//------------------------------//
// Chapter 1: Stormy Seas and Pony Parley 
// Story: Quarterdeck, Half Size 
// by Chrome Masquerade 
//------------------------------//

Leftenant Kydd was on watch currently.

Things were going... alright. They had found the Lord Woolmer -miles from where it was supposed to be-, and now the Tenacious was towing the mastless ship back to Halifax and a well deserved reward, in all hope.

But he couldn't help but have the feeling that something was going to happen. He had been at sea too long to think that the whole ordeal was over. He could feel in his bones that something was going to happen. And soon.
He raised the spyglass to his eye, focusing again. Then he saw it.

'Oh no.' he thought. "Captain!" he called to Captain Houghton, who was conveniently nearby.
.
"What is it, mister Kydd?" Houghton queried respectfully.

"Y'd better take a look a'this, sir." Kydd responded, handing over his spyglass.

At first Houghton didn't see it either. But then he saw it: a thin black line along the horizon. And getting thicker by the second.

Casually handing th spyglass back to its owner, Houghton calmly said, "Ah. Good eye. Head downstairs and warn all hands that we're in for a big one."

Saluting, Kydd turned and headed down the stairs to do just that.

"ALL HANDS ON DECK!" He called out. "Storm approachin'! Look lively!"

Thus he spoke as he went along, until everyone he could see was heading up.
Suddenly, in the corner of his eye he saw a bright flash. From the same direction he heard a combined exclamation of "Ooph!"

He turned around and there in front of him was a pack of six strange equine creatures. Two of them had just wings (Pegasi, he supposed), one had just a horn (a unicorn, presumably) Two had neither, and oddly one had both.

He approached them, reaching to poke one with a finger to see if they were still alive. In an instant, he was withdrawing his hand in pain as the blue Pegasus bit his extended finger. "Don't you dare, you... whatever you are!" she exclaimed angrily.

Kydd wasn't sure whether to be startled that the creature had spoken or ticked off at being bitten. So he defaulted with, "Huh?"

"You heard me! Stay away from-"

Suddenly she stiffened. She muttered, "Whoa. Trouble is literally on the horizon, isn't it?"

She made to dash off, but the orange horse quickly grabbed the cyan one before she could go headlong into trouble.

The purple one spoke up, shaking her head. "That's Rainbow Dash for you. Never thinks these things through." She then faced Kydd and said, "Forgive her. She's always been an adrenaline junkie and calling her headstrong would be a massive understatement. Allow me to introduce us properly. My name is Twilight Sparkle, and these are my friends. May I introduce: Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Applejack and, well, you seem to have already met Rainbow Dash." she said, pointing to each of her friends in turn.

"Th' name's Thomas Kydd." Kydd said in return. "Fourth Leftenant of the Tenacious. You appear to be stowaways."

"I'd say more like... Inadvertent ambassadors. And judging by Dash's reaction, we're the least of your worries. If you need help, we can lend a hoof." she said, then added with a smirk, "And possibly some magic for good measure."

Kydd thought about it for a moment. "Well, given th' situation we do need every ha- -er, 'hoof', in yer case- that we can get. What can you do?" he queried.

"Well," Twilight began, "Let's start with Applejack. She's immensely strong and extremely durable. She also has a certain power over nature itself, if that helps. She's an honest, down to earth (no pun intended) Earth Pony who can be your best friend or your worst enemy if you wrong her.

"Fluttershy, well, animals large and small listen when she whispers, and when she roars, they tremble with fright or flock to her side. She's more than a bit meek, but don't let that fool you. She's possibly the strongest pegasus i've ever seen, though not the strongest flier.

"That goes to Rainbow Dash, who is close to as strong as Applejack, but she can fly at easily four times the speed of sound, and as a Pegasus has power over the weather, to some extent. She's brash and competitive, but there's no more loyal pony in the land.

"Pinkie Pie... Well... how do i best describe her? Unpredictable, Random, excitable and hyperactive seem like accurate descriptors. Safe to say, if she tells you that she can do it, she probably can. But she's also a ray oof sunlight in the darkest of times and loves to make new friends.

"Rarity is the most refined among us, but again, don't let that fool you. Under the surface she's also a tough, smart and reliable herd-girl who can kick flank when it matters. As a unicorn, she has magic at her disposal, and can lift many objects almost as big as herself at once, or do any number of other things.

"As for me, as an Alicorn i have the powers of all three tribes. Enough said."

"A pleasure to meet all of you." Kydd said. "I hav' a feelin' that we'll need yer help sooner than la'er. Come on, let's get ya outfitted."