Jimmy Shanty had finished washing dishes for Salmagundi when Spike showed up in the kitchen.
“Hey Jimmy, do you want playing dice?” Asked the little dragon.
“Perfect, I just finished my work.” Said the cabin foal. “Anything new in the Fog?”
“Nothing, the ponies can barely see anything beyond their snouts.”
Certainly, the trip was being tedious. Since they entered the Fog they did not have the sensation of having advanced a mile, and although it was clear that the ship was moving, they still could not distinguish anything beyond the figurehead. It did not even seem that there were animals or marine beasts in the vicinity, it was as if they had been left alone in the immensity of the ocean, and that was the most terrifying thing for the ponies.
“I'm sick tired of this,” said Rainbow Dash lying on the deck with her legs and wings outstretched. “I'm going to fly to see if I can find something from above to get us out of here.”
Just as Dash got up to take off, a claw grabbed her by the tail before she could start to fly.
“Are ye crazy gal?" Asked Silver, pulling and leaving Rainbow on the deck again. "If ye fly off and lose sight of the ship, it's probably that ye'll never find us again, ye'll be lost forever in the Fog. Do ye get the idea of what that means?”
Rainbow swallowed at Silver's serious tone. The idea of losing herself and ending up falling into the sea through exhaustion, where she would be at the mercy of any creature and an infinite depth beneath her, frightened her more than she would be willing to acknowledge. A sudden attack of thalassophobia seized Rainbow, who shrugged herself without saying anything.
Meanwhile, Sunset Shimmer went to the captain's cabin. The unicorn opened the door and there was Blowing Wind, focused in his maps, studying them with a compass.
“Capitan?” Said she calling his attention.
“Sunset Shimmer, to what do I owe the pleasure of yer visit?” Asked the old seadog surprised by the presence of the young pony.
“I just wanted to thank you for what you did during the storm, you saved my life.”
“It was nothing, I'm glad ye're recovered from the shock.” Said the captain.
Sunset Shimmer nodded, and an uncomfortable silence gripped the room. Blowing Wind seemed nervous and Sunset didn’t know what to talk about to break the tension of the environment.
“So... do you think we’ve got a long way to go?” Asked Sunset trying to get a conversation topic.
“I'm not really sure,” said Blowing Wind, “the tempest that we suffered diverted us from the intended course and right now I could not say how much we have left. I can’t use the sextant, and the compasses go crazy randomly.”
“I hope we can get there soon.” Said Sunset with a melancholy look.
Blowing Wind seemed to notice the orange unicorn's concern, so standing up hesitantly, he decided to ask a question that was in his head for a while...
“What do ye expect to find in Eponia lass?”
“To be honest, I don’t know exactly.” Answered Sunset. “If the map said that I had to go I guess it would have its reasons, but personally ... I think that in Eponia I could find answers about my past.”
“Is that so? Is yer past what yer worried about?”
"Now more than ever..." Sunset's expression was melancholy, it seemed as if she did not want to talk about it, but the old captain inspired trust, and after saving her life, he certainly owed it. “Long ago, I was all alone, that lead me to a path of ambition and manipulation from which I tried to get away as much as I could. Now I have friends who support me, and they’re with me in the good and hard times, but I always had that emptiness inside me that I could not fill with anything in this world or another. Maybe this trip is what I need to put an end to that unpleasant feeling.”
Blowing Wind nodded at Sunset Shimmer's speech, looking from one side to the other as if he wanted to avoid the turquoise eyes of the unicorn.
"Sometimes digging up in the past can only bring pain..." Blowing Wind said, looking away.
“But I want to know, I need to know...” Sunset’s voice was decided, to which Blowing Wind responded with a half-smile and with a sparkle in his eyes. “Forgive me if I bored you captain, and thanks for listen to me.”
“It was nothing, if ye need anything I'll be here, or with me hooves on the wheel.” Blowing Wind said as Sunset retreated.
After she left, the expression of the old seadog hardened and returned to his maps trying to clear his mind of nothing else than navigating and reaching Eponia.
The trip continued without any news and the ponies began to overwhelm. On the one hand the girls had no idea of the direction they were following, and the crew members were limited to heed the indications of Blowing Wind and Bowsprit, but they could not help feeling that they were totally lost.
