Captain Sail placed his hat on his head as he looked in a mirror and straightened it. Then like usual he turned to the double doors of his cabin as he exited the room and stepped onto the main deck of his ship. As soon as he was outside, Captain Sail could see Powder Keg and a few other sailors lowering the disgraced sailors from the yardarm as Powder Keg turned to his captain and called, “Capt’n on deck!”
Nodding to his sailor Captain Sail spoke, “as you were… how are they?”
Powder Keg looked at the dehydrated sailors as they reached the deck and fell over with fatigue, “little worse for wear, but still alive.”
Without concern Captain Sail nodded, “Good… then gather their belongings and drop them on the dock. I don’t want to see them aboard my ship ever again.”
Powder Keg nodded, “Aye Capt’n.”
As Powder Keg and a few other sailors followed their orders, Captain Sail looked just past the gangplank as he saw Mr. Drib, Pinpoint, and Barge talking on the dock. As Captain Sail stepped off his ship and onto the Pirate Cove Docks, the trio saw him as Mr. Drib smiled, “Well if it isn’t my favorite customer.”
Captain Sail smiled, “Any payin’ customer is your favorite customer Mr. Drib.”
Mister Drib nodded, “And yet my earlier statement remains true. Got some good news for ya, since you’re providing me with a shipwright to help with repairs, I’ve agreed to give you a ten… five percent discount. What do ya say?”
Captain Sail smiled sarcastically, “I s’pose a second ago it was twenty, aye?”
Mr. Drib shrugged his shoulders, “Well, you know, inflation, bad economy, etcetera, etcetera. Do we have a deal?”
Captain Sail asked, “You say we are providin’ ya with a shipwright?”
Barge nodded, “Aye captain, since there is no place for me back in Equestria, I decided to stay here in the Cove and work for Mr. Drib as a shipwright. Since he already provides repair supplies, a shipwright will no doubt double his profits. After all, I was a shipwright for Mr. Sail back in the day.”
Captain Sail replied, “Shame, I was hopin’ you’d come back to the crew permanently, but I s’pose we must all make our own way.”
Barge nodded, “Don’t get me wrong captain, I would love to accept a generous offer such as that, but my piratin’ days are behind me. Best for me to settle in and do some honest work for a change.”
Captain Sail chuckled, “Well then you’re workin’ for the wrong pony for that lad. Mr. Drib’s a bigger thief than I.”
Mr. Drib smiled, “I don’t steal the goods captain, I just overprice what I sell. Speaking of which, are we at an agreement of two percent off?”
Captain Sail smiled, “Ten… and not a bit less.”
Drib shrugged his shoulders, “Done. I'll patch the Tide up and have her ready for you in the morning.”
Captain Sail nodded, “Aye… and throw an extra ten pounder in while you’re at it. Then it will be an even accord.”
Drib sighed in disappointment, “Aye, Captain. Be grateful I have a nice wager on you findin’ your ghost. I’m not as friendly to my other clients.”
Captain Sail nodded, “ya are when they are starin’ ya in the face.”
Drib nodded, “as said before, my earlier statement remains true.” He looked at Barge, “Mr. Barge, feel free to get started as soon as you’re ready. If ya need it ask Johnny for help, the young lad could learn a thing or two about repairs.”
Barge nodded, “Aye sir. I'll get right on it.”
As Barge and Mr. Drib started trotting towards a wagon full of lumber for the repairs, Captain Sail looked at Pinpoint and asked, “Where is the lass?”
Pinpoint replied, “She wandered off about half an hour ago. Guessin’ she is in the town somewhere.”
Captain Sail nodded, “Alright, see to the business we discussed yesterday and find me as soon as you’re done. I'll go into the town and search for her. By my guess she’s in one of the pubs connin’ some sap out of somethin’.”
Pinpoint nodded, “aye Captain I'll find you when I’m done.”
With that, Pinpoint trotted off the dock and into the town as Captain Sail called, “Mr. Keg! I'll leave the Tide in your care. If you chose to go ashore, gather a security detail.”
Powder Keg looked at Captain Sail from aboard the tide as he called back, “Aye, aye Capt’n!”
