Hello everyone and welcome to this tale of intrigue, hilarity, and oddity. I am the narrator of this tale and today for your literary enjoyment I bring to you a proposition of a tale; what happens when you put a fish out of water and things get a little funky? This tale is precisely that, but with desert raiders, sexy sidekicks, political intrigue and a certain red stallion.
A cruiseliner slowly floats towards Port Al-Hoofdin in the cover of darkness, in a slow but certain manner. As it slowly reached towards the docking bays, the ship lowers is anchor down into the dark liquid abyss and soon enough a flurry of activity started to welcome the cruiserliner. A loud deep whistle from the ship warns all those who can hear it that the ship is now in the port. As the staircase are being pushed towards the ship, the passengers are slowly coming out one by one, with their baggage in tow. Among the crowd, a tall red stallion awaits his chance to get of the ship.
“Ah be…..this be Saddle Arabia.” Big Macintosh surveys all that he could see with his bright green eyes. The smell of the sea pierced his nose, and so did the dusty smell of the sands of Saddle Arabia. He could hear the seagulls calling to each other up in the air above him and the sounds of chaotic workers and equipment working upon the cargo that will be being transported to the port. As soon as the staircase is secured tighly to the ship, the passengers slowly descend down upon the harbor. In due time, the dark, red, and rather handsome stallion walks down the exit ramp of the Equestrian cruise liner, The Celestia’s Dream and as his hooves finally stepped upon firm land, his feet confirmed that he is finally here in the land of perpetual deserts and eternal mystique. The darkness enveloping the night sky is only broken with the radiance of Princess Luna’s moon.
Immediately, the red farm stallion noticed that the hustle and bustle of Port Al-Hoofdin is unlike those of Ponyville, and he could only marvel at the inhabitants of this country. Camels and ponies are everywhere doing business despite it being very dark, and above all of that, the horses of Saddle Arabia are something else. Unlike the ponies back home, all the Arabians are much taller than he is, and are so much more graceful. Their refined, wedge-shape heads, lean bodies and slender legs gave all Arabians a regal presence quite similar to that of Princess Celestia.
Of course, he is here in Saddle Arabia with only one purpose in mind; trying to sell Zap Apple Jam in this country on behalf of his family. He was initially reluctant to come all the way to Saddle Arabia, but once it is known that it is a patriarchal society rather than a matriarchal society like that of Equestria and will not deal with a mare, Big Macintosh became the perfect pony for the job. Unlike his cousin Braeburn, he is reserved and polite and only needs to say what he needs to say which is helpful for dealing with the Saddle Arabians, who value modesty. Every other Apple stallion is either too blunt or too uncultured and the red stallion is neither of those. To add to the package, he is also smarter by a whole lot. He is the pony that is responsible for keeping the finances of Sweet Apple Acres for crying out loud.
For him to be able to put that brains to the test, he will have to meet this Arabian pony called Sheikh Abu Hamza bin Mohammad Hishamudin of the Remal al-Sahra Al-Khayl clan. Apparently this pony with an extremely fancy name is somepony with a lot of influence in the area, and nopony could do anything unless he says so. But the question on Big Macintosh’s mind is a simple one; what now? As he was about to put his briefcase down on the ground a deep gruff voice mutters his name.
“Mister Apple?”
“Ah am him.” Big Macintosh turns around and is trying to keep it cool, despite the sweltering heat of this desert nation. As he faces the owner of the voice, he could see an entourage of rather large camels with swords on their hips, and a rather odd headdress on their head which resembles hat with a large flap of cloth behind it. Granny had told him of these “Yenny-Serry” and how they are fearless warriors that guarded the Saddle Arabian royalty.
“Very good. Please follow us.”
Without any hesitation, Big Macintosh was surrounded by the entourage of Janissaries, and they made their way into the city. Being the observant pony he is, he noticed that everypony is parting for the entourage, not daring to even a hair breadth’s closer to them. Big Macintosh could only wonder what will happen to the pony that came too close to them, but he then decided to look around to let his mind be free of that grim thought. The architecture of Port Al-Hoofdin is rather unique, for instead of having cottage-like roofs each building is essentially a slab of stone carved in approximately squares with the core emptied to house everypony, which gave the streets of the port city its rather cramped and narrow atmosphere. In addition, he also noticed that many of the ponies are draped with rather large dresses or some pajamas of some kind, and he is surprised that both genders are clad in this clothing. In comparison, Big Macintosh is almost relatively naked save that of his yoke. He had wanted to ask these camels about the whole cultural context of everything, but from the looks of it, they looked like they are in a hurry to a location.
Soon enough, they arrived at their destination. To Big Macintosh’s surprise the place is a bustling night club with the words “Café’ Equestria” emblazoned on a billboard. As they entered into the club and bypassing the line that is now outside the bar, she could see that this night club is as Equestria as it could get. Everypony is dressed up in a fashion that she could find in Canterlot , engaging in activities that are a direct copy of the high and fancy night lifestyle in Canterlot and Las Pegasus , with gambling going on and the loud club music roaring into his ears. Of course the only big difference here is that instead of having just ponies this night club have a far more diverse race of customers in it. The sound of rave music is up in the air, and it seems like this is ‘the’ nightlife spot of Port Al-Hoofdin.
