just going to force your way out of there with your strength alone?”

She got really quiet. “Uh? Trixie.”

“We will never speak of this again.”

“Fair enough."

“Now, get Trixie out of this!”

“Hold your horseshoes; we are on it,” Twilight said, signaling to the others to help her, but they didn’t move. “Oh, come on, you two, you know this is the right thing to do.” They rolled their eyes before moving in to help. Spike moved next to Twilight on the left of Trixie, and Sunset moved to the opposite side of them. Once in position, Twilight and Spike grab the nearby rope on the hammock, and Sunset does the same on the other side. “Besides, now she will owe us for this.” Before Trixie could protest, Twilight and the others pulled hard on the rope away from Trixie, forcing the hammock to undo itself and dropping her on the floor.

Trixie's eyes were spinning when she tried to stand up, but she lost her footing and fell on the ground a second later. Spike poked her head a few times but was not getting any response.

“She will be alright,” Sunset said as she and Twilight let go of the ropes. “So now what do we do? And for the record, I would have gotten that blanket if that stallion didn’t interfere.”

“No, you wouldn’t have.” Twilight said, “Anyways, I have an idea of how we can solve the problem we are facing with the blanket.”

“What would that be, Twilight?”

“Well, for starters, we could share could either share this one or go look more instead of fighting over it.”

Spike looked at Twilight well, letting go of Trixie’s cheek. “Uh, Twilight. Do you remember the last time we tried to share something?” Trixie starts waking up looking at them, wondering what is going on.

“This is no way relatable to that incident, which reminds me.” Twilight then gives Sunset and stern glare. “You still owe me a new Smarty Pants Doll Sunset!”

“Okay, first off. That was your fault for not letting go, and not to mention it was still good afterward, mostly.”

“Who would want a headless doll?!" Twilight said as Trixie got up from the floor, dusting herself off. “Anyway, now that we are no longing fighting over who sleeps where. We better find something to occupy ourselves until we get to Las Pegasus.” They nodded in agreement as they separated to do so.





Night has fallen over the vessel as it sails across the sea. Upon the crow’s nest, a unicorn mare used a telescope to look out into the distance in front of the ship. The only light she has is the light from Luna’s sky, but thankfully it is a full moon giving plenty of light. After one more look at the boat, she removes her spyglass and looks up to the stars. 

“Thank you, Luna, for a quiet night.” She said before she noticed another pony making their way up to her. “Well, what kept you?” she asks the mare climbing up.

“Sorry about that. I was helping out some mates down on deck really quick and almost forgot you were still up here. And that I was supposed to relieve you.” The earth pony said, smiling sheepishly 

“Whatever, as long you made it, that is what’s important.” The first mare said, shaking her head side to side. “Surprising, nothing to report. It is rather quiet tonight.”

“Really? Well, that is good news for once.”

“Tell me about it.” She said, letting out a yawn. “Anyways, I going to get some sleep now. So, see you later.”

“Hold on a second, please. I have a question to ask you.”

“Oh! What is it?”

“What do you know about why we are headed towards Las Pegasus?”

“I don’t follow you?” she said, raising an eyebrow.

“You don’t know? I heard the captain say something about an essential item that was found there. And we need to go pick it up.”

“You know I not wise to eavesdrop on the captain or anypony for that matter.”

“Whatever,” she rolled her eyes, “so what do you think?”

“About the item?” the mare nodded. “I am not sure. It could be anything from a golden treasure to an old family heirloom. But does it even matter knowing or not?”

“I guess doesn’t”

“Exactly, so don’t dwell on it. Your shift will pass by easier without thinking about it.” She said, making her way towards the rope ladders. 

“Just one more question?”

“Ugh! What?”

“Do you have a special somepony?”

“Uh yes, I do, but why do yo-” she was cut short when she saw the eyes of the mare in front of her turn slightly green. “What in-” she then stops moving and just stares at the mare as a slight green glow forms on her forehead in the shape of a horn. Before she could say anything, she soon felt her strength leave her body, and she could see green ribbons of energy flowing from her mouth into the earth ponies. It only lasts for a few minutes, but to her, it felt like hours as she continues to lose strength in a silent scream. Soon the mare felt so tired she collapsed on the floor, asleep as the standing mare smirked at her handy work. 

“Nighty night, little pony.” She said before green fire covered the mare, turning her body to look like the first mare. “Now then.” She said in her disguise voice as she grabbed a large bag, put the sleeping mare in it, and closed it right before pony climbing up into the crow's nest. The now unicorn mare look to see a pony that looks like what she earlier appeared.

“Hey, sorry I was late. I was helping out some ponies below deck and forgot I was supposed to relieve you.”

“Don’t worry about it.” The unicorn dismissed with a wave of her hoof. Then the earth pony notices the rather large bag next to the unicorn. 

“What is with the bag?” she said, pointing towards it.

“Oh! I forgot to put my bag back below deck when the Parasprites appeared earlier, and I kept it with me since my shift would begin once it was over.” The earth pony nodded in understanding. “However, I did lose my hammock somewhere in the scuffle and now had no place to sleep.”

“Well, that stinks.”

“Yeah, but that is my problem. I am just going to figure out once I get below deck.” She said, putting the bag on the ledge and getting off the crow’s nest. “Anyways, nothing to report tonight. It's rather quiet.” 

“Well, at least something good happens tonight. You know you can use my hammock since I will be up here.”

“Thanks.”

“You are welcome. It the third one after the supply room. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.” She then made her way down the ropes with the bag in her hoof and followed her direction. However, she quickly stopped in the supply room and grabbed an empty rum bottle before putting the unconscious mare in the hammock with the bottle, sleeping soundly. Once more, green fire surrounded the fake mare again and relieved a stallion. “Silly ponies.” The stallion left the mare and stopped by a half-open door. 

He can see Twilight, Sunset, and Spike all cuddle up underneath some blankets. He huffs, “If it were up to me, I would have drained you three dried long ago.” He said to himself. “But orders are orders.” He then closed the door and continued to walk down the hall.
> Chapter 4
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Daylight could be seen coming over the horizon of Las Pegasus mountains. A yellow pegasus mare with an orange and yellow mane exits her house, closing the door behind her. She starts her morning stretches and warm-ups. Once she was done, she took in a deep breath of that fresh ocean air.

*BBBBBBUUUUUUURRRRRRMMMMM* “GUH!” she shouted as she took off straight into the air, by the sudden noise from the nearby fog horn.

After calming herself down, she looks towards the only foghorn on the island. As she got closer to the lighthouse, she heard laughter inside the building. She then frowns, concluding what just happened to her. Las Pegasus local prankster has struck again.

Landing in front of the building, the mare prepares herself for some good old-fashioned payback. 

“DASH! If this was one of your gags, Start praying!” She said, entering the building closing the door behind her. The sounds of panic were followed by crashing and smashing of random objects before two blurs could be seen coming out of the building, moving towards the harbor.





“Hum?”

“What is wrong, Twilight?” Sunset asked her roommate as they were getting ready for the day.

“It’s the foghorn. Normally it’s only used to signal incoming ships of where the island is during a foggy day. And right now, it’s clear.”

“Yeah, that is weird.”

“Anyways, we are closing in on Las Pegasus, and we better check up on the captain to see what will happen next.”

“Right.” Twilight and Sunset were about to leave their room when they remembered someone. “Spike," Twilight called out to the dragon under the blankets. "I know you are awake. So, you can either get up and come with us of your own free will. Or I am going to have to drag you with us?”

“Fine, I am coming.” The trio made their way over to the captain's quarters and found him searching his drawers.

“Good morning to you all. I was afraid for a moment that we were going to have to help you get out of bed again.”

“Thankfully, not this time or ever again,” Sunset said as the others nodded in agreement.

“Never say never, my dear Sunset.” The captain said, taking his seat. “Now then, I assume you all are here for more than a friendly chat with an old sailor like me.”

“Yes, straight to business." Sunset then clears her throat. "Captain, once we arrive at the shore, where are we to head to?”

“You are to head to the town hall and meet with Mayor Hooves. She will then show you where the package is.”

"Just out of curiosity. What is in the package, Captain?"

Storm front looks to the left then to the right and motions them to come closer with his hoof; he then whispers, "That would be an Artifact."

“Artifact!?” Spike said quietly.

“Yes, Spike, Artifact,” Twilight said, turning her attention to the young drake. “Celestia said that what we are after is important. So, it is an artifact of some kind in this case.” She turned her attention back to the captain. “Do we know anything specific about it?”

“Nothing that I can be for sure. Only that it is no bigger than a bit, and Celestia wants it.”

“Fair enough.”

“Right then. I will be assigning you some guards for your safety on shore.”

“Are they really needed?” Sunset asked.

“It is just a precaution. Las Pegasus is a poor and peaceful island, but it does have its fair share of crime. Because of that, we cannot afford to take anything to chance.” He smirks. “Also, remember the last time you three were alone on a dock?”

“Ok, fine. However, Captain. The way you talk about the package. It makes me think that you know more than you are willing to share.”

“Call it a hunch, but whatever it is, Celestia has put a tight lid on it. However, based on the size. I can only guess that it might be an Element of Harmony.”

“An Element of Harmony?" Sunset asked. "What is that?”

“Sunset!” Twilight scolds her. “The Elements of Harmony. The magical artifacts that were used to defeat Discord. The same stones that turned our world as it is now. Those Elements of Harmony!”

“Oh, right! Now I remember. After they were lost, some ponies and other creatures have claimed to have found them. However, it turns out to be random crystals or shards of a crystal instead.”

“And in some of the cases," Spike spoke up. "The crystal shards had a unique spell placed on them to make them seem real. Thus given them the term 'Shard of Harmony.' or fakes. Although no pony truly knows if the Element of Harmony were shattered when they were lost.”

“That is right, Spike," Twilight said. "But I believe some of the elements might have shattered after releasing all that chaos energy. So some of them dividing into shards is not too far fetch. But Captain. You can’t seriously be suggesting that we are here for an Element of Harmony, do you?”

“Oh, come on. Can’t you let a stallion dream a little?”

“Right. Anyways how long do we have until we depart back for Canterlot?”

“It depends on the news we receive from the local weather ponies. Suppose the weather is clear for the next two days. Then we will be on our way by tomorrow morning. If not, we will have to wait it out.”

“Well then, let’s not waste any more time than. Come on, guys.”

“You will find your guards waiting for you at the gad plank.”

“Thank Sir.” 

With that, they bid the captain farewell and left the room. Unaware that one of the crewmembers who was working near the cabin stopped what they were doing, he went to the other side of the ship once no pony was looking.

Twilight’s group headed to the town hall, while another group of crew members went to the marketplace, others stayed on board the ship. However, no one paid attention to Trixie and her wagon when somepony came out of it when she was heading to the marketplace. 

This pony was an earth pony mare with a cream-colored coat and pink and blue mane and tail divided down the middle. She made her way to a small café and ordered coffee. The mare pulled out a red flower from her bag and placed it in her mane next to her left ear during the wait. Shortly after she finished her coffee, another mare came from the sky and sat next to her. She was a grey coat pegasus with blonde mane and tail with her eyes looking in two different directions. After ordering her coffee, the mare with the red flower looked at her once before setting her cup down.

“Isn’t a little late having dark coffee today Miss?”

The Pegues mare looks at her before looking around before addressing her. “It is never too late to have spicy coffee.”

“Excuses me?" the first mare said with a puzzled look, "But I never heard of spicy coffee. Don’t you mean cold coffee”

“No spicy coffee.”

The mare with the flower groans with a hoof over her face. “Let’s try that again. The purple sun melts the red snow.”

