Nightfall could not come quickly enough. Leading a group of eleven servants to the docks without drawing attention was daunting enough without them asking questions, let alone Twilight trying to pass off her overly active horn as mere excitement. A lie about buying new wagons from the docks would only hold so long. Pinkamena had to be the one to suggest moving through the ruins would be an effective ‘shortcut’ so Twilight wouldn’t be questioned by the stallions. It didn’t help Twilight’s nerves that the stallions’ profiles were enlarged by the massive bags that had been hastily tied onto them. However, the scant few muggers that had camped out among the shattered buildings thought it wise to avoid such a large group, fearful they might have actually been a patrol instead. Twilight had a thick black pillow case tucked into the folds of her dress to conceal her horn if the need arose, but doing so now would look suspicious to the very servants she was trying to free. Pinkamena would often scout the route ahead of Twilight and the others, more to make sure they didn’t get lost or run right into an actual patrol.
That left Twilight alone with the group of servant stallions who looked increasingly ready to ask questions she worried she couldn't lie through. For now though, they quietly complied all the way up until the group reached the strip of businesses lining the harbor. They emerged in between a general store and a post office, two establishments Twilight expected no foot traffic from. “I don’t like this,” she muttered to herself. “We haven’t seen a single patrol constable. Surely they weren’t preparing to arrest me and we just so happened to slip through the noose.” Twilight was wearing her leg gear and wing bucklers, but she had no faith she could use them against law enforcers, let alone Rarity herself. Still better than just packing them and letting them sit.
Pinkamena emerged from the docks, carefully avoiding the streetlights. She was wearing four pieces of a ripped up dress tied onto her armored hooves to muffle them in the dark. “Mistress, the ship is still here. The captain and some of his crew are waiting on the pier.”
“Ah good, then he must be unloading my new carriage.” Twilight said loudly enough for all to hear. She was sweating badly enough it was staining the collar of her dress. It took everything she had to keep her crackling horn from giving her true feelings away. “He didn't have any ruffians waiting in the wings to ambush us did he?”
Pinkamena shook her head, only briefly casting a weary eye towards the stallions arrayed behind Twilight.
“There was a two pony patrol of constables off towards the north end of the docks headed the opposite way, but I didn't see any prowlers. The Sea Hopper is shining a light on its captain, and he said he wants payment before he unloads the carriage.”
“Well then it is a good thing I brought my luggage with me, isn't, boys?” Twilight looked towards the waiting stone faced stallions. At least they don't seem to be questioning me openly. “Gentlecolts, I suppose I might as well tell you about my latest purchase. My rather jittery client has an amazing invention for sale: a mechanical, driverless carriage. He doesn't feel safe selling it during daylight, probably paranoia on account selling it is apparently a crime in Lunaria.“ She rolled her hoof dismissively, and did a commendable attempt to sound annoyed. “He doesn't know I'm bringing my cargo with me, so I’m going to need all of you to be as quiet as you can and come with me so I can finalize the sale The last thing I want is him seeing all of you before I can talk to him, or he’s liable to cancel the whole deal.”
“Mistress,” a grey one said as the others got ready to move. “This is highly irregular. Most transactions done at night are typically illicit.”
Twilight huffed with irritation to hide her nerves, and absently smoothing her frazzling mane. “I did mention he's breaking Lunarian law in doing so, yes? There's a Lunarian warship at dock, so his caution feels justified to me.” The stallions within ear's reach started sharing disbelieving looks between each other, forcing Twilight to think fast. They might start questioning why I didn't just leave them at the wagons next. I packed everything, not just my money. She had to stop herself from speaking too quickly and stumbling over her words. “I need those carriages for my research, so shush and follow me. The last thing I need is some fundamentalist trying to destroy the thing before I can show them my permit.”
That seemed to get through to them as a chorus of 'Yes, Mistresses," rang out from the group.
Breathing a sigh of relieve as well, Pinkamena pointed over to the ramp she had approached from. “This must be the less used part of the docks. The place is a mess with broken crates clogging the loading area between us and the ship.”
“So I saw yesterday.” Moving forward to see the loading area for herself, the trader in her was appalled at the disuse what was left of the extensive harbor. ”So much waste... The half moon should give us enough light to move the carriage south to get it out of here, but we have pretty much a straight run on hoof to get to the ship.” Keeping one eye on the merchant vessel, and the other on the ramp down to the wooden pier, Twilight surmised the ship’s masts would be the only thing visible from behind the dilapidated stacks of crates. Such is life working in a place that could be a war zone at any given moment. I can't believe no pony bothered to clear it after all these years.” Twilight was inwardly thankful though. She returned her attention to the servants. “But one pony’s folly is our benefit. It’ll be the perfect place for you boys to stay low while I finalize the transaction. The sooner we get this business done, the sooner we can leave.”
Within minutes, Twilight was following after Pinkamena who stayed fifteen paces ahead of the group. They filed through the heaps of broken wood and ruined crates when Pinkamena stopped dead in her traces as she looked up at the sky. Twilight used a wing to wave the group to a stop just as Pinkamena ducked underneath a ratty tarp. Without further hesitation, Twilight eyed several similar hiding spots scattered about, still held up by whatever containers that they clung to. “Everypony, hide quickly! Pinkamena must have seen something amiss.” An errant spark flew from Twilight’s horn, but she kept a stern glare that demanded obedience.
The stallions reluctantly obeyed, and none of them were left in the open after a scant few seconds. Looking around, Twilight grit her teeth at the situation. “Now what?”
Ducking near a crate of her own, Twilight took a few moments to memorize each of the spots she saw her servants hide. “Wait for me to call you back up once I see what's going on,” she called out in a hushed-yell. Once they were all settled, Twilight inched her way to the last crate between them and the Sea Hopper. There she found Pinkamena keeping low inside the crate itself, and gesturing to the sky. Twilight settled down next to her, silently cringing at the rot and roaches skittering away as she got down. Following her friend’s hoof, she saw three pegasus chariots coming in hot from the north.
Both of them immediately ducked down under the tarp until the rattle of wooden wheels and feathers signaled the landing. Peeking in between the moldering crates, dread fell over them at what they saw.
