//------------------------------//
// Time at Ludo Isle 
// Story: Bluebird 
// by Hammerhead 
//------------------------------//

It was early in the morning when the ship arrived and docked at its destination. The entire crew had a simple breakfast of oats before departing to the docks. Gallus and his friends noticed that General Seaspray was nowhere to be seen, made only stranger that none of the crew seemed bothered by the lack of his presence.

Not that it mattered, the crew were off-duty, and the dockworkers began their inspection to see if the ship needed repairs. They won’t be sailing again for several hours. For the ponies and griffon, they could either watch the hippogriffs repair the giant hole in Captain Celaeno’s ship or take a moment to check out Ludo Isle.

The gang decided to spend the morning flying around the island, Lightning Dust’s idea. The island was more significant than the hippogriff’s capital in Aris, and the mountains were twice as high. On the downside, the hills were a murky brown with few features apart from the occasional foliage.

There was a palace surrounding the mountains of Ludo Island. Still, it was far from as beautiful or clean as the Royal Palace on Aris. It was almost like a giant burnt-out tree, jagged and abandoned, with noticeable areas of moss growing on the walls and a small pile of rubble growing around it. The group found it impressive, but Gallus couldn’t help but think that if he wanted to visit a giant decaying tree in the mountains, he’d return to Griffonstone.

Near the end of their journey, the gang went around the town near the docks, the only city on the island. This town had no cobblestones, so it floated above the ground or walked on the sand. The buildings had those same dark burnt, looking walls, with no glass for the windows; they could guess where they got the materials from.

One thing the town lacked was markets. Some shops looked similar to the houses aside from the open doors. Still, it was all some variety of food or household items, nothing fancy like trinkets or souvenirs. The gang checked every building, much to Gallus’ growing frustration.

“Come on, guys, we’re gonna be late!” he groaned impatiently.

“‘ow is there no place to buy souvenirs?” asked Pound Sterling as she looked through each door.

“Because this is not a tourist site?”

“True, but it would be gran’ to brin’ summa back ‘home to show off.”

“Yeah, like to the Academy to help us win that Adventure Award”, added Nicknames, scheming as he slowly rubbed his hooves together; he still had the cash prize from that award on his mind. Gallus was preoccupied with the ship waiting at the docks as he repeatedly looked back tensely towards the docks at regular intervals.

At one point, Lightning Dust pulled him into a headlock. “Relax, Bluebird, we’re not in trouble anymore, thanks to you,” she attempted to reassure him.

“Don’t remind me,” Gallus grumbled.

“Just relax and take in the air; we probably won’t have it when we’re back on that ship.”

Suddenly, they heard a call from Nicknames further up ahead. “Hey! Found one!” He waves over, pointing at one of the buildings.

Inside was a gallery of garments and knickknacks with vivid colours and patterns. The serene array of designs and displays caught the attention of every pony, even enough to distract Gallus away from his thoughts of the ship. The gentle breeze made the sea blue dresses flow like waves, and the wind chimes like the harmonising heights.

Their ogling through the window caught the attention of the artist inside, a hippogriff whose coat was almost golden, with mane-like giant violet feathers and long thick eyelashes. Her eyes glowed, and she smiled.

“Ah, lio mākaʻikaʻi,” she exclaimed at the sight of potential customers, though the group couldn’t understand what she said. Gallus turned his head to Scythe with a curious eyebrow raised, but even the linguistically gifted pony shrugged; he hadn’t been to the Hippogriff Isles before; how was he supposed to know?

Luckily, the shop owner knew some Ponish. “Come in; got great things you can take home, all designs by myself,” she gestured with her claws. The ponies eagerly entered the small building, leaving Gallus to wait outside. He didn’t want to buy anything but could see his friends browse the shop and pick out things to buy.

“Sweet! You’ve got candy!” Nicknames exclaimed.

