//------------------------------// // Ch12 The Truth About Iron Hoof // Story: Under Crimson Sails // by Priceless911 //------------------------------// The crew of off duty pirates sat gathered around a barrel and lantern as one spoke, “I’m telling ya the captain’s gone soft… I’ve been sailing with him for almost eighteen years and he ain’t ever placed a single pony in the brig. Everypony that’s crossed him was either punished or killed right there on the deck.” Another pony replied, “I don’t know… did you see how angry the captain was? I don’t think I’ve ever seen him like that… then that glare he gave her afterwards… I tell ya if looks could kill, she’d be six feet under right now.” The first sailor replied, “Angry or not, we can’t overlook this so easily. How many of us were executed right then and there as soon as the captain found out about their actions? And yet the lass is still breathin’ I tell ya somthin’ needs to be done.” Another sailor shushed him, “Shut your gob… ya realize If capt’n heard ya talkin’ like that, he’d cut out your tongue. If ya don’t like it, why don’t ya do somethin’ bout it? The lass is in the brig, go down there and deal with her yourself.” Another sailor shook his head, “Good luck with that, t’ween Mr. Keg and his musket you’d have a better shot attempting a mutiny. I respect him, but that gunner’s a loose cannon… pun intended.” An unexpected voice replied, “Aye… sometimes I wonder if he’s protecting the captain from you lot… or if it’s the captain protecting you from Mr. Keg.” All of a sudden everypony in the room looked to the doorway as they saw Pinpoint standing there with an unamused expression on his face. As soon as they saw him everypony in the room quickly straitened their stance as one spoke, “M-Mr. Point… I… I’m… just blowing off steam is all… I… I meant no disrespect.” Another pirate spoke, “We’re… just worried… a-about the Captain… he just… hasn’t seemed like his usual self lately. If we were to guess, it’s because of that mare.” Pinpoint replied with an annoyed tone, “Captain has matters of his own to deal with just as you have yours… S’pose you should worry more about yourself and less about what Captain Sail decides to do with the lass. Now if you lot are done, clearing the air from below deck… Captain has ordered us to the top to get ready to sail.” The crew nodded as they replied, “Aye sir!” Hopping the conversation was forgotten, the crew quickly filed out of the room as fast as they could as they rushed to the stairs and up onto the main deck. As soon as the last of the crew was out of the room, Pinpoint looked to the doorway they exited as he spoke, “Did you hear what you wanted to captain?” At that moment, Captain Sail stepped out from behind the doorway as he replied, “That’ll do… funny they rushed passed me without noticing I was leaning against the outside of the doorway.” Pinpoint smiled, “They were averting eye contact with me. They know what they did, and now they will watch their steps, since they know I’m onto them” Captain Sail smiled, “Good, so any attempt to harm the lass has been averted.” Pinpoint nodded, “for them anyways… but what about you?” Captain Sail held up a bottle of rum as he replied, “That depends.” Seeing the bottle Pinpoint nodded, “Aye… a talk then?” Captain Sail nodded, “S’pose I may get the truth from her this time, it may save her life. By the way, have you discovered our location yet?” Pinpoint nodded, “Aye… we are a ways outside of the Leviathan Sea. Easily two days travel from Home.” Captain Sail nodded, “and what’s the next closest port?” Pinpoint felt a little confused, “Well… we are about twelve hours from Zebabwee, in Zebrica. But… shouldn’t we return to finish Iron Hoof?” Captain Sail replied, “We need a good reason first.” Pinpoint turned to his captain and started to reply, “Good reason?... Captain we need t-“ “Mr. Point…” Hearing the anger in his captain’s tone, Pinpoint silenced himself as he replied, “Aye captain?” Captain Sail replied with the same anger, “You’re forgetting your place.” Pinpoint didn’t like the way his captain was talking, but rather than argue, Pinpoint replied, “Apologies captain…” Captain Sail disregarded the conversation as he continued, “For now tell the cook to prepare supper, dusk is on us, and I would prefer the crew be well rested and fed before setting a course.” Captain Sail turned towards the door as Pinpoint nodded, “Aye, aye captain, I'll see to it.” After that both stallions left the room as Pinpoint trotted up the stairs to the main deck, while Captain Sail trotted down another set of stairs towards the ship’s brig. Down below, Powder Keg stood outside a locked door as Captain Sail approached and asked, “Mr. Keg? How’s our first prisoner?” Powder Keg replied, “Silent as the grave capt’n. Every now and then I check on her to see if she is still there, but all she’s done is sit