Jakob emerged from the darkness—disheveled on the outside, filled with a grim resolve. This determination was worn through pinpoint eyes and set jaw. He went to his room and quietly set about bathing and clothing himself. After he dressed, his eyes went to his daughter’s bed.
Guilt bubbled up in his heart, only to be washed away by his silent rage.
There was a knock at the door. Jakob stared at it for a moment, as if his boring eyes alone would crush it to dust. Letting go of his hate in the form of a weary sigh, he rumbled, “Enter.”
A pinto unicorn stallion in a smart military dress uniform opened the door. His light blue eyes sought out and found the man. “Baron Gray? I am Lieutenant Commander Sundering Skies. I am to escort you to your ship. Princess Celestia personally requested I take you to it. I have also been endorsed by Princess Luna.” He pulled a file from the aether with his magic. “My credentials. You should find everything in order, milord.”
Jakob gave a single nod. “Show me,” he said, beckoning with a hand. The man had some trust in Celestia but, I have faith in Luna.
He perused the file, his eyes devouring the information contained within. The stallion before him was from a prominent noble family and was loyal to the crown to the point of fanaticism. Fanatics presented their own set of problems, but Sundering Skies had on the documents he had presented the seal of both royal sisters. This meant the fanatic before Jakob was one that was well heeled. His eyes flicked back to the stallion. Giving a satisfied grunt, he closed the file and gave it back. Support from the alicorns would more than likely come in this form. One positive thing Sundering Skies had going for him was his coat.
He was not a pure-blooded unicorn.
“You’ll do.”
It was a small airship and of an older design, with the sleekness of a falcon. She had twin long nacelles, with the main hull hanging from several aluminum struts. Within the nacelles were the gas bags. There were two large propellers at the end of each one. Four smaller ones, two on each side of the gondola and two on the outer sides of each nacelle were used for steering. As long as a hoofball field, the ship was the definition of a destroyer. Her design was for speed and pursuit, hunting smaller ships, and scouting for the main fleet. She flew no flag and was currently at the end of a refit. Once complete, the warship would be recommissioned. The air dock beneath Canterlot she was moored to was of the E.U.P. Air Corps.
Her name was Her Majesties Ship Sea of Rain. For over twenty years she had served faithfully. The class she represented was slowly being phased out in favor of a more modern destroyer. Ships like her, though, were of a rare design, lauded for their reliability and toughness. HMsS Sea of Rain was a veteran, wearing her seven Battle Stars with pride upon her bow. Her paint scheme was a mix of grays and blues, swirling in the shape of stormy clouds upon her lines. There had been rumors among those who served on the airships the Sea of Rain would be delegated to a museum ship. Other rumors suggested she would be sold to another nation. There were also those who believed she would eventually be sold for scrap.
She had the look of a ship who would not go down quietly, not even as a museum. Those who looked upon the ship could have sworn she was looking back with willful pride.
For now, standing orders were for her fate to be that of a second line destroyer, with the higher ups also mulling on giving her an assignment as a colonial patrol ship. Equestria had a few settlements beyond her borders and they needed reliable ships to keep them safe from the likes of slavers and pirates. As it was, her life would take a completely different course.
Captain Sorgi had commanded the Sea of Rain since she had first rolled off her slip so many years ago. An earth pony from Stalingrad, Sorgi had the demeanor of a salty sailor who despised the touch of land beneath his hooves. He was a stocky brown stallion with a broad barrel and a perpetual snarl. His short mane and tail showed his age, peppered with gray and white. As most earth ponies thrived with the touch of earth to their frogs, Sorgi was a bit of an odd duck among his kind. There was a saying: if Captain Sorgi had not been given the Sea of Rain, he would have grown wings for himself.
He had never accepted a promotion in all his years of service once he had gotten his hooves on his beloved ship. It had been love at first sight and the stallion considered the ship his and believed she considered him hers. Loathe to leave the ship, Captain Sorgi kept to his cabin during the refit, even as his crew was ashore and on leave.
