E.Q.U.E.S.T.R.I.A Spies: Monody Island (#12)
Chapter 1: Pillagin' on the Beach
~Canterlot beach's sea laid down- calm and blue- though not far from the shore everything was shrouded in a bank of mist. It may not be the summer, but the sun sure was strong. In fact, it was so bright, it was like a yellow flame billowing out after everyone who was frolicking on the sand. Even the forest valley before the beach steamed in the hot afternoon sun, and the birds could be heard chirping in the trees. A seagull perched itself on the post of the jetty, only to immediately fly away after Stitch and Spike jumped beside it. The barked and growled after the bird and chased it through the kids' sandcastles and past where Lightning Star and Rarity were bathing on their swimming outfits.~
Rarity let out a relaxing sigh as she glossed over the sun. "A lady can get used to this."
"What? What can she get used to?" Lightning asked.
"Tanning," Rarity responded. "With my tanning mirror." She held up a mirror in her hands then slid back down in her deckchair.
Lightning chuckled. "I see that." She wiped the sweat from her forehead. "Whoo! The sun sure is pretty hot today. I'm gonna go get a drink. Try not to set that mirror over 'Well done', while I'm gone, Rarity. Otherwise, your white skin will turn golden brown."
~With that, Lightning got up from where she was lying and left Rarity in peace. Stitch and Spike bounded beside her, their paws covered in wet sand and white feathers. They joined her on her way towards a cooler filled with ice, colourful ice lollies and bottles of water. As Lightning picked up a bottle, she spotted Sunset Shimmer, Twilight Sparkle and Fluttershy. They were watching an intense volleyball match between their friends, Rainbow Dash and Applejack. They each stood on the opposing side of the net, glaring at each other. Then, at Pinkie Pie's command, they began to play. Rainbow served first and smacked the ball as hard as she could over the net. Applejack leapt up and hit it back just on the palm of her hand. The Rainbooms watched the ball fly back and forth six more times before Rainbow yelped and shut her eyes in pain. The ball missed her hand and bounced on the sand behind her.~
"Annnnnd another point goes to Applejack!" Pinkie Pie cheered as she drew a line on a chalkboard under Applejack's name.
"Hey, that's not fair!" snapped Rainbow. "The sun got in my eyes, I couldn't see!"
Applejack let out a chuckle. "Ya just don't wanna admit defeat, Rainbow Dash. But I gotta say, it is gettin' hotter than an apple pie in an oven out here! I'm startin' to sweat!"
"Well, I'm afraid there's nothing we can really do about it," Lightning said, approaching them.
"She's right. According to my calculations, this heatwave should last another four days." Twilight clarified while looking through her notebook.
"Four days!?" Rainbow groaned, as her eyes widen. "Come on! It's not even summer vacation!"
"But that's a good thing, Rainbow Dash!" Pinkie said, jumping in between her and Applejack. "This means there will be more beach days! And the beach is fun! You can build sandcastles, swim in the sea, get ice cream, and enjoy the sun like it has never shone before!"
"Except when the sun shines too hard and we all begin melting like ice cream." panted Lightning.
"How about we find some shade for you, Rainbow Dash?" Sunset suggested. "Or we could take a swim? I'm sure the water will be cold."
"I took the water's temperature earlier today and right now it is approximately sixteen point three degrees." Twilight smiled.
"That's perfect."
"Sweet!" Rainbow cheered.
"I'll go get my snorkelling gear then." Lightning smiled.
"Me too," Fluttershy added. "I would like to see how the sea turtles and dolphins are doing down in the deep blue." she giggled quietly.
"Let's go then!"
~Just as she said this, Pinkie happened to glance up at the sea. She squinted. Something appeared to be large at the edge of the mist. She stopped playing and stared at it open-mouthed.~
"What's wrong, Pinkie Pie?" Applejack asked as she cracked open a bottle of apple cider.
~She pointed out to sea. Emerging from the mist was some kind of boat, but it was listing badly in the water and its timbers and sail were not raised. All the girls, except Rarity, rose to their feet and watched anxiously as the stricken craft drifted helplessly towards the shore. The shadow of the boat, however, came on the shore, and blocked the sun from shining down on them. Rarity frowned in annoyance as soon as the shadow came over her.~
"Excuse me? Can you please move? You're blocking my sun." The fashionista sighed. "I said, Can you please- " she suddenly opened her eyes and gasped.
Fluttershy also gasped. "Oh my…"
"Gosh!" Lightning exclaimed, finishing Fluttershy's sentence.
~By the time they reached the shoreline, the strange and ungainly boat was almost there too. It was barely afloat and ridged.~
"There are people on board," gasped Twilight as she laboured along the beach. "Look!"