in the corner of the cell moping. Have you decided what to do with her capt’n?” Captain Sail held up the bottle of rum as he replied, “That’s to be determined…” Seeing the bottle, Powder Keg replied with a serious tone, “Capt’n, I don’t trust this mare anymore… but you know I'll stand by whatever decision you make, just… make it wisely, capt’n.” Captain Sail nodded with an unamused tone, “I’ll be fine… you should worry about her.” Powder Keg, unlocked the door and held it open as Captain Sail started to enter, “At no time will anypony enter or exit this room without my say so… no matter what you hear, understand?” Powder Keg nodded his head as he replied, “Aye capt’n, I understand.” With that Captain Sail nodded, and he fully entered the room, “Good… now close the door and lock it behind me.” Powder Keg nodded his head as he closed the door behind him while Captain Sail listened for the door to lock. After hearing the door lock, Captain Sail turned back to the rest of the brig to see two cells with metal bars built with the side hull of the ship providing the back wall of both. As he looked into the closest cell, he could see Siren sitting against the back corner as she looked up in response to the sound of the locking door, but as soon as she saw Captain Sail, she lowered her head back down in disregard of his presence. Seeing this Captain Sail started trotting closer as Siren spoke without looking up at him, “What are you doing here… aren’t you busy trying to think of some horrifying way to kill me so that your crew can become even more afraid of betraying you then they already are?” As Captain Sail approached the bars to her cell, he placed the bottle of rum down on the floor between the bars so that if she wanted to, she could take the bottle, as he replied, “I was… but then I already decided on how I was going to do it.” Siren looked up at Captain Sail as she saw the bottle and replied, “What’s that?... some sort of peace offering?” Captain Sail turned away and started trotting towards a chair sitting in the corner of the room as he replied, “It would be… assuming I wanted to establish peace… but until I get answers that I agree with… there will be no peace between us lass.” Siren stood up and trotted to the bottle as she looked down at it and replied, “So… it’s poison then… isn’t it?” Captain Sail picked up a chair and started back to the cell as he replied, “Some would agree… but to me… it’s just rum.” Siren watched as Captain Sail returned to the bars as he set up the chair outside the cell and sat down in it, as she replied, “You truly live up to the pirate name don’t you?… Makin’ a mare drink her own poison… that’s cold, even for you.” Captain Sail gestured towards the bottle, “You sayin’ ya don’t want it?” Siren pushed the bottle away as she replied, “I may be in a pickle… but I ain’t so broken as to take my own life. I still have some pride.” Captain Sail smiled as he picked up the bottle, pulled the cork out, and took a swig before replying, “Suits yourself lass.” Confused, Siren watched as Captain Sail placed the bottle back between the bars as she pointed at it and spoke, “Wait… what’s this about?” Captain Sail smiled, “This lass… is a lesson that predates even myself. One that… my father taught me, a long time ago.” Siren picked up the bottle, as she replied, “Your father… and… the lesson is?” Captain Sail gestured to the bottle telling her to take a drink as Siren took a swig. As soon as she tasted the rum, Siren coughed in surprise as she replied, “Wow… that’s strong… and… much better than the grog we get at port. What is this?” Siren passed the bottle back as Captain Sail looked at the drink and replied, “It’s a fine rum… this bottle is twice the cost of a single keg of any other stuff in the sea.” Captain Sail took a swig of the rum as Siren replied, “And… the lesson?” Captain Sail swished the bottle around as he replied, “Sailors have a since of intimidation towards their captain. But when troubling matters are discussed over a stiff drink… that fades. When you talk over a good drink, titles like captain, quartermaster, officer, subornment, even… father… become irrelevant. When talking over a bottle, we are no longer superior and subornment… we are friends. My father taught me that… that’s one of the reasons I respected him as much as I did.” Captain Sail sat the bottle back down between the bars as Siren picked it up and took another swig before replying, “Sounds like a great stallion. I respect ponies like that, seems the world is seeing less and less of em’ each year.” Captain Sail replied with a peaceful tone, “Aye, you speak the truth in that matter. Either way, with this bottle, you ain’t a prisoner, and I ain’t not your capture. We are just a stallion and a mare shar-” Realizing what he said, Captain Sail cleared his throat and rephrased, “We are just two sailors sharing a drink, and