With his ship’s security now handled, Captain Sail trotted into the town of wooden ships as he decided to try checking the local pubs for Siren. Before he reached the first one, he started hearing yelling coming from an alley as they argued, “What did you call me, rook?”
“You heard me bird brain! Now back off before I make you!”
Curious, Captain Sail entered the alley as he saw Siren glaring at a parrot pirate as she spoke, “You might want to recognize your betters… or else you’ll get yourself hurt little pony.”
Siren replied in anger, “Better?... a sky pirate? Please! No parrot with her head in the clouds can even consider herself close to a better of mine.”
The parrot replied, “And no rookie who has yet to earn her name can say anything about what a real pirate is!”
Seeing that the two were locked in an argument, Captain Sail cleared his throat loud enough to get their attention as he smiled, “am I interrupting anythin’?”
The parrot looked to Captain Sail as she smiled, “Well, well… if it isn’t the Crimson Ghost Hunter… Care to step in? I’m about to teach this rook a lesson about what happens when you cross a real pirate.
Captain Sail smiled, “Captain Celaeno, as much as I’m always willin’ to jump in to a fight alongside ya. I’m afraid I can’t against this lass. But if you promise not to kill her, I'd be happy to watch.”
Siren gave Captain Sail an angry look, as Captain Celaeno gave him a confused one, “What?... Don’t tell me that you and this rookie are an item?”
Siren sighed in hopelessness, “Ha!… He wishes.”
Captain Sail replied, “She and I have an accord that is currently in the works, that’s all.”
Captain Celaeno nodded, “I see… so she is a part of your crew then?”
Siren replied in anger, “I am a captain, thank you very much! And I would ask that you don’t associate me with any part of his crew.”
Captain Celaeno replied with an annoyed tone, “Oh… I see… so you are a rookie pirate.”
Siren continued with her still angry tone, “I’M NO ROOKIE!!! I’ve been sailin’ since I was a filly.”
Captain Celaeno shrugged her shoulders, “Well I don’t recognize you, nor have I ever heard of you, and if you don’t have a name… then officially you’re a rook. Plain and simple.”
Siren was confused, “Name?”
Captain Sail explained, “Lass… here on Pirate Cove, you ain’t a pirate unless you either earn a name, or sail under a captain who’s earned one. For example, the lass standin’ next to ya is The Harpy Pirate, Captain Celaeno. Her dad is known as Hawk the Father Pirate, and I’m The Crimson Ghost Hunter.”
Siren wasn’t amused, “Fancy names… did ya make them up yourselves?”
Captain Celaeno chuckled, “Nah, the rest of the Cove makes the names. Each name made to resemble the type of pirate you are, your main goal as a pirate, something about your personality, and so on.”
Captain Sail nodded, “aye. And you will meet a lot of different types of pirates on this Cove, there is Cannon Ball Jack, One Eyed Will, Teacher Ticket, you name ‘em. We each earn a name when we do somethin’ that classes us as a professional pirate.”
Siren was confused, “Really?... and what did you do?”
Captain Sail smiled, “I stole property belongin’ to a deity… My very ship, The Bloody Tide.”
Captain Celaeno added, “Me, I pillaged and plundered with my father when I was just a hatchling. I had already robbed a hundred air ships before I was even in my teen years.”
Captain Sail nodded as he trotted closer to the two, “Fame isn’t everythin’, but here, it might as well be. Either way.” He held out his hoof, “It’s good to see ya lass, when old Hawk told me that you became a captain, I knew it would be of the sky.”
Captain Celaeno reached up and shook his hoof as she replied, “Ya can’t keep a sky pirate grounded for long. It’s good to see you Sail. And since you’re vouchin’ for this disrespectful rook, I s’pose I can overlook her comment… for now.”
Captain Sail asked, “And what was it she said?”
Siren replied with a disrespectful tone, “That a sky pirate is nothin’ more than a pirate that is afraid of the sea.”
Captain Sail chuckled a little at the comment as Captain Celaeno gave him an angry look. Seeing her look, Captain Sail calmed his laughter as he replied, “And sea pirates are afraid of heights. So what?”
Captain Celaeno’s angry look faded into a chuckle of her own as Captain Sail added, “It’s not the horizon we sail, it’s the way we sail it that makes the difference.”