Soon enough he was led into a certain section of the night club which appears to be the VIP area, Big Macintosh could see that they are getting closer to a particular section in the VIP area. Sitting on the cushion, surrounded by several beautiful mares and smoking a rather odd pipe attached to a vase of some kind is a light brown Arabian horse wearing a clothed headdress with a ring or something holding it in place on the stallion’s head. Like all of the Saddle Arabians, they do not have a cutie mark, and his mannerism and poise reminds Big Macintosh of Princess Celestia, and he immediately knew that this is the pony that he was to meet.
One of the entourage member that escorted the red stallion spoke to the Sheikh in their own unique language, and he could recognized his name and Sweet Apple Acres when the camel is speaking. Apparently the camel is introducing him to the Sheikh. Immediately, the stallion gestured for the other mares to leave, and the Arabian horse and the Equestian pony are now looking at each other.
“Assalamualaikum Big Macintosh, Son of Apple and welcome to Port Al-Hoofdin. I am Sheikh Abu Hamza bin Mohammad Hisshamudin of the Remal al-Sahra Al-Khayl clan. You may call me, Abu Hamza. I recall that Equestian ponies do prefer to call themselves by their first name and without the titles attached to your name. Would you like to smoke from the hookah?” The Sheikh’s sultry regal accented voice said as he offers Big Macintosh the pipe that he is smoking.
“Ah am sorry Abu Hamza but Ah don’t smoke.” Big Macintosh waved his arm to turn down the Sheikh’s offer. It seems that somehow, Big Macintosh had offended one of the ‘Yenny-Serry’ and was about to brandish his sword until the sheikh shouted at the camel in their own language. The camel sheathes his sword, much to Big Macintosh’s relief.
“I am sorry for Jamal’s actions, but in my land refusing something that if offered by a royal is a crime punishable by amputation which a Jannisary would be more than happy to do. Of course, if we keep on doing this to foreigners that are not used to our rather odd customs, we would not had created a great trade with lands such as your own, Big Macintosh. For that, I once again offered my apologies”. The stallion now beckons for the red stallion to take a seat. Big Macintosh rests his haunches on one of the soft cushions and soon enough was joined by the Saddle Arabian on the opposite side.
“So Yer Highness, How was yer day?” Big Macintosh attempts to engage the Sheikh in some small talk, and hopefully he could gauge what kind of pony is he dealing with. As the Sheikh pushes a plate of fruits towards the farm pony, Big Macintosh could see that there is a darkness surrounding this pony.
“Nothing much, I just had to fend off several raiders on my caravan while I was on my here a few hours ago, and I made sure that each one of the raiders has their limbs hacked off and left for dead in the desert. The heat of the sun and the deserts of my homeland are legendary, and surely they will die from exposure, if the sand jackals had not got to them first. Of course, if they still live, the cold darkness of the desert will surely cause them to die from the cold. Oh, I should have asked you if you wanted some tea or something like that.” The way in which the Sheikh delivers this gruesome tale is rather nonchalant, as if it is an everyday event for him. Big Macintosh just hoped that he could be on the Sheikh’s good side.
“Ah see….Well, Ah wouldn’t mind a glass of water.” The Sheikh clopped his hooves and immediately a servant rushes out from their lounge trying to get Big Macintosh’s drink.
“Good, good. I like interacting with foreigners, as they would never try to grovel down or attempt to please me with words such as “Oh it is not necessary Your Holiness” or something like that whenever I asked to give them a favor. Of course, my culture is such that if they said anything out of line, they tend to be amputated or something. A rather barbaric law if I must say so myself, but the sad thing is that these laws are in place for a reason.”
“Fair enuff.” Big Macintosh is content to let the Sheikh continue on with his talk and observe more about this particular pony. The Sheikh takes a few puffs from his Hookah and kept on talking.
“Of course, I am a moderate when it comes to these kinds of things and I wanted to make Saddle Arabia stronger. Our people may be hardy and strong, but the fact still remains that food is relatively scarce, especially luxury foods. I seek to dominate that market for my clan and your Zap Apple Jam is well-known to even the royal clans here.”
The Sheikh rise up from his seat and walked a short distance to a small case, which Big Macintosh could only spot now. As he wonder what is going on, the Sheikh opened up the box and using his hoof, he takes out a simple pendant. Big Macintosh’s eyes immediately focus upon this object, and he could see that it is shaped in some weird swirly shapes. The Sheikh then walked up to the red stallion and offered the pendant.
“If ya don’t min’…..what is this?” Big Macintosh asked the Sheikh. He could now see the grey smoky eyes of the Sheikh looking at him, the emotions within those eyes as heavy as a cart of apples.
“The problem is that my actions are considered as ‘haram’ or forbidden by some of the clans as your lot is considered infidels for the sole reason that you are unlike us. That is why I allowed my Janissaries to escort you all the way to this location, as who knows what those idiots would do to you if you are to be left alone to your own devices.” Big Macintosh give the Sheikh a nod.
The Sheikh’s expression lightens up a little, but loses none of its edge. The Sheikh then loops the necklace around Big Macintosh’s neck and he muttered a few words that the red stallion failed to understand. It was then than the Saddle Arabian lightly puts his hoof onto Big Macintosh’s forehead.
“ As of this moment, you are under the protection of my clan. Please take this amulet, for it will help my own clan to not think of you as an enemy. Do not lose it my friend.”
“Eeyup, Abu Hamza Ah promise…..” It is the only thing that the red farmer stallion could even say. Suffice to say, he is definitely not in Equestria no more.