a story…” Smiling at his corrected phrase, Siren took another sip of the rum as Captain Sail continued, “And you lass, hold the most interesting tale I know… The tale of the Annabelle’s last voyage.” After hearing his words, Siren placed the bottle back in its place between the bars as she held her silence in shame. Noticing this, Captain Sail continued, “Lass… I’m giving ya the chance to save yourself… now tell me… What is your connection with Iron Hoof?” Siren looked down at the bottle as it sat uninterrupted between the bars as she replied, “If you’re referring to the mockery we fought earlier today… I’m not connected to that traitor… but… if you’re talking about the Captain Iron Hoof… the one you’ve been hunting for all these years… He is… was my father.” Although Captain Sail was expecting this kind of answer, he was still surprised as he replied, “Is he now… Go on…” Siren picked up the bottle, took a quick swig and sighed before setting the bottle back down and continuing, “In order for you to understand… I’m going to have to start from the very beginning… For a sailor who’s been hunting Iron Hoof, you know of the last time he was seen in the main seas?” Captain Sail nodded, “Aye… chased into a hurricane over three hundred years ago.” Siren nodded, “Yea, well… the pony who chased him into that storm was a commodore for the Prench Royal Navy. Commodore Chrysanthemum, of the Lullaby.” Captain Sail picked up the bottle and took a drink then nodded, “I heard of her… a great pirate hunter if I ain’t mistaken.” Siren nodded, “Aye… she held the record for most pirates captured by a single ship and crew in all of the main seas… but of them, there was always one that eluted her.” Siren picked up the bottle and took a drink as Captain Sail nodded, “Captain Iron Hoof?” Siren nodded as she placed the bottle back down and continued the story, “Aye… every step she took to catch him, was always one step behind. She tried for many years until finally she got lucky. She and her fleet of nine ships managed to corner Captain Iron Hoof off the coast of the Griffin Kingdoms. However, even a cornered pirate will never surrender easily. Desperate, Iron Hoof sailed directly into the path of a Hurricane, as the commodore took it upon herself to follow with all nine ships. Sadly, none of them knew the ferocity that this one particular storm held. What was once ten ships, quickly dropped to eight, then six, then four, then two. Before they knew it, the hurricane toppled and crushed all of em’ accept for Commodore Chrysanthemum’s flag ship the Lullaby, and Iron Hoof’s Iron Wing. Knowing there was no hope for survival, the pirate hunter and her target formed a pact. In order for them to escape the storm with their lives, they had no choice, but to work together for survival.” Captain Sail picked up the bottle and spoke before taking a drink, “When faced with death, even the bitterest of foes will join forces to survive.” As Captain Sail took his drink and sat the bottle back down, Siren picked up the bottle, took her own swig and replied, “Yea… well the storm wasn’t over that easily. To survive, the two ships and their crew’s tied the both vessels together from the sides so that they both would be hard for the fierce waves and sporadic winds to capsize. And though it only fixed half their problems, it did enough for them to fight the waves and storm, but the fierce winds tore their sails to ribbons, so all they could do was wait it out. Six days later, the storm dispersed and they were finally free, though by this time, the hurricane had traveled from the coast of the Griffin Kingdoms, to the Leviathan Sea. Wounded, exhausted, and too damaged to sail, the tied Lullaby and Iron Wing were set adrift until they became beached, on the Leviathan’s island.” Captain Sail was able to hide his surprise as he took the bottle, took a swig, and then replied, “So… what happened next?” Siren continued, “Well, when the Leviathan spotted them, he appeared and was going to kill them like he did all who stepped onto his island, but Captain Iron Hoof decided to make a counter offer for his trespass. In exchange for sparing their lives, Captain Iron Hoof offered his services as a Privateer. A Pirate for hire assigned to serve the Leviathan for any task that may be needed. At first the Leviathan was skeptic of the trespasser and his crew, but when Commodore Chrysanthemum offered to do the same, he was surprised. Whatever ill will set forth to unite a pirate hunter and a pirate must have been an unforeseeable and uncontrollable set of circumstances. So, showing mercy to the castaways, the Leviathan accepted the offer, but with one condition. The two captain’s and their crews could never again return to the main seas, they had to set up a new Home amongst the Hippogriffs on the Isle of Home. And so, Captain Iron Hoof and Commodore Chrysanthemum