Siren gave him a confused look, as Captain Sail noticed her confusion as replied, “Wait… you mean you don’t know what truly makes a pirate lass?”
Siren replied, “I know what makes a good pirate. It’s the loot he steals and the legend he makes.”
Both Sail and Celaeno gave her a confused look as Captain Sail replied, “uh… no… you seriously don’t know?”
Siren tried to think of something to say to change her answer as Captain Celaeno replied, “The looting and legend is nice… but what makes a good pirate is a scallywag who lives by the freedom of the sky… and sea.”
Captain Sail smiled, “aye… the best thing about a pirate is freedom. No countries to bind us. No morality of a nation to abide by. To be truly free to sail as you please, that is what makes a good pirate. And let’s not forget…”
Captain Sail looked at Captain Celaeno with a suggestive look as she smiled and nodded as they both spoke at the same time, “Freedom of a good drink!”
Siren felt a little confused as they both turned to the road as they started to leave her behind. As they left, Captain Sail spoke, “So… that air ship on the south sky docks, is that one yours?”
Captain Celaeno nodded, “Yep ain’t she beautiful. She and my crew just came in from the north.”
As the two captain left Siren alone, Siren got annoyed as she called before chasing after them, “Hey! We ain’t done here!”
Captain Sail nodded, “Then come on! We can finish this matter over a good drink and some merry makin’, how bout’ it Captain?
Captain Celaeno smiled, “You took the words right out of my mouth.”
Elsewhere on the Cove, Pinpoint was trotting to a large building made up from the stern of what used to be a royal galleon. As Pinpoint entered the building, he saw an elderly stallion sitting at a desk in the center of the room with bookshelves lining the walls. As Pinpoint approached the desk, he spoke, “Mr. Ticket?”
The elderly stallion continued sitting with his head tilted down looking into a book with a glare of his glasses covering his eyes from Pinpoint’s view. Thinking that the older stallion didn’t hear him, he repeated, “Mr. Ticket? Hello?”
The stallion continued sitting still with his face looking into a book as Pinpoint nudged his shoulder, “Trip Ticket.”
As soon as the old stallion was touched, the elderly unicorn fell forward into the book as the thickness of the books pages cushioned his fall leaving Pinpoint to sigh in hopelessness, “Sleepin’ at work… that’s Teacher Ticket for ya.”
With that the annoyed quartermaster picked up the elderly pony’s head so he could pull the book out from under him and close it. However right after the book thumped shut, Trip Ticket opened his eyes and looked up to his guest as he spoke with an irritated tone, “Ain’t cha’ got any manners? I was readin’ that ya know.”
Pinpoint replied, “Sure ya were, I didn’t know you could read through your eyelids.”
The older pony adjusted his glasses, “Takes years of practice, you’ll get there some day… now, what can I do for ya Gale? Ain’t seen you in a number of years.”
Pinpoint placed the book on a shelf as he replied, “I ain’t Gale ya old coot. He’s been dead for about three years.”
Trip Ticket nodded, “Aye… that’s right, got himself a black widow he did. Offed him in his sleep, took all he had, and left him to rot. Poor fool didn’t see it comin’… though I could have guessed it from the sight of her.”
Pinpoint shook his head, “No, he got caught by the Griffin Royal Navy and is now dancing the hempen gig.”
Trip shook his head, “Nah, he ain’t been much for dancin’. Had three left hooves if ya catch my drift.”
Pinpoint shook his head, “I’m not talkin’ about an actual dance, what I’m sayin’ is they hung him for pira… ya know what? Never mind…” Pinpoint could only rub his head in irritation as he mumbled to himself “Senile old fool.”
Trip Ticket replied, “Who ya callin’ fool, fool? Do ya need my help or don’t ya?”
Pinpoint sighed “I do.”
“Ya darn tootin’, now what can a do ya for Gale?”
Pinpoint replied, “No, it’s me Pin… Pinpoint? I was your student for three years... I came here so you can help me find records of a ship.”
Trip Ticket thought to himself as he trotted to one of the book shelves in the side of the room, “hmm… nope ain’t heard of a ship called the Pinpoint… I know a scurvy old student of mine that was named Pinpoint, but there ain’t no tellin’ what that pipsqueak’s gotten himself into since I last saw him.”