Rarity disembarked from the lead chariot along with five other officers. The pegasi of the group pulled quickly release rope of their chariots, allowing them to take to the air before Rarity even reached the captain to speak.
Rarity’s horn glowed for a few moments before she spoke. “Captain Deck Flog of the Sea Hopper I presume?” Even though Rarity was easily forty meters away, Twilight could hear her as if she was standing next to them.
A spell. She must be wanting even ponies on the ship to hear this.
“Aye, that’s me.” To his credit, Deck Flog took the sudden arrival in stride by smoothly rolling the pipe in his mouth, but the same could not be said for his crew. The three of them were either inching behind their captain or withdrew their pistols. An act mirrored by the constables coming out pistols and tonfas drawn.
Rarity smiled for but a moment, waiting for an expected question before giving an answer anyway. “I’m Inquisitor Rarity Belle of her most holy inquisition, a pleasure.”
“For you at least,” Deck countered, not moving an inch and puffing on his pipe.
“Oh I try to find a bit of fun in all my work,” Rarity replied casually, as if she was simply walking down a street. “Take tonight for example.” With the smooth grace of a cat, Rarity glided between Deck Flog and his ship. “I was in the middle of some busy work when I had the itch to take a walk.” The whole time she moved, the two mercenary marines in Deck Flog’s company kept both eyes fixed on Rarity, but Deck remained facing the collection of law enforcers. “And these fine gentlecolts suggested the dockyards. I admit I’ve never had the chance to view the ocean at length before so I thought it was a grand idea. A pity about the late hour.”
“Do you often have a bunch of bodyguards when you go for these walks a’ yours?” Deck Flog inquired just as casually, matching Rarity tone for tone.
To that, Rarity stopped and shrugged, a gentle tug played on her lips. “Only when the need arises. I’m fully aware we inquisitors have a… stress inducing reputation. Why I’d wager we have a bounty on all our heads.” She continued pacing, and locked eyes with each sailor for a few seconds before jumping to the next. “Something to the order of five hundred slips for a junior member like myself.”
“I hope the pay is worth it,” Deck shot back with a sly grin of his own. “Living with that.”
Rarity tilted her head and nodded with a sly smirk. “It is often said if you’ve made enemies, you’ve stood for something. Serving the will of Celestia above is worth far more than my stipend. Money is a means to an end, Captain, not a goal in and of itself.” She let her eyes wander over the Sea Hopper, making more than a few crewmen duck away from her gaze. “Even the greediest among us would know that if they cared to have an ounce of critical thought.
“But enough about philosophy.” Rarity stopped pacing to study the Sea Hopper’s bow in more detail, an act that made some of the watching crew shiver nervously. “I’ve developed a rather keen interest in the sea as of late, more specifically, ships.” She turned her head just enough so she could eye the old thestral. “I would love a tour. Would you mind?”
“I would actually,” Deck Flog’s tone remained on an even keel, but his tail flicked with agitation. “Laws being what they are.”
A disappointed hum escaped Rarity who fully turned to face him. “That is until Equestrian authorities have reason to believe you have stolen property.”
Back behind their boxes, Twilight’s horn would have let off a flurry of sparks if she wasn't covering it with that pillow case of hers. “She knows. She was on to me from the start!”
“I haven’t stolen anything,” Deck Flog challenged with a crack in his casual mask. “I run an honest ship.”
“I see.” Rarity made a show of tapping her chin with a hoof. “Perhaps I misspoke then, sometimes regional language barriers can get even the best of us. What I should have said was: kidnapped. Would that be more accurate for your liking?” Rarity inhaled and raised a restraining hoof. “Ah, silly me. Perhaps “rescued” is better still. Yes?” She finished with an amused tilt of her head.
The smoke rising from Deck’s pipe became a steady stream of thick puffs. Twilight’s terror was overcoming her to the point where her wings were pressing so tightly against her barrel it was getting hard to breathe. The majority of the ship‘s crew were now lining the railing, silently watching and waiting for who would act first.
“The only souls on my ship is me crew. No more no less.”
“Is that a fact, Captain?“ Rarity did a fine job acting suprised, complete with a hoof on her chest. “Odd, because these honorable constables reported seeing a servant delivering cargo to you several hours ago. You know full well that not only does the port authority forbid servants from boarding Lunarian vessels, but that the servant has yet to emerge from your ship.”
“And I say you ain’t got enough proof if that’s all you got,” Flog rebutted with the casual swagger of an old salt, but even Twilight could see sweat dampening his fur from brow to neck. “There ain’t no way I’m letting some good-for-nothing inquisitor on my ship.”
“You had best watch your tone,” Rarity replied with a dangerous tint to her voice that caused headaches to all who heard her. “I can strip you of your trade license to Manehatten with but a single word; proof or not. My whim is all I need.” Her sweet, off putting tone returned along with a dangerous smile, “and I have sooo many whims.”
Deck Flog scowled and flipped his pipe to start removing the used up tobacco. “A pox to your whims. There are plenty of other lanes to sail, I don’t need Equestrian bits.” The noise of rapidly approaching hooves made him smirk in victory. “Besides, you ain’t the only big muscle in town.”
Engineer Turbulence arrived from the south on hoof, trailed by a squad of Lunarian marines. When they got close enough to identify Rarity they baulked, giving her the hesitation she needed. In a sapphire flash, Rarity pulled dozens of needles from a satchel and with keen accuracy, sent them flying down the barrels of the marines’ rifles even as they were in the midst of readying them. Without needing orders, they expertly closed ranks, but none of them missed the needles swarm down the barrels of their weapons. The squad leader dropped his rifle, and went for a pistol, only for that too to be filled with needles. He cursed and leveled a furious glare at Turbulence. “What is this, sailor, you didn’t say anything about no damned Knuckelavee!” he bellowed while abandoning the pistol in leu of a knife.
Shrinking back, Turbulence was left with a stuttering voice that trembled with fear. “I never saw her, I was just told to ask your ship for help.”
The marine squad leader’s stern voice was level enough, even Twilight could see the glint of cold sweat off them from the light. “I’m giving you one chance to back off, Inquisitor.”
