It was the next day as Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, Rumble, and Wind Sprit got up to have breakfast and then went about the ship to pass the time. During their time at sea Scootaloo and Sweetie had the brilliant idea of finding things for Rumble to do to earn his cutie mark that didn't involve becoming a brigand but at this point he still had no success. And there was only so much the kids could do on a ship that it was getting to be boring.
Scootaloo asked Rarity, "When do you think Mom and Dad will be done with the mission?"
The unicorn replied, "I don't know, dear. The politics one must do with a king takes up a lot of time that it could be days before they can finish!"
"Days?!" she groaned and dropped onto the deck.
Rarity went back to her own business while Rumble went up to the filly to help her up.
She deeply sigh, "I know they have to do this because Luna wants them to but it's really not great being apart from them like this, reminds me too much when I had to stay in the village while my birth parents went off doing their duty gathering information on new animals and possibly finding new medicine for Equestria…"
He gently smiled, "Sounds like they were amazing ponies."
"They were and I still miss them to this day but I am so happy that Rainbow Dash and Soarin took me in as their daughter and I'm proud to call them Mom and Dad too."
"You're lucky… I wish I had known my parents but Thunderlane is doing okay. I'm just relieved we could cure him after all, I don't know what I would do if I couldn't be with him again." his ears dropped and looked down, "I still feel guilty for what happen to him…"
She softly touched him, "It was an accident… And the important thing is he's still here and that's what matters."
His smile lifted up more at her words then he suggested with a smirk, "Wanna enhance our skills with a sword?"
A determined look went across her face, "You're on!" and both rushed to grab their wooden swords.
Lightning Dust had walked around the castle to find the fake Count and Countess's rooms and when she finally did, she listened very carefully outside the door.
Dash and Soarin were getting ready for their meeting with the king and talked.
She mentioned, "Think we can convince him to trade?"
"Well, the plan is to ease him into the idea of trading with an island with different species. So hopefully, yes."
Lightning almost wanted to laugh out loud, like their king was going to be willing to do that. It was futile. So them being here was really stupid especially for Rainbow Dash who was an outlaw. Granted it was because of Wind Rider and her she was that way but that was because that show-off mare was too good at what she did at the academy so she had to go.
Then Clear Sky said, "I should go check on Wind Sprit and see if she's doing alright."
Quibble motioned, "I'll come with you."
Thunder pointed out, "While you're there check on Rumble for me will you?"
Clear Sky nodded, "Sure we can do that."
Dash also pointed, "And check on Scoots for us too, will you?"
Quibble said, "Will do, Dash." as he and his special somepony started to go out.
Lightning heard them coming and darted out of the way, making sure they didn't see her as they came out. Then she thought, Good, they'll lead me straight to the kid… And followed after them.
Scootaloo and Rumble were in the midst of their swordfighting as she mumbled out, "You know you're really good at this."
He mumbled back, "Thanks, you too."
"Ever thought that maybe this could be your special talent?"
He slowly eased his sword down and said, "I… I never thought of that…"
She put down her sword, exclaiming, "Yeah! Like maybe you can be a royal guard like Flash was or maybe work in the Navy like my parents did!"
Rumble looked hesitant, "I don't know… Flash told me what it was like being a guard and it sounded really boring, and there's a lot rules you have to follow too, so I don't think I can do that. I guess being in the Navy would be cool but again there's a lot of rules in that too from what Soarin has told me. I like it when I can make my own rules."
Scootaloo pondered on it before saying, "Well there has be something that can let you use a sword and gives you the freedom of using it."
"What about you? Have you thought of what your special talent could be?"
"I don't know, Sweetie and I are still thinking of ideas but so far nothing seems to work."
"Did the orb give you a clue?"
"No." she shook her head.
"Hmm, I know I said I didn't want to know but what did you see in the orb that was so wonderful?"
Scootaloo wasn't sure if she should say because if she was being honest with herself she hoped that her son was her and Rumble's future child but the last thing she wanted was to scare him away and risk her child not being born. Before the thought of having kids someday never really occurred to her because she was still a kid herself until she saw her future in the orb and the idea of having a family with the colt she liked was something she really wanted now.
"Scoots…?" Rumble waved his hoof in front of her, "Scoots!"
