The crew of the ship sang out, "I'll tell you a tale of the bottomless blue, and it's hey to the starboard below! Look out, lad, a mermare be waiting for you in mysterious fathoms below… Fathoms below! Below! From westernly wind they blow! Where Trident is king and his merponies sing in mysterious fathoms below! Below… Below… Heave ho! Heave ho! Heave ho! In mysterious fathoms below!"
Button shook his head in amusement as he faced his wife, "Ever since your adventure as a mermare, it has become a song of sealore."
Apple Bloom commented, "You should have seen her."
Pip nodded with a smirk, "You would have loved the tail."
Scootaloo suggested, "Hey, maybe we'll run into Jewel again and she'll transform you."
Sweetie chuckled, "Oh, Scoots, Jewel is too busy with her migration to turn me back into a mermare. Besides, it was meant to be a one-time deal. If it weren't for Jewel and Cassie, I wouldn't be here now, married and with my sisters."
Rumble inquired, "What about us?" He pointed to himself and Pip.
Sweetie giggled, "Yes, and I am happy you're here, too."
Suddenly, the watch pony called out from atop of the mast, "Your Highness! There's a large blockade of ships ahead!"
The royals turned their heads to see the pony had spoken the truth. There was a massive amount of ships blocking the way. The largest ship sailed forward and went to the side so that the captain of that ship could speak directly to them. He was a large dark purple stallion with thinning hair that was jet black and had a sword and whip by his side.
"Argh, me hardies, it would seem we are in the company of visiting royalty."
"Now you listen here, pirate!" Button yelled out.
"The name's Flog. Captain Flog."
"Fine. Captain Flog. I warn you, I've been captured by scoundrels before, so it would do you no good to capture and ransom us. We are well-armed and we would keep on fighting no matter what."
"Relax, Your Royalness. We have no intention of kidnapping you, just to collect some booty. No, we want a third of your cargo."
"Our cargo?!" Apple Bloom gaped.
Scootaloo demanded, "Whatever for?!"
"Oh, nothing much, just that we would destroy your ship if you don't give us what we ask."
"Is that what has been happening this past month?" Button inquired, "You block ships and demand a piece of their cargo or else ships would be demolished all because they would refuse?"
"That's the general idea." Flog smirked.
"That is unacceptable." Button turned to the crew and gave a command for a cannonball to be shot off their starboard bow. "That was a warning shot, and unless you want your own ships destroyed, I suggest you end this blockade and never come back."
An hour later, the royals and their crew found themselves floating in the water holding onto pieces of driftwood or wearing life preservers. The pirates and their blockade of ships were gone.
Rumble glared at Button, "You just had to provoke him."
Button retorted, "Well, he has no right to do this!"
Admiral Scallop pointed out, "Unfortunately, there are no rules on the open water. I've lived on the sea nearly all my life and I've encountered many pirates. They were able to get away with things you were never allowed to do on dry land."
Just then, a crewmember yelped and shouted, "Sir! I saw something moving in the water!"
Another member panicked, "Is it a shark?!"
That caused the rest of the crew to scream and splashed the water around in fear. The royals kept themselves under control, but they huddled together hoping that would help in some way. But they saw a large wave coming toward them and braced themselves while regretting they never got to say good-bye to their family.
Sweetie closed her eyes as she thought, I love you, Snowy! I love you, Lil! I promise in the afterlife I'll keep watching over you!
"Sweetie Belle? Is that you?"
She opened her eyes and was surprised to see…"Jewel?"
The pink and green mermare smiled. Behind her was a pod of mermares as the crew gaped at them.
"So, can you help us?" Sweetie asked, once she had finished explaining to the mermares of what happened to them.
The blue mermare with the sapphire on her head - obviously the leader - spoke, "We are not allowed to help ponies that have been shipwrecked."
"But Jewel helped Sweetie Belle in a time of need!" Apple Bloom piped up.
"Yeah, twice!" Scootaloo pointed.
Jewel sighed, "That was when love was involved."
The head mermare said, "Indeed, the mermares believe in the power of love despite all odds."
Jewel lit up at that statement, "But I know someone who can help…"
"If it was for anybody but me Jewel, I would not have tolerated this."
Button said as they were aboard a ship, "And we're very grateful, Mr. Hoofbeard."
"Captain Hoofbeard." he said while steering the helm.
"Captain, how did you and Jewel meet?" Sweetie Belle asked.
Hoofbeard had a dreamy gaze on his face as he spoke, "Me crew and I were stuck in the middle of a hurricane when I suddenly fell overboard. I thought I was a goner until she came to my rescue. She got me back to my ship and then she told me she could lead me out of the storm. When she did, I fell in love."
The girls gushed, "Awww…"
"From that day forward, I would always send bottled messages to me Jewel so we could see each other whenever we could."
