//------------------------------// // An Unwelcoming Arrival // Story: King of the Seas // by KG1945 //------------------------------// Things are going well. Yes, for times like these, everything today is going as planned. The green earth pony looked down at his list, making sure all the ships were on their way to their next shipment. "The silk threads are on their way to Manehattan. This month's harvest are most likely being purchased at Applepoloosia around this very moment. And our last import should be arriving in a few days." He released a huge sigh. He knew that no matter how much was being imported or exported for Canorlot, nothing was going to change. "Ever since that day, everything changed. For Canorlot, for Equestria, for the world itself." He, like everypony else, have suffered from the bankruptcy. When it started, nopony ever thought that Canorlot would be the one to be affected the most. Yes, Canorlot, the most powerfulest of all the kingdoms, is barely what it used to be. "But we make it by... Whenever we can." The working stallion shook his head, he shouldn't be thinking about this right now. There were still somethings that needed to be done before the day was out. He walked toward a grey pegasus mare looking into a torn saddle bag. "Hey, has he sent a letter yet?" The mare turned around and looked at her fellow worker. At least that's what it sort of looked like she was trying to do. He hasn't gotten used to seeing those crossed golden eyes. "And please, don't say that you accidentally dropped it into the harbor...again." The mare gave an embarrassed blush at his comment. "Yeah, again sorry about that. But this time, I promise, there has been no updates from..." He waited for her to respond, but it looked like she wasn't focused on him. He couldn't really tell, but it looked liked she was starring at something from behind him. "Uh sir? Wasn't there supposed to be an import coming in a couple of days?" The green pony looked confused but answered. "Why, yes. This will be the last import for the next few months. Why do you ask?" She had a nervous look as her eyes. As she looked, mostly, at him. "I think...he found... another shortcut." She pointed her hoof at the supposed object. The earth pony turned around, and sure enough there was a ship coming in from the horizon. It looked a little different from all the other ships. Despite the quite obvious holes and broken wood planks that adormed the outside of it. It had the most decorative and eye catching designs all over it, most of them made of pure gold. But the most outstanding design was on the very face of the ship. A gorgeous mare stood gracefully in a stunning, flowing white dress. She was an alicorn, a species very rare among pony kind. As far as anypony knew, the only alicorns that exist are the three princesses. But this princess was only known as an old pony's tale, a bed time story for little foals. But this ship brought anything but a filly's smile or a colt's adventurous curiosity. No, right as this trading ship came into view, the stallion got a sick feeling in his stomach. There was only one pony who could afford such a sailing masterpiece. His eyes widened as he realized who exactly it was that was giving a surprised early homecoming. "PREPARE THE DECK!" All the workers turned their heads at him, surprised of his sudden outburst. Until all their eyes went to the harbor and saw the cause of his loud command. All the ponies here and there ran and clean every which way to prepare his arrival. The last thing that they want is a high and powerful stallion to come and judge their work setting. Since they didn't expect anything surprising to happen the whole deck was full of scattered supplies and working stallions going about their day. They tried their best to make sure that every rope are all rolled up, all the crates were moved to make sure that their boss's grand entrance had plenty of room, and that even the tiniest speck of dust was out of sight. What made it worse was that no pony wasn't physically prepared themselves. They all were wearing their very cheap and worn out clothing. Seriously, there was nopony that hadn't had a tear or stain on their old shirts or trousers. All of them hoped that this pony will make his usual come and go returns. Despite on how filthy they all looked, every worker was about ready to have a panic attack. Nopony expected him to come so soon, even though this is was not the first time this happened. Ever since his old man gotten ill and passed him the family business, he immediately wasted no time on making everything fit to "his image". Luckily for them, it'll take a will for the lovely vessel to come to port. But still not only was the ship was completely stunning, it was very..tough.. short of speak. Which made sense for why it was still above the water, especially since it had like 27 holes everywhere. It was not only strong, it was also pretty fast too. In fact it was over halfway to the docks right now! "HURRY! SWEEP THE DECKS! MOP THE POLES! DUST THE ROPES! THERE MUST NOT BE ANY SPECK FILTH IN THE CAPTAIN'S PRESENCE!" It was ironic, especially since the pony who was becoming a sweat fountain was the pony who was giving hygiene orders to his less, but still dirty, workers. Once everything was put in order and as clean as it could be, everypony stood it two parallel lines. All of them hoping that the captain will focus more on their working progress and less on their smell rating. It was