Big Mac was not enjoying his morning chores. It wasn’t that the chores were worse than usual, he was just in a worse mood than usual, because of the night before. Basically, talking with Applejack about his crush had gone as well as he had expected.
“Alright, brother,” Applejack said, as she sat across from him on the couch, and he on the love seat. “Spill it.”
She had just made sure that their younger sister and grandmother had gone to sleep, so neither would overhear their conversation and violate poor Mac’s private affairs any further.
“Sis,” He began, “No offense, but yer terrible at keeping secrets.”
She gasped, feigning shock and insult, “Ah can’t believe ya don’t feel ya can trust yer own blood.” A raised eyebrow from her adversary caused a wave of giggles. “Alright, alright, Ah get it, but come on, Ah could help.” The pleading honesty and compassion in her eyes spoke to her noble intentions.
“Fergive me if mah sisters’ foray inta mah lovelife has left a bad taste in mah mouth.” Mac said with a heavy dose of sarcasm and eye roll.
“Cheerilee was Applebloom’s doin, and in mah defense, Ah didn’t know Roseluck would be so…” She attempted to find a gentle way to describe the behavior of the mare that was her first attempt at setting up a blind date for her brother. “Excitable?”
He shook his head, wearing a smile and chuckling, “Ah just like liking a mare, and havin’ it be mah choice ta do so.”
A few seconds of pensive silence passed before Applejack had an idea. “How ‘bout a game o’ twenty questions?”
“Beg pardon?”
“Do Ah know ‘em?”
He rolled his eyes slightly, the question seeming ridiculous. “Uh, Ponyville Ain’t that big, a course ya know ‘er”
Applejack’s eyes lit up slightly. “That gets rid of any mares you mighta’ met in Canterlot.” Big Mac mentally kicked himself for not thinking of that before. “Is she a farmer?”
Knowing that his sister was thinking about the carrot farmer up the road, he decided to end that, before it became a rumor. “Nnope.”
“Librarian?” Big Mac raised an eyebrow, “Oh, come on, Ah’ve seen Twi’s doll in yer room ‘fore.” His sister said with a smirk.
“Nnope, ain’t her either.” He said while his face became very warm.
“Is she one o’ mah friends?”
“Uh,” He hesitated just a moment. “Ah ain’t tellin’ ya no more.”
Applejack donned a sick, twisted smile. “Which one?” She was positively sure that she had narrowed it down to four. “Pinkie? Dash? Rarity?… Fluttershy?” She said the last one with a certain attempted understanding.
Big Mac just blinked a few times. “Ah ain’t sayin’, just don’t go spreadin’ any rumors, ‘cause yer probably wrong.” He stood up and began to walk towards the stairs. “Ah’m goin’ ta bed, g’night.”
Back in the present, Big Mac was very disappointed in himself for allowing his sister to adequately narrow down the list of mares that he was interested to a grand total of three. He sighed and pushed his shoulder against the yoke that was draped around his neck.
He looked to the sky, desperately hoping for a mental escape from his struggles. Sadly; however, it seemed that Rainbow Dash hadn’t awoken yet and was yet to grace the skies over Sweet Apple Acres with her presence.
Rainbow Dash actually had awoken, having a rough night’s sleep. She knew that she couldn’t possibly compete with Rarity for Big Mac’s attention. Rarity was, like, the prettiest mare ever. Things could only get worse if he was interested in her.
Groaning, Rainbow Dash fell back into the fluffy cloud mattress. She didn’t like things that were this confusing. Why couldn’t he just like her and tell her? But, no, she had to be totally enraptured by his awesomeness, and clueless about his feelings.
She got up and walked to her door, planning to go see her friend, Twilight. She dove off of her porch and allowed the exhilarating dive to cleanse her thoughts, but Big Mac’s visage refused to leave her alone.
She pulled out of the dive and angled herself towards the giant tree that had been hollowed out, to serve as Ponyville’s library. Uncharacteristically of Rainbow Dash, she landed lightly on the doorstep, and knocked. Her ministrations resulted in a call to come in, coming from behind the door.
She pushed open the door and stepped in, finding the adolescent dragon that served as her friend’s assistant. “Hey, Spike. How’s it going?”
“Huh?” The little lizard asked, looking up from his reorganizing of the books. “Oh, Rainbow, It’s nice to see you using the door, rather than a window, or wall, or bookshelf.”
“Haha, very funny, Is Twilight in?” She asked, not in the mood to deal with smart remarks.
“Sorry,” he said with a shrug, “Twilight was called to Canterlot for training; you know, secret princess stuff.” He sounded slightly annoyed with the change of plans.