“You like?” asked the shop owner. “Ten bits per bag.” Nicknames then dropped ten coins into her claws without a single thought. Gallus furrowed his brow at a price; ten bits for a bag of candy? Perhaps at that moment, Ludo Isle became a tourist site.

“How much for this necklace?” questioned Lighting Dust as she raised her hoof, showing a sea green and pink carved sea glass necklace dangling. “It’s… for my mother…” She then hurriedly excused herself, her eyes shifting from side to side.

“Fifteen bits.” The shopkeep answered with a sly smirk; Lightning Dust dropped the coins into her claw. At least fifteen bits sounded reasonable for a fancy necklace.

Scythe noticed in the corner some carved wooden figurines of hippogriffs. The detail in the carving engraving was minute, and the ones that piqued his interest were ones with suits of armour and uniforms. He picked up the military-looking ones, thinking they’d go great with his collection at home. “Huh, how…?”

“Twenty bits for the set”, the shop owner sharply answered before Scythe could complete his question, startling him.

“Oh, okay…”

Gallus’ mind wandered back towards the docks as ponies were buying their souvenirs. He can see Celaeno’s pirate ship departing and leaving the island. The only boat left on the island was the navy ship. “Can we go now?” he asked with an impatient moan. However, his friends were preoccupied with one of the more grandeur items in the shop.

“Coar! Look at that!”

Pound Sterling was gazing at a flag hung on the wall, a large sheet of cloth made of four rectangles, two of sea blue and two of orange, surrounded by golden tassels along the edges. Each rectangle had embroidered shields held up by a simplified depiction of a hippogriff and weaponry.

The shop owner paid full attention to Pound Sterling’s awe. “You like? Hippogriff Isles Country Flag.” She made her way over the other ponies and moved the other fabrics out of the way so the flag was in full view and revealed that each emblem represents the four main Hippogriff islands. “Ludo, Vico, Aris, and Ostro,” she said, pointing to each. “I made here in Ludo from fabric and dyes made in other islands.”

Pound Sterling’s face lit up. She wanted to buy it.

“Dat’s perfect! ‘ow much?”

“Thirty bits.”

And then her ears drooped. “Oh, ah, only ‘ave a tenner….” The shop owner dropped her smile, clearly not keen to negotiate her artwork to a lower price. In desperation, Sterling turned to her friends. “Could ya lend me the rest, Dusteh?”

“Sorry, only have five bits left” Lightning Dust showed the five coins. “I could get a refund for the rest,” she offered, but Sterling shook her head.

“Nah, can’t let y’ do that. Nick?”

“No, can do; I only brought ten bits.” Nicknames said, partially muffled by the candy he was chewing. “This candy is great.” He muttered to himself. He couldn’t get a refund.

She then turned to Scythe.

“Uh, the rest of my bits are… back in Mount Aris.” He answered uncomfortably; his voice trailed off.

With none of the ponies inside, the forlorn Sterling’s hopes to buy the flag dwindled. She began looking around for something else she could buy, something small, something cheaper.

Then he heard a familiar groan, and a blue griffon barged into the small shop, squeezing past Scythe, Nicknames, and Lightning Dust until he reached Pound Sterling and the shop owner. “Here.” Gallus held out his claw, holding a satchel of his money, twenty bits to be exact. “Let my friend have the flag, please.”

Although Gallus was willing to sacrifice his bits out of impatience, his sudden generosity caught most ponies off guard. Pound Sterling’s eyes welled up as the corners of her mouth began to curl. “Aw come ‘ere Bluebird!” she pulled Gallus into a tight hug, as he still had his arm out trying to give the satchel to the shop owner. “You’re the best.”

“Okay, okay. You’re welcome.” After finally taking Gallus’ satchel and Sterling’s bits, the shop owner took the flag down, folded it up and gave it to Pound Sterling. “Can we go to the docks now?” Gallus moaned as the transaction meant his mind turned to return to the docks on time.