“And the river runs upstream.”

“Secret Agent Hooves?”

“Secret Agent Sweetie Drops?”

“What was wrong with your countersign?”

“What do you mean what was wrong with it? I gave you the countersign for the red flower.”

“But that the wrong countersign.”

“It is not!” she then reaches into her bag and pulls out a roll-up scroll. “See, right here.”

Sweetie Drops looks at the scroll before looking at the issue date on the scroll. “That’s the old countersign.” She then pulls out her scroll and shows it to her.

Agent Hooves look at it before she starts to cry. “I am sorry, Agent Sweetie Drops. I should have known that you would have the right countersign. It's just after all these years undercover, hiding in trees, walls, and small spaces. You can get out of the loop. And you know what? I am getting tired of it.”

“Calm down, Agent Hooves. We all have to make sacrifices on the job. Here, take my code scroll.” Sweetie Drop said, giving her her scroll.

“I can't do that.” Agent Hooves said, giving it back.

“It's fine. I already memorized it.”

She takes it and sniffs a little. “I won’t forget this. I will pay you back, Sweetie Drops.”

“Thanks, and that’s is nice and all. But could you please give me your report?”

“Right.” *ahem* “Nothing major has happened except for Rainbow Dash scaring the feathers off Spitfire earlier. ”

“That must have been funny. Anything sign of the 'green flames' around here?”

“Nothing yet, but I will keep an eye out for it.”

“You better. The princess wants to know if they are friendly or not a.s.a.p..”

“Will do. Also, the package is ready for pick up at the Mayor's office.”

“Excellent. The Princesses will be one step closer to reuniting the lands with this. All that is left is to get it back to Canterlot.”

“That concludes my report. I better get going before anypony starts missing me.”

“Alright, then carry on the Agent Hooves.”

“You can count on me.”





An hour. Later at the storage room in Townhall.

"And this, my friends, the what you are here for." Mayor Hooves said, opening the storage room and letting everypony in. "I am not allowed to tell you what is inside with all the hush-hush going around it.”

“Thank you, Mayor Hooves," Sunset said. "But I do have one question."

"Yes?"

"Why is the box the size of a wagon?" She gestured to the box. “Is it that big?"

"No, that just to throw ponies off from what’s inside it."

"Oh, so it small!" Twilight said, which caused silence to fall around the room.

"You didn't hear that from me.” Mayor Hooves said.

"Don't worry; we won’t tell anypony. Okay, boys, get this create moving." Sunset told the guards as they began to move the box.

Once the box was out of the storage room. The Mayor pulls Sunset aside.

"How did you know it was smaller than it appears to be?”

“You just told me,” Sunset said as she moved to join the others.

“Clever girl.”





It didn't take long before they rejoined the crew at the ship. They got word from the captain that everything was ready to go and would be on their way back shortly if the weather ponies told them otherwise. He also informed them that they would bring along three other crew members. After their talk, Sunset and the others went back to their cabin to wait for the journey back home.

“You know this wasn't as exciting as I thought this trip would be,” Spike said as they entered their room.

“Well, what did you expect, Spike?" Twilight said. "This was no more than a milk run.”

“I know that, but I was kind of hoping for action. You know, fending off pirates, holding out against a great storm, or even fighting a giant sea creature!”

“Oh, Spike, that is the last thing we want to happen on this journey. Imagine if that did happen?”

“Yeah,” Sunset said with a smile on her face.

“Stop encouraging him," Twilight said to Sunset. “Spike. I don't think we could survive if something like that were to happen. While we are out at sea, my magic is unless, and I have no form of training in hoof to hoof combat. And before you say that we could rely on your fire, you would be risk burning the ship down, and then we will be lost at sea forever.”

Spike rubs his head, embarrassed. “Sorry, Twilight, I didn’t think about it that way.”

“It is ok, Spike,” Twilight said as she hugged the little dragon. “Sometimes the best adventures are to ones where nothing bad happens.”





Meanwhile outside,

Every sailor on board was getting ready to shove off. One of them noticed an orange Pegues looking around the last of the supply crates on the dock as they were doing so.

“Hay Miss, get away from there!”

“In a minute,” Spitfire said, not looking at him. "I am looking for somepony.”

“Then I’ll help you.” The sailor said, going down to join the search.

Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash was hiding behind one of the farthest barrels on the dock. She was a cyan-blue pegasus with a rainbow-colored mane and tail. She sees the two of them trying to find her, and she notices the top of the barrel she was next to was open. Quickly she hid inside and left the top open so she could breathe and get out. After three minutes, she heard the Stallion telling Spitfire to go. Rainbow was about to leave her barrel when the lid was forced closed, and she started hearing the sounds of nails being hammered. She tried to open the barrel, but she was stuck with the limited amount of room. The barrel was pushed to the side and started rolling her around before stopping.

“Hey Henry, this water barrel is a little light. Is it supposed to be empty?”

“Nay dud, I guess they forgot to fill it. Take it back and fill it up before we head out.”

“On it.” Then the barrel started rolling again. 

Rainbow was starting to get dizzy. A small hole opened, and water started to fill it. But then it stopped half ways then something else started to fill it. And it smelled familiar to her, “Cider?” she tastes it, "IT APPLE CIDER!"

As the sailor was rolling the barrel back, he thought he heard the barrel drinking itself. “I got to lay off the hard stuff. I am hearing things.” He said to himself as he put the barrel in storage.





“But I need to get on this boat!” Secret Agent Sweetie Drop said, trying to get past the guard onto the gad plank. Her mission in Las Pegasus finished faster than she thought and forgot that the mare she convinced to let her stowaway wasn't going on this ship back.  

“I am sorry, madam, but it is not up to me. It's up to the captain, and we are already full-on crew members.”

“But I must- you know what? Never mind. I am good.”

“You are?”

“Yes, I am. Have a good day.” She then started walking away.

“Hun, that was odd.” He said as she snuck onto the boat by hanging onto the ship's anchor when nopony was looking. Once there were on their way, she got on board.





Entry 123

It has been seven hours since we left that little town. But I do have to get Spike's idea for thought.

This vogue has been too peaceful. I have read reports from other captains, and they have had some serious problems no matter how short the voyage was. I fear that soon we will have some problems on our hooves soon that may be more than we can handle. Especially with now down below deck. I have no idea what it is, but if the princess wants it, it's has got to be important. I know that I am not allowed to look inside it, but that doesn’t mean I can keep an eye on it.

Sunset then made her way below deck and let the others know where she is going to be. However, on her way there. She started hearing somepony singing. It was hushed, but it got louder the closer she got to the storage area. Once inside, she notices that she’s not the only one who has heard the singing. A couple of the other crewmembers were gathered around a barrel, looking at each other, then back to the barrel, unsure what to do.

“Hey, is everything alright here?” Sunset asked one of the crewmembers.

“I am not sure." One of them replied. "But this barrel is started singing about ten minutes ago. I thought I heard things, but then he started hearing it as well.” He said, gesturing to the other crew member.

“Well, what’s in it?”

“The label says water, but I don't think so.” The sailor then grabs a crowbar and pries the lid off.

“Annand IIIIIII will always love you!!” Rainbow Dash said, grabbing the closest pony in a hug, which happens to be one of the crew members. “Have I ever told you about the time when I made a rainbow boom from just free falling?”

“No.” He replied.

“It was glorious.”

“Let me guess. She is not a member of this crew?” Sunset asked the other sailor.

He shakes his head as the other crew member tries to set himself free. “Nope, she is a stowaway.”

“And at least she is friendly. Let’s see if we can get her without causing a raucous.” Slowly Sunset and the stallion closed in on the new mare before she noticed them.

“Oh, look, so many ponies here. Are you all part of my fan club?”

Sunset has no idea what this mare was talking about. She was going to ask her some questions when she started smelling cider coming from this mare direction. “Excuse me miss…”

“Rainbow Dash!" Rainbow said, saluting and letting go of the crewmember. "The fastest pony alive! In the flesh.”

“Miss Dash. By any chance, have you been drinking cider?”

“Naaa this was only. Titse little sips from this barrel.”

“And how many of these tissey little sips did you have?”

“Two hundred and seventy-two.”

Sunset looked down the barrel and found it to be empty. “Do you usually have this many sips of cider?

“Nope, first-time honeydew.”

“Honeydew?!” Sunset said, offended,

“Well, you look like honey. I bet you taste great.”

“Ok, enough of this. Get her out of there and take her to the brig. I will inform the captain.” Sunset left the two ponies to deal with Rainbow. Sunset started making her way back to the top deck. However, once there, she notices a change in the weather. The clouds were gathering in thick grey clumps in the sky, the wind was starting to pick up, and the ship began to rock.

“Hey, sailor!" Sunset called out to one of the crewmembers. "Does the captain know that we are in the middle of a storm?”

“I am not sure, miss, haven’t seen him since we left port.”

“That’s odd. I am on my way to see him now anyway. I will let him know.”

“You do that. These clouds are making my nerves.”

Sunset hurried to the captain's courters and knocked at the door, but there was no answer. She tried again calling out to him but still no answer. Fearing the worst, she opens the door.

“Captain, are you here?”

“What do you want?” Stormfront said from his desk.

“I here to tell you about the storm outside.”

“You leave that to the crew and me, my lady. In the meantime, I suggest you batten down the hatches and wait with your friends until this blows over. Don’t worry; only ponies on the deck are at risk of falling overboard. You will be fine.”

“Okay, then, captain.” She turns to leave but then stops. “Oh, I just remember, captain, we have a stowaway on board.”

“We will deal with that after the storm, but for now, get below deck and wait for further orders. Understood?”

“Yes, captain.” Sunset left to join the others below deck. Once there, she told them what was happening and the captain’s orders. Twilight thought it was odd they ended up in the middle of a storm without anypony noticing. However, Spike thought it was hilarious hearing about the pony in the barrel.

“Spike, it wasn’t that funny. Which reminds me of what I was doing before all this happened.” Sunset started to leave the room.

"But what about the captain’s orders?” Twilight asked Sunset, stopping her from leaving the room.

“I am not going to do anything while I am there. I am just going to have a peek insi- um erm, I mean make sure the crate is intact. Yes, intact wasn’t trying to look inside.”

Twilight just looks at her with a mild glare. “Um-hum. If it is all the same for you, I better tag along.” Twilight then left her makeshift bed and moved next to Sunset.

“What, why, don’t you trust me?”

Twilight then looks at Sunset. “Last year's Hearts Warming Eve.”

Sunset's eyes widened when Twilight brought up that embarrassing moment last year. “Oh right. But to be fair, Twilight. It was a big box, Twilight.”

“And you couldn’t have waited two more hours.”

“It was practically morning.”

“Say the one who wore a black ninja outfit crawling across the floor. And then causing unsuspecting ponies to fall down the stairs!”

“Okay, that was your fault for not looking where you were going. And what about me? I got hurt as well.”

“Only because Spike thought you were stealing his presents.”

Spike starts laughing from his bed. “Yeah, I remember that. If couldn’t have them, then no pony could.”

Twilight turned her attention to Spike. “You are lucky, Mr., that the only things that got burnt to dust were half of the present and the tree. 

Sunset then looks at the floor. "I never did get to see what was in the box. Ah, fine then if you want to tag along, there is no reason not to.”

“By the way," Spike spoke up. "Whatever did happen that the mare in the barrel?”

“She was taken to the brig.”

