It was a beautiful morning in Ponyville. Spike was out and about, enjoying his mother's lights, when he suddenly hears a beautiful singing, that made him stopped suddenly in his flight.
Following the sound, Spike gently flapped his wings, and came to a soft landing behind some trees, as he continues his search. Before long, Spike finds himself near the lake, where the singer turns out to be Skystar, herself. Careful as to not make a sound, Spike quietly sat down on the sandy shores, as he listens with content and admiration of the sea pony's song.
When Skystar came to the end of her song, Spike was amazed, "Wow," He gasped.
This didn't go unheard, "Huh? Who's there?" Skystar asked, looking around, before she noticed Spike. "Oh, Spike. It's just you," She smiled, before she swam her way over.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to peep on you, or anything," Spike apologized. "I just couldn't help but notice your beautiful singing."
Sky couldn't help but chuckle, while holding a fin to her face, hiding a blush, "Wow, thanks," She smiled shyly. "That's the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me. Besides, Shelly and Sheldon, of course." Skystar gestured to the two said clams, who were sitting on the shore, close to Spike's feet.
Spike hadn't noticed the two clams, until Sky pointed them out. "Huh, not much of an audience, are they?" Spike asked, while trying not to sound too insensitive.
Skystar chuckles, "Well, I don’t care, as long as I have someone to hear my songs.”
“Oh, well I’d like to hear you sing,” Spike replied.
“Aw, thanks Spike,” Skystar smiled, sadly. “Though it doesn’t exactly feel the same.”
Spike was surprised at the sudden change of mood, “What do you mean?” He asked in concern.
Skystar sighed as she waves her tail fin, swimming back out to open waters, with Spike following, morphing into his puffer fish form, upon touching the water.
“Come on, Sky. You can tell me,” Spike insisted.
Trying her best to hold back a tear, Skystar took a deep breath, before she spoke, “I’m feeling, as you would say, homesick. These past few weeks I’ve had here in Ponyville, makes me think about all the times I’ve had in Seaquestria. And every time, whenever I see everybody going about their days together, it all reminds me about the times I’ve had back home with my mom, my sisters, and our people, and how much I missed it all.”
Skystar wiped a tear away, as she continues, “I’d go myself, but....” Spike didn’t need an explanation to know why.
Sympathizing, he asked her, "You really want to go home, don't you?"
"Of course I do!" Skystar shouted sadly.
"Then let's take you back to Seaquestria!" Spike said.
The sea pony could hardly believe her ears, "Y-Y-You would do that?!" She asked. "For me?"
"That's what friends are for," Spike replied, before he looked up to see Canterlot in the distance. "Besides, if your mom's anything like my mom. Then she's probably worried sick, crying her heart out for you right this minute," With that, Spike shifted into dragon form. "What do you say, Sky? You ready?"
Skystar grinned widely, before squealed excitedly, "Okay!"
"Blast!" A tall dark figure in business clothes grunted, slamming his cane to the ground. "Should've known they would place a magical lock on one of the gates. Now it's a one way trip for all non-magical creatures."
Then, appearing from the shadows, the dark figure of a huge hulking wolf was sniffing the ground, as if it got something. Knowing what it means, the figure followed close behind the wolf, before it growled loudly, when it came to a stop at a brick wall, where tire tracks have scorched into the road.
The figure grinned, "Leave it to the hunters to cheat their way," The figure grinned, as he walks over and stroke the wolf's head. "Time for the hunters to be hunted," With that, the wolf lets out a loud howl that echoed throughout New York.
It didn't take long for more howls to be heard, in which several streaks of shadows darted around the corners, before they all regrouped in one spot.
Meanwhile, from the sanctity of their homes, the Crystal Shadowbolts were relaxing, when their arms suddenly burned, in which they looked to see the dark mark on their wrists, flashing.
What had once been the mark of a terrifying winged serpent, has now become the mark of a crescent moon with an alicorn's face.
And upon seeing the mark being activated, the girls knew one thing, "Equestria needs our help," They all said in unison.
After a moment of collecting some gears and supplies, as well as donning himself up a newly upgraded suit of armor, courtesy of Twilight, Starlight, and Rarity's combined magical expertise and designs, complete with his Cape of Compassion, Spike was on the road to Seaquestria, with Princess Skystar in a magic floating bubble pulled by a magical rope, Capper holding the map, the Knights and Captain Celaeno surrounding them for extra protection.
"Thanks for doing this guys," Spike thanked his posse, plus Capper and Celaeno.
"Aw don't mention it Spike," Button replied, as he and his fellow Knights were don up in their own suits of armors to go with their chosen pieces. "Like we said, we took an oath."
"We've got your back until the end," Rumble added.
"And like the three musketeers would say!" Pipsqueak added, as he took out his pirate sword. "All for one, and one for all!" He cheered, with his fellow knights joining in, all raising their weapons up together with the boy's sword.
"Ye know ye'd be lost out in the open sea without a buccaneer like me, who knows those waters," Celaeno added.
"That, and I'm the one who's holding a map," Capper pointed when they arrived at a dock, where a large sailboat was waiting for them. "And a boat."