Though eccentric, Captain Sorgi was allowed his quirks. He was considered a brilliant commander who was quick on his hooves and had a history of successful missions against the likes of pirates and smugglers. In boarding actions since taking command of the Sea of Rain, he had never suffered a casualty beyond a few bumps and bruises (and one broken foreleg—his). To him, this was the perfect job, the perfect life.
He wanted nothing more. No promotion, no other ship. Captain Sorgi had everything he had ever wanted in the HMsS Sea of Rain.
Over the years, however, as the Sea of Rain aged and technology advanced, the captain knew it would be a matter of time before his beloved ship was to be removed from service. He did not want to think of a life without his ship. Too young to retire, Sorgi knew the moment his ship was taken from service, he would be assigned to another. To the captain, it would be like cheating on a faithful wife.
Still, there would be at least another year or two before the ship’s future would be decided. It did not keep Sorgi from worrying.
Sitting at his desk in his cabin, Captain Sorgi was going over transfer paperwork. Crew was always shipping in and out and promotions were moving those under his command to new ships or stations. The destroyer had a compliment of over two hundred twenty crew and officers, not including himself.
There was a knock at his cabin door. Setting his quill aside, Sorgi half turned in his chair, a glare in his steel gray eyes. “What is it?”
A pegasus had her head in the door, looking at him, “I was asked to bring these orders to you, Captain Sorgi.”
Sorgi blinked. This was unexpected. “Orders? Give them to me,” he said, beckoning the mare in with a hoof. She approached, reaching into her saddlebags and pulling out a scroll gently with her mouth. Sorgi accepted them. “Anything else?”
“No, captain,” she said, standing at attention.
“Good. Dismissed.” He noted the seal. Curiosity and intrigue filled his eyes. “What is this?” his voice mumbled in a single breath. Why was the Seal of Princess Celestia on it? Feeling a shiver run up and down his spine, Sorgi could not figure out if this was a good thing or a bad one. He opened his orders and gave them a good read. Orders required understanding the words written on the parchment. “Alicorns be damned,” he breathed with mild surprise. “Today?”
“Permission to come aboard?” Sundering Skies asked from the boarding plank. Behind him, Jakob was running his eyes over the ship.
“Granted,” Captain Sorgi grunted, his gaze settling upon the towering monkey. This is Baron Gray? “Princess Celestia has vouched for you, Baron. We can discuss my orders in my cabin.”
“What are you looking at?” Jakob growled.
“You. I expected the slayer of Tirek to be taller,” Captain Sorgi commented. “I’ve already sent orders to recall the crew. Most of them are on shore leave and weren’t expected back for another week.”
“We leave at dawn tomorrow,” Jakob said as he stepped upon the ship’s deck.
Sorgi gave him a look. “We can discuss this more in my cabin. This way.”
The captain’s cabin consisted of a small kitchen, a separate bedroom with the captain’s personal desk. There was also the small dining room where a large table filled its center. Chairs were arranged around it and Jakob found himself pushing one aside so he could sit. Again, pony chairs were proving to be a bane. He was a bit annoyed at how low the ship’s ceiling was throughout the majority of its interior.
Lt. Commander Sundering Skies sat next to him. “I am to be Baron Gray’s military advisor, Captain. If he has questions or needs an understanding in how the E.C.U. works, I’ll do that so you can concentrate on commanding your ship.”
Sorgi was seating himself and slowly lowered himself into his seat as he digested the words. “As I understand it, this is a rescue mission? For a noble’s child?”
Jakob stared at the stallion, trying to gauge the pony.
“June Gray is the goddaughter of Princess Mi Amore Cadenza,” Sundering added. “She will be joining us on this mission.”
“She is?” Sorgi asked, blinking with surprise.
“She is?” Jakob snapped his head at the pinto stallion.