“Bold of you, since the fine constables behind me are the only ones with working firearms anymore. So that won’t be happening.” Rarity eyed the rifle squad intently as they armed themselves with knives, focusing on the leader. “As per the Treaty of Captle, I am conducting a legal inquiry.”
The squad leader glanced to his squad, and saw they stood at the ready with knives set, but the constables waved their pistols in his direction. He spat onto the ground. “Think I care? You’re harassing Lunarians, and that's enough. You're not going on that ship so long as we draw breath.”
“How... unfortunate,” Rarity stated with a dark undercurrent of magic in her voice, making every one from the officers, Lunarians, and Twilight Sparkle to tense up in sudden anxiety. She wanted to duck away and close her ears, anything to keep her sparks from giving her away, but she found it difficult to do so.
Rarity’s very presence became impossible to look away from. Some manner of dreadful pressure was forcing everyone to look at her, as if an invisible hand guided their eyes and faces. Rarity turned away to stare into the endless black sea, and stood silent for a long moment. “When diplomacy fails, there’s only one alternative…”
She turned slowly to look Deck Flog dead in the eye, making the wizened captain visibly shake even from Twilight’s distance. “Violence,” Rarity continued in a frighteningly callous tone. “Force must be applied without apology.” She walked over to stand between Flog and the marines like wolf among sheep. She gave a cold shrug, flashed an ever so slight dark smirk, and then gestured at the armed ponies around her that were only one excuse away from bloodshed. “It is the Ponish way.”
She stepped back towards Deck Flog with measured, graceful steps. “Let it be said that I do not enjoy killing. Creation is a far higher pursuit, but if my hoof is being forced...” She gracefully gestured at the constables while keeping her gaze fixated on Deck Flog. “I will not ask again, are we still at an impasse?”
Twilight’s lip quivered in fear and sweat drenched her brow and neck. Her hair was frizzing out so fast she started to rival Pinkamena’s unruly mane. To think I was in the same room with her.
Flog was doing far worse, and had to turn his whole body to cow away from Rarity. He glanced at the marines with the haunted eyes of an old soul. While the imperial marines were focused like hawks, Rarity’s blasé demeanor sapped what toehold of bravado he had left. Deck Flog clenched his jaw only to release it a moment later. “Ain’t no honorable soldier would want others to die just to save his own skin.” He jerked his wing stub at his first mate. “Go on. Grab the slave, and give him to the Inquisitor.”
“Sir-”
“Just do it!” He growled hotly. There was no further argument, not even a token one. The first mate barely gave a word of acknowledgement before bolting towards the gangplank.
Rarity smiled and gave a curt nod and watched the gangplank patiently. “A commander must never be afraid to spend lives, but she must never waste them; Book of Swords, chapter two verse one. I am glad you saw reason, for both of us.”
Deck Flog used his good wing to rub his eyes. “You got what you wanted, just take him and leave us be.”
A very brief frown crossed Rarity's face, but she brushed it aside for a neutral expression as she waited in silence.
As the minutes passed, the marine squad remained anxiously tense, but a few of them pulled out their cleaning kits and started trying to get all the needles out. Even Twilight was able to breathe again.
It wasn’t too long before the first mate returned with an earth stallion that made Twilight’s dread surge anew.
Rarity was none too happy to see this particular stallion either. The slave was presented to Rarity who sized him up. “My my, aren’t you troublingly familiar. What’s your name?”
“Rocky Shores, your honor,” the stallion answered emotionlessly. His reply made the Lunarians share angry looks. The marines especially were growling amongst themselves.
“Tell me. Lady Twilight Sparkle is your master, is she not?”
“She is.”
Rarity wilted a touch by the admission, the sorrow evaporated as quick as it came. “As I feared. Why did you come to this ship?”
“I was told to deliver bolts of fabric along with money and a letter of intent to purchase warehousing rights.”
Rarity took a long breath, feeling she had to keep her questioning brief or the truth would escape her. “Were you told to stay with the ship?”
“Negative. My orders were to return to the mistress upon delivery, but I was forcibly taken by the crew. My thanks for the rescue.” As ever, his tone was utterly devoid of emotion. Even his face revealed no signs of deceit, thankfulness, fear, or anything at all.
A sigh of relief escaped Rarity, and she seemed to become rather chipper at a job well done. “Just doing my duty. One last thing, did you see any other servants aboard?”
“Negative. I was kept in the brig and saw no other servants.”
Rarity closed in on Rocky’s face and inspected the red stripe in his mane. She ruffled his hair to make sure the red was still intact. Her horn glowed stronger, and the spell made his stripes light up a bright red. Satisfied, she cut her spell off, letting the stripes go dark. “Very good. Stay with the officers and they will return you to your mistress.”
“I abide the voice of the queen.”
Rarity briefly tracked him going into police custody and focused on the only corporal among the group. “Officer Brown, is he the one you saw?”
The officer looked Rocky Shores over. “Yes ma’am, no doubt about it, this is the one.”
“Has anypony seen any other servants come here?”
Brown ushered Rocky to another officer. “No, Inquisitor. My officers kept this ship under watch, and reported no other arrivals. However, we don’t have the numbers to watch every ship around the clock. The runner might have sent more to other ships.”
“A troublesome, if unlikely possibly.” Rarity returned her attention to Deck Flog who was barely keeping it together.
Only the presence of his crew gave him the strength to stand his ground.
“Tell me, what is the real reason you were waiting on the dock at this hour? According to the harbor authority, you should be shipping out in less than an hour. From what I understand, you should be overseeing the process of departure from the wheelhouse, not here on the docks.”
Whatever resistance Deck Flog had shown earlier had bled out of him completely. He nervously chewed on his empty pipe as he hung his head low. “I was expecting a second slave to be sent over, but he’s an hour overdue.”
Twilight’s mane was a ratty, static charged mess now. Her dress was awash with sweat and the terror of being outed was inches from making her losing control of her bladder.
“But he never arrived,” Rarity said with no discernable emotion. Her next question about the letter or missing cargo Rocky had brought fled from her mind for the more pressing issue. “Well then, that does complicate matters. Did she send the servant over here with the intent for you to claim him?”