“Alright, Spike, thanks.” Rainbow said, before taking flight for the airspace over Sweet Apple Acres.
In Canterlot, Twilight, Princess Celestia’s student and newest alicorn princess, was ushered by an armored guard to the private royal library, where she would normally find her mentor reading. This time was different, though.
Instead of the stoic, regal, ivory form of her tutor, and Princess of the Sun, Twilight found two alicorns.
“Uh, Princess Luna? Cadence? What’s going on here?” Twilight asked, thoroughly confused, as she was expecting Celestia, who had sent the letter summoning her, the Nocturnal Diarch, and Crystal Empress were completely unexpected. “Where is Princess Celestia?”
“Oh, Twilight!” Princess Luna exclaimed, ever grateful to see her sister’s student. “Join us, your sister-in-law has me helping her to play matchmaker!” The innocent excitement in her voice betrayed her lack of guilt at playing games with the emotions of her denizens.
“Uh, Cadence?” Twilight asked, hoping for a less worrying explanation, but none such description came.
“Twilight! It’s so good to see you again!” She said, standing up to greet the newest member of the royal family. “And, don’t worry so much, Twilight.” A sheepish smile coated the Love Princess’ lips. “I know what I’m doing. We’re just giving two ponies, who are meant for each other, a little push together.”
“Isn’t that like, illegal?”
“Not necessarily.” Luna spoke up, “Many laws have changed in the thousand years that I have been gone, so I have spent much of my time back studying them, and none prohibit this.” She finished with a proud smile for finding a loophole.
Twilight looked down at the scroll that was spread out between them, and noticed that it appeared to be an outline for some sort of pirate adventure story, with certain points checked off. “I’m not even going to ask what this is.” She said, with a sigh, before continuing on her original thought line. “Where is Princess Celestia?”
“Oh, Tia should be here in a few minutes,” Luna shrugged off the question, then said with a smile, “She went to get some snacks, it’s fun to do something together as a family again.”
“Princess Celestia is in on this too?!?” Twilight shouted, completely unable to fathom her idol doing something so…weird.
“Oh, Twilight, It’s so good that you could make it.” Came the regal and collected voice of Princess Celestia as she entered the room, carrying a large bowl of buttery popcorn in her magical grip.
Twilight could only stand there, as her understanding of the very structure of the Equestrian federal system crumbled out from beneath her.
“Let’s go to my private study, there we can discuss your responsibilities as the newest Equestrian Princess.” Princess Celestia trotted out of the room, with Twilight on one side, and a portion of the popcorn floating on the other side, with one occasionally breaking off from the group and floating to the princess’ mouth.
The sails strained against their timber reigns, as they were whipped by the wind and pulled the ship along at a blistering gallop.
“Hmmm… Poetic…”
I breathed in the salty air as my ship sliced through the small chop, and it made me feel alive in a way that I never would’ve expected. The sea breeze whipped through my freshly dyed mane and scruffy facial hair.
“Captain?” Came the call of Smoky Mirror, “The griffons are waking up.”
I looked over to her, and noticed a discrepancy. Her coat had taken on a bluish hue, and towards the roots of her mane, it became light blue, as though dye was beginning to wear out. A quick glance toward her flank confirmed the faint existence of a different cutie mark, one that I recognized.
“Thank ya,” I said to her, then with a little bit of sick satisfaction I gave her a recommendation. “And if ya want ta keep up ‘Smoky Mirror,’ ya might want some more dye, Trixie.” Her pupils shrank to pinpoints as she realized that her cover was blown. I chuckled lightly, “It’s alright, Ah had mah suspicions the whole time, jus try not ta go all ‘Great an’ Powerful,’ kay?” She nodded, still mortified at how poorly she covered her secret.
“AHA!” Rainbow Dash screamed at her book, “I knew it! She WAS Trixie!”
I called Schatzi to my side, and commanded her to hold the ship steady on her course. “Ah’m gonna go check on our visitors.” I informed her, apparently too loud, as Daring Doo took that as an invitation to accompany me.
“Alright, Captain, what’s the plan?” She asked while she happily trotted alongside me. “Interrogation? Simple questioning? Conversation? Ooh! Should we do ‘Good Cop Bad Cop’?”
“Heh,” Rainbow chuckled slightly, “She sounds kinda like me.”
“Who said ya were comin’ with me?” I asked with a small smile and raised eyebrow.
“Well somepony needs to keep you in line.” She said with a smirk. “Plus, I kinda want to meet them.”