Although the other ponies were satisfied to leave, they didn’t respond to Gallus’ complaints. “I’m gonna ‘ang dis up when I get home!” Pound Sterling exclaimed, hugging the folded flag close to her chest.

Although annoyed, at least Gallus could see them leaving and tried to follow. Someone was holding him back. The shopkeep held onto his arm with a friendly smile and dangled a locket in her other claw. The locket appeared made from two pink shells made like a heart.

It wasn’t Gallus’ style, maybe Silverstream’s, but regardless, he could only assume she was trying to sell it to him. “Uh, sorry, I don’t have any money left”, he politely declined, but the shop owner insistently placed the locket into Gallus’ open palm and closed it up.

“Maikaʻi griffon.”

The shop owner repeated something in her local dialect, slowly and oddly motherly, with a warm smile. “Uh, thanks?” Gallus returned with a nervous smile; he hoped she was saying something nice about him.

The shop owner then collected all the bits she earned from their visit and put them away. Gallus stood clueless, looking down at the pink seashell heart locket. After all the things she sold, it felt strange to Gallus that he’d get something for free. Maybe she thought he’d deserved it for offering his money to help buy Pound Sterling what she wanted. If that’s the case, perhaps this hippogriff, this island’s Professor Rarity, the element of generosity.

However, he couldn’t help but have doubts, so he exited with slow side steps as the artistic hippogriff returned to tidying her wares in the shop. With no word uttered as he reached the door, he left the shop to catch up with his friends heading towards the docks.





After catching up with the others, Gallus arrived at the docks. The grand ship sat calmly in the waters, but strangely its drawbridge wasn’t out. Even stranger was most of the hippogriffs hanging out on the docks themselves. Small groups played cards and dice, and others talked with each other.

Something was amiss; undoubtedly, the ship would have been boarded by now. As Gallus scanned the sea of hippogriffs, he recognised a yellow hippogriff with a red mane that he worked with on deck and cooked the meals. “Hey, are we ready to board?” he called out, hoping to get answers.

The hippogriff recognised Gallus and waved. “Yo! Not yet; the ship isn’t ready to go,” he answered.

“Why?”

“Well, the dock workers were still busy with Celaeno’s ship this morning and had just sailed. We haven’t finalised our checks; no one’s seen the General since he went off duty last night.”

The others looked at each other with furrowed brows and tilted heads. Out of all the crew, the one most expected to be on time was not there. “General Seaspray is missing?” Gallus queried.

“Not exactly, he hasn’t shown up and wasn’t at his home, but there’s no sign he’s not on the island”, the hippogriff replied, although not with the most satisfying answer. “He’s likely down at the beach south of the island; he goes there all the time.”

“None of you have checked, though.”

“Well, if you want to disturb him, you can”, the hippogriff chuckled, “Besides, after all the work we do, it’s better just to relax and take in the air.”

“Gee, Bluebird, where have we heard that before?” Lightning Dust sardonically added whilst glaring at him for rushing every pony, considering how unnecessary it was.

The news only irritated Gallus, “Well, if you want to hang around, feel free”, he chided Lightning Dust. “I’m going to find him” He began to turn away from the docks and began to take flight. However, some of his friends quickly became cautious.

Scythe quickly ran in front of him. “Uh, is that a good idea? You know, given how you talked to General Seaspray,” he reminded.

“Yeah, that was awesome,” Nicknames smirked confidently. “I’d be in trouble if I were you.”

“Ya, almost wor, ya wazzuck,” Pound Sterling added, flicking a hoof behind Nicknames’ ear.

“Guys, I’ll be fine,” Gallus finally firmly asserted, “just need to have a word.” He then took off for the South beaches to find General Seaspray.





He flew across the golden beach, bridging the gap between the sea and mountains on the island’s south side, which was empty with hardly a hippogriff or weaponry in sight. Luckily the crew on the ship were correct in their speculation; along the vacant shores, Gallus spotted a lone figure in the distance and began his descent towards it.