To that, Deck Flog sagged in shame. He looked to his shipmates. Only Applejack from the lip of the vessel was shaking her head, but the old salt was already defeated. “Aye. She was trading them for some books.”
“Books?” Rarity was left speechless and stared at him incredulously. “She committed a high crime for books?!”
“...Aye.”
Rarity went quiet, giving off a troublingly calm exterior. She once more studied the ship, completely dismissing the marines’ presence. “It seems he was right to worry.” She refocused on the sullen captain. “Your newfound honesty is noted.
“I’m feeling generous tonight,” she stated with a sudden return to a friendly face, not that it disarmed the tension among those around her. “You may leave port, and I’ll write this off as an unfortunate lapse in judgement instead of arresting you, or marking you and your ship as stripe runners. You will be fined for your actions, heavily.” She glanced away for a moment, tapping her chin. “Let’s see, I’ll only charge you for one servant since you were honest, instead of including conspiracy for the second. That will be five thousand bits, or five percent of your ship’s dry value, whichever is higher. The local authority will relay the fine to your next port of call. I suggest you pay it promptly upon receiving it.”
“T-thank you for the leniency,” Flog choked out from hearing the number.
“Oh you’re very welcome.” Rarity jerked her head towards the officers who were holstering their weapons. “Corporal, I thank you for your assistance. Know that Celestia will remember your service.”
Some stood a little straighter from the praise, others sneered at the Lunarians, but all of the constables saluted Rarity. “It was our privilege, Inquisitor.”
Rarity snapped a proud salute right back. The glow on her horn dimmed, but didn’t fade entirely. The pale unicorn suddenly didn’t have the same enthusiasm on her face, nor did she move with her original energy. To Twilight, it looked like Rarity was on a knife’s edge between anger and depression.
A masking spell? Holding it up so wide I was wrapped in it too, along with all those firearms shouldn’t be possible. Unless she’s even more powerful than I thought. A shiver ran down her spine so hard her vision shook. Thank Celestia Inquisitors are so rare.
Rarity’s gaze swept over the constables, her expression recovered to professional indifference. “Leave a team here to see the ship off, the rest of you are to come with me to Bit Street. I must question our merchant friend to see if she’s sent similar packages to other ships.” The constables saluted Rarity again. Most of them boarded two of the chariots with Rocky Shores in tow, and left four standing guard. Rarity returned her stern face towards Deck Flog. “Captain, in the future, if I ever hear your name or that of your ship in anything but the highest regard, you will find my generosity at an end. Good night and safe voyage.”
“Thank you, inquisitor,” he spat with submissive disgust.
Rarity ignored his attitude, and marched over to board the last chariot. “Let us make haste before things worsen,” she said with a weary expression.
After a brief acknowledgement, the chariot took off, and headed to the west, flying over Twilight’s head.
Twilight was hesitant at first. Both she and Pinkamena watched the chariot leave.
“What are we going to do about the other constables?” Pinkamena asked in a pensive voice, bringing Twilight back to her immediate surroundings.
“It seems leaving was our own real choice in the end.” Despite it all, Twilight’s thoughts turned to her family. Of all the shame that would befall them now that her intentions were known. She was torn between her actions causing them grief, but she also felt resolve in her convictions growing stronger. They’ll survive this. Everypony already saw me as the black sheep. My family will be horrified, but at least they shouldn’t be destroyed politically. If anything I wonder if they all expected me to do this one day. Shiny certainly did. In the end, she couldn’t blame her brother for bringing Rarity to Manehatten. It was my fault for being careless. all the same, she didn’t want to think about how her family would see her after tonight. I’m sorry Daddy, Mom, but I have to do this to live outside a prison. I hope you can at least understand that much.
She could only hope they would still see her as family. Cadance however… If anypony would agree with me tonight, it’d be her. I promise you, Cadance, I don’t care what test of loyalty the Lunarians require, I’ll always see you as a friend or more if Shiny goes through with it.
By the time Rarity’s chariot disappeared into the inky black night, Deck Flog and his landing party had long since finished speaking with the marines, and were already running up the gangplank to get away from the constables. Black smoke was rising from the funnels, and shouts were springing up from the crew.
Twilight turned around and leaned against the rotting tarp and wood, not even caring anymore if some bug crawled onto her. “We’re finished. We can’t fight the constables. And once the inquisitor finds out we left, we’re dead. We’re actually dead.”
“We can’t give up now!” Pinkamena whispered with mounting panic. “If that inquisitor discovers we left, she’ll race back here!”
“I know that.” Twilight stared blankly at the stars above. She did actually have an idea, but she didn’t know if she had the heart to do it. “This isn’t how I thought it would go. I thought we had more time.”
“Mistress,” Pinkamena got in front of Twilight so she’d see her without having to move Twilight’s head. “I’ll go distract them. They should remember me from the report we did on the mugger. I can lead them away to give you and the others time to get onboard.”
In that moment, selfishness took over, and motivation flooded Twilight. No one mattered more than Pinkamena’s freedom. “No. I need - you can’t do it. We - we can get one of the boys to do it.” Guilt tried to grab hold of her, but Twilight had to shove it aside for now. “They should believe a red stripe no matter what.”
Pinkamena wilted, but couldn’t bring herself to argue. She simply nodded. “I… That should work better, I guess.”
Steeling herself, Twilight got up and bolted for the hidden servants. Once her eyes adjusted to the reduced light again, she found they right where she left them, scattered about in the abandoned loading bay. She looked at each of their faces as they turned to her once they realized she was present. They started leaving their hiding places to join their master.
The youngest of them, Berry Stomp, was in his mid thirties. He was deeply scarred on his face and neck from the lightning spell that incapacitated him long ago. He was just a colt when the war ended. He still has good years in him, Twilight thought with a shiver of dread responsibility.