Pinpoint shook his head, “I’m Pinpoint! I’m lookin’ for a pirate ship called the Lullaby.”
The old stallion started looking through the bookshelf of logs as he replied, “nah, the sentiments are appreciated, but I don’t need ya to sing me a lullaby. I may be old but I ain’t no foal. But if ya happen to come across Pinpoint, tell him I said hi. Taught him everythin’ I know about the sea, used to call the lad Penny-Whistle. Ah those were the days.”
Pinpoint gave him a dull look as he replied, “Kay… first off, ya never called me that. Second, don’t ever call me that… and third, don’t tell other ponies ya called me that.”
The old pony took a book from the shelf and trotted back to his seat as he opened it up and replied, “Well if you’re here to sing me a Lullaby then get on with it… as you can see I’m a busy stallion with many clients to attend to.”
Pinpoint looked through the empty building as he thought to himself, “yea… I’m sure ya do…” He looked back at Trip Ticket, “look, I’m only here for any logs you have on a pirate ship called the Lullaby. Do you have it or don’t ya?”
Pinpoint waited for a reply, but it wasn’t long before he realized that the elderly stallion passed back out as Pinpoint sighed, “This is pointless... looks like you finally reached the edge of your sanity ya old coot.”
As Pinpoint turned to leave, he heard Trip Ticket talk, “Second self, fourth row, seventh book, page five, third log. She’s an old book, but you’ll find what you’re lookin’ for there.”
Doing what he was told, Pinpoint trotted to the book shelf as he started counting the rows and books in his head. As soon as he pulled the book from the shelf, Trip Ticket whose eyes were in his book, spoke up, “Fourth row from the bottom… ya young fool.”
As Pinpoint looked back to the shelf, he put back the book he took and recounted as he took out the right book and started flipping through the pages. When he got to the page he felt confused, “This is the ship… but the date is-”
Before he could finish, Trip Ticket spoke up, “So you’re on your way to the Leviathan Seas are ya? Dangerous waters they are… word is nopony has ever sailed them before. Far too afraid of the Titan who rules those seas.”
Confused, Pinpoint looked up at the elderly pony as Trip Ticket peeked out the corner of his glasses at his old student. With a confused glance, Pinpoint asked, “H-how?...”
Trip Ticket laid the book he was reading down on his desk as he flipped it around so Pinpoint could see it as he replied, “I never taught you ‘bout those waters… S’pose it’s time I did.”
Concerned, Pinpoint closed the log in his hoof as he trotted to his old teacher’s desk and looked at the page, “a sea chart of the Leviathan Seas? And… islands?”
Trip Ticket nodded, “Aye… hoof drawn and the only one in existence… it’s time ya learn what’s there… and why I have so much money bettin’ on your captain findin’ his ghost.”
Later, Captain Sail, Captain Celaeno, and Siren were sitting in a pub as they each enjoyed their mugs of rum as Siren and Captain Sail both laughed out loud as Captain Celaeno continued her story, “So as he tried to call out his instructions, Jack raised his wing up high, but as he started to call out, a cannonball flew in from behind and wiped his wing clean off turning his call into a screams and swears!”
The whole room laughed as Captain Sail tried to speak between breaths, “so now… so now. I’m sittin’ on the Tide right beside his ship and Hawk’s crew hovered over him waitin’ on what he was planning on doin’ while he jumped around on his ship yellin’ every curse word he could think of while navy vessels fired on us!”
Captain Celaeno continued, “So now to keep things moving, I had to slide down there on a rope and take over his ship while his surgeons dragged the angry griffin into his cabin as he screamin’ curse words at everything around him, and when he ran out of words to scream he started making some up.”
The room continued laughing as Captain Sail added, “to this day I still can’t tell ya what a flatter-hoist is… but whatever it is, it must be bad since he yelled it six times.”
Captain Celaeno spoke through her laughter, “and to this day that’s why his nickname is Cannon Ball Jack.”
Siren laughed as she replied, “well it could be worse. You could start calling him Flatter Hoist Jack.”
Captain Sail and Captain Celaeno laughed even louder as Captain Sail replied, “The funniest part of that whole story… we got away, and he was the only one on all three of our ships that had any injuries.”