Button smiled, "I can tell you two love each other very much." He recalled when Hoofbeard picked them up after Jewel got him. The mermare and pirate kept exchanging glances that reminded him of how much in love he was with his wife. At that moment, he wrapped his hoof around her.
Hoofbeard looked at the king and queen, "You be a brave or foolish king for going against a fleet of pirates."
"I am the King of Marendelle and I had been receiving reports from the harbor master that commerce had been coming up short. It turned out that Captain Flog was stealing cargo from the ships that had been coming into Marendelle."
"That Captain Flog be a nasty one. I've come across him, but I dare not start a fight."
"Why?" asked Rumble. "Aren't you supposed to be the most feared pirate on these seas?"
"Ah, my reputation precedes me. But even the most feared pirate has to be careful of who to clash with."
Pip said, "He destroyed our entire ship, all because we didn't give him a third of our cargo."
"It's that short temper of his, but nothing is more upsetting than him losing his temper on his slaves."
They gaped at that last word.
Apple Bloom gasped out, "Are… are you serious? He has… slaves?"
Sweetie yelled, "But that's impossible! There hasn't been slavery in Equestria for almost a century!"
"It began during Anugypt's time!" added Button.
Scootaloo said, "Our parents abolished slavery in Equestria and we thought the practice was gone."
Admiral Scallop came up to them, "It's like I told you. There are no rules on the open water. Yes, slavery is outlawed in Equestria, but out here…" he shook his head.
Pip scowled, "Did you know there were innocents being kept as slaves?"
Scallop shook his head, "No, but I feared that because anything goes on the sea, then who's to say that such practices are wrong?"
"We do," Rumble firmly replied. "I was never a slave, but I might as well have been. Caballeron would always order me around and call me names. On occasion, I was slapped."
Scootaloo covered her mouth and uttered, "You never told me that."
Rumble hung his head, "It was something I'd rather forget. At least I was able to get away. But if what Hoofbeard says is true, these ponies never got to have that."
Hoofbeard stated, "Aye, it be true. The reason I never have slaves is because I find it so distasteful. And Jewel hates it, too. I would free the slaves if I could, but there are just so many pirates and slavers that it's impossible to free them all."
"Do you know where they get the slaves, then?" AB asked.
"Aye. Gallopinghost Island."
As they docked into the empty harbor, the royals noticed how deserted the island looked.
Pip nervously asked, "Um, would there be any truth to the 'ghost' part of Gallopinghost Island?"
Hoofbeard replied, "Oh, absolutely. This isle be haunted by pirates that were half-eaten by sharks. That's why no pony comes near it, but that's why it's the perfect place for a slave market." He took the lead.
They arrived at a seemingly-abandoned building, but Hoofbeard found the secret entrance. Once they got in, they saw many ponies at stands and having a pony in either ropes or chains next to them. They were telling prospective customers about what made this slave good at the price they were selling.
The royals had to do everything they could to keep from retching at such disgusting displays of cruelty of selling a living being to another.
Scootaloo whispered to Sweetie, "I had no idea it was this bad… So many ponies… being sold off to a master…"
Sweetie whispered back, "Anybody who buys a slave doesn't deserve to be called 'master'…"
Button whispered in, "Very true… If I had enough gold right now, I could buy every pony's freedom."
Hoofbeard shook his head, "Then you would be bankrupt. A lot of slavers are greedy, and if you buy a slave, they would have to serve you even if you told them they were free. They would feel indebted to you and it wouldn't be true freedom to them."
Button pondered, "I guess when you put it like that…"
Suddenly, there was a crash and they turned to see a young stallion with a beige coat, reddish locks of mane, and bright blue eyes. He had dropped a bowl of fruit and the stallion that was yelling at him was all too recognizable.
"Oh, no… Not him again." said Rumble.
Hoofbeard commented, "Yup, that be old Captain Flog, alright."
Button said with concern, "If he sees us… he'll attack again and no doubt try to make us all slaves."
Scootaloo said, "After all, who doesn't want royalty serving them for a change?"
Sweetie pointed, "But we can't just leave that poor colt at the hooves of that monster!"
Button nodded and handed Hoofbeard a pouch of coins, "Hoofbeard, go to Flog and tell him you would like to buy that colt."
"Alright, but he goes with you after this."
"Don't worry, we got plans for him."
Hoofbeard went straight over to Flog, "Argh, Flog."
Flog replied, "Argh, Hoofbeard."
"I see you are selling a slave. How much?"
"You want to buy a slave?"
"You just can't get any help these days, so I'm buying help."
"About time, I say. You can't be a fearsome sea captain if you don't have a worthy crew that obeys you. Makes for less mutinies, wouldn't you say?"
"Oh, yes. A captain must always worry about mutiny."
