The ship glided smoothly through the ocean's calm waters. A light, but steady breeze blew over the moonlit sea, a light mist occasionally making its way through. The ship itself was a majestic sight for anypony to see, grand enough to leave one nearly breathless upon seeing it for the first time. But any other ship, or pony, would be wise to stay away if they were to look up at the top of the masts and see the black flag with a skull in the center flowing steadily in the breeze.
A single, shadowy figure of a pony stood alone at the wheel, guiding the ship on its course. The pony itself was the captain, known across the world as Maelstrom, captain of the Midnight Skull, the most notorious pirate ship out there. Though the crew itself had never taken any innocent lives as many other pirates had (though anyone who tried to go up against them, they cut down without second thought), they had taken countless in gold, silver, gems and other valuables. Any place that was visited by these pirates knew that they would take whatever they wanted, and nopony would be dumb or crazy enough to try and stop them.
The rest of the crew was asleep. Maelstrom kept his hoof steady on the wheel, looking out at the horizon where the water met the night sky. He preferred to be up at night, but none of his crew knew exactly why. They just assumed that's how he was, but no- Captain Maelstrom had his own personal reasons, which he kept mostly to himself.
He looked up at the moon as a burst of mist fell on him from the breeze. He sighed as he continued to look at the moon's brilliant face and he soon found himself deep in thought.
"I wonder what she's doing right now..."
***TWENTY-FIVE YEARS EARLIER***
It was a peaceful evening in the capital city. The moonlight shone brightly through the castle's windows, illuminating the entire room that the four ponies were in, along with the gentle light and warmth from the fire in the fireplace. Luna looked over at her mother and father, the rulers of Equestria, who were occupied by the books they were reading. She then glanced over at her sister, Celestia, before looking over at the grandfather clock that filled the family room with a pleasant, quiet ticking.
"I'm a bit tired." the princess said, rising off of the plush futon that she'd been lounging on. "I shall see you all tomorrow.""
"Goodnight, Luna." Celestia responded.
"Goodnight, my dear." her mother followed.
Luna made her way out of the room and moved in a steady pace to her bedroom. Once inside, she shut the door behind her, locking it. But instead of climbing into her bed, she moved over to her vanity table, seating herself in front of the large mirror. After checking to make sure she still looked presentable, she picked up her hairbrush and ran it several times through her blue mane before getting up and walking through the door that led to her outside balcony.
She looked around to make sure the coast was clear, checking the castle walls. Just as she'd thought, the majority of the guards were in their barracks for the night. A few guards always patrolled the castle at night, and it looked like they were in the process of changing shifts. Smiling, she unfurled her wings and took flight, making her way through the city, making her way down to her destination- the small settlement that lay along the river. But it wasn't the settlement she was going for- it was the young stallion she was in love with.
Luna's mind raced with both anticipation and thought as she glided through the cool night air. If her parents knew what she was up to, they would be upset beyond belief, but she didn't care. Sadly, they were a little old fashioned, and they believed that she, along with her sister, should see stallions of noble blood and immense wealth. For Luna, it was not wealth, power, or social status that mattered. It was the stallion himself.
She had met Hydro when they were just foals. Her father was doing business with his parents, who made their living by fishing and were looking to settle down here in the settlement. Over the days and weeks when her father would visit the docks and wharfs, for business she and the young Earth Pony stayed entertained by playing together. They told each other about their lives, and she found his story to be interesting. He was actually born while the ship was out at sea, so he'd been close to the ocean ever since he was born. He and his parents actually lived on the ship that they sailed on.
The years went by and they grew up together. As they matured and grew into young colts and mares, they began developing feelings for one another. There was just something about Hydro- whether it was the gentle way he treated her or his natural-born aquatic talents, she found herself thinking about him constantly. And he always found himself starstruck by her indigo coat, her blue mane, her beautiful eyes. The way she looked at him always put him in paradise. The two young ponies simply seemed that they were meant for one another.