The duo made their way to the storage area of the ship. As the storm outside was growing worst. The lightning flashes across the sky, waves of water crash into the ship's sides, sending sailors across the deck and cabins. The wind blows the sea across the deck, soaking everyone on deck. Sailors struggle to operate the stations to keep the ship from tilting over. Stormfront was at the helm, working to guide the ship through the storm. However, through all this storm the was a sound. It started small, and then it began to grow.

Sunset glance through one of the windows below deck and see a red glow in the distance. She knew it was the sirens but gave it no second thought, for they are safe as long as they don’t go the light.

But then Sunset noticed that, for some reason, the ship was turning. It was turning into the direction of the sirens.” What is the captain thinking!” Sunset shouted.

“What is wrong?” Twilight asked.

“He is guiding the ship into siren territory!”

“What is he thinking!”

“Something wrong here. I may not know the captain well, but he would never endanger the ship like this, especially since he is probably the only pony who knows what is inside the crate. I'm going to talk with him to see what’s going on in that thick head. You to keep going to the storage room.”

“Okay, but why!”

“Something wrong here, and somepony needs to ensure that the crate is intact.”

“Don’t worry; I am on it. Be careful, Sunset.”

“Same to you too.” With that, they went their separate ways.

The storm was getting worse by the minute, forcing ponies to hang on the wall to keep on their hooves. A lantern fell to the floor in front of Sunset, which burst into flames. She manages not to get burnt and moved away from the fire. Lucky there was another pony who came by and started putting out the fire.

“You there! Make sure the lanterns are put out on the top deck. I got this floor.”

“On it. But can you get somepony to the captain and find out why he is steering the ship straight into siren waters.”

“Don’t question the captain’s judgment, miss. He has gotten us out of storms before, and he can do it again. Now off with you!”

“Alright.” Sunset then struggles with the other lanterns and quickly puts them out. As she did so, the song of the sirens was growing louder.
> chapter 5
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

On a beach earlier one morning, a yellow pegasus mare with a long pink mane and tail was walking along the coastline of her island with some of her little animal friends running alongside her while some of them were carrying picnic supplies. She kept to herself most of the time and was known as an animal whisperer due to her unique talent of being able to talk with animals. Even though she was a pegasus, she preferred to walk with her little friends, and they ran and jumped around her like children.

“Oh, please do be careful, everyone. We don't want anyone to get hurt,” She told her furry friends as they played. She doesn't get much time off to head to the beach with her friends, but she enjoys every minute of it when she does. Once she finds the perfect spot, she sets up a picnic area for them and starts to brew some tea. 

She smiles softly, listening to the sounds of the coastline and her furry friends. Once the tea was ready, she called out for them and poured tea for everyone. Half through her second cup, she heard some seagulls flying overhead. Before she could say hello, one of them came crashing into her picnic and caused her to drop her tea. 

“Oh no!" She said as she picked up the seagull forgetting about her tea, "Are you alright, Mr. Sea Gal!?”

*caw*

“You should be more careful.” She gave the bird a look, finding nothing serious had happened to him. “It is only a bump. Get some rest, and you should start feeling better in the morning.”

*caw*

“Huh! You saw something washed up on the beach?”

*caw*

“And it looked like a pony! Oh, dear, quickly take me there!” She follows the seagull with her companions right behind her.

They soon came across what the seagull was talking about. It was an orange unicorn mare with a red and yellow mane holding on to a piece of wood as the waves washed over the lower part of her body. Quickly the yellow mare pulled her away from the water and onto the shore. She notices some busing along the hind legs and forelegs. There is also a large bump next to her horn. Most likely, the reason why she passed out. She can hear a heartbeat by placing her head on the mare’s chest. But it is weak. She turns to her furry friends.

“Quickly, you two go find Mr. Bear and bring him here,” she told some rabbits. “And the rest of you head back home and prepare a place for her to rest. I will stay here and see if she wakes up.” the animals nodded and took off. The yellow mare turned back to the unconcise unicorn and shook her gently. “Hello, can you hear me!”

*groan*

“Hang in there. Help is on the way.”





Earlier,

The storm rages around Sunset as the ship goes over another huge wave causing everyone to loose their footing as a loud sound of breaking wood echoes everywhere. Sunset looked up and barely got out of the way as a selection of the mainsail snaps in two landings where she was earlier. "The ship is done for!" A crewmember said, tending to an injured crewmember. 

"Get to the lifeboats!" Another crewmember said while fighting something she had never seen before. It was black with red and blue fire where a pony mane and tail would be. Whatever it was. Its fire was covering the ship as Sunset could see Twilight and Spike on the other side of the ship being pulled overboard by somepony.

"Twilight, Spike!" Sunset called out to her friends before was an explosion erupted from inside the ship, and everything went dark.


Present,


All I can see is darkness. What happened? I can feel a sharp pain coming from my head. But my hooves are too weak to move to give it comfort. I can't remember what happened after the explosion. Did I survive? Where am I?  

She tried to open her eyes but couldn't see anything.

Am I bind now? No. I can see some light coming through a white cloth. Bandages? Am I in a hospital? And how badly am I injured? I can feel the pain coming from all my limbs, which means there are still there. At least that is a good thing. But I don't like the idea of my eyes being bandaged up. 

Hold on a second; I can hear something. It sounds like a mare?

"Oh, I hope she is feeling better today." The voice said. Sunset felt something moving on the bed, getting closer to her. "Now Angel bunny, be careful. We are only changing her bandages." The voice said. Who is she talking to? "Now, now Angel, if she were that injured, I would have taken her to the hospital. But her injuries were ones that I could handle." Wait, I am not in a hospital but somepony's house? Well, at least she knows what she is doing. At least, I hope she's doing. And who is Angel?

I can feel her removing the bandages around my head. I can see! I can see... I see too much light. Squint my eyes as the bandages come off. I blink, trying to see again as a groan leaves my body.

"Oh, you're awake. Can you hear me miss?" The voice cried out.

"Yes. Ooow, my head." Sunset said, trying to lift a foreleg, but her caretaker gently pushed it down.

"You mustn't move so much. You still haven't recovered from your ordeal."

"What happened?" Sunset asked slowly starting to see again,

"I don't know. You were washed up on the beach holding on to a piece of wood when I found you."

Sight returns to Sunset as she gets a good look at her caretaker and a small white bunny next to her. "That right. I was sailing somewhere. I was on a boat wi-" Sunset shot up but regretted it. *Gah* Sunset fell back down to the bed, holding onto her sides.

The yellow mare moves closer to her and gently rubs Sunset's side, "Please lay still, or you will hurt yourself more."

"Twilight! Spike! The crew! Where are they!"

"I don't know. You were the only pony I found. Please stay down. You don't want to become bed written much longer than needed."

"Okay. But are you sure there was no pony else? I was with them before the ship went down."

The mare gives Sunset a sad look, "If that is the case, I must give you my condolences."

"Your condolences; what are you," Sunset stops realizing what she meant, "No." 

"Miss, most boats that go down. Usually, they don't have that many survivors. You should consider yourself lucky to have made it back to an island and not lost out at sea."

Sunset started to breathe faster. She couldn't believe it. "No," Her friends were gone. "It can't be."

"Miss. Please calm down. Hurting yourself isn't going to help anypony." She tried to comfort the mare but wasn't very successful. She thought of an idea of how to calm her down, "But if you made it. I am sure your friends did too."

That work, Sunset started to calm down. Now that she can think straight, she has to ask, "Where am I?"





Back at Canterlot Castle in a private meeting chamber

Princess Celestia is getting ready to talk to various representatives and rulers. Form the North, A Crystal Pony, Queen Ambre Leaf of the Crystal Empire. From the west, A Griffen, Steward Graff of Griffen Stone. From the east, the Dragon Princess Ember of the dragon lands. And from icy south, A Yak, Prince Rutherford of Yakyakistan. These four make the most powerful rulers alongside Canterlot. 

Princess Celestia has been trying for years to get their cooperation. All she has to show for it is a neutral pact with each one of them. Each of them has firmly refused to help others who are not part of their lands or species. As she gets ready to speak, she is interrupted by Steward Graff.

“I hope your Highness knows that even during a hard time. We of Griffin stone don’t forgive debts on your loans.”  

“Steward Graff. Please rest assured that your money will be paid back in one year.”

“Now, that is something I would like to see.” He smirks as he drinks from his cup. “Four ships are not something one can forget so easily.”

“Can we please move on with the meeting?” Queen Ambre says. “I have a kingdom to run after all.”

“Likewise. What do you need this time, your Highness?” Princess Ember says.

“I wish to establish a free trade route between our nations.”

“You have got to be kidding me.”

“Seas are dangerous. Tariffs help pay for crewmembers and ships.” Prince Rutherford said,

“Your Highness.” Princess Celestia pleads, “Without a standard tariff, merchants will be more willing to make the journey and greatly increase our land's economics. Supplies will be more plentiful if sailors only had to deal with shipping cost without worrying about paying more for the supplies they are carrying.”

Graff huffs, “As the steward of Griffin Stone. I will have to decline.” 

“Please, Steward. So long as the tariffs are in place. My merchants are unwilling to bring supplies to our other lands due to high tariffs on needed supplies.”

“Well, they can purchase what they need from our vendors and suppliers since they are in our waters.”

Before the Princess could protest, a pony ran into the room but was blocked by the guards.

"Halt, state your business here!"

"I need to talk to the Princess! It is urgent!"

Celestia called out to the guards. "It is okay. Let him come forward." The guards look at her before standing down, letting the pony pass. "Now then, my little pony, what troubles you?" She asked the young stallion. 

"Yes, my name is Professor Whooves. I am part of research and development for Canterlot's shipping management. Are you aware of Project Red Glare?"

"Yes, It is an experimental signal flare that is to be used when a ship is in trouble. But last I check, it is still in the prototype stages."

"Well, yes, it is. But the latest model was on board the last ship sailing to Las Pegasus, and earlier this morning, the coast guards reported seeing a large red glare being spotting in the direction of the Las Pegasus. As we all know, Harmony magic cannot be used at sea, so sending a message of help would be impossible. That is what project red glare was made for. And that glow in the distance could have only come from Project Red Glare. I fear that something has happened to ship, your Highness."

“How tragic.” Steward Graff said,

"Could it be possible that the project was miss fired and nothing is truly wrong?" Queen Ambre added.

"No, your Highness. When developing Red Glare, we ensured that it could only be activated if the main section of the mass was completely underwater or destroyed."

"I see your concern." Celestia turned to her court assistant Miss Inkwell, "How much time has passed since the ship has set sail?"

Miss Inkwell looked over her notes, flipping a few pages to find the answer. "Four days ago."

"If the wind was with them, they should have made it to Las Pegasus by then. I can only hope for the safety of the crew." She turns to face one of the room entrances, "Captain Shining Armor!"

Shining Armor enters the room. He was a white unicorn stallion with a dark blue mane and tail. She was dressed in purple Armor, showing that he was the guard's captain. He stops in front of Celestia and gives her a salute. "How can I serve you?"

"Prepare a search and rescue ship to depart Las Pegasus seas immediately."

"At once, your highness." He saluted and left the room.

"I apologize for that, but it was a matter I had to deal with." As the meeting continued, Celestia couldn’t focus clearly as a thought flowed through her mind.

"Please be alright, my students."







Entry scribes and watermarks,

So, the mare that is looking after me, for the time being, is known as Fluttershy. She is a caretaker of the animals in her hometown of Appleloossa. Did you know that Appleloosa used to be a desert plane, and now it is a grassland filled with hundreds of animals? It is a beautiful place to be at. However, you have to be careful of the sudden flash floods now and then. 

