Lady Trixie Lulamoon sat in her office as Mercer came in.
“The last of our ships have returned,” said Mercer.
“Is there any news on the chest?” asked Trixie.
“No, ma’am. But, one of the ships picked up a pony adrift at sea,” said Mercer. “She had these.”
Mecer placed a leather-bound envelope on Trixie’s desk. It was the Letters of Marque Cadence had stolen from Trixie.
“I took the liberty of filling in my name,” said Lightning Dust from the doorway, where two soldiers held onto her.
Trixie motioned for Lightning to come forward. “If you plan on claiming these, then I assume you have something to trade. Do you have the compass?” asked Trixie.
“Oh, I’ve got something better than that broken old thing,” said Lightning Dust, placing her hat on the table.
Trixie’s jaw dropped when she heard the unmistakable sound of a heartbeat.
“Is that the-?” said Trixie.
“Yes… it is the heart of Spike Jones,” said Lightning.
“Well done… Admiral Lightning Dust,” said Trixie with a smirk.
Meanwhile, at Zecora’s Hut…
The Black Pearl’s crew sat in the hut as Zecora passed out drinks. Shining Armor kept sticking Twilight’s knife into the table.
Zecora approached Cadence and offered her a drink. “Against the cold… and the sorrow,” Zecora told Cadence as she took a drink.
Zecora made her way over to Shining Armor. “It’s a shame… I know you’re thinking that with The Pearl, you could’ve captured Spike and set free your little sister’s soul,” said Zecora.
“It doesn’t matter anymore,” said Shining Armor as he took a drink. “The Black Pearl’s gone… along with its captain.”
“Aye… and already the world seems a bit less bright,” said Applejack as she looked at the stars, before entering the shack. “She fooled us all right until the end… but, I guess that honest streak finally won out. To Rainbow Dash!” said Applejack, lifting her cup.
“Never another like Captain Dash,” said Diamond Tiara, raising her cup and taking a drink.
“A true filly of fortune, she was,” said Silver Spoon, raising her cup and drinking as well.
“She was a good mare,” said Cadence, raising her cup, but not drinking.
Shining Armor lifted his cup, but didn’t say anything. He looked at Cadence, who looked guilty somehow. “If only we could do something to bring her back… Cadence, what-” said Shining Armor.
“Would you do it?” asked Zecora walking in front of Shining Armor. “What would you do, hmm? What would any of you be willing to do? Hmm? Would you sail the ends of the Earth, and beyond, to fetch back witty Rainbow Dash and her precious Pearl?”
Applejack walked further into the shack. “Aye,” she said.
Silver stood up. “Aye,” she said.
Diamond also stood. “Aye,” she said.
“Brawk, aye,” said Cotton Fluff’s parrot as its owner.
“Yes,” said Cadence, who remained seated.
“Aye,” said Shining Armor.
“All right… but, if you go and brave the weird and haunted shores at World’s End… then you’ll need a captain who knows those waters,” said Zecora.
Down a staircase came a face no one in the room thought they’d see again. It was a female griffon wearing a black pair of pants, black boots, a white shirt, a black overcoat with a buckled strap across it, a belt that held a flintlock pistol and a sword, and a black feathered hat. On her shoulder was Dash the monkey.
“So, tell me… what’s become of my ship?” asked Captain Gilda, before taking a bite of a fresh green apple. She and Dash the monkey let out a laugh.