Because they were the first to set a solid fishing trade in Equestria, Luna's father arranged for Hydro to attend the school of the nobles in the capital city. What he didn't make known was that he mostly wanted Hydro to become a noble so he wouldn't have to risk embarrassment of his daughter being friends with a pony of peasant status. Hydro attended the high-class academy for two years. But the other students always ridiculed him, since he came from a simple family and not a noble one. Eventually, he could not take it anymore and withdrew from the school. Not only did this upset her father because he would remain a fisher pony, but he now considered Hydro a 'backslider' who lacked motivation. Luna tried to explain the reason why Hydro left the academy, assuring him that Hydro was a hard worker with a noble heart, but her father insisted that Luna should not speak to the peasant again. Of course, that didn't stop them from seeing one another, as their feelings for one another blossomed and became more refined. Her parents caught her on several occasions, expressing more anger with every time, but that did not stop her.
"If I catch you with that lazy scoundrel one more time, I will wipe him from the face of Equestria! Do you hear me, young lady!?" was one of the many threats from her father that had stayed in her mind. But when he said that to her, she simply turned her head and walked away, not caring what he said. Nothing would keep them apart.
********
She came out of her thoughts as she now approached the docks. Landing softly, she looked and saw that the fishing ship were Hydro and his family lived was dark, indicating that his parents had gone to sleep for the night. Not that it really mattered, anyway- his parents did not oppose their union in the least. In fact, they welcomed Luna warmly whenever she'd visit. The two parents had retired, and were just living on the ship. Hydro now owned the fishing company, and was dong very well for himself, as well as his parents. She sighed in content as she waited for the stallion.
"Evening, my love." a voice behind her rang out.
She turned around and smiled upon seeing Hydro, the silver moonlight beaming down on his light blue coat and his dark blue mane; the sea-green ocean wave that was his cutie mark seemed to have an unnatural glow to it. He already was smiling, admiring the princess' beauty. Without hesitation, they ran into each other's embrace. It had only been a week since they'd seen each other, but for them, the more they were together, the better.
"I missed you." Luna whispered.
"I missed you even more." Hydro answered, running his hoof through her mane.
For about a minute they stood there holding each other, the night sky and cool sea wind creating a surreal serenity. They gently broke the embrace, looking into one another's eyes.
"It's going to be a very calm night. Would you accompany me for a stroll down the shore?" Hydro asked, to which Luna nodded with a smile. Hydro had always had a sort of sixth sense when it came to the sea. He was somehow able to predict what the weather would be like, he could always lead the ship to a prominent fishing spot, things like that. It was one of the few reasons Luna admired him so much.
The two of them began walking, Luna resting her head on the broad shoulders of the fisher pony. Any of the nobles would be taking her somewhere that would require a lot of money, but Luna could not be more content than where she was right now.
"My father would have my head if he saw us right now." Luna said jokingly.
"Rather, he'd have my head." Hydro responded with a chuckle. Luna giggled before he quickly stepped ahead and stood in front of her, speaking now in a serious tone.
"Luna, you do realize that I WOULD give my head, my very soul, just to be with you?" he asked, placing his hooves on her shoulders.
"And I would do the same." the princess of the night responded. "I just wish that Father wasn't so stubborn. He thinks that because you're a fisher pony, you are not good enough for me."
"He has a point. I don't really deserve you."
"Hydro..." Luna said in a low, protesting voice.
"I just..." Hydro trailed off as he looked out at the ocean that lay before them, "I would become a noble tomorrow if I could! I mean, I tried so hard to finish at that academy, but the misery those other ponies put me through..."
Luna placed a hoof on his face, gently turning it to face her.
"Hydro, my love. I have told you this before, and I will continue to say it, if I must. It does not matter to me what you do, where you came from, what status you are. That is all meaningless to me. We grew up together from foalhood, and I realized that I loved you. When I discovered that you loved me, that was the most joyous day of my life. And I love you all the same now. I promise you, no matter what it takes, I will see to it that Father accepts our love, and that we will eventually be free to be together."