The unicorn, unruffled by the sudden rise in ire from the human, produced a scroll from within his uniform. “This arrived this morning. Princess Cadence arrived from Berryville, along with Miss Fizzlepop Berrytwist. They brought with them a changeling queen. One Queen Cassandra, plus twenty of her changelings. They should be arriving this afternoon.” Sundering paused, blinking, “How long the princess will be with us, I cannot say.”
The captain was going beet red with rage. “I’ll not have changelings on my ship!” roared Sorgi.
Jakob chose to remain silent as Sundering gave him a glance of assurance. The younger stallion oozed confidence. “Queen Cassandra reports directly to Baron Gray. She and her brood represent his personal guard. Instead of the usual marine contingent, you’ll be housing the hive in the quarters normally reserved for the marines. Princess Celestia has given me the authority to replace you with a captain that is willing to help a father rescue his child. Since you have a record of impeccable service and heroic acts, it would be a shame to remove you from a ship you’ve commanded for the better part of two decades on the eve of her final voyage, wouldn’t it?”
Another scroll was placed on the table and scooted by the tip of a hoof towards Captain Sorgi.
“What’s this?” demanded the captain.
“You have three options,” Sundering Skies began, the consummate professional. “You can resign your command and accept reassignment on another ship with no derogatory marks on your pristine military record. Your second option is for early retirement with full pension and again, no derogatory marks on your record. The third option is to accept this mission, retain your command, and have one final adventure with your beloved ship. Upon completion of this mission, both you and the ship will be retired from service with an option for you to receive the ship as your personal vessel for private use.”
“How so?” Sorgi snapped up the scroll and was reading it before Jakob could even blink. “Can this be done?”
“Both Princess Celestia and Princess Luna have agreed. Your ship is nearing the end of its service life and since you have such a strong bond with your ship, both feel nothing would be more fitting a reward for one of Equestria’s best ship commanders.” Sundering chanced a glance at Jakob. The human was staring intently at the captain.
“Why?” Sorgi asked after taking a moment to compose himself.
Sundering Skies took in a breath, “Your personal feelings towards this ship are well known. Most of her sisters are already being replaced by more powerful ships of the same type. There are other nations who would be interested in purchasing this ship, but loyalty and service deserve their own reward, would you not agree?”
“But this is not regulation!”
“No, it is not. The princesses have both pulled a lot of strings to get what Baron Gray needs to mount a rescue operation. There are no other ships that meet the mission requirements that we can get our hooves on under such short notice. I intend to do what I can to help make this mission a success.”
Sorgi slumped back in his seat, chewing on the inside of his cheek. “How long will this mission last?”
“For as long as it takes.” It was not Lt. Commander Sundering Skies who spoke. The rumbling voice of Jakob had steel in it. “We will not return until my daughter is safe and those who took her are dealt with.”
“I don’t like changelings. They’re bugs.”
“And you are a pony. What is the problem?” Jakob asked. “They will stay out of your way and will not interfere with ship operations. Are you afraid of them?”
“No,” Captain Sorgi said through gritted teeth, “but I remember what they did.”
“Chrysalis is dead,” Sundering reminded the captain.
“Queen Cassandra is loyal to my daughter, not me. She considers my daughter a part of her hive. I need her to find June.” Jakob thumped the top of the table with his knuckles. “I need those who have the courage to see past their fears to come with me. I have no use for bigots.”
Next to him, Sundering Skies winced, “Harsh, Milord.”
Captain Sorgi bristled, “Bigots?”
“The baron dislikes hypocrites,” Sundering sniffed. “The path you followed to your command was filled with dealing with elitists and speciests. If you wish to remain on good terms with him, I would suggest you be honest and forthcoming. This dislike for changelings is most unbecoming for an officer of your rank and stature. You forget you represent Equestria when you are abroad and when you are at home, sir.”
Jakob decided Sundering Skies would be a tolerable (and perhaps even likable) associate.
Gaping at the unicorn, Sorgi seemed on the verge of exploding. Then, with a deep inhale, he sat back in his seat. “There may be something in what you say, Lt. Commander, however I will not tolerate disrespect to the rank I hold. Am I clear?”