Gently he landed on the ground and proceeded to walk towards the figure. As he moved closer, he noticed a line of black pillars sticking out of the sand, each an equal distance apart, with carved white inscriptions. As he walked past pillars, each towered over him; it turned a calm scenery into an eerie one.

Then he saw General Seaspray himself. The stoic hippogriff sat on the beach, his sights fixed towards one of the pillars. He looked at it gravely, holding his profound emotions, but his eyes glistened. It turned out that Gallus wasn’t the only one who wasn’t feeling well from the sights of these pillars.

When the griffon stopped a few metres, Seaspray closed his eyes. “Yes, what is it?” he asked with a broad sigh.

Gallus was slightly startled, surprised Seaspray could’ve seen him with how focused he was. The griffon had to compose himself and act professionally. He didn’t want to appear like he disturbed the General with something not important.

He stood up, back straight, and gave a salute. Specifically, with his palm down, assuming by now that’s what Seaspray would prefer. “Sir, here to report that Captain Celaeno and her ship departed earlier this morning,” said Gallus in a clear and authoritative voice. “The crew are currently all waiting for you at the docks.”

“Good,” Seaspray replied calmly but didn’t move his head away. “Now, what are you here for, Gallus? I doubt you came here to give me a status report.”

Gallus decided to drop his salute and drop his act. “Sir, if you’re still mad at me for what went on yesterday, fine,” he said firmly. “But, just for the journey back, could you not take it out on my friends? They wouldn’t be the ones who called you out, even if they took my side.”

There was a pause; Gallus could hear the waves, “I wasn’t planning to”, was Seaspray’s answer, which caused Gallus to raise a brow. “One of the crew would’ve told you I was here, but did they tell you why?”

“Not really.”

“Before I depart, I always have a conversation with the greatest naval commander I’ve ever known, “Seaspray explained. He pressed a single talon onto the pillar, pointing to one of the inscriptions that appeared larger than the others. “Admiral Aerosalt, my father,” he clarified; those pillars were a memorial, and the inscriptions were the names of the deceased.

“He saw his work as a sacred calling; he would take any opportunity to ride on ships, train with the crew, and make sure every part of the ship was to the highest order. Most importantly, he always knew to make the right call in any situation, no matter how dangerous,” he spoke with his head high and a glisten in his eye. He turned to face the sea. “Those who survived the Storm on Ludo told me he ordered his fleet to circle the island and bait any enemy ship they could find to follow them to this side of the island,” his outstretched arm spanned across the horizon, picturing his claws as a ship sailing across the wave in top speed until the arm was parallel with the pillar behind him.

“The fleet then fired everything they had to hold them and have the remaining hippogriffs evacuate from the docks towards Mount Aris to safety.” He sighed, and the corner of his mouth curled up slightly. “What it would have been like to take action in one of his ships….”

“Probably not good considering how it ended….” Gallus muttered, wiping Seaspray’s subtle smile clean off.

“Yet there are hippogriffs who were saved, grateful to those who risked their own”, he retorted forcefully. “Anygriff that didn’t were captured, destined to die for resisting, or be enslaved and build the Storm King’s empire, including that monstrosity that yeti supposedly called his holiday home,” he grimly described as he turned back around and stared up at the dilapidated dark palace poking out from between the mountain tops. “I’d have it obliterated in an instant if it wouldn’t cause harm to the environment surrounding it.”

The air felt cold and quiet; no wonder the palace was left to deteriorate. Reusing the charred rocks for buildings and headstones was the safest way to take them down. The hippogriffs hiding in the ocean to have the closest semblance to freedom made sense when the alternative was forced labour or worse.

Hoping to lighten the mood and move Seaspray away from his glib remark, Gallus attempted to move the conversation. “So, what were you two talking about?” he asked, rubbing the back of his neck in discomfort.