~Even as she spoke, the craft ground onto the shallows and they saw four men clambering over the side and into the water. They waded onto the beach and once their faces and clothes showed in the sunlight, the girls couldn't believe their eyes.~
"Pirates!" gasped Rainbow.
"Again?" exclaimed Sunset.
"No way!" Lightning shouted.
~Lightning and Rainbow Dash's faces suddenly broke into smiles of amazement and thrill on seeing pirates so unexpectedly. They exchanged a look, both at the exact same level of excitement. However, the other girls were not so excited.~
"I can't believe it. Pirates! Here! On the beach! This is amazing!" cried Lightning.
Twilight suddenly placed her hand on her shoulder. "Wait, will they be friends or foes?"
~To answer Twilight's question, the four pirates let out a hardy 'Arrgh!' and wielded their pistols and cutlasses. No kindness was set in their eyes.~
"They're foes," Lightning said, rather glumly. "Darn it…"
~Before anybody could say anything else, the pirates scattered and began to cause mayhem. They began scaring away the children, and soon the adults, robbing people of their stuff and tearing up the sand, like they were in search of something beneath it, like treasure. The Rainbooms stood to their feet. They watched silently as the pirates of the sea ransacked the beach, then glared in infamy.~
"Come on, guys! Let's show these pirates what we've got!" Rainbow yelled.
~They all grinned and nodded. Lightning activated her geode then took to the air, hoping to fly above them. She swung her raccoon tail loudly, breaking the violent sounds of digging and shouting. Even the sound of the sea was dulled and it lapped feebly against the shore. The rest of the Rainbooms came face to face with the four startled brigands. Two of them glanced at each other. They felt like there was little they could do against these magical, flying pony girls, but flee. They drew in their breath sharply, then ran for their lives back to the ship.~
"What the hay?" Applejack exclaimed.
"Are they...scared of us?" asked Fluttershy.
'It looks like it," Lightning answered, fluttering down to join them.
"Well, that's a relief!" gasped Rarity. "I didn't fancy trying to fight off pirates. Especially with their bad smell and disgusting habits."
"Tsh! What are they, pirates, or cowardly dopes on holiday?" said Lightning.
"Who cares, they're getting away! We need to catch them!" said Rainbow in pursuit.
~Very quickly, Rainbow Dash sped past the running pirates and blocked their path. She looked ready to fight at any moment. The pirates slid on the sand then looked over their shoulders at the girls. Lightning stepped forwards and crossed her arms.~
"Pirates of the seas," she said as they came within range. "You will never pirate Canterlot on our watch. For we are its defenders. Rainbooms, to me!"
~The Rainbooms stood strongly beside Lightning. They all broke into a big smirk and posed into a fighting stance. Suddenly, the pirates' wariness disappeared and they pulled confused looks.~
"Who are ye, again?" one of them demanded. "Didn't quite catch that."
"The Rainbooms!" Lightning repeated.
"Also known as the E.Q.U.E.S.T.R.I.A Agents!" Pinkie added.
"Ye jusht a bunch-a kidsh!" another pirate shouted.
"Yea, an' we ain't takin' no orders from anyone except our cap'n." the third man snarled. "Hmm! I bet he'll know how to deal with yer!" He turned to the fourth and final pirate. "Go get 'im, Pip!"
"Aye, aye, Sail."
~The fourth crew member, whose name appeared to be Pip, nodded and marched off towards the boat. The third pirate, who was named Sail, leaned forwards and clasped his hands together in front of him as they waited. Rubbing them impatiently, he leered at the girls, wondering what his captain would think of them. Fluttershy grasped onto Applejack's arm anxiously. After a few more minutes, Pip finally returned with a tall middle-aged man with a thin stubble. Judging from his smart red uniform and standard manners, the Rainbooms figured he was the captain of the ship and this pirate crew. He stomped down from the ship, waded into the water, then continued stomping until he reached the shore. His hat was over his eyes, so nobody could see his face, but this doesn't stop Lightning from confronting him about the attack upon the beach.~
"So, who else dares to set foot in Canterlot?" she demanded.
The captain sniffed the salty air. "Arr! Did ye say Canterlot?" he then asked in a orotund voice.
"Yes. Canterlot." Lightning replied.
The pirate crew snickered and as they were about to continue the ongoing battle, the captain slumped his arms down. "Arr, we be in da wrong place," he groaned. "I be dah worst captain ever! And I be so sorry. So say we all. Say it, lads!"
"Sorry!" The crew chroused.