The pinto unicorn gave a polite smile, “Crystal, sir. I would never dream of it. Now, if you please, sir, we would like to discuss the outline of the voyage. This is the good baron’s rescue, but you will have the final say of what your ship does, where it goes, and the usual duties associated with commanding a warship. I am hoping the two of you can cooperate for the benefit of the both of you and prevent possible misunderstandings in the future.”
It was late in the afternoon when the trio arrived.
“That is a rather large ship,” Cassandra remarked in the guise of a nondescript earth pony mare. She could sense him nearby, somewhere on the pony-made behemoth moored in front of her. The muted emotions held in check, ready to explode. It was so different from how ponies handled their emotions. With them, there was the openness. With him, there was the broiling cauldron beneath a mental lid, ready to be unleashed, be it willingly or by other means.
Next to her was Fizzlepop Berrytwist. Beyond her stood Cadence. All three ladies were staring up at the floating hulk and the bustle of activity swarming over it. Cranes were lifting cargo and supplies up to the ship. The activity had literally exploded around them. Ponies were everywhere and the organized chaos was deafening.
Around the trio were Crystal Guard, the personal guard to the royal family of the Crystal Empire. Standing behind the group, in pony disguises, were Cassandra’s twenty changelings. Curious eyes drank in the cacophony and bustle of a ship being readied for a voyage. A bit nervous, the brood huddled together, a blob trying to make sense of so much goings-on. There was excitement, the prospect of going far from home. There was also a sense of grim determination, for one they considered as their own had been taken. The Grumpy One had summoned Mother, and she in turn told them there was to be a chase.
The Grumpy One was nice to the changelings. Certainly, there was a strained relationship between him and Mother, but the human had never shown aggression towards her nor them. As a matter of fact, there was a little bit of affection between the pair, a shade or two above tolerable bordering on respect. For the changelings, there was always affection given to them from the Grumpy One, which in years past caused a fair bit of confusion due to his sourpuss expression. Mother found the Grumpy One amusing and more importantly, considered the daughter to be hers.
“Well, princess,” Cassandra looked over Fizzlepop’s withers, “I’m going to leave getting us on the ship to you and your love charms.” She wore a grin of mischief.
The pink princess rolled her eyes, “It won’t be necessary, Cassandra. We are expected. I’ll be the acting ambassador for the Crystal Empire. Fizzlepop is my attaché, and you and yours will be assuming your roles as Jakob’s personal guard. Everything has been taken care of. There was plenty of collaboration to make sure this voyage happens.”
“Yes, the renowned efficiency of Equestrian bureaucracy,” Cassandra snorted, flicking one of her ears. “I can’t help but think some noble is going to get it in his head none of this should be happening without his knowledge. I would imagine he’ll be some puffed up youngster out to prove himself in the eyes of his peers and impress those that really don’t matter. He’ll be wearing the finest of frippery and be an absolute bore.”
“That’s oddly specific,” murmured Fizzlepop.
Cassandra pointed with a hoof at a blob of private guards surrounding a garishly dressed unicorn stallion wearing a feathered wide-brimmed hat. He was making demands in a shrill voice at an officer at the top of the gangplank aboard the ship. “I can sense his arrogance. It’s making my ears curdle. He’s going to do something monumentally stupid.”
“How monumental?” Cadence asked, perking her ears. Her tail swished as she began to move forward.
“I sense a great disturbance coming from within the bowels of that ship. We are about to see something fun! Let’s get closer and get a better look!” The faux pony trotted ahead of them with a grin, licking her lips in anticipation.
Jakob appeared at the top of the gangplank, wearing an unreadable mask. Next to him was the ship’s captain, if his uniform was correct, and a pristine younger pinto unicorn stallion. None of them appeared particularly impressed with the puffed up young stallion.