She then looked to the oldest, Grey Hunter. He was nearing his eighties, but for an earth pony, he only recently reached normal retirement age. He was probably an officer. Or maybe a high ranking non-com. She quickly studied the others, but she went back to Grey Hunter. If he could control himself, he’d probably sacrifice himself to save the others, if not me. Leaning on the camaraderie she saw among Shining Armor’s soldiers, she took a shaky breath. If I choose somepony else, he’ll hate, yet accept my choice. But by choosing him, the others will hate me for sending away one of their veterans…
There was always the option of Twilight being the one to draw the constables away. A fairly easy task of simply turning herself in and letting Pinkamena escort the servants to the ship. The thought of doing that made her physically ill, both of the punishments she would surely endure, and leaving Pinkamena alone. Provided she would even allow me to go alone.
Cursing her luck, and whispering condemnations to herself, Twilight Sparkle put on her best emotional mask and went up to the aged stallion. “Grey Hunter, take off your gear. You will need to be light and fast.”
“As you wish, Mistress.”
Pinkamena wasted no time strapping on as much of his gear as she could. Thankfully, it was mostly soft cargo due to Grey’s advancing age.
Twilight wondered if Grey Hunter could sense something was amiss, and choose to not think about it. Not that she could ever peer through the monotone, uncaring expression they all had. “It seems the trader was smuggling things far more illegal than just my new carriage. Apparently the inquisitor and several officers descended on the captain and arrested him. But as she and the officers stormed the ship to take control, I saw a dozen or so ship rats jump onto the docks on the opposite side with two chained up servants and headed north to the old ruins to try and liberate them no doubt. There are still some officers by the pier kicking the dead into the water.” That should hopefully explain away the lack of any bodies. “I need you to tell the constables the direction the other criminals went and follow along with them for protection.”
The red stripes on Grey Hunter glowed softly, making Twilight stiffen up. Eventually though, they went back to normal. “As you command.” Without another word, Grey Hunter sprinted towards the pier.
Twilight started shaking with regret. I’m sorry, Grey, but I don’t want to die like this, and I have to protect Pinkamena. If I can, I’ll see if I can find any family of yours and tell them about you. She looked over to said earth pony, somehow expecting some sort of judgement from her. Condemnation, even if barely expressed by Pinkamena, would have felt better. But there was nothing of the sort.
Pinkamena finished strapping on the luggage Grey had left behind. “It’s mostly clothing and toiletries. Pinkamena grabbed the suitcase with all of Twilight’s unmentionables, along with two sacks of bits and started strapped those on as securely as possible. “Mistress, what do we do now?”
There was no time for further doubt, and the fear of the gallows pushed her to act. She looked to the others while Pinkamena continued to pick through the dropped items. “Listen, all of you. The inquisitor has taken custody of the merchant ship, she has - commanded me to board the ship as well so I can bear witness in Trottingham court. This is not a request I can politely refuse.“ Twilight let off an impressive aristocratic disdainful snort. “Which means we’re being forced to leave my wagons behind after all. So I need all of you to come with me. Now let’s get moving before the inquisitor thinks I’m wasting time!”
The group stood there, no moving an inch to obey. The situation seemed too implausible, and nearly all of their red stripes were glowing. Twilight’s lightning was starting to go wild, and was sparking even faster. Pinkamena rescued her by waving then onward. “You heard the Mistress. Are you lot seriously going to embarrass her further by making the inquisitor wait? Get going.”
All of them looked at Pinkamena with blank eyes, and nodded. She was striped, and knew only loyalty to crown and country. The mares stepped aside as the stallions hefted the heavy saddlebags and broke into a full gallop. As the last one passed by, Twilight only had time to lay a thankful hoof on Pinkamena’s shoulder before they too sprinted for the closest thing to safety they could get.
The long distance between the crates and distant ship grew with every passing moment. The vessel had not even waited for the gangplank to be withdrawn before steaming away. The metal gangplank was kicking up sparks as it was dragged along. Applejack and another crewmember were just starting to pull the ramp up when the lookout yelled a warning. “Wait! We got incoming!”
Deck Flog had been barking orders near the edge and heard the cry of alarm. “Now what?!” He looked down at the sprinting group. He was baffled to see the constables weren’t present at the dock anymore. Instead, a group of eleven stallions lead a charge towards the gangplank while two familiar mares brought up the rear. A glint of odd color prompted him to pull out his spyglass. He spotted the distinctive red stripes in their manes and tails in an instant. The stallions had pulled far ahead of Twilight and Pinkamena who refused to leave her behind. He held a restraining gesture at Applejack. “Go ahead and let the slaves aboard. If they fight us, tie them down.”
“Aye sir,” Applejack and the others half cheered. Applejack released the rope, and the gangplank slammed back down, bouncing once. One by one, the striped stallions bolted up the gangplank. They grouped up at the only empty space they immediately saw, a spot behind the front main mast. The rest of the crew balked at the sudden passengers. Deck Flog was quick to act and shouted orders as he grabbed some signal flags off his belt to wave at the wheelhouse to increase speed. “Get them below decks to some accommodations that can manage them!”
Once the last servant was aboard Deck Flog made a lifting motion with his wing. “That’s all the ones I see. Get that damn thing up already!”
Applejack was so stunned by the order, she didn’t think to stop the crewman aiding her. Instead she chased after Deck Flog. The crewmate she left behind cursed her for leaving him with all the work as he too outright ignored the Equestrians as well and worked to withdraw the gangplank.
From her money to her cargo, everything Twilight had left was on that boat or on Pinkamena’s back. Real dread of being stranded and left for Rarity’s tender mercy brought tears to her eyes. “Please don’t leave us here!”
Applejack’s ears fell and she winced at the desperate pleas, and sprinted the remaining distance and yanked Deck Flog’ to face her. “Captain! We gotta save them too.”
Why should we?” He snapped back with a snarl while throwing her offending hoof aside. “They brought that damn inquisitor to us. She can rot for all I care.”
“You spineless coward!” Applejack shouted at him, inches from taking a swing. “She just gave us eleven slaves!” She finished by jabbing a hoof at the collection of servants who were obediently following a burly crewmember proclaiming to be an inquisitor leading them below deck.
“That she did. I’ll be sure to put in a good word for her to the Unshackled. Maybe they'll carve her name on a wall or something.” Deck Flog was biting down so hard on his pipe he cracked the thing. “Now get to your post before I throw you off the ship for insubordination.”
