Tor lay in his bed looking at the wall; he couldn’t lay on his back with Torais on his side. It was dark out, it had been dark for a while and Tor couldn’t help but wonder what would happen the next day.
I hope everything goes okay with the militia… he trailed off.
Stop worrying about it. Silver scolded him. I’m sure everything will be fine, and I’ll be here to help like I always am.
You were in charge of the library; there was only one of you. I need experience leading ponies. Tor mumbled.
Quick Thrust is there to teach you. Silver reminded him. Tor shook his head.
I’m well aware of that but I’m still afraid that I can’t do it. He confessed.
There’s a lot of time to learn, and thinking about it like this isn’t going to get you anywhere! Silver said in exasperation.
…How do you do it? Tor asked.
How do I do what? Silver asked confusedly.
How do you stay so positive about these things? Tor asked. You never let doubt get the better of you. Silver said nothing for a long time. Tor shifted under the covers, breaking the silence.
I had to be. Silver replied finally.
What do you mean? Tor asked.
Open Book had a few problems staying positive, believe it or not he was nearly terrified when they asked him to be the head librarian… everyone thought that it would be Hardback. When he told me the news he was freaking out saying that he couldn’t do it, but I told him that there was a reason for him being chosen. I told him that they knew he had what it takes to do it and that he should never doubt himself about it. Silver remembered.
What happened after that? Tor asked.
Well obviously Open Book became the new head librarian and you should more or less know the rest. Silver answered.
I know what you mean. Thanks. Tor thought smiling to himself. He closed his eyes and settled down.
----
Tor stood in the town square, it eleven as they had agreed upon and several ponies were standing around. Tor noticed Applejack and Rainbow Dash standing and talking quietly and trotted over.
“Good morning.” Tor said as they noticed him. Rainbow Dash nodded in his direction.
“Good morning Tor.” Applejack half mumbled. Tor raised an eyebrow.
“Is something wrong?” He asked. Applejack shook her head.
“Aw, it’s just that Rainbow over here seems a little bit overconfident here.” Applejack sighed waving a hoof at Rainbow Dash who leaned forward in anticipation.
“What do you mean overconfident?” She demanded. Applejack shrugged.
“Yer just rarin ta go and sayin you’ll be top of the whole thing in a day!” Applejack explained. Rainbow Dash started to bear her teeth Tor put himself between the two mares.
“Calm down, this isn’t about who’s better or whatever, this is for the good of Ponyville. If we’re fighting among ourselves it makes us weaker, so just stop it now.” He scolded. Rainbow Dash looked away.
“Sorry.” She mumbled.
“Ah’m sorry too.” Applejack said. There was a small cough from behind Tor and he spun around, Quick Thrust was standing behind him wearing gauntlets on his hooves, his spear was clenched in his mouth.
“I see that this is everypony?” He asked taking a quick headcount. “24… that’s about right.”
“So are you ready for this?” Tor asked. Quick Thrust shook his head.
“Oh no, you’re in charge of this. If you’re going to learn how to be a leader you might as well start by leading something.” Quick Thrust said motioning towards the large group of ponies milling about the town square. Tor shook his head.
“I’m not sure if I can.” He confessed. Quick Thrust gave him a small nudge.
“A wise leader once said: a leader is a dealer in hope. If you can’t even speak to them then what hope is there for leading them? You need to give them something to fight for, something to believe in. I don’t think they understand it right now but their way of life is in danger and you need to give them hope; hope that things can return to normal.” Tor blinked.
“I-I understand.” He said. He walked over to the crowd, he could feel Quick Thrust watching his every move.
Let’s just get this over with. Tor sighed mentally.
“Ladies and gentlecolts.” He said loudly. All the ponies in the crowd turned towards him, even Applejack and Rainbow Dash joined them. Tor took a second to compose himself and started talking. “As you all know there is the threat of chaos out in Equestria currently. You all know that this threat might come into Ponyville at any time. That is why we are here.” He paced to one side. “We are here to keep our friends and family safe, we are here to keep our homes safe, and that is your job. It is my job, with the help of Quick Thrust, to teach you how to do this.” He motioned to Quick Thrust who nodded to the crowd. Tor turned to face them again. “I will not lie when I say that this is not for everypony, and I can respect that. If there is anypony that wants to back out then now’s the time.” He paused, nopony moved. He nodded and resumed his speech. “Good, we shall begin soon. Quick Thrust and I will divide you into two groups, archers and swordsponies. Quick Thrust will be in charge of training the swordsponies and I will train the archers. Are there any questions?” Silence filled the air. All the ponies in the crowd watched him with awe on their faces. “Okay then, everypony line up here and we’ll divide you up…”
----
Distant shouting woke Tag up; he shifted slightly in the hammock and rolled out. Looking around he saw that the sun had come up through the grate in the ceiling. He trotted past several ponies in other hammocks rubbing their eyes and up above deck. There was a large mass of ponies were standing in the middle of the deck, they were all looking at the raises area beside the steering wheel where McCutchen stood beside Brook. Tag could hear small conversations going on all around him.