Morality declined and not even Pinkie Pie was able to cheer the ponies.
“Bowsprit! Come right here!" Blowing Wind shouted from his cabin.
The boatswain left Applejack at the wheel and went down to his captain's cabin, closing the door behind him.
“Is there something wrong cap’n?”
“Aye, I'm afraid we have a problem.” Said the captain visibly worried. “I've been checking the map and the navigation charts and I'm afraid we could be lost.”
“What?!” Bowsprit's scream made Blowing Wind get up and cover his mouth with his hoof.
“Do ye want to be heard by all in the ship, imbecile?” Bowsprit just denied without saying anything. “I think the storm took us too far from the course.”
“And what are we going to do?” The bosun asked, beginning to lose his nerve. If we’re really lost here we will never get out.”
“Aw right, first ye’re gonna calm down, and second, we must keep this secret until we are sure of the seriousness of the situation.” Said the captain.
“And if we really are lost?”
Blowing Wind remained two seconds in silence lowering his hat to cover his face, then looked up and looked Bowsprit in the eyes ...
“Then let Celestia help us ...”
What Blowing Wind did not suspect was that a curious little dragon heard part of the conversation. Swift and quick he went to see his guardian who was in her cabin reading Daring Do's diary.
“Twilight, Twilight, we’ve got a problem.” Said Spike in the lowest possible tone.
“If it has to do with a dense fog, I get to the idea.” Said Twilight lying on her cot with her legs and wings outstretched. “What a boredom…”
“Twilight, I heard the captain say that we're lost, he does not know if we'll reach Eponia.” Said Spike alarmed.
“WHAT?!” Twilight jumped out of her cot like a spring and grabbed Spike with her hooves lifting him off the ground. “Are you sure that's what he said?”
“Well, maybe not exactly, but basically that's what I understood.”
“This is bad... it's really bad.” Twilight started walking around the cabin from side to side. Spike started to regret having said nothing, because he knew that poor Twilight would be overwhelmed to the point of no return. “This fog is a death trap, if we do not go out we'll stay here forever!”
“Well Twilight that we already know, but what do you think we should do?” Asked Spike trying to stay calm.
“Ok, I think it's better not to say anything at the moment, at least not until Blowing Wind says it, anyway I'll go talk to him.” Said Twilight.
The alicorn and the dragon went to the upper deck where, while the crew worked and checked the condition of the boat, their friends were mostly bored doing nothing, except Applejack who was still helping Bowsprit with the wheel.
“Spike, where were you? I have a problem." Said Jimmy Shanty, approaching the young dragon.
“What happens?”
“The ponies are nervous and the bo’sun Bowsprit is too decayed.” Said the frightened young cabin boy. “I fear that something bad happens
Spike was thinking of telling Jimmy the truth, but he chose to keep quiet when Twilight looked him with a serious look.
Suddenly, a strange noise filled the air. Something that could be heard as a song in the distance.
“What in the name of Celestia is that?” Asked Rarity confused as the others.
"They are whales!" Shouted Ish, "and they must be close."
Blowing Wind left his cabin and peeked over the starboard rail listening to the singing of the cetaceans. Twilight at that moment approached the captain, and whispered something in his ear, low enough that nopony would hear it.
“Then I suppose ye understand the seriousness of the situation, right princess?” Asked the captain looking at Twilight’s eyes.
"Of course, but I need to know, do you have some plan?" asked Twilight serious,
“Maybe there is something we can do... but at this moment it would be as difficult as putting this ship to fly.” Said the captain. “Do ye hear those whales?”
Twilight's ears fluttered at the singing that came from the sea and she nodded.
“The whales haunt the coasts of Eponia, but sometimes they go into the Fog in search of food.” Explained Blowing Wind. “If only we could find them...”
“There is more captain.” Ish appeared suddenly joining the conversation. “Even if we find them, nothing assures us that they are heading to Eponia. Maybe they’re migrating.”
“I’ve got it!” Shouted Twilight. “Fluttershy could ask those whales to guide us.”
The captain and the harpooner looked surprised at the Princess of Friendship.
“What do ye mean by asking?”
“Fluttershy can speak with the animals.” Explained Twilight. “We should use her skills to aske the whales for help.”