"Uh? Oh! Sorry, I was thinking about something…"
"And…?"
She stared into his eyes and felt a blush coming on, stammering, "I… um…"
Suddenly a young voice shouted, "Oh no!"
They turned back to see Wind Sprit looking to see her Mom and Quibble Pants coming into the harbor, making Scootaloo ask, "What's wrong?"
"Ugh, did he have to come with Mom?"
"But isn't he supposed to be your Mom's special somepony?"
"Something I rather forget…" she muttered.
"Aw come on Wind, Quibble's not that bad, he just wants to be friends with you or at least that's what my mom told me."
"Yeah well I don't want to be friends with him and I certainly don't want him to be my new dad!"
"But having a new dad can be really great! Don't forget I'm adopted and I have new parents to take care of me. At first I didn't think Soarin would like me but I was wrong, he wanted me just as much as Rainbow did. So if you give Quibble a chance I'm sure you'll see how much he wants you for his daughter."
Wind was surprised by her words but then she frowned, stating, "But what if I don't want him? He can't replace my dad and I don't want him to."
"So? Rainbow and Soarin will never be able to replace my real parents and I don't want them to but I still like them for who they are and that's good enough for me."
"You… you really think so?"
"Uh-huh, just let him be him and I think you'll start to like him after all."
Wind deeply thought about it before she started smiling and gave Scootaloo a hug.
By then Clear Sky and Quibble came on board with Clear asking, "What's all this then?"
"Hi, Mommy!" Wind embraced her mom then surprisingly she turned to Quibble and inquired, "Do you think maybe we can go into town and do something together?"
The couple were stunned to hear Wind say that but was very happy nevertheless.
"Why sure!" Quibble lifted Wind and put her on his shoulders, "We can tour around as long as you want!"
Scootaloo, Rumble, and Sweetie gathered around him and Sweetie asked, "Can we come too?"
"Please….?" all three kids begged with puppy dog eyes.
Rarity came up and uttered, "Weeellll, I don't think Quibble and Clear Sky would be up for that-"
Clear Sky interjected with a chuckle, "No, it's fine, we can take the kids around. I'm sure they've been feeling cooped up on this boat."
The kids agreed and pleaded once more to be let off.
Rarity sighed, "Well alright," and told the kids, "just remember your manners, okay?"
They agreed again.
Quibble proclaimed, "It's settle then, let's go kids!" he took the lead as the young ponies were right behind him.
The group of two adults and four kids went around the busy main square spotting stores and restaurants of all kinds. There were also peddlers selling wares, painters painting landscapes or portraits, and puppeteers entertaining fillies and colts. But as they were passing a clothing and hat store, Rumble saw in the display window a black Cordovan hat on a stand. He gasped as he recognized the hat as the one he wore in his vision and pointed it out to Scootaloo.
She saw the hat and looked troubled, fearing that she might not be able to save Rumble from a bandit's fate after all so she had to think of something and fast.
While the group was sightseeing Lightning was observing at a distance.
The outing had lasted almost the entire day and to Quibble and Clear Sky's relief the entire experience brought Wind Sprit and Quibble closer and when they got back to the ship, Wind admitted it was Scootaloo who helped her see that getting to know Quibble was the best thing for them.
Quibble rubbed the filly's head and warmly said, "You may not realize this but you are a like your mom when it comes to helping ponies that need it."
Scootaloo was touched and smiled brightly, "You… you mean that?"
"Absolutely and I will be telling her that when we get back to the castle."
Scootaloo looked like she was going to cry tears of joy but kept it in and uttered, "Thank you…"
With a quick farewell Quibble and Clear Sky went on their way.
But while they had left, Lightning stuck around, hiding in the shadows as she learned everything about the kids before she went to the tavern that night to see Wind Rider again.
"Interesting… Very interesting… So they're trying to make the king trade with an island that's full of creatures that are forbidden to come into Equestria. That's some dangerous ground they're treading on… And the child?"
"She's a pegasus but she's grounded because her wings are too small to get airborne."
"Really? How disgraceful."
"It's a crying shame alright but I could care less about that, the point is the kid can be used against Rainbow Dash."
"You're right, and I know how…" he motioned her closer as he whispered his plan.