“Now see here!” screamed the pompous noble. “I’ll have you know my father is the First Sky Lord! This ship is under refit and is not going anywhere!”
“This ship is under orders directly from both princesses,” shouted the small brown stallion in the captain’s uniform. “You have no authority here!”
“This ship is scheduled for decommission!” shouted the noble. He had a nasal quality to his voice that was most unpleasant to hear. “This is a military installation! That ape is not authorized to be on military property! It doesn’t have the clearance!”
“This makes no sense,” Cadence said, blinking. “What does he think he’s doing? He’s an idiot!”
“Young idiots always find ways to pick the wrong time to pick a fight with the wrong being,” Cassandra said with a snort. “Don’t interfere, princess. Let Jakob handle this. I think he needs it.”
“Are you sure?” Fizzlepop asked, not at all convinced. “I’m pretty sure if Jakob wants a bloodbath, nopony is going to stop him.” Cadence gave her a look of alarm.
“Eh,” Cassandra shrugged with indifference. “Does it matter? Jakob has remarkable restraint, but even I don’t know how much of his lid he’s flipped. This might be a good measuring stick.”
The human was taking huge strides down the gangplank, his expression unchanged.
A hoof reached out and in front of the pink pony princess. “Don’t!” Fizzlepop hissed at Cadence. “I want to get a measure of his self control.”
Jakob was nearing the bottom.
“Guards, seize that thing for questioning. Then seize the captain of this ship,” the noble commanded, wagging a hoof at the approaching human. The guards surged forward, their armor clanking as they leveled their spears at the man. “My father shall hear of this!”
“I am Baron Jakob Gray,” Jakob announced in a voice like an oncoming storm. “I am authorized to charter this vessel to rescue my stolen daughter.” He swatted away the spears jabbed in his face and never broke his stride. “I have the seals of both princesses Celestia and Luna. Stand down, boy.”
The guards swarmed around him, having regained their composure. The tips of their spears were once again pointed at the man’s upper torso. They exchanged nervous glances with each other. He ignored them, focusing on the noble instead.
Insulted at being called ‘boy’, the young noble puffed himself up with outrage, “How dare you? Do you know who I am?”
“No, and I do not care. Take your guards and leave. I do not have time for such idiocy. This is your only warning.” Jakob stood within arm’s reach of the noble, who was glaring up at him in indignant rage.
“What are you foals waiting for?” he shrieked, stamping a hoof and backpedaling. “Seize him! What do I pay you for?”
“Uh, security?” ventured one of them. “That there’s The Beast, sir. He’s the one that stood against the changelings at the wedding. He killed the centaur that was eating all the magic.”
“He doesn’t look that impressive to me,” the noble huffed. “You outnumber him. He’s unarmed… Fine!” Rolling his eyes, he whined, “Double pay if that makes you greedy lot happy! I’ll get my father to notice me! He’ll have to notice me! Then I can finally get a commission of my own!”
“And there it is,” Cassandra noted in a droll tone.
“It is your choice,” Jakob told the guards, shifting his gaze among the them. “I have no desire to do harm to any of you. My daughter was stolen from me. I am going to get her back. This ship is my means of getting to her. I have the backing of the Royal Sisters. Do you understand?”
“Diplomacy?” Cadence arched a brow in mild surprise.
“You have no authority to be here!” insisted the young noble.
Jakob held out a scroll bearing both seals upon it. “Read it,” he said.
“What is that Jakob is holding?” Cassandra asked Cadence.
The princess squinted. “It looks like a scroll bearing both the royal seals of the Sun and the Moon. Whomever has it is usually granted carte blanche,” her voice rose loud enough so the noble and his guards could hear it. “It is used only during the most dire of emergencies. Disobeying what is protected by the seals is considered disobeying the direct words of the Diarchy.” A smile formed as she advanced towards Jakob.
“It could be a forgery!” The stallion moved as if to tear the scroll in half.