“Why’d the Captain call a meeting?” Asked a pegasus in front of Tag.
“I heard something happened with the Royal Family agent…. Tag I think.” Tag suddenly felt nervous.
I hope nothing bad happens… He trailed off.
I’m sure McCutchen’s just updating them with our real mission. Book said. The last of the ponies had come up from below deck and now everypony stood watching McCutchen and Brook silently.
“Crewmembers, there have been developments with our mission. Also, in graver news, Antediluvian has spoken.” At the mention of the name the crowd broke out in loud whispers. Tag looked at the ponies around him, some glanced in his direction questioningly but most were talking to each other.
“Antediluvian? When was the last time he wanted to talk to the Captain?”
“It’s been a long time, like… eight months I think.”
“Wasn’t that when we were attacked by that bunyip?”
“Yeah, I remember now. We lost a lot of good ponies to that thing.”
“Everypony listen! The Captain has some important things to say!” Brook pleaded. All of the crewmembers immediately stopped talking and looked back to McCutchen.
“Antediluvian has spoken to me saying that there has been talk of mutiny on this ship!” He called out. “And he has told me who started these talks.” Some of the crewmembers looked around.
“Who is it?” One cried from the back of the crowd. McCutchen looked at the crowd until his eyes locked onto a pony that Tag couldn’t see.
“Lightning!” McCutchen bellowed. “Why have you done this?” Tag pushed to the front of the crowd where Lightning stood. He was looking up at the Captain with a sneer on his face.
“Because you’ve gone soft Captain!” Lightning explained. “Taking a mission from the Royal Family, bah! We’re pirates and we have to act like it! What’s there to gain by any of this?” McCutchen closed his eyes.
“This mission isn’t just about the Royal Family. The outcome of this mission is quite possibly key to the survival of Equestria.” He said. Lightning shook his head angrily.
“Who cares about Equestria? We’re in it for ourselves! Who cares if the rest of those ponies die?” There was complete silence on deck. Tag was looking at Lighting with a horrified expression on his face.
Who could possibly think like that? He asked.
Ponies that have been chewed up and spit out by life. Book said sadly. McCutchen was looking down at Lightning with disgust.
“Tell me, how many ponies have joined you?” He asked. Two more ponies crept out into the clearing. “Lass… and Raid.” McCutchen said quietly, almost to himself. “What are you going to do, kill me now?” He demanded. Lighting drew a knife that had been strapped to his side. Raid, a large unicorn stallion, and Lass, another earthpony both drew a cutlass each.
“Yes.” Lightning said grinning evilly. He started running towards McCutchen with Lass and Raid at his side. McCutchen turned his head and looked right at Tag. The message was clear.
Why me? Tag asked looking around quickly.
McCutchen wants you to prove yourself. Book said quickly. Go! Tag quickly jumped into action. He used his magic to push the light away from him so that nopony could see him. At the same time he pulled out Tagia and started running; Raid was the closest so Tag went for him first. Tag jumped at him and knocked to the ground, without hesitation Tag sunk the knife into his throat, Raid died instantly and soundlessly. Lightning and Lass had noticed what had happened and looked at Raids body confusedly. Tag pulled the knife from Raids throat, still holding the shadows and jumped at Lass, he cut her throat and she fell spilling blood onto the deck. Lightning looked at Lass’s body and jumped back.
“Show yourself!” he cried looking around the deck. Tag looked at him. He let go and the shadows fell away, he was visible again. Lightning narrowed his eyes. “You!” he said angrily and jumped at Tag. Tag dodged to the side quickly and nicked Lightning’s side as he passed. It was enough for Tagia to suck out his soul. Lighting collapsed without a sound and a look of anger stuck on his face. Tag wordlessly cleaned Tagia on the body.
Impressive. Book said.
It all came back to me. Tag thought. But I’d rather not have done that. McCutchen jumped down and looked at the bodies of the mutineers.
“See?” He yelled. “Bad things happen to those who mutiny!” There was silence Tag stood beside the Captain and sheathed Tagia as the mist disappeared into it. “Now is there anypony else that wants to say something?” There was still silence. “Good, somepony please throw the bodies overboard.” A unicorn at the front of the crowd stepped forward and picked up the bodies with his magic making sure to leave behind any valuables. McCutchen turned back to the crowd. “Good. Now, there have been some developments in our mission and we may be at Heaven’s End more than we expected a-“
“Captain!” It was the unicorn that had taken the bodies away. He was peering over the edge of the ship. “Captain, isn’t that a Sea Weather Patrol station over there?” McCutchen rushed to the edge of the ship. Tag trotted beside him, he could see a large metal tower sticking straight out of the water; the top had a platform with a smaller tower on it. McCutchen looked surprised.
