Everything was set, both the S.S Rainboom and Quibble's hot air balloon was ready to go. Everyone was aboard the ship while Quibble Pants and Daring Do got in the balloon.
Rainbow called from the side of the ship, "Good luck you two!"
Daring called back, "You too!"
With that, Quibble raised the heat and the balloon began to float up just as Rainbow signaled Night Gilder to steer the boat.
Both parties were now officially on their way to their destinations just as the Kirin cheered them on.
Some time later at sea in Rainbow Dash's cabin the couple and their crewmates were discussing a plan of action. Soarin was with Twilight and the other navigators to chart a steady course to Discord's Island as he said.
"We'll have to stop at least a few nautical miles so we can avoid the storms that surrounds it."
Flash added, "Right we need to keep this ship from harm since it's our way to help the other ponies to get off the isle."
Spike motioned to the hippogriffs, "With your help we'll be able to turn them into seaponies so they can get to the ship."
Skystar chirped, "Sounds like a plan to me!"
Seaspray muttered, "An overt complicated plan…"
Rainbow looked over the map and commented, "If I had known there was a cursed island all along in the Marediterranean Sea, I totally would have taken a ship to check it out just to see if you were there!"
Twilight pointed, "But then you would have been stranded too."
"So? As long as I had Soar, I don't care."
Her beloved smiled, stating, "I love you too, sweetie." and nuzzled her cheek affectionately and she returned the feeling causing everyone to look away in embarrassment.
Applejack proclaimed, "Yeesh, we get it, you two have been separated for too long!"
Pinkie suggested, "They should just get married right now!"
Rarity gasped happily, "What a brilliant idea, Pinkie! Ooh, I could get a dress at the ready, and you would have to prepare a feast for everyone, Applejack and Fluttershy will need to decorate the ship and Twilight-"
"NOW WAIT-A-MINUTE!" Rainbow shouted, "I'm still the captain of this ship, and the bride! I'll decide when I want to have the wedding!"
The groom inquired, "Don't you mean 'we'?"
"Right-right-right, we will decide when to have the wedding."
Spike asked, "But you're back together now what's stopping you?"
Soarin answered, "Well for one Spike, when Dash and I were first engaged we wanted to have our wedding at the academy because it's where we met and the fact that as officers we would have a traditional ceremony befitting our rank."
"Not to mention we did make a promise to Fleetfoot she would be part of our wedding party." Dash added.
"Exactly, we can't have the wedding without the ponies that need to be there."
Everyone exchanged solemn looks at this with Flash saying, "We see your point but you should consider the fact that it's been two years and things could have changed since then…"
Twilight motioned, "Not to mention the fact that Rainbow Dash is still an outlaw in Equestria so that could be a problem…"
The couple frowned as they said, "We know that."
Applejack questioned, "So you're just going to wait until the king pardons ya and then have the wedding?"
The duo cringed knowing that wasn't going to work.
Dash slowly said, "Well… no… But if I can somehow prove my innocence then maybe…"
The girls exchanged looks again with Twilight reasoning, "It's not that I don't think it could happen, but even you don't know what happened when you were accused so really… it's impossible for you to set on Equestrian soil again…"
Seeing the distraught look on his love's face, Soarin wrapped his wing around her for comfort.
He stated, "Maybe she can't but I still can and I can get to bottom of it."
"Perhaps, but like Flash said it's been two years since you been there and chances are your status won't mean a thing if you been replaced which is likely at this point and any evidence of Rainbow's innocence will have been gone too. These are the facts that you both have to realize."
Rainbow was on the verge of tears, "So… you're saying no matter what we do we can never have the life that we once had?"
"I'm sorry, but that is what I'm saying…"
Dash glommed onto her fiancée as he stroked her mane.
Pinkie tried to cheer up the situation, "But that doesn't mean your life together has to end, I mean look at how the odds brought you back! Maybe you can't be in the Navy together but hey, at least you're here and that's what counts!"
Rarity said, "It's true darlings, and perhaps it was all for the best, after all look at how far both of you have come since your separation."
Applejack nodded, adding, "Apple Bloom and I would have perished on that raft had you not found us, so I know that you being here now is important."
Spike told Soarin, "And your survival techniques have helped us to thrive on the island making us a true society."
Capper agreed and said, "I remember a time we were uncoordinated when it came to sharing provisions and water but you saved us from that."
Pinkie gestured, "Yeah and Dashie you brought us all together as friends and later Soarin brought more friends to enjoy!"
The couple was stunned to hear this and while they were touched by the sentiments they still felt sadden by the fact they couldn't have what they had before.
Scootaloo was swabbing the deck until Rumble flapped to her and took the mop from her.
"Hey!"
"Your technique is wrong."
"Oh, and you would know this why?"
"Because I can see from here that you're missing areas that need cleaning."
"Well excuse me but I can't fly like you remember?" she quoted his words, "With wings like those you have to be…"
Rumble suddenly felt guilty and sighed, "Look I'm sorry about that okay. I didn't mean to say that, I was just trying to tell you that your wings are important even if you can't fly."
She made a doubtful face, "Uh-ah… so you say."
"I'm serious, your wings can still be used and I got an idea to show you how."
She intrigued by this and said, "Go on…"
He zipped away and came back with a trolley and replaced the wheels with sponges. He said, "Now get on."
She was confused but did as he said and grabbed the handle bar.
"And now flap your wings." he instructed.
"Like this?" she moved her wings and suddenly she felt the trolley move too!
He grinned, "Yeah! Just like that!"
"Rumble this is perfect!" she exclaimed as she was able to clean the deck at a faster rate! The rush and the adrenal flowed through her as she never felt this happy since Rainbow Dash adopted her.
She stopped to face him, "Thank you! Thank you so much!"
By looking into her big violet eyes he was reminded of the day he saved her life and felt that fuzzy feeling again.
"You're… you're welcome…" a tiny blush spread across his cheeks.
Scootaloo could feel her own blushing as they kept staring at each other.
But suddenly the sound of a cannon interrupted them and they turned to see a dark ship attacking another ship in the distance.
Rainbow Dash burst out of the cabin followed by Soarin as they saw what was going on and she ordered the kids, "Get inside, now!"
They were about to when the dark ship's flag flew off from the counterattack and it landed onto the S.S Rainboom's deck and at their hooves. Upon seeing the symbol on it both kids froze at the sight with flashbacks going through their minds of terror and carnage happening.
The couple saw the state they were in and grew concerned.
"Scootaloo?"
"Rumble?"
"It's him…" the filly uttered.
"The pirate…" Rumble uttered as well.
Soarin and Dash looked closely at the symbol and realized who it belonged to.
"The Storm King…" they said.