The sailors kept wondering if it was a silly thing or if it was true.
“Well, let's suppose we accept that crazy plan.” Said Ish still doubting. “We cannot send her through the Fog to look for whales, she could lost the ship.”
Twilight looked at the captain worriedly and he looked aside while thinking in another solution.
“Don’t ye worry princess, we can always tie a rope to her, then she can return safely to the ship.” Blowing Wind said. “Aye, I think it could work.”
Twilight nodded and went to talk to Fluttershy. The yellow pegasus was on the foredeck along with Rainbow Dash.
“Hey Twilight, how's it going?” Asked Rainbow Dash.
“Well, Rainbow, I’m afraid we’ve got a problem.” Answered the princess. “Fluttershy I nedd to talk to you for a second.”
“With me? Why?" Asked the shy pegasus.
“You’ll see, it is very possible that we are lost in this infinite fog, but the captain has discovered a quick way to get out.” Said Twilight as calmly as possible. “We need you to go talk to those whales and convince them to guide us to the shores of Eponia.”
“What?” Fluttershy's face showed concern and fear. “Oh, I can’t get into that fog, I could get lost.”
“Don't worry about that, they'll tie you a rope and you will not get too far from the ship.” Said the princess. “I promise you'll be back safe and sound.”
"Twilight, are you sure about this?" Fluttershy asked, ducking her head. “What if my fear paralyzes me and I get stuck in the middle of the ocean?"
“Come on Fluttershy, you're the only one who can talk to the whales, we need you.” Rainbow Dash tried to cheer her up.
Fluttershy looked at both sides as if she was seeking escape from this situation, but the shy pegasus knew there was no other solution. The destiny of the ship, the crew, and her friends depended on her and her innate ability to communicate with other animals.
“Okay, I’ll do it.” Said resigned closing her eyes.
Making the preparations, Ish tied a rope firmly around Fluttershy's waist, letting her wings free. The other end was tied to a safety hook on the mainmast.
“Listen Fluttershy, the cable is quite long but if ye see yerself lost or scared, hit three pulls and we’ll navigate to yer position.” Said Ish.
“Ok…”
“Come on Flutters, just don’t look back and remember we're here to help you.” Said Rainbow Dash.
“Good luck sugarcube” Said Applejack.
The poor pegasus flapped her wings gently and before she knew it, she was in the middle of the endless fog. It seemed that she was going to panic soon, but following the advice of her friends, she armed herself with all the courage she could and did not look back as she headed towards the songs of the cetaceans...
The minutes passed and both, the crew and Flutteshy’s friends began to worry about her. However, they remained calm when they saw that the cable didn’t move. That was a good sign, or at least it was what everypony expected.
"That’s it, I'm going to look for her." Rainbow Dash said determined to leave.
"Have you forgotten what we told ye?" Exclaimed Ish. "Do ye want to lose yerself too?"
Rainbow looked at the Fog, waiting for some signal of Fluttershy flying back, but she was frustrated when she realized of the endless void she was looking at.
Suddenly, the cable began to move, but nopony on deck knew if Fluttershy needed help or if they had to go in search of her. After a few moments that seemed an eternity, the young yellow pegasus came to the boat, landing gracefully on deck.
"Fluttershy!" Her friends shouted happy and relieved to see her safe and sound.
"Hello girls, I have company." She replied with a small smile.
The others heard some noises and approached the bow railing. In front of the ship they could see the whales snorting and swimming around her.
"That was quite impressive Fluttershy, how did ye do it?" Blowing Wind asked.
"I asked them politely."
"That kinda make sense... I guess." Ish said surprised that it was so easy.
After watching the cetaceans move forward, Blowing Wind ordered the ship to be fully sailed to Eponia again. The captain had taken the wheel, eager to get his crew out of the Fog. Sunset Shimmer was also on the bridge, she was happy to get to her destination soon; once again, she pulled the horn out of her saddlebag to observe it carefully. She was so immersed in her thoughts that she did not notice how Blowing Wind looked at her.
The old captain watched the unicorn with a mixture of calm and melancholy. Something that did not go unnoticed.
"Hello captain! What are you doing? "The sudden scream almost made Blowing Wind fall from shock. When he wanted to see who had bothered him in that way, he could see Pinkie Pie looking at him with a big smile.