“Often, I seek his advice,” he answered, referring to his dad on the pillar. “Advice that has helped me rebuild the Navy and reclaim the islands and oceans to the Hippogriffs. As my mentor, it’s only right I tell him about what I’ve been doing.”

“Including what happened yesterday?”

Seaspray then gave a long and deep breath. “Yes, I was at fault,” he confessed in a slow and restrained tone, holding back some frustrations. “When my focus was on not letting Equestrians cause any danger, one of my crew made an error in judgement.” He turned to Gallus with narrowed eyes and a sharp stare. “But it will not happen again...”

Gallus was unphased.

“One of your crew told me the Rockhoof Incident only happened because you made the order to follow stars during a fog. Is that true?”

While he remained fixed towards Gallus, Seaspray’s eyes glanced to the side towards the pillar before switching back. It was as if his father was actually standing next to him, watching him. “Yes, it was,” he answered with a grumble, much to his chagrin. 

“Let me guess, merely an error in judgement.” Gallus’ eyes narrowed, “Every other species causes danger.”

“My duty is to protect the hippogriffs and sea ponies; anything that impacts their safety is on me.” Seaspray snapped back. “Admiral Aerosalt would have never let any of this happen.”

“Had he ever worked with ponies?”

Another exasperated breath. “No. In Aerosalt’s time, the Navy was solely the work of hippogriffs,” he admitted. “They may have helped other avians, maybe griffons at some point. But, when the Navy’s biggest hindrance was avian pirates, there was hardly a reason to work together.”

“With all due respect, I don’t think your dad will be much help.”

“Well, with all due respect,” Seaspray repeated with force, “I gave you some responsibility over your friends, and look what happened. Am I to expect a griffon to know how to work with other creatures?”

“Maybe not, but the School of Friendship does.” Gallus quipped. “They’ve worked with griffons, yaks, changelings, dragons, hippogriffs. I bet you wouldn’t be happy if Silverstream were treated like you treated my friends and I.”

Although ready to argue back, Seaspray halted, his beak open to speak. He reclaimed his composure, silently admitting that he wouldn’t dare want any creature to be rough on Silverstream, especially not anygriff in his Navy.

Then, Seaspray remembered something Gallus had said when calling him out the day before. “And I recall you saying you have problems with ponies yourself?” he remarked.

Gallus did remember saying that.

“Of course, not all ponies are all about friendship, not even the military” he admitted begrudgingly. “I wouldn’t be in trouble with Silverstream if some pony wasn’t taking our letters for months.”

The information that Gallus confessed caused Seaspray to raise a brow; he’d been curious about what compelled him to come all this way. While relieved, it wasn’t any physical harm, depraving communication so brazenly he deemed concerning. “Sounds like not even the Equestrians get it right. Perhaps in hindsight, you’d have a better time at the Griffon Army,” he suggested.

“Doubt it; I’d be further away from Silverstream and the others.”

“Take it from a hippogriff who’s lived their life at sea: No matter how far away you are, your friends and family won’t forget you,” he said with his head held high and pointed towards the ocean, those he routinely traversed gave a certain softness to his voice.

“Besides, I’m sure that griffon elder that I met at the School of Friendship, what with emboldened claims of bringing the Griffon Army with him to fight any creature, would’ve helped put in a good word with one of their units,” referring to Grandpa Gruff, a name that still didn’t sit well with Gallus. “As a griffon in an army of griffons, no doubt you’d be treated better; I’m sure he’ll agree.”

“Take it from a griffon who lived and worked for him; there’s no way in Tartarus that I’m going back home!” Gallus snapped, his fists clenched and dug into the sand.

The outburst surprised Seaspray; he didn’t initially realise his comments produced such anger. Then it dawned on him. “Ah, I sense you’ve had this conversation before?” Gallus responded by sulking and staring at the sand; Seaspray felt affirmed in his suspicions.