Applejack glared right back at him, and it was Deck Flog to turned away first. She slipped over to the port side to get a clearer view of the two Equestrians. The gangplank ran out of pier and was now being hoisted up in mid air over the harbor. Twilight and Pinkamena skidded to a halt, trying to wave them down.
“Please take us too! We didn’t know an inquisitor would be here! Come back!”
Applejack turned back towards Deck Flog who had already marched half way to the wheelhouse, dismissing them completely and casting them from his mind. With a wordless cry, Applejack threw her hat on the deck. “Darn yellow bellied sea-snake.” She bolted for the stern of the Sea Hopper unsure of what to do.
“They’re not coming back for us,” Twilight whimpered in utter defeat. “Not even a pegasus to take you at least. They took everything. I’m dead We’re dead.” She slumped, tears streaming down her face. “I’m so sorry, Pinkamena.”
The pink servant was seething with rage, and without thinking, she grabbed Twilight by her left legs. “Then all we can do is swim for it!” Ignoring Twilight’s cries of panic, Pinkamena leveraged all of her natural strength and hurled Twilight as close to the disappearing gangplank as possible before jumping in after her.
Twilight padded as best she could, but her saddlebags and armor threatened to pull her down. The earth pony managed to kick most of the luggage off of her back, but the twin bags of bits were too firmly strapped to her to blindly remove. It took everything she had just to keep from drowning as well.
“Help, please!” Twilight tried to use her wings as flippers, but all it took was a few flaps before finding out every attempt to lift her wings from the water caused her head to dip, dragging her down further as the shields worked against her. She sank underwater for a moment before Pinkamena heaved her back up.
“I’m not going to let you drown, Mistress!” The pink mare was already winded and coughing up small bits of salt water.
“Just go on,” Twilight said between spitting out water. “If you leave me, maybe they’ll save you.”
“That’s not happening!” Pinkamena cried with red rimmed eyes.
The stern of the ship was now passing by, and the wake threatened to push them away. Yet a lifesaver ring on a rope splashed down. Twilight was too far to reach for it, but wildly thrashed for it anyway, threatening to break Pinkamena’s grip.
That didn’t stop Pinkamena from tightening her hold on Twilight and heave a leg as far as she could to grab it. She missed the first grab thanks to Twilight’s unthinking panic. The lifesaver got pushed away, so it was quickly pulled back up by the crew and thrown again, this time close enough for Pinkamena to firmly snatch the floater in a desperate grab. The rope went taut and strained to hoist the two waterlogged mares out of the harbor. A massive grin cleaved Pinkamena’s muzzle while Twilight was too busy spitting up water.
Once they reached the lip of the deck, Pinkamena pushed Twilight up first, who had just enough strength to pull herself the rest of the way up thanks to a pair of pegasi finally deciding to help them out. Pinkamena struggled to flop herself over the railing thanks to the heavy money purses still strapped to her, even her earth strength was at an end. Thankfully, Applejack grappled Pinkamena by her belt, and helped pull her the rest of the way up to safety.
Both soggy ponies laid down gasping for air. Applejack briefly nodded to her shipmates. “Thanks, y’all. They were way heavier than they looked.”
“Leave it to a damn noble to cling to their money,” gripped Turbulence as he kicked the waterlogged bit purses still strapped to Pinkamena.
Piston shook himself to try and get rid of what salt water he could. “I owed you, chief. Just don’t expect me to back you up when the captain sees this.”
“Well I’m glad mutiny has its limits,” growled Deck Flog as he shoved his way through the circle of crew who had gathered to watch. “Get your tails back to work, unfurl those sails! We’ve got a good wind, and order the engine room to three quarters. I want us out of sight of the docks just in case that damned nuckelavee wants to visit us again.”
As sailors scattered to obey, Applejack was the only one to stand between Deck Flog and the slowly recovering Equestrians. Even Applejack’s two subordinates left her to suffer his wrath alone. “Captain.”
“Don’t start with me!” Deck commanded sharply. “I don’t want them on my ship.”
“Do you really think the whole crew would keep quiet while you lied to the Unshackled about who helped liberate those slaves?” She fixed a defiant glared that was matched by his barely shaky one. He was gnawing on his ruined pipe so hard bits of wood were stabbing into his gums and lips. “Sides, the slaves ain’t going to listen to us, and are goin’ attack the instant they realize whatever lie she told them to get them here is false.”
“Easy. Bash them over the head and tie them down, which should have already happened by now. Let the Unshackled deal with them when we make port. As for Miss Featherless, she got caught by the inquisition. It’d be the truth after all, provided she can manage the swim back to dry land.”
That's rich coming from a bat pony. Twilight pulled together enough willpower to stand up. Her wet mane was still clinging to her face, and she couldn’t summon the strength right now to clear her vision. She opted to act like she didn’t hear the insult. “Let me be the first to thank you for the belated invitation to your ship, Captain. I formally request asylum to Lunaria, and offer the eleven servants as my boarding fee.”
Deck Flog growled as he couldn't stand the shards of broken wood in his mouth anymore. In frustration he flung the pipe overboard as hard as he could, and spat the wooden pieces towards the railing. “And here I thought you wanted to free them out of moral obligation.”
Still breathing heavily and coughing up more salt water, Twilight heaved a shaking wing over to pull some of the hair out of her eyes. “Well as the inquisitor was so gracious in demonstrating: no good deed ever goes unpunished.”
Deck Flog leveled a dour face while spitting out the last bits of wood. “Merchant’s Creed two eighty five. Don’t think to appeal to me by quoting the Creed.”
“Perish the thought.” Doing her best to rub the salt water from her eyes, Twilight finally meet his glare with a firm one of her own. “And it's just as well. I am fresh out of good deeds for the week.”
Deck Flog eyed the crew around him. They had the good sense to keep busy, but he could see all ears were angled his way. “I should force you to pay the monumental fee you just cost me, not even the bounty of eleven, possibly twelve slaves will cover that. If you hadn’t insisted on sending a slave during daylight, none of this would have happened!”