"Pinkie Pie? By the Seven Seas where did ye come from, girl? "The captain asked between annoyed and surprised.
"From a rock farm near Ponyville, but now I live in that little town working as a baker, and you?" Blowing Wind looked at Pinkie Pie as if she was missing a screw, but a sudden laugh made him forget that idea.
“Ye are quite a strange mare Miss Pie.” Pinkie only answered with a smile.
The morale of the sailors seemed to have increased so they began to sing several shanties while the whales seemed follow them.
The girls decided to rest in their cabins and wait for the next day, trusting that the captain could take charge without problems from there.
The next morning, Applejack got up early as usual. She went on deck with the sunlight streaming through the fog. Blowing Wind was giving orders to his crew.
"C’mon ye lads, we have to prepare."
“Howdy cap’n, what’s goin’ on?" Asked the country pony.
"Ahoy Miss Applejack, would ye mind wake up yer friends? We will arrive soon to mainland."
"Are you sure, cap’n?" Applejack asked, looking around, not convinced because of the amount of fog that still surrounded the ship.
"Trust me lass, or at least trust in the gulls..."
Applejack resigned herself and went back to the cabins to wake up her friends. All the mares and Spike went on deck eager to see mainland at last.
"Captain, why are you telling us we're arriving if we're still surrounded by fog?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Be attentive and listen ..." The mares were silent for a while until they heard the snort of the whales, which were still there and squawks. "Seagulls do not lie Miss Rainbow Dash, come up with Silver and see for yerself."
Rainbow Dash hesitated for a second, but then flew up to the spot where Silver was waiting for her. The blue pegasus, who could not say a word, was speechless at the sight that stand in front of her. As the captain said, from the top of the main mast the coast was already visible.
"It's a beauty, isn’t she?" The tap said. "The Fog will disperse right away."
"Awesome" Dash replied simply.
Little by little, the Fog began to disperse, revealing a mass of green land and cliffs on the horizon. While Twilight and the others smiled at the view that stretched before them, the sailors began to cheer as if they had reached paradise.
"Land ho!" Silver yelled from the watch's crow's nest.
"So that's Eponia." Jimmy Shanty said surprised.
"It doesn’t seem like anything special from here." Said Spike.
"Wait to go, little dragon." Bowsprit said with a happy and satisfied expression.
The whales separated from the ship and they continued on their way, but not before saying goodbye to the crew, especially Fluttershy.
“Goodbye friends, it was a pleasure!” Shouted Fluttershy as loud as she could from the balustrade and shaking her hoof.
“I’ve got to say that without those whales and ye Fluttershy, we’ve been lost in that Fog forever. Thank’s.” Said Ish to the shy pegasus.
Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash approached Twilight. The blue pegasus seemed restless about something.
"Rainbow, what's wrong with you?" The princess asked.
"Twilight, we just arrived at this place, do you think I could ... You know, make a triumphal entry?" At first Twilight did not know what her friend was referring to, but after analyzing her expression a bit ...
"Oh, you mean ...?"
"Please, I have not been flying since we left Neightucket, I need to arrive at this land in the coolest way possible." Twilight doubted at Rainbow proposal. The last time the pegasus performed a Sonic Rainboom in unknown terrain did not go well.
"C’mon Twi, this is not like when Tempest chased us..." Applejack commented as if she was reading her friend’s mind.
"Okay, do it Rainbow. Do your best." Said Twilight, and the pegasus blasted off fast as lightning.
"Hey... what is she doing?" Blowing Wind asked.
"Now you’ll see Captain..." Twilight replied.
Once Rainbow Dash took height, she began to plummet while Pinkie Pie encouraged her. The sailors watched intently as Rainbow fell and began to sizzle. In what lasts a blink, the Sonic Rainboom appeared in the sky impressing the sailors and Sunset Shimmer, who had never seen that spectacle live. The blue pegasus created a rainbow around the ship and landed on the deck.
"Wow Dash, that was..."
"Awesome? Yeah, I know." Rainbow Dash said interrupting Sunset Shimmer.
"Miss Dash, that was pretty impressive." Ish congratulated Rainbow.
Dash was used to cheering, but she couldn’t avoid blushing herself at the comments of the sailors and Sunset. Her friends on the other hoof, had already seen the Sonic Rainboom so many times that they took it as usual.