"But not if you have Noname here. He's been under my command since he was no bigger than me hoof. Got him and his mother at a good price, but I had to sell her off for reasons. Noname here was about just wearing off his usefulness to me, but perhaps now that you're looking for a slave, he might make for a good swabber."
"How much is he?"
"Twenty bits."
"If he's just going to be swabbing my decks, he should be worth at least ten bits."
"He can cook, too. He can work in your galley."
"Fine, then. Fifteen bits and no more than that."
"You drive a hard bargain, Captain. Very well. Fifteen bits."
Hoofbeard paid him the coins and told the colt, "This way, laddie."
The stallion merely bowed his head and followed after him. Once they were out of the building, Hoofbeard told him.
"The truth is I'm not the one who bought you."
The colt gave a confused look.
"Yes, I had a hoof in your purchase, but those were not my coins. No, they were his." he pointed to the stallion wearing regal clothing that came up to them.
"Hello, I am King Button Mash of Marendelle. Would you like to come live with me and my family in the palace? What do you say?"
The slave hung his head and softly said, "I cannot say. A slave is not his own master."
"Those are wise words, but I hope in time that you will become your own master. At this point, you have a choice: you can pay back the money that was bought for you or you can go your own way.
"Go where?"
"Anywhere you want to. Do you have a name?"
"A slave has no name, milord."
"Was there a time you weren't a slave? Did you have a name then?"
The colt stood quiet until he said, "Zealot."
"Zealot?" Button questioned.
"Father named me before he went off to sea. My mother told me so."
Hoofbeard commented, "Apparently, his mother and him were sold into slavery together. Flog said he had to sell her off for… reasons."
Button shook his head before addressing Zealot, "I'm so sorry. Do you miss her?"
"Yes." he softly replied.
"I promise, if I ever find her, she would be brought to you."
Zealot looked at him with wide eyes.
"I may be a king, but I had to earn respect from my fellow ponies and to gain my subjects' trust. I will not be your master, I will not command you. You will be your own pony. Any decision you make from here on it will be your own. If you feel you must come back with me, that will be fine, but otherwise, you are free to go your own way."
"I do not know how to go my own way, sir. I have been a slave all my life. It's all I ever knew."
"How unfortunate," Button sadly said.
"Please, Your Highness, teach me how to find my own way."
"Well… all right, if you want to come back with me, I'm sure we can help you and all the slaves I just saw today."
"Who's that?" Apple Butter asked.
Sweetie Belle replied, "This is Zealot. He will be living with us until he is ready to go his own way."
Apple Butter approached the shy stallion, "Hello, my name is Apple Butter, and these are my cousins, Little Button, Roller Blade, and Skater. We also have another cousin, Snow Pea, but she's too sick to come down."
LB came up, "You'll love Marendelle. It's the perfect place to start anew."
Rumble stated, "I know from experience. I was on the run for most of my life until I settled down here with my wife and had the twins." His family smirked at him.
"Could… the same happen for me?" Zealot asked.
Sweetie smiled, "I'm sure it could. I came here to help a prince find love, only I ended up falling in love with him and marrying him to be his queen."
Button playfully smirked at her.
Apple Bloom gestured, "And Pip and I fell in love upon arriving at the island, and we love this place with all our hearts."
Pip pointed, "We never wanted to leave this place for as long as we lived."
Apple Butter gave a gentle smile, "I hope that when you do leave, you'll always want to come back and visit."
Zealot merely shrugged, "I don't know what I'll do. I never imagined having a future because, well… there wasn't one for me or so I thought." He gazed straight into Butter's golden eyes and gaped. As the light shined right on them, he felt a strange warmth that was slowly rising within him.
Button then summoned a scribe to write down a message to his sister-in-law Queen Twilight Sparkle of Canterlot, telling her of his findings involving slavery happening on the open seas of Equestria. He requested that the Equestrian Navy would be alerted for slavers and on the lookout for slaves near Gallopinghost Island, where a slave market was. And that a certain sea captain by the name of Flog was to be brought to him.
A few days later, a message materialized in front of him. Button knew that Twilight had just gotten his message and quickly replied by having Spike send her letter, so he read it out loud to his family.
"'I was absolutely appalled as were the rest of our family when we learned there was still slavery in Equestria. I sent word to the Equestrian Navy and hopefully they'll stop this madness from going any further. As you have requested, this Captain Flog will be sent to you if they capture him. He has been causing enough trouble for you by trying to take the commerce your kingdom needs. I will keep you posted on the Navy's progress. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. With love, Twilight."
As the weeks passed, the Navy managed to stop all slave market activities on Gallopinghost Island, but they had yet to find Captain Flog, who no doubt was busy finding more slaves to take. Unfortunately, there would be others that were just as bad as him. It would seem that having no slavery in Equestria would take a bit longer. But it made a difference to Marendelle's royal family that they at least saved Zealot from such a fate ever again.