As for my injuries, I suffered from mild dehydration and bruising to the left side of my body. I can't remember much of what happened during my last moments on the ship. Everything is a bur expect for that explosion. I wonder what caused it?

Fluttershy has taken very good care of me. However, I don't know why she put bandages on my eyes, but I can see, so it is no longer important, whatever the reason. But, I can't walk for long periods with my body as it is, but I am getting better. And for some reason, my diary Journal was found not that far from where Fluttershy found me. This is why the pages are wrinkly and hard to write on. But I can make due. Now I wish I had paid the extra five bits to make this waterproof when I bought this thing. But I thought, who needs waterproof paper in Canterlot when you will never go out to the sea? 

In any case, the important thing is at the moment is to get word back to Canterlot. With the cargo lost at sea and the ship's crew is missing in action. And as much as I don't want to admit it. I don't think Twilight and Spike are coming back. I barely survived what happened, and there is no guarantee that they made it to one of the islands, let alone one that is in friendly territory. But I know that they are alive. I know it.

However, questions still gnaw at me. Who was that black fire pony? And why did that pony pull the others overboard? And how am I going to tell Twilight’s Parents what happen?



Sunset then closes her journal as Fluttershy comes into the room. 

"How are you feeling, Sunset?"

"Better. Is there any way of getting word back to Canterlot?"

"I am afraid that the only way of doing that would be going there in pony, and nopony is heading to Canterlot anytime soon."

"What about the mayor? Doesn't she have a dragon to use dragon fire to contact them?"

"Ah... he sends a letter or goes there himself. However, we did have a dragon who would help us, but he left the island months ago. Something about the Dragonlord call for him. And sending a letter takes two weeks to reach Canterlot."

"What? Why so long?"

"Well, no direct shipping line can make it over there. The sea between here and Canterlot is too dangerous to sail, and not to mention that the seas nearby are owned by the Sirens. Nopony wants to get caught up with them. So we only have a small window of sailing safely every eight days." 

"You know a lot about the sea in this area."

"Oh... it's just common knowledge here. Everypony knows when the ships leave and come to the island."

"Fluttershy. Is that common knowledge to all ships that pass by here?"

"I am not sure, but I pretty sure every captain should know when it is safe to sail the sea. Why?"

"I was just wondering."





Somewhere in the Sirens seas,

Two seaponies were swimming to the Siren's seas or the Siren’s Graveyard. One was a light blue sea-mare and the other a dark green sea-stallion.

Seaponies call this part of the sea a Graveyard for all the unfortunate ships lured here. These two seaponies were nearby when they heard the Sirens' song and hoped to find anything from the surface world in the vessel. 

"I don't know about this, Coral." The sea mare said, looking around a boat. "What if the Sirens see us?"

"Relax, Melody." The sea-stallion said, nudging her to swim forward. "As long as we stick close to the bottom of the wrecks. They won't see us." Coral said, reassuring his friend as they continued to search the wreckages. When they find something interesting, they will put it in their bags, after finding some treasures from above. They were going to head back when Melody saw something inside one of the sunken ships. She covered her mouth and tapped the top of Coral's head. A sign they both made when one of them sees any danger. 

Coral nods his head, and they both slowly swim to the hole to see what is nearby. And to Coral's surprise, it of one of the Sirens. The purple one, Aria Blaze, if he remembers correctly. He couldn't understand it. They were nowhere near the site of the latest wreck. So why was she here?

"NOTHING!" Aria said, coming out of the holes in one of the ships. "Anything over there, Sonata?"

"No..pe.. noonthing hair." Sonata replied like her mouth was full.

Aria moved out of view of the two seaponies only to hear a loud smack in the direction where she went.

"OW!"

"Food from the surface world counts as something Dummy. Give me that!"

"No! Finder keepers!" Coral saw the two sirens chasing each other, with one of them holding a bag of goods. 

"This is getting out of hoof here, Melody. I think you are right. We better... Melody?" Coral noticed that Melody wasn't next to him. He could see her near a large wooden box caved in on itself after busting through the ship's ceiling. Coral moves to her side and grabs her foreleg. "Come on, Melody. Let's get out of here!"

"Wait, there's something under here."

"Where?"

"See that? There that blue glow? There between the crakes." 

Coral could see the glow staring in amazement. “What is that?”

“Not sure, but if it can glow in these seas. Then it is valuable.” Melody said while moving around the woodpile to see if there was a way to get it. “Maybe we can get a thousand bits for it!”

“Well, hurry up. Who knows how long before those two find us.”

Meanwhile, the Sirens were starting to make a ratchet nearby, reminding them that there might be a fight happening soon. 

"That doesn't sound good."

"Here, I found a way to reach it. Coral, help me move this panel." They grabbed the panel's side and started to pull it with all their might. When they got halfway there, a loud commanding voice sounded nearby.

"WILL YOU TWO KNOCK IT OFF!"

That voice could only belong to one creature of the sea. Adagio Dazzle, the leader of the Sirens. Both seaponies stop to look in the voice's direction and notice that the rucks outside have stopped. The seaponies looked at each other before pulling the panel even harder.

Meanwhile outside. Adagio has taken the bag of goods from the others.

"She started it," Aria said, pointing at her teammate.

"No way you did!" Adagio has had enough of this and hits both of them on top of their head.

"Now listen, you two. We have already gone through this. And we all agree to bring everything we find back to the lair and then divide amongst ourselves. It is safer that way, remember?"

Sonata rubs the back of her head in embarrassment. "Right. I forgot about him. But I thought he was asleep."

"Not if you two keep making this racket, he won't be. I rather not mess with him again." 

"Yeah, we barely got away with our shards still around our necks," Aria said, which caused all of them to rub the red shards in their necklaces.  

"Anyways. We need to find out what happened to the cargo of the last ship we sank. It wasn't with it that it sank, so it must have been thrown overboard at one point. Keep searching. It is close; I can feel it."

As they continue their search. Two seaponies saw the opportunity to leave and left the site with a small glowing blue in one of their fins.





On an unknown beach,

"Twilight! Twilight! Twilight Wake Up!" Twilight can feel life returning to her body as she hears somepony calling out her name. The voice sounds familiar.

*Goan* "sp...Spike?" Twilight then feels somepony, or in this case, some dragon hugging her.

"Oh, Twilight! Thank Celestia, you're alive! I thought I was going to be alone here!" She smiles as she hugs Spike back.

"Spike, calm down. I am fine. And I am glad to see that you are alright as well." Twilight then breaks the hug to have a look around. They appear to have landed on one of the islands in the Siren territory. As far as she can see, it is midday, and there is no sign of the ship or its crew. They are on a long sandy beach with a vast forest behind them. "So this is where we end up."

"Yeah."

"Any sign of other ponies from the ship or at least a wreckage?"

"No, but we better get going. I don't think we are welcome here."

"What do you mean-" At that moment, a spear struck the ground between them. "I will take your word for it!" Twilight said, grabbing Spike with her magic and placing him on her back before making a break for it as more spears land where they once stood. 

Spike turns around to see that the spears are coming from the tree line of the island. They run on the beach for about three minutes at full sprint. But that is when Spike notices that they stop.

"Hay, Twilight, stop for a second."

"Now is not a good time Spike."

"But Twilight-"

"Later Sp-" Spike then pulled back on Twilight's mane, causing her to stop for some unknown reason. Twilight is confused as to what just happened and looked at Spike with an irritated look. "What was that for?"

"They stop."

"What?" She looks back and notices that the spears aren't raining death upon them. "That is odd. Maybe we left their territory?"

"Yeah, and into who's?" They both look at each for a second, then around them to see anything that might want to kill them. Seeing nothing, they relax their muscles for the time being.

"Whatever may be the case. It's safer here for the time being. We better find somepony that can help us. Along with anypony or creature from the ship." Twilight started walking toward the island's forest, and Spike pulled on her mane again, stopping her.

"Woah! We are going inside the creepy forest!"

"You got a better idea of finding something to eat around here?"

"We could... no, that won't work... How about... no, that no good... Fine into the creepy forest. You do know what is editable in this forest, right?"

"As much as you do."

"We are going to die!" Twilight hits Spike with her head to snap him out of his panic state. "Ow,"

"That for not studying those books I gave you on island survival."

"What! When did you do that?"

*groan* "The night we left Canterlot, I gave you a copy of Darring-Do survival tactics on 'lost at sea' and 'shipwrecks.' It would appear that some dragon has been avoiding their studies again."

"How was I supposed to know that we would be in a shipwreck on the way home? More importantly, how did YOU know we would be shipwreck!"

"I was just taking some precautions in case of the worst-case scenarios."

"Why?"

"Simple, if I was going to head out to the sea with no experience on a boat or going anywhere away from Canterlot Island. I wanted to make sure that I came back home alive."

"So, did you read them?"

"Of course I did. I read them at least three times before we even left Canterlot."

"Well, it looks like your obsession with books will come in handy now."

"I am going to ignore that comment."

"Sorry." They enter the forest, not knowing of a pair of eyes looking at them from the sea.
> Chapter 6
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------



Entry 124

It has been two days since Fluttershy found me. I haven't been able to leave her care yet. But hopefully, this will be the last day I am bed written. And trust me when I say that I have 'tried' to leave on my own earlier. Big mistake. She has some big friends to help her with a troublesome guest. I am talking about Bears if I didn't make that clear. I don't know how she does it, but she can communicate with any animal that can’t usually talk with ponies. Maybe I can ask her if she can tell me what Owlowiscious is thinking. I can never tell what that Owl thinks as it stares at me. It creeps me out. And I still have no idea why Twilight would want an Owl for a pet. You can't hug them, you can't play with them, and you can't talk to them. Which reminds me, why haven't I gotten a pet yet?

In any case, I got word from her that a ship would be leaving the Island soon. However, it wasn't going to Canterlot. It was going on a one-way trip to the Crystal Empire. She also told me that there aren't any ships heading back to Canterlot soon. The storm season is coming soon, and only a few ships are willing and able to make it through during this time of year. One of which is at Canterlot under repairs, the other one is halfway across the world, and the last one is two days away from here, located in the harbor of the Crytal Empire. 

Once I was able to stand on my own, I was able to ask the Port Master if I could head to the Crytal Empire and request the use of their ship. However, she said that wasn't going to work.

The Crystal Empire is under the rule of King Sombra, and he wants nothing to do with islands allied with Canterlot. I only heard stories of the Crystal Empire. But I have heard that everything there is made of pure crystal and that the ponies shine like diamonds. And I believe they were once Allies with us at one point, but something happened to cause him to turn his back on us. I was a filly at the time and didn't remember much. However, I remember asking Celestia about it at one point, but she didn't give me a straight answer. 

I don't have much of choice right now. Suppose my options are to stay here and wait out the season (which will take at least four months). And I will be declared lost at sea and probably have all of my stuff given away. But if I can get home in two months, I can still keep my stuff and not have to attend my own funeral. But If I wanted any chance of getting back home before then, I had to convince King Sombra somehow to use his ship. The worse he can say is 'no,' right?



Sunset closes her journal, puts it away in her saddlebag and leaves the room. 





Spike has just returned from searching for sticks nearby as Twilight makes shift campsite. It is not the best campsite anypony has seen, but what do you expect from somepony who has never gone camping before. However, it does have everything they need. A place to sleep, a place to store wood, a barrel made of leaves to hold water, and finally, there is the stew pot on the fire where Twilight is at the movement making some stew. Twilight found the cooking pot hidden in a cave where they are currently are at the moment.

"I am Hungry," Spike said, putting down some sticks in a pile in their campsite.

"Hang in there, Spike. I am almost done." Twilight takes a sip and makes a face but swallows anyways. "It is not the best stew in the world, but it is better than nothing."