Suddenly, the sound of what seemed like a trumpet made everyone shut up. It rang again, and Blowing Wind’s expression showed real terror. The captain galloped to the port side railing, where the sound came from, and took out his telescope, only to see the figure of a ship emerging from the fog.
Its design was more primitive than the Northern Star’s, it was Knarr type, with wide hull and a single mainsail. From a distance, Blowing Wind could see how the rowers rushed to reach.
"Curses! They’re the Scobii!" The captain yelled, galloping toward the wheel.
"What's wrong?" Twilight asked scared.
"The Scobii pirates". Bowsprit said, trying to remain calm, but visibly nervous. The rest of the sailors gallop from one side to another of the ship with the intention of preparing the sails to get away from the pirates.
"What the hay do they want from us?" Applejack asked.
"Plunder us, kill us... maybe both." Said Ish completely tactlessly. "It is possible that they take you all as slaves, or something worse..."
The girls look at each other scared and quickly went to help the crew with their escape.
"Ish, ye have to take out the light cannons." The captain shouted.
"We have not used them since long ago, we do not even know if they work." The harpooner replied.
"Just do it!"
“Aye Aye Cap’n!” Ish nodded and went down to the cellar, asking for a Sunset Shimmer and a Spike to accompany him.
The Scobii were getting closer and closer, making the crew nervous. Ish arrived with Sunset and Spike, who carried rather heavy boxes. Ish opened one of them and took out a small cannon that was placed on the handrail of the bridge, pointing to the pirate ship, which was already dangerously close. When Ish ordered Sunset to open the other box, the orange unicorn saw what was inside: the ammunition from the cannon.
"Point and shoot". The captain shouted. "With a bit of luck we will dissuade them."
Ish gave instructions to Sunset and Spike to get ammunition. The harpooner put a projectile in the cannon and fired. The project has nothing to do with the ship. Ish, Spike and Sunset continued loading and firing the cannon and managed to hit the ship once. However, a hail of arrows headed towards them, and they looked up scared.
Sunset and Twilight managed to protect the bridge with two magic shields, but do not prevent other arrows from reaching the ship’s deck. Unfortunately, one of them hit a target.
A cry of pain diverted the attention of everypony to see who was coming from.
"Rainbow Dash!" The mares and Spike ran to see the status of their friend. The blue pegasus had an arrow stuck in its right wing.
"I'm fine, it’s nothing, really..." Rainbow tried to move the wing but stopped when she felt a tremendous pain. She tried to keep her composure, either not to worry her friends or because her pride prevented her.
"Let me see" Bowsprit raised Dash's wounded wing and her face showed an expression of pain. "It does not seem serious, but ye have to see the sawbones."
"I'll take her with Scurvy then." Said Sunset.
"Ah’m comin’ with ya." Applejack said.
On the bridge, to make things worse, the ammunition ran out, and Blowing Wind looked fearfully at the pirates who were approaching more, and more...
"Captain! What are we going to do? "Twilight asked worriedly.
"Ye can start by praying to Celestia, or the gods you believe in and those who don’t believe in for that matter." Said the captain, losing hope. "When those bastards reach us, we will be doomed."
Everything seemed lost. But suddenly another trumpet sound was heard not far away.
"Ship ahoy!" Silver yelled.
Blowing Wind watched the approaching ship. He deduced that they appeared when they were distracted by Rainbow Dash's wound.
"It's a ship of the Legions..." Said the captain changing his expression. "There may still be hope..."
The ship was advancing at full speed against the pirates, who wanted to react, but their maneuverability was very limited. As soon as they approached, a rain of fire arrows fell on the Scobii pirates, before the watchful eye of the crew of the Northern Star.
The Legion ship advanced faster. From Northern Star’s deck you could hear the sound of a drum and the shouts with which the rowers accompanied their work.
"Wait, what are they going to do?" Twilight asked.
"Now ye'll see Princess," Blowing Wind said.
With all the power of rowing possible, the ship brutally rammed the pirates, splitting their vessel in half, causing the rest of them to fall into the sea.
"Oh my gosh, have you seen that?" Screamed Spike still surprised by what he had just seen.
