//------------------------------//
// Chapter 1. A Promise Kept 
// Story: A Ship-of-the-Line 
// by KonceptKarma 
//------------------------------//

	Gallant Topsail leaned against the railing of the ERS Resplendent, a first rate ship-of-the-line of 100 guns. The Resplendent was the largest, most powerful ship in the Equestrian Navy, and he was stationed aboard it. Unfortunately he held the time-honored position of cabin boy. The dreams he'd had as a child were nothing like this, fighting the ocean, breathing the salty air, feeling the sea against your face as you sailed to your destination. Instead, it was swab the decks, tie off mooring lines, secure the cargo, bring the captain his supper. Put simply, it was tartarus. However, one thought always plagued his mind more than anything else, where was Flareluck. They had enlisted together, with utmost confidence that they'd be stationed aboard the same ship, but when Gallant arrived aboard, he was no where to be found. 
That was nearly a year ago, and the memory hasn't faded in the slightest. Gallant constantly wondered where his best friend was. Was he aboard another ship? Was he a higher rank than Gallant? Was he even alive? He had no idea, and not knowing drove him crazy. Unfortunately it's not like he could go anywhere, he was essentially trapped within a wooden prison. This was not what he'd dreamed of, not what he'd promised to do with himself. What was he doing here? Gallant figured it best to put his thoughts away now, and he timed it perfectly as one of the ship's officers trotted up to him.
"You, cabin boy," The officer pointed towards him, "Captain Mainsail would like to speak to you."
Gallant eyed the officer with confusion, "The captain wanted to speak to me?"
The officer grunted, "Yeah, he did, now move it. He's not a patient man."
"Aye, sir." Gallant trotted off towards the rear cabin. What could the captain possibly want with him. His nervousness began to peak as he approached the door of the cabin. The stallion lifted his hoof, and rapped on the door twice.
A gruff voice called back, "Enter!"
The young stallion poked his head in, "You wanted to see me sir?" Staring out of the captain's quarter windows was a tall, dark grey stallion. He wore a long coat, with a captain's insignia sewn upon the back. His greying mane was moderately disheveled, indicating that he'd been awake for some time. He turned towards the cabin boy, eyeballing him from hoof to mane. 
"That I did boy," Mainsail stated in his rough, coarse voice, "I called you here for a very important reason."
Gallant's ears perked at the statement, "And what reason would that be sir?"
"Simple, I'm promoting you." Mainsail trotted over to a table with a bottle of whiskey atop it. He poured himself a drink. "Do you have a problem with my promoting you?"
The stallion shook his head furiously, "No sir, of course not sir. I'm just curious, what did I do to warrant a promotion?"
The captain chuckled to himself, "Simple, you work." Gallant's cocked a brow in confusion. The captain put down the glass he poured as he noticed the stallion's curiosity. "Perhaps I should explain more, you hate the work you're doing don't you."
Gallant spoke before he could think, "Yes I do." When he realized his blunder, he covered his mouth with a hoof. Mainsail only burst out laughing. His laughs bellowed throughout the cabin. 
"It's alright kid, if I punished everyone for honesty then no one would want to sail under me," Mainsail smiled a big, wide smile at Gallant as he spoke. "so, as I was saying; you hate the work you do, but you still do it. Not only that, but you do it well. Most cabin boys slack off all the time, or ignore orders all to together. I should know, I was one once."
Gallant couldn't help but interrupt, "You were a cabin boy sir?"
Mainsail glared at him in irritation for interrupting him, "Yes, I was. I worked my way from cabin boy to captain, and don't think for a second that it was easy," The captain downed his drink after finishing that thought, it was obvious that he too hated cabin boy's work, "you remind me a lot of myself you know?"
"I do?" Gallant looked up at the captain.
"Yes, I was exactly the same as you at your age," The captain smirked at his reminiscence, "so I've decided to give you a chance." Gallant looked up in expectation. "I'm naming you my squire."
Another look of confusion snapped onto Gallant's face, "Doesn't squire mean assistant sir?"
"Yes it does," Mainsail nodded, "you'll do everything I ask of you, take care of cleaning the cabin, bring meals, the average sort of chores. However, I'll also personally train you in combat, as well as in leadership. If you're patient, and listen to everything I tell you, and do the other duties implied as a squire, then I'll recommend you for promotion."
A look of joy swept across Gallant, "Really sir?" The old captain merely nodded in response. "Aye sir, I accept my new responsibilities, sir."
The captain placed his hooves together, "Good, you start tomorrow, get some rest." 
The cabin boy turned squire saluted, "Aye, sir!" As he left the captain's quarters, he started thinking to himself, he was finally going to get somewhere aboard the ship.