Spike looks at the stew bowl Twilight gave him. "What is this made of?"

"Some leaves and roots I found." 

"I think I am better off starving." He said, giving back the bowl, but Twilight pushed it back to him.

"Spike. You have to keep up your strength. I can't have you get sick on me."

"But I will probably get sick on eating this." Spike notice that Twilight is glaring at him. "Did I say that out loud?"

Twilight pushes the bowl closer to Spike. "Eat it! And be careful it is a little hot."

"Twilight, I am a dragon. I can handle hot." Spike said, gulping the stew.

"I don't mean hot as temperature Spike. I mean hot as in spicy hot."

Spike let out a tunnel of fire that almost got Twilight.

"Watch it, Spike! You almost roast me."

Spike is trying to rub his tongue cool with his claws. "WHY it is so Spicy! My tongue is on fire!"

"It is all we got, Spike. So eat up." Twilight pours a bowl for herself and cringes at it. "While I try to stomach it too."

As both of them try their best to eat their supper. They were unaware of a creature staring at them in the forest's trees with its pupilless blue eyes. It blinks before it was covered in a green fire before a small bird can be seen flying away from the same spot.





"Are you sure you have to go, Sunset?" Fluttershy asked from her front door as Sunset put on her saddlebag.

"I have got no choice Fluttershy. I must get back home. And find my friends."

"Are you sure that they are alive?"

"Yeah, I am sure. They are too stubborn to die from a shipwreck. I bet that they are on one of the nearby islands where the ship went down."

"Well, You said that the last place where your ship was near the Sirens seas."

"That is right. What do you know about the area?"

"Well, there is are only two islands in the area, and the Zebras control both."

"The Zebras?"

"Yes, they poss no threat to the Sirens and even help them from time to time. The Sirens keep the ponies away from the Island, and the Sirens get free medical treatment."

"I see. Is it possible to retrieve anything from the Siren's seas if a ship went down?"

"Well, most of the time. A Hippogriff would be able to help out, but even they wouldn't want to mess with the Sirens, so if there was anything on your ship that had value. It probably belongs to the Sirens now or some lucky hippogriffs."

"Well, that's just perfect. In any case, I better get going. I thank you for your hospitality Fluttershy. I will write to you sometimes. And if you are ever in Canterlot. Give me a call."

"Will do. Bye Sunset."

"Bye, Fluttershy." Sunset made her way to the dock. She sees the ship getting ready for departure but has already run into a roadblock.

"What do you mean you won't take me to the Crystal Empire?" Sunset argues with the ship's captain. "That is where you are going, isn't it?"

"Yes. That is where I am going. But I will not deal with Ponies that aren't welcome to the Empire. I am just heading there to trade with them. I will not stay there long enough for them to give you the okay to enter. And I can't stand the thought of leaving a pony stuck at the dock all alone."

"But isn't that my problem!?"

"Say what you want. But I am not going to let you on board my ship." The captain said, leaving Sunset on the dock.

Sunset smashes the ground with her hoof. "Great! Now how am I ever going to get off this Island."

"I can help you out with that." A voice said behind her.

Sunset turned around to see an aqua-green unicorn mare in a grey cloak. "Who are you?"

"A better question is. What is one of the Princess's students doing here?"

"You know who I am!"

The stranger turns to leave before looking back at Sunset. "Come with me if you want to know more." She leaves Sunset there. It didn't take long for Sunset to follow this mare. She followed her to a cafe, and the stranger had ordered some tea for them. After they had a cup of tea, Sunset spoke up.

"Okay, who are you?" Before Sunset knew it. The stranger throws yellow dust at her face. Sunset coughs as she looks at the mare. "What was that for?!"

"Sorry about that, Sunset. I had to be sure that you were who you appear to be."

"What does that supposed to mean?"

"Perhaps introductions are in order. My name is Agent Heartstrings of Canterlot."

"You work for the Princess? Then what was that dust?"

"It is a special mixture of urbs and dust that will glow a bright red when it touches a creature with magic covering its body."

"Why would you need something like that?"

"Because my team and I have been assigned to find a new creature spotted roaming these islands."

"A new creature?"

"Yes. There is very little knowledge about this creature besides that they can take the form of anypony or anything it wants."

"What?! That can be dangerous!"

"Indeed. That is why we are searching for any signs of them and finding out if they are dangerous. I was on my way to meet my contact when I ran into your here. Which concerns me more."

"What do you mean?"

"You were on the boat heading back to Canterlot with a cargo from Las Pegasus, correct?"

"Yes, I was. Celestia wanted me to bring that box back. What was in it anyway?"

"The better question is, where is the ship now?"

"I don't know. Probably somewhere at the bottom of the Siren's seas by now. Why?"

Agent Heartstrings left eye twitch before she puts a hoof on her face. "This is a disaster!"

"What? How is this is worse than dealing with a creature that can change their appearance at will."

Agent Heartstrings then looks at Sunset dead in the eye. "Sunset. You were transporting a shard of harmony."

"But aren't those just fake pieces of crystal ponies made up to make a name for themselves?"

"That is true that ponies have done that. However, you had the real deal on your ship."

"I HAD-"

Agent Heartstrings closes Sunset's mouth with her hooves. "Quiet!"

Only when Sunset had calmed down did Heartstrings let go. "You mean we found one of the shards! And now it's gone!"

"That is why we must get back to Canterlot as soon as possible."

"What about Twilight and Spike?"

"Right for your companions. Nothing."

"What do you mean nothing! They are alive, and I know it!"

"And if they are. Then they are lost on one of the Zebra's islands, and we ponies aren't welcome there. Our best bet is to head back to Canterlot and inform Celestia about what has happened. As for your friends. They are on their own until they find a way off their Island."





Nighttime is closing in onto the Island where Twilight and Spike are. Twilight has just finished getting their beds ready for the night and calls out for her companion. "Spike. Time for bed." Twilight sees Spike on the campsite's edge looking at the sea. She tries calling out to him again. "Spike time for bed."

"Hang on, Twilight," Spike said. "I think I hear something."

"I don't- wait." Twilight hears something unusual and joins Spike. 

"What is it?"

Twilight closes her eyes and listens. She is unsure what she is hearing, but she puts out their fire to be safe. She turns to Spike and waves her hoof to let him know to follow her quietly. They follow the sounds as they get louder. They see a campsite on the beach of their Island. There are creatures that they have never seen before. However, the shape of their ships makes their owners known to Twilight. "It's Yacks!"

"Yacks! What are they doing here?"

"Probably going to raid a village on this Island or store supplies, or I don't know, smash something. Whatever the case is. We better get a move on."

They both moved quickly away from the yacks campsite. But the ground beneath them disappeared. They fell to the bottom of the pit with a loud thud, sending dust everywhere. Twilight groaned as she coughed out the dust in her lungs. 

"Spike, where are you?"

"Gut ofs," Spike said from underneath Twilight.

Twilight gets off of Spike and helps him to his feet. "Sorry," Twilight looks around them before looking up to where they were a few seconds ago. "This is a deep hole."

"We better get out of here," Spike said while dusting himself.

"How? We can't fly out of here. And there is nothing to grab on to."

"Twilight." Spike points to Twilight's horn.

She blushes and makes a small smile. "Oh right." She covers both of them in magic and lifts them out of the hole.

"How can you forget that you have a horn?" Spike asks, crossing his arms,

"I can become forgetful under stress, okay." Twilight had just gotten them out of the hole when they saw that they were surrounded by a group of Zebras warriors holding torches and spears. There was an awkward moment of silence between the two parties as they continued to stare at each other. "Oh, hi. We were just... Bye!" Twilight teleports them away and starts running away with Spike on her back. Twilight looks behind them to see if the zebras are following them when she hits something big and fluffy, stopping her in her tracks.

"Who hurt Yack!" Twilight backs away from the yack to see that they have run into a group of yacks patrolling the area. "A pony? A purple pony and a purple dragon."

"We don't mean any problems," Twilight said quickly. "We just want to go home."

"Pony spies on Yacks!"

"I would never!"

"Yacks gets Pony and little dragon." Before Twilight could do anything, both she and Spike were at the bottom of a yack pile. 

Twilight found herself in a wooden cage and in chains with a magic cork on her horn when she woke up. She finds Spike in a metal cage with a muzzle around his mouth, preventing him from using his fire. Twilight notices the yack she ran into earlier is in front of her cage and looks at her.

"Purple Pony and dragon have two choices."

"What?" Twilight asked.

"Yack give prisoners to Zebras. Or yack sells Pony back to ponies."

Twilight is confused, "You are giving us a choice?"

"Yacks reasonable. Choose Pony."

"Well, let's see here. We either get sold to zebras and mostly have a killed. Or be sold to other ponies for who knows what reason. But we only want to go home. Is there a chance that you can give us option three?"

"Pony only has two options."

"Well, option three is just letting us go."

"Sell back to ponies it is. Smolder!"

A young orange dragon with purple fins flies next to the yack. "Yes, sir?"

"Find how much Pony and Dragon are worth and who will buy them."

"On it." Smolder writes on a scroll before burning the letter in her flames as the ashes flew overseas.

Twilight looks at the ashes before being startled by the yack, "Ponies aren't welcome on Zebra Island. Where is pony ship?"

"That is what I have been trying to tell you, yacks." Twilight said, "We are shipwrecked here."

"Unfortunate for Pony. Now Pony belongs to Yacks until Yacks sell them to other ponies."

Twilight looks down in her cage and thinks about what her life will become now. But  Smolder spoke up. "Sir, look at this mare for a moment."

"What does Smolder see that Yack doesn't."

"Well, besides from the leaves and dirt from the juggle. This mare is very well taken care of. And she also has a baby dragon with her."

"What is Smolder getting at?"

"Whoever she is. She is from a wealthy family. There is no way a regular pony could afford to take care of a baby dragon. I think we just hit the big times. Ponies like her don't like to leave their Island of Canterlot very often."

Twilight eyes widen at Smolder's deduction of her home island. "How did you know that I am from Canterlot?"

"You just told me," Smolder said, smiling at Twilight.

The yack nods his head at what Smolder was getting at. "So purple pony is worth more for ransom  as a slave?"

"That is what I am saying,, sir. And if her ship went down nearby. Just imagine what was on it."

"We must ask Hippogriff of this island to look for yacks."

"Think of it this way, Miss. You are still going home. Just poorer."
> Chapter 7
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Twilight leans against her cage as the yacks load her onto their ship. She saw them taking Spike onto another ship. They are most likely to make sure that if one escapes, they will still have one of them captive. She was taken below deck, put next to some large boxes, and left there. Twilight notices that a mouse has wandered into her cage. She looks at it with disinterest. 

"Hello, little mouse," Twilight said to her little friend. "I guess we are both stuck here, huh?"

The mouse shakes its head, disagreeing with her before leaving her alone. As it goes, Twilight lets out a sigh.





Meanwhile, with Spike. 

He glares at Smolder while she looks into his cage, shaking her head. "You are a sad little dragon, you know."

"What are you talking about?!" Spike said through his muzzle.

"You let that Pony treat you like a pet," she said with disgust,

This got Spike angry, "I am no pony's pet!"

"Oh really?" Smolder smiles at him, "Does that mare feed you every day?"

"Well, of course."

"Does she clean you and treat you like an innocent little creature?

"Well, yes but-"

"And I bet that where you live with that mare, there is a little basket where you sleep in front or next to her bed, isn't there?"

"No... yes."

She huffs at him, "And you call yourself a dragon. Just wait until the Dragon ruler is done with you."

