Bellows of pain and fear were drowned out by the sounds of breaking wood as trees and the Eclipse impacted, with the boat winning more often than not. The rocking of the vessel sent the six colts back and forth, sliding across the deck unable to gain purchase or grab onto anything. Down below, their unknown stowaway was having an even rougher time of it for she had to deal with flying objects and food. All the while, all she could think of was Dear Celestia wut have ah done?
At one point Rumble and Featherweight somehow managed to tumble towards the stern of the ship, and grabbed at the anchor rope stored there. Once the two Pegasus ponies realized where they were, they immediately shoved the weight through its opening in a desperate hope of stopping their unwanted trip. The two boys watched as the rope unraveled, jerk to a stop…and then snap clean in two. Rumble could only manage a quick look over the edge of the ship to see their anchor disappear into the gloom.
“This is bad…” moaned Featherweight, his face pale beneath his white coat. As if to validate his understatement, a loud ripping sound above sent their gazes to the source. What had been once a solid square of material meant to catch the wind was now nothing but rags. Remarkably, the flag on the top of the mast seemed to still be in one piece. Even so, it was small comfort compared to the looming issue at hoof.
“We’re gonna crash!” came a frightened cry from the bow of the boat. Snips, clinging onto the side of the railing like a chubby barnacle pointed forward at a massive tree dead ahead. There was little time for anypony above or below decks to brace themselves when the impact occurred.
BOOM!
The sound of boat striking tree thundered around the woods. The sudden stop sent all six colts flying up and over the side of the ship and into a pile on the ground. It took a long time for the echo of the impact to subside. When it did, there was dead silence, followed by an occasional bird chirp and the panting of colts. Nopony moved for a while, but then eventually one by one they stirred.
“B-blimey.” managed Pipsqueak, flat on his back, gasping like a fish.
“That…was intense.” mumbled Rumble.
“If that is how it is like to ride an actual boat, I’ll stick with four hooves on dry land.” agreed Snips bitterly.
“We are missing a wheel.” This was the rather blunt comment from Snails, which caused the other boys to look for themselves. Pip gave a cry of dismay of the sight of the gaping hole in the stern of the ship where one of the rear wheels had been moments ago. A trail of debris and smashed food led from the hole to the spot where they had entered what turned out to be a large clearing remarkably devoid of foliage.
“The Eclipse…she’s…she’s…” wailed the pinto pirate. Suddenly, the little pony bounded towards the boat before any of the others could stop them.
“Look at…how far the bow…is wedged into…that tree.” gasped Peppermill. “It is…almost completely through…to the other side!”
“Considering how fast we were going, I’m not surprised.” sighed Featherweight as he examined his wings for damage.
“So, exactly where are we?” asked Rumble. The other colts looked around unhappily, trying to come up with an answer.
“Well…it isn’t Apple land…that much I know.” explained the grey chef. “I was told…that the tree line of…these woods were…the boarder. The only other…thing I know is that…Granny Smith and…my older brother and…sisters told me…never to go inside them. Not that…I would…”
“Did anypony else notice that the hole in the woods we came through isn’t there anymore?” Snails, the master of understatement, motioned with a long foreleg. The boys carefully walked over to the edge of the clearing to the general area that they had entered it on the boat. Where there should have been a massive hole in the trees was now nothing but thick foliage.
“Ok, now that is definitely not a good thing.” grimaced Rumble.
“Well, we are certainly not going to get out of here the way we came in.” huffed Featherweight.
“We’re stuck in the middle of a bunch of trees that grow back fast with a broken boat. What else can go wrong?” growled Snips. He was answered by a heart wrenching sob from behind them. They all turned to find Pipsqueak trembling and clutching what appeared to be the remains of his jolly roger flag. Without another word, the pinto colt flopped over onto his side and began to stuff his hoof in his mouth with tears trickling down his face.
“Oh Pip…” Peppermill began to walk over to the devastated colt, when another noise caught the group’s attention. It was coming from inside the boat, and they all warily stood by as something slowly tumbled out of the hole in the side of the ship.
“Mah…head hurts…” Applebloom’s accent was thicker than usual as she slowly tottered toward the boys. But she only managed a few steps when her dull eyes rolled into the back of her head and she fell forward.
“Applebloom!” squawked Peppermill in shock as he bounded towards her. He came up short, his grey face growing ashen as the other boys (sans the near-comatose Pipsqueak) crowded around. All eyes were on the large, ugly lump on the back of the filly’s head that oozed a bit of blood.
“We are so bucked…” rasped Rumble.
***
Back at Sweet Apple Acres, Granny Smith had been in her rocking chair dozing on the front porch when she woke with a start.
“Don’t go inta them woods!” The elderly mare sat up, a dazed look on her face…
…then she fell back into the chair, snoring rather loudly.
***
“How in the hay did she get here?!?” demanded Snips loudly.
“I don’t…know!” shouted Peppermill right back at the unicorn.
“Is she ok?” mumbled Snails unhappily.
“No, she’s not. I’m pretty sure she has what they call a concussion.” explained Rumble, who was a little more knowledgeable about injuries given his knowledge and skills at sports.
“I think this is the least of our problems.” remarked Featherweight, looking around worriedly.
“Ya think?” snorted Snips, ignoring the furious glare from Peppermill. The situation was spiraling out of control, certainly not helped by the emotional panic coming off of the young colts. Rumble, finding himself lost, squeezed his eyes shut and tried to concentrate. Both Pip and Peppermill were pretty much out of commission as was Applebloom (and that didn’t even touch on how the filly got there in the first place). Snips was being his usual whining self, and would probably not be much help with anything until he either calmed down or got threatened to behave. That left himself, Snails and Featherweight to try and pick up the pieces.
“Okay.” It might have been a single word, but the weight behind it was enough to get everypony’s attention. Rumble marveled for a second at just how effective that single statement had been, thought back to the conversation he and Peppermill had about leadership, and then squared his withers.
“FW, Snails,” he began firmly “we need to check on the Eclipse and see just how bad the damage is. Snips, you can stay here and watch over the others and not complain about it.” The stubby unicorn had opened his mouth, most likely to complain about having to be a nursemaid, but one dark look from the Pegasus shut him up quickly. He gave a sigh, but sat in-between the two prone ponies and distraught chef as his friends began to circle the remains of the wheeled ship.
“Three wheels aren’t going to work…” announced Featherweight gravely as he peered into the hole where said wheel had once been attached to the side of the carriage. “Not to mention the giant hole in the side. I think most of whatever peppermill had brought is gone…”
“The mast is still intact but the sail is rags.” added Rumble, fluttering up onto the deck. “And it is way too far into that tree to pull out without some Big Macintosh-sized help.”
“Um…” Snails was standing on the ground at the stern of the ship, staring intently at a piece of rope hanging in front of him. The two Pegasus colts approached him and looked as well.
“That doesn’t look like a broken rope. That looks like a rope that was cut…” said Featherweight.
“That rope was attached to the anchor. It didn’t work.” said Snails.
“I know for a fact that the anchor rope was fine. I got it and attached it myself.” remarked Rumble grimly.
“Well, something happened to it.” murmured Featherweight.
“Or…somepony…”