From her bubble, Skystar clapped her fins together, "I'm so excited everyone!" She cheered. "I can't wait to be back home again!"
"Whoo hoo!" Button quickly ran up to the ship and instantly took the wheel. "I call, I'm taking the wheel!"
"No! I got the wheel!" Rumble insisted, shoving the boy to the side.
"No! Me!" With that, both Button and Rumble got into a tussle, fighting over who gets to steer the ship.
Having enough, Celaeno picked up the two fighting boys and bonked their heads together, "Knock it off!" She berated them. "Act your own age, not little babies. I'm taking the wheel."
"Aye-aye, captain," The boys groaned.
Turning to Pipsqueak, seeing the boy in the crow's nest, Celaeno asked, "How's the view first mate?"
"Clear weather, calm blue ocean," Pipsqueak replied. "Nothing but the open sea in front of us."
"Then let's shove off!" Spike called, as Capper untied the rope, connecting them to dock, and they sailed off.
Sailing with the wind, the friends were all following a river that took them out of Ponyville, and into the far reaches of Equestria, before they made it out to South Luna Ocean.
While sailing, Button and Rumble were having themselves an arm wrestling match, in which Rumble was the winner, "I won, again," Rumble grinned, while Button fumed in defeat.
Tender Taps looked rather seasick, and nearly keeled over the sidings, had Featherweight not caught him in time. Capper continued to look at his map, while Spike and Skystar looked across the sea.
"Do these waters look familiar to you, Sky?" Spike asked.
Skystar shook her head, "Nope," She answered. "Can't say they do. Then again, I don't usually see the world much, outside of my home. We used to live on Mt. Aris, before we had to go into hiding where the Storm King wouldn't find us."
"Wow, this Storm King sounds like he's real trouble, ain't he?" Spike asked.
"Oh yeah, he is," Skystar frowned. "And scary too. I hope we don't run into him on the way."
"Don't worry, Sky," Spike reassured. "As long as I'm here, I won't ever let something happen to you. Besides, if that Storm King ever shows himself, he'll have to go through me first."
"Thanks Spike," Skystar smiled, nuzzling her cheek affectionately with his hands. "I'm so happy to have a friend like you!"
"Um, hey guys?" Pipsqueak shouted from the crow's nest. "I'm seeing something off the starboard!" Everyone, except Celaeno, looked at the boy, confused.
"That's your right," Celaeno clarified, to which everyone looked to see a whole fleet of what appeared to be fishing ships.
And not just any ordinary ships at that. These ships appeared to be the latest models, back on Earth, and they all brandished a familiar symbol of two dogs, an eagle, and defeated dragon and unicorn.
Spike's eyes narrowed, "Uh oh, trouble! We have to turn back now!" Nodding her head, Celaeno quickly turned the wheel, turning the boat around.
"Why?" Skystar asked. "Who are they?"
"The most wanted criminals in the Magical World!" Spike muttered. "They're called the Cerulean Hunters! And trust me, you do not want to mess with them!"
"They're mercilessly magical poaching mercenaries," Capper added. "They don't care whether you're royalty or not. They'll catch anything and anyone who is listed under the categories as magic, and they'll crate you up for high price. So we gotta go!"
Meanwhile at the bridge of one of the ships
A figure was standing upon the deck looking out to sea until he hears one of his men calling out to him.
"Commander Blacksky," One of his men from the monitors shouted. "There's a boat not too far from us. It's not one of ours."
"Let me have a look," The figure, now known as Blacksky said in an Irish accent. He takes a good look at the ship on the monitor and can barely make out whose on it. He was able to recognize one of them. "Well well well if it ain't that bloody alley cat who thought he could give us the slip." And after a further look, he questioned, "Isn't that the harpy who gave Jason and his boys a hard time and why are there humans with them?" The figure smirked. "Ready the claws, but no cannons! I want to take em in for questioning."
"Yes sir!" One of the men shouted.
Suddenly, a large claw was shot, and it speared one of the mast of the sailboat. And that mast just so happens to be the one with the nest Pip was in.
"AAAAAHHH!!!" Pipsqueak screamed, jumping out of the nest, and into the arms of Celaeno.
"You alright there, Pip?" Celaeno asked.
Pipsqueak nodded his head, "I'm fine."
Looking back, seeing the hunters' ships closing in, Capper spoke, "I think that's our cue to get out of here!"
"Don't have to tell me twice!" Spike replied, as he conjures a fires a fiery katana and cuts the chains. "Come on! We gotta go faster!"
"I don't think this thing comes with a motor!" Button replied, ducking his head down, avoiding a spear that narrowly got him. "I say we abandon ship!"
"What he said!" Rumble added, as he and the nerd both jumped overboard.
"But I don't like water!" Capper moaned.
"Then I hope you like becoming a fur coat," Tender said as he jumps into the water.
Not wanting to take his chances with the hunters, Capper held his breath and he jumps down, followed by Featherweight, Pipsqueak, and Celaeno.
"Our turn, Sky!" Spike said, as he grabbed ahold of the sea pony. "Hang on!" Skystar complied, tightening her arms around Spike's neck, and they both jumped off, and plunged into the waters below.