Due to the fact that Pipsqueak’s uncle was away on business, and that his aunt would not give the pinto colt permission to ’cast off’ until he came home, the maiden voyage of the Eclipse was inevitably delayed. As disappointed as the youngster was, his older friends were actually relived. Pip’s lack of patience made it hard to make proper, safe preparations which the more mature colts of the group preferred to spontaneous adventuring.
More mature colts, for example, like Rumble and Peppermill who were hanging out by Ponyville’s central fountain. The Pegasus colt held a small scroll and a quill in his mouth while the Earth colt chef paced back and forth thinking out loud.
“Can’t be perishable…can’t be something…that needs to be kept…cold…can’t be bulky…but has to be enough…to satisfy six growing colts.”
“How about we call it five and a half? In all honesty Snips probably could stand to lose a pound or three.” quipped Rumble around the quill in his mouth as he dutifully wrote down his friends words.
“Snips is already…cranky enough to…start with. I do…not want to have to…deal with him if he is…hungry.”
“You sure seem to be taking this whole ‘head chef’ thing pretty seriously.” Pipsqueak had, in his own bull-headed fashion, assigned each of the colt’s different roles as the crew members of their vessel. Understandably Peppermill was in charge of supplying snacks and other sundries, a duty the chef took quite seriously. It might not be the same as a restaurant, but Peppermill was determined to use his father’s teaching to make sure his friends wouldn’t go hungry where ever their trip and/or subsequent trips would take them.
“Whereas you…don’t seem all…that excited about your new…role as captain to Pip’s second-in-command.” grinned the grey colt.
“That’s because I don’t have a clue how to be a captain.” snorted Rumble.
“It is no…different than being…the leader. The…only difference is…maybe in the…terminology.”
“You see, that is exactly what I’m talking about. You are the smart one, using words like ‘terminology’. What they hay makes all you guys think I am a leader?”
“Well, you are…smarter than you…think. You are…also the strongest of us.”
“Big deal…”
“You are also…the one we go to…whenever something goes wrong…because you take charge and…don’t panic. We trust you…and you treat all of us…the same, even if…some of us aren’t remotely on…your level. Name one thing…that I can do…outside of cooking…that you couldn’t do better?” snorted Peppermill. He was answered with a snort of Rumble’s own.
“I can do better than that. I can give you two things: you can talk to adults and have them take you seriously, and you can talk to fillies.” Peppermill mulled over these answers as Rumble looked intently at him. Finally, the grey pony responded.
“Well, the reason…I can talk…to adult ponies is because until…I came to Ponyville I…rarely talked to anypony…my age. As far as…them taking me seriously, well…I didn’t really ‘play’ like other colts did. And as for talking…to fillies, are we…talking about all fillies…in general or is there…one in particular you…are interested in?” It was a trick question to be sure, for Peppermill knew exactly who Rumble was referring to. Sure enough, the Pegasus colt looked away, blushing heavily and nearly biting the quill in two.
“Still…pining for Scootaloo…are we?”
“I am not pining! I just…I just wish she would actually talk to me for once instead of flat out ignoring me…”
“Maybe if you…didn’t get so flustered…when you got near her…she would see you…as being cool and…not some silly love-struck boy. Don’t forget…she wants to be as…much of a tomcolt…as Rainbow Dash.”
“I don’t get flustered!” snapped Rumble, his face beginning to go red.
“Well, not flustered…easily. That’s why…you make such a…great leader…as long as Scootaloo…isn’t around.”
“Humph…” The Pegasus colt gave a grunt and folded his forelegs tightly against his body in a full-blown sulk.
And yet…you are still…just a colt…like the rest of us. Peppermill thought to himself. He was about to apologize for upsetting his friend when a voice called out from above.
“Hey! I got great news!” The two boys looked up to find their other flying pony friend Featherweight land a few yards away, with an ear-to-ear grin.
“What’s up FW?” asked Rumble.
“It looks like Pipsqueak’s uncle came home early, something about a windstorm cancelling a meeting. As far as I know, we are good to go as of tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow? But I…haven’t been able…to come up with…any supplies yet.” moaned Peppermill.
“Do you want to tell Pip we aren’t ready to go yet?” asked Featherweight.
“Oh…bother. I guess…I’ll have to…work something out at…home.”