This got Spike confused at what she said, "What are you talking about? I thought we were going to go to Canterlot."

"Oh, they are going there." She said, pointing to Twilight's direction, "But you and I are going back to the Dragon Island where baby dragons like you belong until you molt and get your wings."

"But my home is with Twilight!" he protested,

"Take it up with the Dragon Ruler. Because the way I see it. I am just saving a baby dragon from being treated as an enslaved person to a pony."

Spike gets up from his cage, grabbing onto bars, staring angrily at her, "Twilight has never treated me like a slave!"

She smacks the side of the cage, sending Spike falling to the floor, "It doesn't matter how she treated you!" She stares at the young drake with furry in her eyes, "Ponies and Dragons don't get along. You are a dragon. It is about time that you should start acting like one. Otherwise, you will never be welcome back home," Smolder leaves Spike alone in the cage, unaware that a tiny mouse watches them and leaves before Smolder sees it.





The Yacks have contacted the Hippogriff (or seaponies if they are in the water) nearby the island. Two seaponies arrive next to the shore, where two Yacks meet them.

"Hello, Yacks," Coral said. "What can we do you for?"

"Yacks need seaponies to look into sunken ship near the island for anything good. We will pay seaponies well for anything you find."

"You will have to be more specific, sir," Melody said. "There are many ships that have sunken near this island."

"Look for a fancy ship. That is new under the water. Yacks thinks something good is on it."

Coral taps his chins in thought, "I remember seeing a new ship nearby."

"Then seaponies go look for Yacks."

"We can look, but I don't think we will find much. The Sirens were there first, and they seemed to be looking for something. But we did find something shiny from another ship, though."

"Seaponies found something shiny?" This excites the yack. "What is it?"

"I am not sure, but where ever it is." Melody said, "But I know it is worth many bits."

"Can Yack see it?"

"I would have to go get it. I hid it somewhere until I could find somepony that would buy it."

"Bring shiny thing to Yack. Yack what to see it. And If Yack likes it. Yack will pay for it."

Melody smiles at this turn of events, "I will be back ." she leaves them as a small mouse leaves the scene.





Twilight was about to fall asleep when she noticed that her mouse friend had returned. She smiles at it and raises her head, "Oh, hello there. Sorry but I don't have any cheese for you. I kind of stuck in here."

The mouse moves close to Twilight. "Would you like to get out?" the mouse asked,

"That would be nice bu-" Twilight realized something very wrong here. Twilight look at the mouse. "Did you just talk?"

"Don't scream Twilight. And if you do. I will bite you."

Twilight looks around to see if anypony would notice this conversation before she lends in close to her little friend, "How is this possible?!"

"Well, I am not a mouse, for starters. I am what is known as a changeling."

"What is a changeling?"

"I am a species of insect-like ponies that can change our appearance into anything."

"How come I have never heard of you?"

"We don't like Ponies knowing that we are around."

"That makes sense, but how do you know my name?"

"I know a lot of things. But we have to move quickly if we will get out of here."

"Okay, but why are you helping me?"

"Are you going to keep asking questions, or will you accept my help?"

"Fine, but what is your name?"

"Maybe I will tell later. But right now, I got to find out where the yack with the key is."





The seamare had returned to the yacks and presented them with her shiny blue gem shard.

The yack stared at the gem with wide eyes and ensured the dragon wasn't nearby to eat it. "What does seapony what for gem?"

"How many bits do you have?" she asked,

"Seapony will not get all yacks bits."

"Fair enough."

Once a deal was made, the seaponies left with a bag full of bits, and the yacks got the gem shard.

"Why did yack pay so much for a little piece of gem?" Another one said,

"Gem reminds yack of a good time. So yack gets gem."

As they said, this Smolder thought she heard something but only saw a mouse leaving the scene and is to head to one of the ships. "How odd."





Twilight waits patiently for the return of her friend. "We don't have much time." The mouse said before green flames covered it, and it turned into a yack and let out Twilight out of her cage.

"So, what is the plan?"

"I will cause a distraction while you and Spike escape." He said, undoing Twilight's restraints, "Once you two are clear of the campsite. Head on over to your campsite in the cave, and I will meet you there."

"And what if the Zebras or Yacks find us?" 

"You run."

"That is not much of a plan."

"Hey, give me a break. I am doing the best I can with the limited resources I have. You are going to need this." He gives her a key. "This will get rid of the muzzle on your friend."

"Thank you."

The changeling leaves Twilight below deck as she listens for any kind of distraction. "ZEBRAS STOLED YACKS FOOD!"

Twilight can hear Yack shouting and breaking things. Before long, the yacks left the boat to chase some zebras that so happened to be nearby. Twilight took this opportunity to go free Spike. Once she found him, she quickly opened the cage and took his muzzle off, but he wouldn't move for some reason.

"Come on, Spike, we got to go."

"And what? Go back to canterlot and be treated like a pet?" He said, looking down,

"Spike?"

"That's what is waiting for me when we go back, isn't it?"

"Spike, what has come over you? We have to get going, and we have to go now." Twilight moves closer to him, but she stops with she sees him move away from her. "Spike, please talk to me. What is wrong?"

"Twilight, what am I to you?"

"Spike. You are my best friend and number one assistant. I don't know why you would ever think I would treat you like a pet. If anything, I treat you more like the little brother that I never had." Twilight's eyes tear up, thinking of losing her only friend left. "Please, Spike, if we don't go now, we will never be able to go home ever. I already lost Sunset, and I don't want to lose you too."

Spike hugs Twilight, who returns the hug. "I am sorry, Twilight. I don't know what came over me."

"It is okay, Spike." She said, smiling at him, "Now come on. We got to get going."

"Yeah. And when we get home. We got to talk about my bed. I would like a proper one."

"Sure."

As they run away, a huge airship closes in on the island. It has smoke coming from the back as the propellers move it in the air with a bright light blue symbol of two antlers on the side of the haul. Inside the ship, huge biped creatures with grey fur and white manes like lions dress in black armor with the same symbol on the ship's haul, on their shoulders pads. They have a black mask with three spikes coming off both sides, covering their face, revealing the bright blue glow of their eyes coming through the mask. One of them is looking at a control panel with a sonar leading them to the island.

"We are approaching the island, sir." one of the soldiers said,

"Good." A mare said from the shadows of the command room, "Have our troops ready. Tear that island apart if you have to, but get me the shard."

Two of the soldier turned to face the mare and saluted, "We will not let you down, sir."

"I know you won't." She said, moving close to one of them, "Because you are not coming back without that shard. Got it."

"Oh, course commander."





Twilight and Spike were heading to the cave when a yack came out of nowhere and stopped them. Twilight was about to blast the yack with magic when it backed up and lifted its hooves in surrender. "Relax, it's me." The yack said before changing into a mouse.

"Oh, there you are. But I thought that we would meet up at the cave?"

"Change of plans. We got to get off this island now if we want to survive."

"What is going on?"

"One of the storm king airships is here."

Twilight and Spike look at each in confusion before looking at their friend, "Who is the storm king?"

"A tyrant of the seas. He takes whatever he wants, and nopony can stop him. The only thing we can do right now is run."

"How come I never heard of him?" Twilight asked, "You would think that someone like him would be known by everypony?"

"Well, he normally doesn't come this far away from his waters. Something must have gotten his interest here. In any case, we can use this to our advantage."

"What do you mean?"

"The islanders will be too busy fending off the airship. That their docks will be unguarded, and their ships will be ready for the taking."

"But that is stealing!" Twilight screeches,

"You got any other ideas for getting off this island and another one?"

"We could swim." Spike spoke up, only to receive stares from the other two, "What?"

"Spike, you are asking to die." Twilight said, "Did you forget who owns the sea nearby?"

"Oh right," Spike said, rubbing the back of his head, embarrassed,

"Alright," The changeling said before changing into a zebra warrior, "let's get moving before they notice us."

"Uh, quick question," Twilight said before they moved,

The changeling turns to face her, "Yes."

"Do you know how to sail a ship?"

"Yes, I know how to..." He stops and gives Twilight a flat stare, "You never sailed before, have you?"

"I never need to. I thought I would never need to leave Canterlot's island ever."

"But what about those survival guild books?" Spike asked, "Won't one of them tell you how to sail?"

"Spike, reading a book about how to sail and doing it are two completely different things. I need somepony to teach me first to do it correctly. Otherwise, I would be making so many mistakes."

"Well said." The changeling said, "Looks like you two are in for a crash course then. Now. Let's get going."

Twilight and the gang slowly made their way to the island's docks. In the distance, they can see yacks fighting what she suppose are the Storm King soldiers. Both sides are evenly matched in size and strength. It looks like a stalemate, but the yacks are losing. Twilight knew that those yacks were moments ago ready to sell her for bits, but somewhere deep inside of her, she wanted to help them. But she needs to get off this island, and she has to go now. 

As they board one of the ships in the dock. The airship descends to the shore, and a gangplank is lowered and a unicorn mare with black armor with the glowing symbol on her flank guard. Her boy was a dark purple with a dark pink mane and tail standing on end like hair flowing in a stream. But what stood out the most was a scar on her right eye and the broken horn on her head. Her eyes are half-closed as she looks at the defeated yacks as the soldiers push them down to stay in line.

"Well, did you find it?" She asks one of the soldiers,

"Yes, commander Tempest. It is right here." the soldier said, presenting the blue shard to her. 

Tempest picks up the shard and smiles to herself, "The Storm King will be pleased with this."

"Oh, course Tempest. But what do we do with the yacks?"

"We do not need them. Leave them be; we got what we came for. But take the dragon. It is not every day that you find a young one so far away from their island." 

Smolder struggled, but she was no match for them. The soldiers tied her up as they muzzled her before loading her onto the airship.





"That was too close." The changeling said as they sailed away from the island. He fastens a rope to the deck; while his companions look around.

"Well, at least we made it," Spike said, lending against the side of the boat,

"Yes, we did. However, we have a bigger problem."

"What is it?" Twilight asked,

"This ship doesn't have enough resources to make it back to Canterlot. Nor is it capable of such a  journey. It will never through the storm season."

"So, what do we do?"

"We will have to go to another island and hope they have a ship we can use with enough supplies." 

"What if they don't?" Spike adds,

"Spike, that is no way of thinking when trying to survive out at sea." Twilight sighs, "But I can't deny that you have a point. However, all we can do right now is to have hope." She said as the changeling took their small ship's wheel and guided the boat.

As they sail into the sea. The airship flies away from the island in the opposite direction.





Meanwhile, with Sunset,

"Do I have to sneak into the Crystal Empire in a barrel?" Sunset asked as Lyra helped her into a barrel.

"It is the only way in for you. We ponies are not welcome there by the king or his citizens. However, I got permission to be there only for a few days. So once we get there. You don't do anything until I call you out of your barrel by name, Okay?"

"Got it."

"I mean it. It may take me a day or two to find a safe way to get you. Got it?"

"Yes."

"Good," Lyra  puts the lid on top of the barrel, "If you had to go to the restroom, too bad."

"Wait. What?"

"See you when we get there," Lyra said before nailing the barrel shut and rolling it to the dock. She stops next to the loading dock and shouts to the captain on the deck, "Hay," She looks at her, "You forgot one."

"We did?" she asked,

"Yes, my barrel."

"Oh, my apologies, mam. We will fix that problem right away." The captain waves for a sailer to get the barrel next to Lyra.

"You better. That barrel is worth more than what you guys make in a year."

"Oh, course, mam. We will take care of it." He said, rolling the barrel up the gangway with Lyra right behind him.