The room continued in their laughter as Captain Celaeno leaned on Siren’s shoulder and spoke to Captain Sail, “I got to say captain… you found a ringer with this one. You should really try to get with this one, she’s perfect for you.”
Siren continued her laughter as she added, “If the Captain could catch a mare like me, he’d probably have his ghost by now.”
In their drunken stupor, the entire room exploded in another fit of laughter as the room slowly died down leaving Captain Celaeno to speak next, “It’s good catching up Sail. I crossed paths with mt dad not long ago. Says he showed you what for last time he was here.”
Captain Sail smiled, “Did he now?… Guess he mistook me for a keg of rum.”
Celaeno laughed, “I don’t think so, a keg hits him harder then you ever could.”
The three pirates continued laughing as Captain Sail looked across the room to see Pinpoint trot in and stand at the door of the pub. As soon as he saw his quartermaster, he slowed his laughter as he spoke, “Well it’s been fun lasses, but it appears I have work to tend to. Feel free to return to the ship whenever you’re ready lass, we won’t be leavin’ without ya.”
With no concern, Siren smiled, “yea, yea, just don’t wait up for me.”
Captain Celaeno nodded, “Take it easy captain. Hopefully next time we see each other you will have your ghost caught and killed.”
Siren shook her head and replied with a slight slur, “no, no, no… I'll be the one who kills that ghost, but he’s welcome to try.”
Captain Sail nodded, “Noted, if you will excuse me lasses.”
With that Captain Sail trotted to Pinpoint as they both made their way out of the pub. Once they were gone, Captain Celaeno looked at Siren and spoke, “So… can I ask you a question. Just between us girls?”
With a careless gesture, Siren replied as she held up her mug, “To be a pirate is to be free right? Ask away.”
Captain Celaeno replied with a sinister smile, “What is Captain Sail to you?”
Without hesitation, Siren took a drink of her drink and replied “That’s an easy one… he’s just a means to an end.”
Captain Celaeno was unsure of the answer, “Care to elaborate?”
Siren replied, “Sure… I need him to get me to Iron Hoof, and he needs me to find Iron Hoof. So we are just using each other till we get what we need. Then we are goin’ to go our separate ways.”
Understanding but not happy about the answer, Captain Celaeno replied, “uh huh… and that’s it?”
Siren nodded, “what else is there?”
Captain Celaeno nodded as she spoke with a serious tone, “so… there isn’t anything… special, going on between you two?”
Siren waved her hoof in a dismissive way, “No… and if there was… I could do better.”
Captain Celaeno nodded, “I see…”
Siren noticed her tone as she asked, “why?... is there somethin’ special between you two?”
The parrot pirate shook her head as she replied, “Of course not. Captain Sail is like an older brother to me.”
Siren nodded as she took a drink, “Then why do you care?”
Captain Celaeno replied, “Captain Sail… has always been calm, cool, and collected. I never understood it, but it’s as if he has figured the world out and has always played it right into his hooves. He never panics, he’s always confident, and no matter the risk, he always seems like he has everything under control… but… tonight, I saw a part of him that is… unsure.”
“What?...”
Captain Celaeno continued, “I don’t know what it is… but… he seem like something is on his mind. Something… about you.”
Siren was confused, “really?…”
Celaeno nodded head, “Captain Sail looks like he is trying to solve a problem… like there is a riddle in his head that he wants to solve so badly that he is ignoring everything eles. And for the first time ever, he seems stumped.”
Siren nodded as she ran her hoof along the rim of her mug, “If he is the pirate I know he is, he is annoyed that I won’t tell him more about Iron Hoof and he’s tryin’ to understand it on his own. Let’s face it, Captain Sail has an ego. He can act all he wants, but I can see right through him.”
Captain Celaeno nodded as she replied, “I don’t know about an ego… but appearances are very important to a pirate captain. Being captain means gaining trust from our crew, but to be a pirate captain means just a little more. Gaining trust from a group of untrustworthy scallywags isn’t as easy as he makes it look.”
Siren asked, “So… is Captain Sail really as good as they say?”
Captain Celaeno smiled, “I’m good, ask anyone around and they will tell you that in the sky, I’m in control. As for Captain Sail, He is just as good, if not better on the sea. I can’t think of no finer officer to sail under.”