about an half an hour later before the vessel finally parked at the docks. After the anchor was lowered and the ropes were tightly secured, all the stallions and mare waited anxiously. The plank was lowered, and now laid on the deck. The green pony was an absolute nervous wreck, especially when saw a tall figure come down to meet him. And there he was, Captain Blueblood, in his fancy clean suit and giving him his neutral but still somewhat threatening stare. He started to feel his legs shake as he stared at his now sweat soaked clothes. "Couldn't bother to dress properly for your boss Mr. Clover?" He was giving his usual threatening and powerful voice, he pretty much used it on anypony whom insulted him in any way. Swallowing a huge lump in his throat his answer as calmly as he possibility could. "I-I apologize sir. It's j-just that I didn't expect you to be arriving today. P-plus it has been a very stressful day a-and everypony has been working hard since you left sir and.. and.." "Yes, I could smell your wretched odor all the way across the harbor. And as my father once said, 'A stallion who doesn't have any signs of hard work doesn't work at all. '. And from what I can see," His cold eyes scanned all the workers and all the dirt that was on their already disgusting suits. "you all have been busy." He frowned when his eyes spotted the grey mare and walked towards her. She trembled when he stood in front of her and she didn't dare look up at his face. "Excuse me madam, may I ask what are doing on my deck." She tried to respond but it only came out as a whimper. Luckily, Clover quickly went in front of her. "This is Miss Doo Captain, remember you said you need a knew messenger. Since you whipped and fired your last one for being 3 minutes late before you left. And.. and since you didn't have enough time to find a new messenger your-yourself I went to find the most available pony. And Miss Doo n-needed a job and she is a g-good worker, so I gave her the mail bag s-so I'll be able to..to keep track of all..all the s-shipments more e-easily." Clover tried to keep his posture straight and as strong as he could. Even if he was shaken like he just got his first sea legs. He needed to at least try and look strong for the poor mare behind him. If he only had known of Blueblood's early arrival he would have sent her to do some other task away from the Caption. There was nopony who didn't know Blueblood's... perspective on a mare's work ability. "So, while I was gone for eight moons you needed an extra hoof around here. Is that right, Mr. Clover?" The grey mare was trying to hold back tears at his tone. Clover however, answered with confidence, "Yes sir, the shipments this month have been really high and I needed more help around here.". With a nod of his head he took his eyes away from the unicorn and aimed them at the pegasus. She was nearly rolled up in a ball, whimpering behind her employer. "Well, Miss Doo I must say I'm surprised that one of my few work ponies found an eligible worker so fast. Usually it would take around a few weeks before being granted the responsibility of delivering my letters. Hm, you must be one special pony to only be hired less than one week, right?" She was starting to tremble when he spoke to her. But she tried to stay calm by taking a deep shaky breath. She slowly looked up to meet the captain's cold eyes starring at her. When they were eye-to-eye it only made her body tremble more. After taking a huge gulp she answered in a small meek voice, "W-well I-I-I would-wouldn't say I'm out of th-the ordinary. B-but I do try my best a-and my hardest work, s-sir.". They stayed there starring at each other for what felt like days, then Blueblood gave her a caring smile. Her crossed eyes widen in shock seeing him sincerely smiling at her. There was no sign of him giving or hiding any negative emotion inside. "That is really good to hear Miss Doo, it is rare to find a true working pony these days. I am relieved to hear honest words from you. And I'm sure you took this job very seriously with hardly any mistakes made." Feeling more relaxed her trembling stopped and she even smiled a bit. "Yes, sir. Right when I was given the job I did all that needed to be done. I even helped the others with their assignments when I had extra time.". Blueblood's smile grew more hearing this, and the grey mare felt her smile grew bigger as well as her confidence as well. "I worked for hours on the port, I even worked over night some days. Even on breaks I was looking for anypony that could use the extra help." All the ponies listening to the mare's report on her work were looking really confused. Blueblood was all calm, and surprisingly real happy at what he was hearing. There was literally no signs of a trap for the small mare that Blueblood showed. They thought once he found out that an inexperienced mail pony was hired in his absence they all would be severely and cruelly punished. But none of them expected their captain to look so friendly, not to mention he was holding onto every word Miss Doo told him. It was completely unlike him, in fact there was hardly ever a time he would actually be smiling. "It has been a good and successful week sir. Everypony did there work and even the most wettest letter was delivered." Something flashed in Blueblood's eyes for a brief moment at that last part. "Pardon me," Instantly the Derpy shut her mouth. Still smiling from the story she was telling. "forgive me if I miss