After her near death experience and the feather comment, Twilight’s temper was razor thin, but not so far gone she forgot her situation. “Which is something you still agreed to,” she said behind a clenched jaw. “You’re clearly the wiser of the two of us, Captain. You should have been even more insistent if the risks were so horrendous!”
Deck Flog’s face was a wrinkled mess of bitterness, but his first rebuke died on his tongue at the roundabout compliment. Taking a moment to calm down, he looked away a moment to gauge the mood of the crew around him. The air was charged, on the edge of a more dangerous mutiny if he let his temper get the best of him. “Luna give me strength.” He eyed the only cabin boy in sight. “You! Fetch me another pipe on the double!” As the colt ran off Deck Flog returned his attention towards Twilight. “Because of how many veterans you returned home, I won’t be forcing you to pay the fine.“
A morsel of gratitude softened Twilight’s hard expression. “I thank you.”
But…” he he added sharply, drumming a hoof on the deck, itching for a smoke. He had to stop himself from grinding his teeth. “If you want to avoid taking another swim in the drink, you gotta pay a boarding fee. Your little rescue excuses you from paying the fine, but you still to pay your way. I’ll be generous and only charge one for you alone.”
“How poetic. Does a request for asylum count for nothing in Lunaria?” Twilight challenged with bitter disbelief.
“Sure it would,” Applejack butted in, earning a harsh glare from Deck Flog. “On a navy ship. Here though, the law of the sea says it’s up to the captain.”
“So now it is my turn to throw the law around.” Deck Flog rolled his neck to get some throbbing pops out.
All this arguing and the ordeal threaten to make Twilight collapse, and she swayed a bit on her hooves. Her irritability was coming more from fatigue than anything else, but she fought to remain standing. Be it engrained aristocratic upbringing or self-preservation, Twilight kept her eyes open. “Slow down a moment, please.” She pressed a hoof to her temple to ward off an incoming headache. “Something’s been bothering me. Why weren’t you just threatening to seize my belongings those soon-to-be-former slaves brought in? ”
Deck Flog shot a dirty look at Applejack and started grabbing at his tobacco pouch, and scanning the deck for that cabin boy. “It’s complicated.”
“What he means ta say is now that you’re onboard it’s still your cargo by Lunarian Law .” Applejack was caught between being angry at Deck Flog and still trying to defer to her captain. “He might be able to get away with it if it were just my word against his, ya know, if he threw you overboard, but the slaves know who you are. That’s too many witnesses, ain’t it?”
“You best watch your tongue, Engineer, or you’ll find yourself floating home. Or do I need to remind you ya just violated my orders and sparked a mutiny!”
“How much!” Twilight called out breathlessly. Her muscles were going to give out soon. She could still taste the foul harbor water in her mouth. She was cold, emotionally strung out, and her ability to care about proper manners was fading fast. Pinkamena was in much better shape, due to her heritage, and was having to fight the urge to help prop Twilight up more than anything else.
“For a first class ticket, a mere one hundred and eighty slips,” he growled, daring her to object.
“A hundred and eighty ?” Tired though she was, Twilight took a second to remember the exchange rates. “I could stay in the Golden Skies penthouse suite in Canterlot for a month with that kind of money!” Twilight bit her tongue too late.
Deck Flog bit down hard on his pipe and glared at her. “Well ain’t that convenient. The trip home’s going to take a month! A hundred and eighty, or you’re a stowaway. To Tartarus with your asylum.”
“If you throw her overboard,” Pinkamena stepped around Twilight to get face to face with Deck Flog. “Then you better throw me too.”
“That won’t happen.” Deck Flog rebuked sternly, calm in the knowledge his crew, even Applejack, would come to his defense if things got violent with Pinkamena. “You will be subdued and brought to port to be unshackled. You obviously can resist running to the nearest inquisitor to turn your 'master' in, but you’re clearly being manipulated into being so overprotective.”
“I am not!” Pinkamena growled through clenched teeth. The fury of that even being a question made her grind her teeth and her curls to flatten out. “She’s been kinder to me than she ever had to be. I don’t need a stripe to tell me to protect her.”
“Speaking of which,” Applejack butted in, unwittingly cutting Deck Flog off. “Ah always thought those stripes a yours made you loyal to the queen and the law to the death. You can’t tell me you’ve been ignoring the fact she brought all those slaves here to be freed, right? I don’t care how silver her tongue is, you got to know what’s going on.”
Pinkamena looked to Twilight who had recovered enough to stand stall unaided, and to keep her sparks from traveling all through the water she was drenched in. The pegacorn nodded weakly to the pink mare. “It’s simple really, my mistress is an alicorn.”
“A what?” Deck Flog coughed, and nearly dropped his tobacco pouch in shock. All of the crew who had been sneakily listening in mirrored their captain’s disbelief.
“Bull!” Applejack rebuked while tugging Twilight's right wing open to check for any signs of feather growth or plucked injuries. She only let go after Twilight struggled enough from the intrusion for Applejack to let go.
“Do you mind?” Twilight fumed heatedly.
Applejack ignored the aristocrat to focus on Pinkamena. “If she were, she coulda flown onto the ship, not nearly drown in the drink.”
“But she has a horn and wings. So do the alicorns, so therefore she is one too,” Pinkamena answered with a spring in her tone. “She is my goddess, but commanded me to never call her that aloud.”
“...So you lie to yourself,” Deck Flog snorted. He finally broke a weak smile at seeing the canon boy return with a pipe wrapped in between his wing fingers. He snatched it up in haste, and went about refilling his pipe after dismissing the colt. “Well played.”
Pinkamena simply shrugged and briefly looked back at Twilight with adoration. “Lying to ponies is a bad idea, but no pony said lying to yourself is wrong. Not that I do, because Mistress is clearly an alicorn. Seeing is believing after all.”
“And here Ah thought there never could be a good lie. Or I should say, personal truth.” Applejack tilted her soft cap to partially cover an eye. “Hats off to ya.”
Deck Flog took several deep puffs before he felt calm enough to think straight. “For a tale like that, I can bust it down to a hundred fifty, and not a slip less, ya hear me?”