~With that, they turned back glumly to their ship. The Rainbooms reverted back to their normal selves, and didn't know what to say. These pirates weren't as hostile as they thought they would be. There was a silence for a moment and a chill gust blew from the sea. Finally, Rainbow Dash held out her hand.~
"Hey, wait a minute!" she called. "Why have you come here, if you're not here for our stuff?"
"We be in search of treasure," explained Sail, now in a more friendly way. "Aboard our good ship, Cloudy Parrot, with our cap'n, Alonzo."
"Alonzo?" Sunset repeated.
~Captain Alonzo titled his hat up before turning back around to look at the agents. His brown eyes were deep-set and gentle and made the girls feel strangely comfortable under his presence. A gold ring was pierced around his ear and he wore an eyepatch over his right eye, but he had no medical problems with his eye, he just liked wearing eye patches. He raised his head to look at them properly.~
"Yes, that's me," The captain answered.
Lightning nodded slowly. "Alright, well, at any rate, we accept your apolo..."
~The captain interrupted her. He drew out a red feather from his coat pocket and sighed groggily.~
"Are you feeling alright, Captain Alonzo?" Sunset asked, noticing his look.
"I'd...rather not get into it. It be personal." sobbed Alonzo. He noticed a group of people staring at him. "What ye be lookin' at?!" he shouted. The people yelped and ran away.
"Come, come, cap'n," Sail said, appearing behind him. "Let's take ye back to ye quarters an' move on."
"Alright, Sail." said the captain as he led the way. "Let's go, lads!"
The pirates answered their captain's call and joined him. Sail turned to the girls. "Sorry for the pillagin'. Won't happen again." he apologised once more.
~Lightning was glad that the strong light of high noon hid her flushed cheeks. All kinds of wild imaginings filled her mind as she stared at the pirates, and their glorious ship.~
"I want to go with them." she said at last.
"What?" The seven Rainbooms gasped.
"I want to go on with them on another adventure! Come on, girls. I'm getting bored on this beach. I'm tired, it's hot, I'm almost getting sunburned. I feel like I need this. And I want you all to come too. What do you say?" She held out her hand.
"I don't know, Lightning," Sunset Shimmer answered solemnly.
"Last time we came across pirates, they took us to an island, forced us to work, then tried to kill us!" Twilight exclaimed, recounting everything that happened in their previous adventure.
"But these pirates are different," replied Rainbow Dash in Lightning's defence. "They don't seem very…"
"Mean?" Fluttershy prompted.
"Yeah." answered Rainbow.
"Exactly!" cried Lightning, and she began running after the crew. "Hey, wait! Captain! Take us with you!"
The captain droned. "Ehh."
"We can help you find treasure and work under your favour!"
"Now, hold on a minute, Lightnin'," Applejack said, as she walked beside her. "We never said we were on board with this idea."
Rarity agreed. "Besides, I do not feel comfortable travelling onboard a disgusting pirate ship along with a bunch of ruffians!"
"Who are you callin' 'ruffians', eh, lass!?" Pip barked.
The second pirate jumped in. "Well, ye do have terrible teeth, Pip, an' ye face ish not pretty."
Pip scowled. "Oh, ye can fruitin' talk, you gnarled old fool! When was da last time ye looked in dah mirror? 'cause ye look like a drowned rat!"
~Offended by this, the second pirate lashed out with his fist, but Sail stepped in and grabbed him by the arm.~
"Mast, let's not pick fights with anybody," he said. "We already 'ave a lot to get on with."
"Alright, fine. Now let go of my arm." Mast demanded.
~Sail obliged and released him. Mast glared at Pip behind him and whispered something uncanny underneath his breath. Nobody heard it, except Fluttershy.~
She looked at him with horror. "Hey! That wasn't very nice!" she scolded.
Mast turned to her. "Ah, don't take it too sheriously, lass. We shay thin's like that to each other every day."
"Jan especially," said Pip as he pointed at the first pirate, revealing his name too. "He's a scallywag, a landlubber, and a scurvy seadog!"
Jan the pirate began to roar with laughter. "Got that right! Oh right, now I see why the lass called us ruffians."
Rarity folded her arms and tapped her foot. "Yes. And, another thing, since we're on the topic of you," she started to examine the pirates. "Your clothes look like a state, honestly. Oh! You smell like seafood too, when was the last time you all showered, last year?! You all could use a good clean with soap and water! And..."
As Rarity went on, Sail turned to the girls. "Does she 'ave an off switch?" he asked.
"Nope." said Lightning with a smile. "She just goes on and on. Get used to it."