became Home’s first guardians tasked to protect the Leviathan’s most sacred treasure… A pearl with powers far beyond our own understanding.” Captain Sail nodded, “Funny, I bet the Commodore was angry that she was stuck working with the one pirate she was unable to catch Siren smiled at the mood of the story as she replied, “She was… but in time… she… sort of fell for him, in fact, not long after, they were married.” Captain Sail nodded, “Ah… I see… fell for your enemy in the heat of the moment.” Siren shrugged her shoulder, “Or something like that… either way… that was the true and first Iron Hoof.” Captain Sail replied with curiosity, “First?...” Siren took another swig from the bottle as she replied with a skeptic look, “You think that an earthpony could sail the leviathan seas for three hundred years? Of course not, He was just the first. Like my father, every time a guardian takes control of the Iron Wing, he places another as his successor, so that if he or she dies, the Leviathan will always have a guardian. I was my father’s successor, as was his father, and his, etcetera, etcetera. The position of guardian and the ownership of the Iron Wing is and will always be my family’s lineage. Or… at least it was.” Captain Sail figured it out, “Oh… so you’re a descendant to the first Iron Hoof… and… the Commodore?” Siren nodded, “Aye… if we were to count myself, I would have been the eighth Iron Hoof on the Leviathan Sea. But… that was before Sebastian.” Captain Sail took the bottle and took a swig, then replied, “Aye… that black stallion?” Siren nodded, “That coward in sheep’s clothing is more like it. We took him in and spared his life, and how does he repay us? He forged a mutiny against my father, and now is after the Leviathan’s treasure.” Captain Sail held up his hoof to stop her as he spoke, “Easy now lass… one thing at a time. Now… tell me of the Annabelle… were you there the day she was sunk?” Siren nodded with an unhappy look on her face, “Aye… I was… but… it wasn’t anything personal. We only did what we had to.” Captain Sail started to get angry as he replied, “What you had to?… better start talkin’ lass.” Siren sighed as she reached for the bottle, but before she could take it, Captain Sail picked it up and spoke before taking a sip, “I’m waiting lass… and be careful of what ya say… I can’t promise that I won’t lose my temper on this subject.” Seeing that he wasn’t going to let her drink, she replied, “We didn’t attack the Annabelle for any personal reason, nor was she some random target. The reason we sank the Annabelle was because of her cargo.” Captain Sail was curious as he sat the bottle back down for her to take as he asked, “What do ya mean cargo? Siren replied with a serious tone, “The Annabelle was transporting a stolen relic from the Leviathan Temple. This relic was taken when the priestess was chosen to take over the temple. When Priestess aqua was chosen, her rival got jealous and stole a relic from the temple to sell in the main sea. After he escaped to the Hippogriff Kingdom, we found out that he had sold the relic to a black market dealer and was having it smuggled into Equestria so that his buyer could examine it. The relic, was a book with a map and details about the leviathan sea that we wanted to keep secret. With it, anypony could find out that there was not only an island hidden in the Leviathan Sea, but that there was a treasure hidden on it. So… we tracked the vessel off the coast of Equestria… where… we sank her… and all witnesses aboard. To include, I’m sad to say… your father Captain Sail.” Knowing that this was the most difficult part of the story, Siren took another swig of the bottle, sighed in preparation, then continued, “After she went down… we waited for a few minutes as our changed crew salvaged the relic and any supplies we could use from the bottom of the sea, then we set a course back to Home. Only when we searched the supplies, we found the relic, but we also found a colt hiding in one of the barrels.” Captain Sail nodded as he confirmed, “Sebastian… right?” Siren nodded, “Aye… Naturally, the first option suggested was to toss him back into the sea.” Captain Sail nodded as if to agree, “Naturally…” Siren continued, “But… since I was only a year older then him, I stood up and defended him. I told father that if we could spare his life, then we would get a new cabin boy to help around the ship. I was… a little soft back then. But now that I look back on it… I wish we did throw him overboard. Actually… I would have loved to see that.” Captain Sail nodded, “Karma in the mix.” Siren was confused, “What?” Captain Sail replied with a careless tone, Iron Hoof killed my father, but spared another that day… it’s only fitting that the one to kill him is-“ “Careful captain… I chose my words in respect for your father’s honor… I would ask that you show the curtesy of doing