//------------------------------// // Falling for her (edited) // Story: The Pirate & the Royal // by RavenFire2908 //------------------------------// Chapter 2 Falling for her At least Applejack wasn't alone, some of the crew had been taken prisoner as well. The captain, the cook and a few cabin boys were in cells similar to hers. The captain sat in the cell next to hers. Applejack had woken from the sound of water slapping the side of the ship. "I'm so sorry, my lady. I should have done a better job of protecting you," the captain lamented. He looked at Applejack in the other cell with sorrow. "There was nothing you could've done, Captain," Applejack said, trying to make the situation seem better than it actually was, not only for him, but for herself as well. "Life isn't always easy, Captain, so I don't blame you.'' "I bet your family will," he said with a sigh. "Why couldn't I be stronger?" he asked no one in particalur. Applejack knew, so she didn't answer. "Captain, when or if we get back, I swear you will not be to blame!'' Applejack said, kindly scolding him. She would never blame other ponies, and she believed in second chances. The captain didn't say anything. He couldn't, he felt like he'd betrayed his country. "So, now what do we do?" he asked. "I dunno- I mean, I don't know," she said, Applejack walked back to the 'bed' and sat down. She wasn't wearing her dress, but that's how she liked it, her hair was back in its braid as well. She didn't have her crown, but right now, she didn't care. Just then four pirates came down the stairs and walked straight to the door of her cell. The guards let all the prisoners out of the cells, but kept their weapons trained on them. The captain tried to protect the princess, but she just walked past him. "Princess, stay behind me," he growled. Applejack's patience was wearing thin, she was just one 'Princess' away from exploding because of the building rage inside her. Applejack sighed and grudgingly obeyed, but at the moment, she wondered why they were being let out. "Princess, Captain Dash wishes to speak with you," one of the pirates said. The captain heard what he had said and charged the pirates. Before he could reach them though, Applejack stuck out her right hind leg, tripping him. Some of the pirates chuckled at the sight of a princess tripping an officer. "What was that for, Princess," that was the last straw. Applejack's patience had worn thin and broke. She growled menacingly, and jumped at the captain, who had just got back on his hooves. He fell down again, as Applejack's strong hooves began to hit him. Since she had such brutish strength, she left imprints of her hooves on his coat. Bruises began to appear, and, by the sounds of things, he also had a couple of broken bones. The other pirates managed to pull Applejack off the bloodied and broken stallion, succesfully restraining her, though her eyes were still filled with fury. The sound of clapping hooves snapped Applejack out of her anger induced frenzy. "Well, well, what a show," Ranbow Dash said flying down to Applejack. Two unicorn pirates held her back with their magic as well as a pegasus. "Now there's another first I've seen, a strong captain being beaten by a p-" Rainbow stopped herself when she was the angry glare Applejack shot towards her. "Take the captain back to his cell, and notify the ship's surgeon, he has a new patient," Rainbow ordered, as two unicorns took him back inside. "What did you want?" Applejack asked, she had calmed down a little. She really wished she had Fluttershy and Rarity by her side right now. She wanted to talk to them, but she couldn't. Rainbow smirked at Applejack, as she was just inches away from Applejack's face. She moved away and simply said "You'll see." They took Applejack, the cook and the cabin boys to different parts of the ship, where they were all put to work. The cook worked in the kitchen, while the cabin boys and Applejack were assigned cleaning duty. The whole time the cabin boys were lazy and complained, Applejack was the only one who hadn't objected, she loved to work. When she was younger, she dressed up as a guard or servant, she would then work for a few hours, then get caught. The day passed quickly, the cabin boys were punished quite a few times for slacking. "Apple... whatever!" Rainbow yelled across the ship. Applejack looked up from her mopping and looked at Rainbow Dash. "Get over here," Rainbow called. Applejack made her way over to the captain. "What is it?" she asked. Rainbow Dash smirked. "Come with me, I have a few questions." They both entered the captain's quarters. "Sit," Dash commanded pointing at a chair. Applejack did as she was told and just looked around. "You were the only one that didn't complain about the work, why?'' she asked sitting down in another