~The pirates watched as Rarity examined their clothing, hair and manners in disgust. It wasn't long before they clamped their ears and wanted her to quit it. But she kept talking. The complaining would not stop. All the Rainbooms were holding back their laughter while the pirates' faces turned grim and they became irritable.~
At last, Pip had enough. "Alright, lass. If ye don't shut up in da next three seconds, I will use me cutlass and..."
Before he could finish, a loud voice spoke out. "Oi, Pip. Let's not get violent 'ere!"
~From where the ship floated on the shallow water, a slender woman clambered down silently from the ladder. She wore a purple leather jerkin over a white ruffled poet shirt with a leather sash tied diagonally around her torso. She also wore a dark miniskirt, white breeches, buckled boots and a white bandana on her head that stopped her blond hair from flowing in the wind. The girls were incredibly surprised when they saw her.~
"We do not commit those sort of actions on innocents anymore," she suddenly added as she stared at Pip incredulously.
"Sorry, Ma." he replied sarcastically.
"Whoa, who's that?" asked Rainbow.
"Caura Monody be her name," Sail answered. "The woman of our trusty crew, and me one true love." he got down on one knee and kissed her hand. "She's all the treasure I want in me life."
She blushed. "Sail, pleas! I admire you, but I would like to know what's goin' on. So, cap'n," she walked over to Alonzo. "This be the place we find treasure?"
"No," he said sadly, "Just some stuck up beach belongin' to these lovely ladies." He addressed the Rainbooms. Pinkie Pie waved in response.
Sail nodded. "They be called...excuse myself, lassies, but what be ye names again?"
Pinkie Pie jumped in and pointed at her friends by one. "This is Lightning Star, Rainbow Dash, Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy, Sunset Shimmer and Pinkie Pie!" she finished, pointing at herself.
"Or altogether, you can call us the Rainbooms." Sunset prompted.
"Rainbooms! Yes! Weird name, it may be, but they be da finest lookin' lassies a pirate has seen in a fortnight!"
"Umm, thank you?" Lightning said with an unsure look.
"Well, Pleased to meet ya, lassies." Caura piped up. "Name's Caura. I was once like you. A pretty girl enjoyin' life at its fullest. Now, I'm here! Enjoyin' the life of a pirate!"
"And how is it?" asked Lightning. "Awesome?"
"Pretty, pretty awesome."
"As if I couldn't have another reason to come along!" Lightning turned to the Rainbooms. "Come on girls, this is once in a lifetime for us! A real pirate adventure. For all of us. I promise, I will make sure we will all stay safe."
"I'm in!" Rainbow spoke up.
"Ooo! Ooo! Me too! Me too!" Pinkie waved.
"Ye want to come with us?" Sail asked, surprised. "I like dah idea! We do need more crew members to clean up."
"I'm still not sure about this," Twilight admitted.
"Me too," Sunset added. "Is the captain himself even okay with this?"
Caura turned to him. "What do ya say, cap'n?"
"I don't mind. As long as they help with da ship and findin' treasure, that is." he answered.
"We promise, captain, sir, captain!" Lightning saluted.
"Alright. I suppose this would be a good opportunity to see what pirates are in action." said Twilight, letting her study instincts kick in.
"That's what I like to hear!"
"I don't want to come," Rarity spoke up next. "If I do, I'm sure to break a nail, see rats, catch a disease of some kind, and have an icky pirate smell on me for weeks!"
Lightning frowned but then whispered something in Caura's ear. She smiled and walked up to the fashion girl. "Are ye sure? If we find treasure, it will be filled to the brim with trinkets, gold and gems beyond your wildest dreams!"
Rarity froze before her eyes bulged. "Like rubies...and sapphires and diamonds and emeralds!"
"Oh my!" Fluttershy gasped.
"Ye bet!" exclaimed Caura, giving her a wink.
Rarity straightened herself out. "Well, how can I say no to a prize like that!?" she smiled. And before everyone knew it, she had climbed on board the ship.
"Yep. Knew that'll get her onboard." said Lightning with a smug.
Applejack let out a sigh. "Well, I suppose havin' another adventure would brin' a smile to my face." she shrugged.
Fluttershy nodded. "And who knows if we'll see any beautiful parrots and frogs and snakes along the way."
"Oh no! No no no no! Not snakes!" Pip babbled. "I hate snakes."
The girls were confused. "Long story." Caura told them.
"Welp. I believe everyone is onboard with this adventure then?" Lightning asked. "Good," she said before anybody could give an answer. "Let's go prepare and tell the Chief about it. Don't go anywhere, pirates. We will be right back."
~Without another word, Lightning sped off and made in the direction of Canterlot High School. The others quickly followed. The pirates watched them leave, shading their eyes against the sunlight, and had a good feeling about these girls helping them. They felt as if they will discover something they will have never discovered before.~