the same.” Although he didn’t like it, Captain Sail nodded as he replied, “Fair enough… but you mentioned something about your changed crew, salvaging the wreckage from the bottom of the sea… what did you mean by that?” Siren took another drink as she hesitated before replying, “The Leviathan’s treasure… the one that we guardians protect, is a giant pearl, but it’s not just that. This pearl has the ability to transform anypony or hippogriff into anything that is required for survival. Although the only thing ive seen it change us into is a seapony.” Captain Sail was interested, “Seapony… like those old sailor stories?” Siren shook her head, “These ain’t those stories captain… That pearl has more power in it then even I know of. If it fell into the hooves of somepony who would mistreat it… like Sebastian… He could sink ships from under their keels, collect their loot from under the sea… and leave its sailors floating amongst the waves to die as a castaway. Every ship and sailor who thirst for adventure, will fall victim to his gluttony, and not just merchants and navy transports. Pirates, family schooners, sea artist, you name em’… Everything that the waves touch, will be at his mercy… and if I know him the way I do… that mercy doesn’t exist.” Captain Sail was confused, “So, why won’t your deity do anythin’ to stop him?” Siren took yet another swig of the rum and sat the bottle down as she replied, “The Leviathan may be a god… but he’s stubborn as a foal. He chose the Iron Wing as his guardian ship, so as long as one of his subject is at the helm, he will stand by whatever decision the ship chooses to make. The only way he would disagree is if the ship chose to attack him. In a way it did… but I’m willing to bet that when the Leviathan’s isle got hit by what he could assume was a stray shell, he had decided that the one who fired that round was the ship that was unfamiliar to his waters. Which is why he transported us away from the fight. If I wasn’t aboard this ship, he probably would have destroyed it and everypony aboard.” Captain Sail mumbled to himself, “A god with an ego… made a decision three hundred years ago and refused to accept that its circumstances could have changed. So I’m willin’ to bet that after we were casted away from the fight, the Iron Wing and its crew were spared.” Siren sighed, “Aye… most likely. As I said, the Leviathan will always trust the vessels he deems worthy, but he refuses to believe that any who captain that said vessel is bad. Even now, after seeing that the Iron Hoof Pirates and Home are enemies, he refuses to get involved.” Captain Sail could only smile as he replied, “That’s some benevolent god ya got there lass.” Siren smiled, “That’s what I said.” Captain Sail nodded as he started to ask, “Back to the Annabelle… you watch her go down with your own eyes?” Siren sighed as she replied, “Aye… I did…” Captain Sail nodded, “And my father… how did he die?” Siren smiled slightly as she replied, “A Captain and his ship are one… they sail together, they fight together, and if done properly… they die together.” Captain Sail could only guess that the word weren’t her own as he replied, “Well said lass… is that from a book?” Siren shook her head, “No… my father said that… right after the Annabelle was sunk. After we fired a number of vollies on the Annabelle, Captain Sail, your father despite his wounds, climbed to the helm of his ship, and… stood ready for what would happen next.” Although the words were painful to hear, Captain Sail held a straight face as he asked, “And… what did happen next?” Siren replied with a sympathetic tone, “He vanished… amongst the smoke and fire of our final volley… the one that sunk the Annabelle.” Captain Sail looked down at the ground and replied, “I see…” Seeing his obvious disappointment, Siren continued, “Afterwards, we shared a moment of silence for the Annabelle, her captain and her crew. The Iron Wing has only sunken six ships since it became the Leviathan’s ship, but each one was done out of respect and in defense of Home and her treasure. We may be pirates but we are not butchers.” Captain Sail replied with hidden anger, “You ain’t butchers… and yet my father’s blood still rusts upon your hooves… am I right?... Lass?” Siren nodded but as she reached to take another drink, she found that the bottle of rum was now empty as she stared at the bottle to avert her eyes before replying, “Aye… it is…” Captain Sail leaned back in the chair as he replied with an indecisive tone, “One would say that… being the daughter of the Iron Hoof I was after would justify you inheriting the debt he owed when he killed my father… would you agree lass?” Feeling like this was what he would decide, Siren nodded while still looking away, “I s’pose your right… and… I wouldn’t argue with that decision should you make it.” Captain Sail continued thinking over his decision