The skeletal remains of four pirates, still clad in buccaneer rags, hung from gallows erected on a rocky promontory. There was a fifth, unoccupied gallow, bearing a sign: Pirates - Ye Be Warned. The top of a billowing sail passed regally in front of them. On the landward face of the sail, apparently high in the rigging, was a stallion for whom the term 'swashbuckling rogue' was coined: Captain Pinkie Pie.
He gazed keen-eyed at the display as they passed, his blue eyes sparkling, and raised a tankard to his light blue captain's hat in salute. Suddenly, something below caught his attention. He jumped from the rigging, down to the "dock" of a underwhelmingly small ship that he was sailing. Pinkie quickly began bailing the leaking, sinking boat with his tankard, and stepped back to the tiller. Using a single sheet to control the sail, the ship came around the promontory, the whole of Port Royal laid out in front of him.
Smoothly and with no wasted movement, Pinkie hauled down the sail, stowed it, and guided his boat alongside a dock. A pony watched with curiosity as Pinkie's almost completely sunk ship arrived at the dock, at the perfect level for him to step off it on to the dock. Pinkie quickly grabbed a rope from his ship, and tied it to the dock. The pony who had been watching walked over.
"If you're out rolling scuppers in this tub," said the pony, "You're either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid."
"It's remarkable how often those two traits coincide." said Pinkie, before starting up the dock, his belt loaded with a sword scabbard, a compass, a pistol, and a small powder horn.
"It's a bit for the dock space," said the pony, making Pinkie stop, "And you're going to have to give me your name."
Pinkie quickly pulled out three bits, and held them out to the pony.
"How about three bits, and we forget the name?" asked Pinkie, a sparkle in his eye.
The pony paused, before accepting the coins, and nodding towards Pinkie.
"Welcome to Port Royal." he said, before walking off.
Pinkie gave him a half-salute as he walked past, and smirked as soon as he couldn't see him. He held five bits in his hooves that hadn't been there moments before.
Fluttershy tried to watch the ceremony with interest, but the heat and her tight corset was preventing her from having any. She tried to loosen her corset, but couldn't figure out how to without taking off her dress. She simply clapped along with the surrounding crowd as Captain Rarity was promoted to Commodore Rarity. That corset was just so uncomfortable!
Pinkie casually strolled down the dock, glancing at ships as he went.
"Too short..." he muttered, "Too garish... Not enough weapons... Don't like the color..." he paused as he saw a large flagship, "Perfect..."
Pinkie walked down the dock towards the large flagship, where two Royal Navy guards were standing. They were trying to stand in the little shade on the dock, but immediately went on alert as Pinkie walked up.
"This dock is off-limits to civilians." said one of them, blocking Pinkie.
"So sorry, I didn't know," said Pinkie, hearing some music drift down from Fort Chanter (where Commodore Rarity had just been promoted), "Some sort of fancy-party up at the fort, huh? But why wouldn't they invite you? That seems awful mean."
"No," said the second guard, "Someone has to make sure that this dock stays off-limits to civilians."
"Hm..." Pinkie eyed at the beautiful ship, "This must be some important boat."
"Ship." said both the guards at the same time.
"Yes, yes. Ship."
"Captain Rarity-" started the second guard before the first one interrupted him.
"Commodore."
"Right. Commodore Rarity just made it his flagship. He's gonna use it to hunt down the last few pirates on the Spanish Lake."
"That's a fine, while not that fun, goal, I'm sure," said Pinkie, pointing at another ship in the water near Fort Chanter, "But it seems to me that a ship like that one over there makes this one just a bit less impressive."
"Oh," said the first guard, "The Dauntless," he pointed at the ship Pinkie had gestured to, "Is the power in these waters, true enough -- but there's no ship that can match the Interceptor," he pointed at the ship they were guarding, "For speed."
"Is that so?" asked Pinkie, "But I've heard of one ship that's supposed to be not just fast, but uncatchable. I'm sure you know about it: the Black Pearl."
"You know of a real ship?" asked the first guard.
"The Black Pearl is a real ship." said the second guard.
"Not it's not."
"Yes it is."
While the two continued arguing, Pinkie slipped by them and on to the Interceptor. The ship was very large, but it would be very difficult to get it all set himself. Even if, no, when he got away with it, he would need at least a second pair of hooves to help him out. But who in Port Royal of all places would want to help him? He simply toyed with the wheel, until the two guards finally noticed him.