“We shouldn’t see any of those for the next two days…” He whispered. He turned around and looked quickly at one pony. “Pilot! What’s going on?” The pony, a turquoise pegasus stallion with a compass on his flank, looked at the tower for a moment.
“We are on course… and that tower shouldn’t even be here; the serial code says it should be in sector B.” He concluded. Tag looked back to McCutchen.
“Is that bad?” He asked. McCutchen looked deep in thought. Pilot snorted.
“We’re in sector T. Sector B would be almost a month that way.” He said pointing in the opposite direction. “What I don’t know is why this tower is here.”
I think that my fears have been realized. Book said quietly.
What do you mean? Tag asked.
Discord’s gotten strong enough that he’s beginning to affect the geography of the entire world. Who knows where we could be now.
“I know what’s going on.” Tag said trying to get McCutchen’s attention.
“Spit it out then.” Pilot snorted.
“Discord is messing up the world, that would explain what’s going on with this Sea Weather Patrol tower thing.” Tag explained. Pilot looked thoughtful for a moment.
“So what you mean to say is that we could be anywhere at any time?” He asked.
It’s not that we could be anywhere… it’s really hard to explain. Just imagine it as everything got uprooted and moved around a little. Book said quickly.
“Okay, not what you said.” Tag said motioning to Pilot. “But… things got moved around a little.”
“And we have no way of navigating our way to Heaven’s End, or even the mainland for that matter…” McCutchen guessed.
“I would assume so.” Tag agreed.
“Forever lost at sea… a ship with no direction.” McCutchen said somberly. The crowd broke out into worried murmurs. Tag saw Lop break through the front of the crowd and trot up to him.
“Say it isn’t so Tag! There has to something we can do!” He said almost pleadingly. Tag shook his head.
“There isn’t anything that we can do from on this ship.” He said quietly. McCutchen looked around at his crewponies with a resigned look on his face.
“Looks like I led us into this, sorry my friends.” He said.
“Don’t be like that Captain!” Lop said putting an arm on McCutchen’s shoulder. “It’s not your fault. We all stay on this ship because we want to, and I’m sure we wouldn’t have it any other way.” McCutchen shook his head.
“That may be true but I don’t want your deaths on my head.” He sighed. Lop looked over at Tag helplessly, Brook had come over and took McCutchen with one hoof.
“C’mon Captain, you should just take a break.” She said softly leading him off. McCutchen turned back to Tag.
“Tag… go see Antediluvian. Pilot, take him there.” Without another word he softly followed Brook to his quarters. That left Tag, Lop and Pilot to deal with the rest of the crewponies. Pilot looked toward Lop and Tag.
“What should we say?” He half whispered to them.
“Perhaps getting back to work will get their minds off of things.” Tag suggested. Lop nodded in agreement.
“It would work for me.” He said.
“Let me talk to them.” Pilot said and stepped in front of the crowd. “All right everyone back to work!” Nopony moved.
“Where are we going?” One called out.
“What are we doing?”
“We’re going wherever the sea takes us, isn’t that the idea of being a free pony on the sea?” Lop asked looking around. The crewponies looked at each other and shrugged muttering in agreement. “Then let’s get to work!” The crowd dispersed slowly, the ponies going off in different directions to their chores. The ship was suddenly quieter than it had been when Tag first arrived; the atmosphere was darker as the crew now knew about their hopeless situation. Lop looked at Tag.
“Are you ready to see Antediluvian?” He asked. Tag gave him a confused look.
“I keep hearing his name, who is he?” He asked. Lop motioned for him to follow.
“I don’t actually know myself, but then again the only pony to talk to him is McCutchen.” Lop explained as he led Tag down into the ship. “He’s supposedly the wisest pony in all of Equestria, rumours say that he isn’t even a pony.” Tag raised an eyebrow.
“Not even a pony? I’m not so sure about that… but can this really be the wisest pony in all of Equestria? Why would he be working with pirates?” He asked Lop shrugged as he turned away from the cabin where the oars were. The occasional lantern dimly lit the hallway.
“I don’t know, I told you that the Captain’s the only one to see him… until now.” He stood in front of a door; the door was green with a moldy residue and the occasional piece of sea life. Tag was startled by the contrast to the rest of the ship and turned around; at the other end of the hallway the ship looked perfectly fine and cared for. Lop grinned uneasily.
“Got you, didn’t it? I was surprised the first time I saw this place. Anyway, the door should open. Try to find me or Pilot when you’re done and we’ll see if we can figure something out.” He turned around and trotted back to the other side of the ship… to safety. Tag felt totally and utterly alone suddenly.
Book? I don’t like this… He trailed off.
I have a bad feeling about this too, but I have another feeling that this is important. Book urged Tag. Tag pushed the door open and stepped inside.