"Sweet Mother Celestia." It was all Twilight managed to say.
From the Legion’s ship that trumpet sounded again.
"Stop dead!" Blowing Wind shouted. "They want to communicate with us, just don’t be addled."
From the ship, three pegasus left flying towards the Northern Star.
In the lower deck, Scurvy watched Rainbow Dash's wound, while she did her best not to complain.
"Ye've been lucky, a little closer and it would have hit yer lung," said the doctor.
"Doc we’ll have to take it out, right?" Asked Sunset Shimmer.
"Aye, I’ll do it now, Rainbow, this may hurt. Applejack, hold Rainbow's wing; Sunset, have a bandage ready." Both mares paid attention, and Rainbow looked surprised. With her magic, Scurvy split the arrow in half and pulled it out. Dash cried in pain, and a stream of blood splashed Applejack in the face who was so surprised that it almost loosened the wing of the pegasus.
"Ouch, son of a..." Rainbow complained.
"Rainbow such language!" Applejack chided her friend as she wiped the blood off her face with a towel.
Sunset got ready and levitated a bandage to put it on the wounded wing. Doctor Scurvy finished the bandage and Rainbow moved the wing a little to make sure it was okay.
"Ye will not be able to fly in a few days, but hopefully ye will be soon recovered." Said the Doctor.
"Relax, Doc, I've been worse." Dash said dismissing him.
When they realized that the ship was not moving, the four ponies went up to see what was happening. Upon arriving, Pinkie Pie quickly approached Rainbow.
"Dashie! How are you? You scared us for a moment." Pinkie said hugging her friend.
"Don’t worry Pinkie, it takes more than an arrow to kill me." Dash replied with his usual confidence.
"Ehm, who are they?" Asked Sunset, pointing to three pegasus who were about to land on the ship.
When they put their hooves on the deck, the one who had the appearance of a leader took two steps forward. He was a pegasus with yellow fur, who wore a legionary armor and a helmet with a red crest, the color of his tail (and therefore his mane) was a combination of two purple tones.
"Salve, I am Captain Fluctus Domitor, Classis Cobernica;" the pegasus placed his hoof on his chest and then raised in the air towards the rest. "I demand to know who is in charge here," said the legionary.
Certainly, the pegasus captain imposed respect, and nopony dared to say anything. They were begging for Blowing Wind to have a plan to get out of it. Luckily, he spoke before the tension got bigger...
"It can’t be, may Davy Jones take me soul... Domitor?"
The aforementioned turned to see who mentioned his name, his eyes widened, and he took off his helmet.
"On behalf of Nethvns... Blowing Wind!" The legionary captain came running up to Blowing Wind.
The surprise of the girls was capitalized to see the familiarity with which Blowing Wind was dealing with the legionary.
"All these years have made ye feel good, captain of yer own Quadrireme." Said Blowing Wind proudly.
"On the other hoof, you do not seem to have changed anything," answered Fluctus Domitor. "What brings you back to Eponia after all this time?"
"An issue related to them." Blowing Wind pointed to her guests. "Let me introduce you to Twilight Sparkle, Sunset Shimmer, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Applejack; and that dragon over there is Spike. "
All timidly greeted the legionaries, but Captain Fluctus stared at Twilight.
"You have a horn and wings... Are you...Are you an alicorn?" He asked surprised.
"Well... yes, I am." Twilight said in a dubious tone.
"Incredible, I thought you were a legend, we have not heard of alicorns in Eponia for centuries." The attitude of Fluctus Domitor turned out to be quite open, which reassured Twilight and her friends.
"Hey Fluctus, can ye explain us where those pirates came from?" Blowing Wind asked trying to clarify why they were attacked.
"I will explain it to you, amicus, but first we will escort you to the nearest port, Dwrnhorsefawr." Fluctus Domitor then addressed his subordinates. "Ventus Fortis, Naviculariam, go back to the quadrireme and follow us closely."
The soldiers nodded, pounded their chests and raised their hooves towards Fluctus. Then they started the flight to their ship.
After a long and dangerous journey, they finally reached their destination. Eponia was waiting for Twilight and her friends, and as in other places, the map sent them there for some reason, now it was only to discover why, but also to find out what connection Sunset Shimmer had with this secluded and mysterious land.