Sunset is getting dizzy as they roll her around in her barrel until they stop and put her right side.







Entry 125, 

It has been two days since Lyra put me in this barrel, and I think it was a bad idea. But then again, it was the only way I could get into the empire. I still wonder what could have caused the king to hate us. And I still haven't thought of any way to convince the king to let me use his ship. And the more I think of it, the more I feel like I am on a desperate mission. But I have to try. If I don't, I will never make it back to Canterlot. 

I can only hope that somewhere out there, Twilight and Spike are alright.




....

...

..

"I got to use the restroom."
> chapter 8
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Another day has passed before the ship arrives at the Crystal Empire. The plan was simple. Lyra would have Sunset barrel taken to her apartment and let her out for a while before planning to board another ship towards Canterlot.

The passengers walk down the gangway as guards begin to search them. Lyra was caught up in the search that she lost track of which barrel Sunset was in as the crew began to unload the cargo and take them into a building. 

Meanwhile, Sunset had been rolling in her barrel for an undisclosed time until she stopped suddenly and sat upside down, which did not sit well for the mare. Unfortunately, she had to … relieve herself in her confined space. But Sunset would not be dissuaded. Sunset does not give up so easily.


"I can't take it anymore!" Sunset screams as she forces the top of her barrel open. The lid lands a few feet away as she takes deep breaths of fresh air. She leans over the edge of her barrel, catching her breath before noticing that she's not alone. Her eyes widened as she looked at the two guards staring at her in shock.

She stares back at them, not sure what to do. Sunset does the only logical thing one does when they are busted. She gives the guards a big fat smile as she uses her magic to slowly move the lid of the barrel over her head as she goes back in before they shout, "Stowaway!"

Panicking, Sunset teleports herself behind the guards running away. Unfortunately, other guards nearby became alert when they heard the shout and quickly started to fill the hallway. Quickly Sunsets uses a spell of invisibility and hold her breath as guards run past her. She can't believe it worked since she had only read about it in a magazine and never field-tested it. Slowly she moves through the hallways trying to get her bearings. Seeing an exit at the end of the hall to her right, she was about to approach it when one of the guards said something, stopping her in her tracks.

"You guys smell something?" Sunset felt a lump in her throat. Her spell might make her invisible to the naked eye but not to one's sense of smell. Panicking Sunset, look for the closest place to hide and enter one of the nearby rooms. She slammed the door behind her, hoping no one heard her, before turning around and looking into the room. Her heart stops as she stares at the occupants in the room. 

Sunset has entered the Guard's mess hall in the middle of lunchtime as Guards stop mid-eating and staring at her. She gulps as their stares don't let up. Sunset is hoping they were only staring at the door that just opened quickly with no pony there. However, that thought was thrown out the window when she looked down, seeing herself again. The spell had worn off.

Sunset smiles weakly as she waves at her companions, "Hay guys. Enjoying your lunch?" They were not amused. 

The guards quickly detained Sunset as they put a magic dampening ring on her horn, carrying her away.

Once outside the building, the guards put Sunset inside a jail cart as she grumbled, "That is the last time I take advise from Unicorn Magic Monthly." They close the door on her before being pulled away to the Empire. 

"This is it. My life is over." She thought to herself. "I'm going to be put in jail; no pony will know where I am. I am never going to see my family and friends again. I will spend the rest of my life in a dark, dirty dungeon with a cellmate named Bob. I wonder if they're going to give me a bed?" She quickly gives herself a sniff. "Or maybe a bath?"

Sunset has only heard stories of the Empire since they don't allow ponies to enter their borders without following strict protocols. Sunset looks outside her wagon to see the luscious green landscape before her, and in the distance, the Empire stands shining bright as the midnight sun. 

Sunset has never seen anything like the Empire. Buildings surrounding a giant pillar-like castle stretch into the sky. Everything was made of Crystal, from the buildings to even the ponies. Or at least she thinks they were. They are see-through and shiny, so maybe? Some of the crystal ponies looked at Sunset with anger while others were curious. It is as if they don't know what to make of her. Then again, it's not every day a pony tries to break into the Crystal Empire.

Once arriving at the castle, Sunset was chained and taken inside to the throne room. Sunset nervously looks up at the two ponies sitting on the thrones. One was a cyan crystal mare with a bright pink mane, a purple robe across her back, and a golden tiara on her head. The Queen of the Crystal Empire, Queen Amber Leaf. And to her left was a dark grey Unicorn stallion whose horn is bright red at the tip, curves towards his head, wearing a bright red cape and silver armor and a crown on the top of his head. The King of the Crystal Empire, King Sombra.

They stared at her as the guards pushed her forward. "Guards, who is this pony you bring before us?" Queen Amber Leaf asks as her husband studies Sunset.

"Your Highness. We found this stowaway amongst the barrels just entering our lands."

Their eyes frown as the Queen gets agitated, "You dear to enter our lands unannounced!?" She growls, "Guards take her away. I don't ever want to see her again." Sunset looks down in defeat as a guard starts grabbing her when a commanding voice echoes through the room.

"Wait!" Everypony turns to stare at the King as he slowly walks down his throne. The guards quickly move away from the prisoner, leaving Sunset to face King Sombra alone as he stares her down with his dark green eyes. Sunset gulps as the King stare into her soul. Her legs start shaking in fear. Sunset has never met the King before, but his mere presence scares her. 

The last time Sunset felt this helpless was when she accidentally ate Celestia's secret cake she was saving for a special occasion. It was not pretty. "Why did you enter our lands?" King Sombra demands, his voice echoing in the throne room, "Who are you?"

Sunset has only heard stories about the King of Crystal Empire. None of which she was hoping were true. No matter how scared she was. Sunset must try and reason with him. "Mm… my name is Sunset… Shimmer. I am a student of Princess Celestia. My ship was wrecked on the way to Canterlot."

But this answer doesn't please the King as he scoffs at her, "You didn't answer my question." The King Sombra says as purple mist slowly leaks from the sides of his eyes, turning a deep blood red staring deeply into her eyes. Sunset's body shakes as the King speaks softly and firmly, almost growling at her. "Why did you enter our lands?" 

"Honey, you're slipping again." Queen Amber Leaf says as the guards get nervous while two of them are hiding behind her.

Sombra turns to face his wife, "Sorry, my love, " he says, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath as the mist disappears and his gaze turns back to normal. The guards visibly relax along with everypony in the room as their King turns back to his prisoner. "Well?"

Not sure what to do. Sunset decides to tell Sombra her whole story, from the journey leaving Canterlot to her plan to get home. Once she is done, King Sombra gives her a deadpan stare, "So let me get this straight." Sombra says, going back to his throne. "You thought you could invade our lands and steal the Crystal Heart to head back to Canterlot?" He sits down, "And I would be a good little pony and let you?!" He shouts the last part, causing Sunset to take a step back, lowering herself to the floor, but only to stop as she processes what he just said.

She stands back up, defending herself, "No, I don't want the Crystal Heart."

King Sombra growls, "But you just said you wanted our Crystal Heart that can handle the upcoming storm season."

"Yes, I need to borrow your ship, but I don't want the Crystal Heart."

The guards looked nervous as their King's anger rose as the purple mist returned to his eyes. His Queen looks between the two in thought before she realizes something, "I believe there is a misunderstanding," Everypony look took her, hoping for some answers, "Sunset, the ship you wish to procure has the same name as our kingdom's greatest artifact 'The Crystal Heart.'" Queen Amber Leaf says turns to her husband, "I told you calling the ship the Crystal Heart was going to cause problems like this." 

He snorts as his eyes return to normal, "Regardless, The Crystal Heart is our Kingdom's greatest ship and has just returned for repairs. I will not allow your wish after you had broken into our lands and were planning on stealing it."

"But I-"

"Silent!" King Sombra shouted, causing everypony in the room to do so, "Take her away. And send word to Celestia. Tell her that we have her pet. Let her come for it." 

"PET!" Sunset shouts as the Guard follow their orders,

Queen Amber Leaf looks at her husband as the guards take Sunset away. "Now that you mention her. I am not sure if a message will make it to Canterlot."

"Does this have anything to do with why you and the Crystal Heart return here in such bad shape? And why I nearly assemble the whole fleet ready to wage war?"

She sighs, "Yes, I am glad I stopped you before you tried to conquer one of the neighboring islands."

He grumbles to himself, "It would have been easy."

"As I was saying. About halfway on our return. We encounter Ships that sail the skies. With bright blue emblem in the shape of two antlers."

"The Storm King? He never ventures this close to our Empire. What is he doing in our waters?"

"I do not know. However, it would seem that he was using us as target practice rather than anything else. Last I saw of him; he was heading towards Canterlot."

"Did you warn them?" 

"I couldn't. Our dragon was hit with some glowing dark orb and turned to stone. We have yet to find a way to get him out."

"What about the dragons in the Empire?"

"They are still on strike dear."

King Sombra face hoofs, "Right, those greedy lizards were demanding more gems for their services." He growls before shouting, "Guards bring one of those selfish Dragons here now!" Quickly two guards ran out of the room as Queen Amber Leaf looked back at her husband.

"Are we going to listen to their demands?"

"No. This will be our last request for them to do. If they refuse to work, then they have no place in the Empire."

Amber giggles to herself, "Why, Sombra. It sounds like you actually care about what happens to ponies in Canterlot."

He huffs, "I know that we have our differences, but we still have a peace treaty with them. And as King, I will honor that treaty." 





"Is there something wrong?" A Guard says as Sunset stares into the 'Jail cell' her eyes glisten with excitement.

"Are you sure that this is the dungeon? Where am I going to stay?"

"Yes, now get in there."

Sunset almost jumps into the cell as the Guard locks her in, "Okay. But might I ask why your cells looks like a day at the spa?" She says, going to and from her cell to see all the wonderful premium mare care products.

"It is a gift to her Majesty from his Majesty. The best bits could buy for her new spa, but some local dragons had eaten the building we had prepared for the spa. We didn't have anywhere else to put it, and her highness didn't want any of it too far from the castle. Is that a problem?"

"No. No problem at all." Sunset says, lining up bottles of mane care products and staring at them with stars in her eyes.

"So that you know. Anything products you use in there, you will be paying for later. No free Spa Day for you."

"Drat."





Meanwhile, out at sea with Twilight and her crew,

"What do you mean I can't send word to Canterlot?" Twilight questions the changeling as he continues to steer the ship. She had found a blank scroll lying around the boat and was going to experiment using the messaging technique she saw with Spike. 

The changeling's current disguise is a young griffin as he gives Twilight a deadpan stare. "I am saying that it would be unwise to use DFM right now."

"Okay, why?"

"Because in case you didn't realize our current situation." He says, pointing to the nearby islands with dragons flying around. "The last thing we want is to attract attention to ourselves. Also, Twilight. Even if you send the letter to the Princess. What would that accomplish?" He guessers to the body of water surrounding them. 

Twilight looks between the dragon island and him a few times before letting the scroll roll across the deck as she slumps to the floor, "At least let her know that we are alright, and we are not dead."

The changeling shakes his head, moving to comfort her, putting a claw on her shoulder, not noticing a claw grabbing the scroll, "If you care for your Princess as much as you do. Then I am sure she knows." Twilight smiles at this but confusion cross both of their faces as they hear somepony taking a deep breath and blowing at something. They turn around in shock seeing magic flying away with Spike looking back at them, sporting a big grin, "Wait, so we weren't going to send the letter?"

They look toward the Dragon lands seeing some of them coming closer to them as one of the dragons roars at them. The group gulps as the changeling says, "Oh boy."