“I’ve had the same anger in my youth,” he admitted. “I joined the Navy to be Captain. In command of my ship in my father’s fleet. But when my hard-earned promotion was in my sights, he transferred me to Mount Aris. We argued for hours, I asserted my aspirations repeatedly, but he told me the transfer was final and someday I’ll understand it was for the best. After that, I refused to speak to him. The Storm came on my second day as a ship captain in Mount Aris.” There was no need for Seaspray to repeat what happened to Admiral Aerosalt.

“Do you think your time is best including yourself into the Equestrian Military?” he sincerely asked Gallus.

As Gallus stared at the sand, he thought about what led up to that moment. There were the moments with that snobbish bully Coalstone, the bossy Commandant, but then there were those in the academy who were good. Westland, his platoon, even Razorwing was tough on everypony, not just him.

“I think so, at least I know who I can count on,” Gallus answered, staring in the direction of the docks where his friends were waiting. “Not to mention, I think their military can do better with some non-ponies in it.”

“How so?” a curious Seaspray asked.

“Because at the School of Friendship, I was told the Storm King and his army weren’t defeated just by ponies. They were defeated by a hippogriff, an Abyssinian, Captain Celaeno and her crew, and ponies.”

Something clicked in Seaspray’s mind, he remembered the news that the Storm King was defeated, how the same ponies Queen Novo banished for attempting to steal the pearl had banded together with unlikely allies, like Celaeno and Princess Skystar, to petrify and shatter the beastly king. The jubilations were so loud and widespread that Queen Novo and himself didn’t realise Princess Skystar had snuck out. Seaspray felt reminded that enemies can be defeated when all creatures work together.

“Perhaps you’ll be fine,” Seaspray acknowledged with a subtle nod. “However, don’t let anger or aspirations get in the way of those who raised you,” Seaspray advised Gallus. “Because of mine, I won’t truly know why my father had me transferred instead of fighting by his side or if he thought I was a good commander of the seas, all I have is my memories of him and this pillar.”

“One way to think of it, if your dad didn't transfer you, you wouldn’t be here as head of Queen Novo’s Navy to rebuild it and reclaim the south seas. It sounds like he just made the right call,” As Gallus looked back towards Seaspray, he felt his heart stop as Seaspray had a perplexing look as if Seaspray just saw a ghost before him. “I said something bad, didn’t I?”

“No”, Seaspray answered, maintaining his questioning look, “Somehow, what you said was the same thing said by the last officer cadet who stood up to me.”

“Oh really?” Gallus remarked nervously. “Must not have lasted long, I bet!”

Then Seaspray smirked, a rare expression from the hippogriff that didn’t relieve Gallus. “It was back in the Sea Fleet; I doubt he could last a day without me,” he gibed. “Unlike you, he had no prior training whatsoever.” Seaspray then chuckled. “In fact, on the first day we met, he told me, in all his life, he hadn’t worked on anything larger than a fishing boat.”

That was a weirdly specific point to bring up about someone, Gallus thought as he furrowed his brow. It’s not like Gallus could know who this inexperienced Sea Fleet cadet could be, yet Seaspray found it so bemusing to be significant. Why?

The only other creature Gallus could remember talking about not working on anything more significant than a fishing boat was… Prince Skybeak, Silversteam’s Dad, former Captain of the Sea Fleet. It suddenly dawned on Gallus that Seaspray was talking about, he was slack jawed and stunned. Did Seaspray suggest he has something in common with Skybeak?

“Now, I think it’s time we should be heading to the docks,” said Seaspray, stretching out his wings to prepare for flight, “I shan’t worsen my example by staying here too long.”

It took until Seaspray started elevating off the sandy surface for Gallus to break out of his frozen state. “Uh, yes, sir!” he exclaimed as he hurriedly followed Seaspray towards the docks.