"Hey!" cried the first guard, as her and the other one ran over to Pinkie, "You! Get away from there! You don't have permission to be aboard there!"
"So sorry," said Pinkie, taking his hooves off the wheel, "It's just such a pretty boat. I mean, ship."
"What's your name?" asked the second guard suspiciously.
"Magenta."
"What's your business in Port Royal, 'Mr. Magenta'?" asked the first guard.
"And no lies!" added the second guard.
"No lies, eh?" asked Pinkie, "Very well, then. I confess: I intend to commandeer one of these ships, pick up a fun little crew in Poni, and go out to do some honest pirating."
"I said no lies!" said the second guard.
"I think he's telling the truth." said the first guard.
"No he's not!"
"But he may be."
"If her was telling us the truth he wouldn't have told us something like that!"
"Unless, of course," said Pinkie, a silly smile on his face, "He knew that you wouldn't believe the truth unless he told it to you and therefore you would think he's lying, but he's not, but you can't be sure either may, now can you?
The two guards blinked in confusion, and Pinkie smiled even more.
Fluttershy gently tried to fan herself as other ponies chatted. She was very warm, and it was getting difficult to breathe.
"May I have a moment?" asked Commodore Rarity, walking up to her.
Fluttershy gave a shallow nod, and followed Rarity away from the party, towards the parapet. Rarity was silent for a bit, and Fluttershy continued fanning herself.
"You look lovely, Fluttershy." said Rarity finally.
Fluttershy frowned. Did Rarity only see her as pretty?
"I apologize if I may seem rather forward," continued Rarity, seeing Fluttershy's frown, "but I must speak my mine. This promotion confirmed that I have finally accomplished the goals I set for myself in my career."
As Rarity continued talking, Fluttershy began to sway back and forth. She was so hot, and the corset felt so tight. Finally, she manged to whisper.
"I can't breathe..."
Before she fainted off the railing and fell into the water, just barely missing the rocks below.
I'm a bit nervous myself," said Rarity, turning just in time to see Fluttershy hit the water, "Fluttershy!" he cried.
Pinkie looked up instantly as he saw the splash. He saw a pink mane get washed under the water, and his eyes widened.
"FLUTTERSHY!" cried a voice from above where whomever had just fell.
Pinkie looked at the two guards next to him, who nervously looked at each other.
"We can't swim..." said the first guard.
Pinkie rolled his eyes, and pulled off his hat, and belt.
"Don't you dare lose these." he said, before quickly grabbing onto a nearby rope on the ship, and swinging out over the water.
Pinkie dove into the water, and quickly swam down to where the pony had fallen. He saw a young mare drifting slowly down towards the bottom, and swum at double time. He made it to the mare quickly, grabbed her, and began to swim towards the surface. He quickly pulled the dress of the mare, leaving her wearing just her under-dress and corset, which made it far easier to swim. A gold-and-silver medallion floated off of the mare's neck, much to Pinkie's surprise, but he needed to get the mare to the surface first. The medallion caught the sun's ray, and let out a beam of light into the ocean.
Pinkie broke surface with the mare, and swam over to the dock. He quickly laid the mare down, but she didn't seem to be breathing. The two guards hurried over holding Pinkie's stuff, and he quickly grabbed his sword of of its scabbard. Pinkie quickly sliced the corset down the middle, releasing the mare from its tight hold. She instantly coughed up some water, and rolled over onto her side.
"Wouldn't have thought of that..." said one of the guards, as Pinkie took his belt and put it back around his waist, returning the sword.
"Clearly you've never been to Singapore." said Pinkie, eyeing the gold-and-silver medallion that the mare was wearing, "Where did you get this?"
Before the mare could answer, a shining sword was pointed at Pinkie's face. He looked up to see Commodore Rarity glaring at him.
"On your hooves." said Rarity.
Pinkie quickly got to his hooves, as several other ponies ran up to the scene.
"Fluttershy!" said Governor Sky, wrapping his jacket around her, "Are you alright?"
"Y-yes," stammer Fluttershy, "I'm fine... But... Commodore Rarity!" she said, seeing the hate in Rarity's eyes, "You're not going to kill the pony that just rescued me!"
Rarity eyed Pinkie coldly, who gave a small smile.
"I believe thanks is in order." he held out his hoof to Pinkie.
Pinkie hesitated, before reaching out his hoof in response. Rarity quickly pulled down Pinkie's sleeve to reveal markings on his arm. Most notable, a large black 'P' on the underside.
