//------------------------------//
// 01: Farewell, and Adieu 
// Story: Lineage 
// by Gherkin 
//------------------------------//

"My word, this place is wondrous."

The Royal Vault beneath Canterlot Castle was certainly a sight to behold, of that Rarity was sure. The very vault itself seemed to go on for miles, filled near to the brim with priceless artefacts from thousands of years of Equestria's history. Everything from ancient paintings to dusty old relics from a time before the Equestria everypony knew today even existed; it was almost overwhelming. Rarity gave a gasp of awe, earning a smirk from her friend beside her.

"See?" Twilight Sparkle said to her, snickering slightly. "Now you know why I thought it would be a good idea for to come along for this."

"Oh I do, Twilight, I do," the unicorn gushed, trying to take in as much of everything as possible. "Just look at all the ancient culture here, that's just been forgotten. Oh, I could come up with so many designs for my works, this is amazing!"

Twilight smiled. "That's exactly what I was thinking, Rarity. Heh, maybe you can bring all these old fashions back in style."

"I can certainly try, Twilight." She smiled back, then glanced at the large mirror being hauled by a few castle guards behind them. "I'm not sure why Princess Celestia wanted you, of all ponies, to oversee that thing being moved from the Crystal Empire to here."

Twilight looked back at it, before shrugging. "Honestly, it was mostly my idea. I guess you could say I'm more familiar with it than most ponies, anyway."

"But what if somepony gets through from the other side?"

"They won't," Twilight reassured her. "Sunset Shimmer has her own life there now, and, well, no one else there knows about it." She paused. "Though the princess did tell me about something else that may warrant some thought."

Rarity stopped and raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And what's that?"

"You know how we thought that the mirror only stays open for a few days, and that the rest of the time it closes?" Twilight asked, and her friend nodded. "It turns out we were wrong. It doesn't close, per se. Not on this side, at least. It just leads to somewhere else; another, different universe. Then, after a few days, it changes again, and keeps going. Like it's on some sort of repeated cycle."

"Hmm. That is somewhat of a concern," the unicorn agreed. "What if someone comes through from one of those universes?" 

The two friends, as well as the guards, came to a stop, having reached the mirror's destination. "Well, on the off chance that someone finds their version of the mirror, whatever it may be, then we've prepared as best we can, hopefully. We're going to be sealing the mirror in a secure container. That way, if someone does come through, they'll have no choice but to go back. So we won't have any 'aliens' wandering cluelessly around the Royal Vault."

Rarity glanced at the mysterious artefact, before looking back at the alicorn in front of her. "Are you sure there's no way to turn it off for good? Surely that would be the best way to go about all of this."

She shook her head. "Unfortunately, no. Not unless you smashed the thing, and even then, I'm not too sure. Besides, it wouldn't be a good idea to destroy it, anyway. It's one of a kind; magic that nopony has ever really seen before now. Princess Celestia did her best to learn as much as she could from it." 

"Maybe this is the best course of action, then," Rarity commented, watching the royal guards as they lifted the mirror off of the cart they had been hauling it along on. "But enough of all that. I'm going to take a look around, if that's alright."

Her friend smiled and nodded earnestly. "Of course you can, Rarity, don't let me or anypony else stop you. See if you can find something that inspires you."

She grinned in barely contained excitement. "Thank you, Twilight!" she exclaimed, going back to gazing around at everything surrounding her.

Twilight chuckled as she watched the unicorn. "Will you be alright if I go and tell Princess Celestia that everything is nearly finished? I'm sure she wants to be kept up to date."

"I'll be fine, Twilight," she reassured her. "Even if you can't just teleport there and back in an instant."

She chuckled again and began to trot away. "Yeah, well, magical dampening spells are annoying like that, aren't they? I'll be back as soon as I can."

"Don't rush yourself, dear," Rarity called out as she left. "I want to take my time anyway." She watched her go, then went back to gazing around at everything that surrounded her. She eyed a number of paintings hung nearby; portraits of nobles from times long gone by. They were all depicted wearing lavish dresses and formal wear, quite unlike anything Rarity had ever seen the nobility of modern Equestria wearing. Oh, this is beyond perfect! she thought to herself, levitating a small notepad from her saddlebags and scribbling down some quick drawings. Just look at them. Everypony is going to love this.

Still looking up and around her, she trotted back towards the magic mirror, to which the two guards were attaching a length of rope, in order to haul it up to a shelf high above, where the container Twilight mentioned was waiting. As she inspected a few old treasures, she overheard a conversation between the two.