“Cadence,” Jakob’s eyes froze the noble in place, “what is the charge for destroying royal correspondence?” All attention went towards the approaching pink alicorn. Seven sets of ocular orbs went round.
“Treason, Jakob. The offender is charged with treason,” she told him. The guards backed away from her, bowing as the noble stared at her, his jaw hanging loose. Smiling sweetly, she turned her attention on the gawking young noble. “What is your name and who is your father?”
Nervous, the stallion cleared his throat and stammered, “My name is Blueblood the Younger. My father is Prince Blueblood the Elder, First Sky Lord.”
The princess smiled at the young noble, “I know your father. I am sure anything happening under his command would have been brought to his attention by now. Did you bother to see if he was aware of what was going on?”
“Ah, no,” admitted the unicorn, “I saw this creature”—he gestured to Jakob—“and assumed it was attempting to steal one of our ships.”
Cadence deadpanned, “You thought one being was going to take on an entire sky dock full of workers and a ship that also has ponies working on it? Not to mention the time required to warm the engines and then steal it? Were you stalking Baron Gray? Were you hoping to impress your father in some way?” She turned her attention to the guards, “And you! Aren’t you supposed to keep the prince’s son from putting himself in painfully awkward situations that might cause embarrassment to his father?”
“I... I…”
“Look, young Lord Blueblood, go to your father. Ask about Baron Gray. I assure you, not only is he aware, but he fully endorses this endeavor.” Cadence gave the stallion a gentle smile. “Trust me, this way will be far less troublesome for you.”
Fizzlepop trotted up with Cassandra in tow, “Jakob, it is good to see you again.” She was smiling at the human and ignoring the guards and Blueblood the Younger.
“Fizzlepop,” he greeted her with a nod. An eyebrow rose quizzically at the mare behind her. “Bug horse?”
“In the fake flesh,” she grinned at him. “My brood is here. We are ready. I want June back.” She then glared at Blueblood, but chose not to say anything. “I am rather put out at you for losing her, but I’m willing to help in any way I can. Can we ignore this nopony and get on board the ship?”
Blueblood the Younger started making strangled sounds.
Cadence sighed, “Could you guards be dears and take your young lord somewhere he can recompose himself? I need the good baron here and time is of the essence. Can we please avoid any further unpleasantries and go about our separate ways?”
The guards began to herd their poor young employer away. He seemed to be having an aneurysm as well as a mild panic attack. “Apologies, your Highness,” their leader told Cadence. “We’ll have a word with his father and get this misunderstanding straightened out.” With that said, he gave a final bow and went to figure out what had just happened.
“How are my ponies?” Jakob asked Cadence after a moment of silence.
“Safe and sound,” she told him with a smile. “None were hurt and if anything, got some sense of adventure in their sleepy neck of the woods.” Adjusting her wings, she became somber, “How are you holding up?”
“Not well,” he admitted. “I cannot give in. Not here, not now.”
“Jakob,” Cassandra growled, “you didn’t kill anypony. I am disappointed.”
“Life is full of disappointment,” he told her with a derisive snort. “Come. We are wasting time. Meet the captain and my new advisor. There is still much to do and discuss. We will be underway at first light tomorrow.”
“I love you, too!” she spat, then gave a toothy grin and a laughing whicker.
The ladies followed him towards the gangplank leading up to the awaiting ship and her captain. Cadence and Cassandra exchanged looks after both noticed a peculiar way Fizzlepop was staring at the human’s back. The changeling queen dismissed it from her thoughts as she mentally told her brood to wait until she found where they were going to be staying on board.
Cadence began to sense there was hope for Jakob. Reminding herself of her disastrous failure just a couple of days before, she forced herself to not give into the urge to cast her magic upon the human. She could not stand to lose him as a friend. He needed help to bring June home. This was the most important thing to focus on. The mare with the broken horn was showing signs of at least intrigue with Jakob. It might still mean nothing. The alicorn could only sit back and see what would develop. The formation of at least a friendship was there, but it could just as easily crumble to nothing.