He’s going to penny-pinch me the whole time I’m here, or try to at least. Twilight instinctively started searching her dress for a pencil and paper, but stopped after remembering her short swim. During that time, Pinkamena retreated to stand behind Twilight's left side, but not before the noble gave her a quiet word of thanks. “You have my gratitude, Captain. Once I have a chance to go through my cargo and update the manifest, I will deliver the payment no later than tomorrow evening.”
“You’d best,” Deck Flog started off. He was starting to reclaim some measure of his old composure, but he had a long way to go yet. “Now here’s what’s going to happen. You're going to do whatever you need to do to get those stallions to stay quiet for at least a week. Thanks to the coaling station in Manehatten never being rebuilt, I don’t have enough fuel to run the engines hot enough to free anymore than one of them, and having an engine room of slaves going crazy is ludicrous. But if I keep the engine running at one quarter, that should fizz up the stripes enough to make them docile. As soon as we reach Tranquility, we offload them to the Unshackled, I get a fat bounty, and I never see your tail again, got it?”
“I can accept those terms.”
“Good. Now, First Engineer, why don't you play cabin boy for the night, and make sure accommodations are made ready for them. When we reach port, I’m selling your contract. I want you off my ship.”
“What?!” Applejack took a step back. “You really think you can just replace me?”
“I don't know why you're acting so surprised,” Deck Flog huffed. “Not only did you disobey my order to leave them behind, but you started a damn mutiny to get them onboard, and cost me all that cargo of theirs. Besides, Turbulence is more than capable of taking your job, I need to cut costs, and your first on the chopping block.” He started rubbing his stump of a wing, and jabbed the pipe at her face. “So yes, you’re out.”
Twilight Sparkle let off a racking cough, spitting up foul sea water in the process. She was having such a hard time standing to the point that Pinkamena felt she could intervene at last and moved up to allow Twilight to lean against her. Twilight was glad for the warm body, and had to blink several times to let her vision straighten back out. “You are a treasure, Pinkamena. And Applejack, for what it’s worth, thanks for that.”
“It ain’t fair! Tellin’ us ta leave them behind was an illegal order!” Applejack eyed the stallion who refused to meet her hostile glare.
“You ain’t in the navy anymore, girl, my word is law on this ship.” Deck Flog took another puff on his pipe. “Now I expect you to obey my orders until we reach port, unless you’d rather spend the next month in the brig with all the slaves. I might even lower the boarding pass if Miss Thunder Horn here tells them to cat call you the whole time.”
“...That won’t be necessary, Captain.” Applejack squared up, defiance still written all over her.
“Good.” He puffed the pipe, trying to steady the raw nerves he wasn't bothering to hide.
“What contract?” Twilight chirped in as she leaned more heavily into Pinkamena when a burst of wind cut into her, and made her waterlogged clothes a skin tight freezer.
Deck Flog hummed, debating on whether or not to bother answering. “Here’s your first lesson on Lunaria, free of charge. We have an indentured service custom. Some ponies are too high risk or too poor for regular loans. So they sign an indenture contract for the loan if and when they default on it. Or just straight up signs a contract for an upfront lump sum. She works, or worked, for me for four years. Now? She’s going to have to pay off the rest by working in a factory no doubt. They love buying up those kinds of contracts after all, and I’m making sure you’re blacklisted from ever serving on the seas again.”
“You know darn well there ain't a factory in the world that could afford to put me on an assembly line.” Applejack scoffed derisively.
“I’ll buy the contract,” Twilight jumped in before Applejack could verbally attack him. The two Lunarians looked at her as if she had just proclaimed herself empress. She might have looked weak, leaning against Pinkamena, but through her heavily bagged eyes and chattering teeth, she could still level a piercing gaze. “I could use a guide to help me learn the customs and laws.”
“I was hoping you’d say that,” Deck Flog countered as he rolled the pipe in his mouth. His confidence was creeping back into his posture and a dark glint formed in his eyes. “That’ll be four thousand slips.”
Twilight developed a smirk of her own. “Engineer Applejack, it seems between the two of us and the slave bounty, our dear captain will come out ahead after all. But, pray tell, how much was your contract to begin with and how much is it worth now?”
“Now wait, just a minute.” Applejack stomped the deck hard enough to leave a small dent. “Save’n your hide was the law, and then some, but I ain't some floosy for the looms. Just what could you possibly be doing to make buying my contract worth four thousand?”
Deck Flog bit his pipe even harder, but loosened up before he could damage this pipe as well. Pinkamena felt Twilight had things in hand, and went silent as well, opting to be her support.
“Simple really.” Twilight's breathing was easier now, thanks to Pinkamena's warmth, giving her a chance to think more clearly. “Learning the law and customs is only stage one. Once I establish myself, I can finally be an inventor, something I’ve never had a chance to do properly. And right now, I can think of nopony better suited to help me do that, than an engineer with morals befitting a pony of high birth.”
Both Lunarians were taken aback by the declaration, if the firm, yet tired eyes were enough to go on. Applejack chuckled and rubbed her nose out of embarrassment. “Okay, alright, I guess working custom jobs would be far better than anything the captain would send me off too. But I still get time off to help mah family, and an exit clause if you end up getting thrown back to Equestria.”
“Agreed.”
“Glad ta hear it. As for my contract, it sold for roughly eighty two hundred slips for seven years of service. I’m down to my what last two years and ten months. Now, unless the captain wants ta let me go right now, and find a new second engineer in the middle of the ocean, I’d available at two years and nine months.”
Twilight did some quick math in her head and eventually looked to Deck Flog who had adopted a begrudgingly amused scowl. “That would leave us at about thirty two hundred slips. I'll even throw in an extra hundred for a nice thirty three if you can scrounge up a place for me to bathe tonight. That should be more than fair.” At least I hope it sounds fair. I’ve got no idea how much ponies are paid for what jobs around here. Trying to hide such musings, Twilight kept an even keel in her posturing.
“Should have lost your contract in that poker game instead of Sprocket’s.” Deck Flog walked over to Twilight and presented a hoof, to which she eagerly shook it. “Fine, we have an accord. I’ll write the papers up before the end of the week.” He jerked his head at Applejack. “Well, what are ya still loafing around for? Go on and get them sorted out below decks, cabin girl.”