"Ugh, just my luck getting stuck on Vault duty," one complained, groaning as he made sure a knot in the rope was tied correctly. "Be much easier if I could just lift this thing up with my magic."

The other sighed and glared at him. "Shut yer pie-hole," he grunted in a rough accent. "Keep complainin' and yer only gonna make the job longer and harder." He tilted his head towards Rarity nearby. "Besides, yer in the company of lady, you could at least act respectable."

"Oh, you don't need to mind me, gentlecolts," she cooed, still inspecting a small statuette. 

"Yeah, because you're such a gentlecolt yourself," the first guard muttered to the other. "Now help me with this, will you?" He took the length of rope in his teeth and stepped backwards, preparing the haul the mirror upwards.

The two guards started to pull on the rope, and the pseudo-pully system that they had set up began to lift the mirror up to its destination. Rarity, not wanting to disturb either of them, opted to quietly inspect some more artefacts, inadvertently trotting directly underneath the mirror in the process. Neither did the two guards notice that, slowly but steadily, the rope was lifting the mirror was splitting under the pressure. 

This is all so very interesting, Rarity thought, oblivious to what was going on above. You can see copies and recreations of things like these in all the museums, but they pale in comparison to seeing the real thing.

There was a strained creaking noise that she heard. Confused, Rarity glanced upwards just in time to see the rope lifting the mirror give way and snap. The huge magical artefact began to fall towards her, seemingly in slow motion, as the guards who were lifting it looked on in helpless confusion and shock. The unicorn screamed and ducked, trying to cover her head with her hooves, as the mirror tilted in mid-air, coming down glass-first. There was an ear-splitting crash as it hit the ground and shattered, seemingly crushing her.

"Oh, horseapples," one of the guard murmured, before galloping over to the wreck of the mirror and shouting towards his partner. "Come on, you lobcock! Help me lift this!"

The other guard wasted no time in rushing over and gripping the heavy mirror in his front hooves. Together, the two of them lifted it upwards, before letting the frame lean against the wall. When they looked back, however, they saw no trace of the unicorn underneath, whatsoever. There was nothing but shattered glass.

"What is going on down here?" came the voice of Twilight. She, along with Princess Celestia, hurried around the corner into the aisle of the Vault where the two guards were standing. The two of them paused as they saw what had unfolded. Twilight gasped in horror, but Princess Celestia stepped forward to address the two cowering guards.

"What happened here?"


***


No, no, this isn't happening! This can't be happening!

Rarity had to resist the urge to scream in terror as she looked down upon her new form. She remembered how Twilight had described what she had become during her trip through the mirror, and she had to admit it sounded similar. It didn't make the sudden transformation any less sickening or horrifying though. She didn't retain her coat colour, as Twilight had. Instead her skin was a light, fleshy colour. That's it, I'm going straight back through, she thought, steadily getting to her feet and tentatively walking back towards the mirror she had exited. It looked similar to the one in Equestria, and was probably an ancient artefact here too. Wherever here was. Deciding she didn't care, Rarity stepped forward and pushed her hands against the glass.

Nothing happened. They didn't go through, and only left a pair of handprints on the dusty glass.

Oh, it must have shattered on the other side! She gasped and stepped backwards, taking a few deep breaths in order to calm herself. "There's no use in panicking Rarity," she murmured to herself. "Just get your bearings." She looked down at her new body, which was dressed in a white and pink dress. Strange, I wasn't wearing clothes before. Perhaps this is what my saddlebags have become. She also didn't know how she was so easily able to walk, even if it did feel very strange. Maybe the mirror has some sort of enchantment that automatically programs how to do so into my brain. Ugh, Twilight would probably know.

Having calmed down somewhat, she decided to take in her surroundings. She and the mirror were situated in a cramped room, packed with crates and chests, overflowing with commodities like wood, and metal. Bags of sugar could be seen around, as well as numerous empty bottles of what was probably rum. Judging by the smell, and the sound of waves crashing against the walls, Rarity deduced that she was in the cargo hold of some sort of ship.

There was some sort of ruckus going on above, too. No doubt the crew of the ship. She did her best to listen in, and found that they were singing a working song, or shanty.

"Where am I to go, me Johnnies, oh where am I to go?
Timme way hey, hey, high roll and go!"

Rarity recognised the style of song they were singing. It reminded her of a certain fillyhood vacation to Horseshoe Bay. She remembered sitting in a seaside café with her mother and father, listening to the sailor ponies nearby sing as their ship docked into port. The rough-and-tumble sort always sort of intrigued her, in a way. I suppose, one way or another, I'm about to find out first hoof. Or... hand.