We trotted to the infirmary, to find Stitch lightly dripping water into the beak of the, still sleeping, female griffon, while the dark feathered male was sipping from a glass. They both turned toward me, apparently recognizing the three-legged cadence of the peg-legged captain.
“Howdy.” I greeted the conscious griffon, “How’d ya sleep?”
He eyed me with an uncertainty that was to be expected from being greeted by someone he had tried to kill. “Um, fine, thank you.”
Daring Doo stretched her neck to get near my ear. “Am I the ‘bad cop’ then?”
I turned to stare at her, “We ain’t doin’ that!”
“Haha! I know, you’re just too much fun to mess with.” She laughed, to which I rolled my eyes.
The poor griffon was looking at the two of us as though we were freaks; rightfully so, seeing as we weren’t acting like the dangerous pirates that he expected from the captain of the ship that sank the most feared ship on the ocean. “W-why did you save us, if I may ask?”
I thought for a moment, before responding. “‘Cause Ah thought ya could use help.” I pulled up a chair and sat down next to the bed. “And, this whole crew is made of ponies that needed second chances.”
Suddenly, our conversation was interrupted, as the other griffon bolted awake, screeched loud enough to almost deafen everyone in the room, and gasped for breath.
“Sorry!” Stitch yelled to the griffon she had been attending, as well as the rest of the room. “M-my hoof s-slipped.”
The wild look of the griffon showed her confusion and fear at waking up in an unfamiliar situation. She whipped her head around, apparently looking for the nearest exit. The longer she searched, the more panicked she became, until the other guy took the initiative, before she hurt herself.
“Gilda! Gilda!” He shouted at her, drawing her attention to him. As she saw him, her expression softened, and her breathing slowed. “Calm down, these ponies just want to help!”
Rainbow Dash was almost speechless, “It is Gilda… How does he even know Gilda enough to have her in a dream?”
She seemed slightly accepting of that and calmed down enough to take in the room around her. Nothing seemed to interest her until she saw the mare by my side. “D-Daring Doo?” She managed, before she doubled over in a coughing fit.
Stitch brought the glass of water to the griffon, apparently named Gilda’s, beak, and Gilda grabbed it, sucking up the liquid greedily. Once it was empty, Stitch took the glass back, filling it up again, allowing it to sit on the bedside table.
“Oh my gosh…” The raspy, tough, awe-filled voice of Gilda filled the room, and caused the explorer responsible for the awe to blush furiously. “I-I can’t believe it…” Then her demeanor changed, as though she was suspicious of everything around her. “Where am I? Am I dead? Who are you? Does the captain know what happened?”
“Ah sure do.” I responded to her last question, “As fer yer other questions, yer on mah ship, yer barely alive, Ah’m the captain, and the captain of yer ship tried ta sink this one, but Ah beat him to the punch.” She looked like she didn’t quite believe me, “An then Ah found ya an’ yer friend drownin’ in the water.”
A few moments of awkward silence passed before anyone said anything, Gilda looking between everyone in the room, like she was debating which one would be best to attack if she needed to, the other griffon was sipping from a glass, Stitch was packing her medical gear away, Daring Doo was shuffling on her hooves, and I was wishing that I didn’t need to initiate the conversation again. My wish was in vain.
“Alright, Ah think Introductions are in order.” I began, gesturing to my chest with a hoof, “Ah’m Captain Macintosh. Ya probably know this little missy, Daring Doo, fer the moment she’s just hitchin’ a ride. That over there is Stitch, she’s tha surgeon on the ship. And y’all are?”
“Gilda.” Came the simple, poignant, blunt answer from the female.
“Yep, sounds like her.”
“And you your highness?” Daring Doo asked the other, only to be greeted by dilated pupils and a ‘cut’ motion at his neck. “What?”
“Wait.” Gilda demanded, and looked at him, “Highness?”
He sighed and dropped his head back onto his pillow. “Ugh, yes.” He spread his wings, bringing the symbols of his lineage into view. “My title is technically Prince Vincent, of The Dominion, Fourth-in-Line for the Throne.” The look of shock on Gilda’s face was painfully obvious. “I’m so sorry, Gilda. I didn’t want you to think of me like some sort of royal loser; plus, the captain would have treated me worse if he knew. You know how much he hates royalty, right?”
I felt as though I was intruding on a very private conversation. “You never thought this was important to mention?” Gilda screeched at him. “It never crossed your mind that, ‘Oh, maybe Gilda should know that I am a prince,’ would be a great thing to consider some time when none of the other crew was near?” Suddenly her voice and demeanor changed. “You know that nothing would change between us if you would’ve told me, right?”