"I just wish there was more I could do. I love you more than I could say, but I feel so unworthy to have you." Hydro said.
"If anypony is unworthy, it is I." she responded. "You may be a fisher, but you are the best in Equestria, there is no denying that. Not only that, but I've never met any pony with as big of a heart as you. Your gentleness and the way you treat me... it just makes me love you even more!"
"So then, here we are. Two ponies unworthy of one another."
"Could there be no better fit?" Luna asked, the two of them embracing again. They stood there in blissful silence until an unexpected voice broke in.
"At it again, are we, Luna?"
The two of them whirled around to see Luna's father, the ruler of Equestria, standing before them, forelegs crossed and a bitter look on his face.
"Father, how-"
"Silence!" he barked, causing Luna to shrink. "It does not matter how I knew, the point is, I know. I am getting very fed up with this, Luna. I have told you to stay away from this peasant, and you disobey me every time."
"Father, I do not care that he is a peasant! I love him!"
"You do not yet know what love really is!" he responded. Upon hearing this Hydro let a low growl escape his lips.
"Don't give me that look, young man." her father said to the fisher pony, referring to the look of anger that had crept up onto his face. "If you dare try to go against me, I will see to it that you regret the day you were born."
"Father, please try to understand!" Luna pleaded.
"I don't need to understand anything. You, however, need to understand that he is not to be seen with you anymore. I will not go through this again, Luna. And you, Hydro- if I catch you around her... well, remember what I just told you. And believe me, you do NOT want to go up against me. Now, let's go, Luna."
Luna looked at her love, who gave her a saddened look, telling her to go. Bowing her head, she embraced Hydro once again before her father snapped at them to break apart. After her father had departed, she too, unfurled her wings. She looked back at the Earth Pony with tears in her eyes, causing his eyes to water upon seeing her saddened face.
"I love you." he told her with the utmost sincerity.
"I love you. We will be together, I promise you."
With that, she took flight, leaving the fisher on the shore line. He stood there, watching the beautiful mare, even after she had disappeared from his sight. He finally turned around and kicked at the sand in frustration before sitting down on the shoreline, his heart searing with pain.
Luna followed her father back to the castle, albeit at a lengthy distance behind him. When they arrived, she immediately went into her room and sprawled out on her bed. Burying her face in the pillow, she allowed the tears to now flow freely. For at least five minutes she lay there, crying over frustration with her father and with the intense pain she felt in her heart. She then heard a knock on her bedroom door. Getting up, she peeked through the doorway before seeing that it was her sister. She cleared her throat and wiped her eyes before letting Celestia in.
"Father found you two again?" Celestia quietly assumed. Luna nodded, looking at the floor. Her sister sighed.
"Why did you sneak away, Luna?"
"Because I love him! Is it that difficult to see?"
"But you know Father will be upset." Celestia answered.
"I don't care if it upsets him! There is nothing wrong with Hydro! He is a kind, gentle, loving stallion, Celestia!"
"I know that, Luna." the sun princess acknowledged. "But Father thinks otherwise."
"And that it what upsets- no, infuriates me! He does not look at him, he only sees him as a fisher pony! That does not matter to me!!"
Luna once again began crying. Celestia embraced her sister, feeling sorrowful for her. She knew that Hydro was a good pony, and that Luna loved him as much as he loved her. She even thought that their father was wrong about Hydro, but she also knew that their father's word was law, no matter what.
"Why can't Father understand? I love him."
"I know you love him, Luna. I know."
Celestia continued to comfort her sister. They spent a couple of hours together, Luna venting her frustrations and Celestia being a listening ear and shoulder to lean on. She made tea for the two of them, and together, they thought of ways that they might make their father accept the love of the two star-crossed stallions. Eventually, Celestia decided to retire for the evening. In that moment, Luna made a decision that she had been debating on for months.
"Celestia..." Luna said before she left.
"Yes?"