"Well, well, well," said Rarity, "A pirate," the many guards who had come down instantly pulled out their guns and pointed them at Pinkie, "Keep your guns on him, men. Shifter, fetch some irons," Rarity eyed Pinkie, before coming to a realization, "Well, well, Pinkie Pie, is it?"
"Captain Pinkie Pie," he replied, "If you please."
"I don't see your ship."
"He said he was going to commandeer one." said one of the guards who had been talking with Pinkie earlier.
"This is his, sir." said the second guard, holding out Pinkie's light blue hat.
Rarity took the hat, and noted what was on Pinkie's belt.
"It seems like you have powder, but no extra shots," said Rarity, "A grubby old compass that doesn't look like it works, and a rusty-looking sword in a dirty scabbard. You are, without a doubt, the worst pirate I have ever heard of."
"But you have heard of me." said Pinkie with a grin.
The guard called Shifter returned with the irons, which they quickly wrapped around Pinkie's front hooves.
"Take him away." said Rarity.
"W-wait!" said Fluttershy, pushing her father's jacket off, "You can't just do that! He may be a pirate, but he just saved my life!"
"One good deed does not make up for a lifetime of wickedness."
"But its enough condemn him." said Pinkie in a mater-of-fact voice.
The manacles were clicked shut on Pinkie's hooves, and the guards lowered their weapons. Pinkie gave a smirk.
"Finally," he said, before quickly kicking the pony holding him captive, sending their pistol flying into the water, and wrapped his chains around Fluttershy's neck, "I knew you'd warm up to me."
Fluttershy remained frozen in fear as the guards reached for their guns, but dared not shoot because of Fluttershy being held captive and in the way. Pinkie began to back away from them towards the land.
"Commodore, my effects, please," said Pinkie, pointing towards his hat.
Rarity glared icily at Pinkie, but dared not do anything because of Fluttershy. He roughly handed the hat to Fluttershy, who Pinkie spun around to face him.
"Fluttershy," started Pinkie, before briefly pausing, "It's Fluttershy, right?"
"M-Miss Breeze." said Fluttershy, with a mix of anger and fear.
"Miss Breeze, my hat, please."
Fluttershy placed Pinkie's hat on his head, and he smiled.
"Thank you, friend," said Pinkie, backing farther away from the guards, "I saved your life, and now you've saved mine. We're square."
Pinkie turned Fluttershy back around towards the guards, and grinned at them.
"Ponies," he said, "You will always remember today as the day you almost caught Captain Pinkie Pie!"
Pinkie suddenly yanked Fluttershy back with him, and grabbed a nearby rope. Fluttershy realized that Pinkie had somehow managed to loop his belt around both his and her waist, as he kicked free the pin holding the rope in place. A counterweight dropped, and Pinkie and Fluttershy were lifted up in the air. Fluttershy let out a scream, and grabbed on to Pinkie so the chain wouldn't choke her.
"Let me go!" she cried, just as Pinkie grabbed on to second rope.
"I'm trying to help you!" hissed Pinkie.
Pinkie swung out on the rope, with Fluttershy clutching on with fear. Pinkie landed on a wooden surface, and let go of the rope. He then swung his hooves over Fluttershy's head so the chains were no longer around her neck, and put them over around rope. Pinkie zipped down the rope like a zip-line (even though those hadn't been invented yet), and landed on the deck of another ship.
"Listen, little pony," said Pinkie to Fluttershy, who was too scared to try and get away from him, "Tell me where you got that medallion." he suddenly unwrapped his belt from around Fluttershy.
"L-let me go!" cried Fluttershy.
Pinkie rolled his eyes, and jumped on to another boat, still holding Fluttershy.
"Other pirates are going to being coming soon in search of that medallion," said Pinkie, "Tell me where you got it!"
Fluttershy whimpered, "My friend. It's his!"
"Who is your friend? Tell me, and I'll let you go! I promise that I'm not going to hurt him!"
Fluttershy locked eyes with Pinkie, and she realized that he looked completely sincere.
"R-Rainbow Dash," she whispered, "H-he's a blacksmith."
"Rainbow Dash?" asked Pinkie, his eyes widening, "Thank you so much, Miss Breeze. Do be careful with that medallion. They're going to be looking for it."
Pinkie realized Fluttershy, and jumped to shore, leaving her on the boat. Fluttershy remained still as guards ran up to the boat where she was lying. What did Pinkie know about the medallion? Why had he just let her go instead of continuing to hold her hostage? And what was he going to do with Rainbow?