heard, but did you say that the letters you were delivering got soaked?" Derpy's little prideful grin disappeared for a bit. Then a more nervous and slightly embarrassed look came apon her face. "Ooh ahh... y-yeah there was a few that w-went into the hardor. B-but only three or four I swear!" Still staring the caption had not said or move for a second, before taking a step towards the mare and giving her a little pat on the head. "No use of cry over spilled milk as a wise pony once said. As long as they all got delivered no true harm is done." He gave her a small warm smile and all Derpy's nerves were all gone. Bring back to her little cheery self. "Now Miss Doo, if I may ask, where did the letters drop." Out of confusion of the reason for the question Derpy cocked her head to the side. "It's just to see if the dock is safe, I mean if a lovely graceful mare such as yourself could manage to drop some mail then we've got to make sure that nothing could cause anything more serious to happen." Straightening her head and giving a nod of understanding she lead Blueblood to one of the corners of the dock. "Right here. I'm not really sure why, but pretty much every letter seemed to slip out of my hooves here." After taking a quick look at the small corner where Derpy stood with her back turned from him, Blueblood's face was devoided out of any emotion. "Hmm, yes. I can see clearly now, how they slipped from your grasp Miss Doo." "Really? That's great! How you found out so fast? I mean, you have no idea how relieving it is to-" Her hooves suddenly losing their conact on the old dock cut Derpy off, and before anypony realized what was going on a loud splash was heard from the corner of the dock. Clover along with the other workers raced to the edge to stare in horror at the lapping waves. In about six seconds the pegasus launched out of the salty water taking a deep breathe of air, then releasing a few coughs of water out of her throat. She looked up with her wet bangs covering her shocked face. Her eyes caught Blueblood's, he looked down at her with anger and disgust. "Yes, I believe the reason for your little mishaps isn't the lack of safety for the dock. No, I have a strong feeling for the incompetence of your work is simply from...you." Before Derpy could fulling process what he was saying she felt herself being lifted out of the water and roughly dropped on the dock for all to see. All eyes were on her with her dark blue dress soaked and her hair dripping water onto her face. It was hard to tell for sure, but Clover was sure he saw tears mixing in with the drips of sea water. Blueblood just stood there looking down at the poor mare. "This is the reason I don't allow mares to do a stallion's job. Especially one who can't even keep a single piece of my letters from falling into the damn ocean." He lifts up her chin with his hoof, her face wet with sea water as well as tears flowing out of wacky eyes. "Clumsy and useless mares like you have no worth here, it's no surprise to me why you hadn't been able to take this job. Tch, in fact it doesn't surprise me in the slightist why you have no husband to take care of you. With those hanis eyes of yours I highly doubt that any stallion could even stand to look at you." He released her and she lowered her head, silently sodding into the floor of the dock. She then felt something being taken off her shoulder. Derpy looked up to see Blueblood holding her mail bag. "And in case this isn't obvious to you, you're fired." Not breaking his gaze at her he levitated the mail bag over to Clover. "Make sure you find a more suitable mailpony for me this time. You are lucky I'm in a good mood today, or your lesson would be far more... severe." The green pony swallowed all his nerves down his throat before giving a heavy nod to him. Satisfied Blueblood cut through the crowd to officially get to land after about a month at sea and to get to his carriage that Clover immediately ordered before his demanding boss' ship came to the docks. Said Captain stopped only to turn towards his damaged ship. His eyes narrowed while looking over at the cracked wood from that ...criminal he came across. He was on his last nerve for these sea parasites messing with what was his. Speaking of which... His cold eyes now landed on Rockhoof who was being escorted by the two stallion he ordered to lock up. He was still furious for this old coot to think he could try to steal from him. Blueblood had a great urge to lock that thief back in the cellar until the next shipments were finished or until the rodents living there take a good chunk of his leg so he would have to amputate it. But looking at his pathetic form all hushed over, weak, fatigued, and still carrying that ugly now cut up scarf to his chest. He decided it was a good enough punishment. And now that he was nothing but dead weight he feels no remorse getting rid of him. Even when he was a big help to his crew he was a nuisance. Always protecting the weak ones. Guess he finally figured out that no matter who you help or how you do it, in the end all that help will get you no where. He was about to turn his leave when his eyes caught the sight of the balloon sword Rockhoof was carrying with his scarf. He could guess where or well who he got it from. Ugh, he always hated that stallion's childish demeanor. His cousin is no better, in fact he is what you call "the life of the party" so to speak. He might have to come up with something for those two as