"You know that the Grand Galloping Gala is in two weeks. I am going with Hydro, whether Mother and Father like it or not."
"I knew you would say that." Celestia sighed, "I will not stop you, but I will ask that the two of you please be careful. Now, I can give you some good news- I know that Father and Mother will be away at the Crystal Empire during the Gala, so they are not supposed to be there, but I still want you to keep a keen eye out for them. I will do the same, and if I see either of them, I will alert you."
Luna embraced Celestia, feeling immense gratitude that she had her back.
"Thank you, dear sister. Not many ponies would do that for me."
"I know how much you love him, Luna. And I know you'd do the same for me. Goodnight."
"Goodnight." Luna responded, now feeling elated. She'd been wrestling with her mind on whether she would even attend the Gala, but now that she knew her parents would not be there, she had no hesitation about bringing Hydro along. In fact, she felt elated enough to take another risk. She quietly opened her door and crept down the hallway, stopping at her parent's bedroom. Peeking inside, she saw that they were both sound asleep. Barely able to contain her excitement, she quickly went back to her bedroom and out to her balcony...
********
Hydro lay awake in his room on the boat. The scent of the sea salt filled the room, which normally calmed him, but his mind was ablaze. He knew that Luna's father disapproved of him, but that was not what was keeping him down tonight. He had a very important question he was going to ask Luna, and her father had cut off their time together, leaving him unable to ask. He sighed and tried to go to sleep, figuring he'd find a way to ask her tomorrow. He was just about to doze off when he felt a chill run through his body. He sat up in his bed, knowing what this meant. Whenever he got this feeling, it meant that Luna was nearby! He couldn't explain it, and neither could she, but he knew now that she was approaching.
He quickly went outside, and sure enough, she was descending. Smiling, the two of them ran into a loving embrace again.
"I had to see you again, Hydro." she said softly.
"You owe me no explanation, my love." he said, "You're here, and that's all that matters." he stopped momentarily to check behind her.
"Do not worry," Luna assured him, "Father is sound asleep, as is the rest of the castle."
"Well, I'm so glad you came."
"Hydro, I need to ask something of you." Luna chimed.
"Of course, but I must first ask something of you." he responded. Taking a deep breath, he continued, "Luna, I know that you're a princess, and I am simply a fisher pony. You say that does not matter to you. And I say it does not matter to me. I love you with all my heart, and that's what counts."
Luna smiled and nodded. The stallion continued, "As you know, the Gala is in two weeks, and I frankly, I don't care what your father thinks- I wanted to ask you personally if you would do me the greatest honor of going with me?"
Luna gasped with shock and joy before jumping into his forelegs.
"Hydro, that is exactly what I wanted to ask you! And of course I will go with you!!"
Upon hearing this, the stallion tightened the embrace on his love, holding her close
"And I have even better news!" Luna added, remembering what Celestia had told her. "Father and Mother are not going to be at the Gala this year!"
"That is great news indeed! I'll have all our arrangements made as soon as I can!"
"I'm so sorry to cut this so short, Hydro. I wish I could spend the whole night here with you, but I must be getting back, in case my parents wake up." Luna said with a hint of regret.
"It's quite all right. I just can't wait for the Gala, now that I will be here with you, and nopony will part us. I love you."
"And I love you."
With a great surge of joy rushing through him, Hydro attempted something he had not yet tried before- something he should have done long ago. He wrapped his forelegs around her neck and brought his face in closer. Seconds felt like minutes as she leaned her head in closer as well. After what felt like an hour, their lips finally met. He again ran his hoof through her mane as they tenderly held the kiss, the moonlight beaming on them, the cool air rushing about, the quiet lapping of he waves the only sound. After a couple of minutes, they finally broke apart and bid one another goodnight.
Luna returned to her room in the castle, her parents asleep and nopony the wiser. Hydro sighed and looked out at the ocean before he made his way back to his room on the ship. The two of them, satisfied, joyous and excited for the upcoming Gala, finally drifted off to sleep in great content.