She gave a start as the trapdoor to the cargo hold swung open nearby, making a loud creaking noise. Rarity looked about for somewhere to hide, but could find nothing. Frozen in place due to confusion and fear, she could do nothing as two voices approached from the other side of the crates.

"How many bottles do you think we've been through the last few days?" came one, growing steadily closer.

"How am I supposed to know? I just drink the stuff 'till I can barely walk, amigo," replied the other, with a distinct accent.

Rarity backed into the corner of the room, utterly trapped. The two men came around the corner, not noticing her for a moment. "Soft spot for rum, eh?" replied the first. "Why am I not surp-" He paused, having finally noticed the strange woman shrinking into the corner. "Oh, hello. What have we here?"

She remained silent, apart from a small whimper. The man's friend stepped forward, eyeing her down. "So how did you get here, lady? I remember checking the cargo hold very thoroughly before we left Kingston..."

"Obviously not thoroughly enough," the other commented. "Anyway, you know the drill for stowaways. Bring 'er to the captain."

Rarity scooted away from the two of them as they approached. "Ah, well, I am most grateful for the offer," she stammered, laughing nervously. "But I'm afraid I going to have to decline."

The man drew something from the belt of his slacks, a tool made of iron and wood, and leveled it towards her. "And I'm afraid that wasn't an offer in the first place. It was a demand." His tone had become decidedly darker. 

Just stay calm, Rarity, she reminded herself, trying to breath steadily and not panic as the other man took her arm and pulled her towards the stairs to the deck. The first one stayed behind her, still pointing what she imagined to be his weapon. A part of her wanted to struggle, or to try and make a break for it, but she knew it would only get her hurt, or worse, killed. Besides, where would she go? She was on a ship in the middle of the ocean, in a world she knew nothing about.

"Look alive, friends!" the one holding her arm called as they got up on deck. "We got ourselves a stowaway!" The song that the crew had bee singing died abruptly. The bright light of the sun made Rarity flinch, and she had to close her eyes for a second. They were obviously somewhere tropical, if the heat and the bright blue sea were anything to go by. The other members of the ship's crew turned to face the source of the announcement, and there was a hushed silence for a few moments. A few of them grinned dirtily, while others bore expressions of surprise. Towards the rear end of the ship, she saw who must have been the captain, looking down on them with one hand on his wheel.

As she was dragged towards this captain, a few crew members tried to intercept them. "She's a pretty one, ain't she?" came a the voice gruff, perverse man, but he was pushed away quickly by the man leading her. She felt sick to her stomach, and had to force herself not to vomit all over the deck.

Next to the captain stood a huge, overbearing man, with a darker shade of skin than most. He stepped in front of the man holding Rarity as they made it to the top of the stairs, and eyed her for a second before looking at him.

"You told me you checked the cargo hold properly before we left," he boomed, glaring at him.

"I did, Adéwalé, sir," her would-be captor replied, stammering slightly. He seemed intimidated by the giant of a man, and she could see why. She gulped and steadied her breath as his eyes fell upon her.

He studied her for a moment, before speaking again. "Hmm. If you tell the truth, then it raises an important question: where did she come from?" 

"Well, why don't we find out, Adé?" The captain of the ship came up behind him and clapped him on the shoulder. Now that Rarity could see him up close, she found that he did not appear as brutish or intimidating as the rest of his crew. Rather, he looked like more of a roguish type. His long blonde hair billowed in the wind as he continued. "We can find out how our guest got aboard, and ensure that such... how should I put it... security loopholes are never exploited again. And let go of her, she won't go anywhere,"  he commanded his crew mate, who quickly obeyed. He turned to face her, and gave a welcoming smile. "Captain Edward Kenway. And who might you be?"

She paused, frozen in place. She hoped to Celestia that these sailors, or pirates, or whatever they were, would have the common courtesy to treat her with some respect. Or she hoped the captain would, at least. Something told her that the crew were not about to disobey either him or his quartermaster. She collected herself, and looked him in the eye. "My name is Rarity," she answered simply, brushing a strand of loose hair out of her face.

"A unique name, if nothing else," he commented. "Though not inappropriate in the slightest. Tell me, Miss Rarity, how did you come to be aboard the Jackdaw?"

"Well, I..." she trailed off, thinking for a second. How in the world am I supposed to explain this predicament to these men? "I don't think I can tell you." She paused for a second, then added. "But I think I might be able to show you."

Kenway smirked and raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? Then, by all means, lead the way."