The conversation got very private, very quick, and I decided that it was time for me to leave. “Well, Ah’m headin’ out, if ya want ta talk, Ah’ll be on deck, just come find me.” And with that, I turned to leave the room, ushering Daring Doo and Stitch in front of myself.
“Wait, Captain.” I heard Vincent call, “Thank you, so much.” I turned and nodded to him, before trotting up to the main deck.
In the short time that I had been below decks, the wind had picked up, giving rise to noticeable swells that rocked the ship. I scanned the surrounding horizon, and noticed a large mass of ominous dark clouds with arcs of electricity passing through them. The wind was moving much faster than the ship, and as would soon overtake us.
I sighed, desperately hoping that this storm would not result in another destroyed mast. I then realized that I might have a leg up on the storm. “Miss Doo?”
“Haven’t I ever told you? Don’t call me ‘Miss Doo,’ it makes me feel like an old teacher or something.” She said as she drifted down from the rafters that she was exploring.
“Woah,” Rainbow Dash said, raising an eyebrow. “Déjà vu. I feel like I told him that too.”
I chuckled a little at that, “Well, Daring, yer a pegasus, can ya do anythin’ ‘bout that?”
“I’m a-… What do you mean by that?” she growled, getting as close as she could to my face, with the deliberate intent to intimidate me.
“Ah mean,” I began to explain, “none o’ the crew can fly, an’ those griffons ain’t up to it yet; so yer the only one who can get close to the clouds.”
“Oh… sorry…” She landed on the deck, dropping her wings to her side. “No, I can’t, there’s too many clouds; I couldn’t do anything on my own.”
“Shucks…” I stepped up to the highest point on deck, and gave off a low, resounding whistle. “All y’all, listen up.” The whole crew looked to me, “Baten down the hatches, tighten the rigging, and hold on tight, we’re weatherin’ this one too.”
Ponies and Dogs rushed around the deck, tightening ropes, securing hatches, and preparing the ship for the fast approaching storm. Sails were tucked away, and loose items were secured, or stowed away.
Suddenly, I felt the unmistakeable sting of raindrops pelting my face, as the storm reached us far sooner than expected. The rain picked up, and waves rocked the ship, lightning split the sky, and thunder rang in our ears. We fought to keep the ship under control for hours, long into the night, when it finally drained itself.
As we were given freedom from the storm, we rushed down to the galley, where we sat around a fire, and ate the hot stew prepared for us by Cookie; regaining enough strength to return to our beds for the night.
Rainbow Dash shut the book after finishing the chapter, and noticed the rumbling in her stomach. “Ugh, stew sounds good right now.”
She grabbed the book, and Rarity’s Saddle and threw them in her Wonderbolts saddlebags, before she took off for town. She soared over acres of fluffy white clouds, and allowed her mind to wander. They wandered to work, to storms, to sailing, to captains, and eventually to a certain apple farmer.
In an attempt to get her mind away from Big Mac, Dash dropped to the top of the cloud layer. She lowered her hooves to the cloud and let them skim the surface. Tufts of cloud whirled up and tickled her stomach. She looked behind her, and admired the swirling trail of water vapor, that curled around her trademark rainbow trail.
The clouds thinned out, as she reached the town, and she dove down to the square. She got a daisy sandwich from Sugarcube Corner, before trotting to Rarity’s.
“Hey, Rare,” Rainbow called in to the boutique. “I brought the saddle back.”
“Oh, Rainbow, darling, I am so glad, I didn’t know what I was going to do without it.” Her fashionista friend called back, as she walked into the room. “Brown isn’t really your color, darling.”
Deciding to play along, Rainbow asked, “Oh? Then what is?”
“Just about anythin’ else.” Came a low, rumbling voice from the hallway.”
“M-M-Mac?” Rainbow asked, as she straightened up.
“Oh, Macintosh, are you finished with the window?” To which he nodded. “Sweetie Belle broke it, while practicing her magic, so I called Macintosh, here, to fix it.” She explained.
“O-oh, that makes sense.” Rainbow then picked up the flaps on her saddlebags, to dig out the saddle, “Here’s, uh, this.”
“Oh, thank you, darling.” Rarity said, as she took the clothing. “And, if I may ask, what book is that in your bags?” Big Mac’s ears perked up, and swiveled towards the conversation.
Rainbow, beginning to panic, struggled to come up with a cover story. “Oh, uh, it’s the new, um, Daring Doo book.”
“Oh, alright, thank you again for bringing the saddle back.”
“Well, I need to get going. I’ll see you guys later.” Rainbow shouted as she dove out a window.
“Did she seem...nervous to you, Macintosh?”
“Eeyup.”
“I wonder what’s wrong...”