Meanwhile, there wasn’t much going on at the docks. Scythe, Nicknames, Lightning Dust, and Pound Sterling joined the hippogriffs playing card games. They discovered that they called a favourite game among hippogriffs naval hippogriffs, at least, Nommie.

It consists of making bids on who starts and setting up four cards of the same suit to do the trick, with the player who dealt the highest card winning that trick. The player who gets the same schemes as their bid wins the round.

The ponies tried a few rounds to get the hang of it, but the crewmates kept beating them even when they understood it. If one bid a high amount, like 13, they’d start first but could barely reach 12 tricks before one of the hippogriff players. If they bid a low amount, like 10, they’d begin last and could scarcely get ten tricks.

Being fed up with losing so much, Nicknames got all the other pegasi to join as one team in the hopes of winning one round. They ended up bidding 12, the second highest in that round, and put their heads together to decide which cards to place down to get the needed tricks.

Their collective strategies got them the first trick, the second, and the third. Their system was working. Seven, eight, nine, they were getting close. Their opponents were struggling but kept calm, knowing they were playing against a severe handicap. Ten, eleven, and twelve. They won the round!

Nicknames Pound Sterling and Lightning Dust were hugging and cheering with elation. Scythe was pulled in, overwhelmed in the victory. The three hippogriffs watched on, bewildered by the celebration on display.

“Didn’t they all come last in the last five rounds?”

“Yeah, and there’s four of them”.

“Just let them have this before the General arrives….”

Almost as if on cue, the hippogriffs could see Seaspray return with Gallus following behind. He landed majestically, and every hippogriff stood up and faced Seaspray as if on command.

“Everyone! I apologise for making you wait, but I’m afraid you’ll have to wait a little longer,” General Seaspray announced. “Before we can return to Mount Aris, there is an important matter to attend to.” Seaspray then walked towards the four ponies, still in celebration mode from winning the card game, failing to notice that the hippogriff General was standing behind him.

Once they caught a glance of Seaspray, they quickly became alert. Scythe quickly pried himself out of the hug he was trapped in and stood to attention first, followed by Sterling, Lightning Dust, and Nicknames last. “I’m aware your first impression of the Queen’s Navy was poor; as the head of the Navy, I take responsibility for that. Rest assured. I’ll make sure to remedy, starting with…” he then quickly scanned the docks until he caught the eye of the yellow hippogriff with the red mane. “Solar Flare.”

There was a moment of realisation; neither Gallus nor his friends asked the crew’s name, which made them feel sheepish. “See to it that we have an additional stock of vegetables for the return journey”, General Seaspray ordered, “I seem to recall not all our crew like eating meat?”

The other ponies looked at each other, but Lightning Dust grinned; more veggies sounded like a good start.





After another half hour, the dockworkers stocked the ship with supplies, and all crew had boarded. Gallus, Scythe, Nicknames, Lightning Dust, and Pound Sterling were surprised when instead of being given mops and buckets, Seaspray gave them the task of raising some of the sails so the ship could depart from the docks.

With the assistance of some of the hippogriff crew, Gallus, Scythe, Nicknames, Lightning Dust, and Pound Sterling were all tying the ropes and unfurling sails as a team. They raised the anchor, and the ship set sail. Everyone was exhausted but felt satisfied doing hard work to get the entire ship moving.

Then it was lunchtime. There was the usual roasted fish, but steamed cabbage and carrots for the ponies! Even the other crew members enjoyed having something other than seaweed and kelp; Solar Flare also had a good time cooking with different ingredients.

It was as if, by some miracle, the Naval journey turned from somewhat miserable to actively social. The crew of the ship were free to show the ponies and griffons as much about how their ship and naval practices worked. No one knew what caused Seaspray to change his mind; he remained in his quarters for the return home.

When Gallus was asked by his friends what he did to change General Seaspray’s mind, Gallus just shrugged.

“I just had a word with him.”