“Me and FW will spread the word: tomorrow the Eclipse sets off!” announced Rumble, his spirits risen once again.
***
Ah cain’t believe they actually didn’t lock the door… Applebloom carefully removed the already opened combination lock off of the door and set it aside. Despite knowing that her little brother, his friends nor her older siblings were anywhere near the barn, she still felt the need for caution. For all she knew, they could have easily set up all sorts of booby traps for unwanted ponies trying to get a glimpse at their prized vessel.
Ever since the colts had shown off their project, the yellow filly had been out of sorts mentally and emotionally. One part of her was genuinely impressed and proud for Peppermill and his friends. They had managed to make something almost out of nothing, and had done an incredible job of it. In her mind’s eye she could she her grey little brother and the other colts traveling all over the place, their new clubhouse set up anywhere they wanted and easily moved to a new spot at a whim. The adventures they would have would make the Cutie Mark Crusader’s crusades tame in comparison.
But on the other hoof, her little brother…well, he just wasn’t like other colts. She wouldn’t say he was fragile or weak, but he wasn’t physically or mentally as tough as a full-blooded Apple. And as far as she knew the other colts in town could get pretty rough at times. And what if their crazy rolling boat ended up somewhere dangerous? What if they crashed and he got hurt, or worse? The dark thoughts and the ‘what ifs?’ made her heart and head ache. She decided that she needed to give the Eclipse a personal inspection…for safety, of course.
The Apple filly quietly crept into the dim building and approached the boat/carriage. Until now she had not had a chance to get a good look at it, and her anxiousness was palatable in the air. She proceeded to examine every joint, every piece of wood and eventually every square inch of the hull. She managed to locate the rope ladder used to climb aboard and examined the interior. She shimmied up the mast and examined the rolled up sail. Soon she sat at the helm, which sat a non-functioning but apparently essential ship’s wheel.
“This…this is mighty impressive.” admitted Applebloom into the gloom. “Them boys did an awesome job…” It hurt her considerable pride to admit it, but she could not see a single thing wrong with the craft. She had noticed the various safety measures that had been installed including belts, small seats and an honest to goodness anchor with a thick rope attached to the stern (where they got one, she couldn’t even fathom). It would certainly be a heck of a ride to roll along the countryside in it, no doubt.
…
…
…
“But… all the safety in the world ain’t enough. Who know where those boys would take Peppermill. Shoot, ah wouldn’t put it past them to try an’ take this thing into the Everfree Forest.” The thought of a big wheeled boat full of young, innocent (and brave to the point of stupid) colts crashing into a dangerous place that only zebra sorceresses would dare to live made the filly shiver. “Wut if they hit a patch of Poison Joke? Or came across a manticore, or a cockatrice? Ah don’t want a statue fer a brother!” The Apple filly was so consumed in her inner turmoil that she almost jumped out of her skin at the sound of a colt outside the barn suddenly speak.
“Huh…I don’t remember…leaving the lock…on the ground.”
“Oh ponyfeathers…” Applebloom recognized Peppermill’s rasp and flattened herself on the deck of the ship. She strained to listen as the colt apparently lugged something into the barn, grunting in exertion.
“There…this will have…to do.” announced Peppermill to himself. The colt gazed at the ship with a grin. “It’s going…to be a…interesting day tomorrow.” The colt turned and left the barn, and Applebloom held her breath until she was certain he was gone, silently thanking Celestia and Luna he had not locked the door behind him.
“They are going tomorrow…” hissed Applebloom frantically. “No, no ah ain’t gonna let them! But how do I stop them? It ain’t lahk I can just ask them not to.” The filly looked around the boat, desperate for an idea. In her annoyance she stomped her forehoof on to the deck, leaving a healthy gouge in the wood underhoof. As she looked at the blemish she left on the smooth surface, an idea bubbled in her mind.
“Ah know it ain’t right, but if ah cain’t convince them it’s dangerous maybe ah can make it that way. Nothing serious mind you, jus’ enough to make them think twice about going anywhere on this here death trap. But…ah ain’t got tahm now. Gotta do it before anypony else gets up tomorrow…” Despite the little voice in her head loudly protesting the idea of damaging the impressive vessel, the filly hopped off the boat and out of the barn.
“Just remember Peppermill, ahm doing this fer yer own good…”