well, but now there are other matters to attend to. "Clover!" Said stallion quickly runned up to the captian with his notes all ready to write down any demand Blueblood had for him. "I want immediate repairs on my ship as soon as now." Clover quickly wrote that down and calculated how much wood would need to be ordered while trying to keep up with his boss "Yes captain. I'll send word to the McColts to bring all their finest crafters as quickly as possible." Blueblood just nodded his head in approval when they finally reached the front of the carriage. The captain didn't go in though. Instead he turned towards Clover, who was still writing out some notes, with a sort of light in his cold eyes. Though it was very small. "Has there been any news from my fiancee?" Clover stopped his writing and slowly looked up at his boss sweating nervously. He quickly wiped his brow as he answered. "N-no sir. At least...nothing of importance to you. B-but I do have a message from Sir Fancypants that he is coming to discuss business from the east side of the kingdom. And there is a rumor going around that Princess Twilight will-". "Yes yes yes. Very good Clover, that will be all.". Blueblood waved off with a look of disappointment on his face before he climbed into the carriage and gave one final order for the day. "As for the final shipments I want all the products to be doubled. And I want it all ready by the end of next week.". Clover nearly dropped all his notes after what he has just heard. He had a look with a mix of pure terror and concern. "B-but sir th-the only products that are left are from the seamstress and the apple farm." Blueblood raised a golden eyebrow, clearly not understanding the meaning of his statement. "And?" The earth pony gave a big gulp as he tried to calmly explain. "W-well you see..the seamstress has already made many clothes delivering to Saddle Arabia and has almost ran out of fabrics. And you know better than anypony how expensive it is to order more. Not to mention how long the delivery takes to arrive." He paused for a second to get a quick look at his boss. Only to see him giving him an extremely impatient look. He continued. "A-as for the farm they had multiple orders these past few months and they have worked very hard sir. But even then they haven't been doing so well, they haven't been doing so well. Y-you see time has gotten tough and...and well they...in order to stay afloat they had to-". "Excuse me, but, why are you trying to somehow soften me up to some sob story that is not relevant to what I ordered?" Clover could do nothing but stood there eye widened after hearing that. But after years of being around this stallion, he knew he shouldn't be this surprised. He just couldn't understand how anypony could be this cruel. He snapped out of his thoughts when he heard the carriage door slam shut. Clover knew nothing could ever change the stubborn stallion's mind, but he just got to at least try. He knew these ponies and they didn't deserve this, none of them did. "Please sir! They're already struggling as it is! They need time to prepare! They are too sort on help and they won't be able to even get half what is ready to be delivered! They-" He was frozen stiff as the captain used his magic to lift him up so he was eye-to-eye with his boss. He shivered as Blueblood looked dead in his eye as he spoke. "You listen here, I want this shipment's order doubled and ready by the end of the dead line. I reason is I would like to spend time with my bride for a few months. That isn't too much to ask is it? To be with your family? And while I'm busy with my wedding everypony may do whatever they please. Like a day off. You understand that, don't you Clover?" That cowering pony nodded vigorously at him before he was slammed to the ground with all his parchment spread out everywhere. "And thanks to your concern I think the product requirements shoulf now be tripled." Clover gave a gasp of horror as he look at the captain's emotionless face. Blueblood just gave a cruel smile. "What's the matter? As you said, the seamstress and that apple family are struggling. I just thought that after all the work they did they deserve a long break. After of course they do this last little job for me. Then they could take a really long vaction. Won't that be nice?" His smiled disappeared as he faced forward with that emotionless expression again. "Make sure you do it or I'll just cut them out and get ponies who can their job in a single day. I heard that Flim and Flam duo business is doing well and there are many more professional seamstresses out there.". He just gave the now trembling pony a sideways glance, giving small smile at the guilt he saw in his eyes. "Let them know what is expected of them, and who is responsible for it." His smiled disappeared as he became more serious. "Remember. Dead line. Two weeks. And don't bother with them after you give them their new orders. I have some more things I need to get done. Wait in my office after you're finish with this. If something comes up I'll be on a visit." He gives him one more look then a slight tip of his hat. "Have a good day, Mr. Clover." The carriage rode off away from the docks and a completely distressed earth pony. After a few moments Clover, with shaking hooves, picked up all of his fallen notes and regrettably started off with Captain Blueblood's new orders. "Yeah, we get whenever we can "But I fear that these ponies won't last a single day after this.