as he replied, “And your only words of defense… you carried it out by doing what was best for Home… correct?” Siren sighed as she replied with a serious tone, “Aye… which is why, with all due respect… I regret nothing.” Hearing this almost enraged Captain Sail as he hid his anger and continued with a serious tone, “Did the crew tell ya ‘bout the first pony to ever cross me on my ship?...” Getting her attention, Siren looked up at him as he continued, “He was just some random pirate I recruited on the Cove, but soon as he came aboard, he started muttering ideas of mutiny behind my back, so ya know what I did?” Siren kept her attention as Captain Sail continued with a murderous look in his eye, “I shoved Mr. Keg’s musket in his mouth while he slept, and as soon as he realized what was happenin’, I scattered those ideas and where they were stored, across the rest of my crew while they slept.” Imagining the horrible sight, Siren stared with surprise at Captain Sail as he continued with no emotion in his voice, “Before he could make his move, I acted first. I didn’t give him a chance to defend himself, nor to fight back, I just did what was best for my crew… so… what would you think if a captain with a reputation such as that were to just… let you go?” Seeing his logic, Siren looked at the ground in shame as Captain Sail smile, “I'd think him a fool. But… he has his reasons that even I would dare question.” Captain Sail stood up, “And those reasons lass, are to do what is best for Home.” Suren was confused, “What?” Captain Sail trotted towards the main brig door as he knocked on it, “Mr. Keg?” A voice was heard through the door, “Aye capt’n?” Captain Sail spoke, “Open the door and hand me the keys!” Mr. Keg replied, “Aye, aye capt’n!” With that, the door to the room clicked unlocked as Powder Keg cautiously opened the door and gave the brig keys to Captain Sail. As soon as Captain Sail had the keys, he trotted back to the cell and unlocked it as Siren asked, “You’re letting me go?” Captain Sail opened the cell as he replied, “Your Home’s guardian right? Then your place is there.” He looked at his gunner, “Mr. Keg… Inform the crew that the lass is still a guest on this ship. And if anypony wants to complain… then my cabin and your cannon are ready to answer any questions they have.” Powder Keg looked at his captain, then at Siren, before looking back and replaying, “If you say so Capt’n… but are you sure you can trust her? She did betray us.” Captain Sail replied, “No, betrayal would entail she surrendered her loyalty. But as she stated befor, she’s no member of this crew, so it isn’t this crew that her loyalty lies, it is in the Isle of Home, and her ship that is temporarily in the care of another. So as far as I’m concerned, Miss Hoof did what she had to. She is a captain after all.” Powder Keg nodded, “Ok well if that’s what y- wait… Miss Hoof?” Captain Sail smiled, “Aye… Mr. Keg… Meet Siren Hoof… Iron Hoof’s daughter.” Powder Keg gave Siren a shocked look as Siren added, “I don’t go by that last name… its either Iron Hoof, or Siren. Captain Sail smiled, “Whatever ya say… Lass.” Powder Keg replied in surprise, “And… you’re still letting her go?” Siren winked in a gloating manner as she replied, “Nice to formally meet you Mr. Keg.” Although he didn’t trust her, Mr. Keg still felt a little awkward as he blushed at her pretty face, “Well… um…” Captain Sail sighed, “Easy Lass… you may be free, but this doesn’t change much. I’d be wise to watch your step while aboard my ship.” Siren sighed, “Sure… so nothing has changed then… Either way, I can only thank you captain. I… I honestly didn’t think this would matter to me.” Captain Sail pulled out her dagger and handed it to her as he replied, “I wouldn’t say that… once we reach Home and I drop you off, you and I… are done. Got it? I’ll go about my way… and you will deal with your problem by yourself… understand? Although she was disappointed to hear that, Siren understood his decision as she sighed in frustration, “Fine… if that’s your decision, I won’t argue with it… captain.” With an angry tone, Siren pushed Captain Sail aside and left the brig as both Powder Keg and Captain Sail watched her leave as Powder Keg spoke, “Um… is it me… or does she not like that idea?” Captain Sail replied with sarcasm, “It’s just you.” Powder Keg turned to his captain, “How do you know she can be trusted captain? After everything she did… I assumed she’d be dead by now.” Captain Sail looked back at the empty bottle of rum as he replied, “That was a fine rum we were drinkin’ lad… and anypony who would drink a rum like that that quickly either has a problem, or seeks a solution. I have no doubt in my mind that she was honest this time. Sadly… it’s too late to convince me to help her. Once we drop her at home we will go our separate ways… and preferably never cross paths with her again.”