Back with Sunset,

"You tricked me! This is a torture chamber!"

"How is this a torture chamber?"

"I can't use anything in here!"

The Guard gives her a deadpan stare, "And?"

"But I want to!"

"So, use it."

"But I can't afford to pay for this stuff!"

"Then don't."

"But it's the limited-edition Fleur De Lis Mane clean and glow!" Sunset says, holding a small pink bottle with golden letters, "They only make a hundred bottles a year! With a waiting line two years long!"

"How is that my problem?"

Sunset slumps to the ground in defeat, "You wouldn't understand." The Guard shakes his head as a new voice echoes into the dungeons with a familiar mare comes into view.

"My goodness, it is you." 

"Rarity!? Is that you?"

"Yes, darling. You see, I heard that an orange unicorn mare with a wild mane was taken to the castle. I had to make see if it really was you. However, I was not expecting to be seeing you here of all places. Are you alright?"

"Could be better. But what are you doing here at the Crystal Empire?"

"Oh, didn't you know? Moa is now the new seamstress of Queen Amber Leaf." She says, putting a hoof to her chest, "Oh course, I still make dresses for other ponies, but the Queen is now my best customer. It is like a dream come true. Making dresses for royalty." Rarity squeals in glee, "But enough about me. Sunset what-" Rarity comes to a stop as a quick sniff causes her to cover her nose, "SWEET Celestia! What is that smell!" 

Sunset chuckles, "Sorry about that. I haven't been able to bathe in a while. You know dungeons and all that."

Anger fills her eyes as Rarity turns to the Guard, causing him to back up, "How can you call yourself a stallion leaving her like this!?"

"I am a soldier of the Empire. I was told to bring her here and watch her. However, I was told that she could use the products in the cell so long as she could pay for it." 

"Hold on, Sunset! Be right back!" Before anypony could say anything, Rarity was gone leaving a cloud of smoke in her wake, causing the Guard to cough.





"You don't have to do this, you know," Sunset says as a maid scrubs her mane while another looks between bottles. When Rarity returned, she had two maids, a bag of bits, a clipboard, and a female Guard to relieve the current Guard. Sunset wasn't sure how she could do this. But before she knew what happened. The two maids had gone to work cleaning Sunset while Rarity was busy writing down what products they were using. 

"Oh, Contra Sunset. It is the least I can do for you. After our little incident at Pony Ville, I was able to run into her highness of the Crystal Empire. She was visiting the island for a meeting, but she was so impressed with my work she had sent me back to the Empire ahead of her to prepare Five dresses for her using the best materials and gems their Kingdom had to offer. This would have never happened if I had left Pony Ville as I originally planned. My future is assured thanks to you and your friends. Speaking of which. Where are they?"  

"Get comfortable, Rarity; this will be a dozy."
> Chapter 9
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

High above the seas of Equestria stands the Strom King flag ship flanked by his Armada of ships sailing through the sky. Far below them lie the ruins of ships that got too close to them. Griffins, Dragons, Ponies it didn’t matter who they were. No living creature enters the Strom King’s air space unscathed. 

As sailors try to stay above the water they look up in fear of the Storm King as his ships remain where they are. Some of them think it is because they are getting ready to finish them off. While others think that it is because he is waiting for something. What it could be they will never know. Their fear only grows as another ship moves in from afar to join the others.

In the brig of this ship, Smolder pulls on her restraints holding her wrists to the wall for no gain. Ever since she was captured, they covered her claws in some unknown Obsidian-like rock. Whatever they were, they weren’t natural and made her claws feel numb. The muzzle on her face keeps her from biting into them to break free, not that she would eat them. But had you ever had to deal with a body part going numb for days? It is not pleasant to which Smolder had the unfortunate opportunity to experience first claw.

“Come on. Just a little more.” She turns around to pull harder to the point of having her feet against the wall as she pulls sideways. Smolder grunts as she tries to flap her wings for extra strength pulling as she sweats bullets. Watermarks stain the floor below her. A testament to her effort to free herself. But like all her previous attempts her body gives out and she falls to the floor with a thud. She gasps for air as she raises her claw to view still trapped by that accursed rock. A loud moan leaves her mouth as she lets it fall onto her chest.

“How do I get out of here?”

“You don’t.”

Smolder looks up to see her captor Commander Tempest looking down on her figuratively and literally. “Stronger dragons have tried to escape these cells, but none have succeeded.”  

Smolder jumps to her feet and charges at Tempest only to stop one foot away from the bar as her arms are pulled behind her. “What do you want with me!” She screams at Tempest snarling.

Tempest closes her eye momentarily at her outburst not impressed, “Little one. Do you know how valuable Dragon fire is?”

“Oh, course I do. You can send messages across the sea and melt metal with it.” Small flames escape from the small opening of the muzzle, “What about it?”

“Then do you know what happens to the metal that is melted by the fire?”

It never occurred to Smolder as to what happens to the metal once it’s melted. Normally they are useless and good for nothing glops of rocks. But the way that this pony is talking about it. Makes her think otherwise. “It becomes a pile of gloop?” Smolder asks unsure of herself.

“Let me tell you little dragon. Depending on the dragon and the metal in question. Two things can happen. One, you get a red-hot metal ball. Or you get dragon steel.”

Smolder scoffs at her, “That is just a myth. There is no such thing as Dragon steel.”

“Is that so? If that is the case, then what is holding you to the wall then?” Tempest gestures to the chains holding her before she starts pacing back and forth in front of Smolder. “Or why no dragons can make a dent in the Storm King’s ships? Why else would the Storm King be so willing to risk kidnapping a young from the dragons without fear of their King?” She stops in front of her, “It is because he can, and there is nothing anypony can do about it.” 

Smolder was getting a little nervous, but she wasn’t going to let her of all ponies know that. “Even if there is such thing as Dragon steel. What makes you think I would ever help you get your hooves on more of it?”

“It is quite simple. You help get us Dragon steel.”

“Or?”

“Well, I hope you know how to swim.” Tempest pulls on a lever out of view from Smolder causing the floor under her to slowly disappear towards her, “Those chains are connected to dead weights that will fall with you. Get the picture?” Tempest pulls on the lever again causing the floor to go back. Tempest then points to Smolder and then the leveler, “Ant. Boot.”

“Your nuts!” 

“I prefer efficient.”

Before Tempest could continue a guard enters the enters the room, “Commander Tempest, we have arrived.”

Tempest nods to the guard and leaves her prisoner, “I expect a good answer by the time I come back dragon.”

“My name is Smolder.” She says weakly, as she is left alone again before she punches the wall. 

Once Tempest’s ship is next to the Storm King Flagship, a metal gangway connects the two ships. A group of guards walks across with a small box with one of them while Tempest uses a rope to swing from one ship to the other. Some of the other guards always wonder why she does that, but none of them ever question her. Once inside the ship, they make their way inside to the bridge where the Storm stands at the helm of the ship. 

“My King,” Tempest says in a bow with the guards doing the same. 

The Storm King was the same species as the guards but with a slighter frame and more prominent horns than them. He also doesn’t wear as much armor as them only focusing on his body and legs. In his right-hand lies a black scepter with an incomplete bright blue gem on top of it. He looks over his shoulder to Tempest, “Ah, Tempest it’s so good to see you again. We are getting ready for the assault on Canterlot.”

“It shall be a quick victory for the Storm King.”

“Yes, thank you.” The Storm King leaves the helm to one of the guards and moves to his throne at the back of the bridge. Everyone makes way for him as he takes his throne before paying him respect, “Now then. What news do you bring me?”

“One of our scout ships detected a shipwreck near Siren waters.”

The storm King grunts rubbing the side of his face, “And you thought it was worth wasting our resources to investigate this just because of some foolish sailors? Why Commander Tempest?” His patience wears thin as he continues, “You may be my second in command but that does give you free rein to do whatever you want. We are about to launch one of our biggest raids ever, and you are picking up Siren’s scrapes?” He slams his left fits onto the throne causing the others in the room to flinch except for Tempest, “It better have been worth it!”

“It was sir.” Tempest signals to one of the guards to approach holding a small box. “We found this.” She says as the opens revealing a bright blue gem.

“A shard of Harmony.” The Storm King moves to grab the shard and joins it to the other shards on the end of his scepter. The gems shine brightly before fusing together reforming the gem with a wave of energy sweeping the room. The Storm King stares at his complete Element of Harmony, “You have done well Tempest.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“I can feel the energy of the Element coursing through me. It is making me feel jittery.” He laughs, “Laughter! I now have the Element of Laugher!” He raises the staff above his head causing it to glow. “Legend has it that the elements were made by the Pillars of Equestria represent their best traits. And that they were made to fend off evil to restore Harmony to the lands.” He chuckles more, “Buts that all in the past yes. I can feel it.” He looks into the gem again. “The gem wants to cause laughter; it wants to cause it by any means. It wants to create a world full of laughter!” The Storm King laughs out loud causing everyone in the rooms to worry even Tempest.

“My King?”

“I can see it now! A future where the whole world is one big joke!” As He continues to laugh the guards nearby start to laugh for some reason. Tempest looks at them and notices that they are not trying to laugh but are laughing anyways. Tempest felt a chuckle coming from herself. Without thinking twice Tempest rushes to the Storm King and knocks the staff out of his hand and causing everyone to calm down as the staff dims.

The Storm King of a hand to the side of his head disoriented, “What happened?”

“It appears that the elements of harmony aren’t working like the legends said they would.” Tempest moves closer to the staff and can feel its presents trying to make her laugh again. “In the past, the elements were useless alone and could not influence the ponies around them as this one just did.”

“What are you thinking Commander?” The Storm King joins Tempest next to the staff,

“Remember the battle of chaos. Discord blasts the element with his magic which cause our world to become the way it is today. According to the story, the Elements removed the chaos energy within themselves before dividing across the lands. But there has always been that one thing bugging me about that story.”

“Go on,”

“How would the Princesses know if the Element of Harmony removed all the chaos magic in them if they were lost the same day?”

“Indeed, it sounds a little off.” He puts a hand on his chin in thought, “It is almost like the Princesses were trying to hide something.”

“My King until we understand more of the power of this element, I would suggest that put it away from now.”

“No.” The Strom King grabs the staff.

“My King!”

“No laughing fit is going to stop me from controlling an element!” The staff glows more intently as the Storm King fights for control. Magic pulses come from the staff forcing the guards to back up and Tempest tries to hold her position. “I will control this power and make it mine! It is just of matter of how much I want it!” He grunts as magic courses through him, but he wouldn’t be denied his prize.

“My King please reconsider!” Tempest tries to plead with him as the energy from the staff starts causing the ship to fall from the sky. Warning sirens blare, and everyone except for the Storm King notices what is going on before preparing for impact. But before they crash, they start to regain altitude as the alarms go silent. Everyone is chatting away with each other making sure everything is fine, except for Tempest. She stands in awe as she looks upon her King. 

He stands taller than everyone with bright blue lines across his body and his staff. He breathes in and out before turning to face his second in command. Bright blue energy glows from his eyes and a sinister grin on his face. “My King, Are you alright?”

“Never better.” He chuckles, “Discord left a little present in the Elements before turning into stone. Each one of them has a piece of his magic in them.” He looks into the element again, “This one had his sense of humor in it. To be more precise now I can twist a pony’s personalities just by talking with them.”

“That can be useful. Is there anything else?”

“No, unfortunately. A shame that it didn’t have his conjuration abilities.” He slams the end of the staff to the floor causing a ripple of magic to pulse through the ship, “Helman set a course to Canterlot. Tempest gather the rest of the fleet. We attack at dawn.”