Siren smiled, “Good, then I can expect to get what I’m after so long as I remain on his ship.”
Captain Celaeno Nodded, “ya know what… I think I’m gonna give you a name. Right here and now.”
Siren gave her a sarcastic look, “I thought I had to earn it?”
Captain Celaeno smiled, “If what you and the captain said is true, then you already did. Escaping from a ghost ship… it’s a tale of adventure as if I ever heard.”
Siren could tell that the rum was starting to get to her friend as she smiled, “okay… well… what did you have in mind?”
Captain Celaeno thought to herself, “Hmm… let’s think… Ah I got it! The Siren of the Cove!”
Siren was confused, “Siren of the Cove?”
“No, no, no, THE Siren of the Cove.”
Siren gave Captain Celaeno a strange look, “The Siren?... what am I a ship?”
Captain Celaeno laughed as she replied, “No… it’s The Siren because of the folklore.”
“What?”
Captain Celaeno took a drink of her rum then replied, “Have you ever heard of the Sirens of the Sea?”
Siren nodded, “Aye… that’s what I was named after.”
Captain Celaeno nodded, “Then you get where I’m going with this. Sirens were said to be the most beautiful creatures on the sea. Their beauty along with their song could lure even the most rugged scallywags to their deaths. And you… are Pirate Cove’s personal Siren.”
Siren thought to herself as she replied, “Well… when you put it like that… I kinda like it. I have lured more than a few sailors to their deaths, so it fits.”
Captain Celaeno smiled as she held up her mug, “Then there you have it… that’s your name from here on out. Congratulations you’re officially a scallywag of Pirate Cove.”
Siren raised her mug for the toast as she replied, “Then I'll carry the name with pride.”
As the two mugs taped together, Captain Celaeno added, “But I'll warn you… if you try luring Captain Sail to his doom… then it won’t end well for you.”
Confused by the strange comment, Siren asked, “Really?... and why is that?”
Captain Celaeno’s expression became a little more serious, “I told you… he’s like a brother to me… so if you hurt him… either physically, or by breaking his heart.” She leaned in close and continued with an angry tone, “I'll hunt you down and drop you in the nearest active volcano… catch my drift?”
Siren took the threat as words weaved with rum as she ignored both the threat, and the comment about breaking his heart as she replied, “Sure… I'll keep that in mind.”
Then as if the threat never took place, Captain Celaeno leaned away, threw her arm around Siren, as she smiled, “I tell ya, we are gonna be the best of friends you and I.”
Siren rolled her eyes, “Wow… I think you’ve had enough.”
The parrot raised her mug, “Maybe you’re right… we’ll discuss this over another mug of grog.”
Moments ago outside the pub, Captain Sail and Pinpoint stood in a dark alley as Captain Sail asked, “So Mr. Point? How’s old Trip Ticket doing these days?”
Pinpoint sighed, “Still trottin’ the line between senile and wise. But all in all I’m sure he can’t complain, seein’ that he can barely remember who he’s talkin’ to long enough to bring it up.”
Captain Sail smiled, “so, what did you find out about the lass’s ship?”
Pinpoint replied, “Well… here’s the thing, there is no such pirate ship called the Lullaby.”
Captain Sail nodded, “so… she lied to us?”
Pinpoint shook his head, “Well… not exactly. There is a ship by that name, but it doesn’t belong to a Captain Siren… It belongs to a Commodore Chrysanthemum.”
Captain Sail was confused, “Commodore?”
“Aye… it’s a Prench Royal Navy man o’ war.”
Captain Sail thought to himself before replying, “Strange… I’m not familiar with his name.”
“Hers… Commodore Chrysanthemum was a mare known mostly for huntin’ pirates.”
Captain Sail smiled as if he figured it out, “that’s it… The lass must have killed her and taken her ship for her own. Or more likely, the lass could be this Chrysanthemum and went rough. It’s not uncommon for navy officers to turn pirate.”
Pinpoint nodded as he replied, “True… but in this case it’s very unlikely.”
Captain Sail was curious, “is it?... how so?”
Pinpoint replied, “Cuz both the Lullaby and her captain were reported sunk… just off the coast of the griffin kingdoms.”
“Really?... when did she go down?”
Pinpoint replied with a serious tone, “Over three hundred years ago.”