Chair. "Well... I'm used to it," Applejack said. "How's that?" Rainbow asked, confused. "Well, when I was younger, I used to sneak out of my classes, and disguise myself as a servant or guard. It was great until I got caught," Applejack reminisced, as image flashed through her memory, she smiled. "Oh... a guard you say?" Applejack immedately regretted saying that. "Yeah..." she said leaning back, a little scared now. Rainbow got out of the chair and flew over to a table. She picked up a sword, tossing it over her shoulder. The sword landed not too far from Applejack's face, she yelped in fright. "Pick it up," Rainbow commanded. Applejack picked the sword up, and as soon as she touched it, she felt like a foal again. She felt just like when she snuck out and trained with the royal guard. "We're gonna have some fun here," Rainbow grinned, as she drew her own sword. Applejack gulped. She got up from her chair and took a defensive stance, waiting for Dash to start. Dash then quickly jumped into the air and struck with a downward slash, beginning her assault. Applejack quickly blocked the attack, now she was getting warm. Applejack slashed left and right, attempting to get a strike in, but every attack was easily parried away. They kept exchanging blows for a while, neither gaining any ground on the other. Rainbow was impressed by how good she was, but Rainbow was better. She had been dueling for years, while Applejack, probably only a few months. Rainbow faked left, while Applejack moved to block again. She then quickly tilted her sword down just enough to get under Applejack's defenses and snapped the sword back out from the inside and effectively disarmed her opponent sending the sword flying across the room. Applejack fell from the force of the attack and when she looked up, Rainbow was standing over her, victorious. "I have to admit, you're alot better than I expected, but nopony is better than me," Rainbow said smugly as she moved away from Applejack. "Thanks, I'm a bit rusty. The last time I dueled must have been a full year ago," Applejack sheepishly smiled, embarressed by the compliment. She got to her hooves and brushed herself off. "You sure? 'Cause that didn't really seem like you hadn't practiced in a year." "Thanks," Applejack replied, again embarressed by the praise she was receiving. "Anyway... the sun's setting, you better get back to your cell," Rainbow instructed as she turned to the door, "Twilight!" she called. The purple unicorn came into the room. "Yes captain?" "Take her back to the brig," Rainbow ordered as she picked up the swords. Twilight moved forward and grabbed Applejack with her magic. They both left the room and walked back down the stairs to the brig. When Applejack was locked back in her cell, she saw just how much she'd hurt the captain. "I'm so sorry, I jus-... I just couldn't take it anymore. I'm so sorry," she cried, as she looked at him. He slowly turned and faced her. "It's okay, I understand that you'd had enough... Applejack..." he got out before he closed his eyes and fell asleep. Applejack turned her back to the cell door, and walked over to her bed. "I miss you, Mac, Granny, Apple Bloom... I miss you... home," she whisperd to herself before she fell into dreamland. --- "Captain? I have to ask, what were you two doing in here?" Twilight asked. "Nothing you need worry about!" Rainbow blared, starimg at a map, "we just had a little sword duel." "With a princess?! How long did that take before you beat her? Ten Seconds?'' Twilight playfully asked. "Half an hour." "Wait, what?!" she said in shock, "half an hour to take out a princess. H-how?" "She's not like other princesses. She knows how to fight, she likes to clean. There is something different about her." Twilight looked at Rainbow, she knew that face, that tone of voice. Rainbow Dash had fallen in love. "Captain? Are you okay?" Twilight asked. Rainbow sighed, "I don't know, Twilight. I just feel so weird right now," she said, looking at the unicorn. "Captain, you know you can talk to me if something's wrong." "I know that... it's just... I don't understand." "Well... was it something else," Twilight asked. "We have one week before we reach the island, and we need to get the key from the princess before then. Leave me, I need to think. I'm going to sleep," Rainbow dismissed, as she waved Twilight off. Twilight obeyed and left the room. Rainbow walked over to her bunk, when she lay down and closed her eyes. The image of the princess came, unbidden, into her mind. 'Why am I thinking about her' she thought. She just didn't get what was happening. --- Applejack woke in the middle of the night. She'd been dreaming about Rainbow Dash. "What's going on with me?" she asked out loud, but quiet enough she didn't wake anypony else. "I just want to see home, one last time," she sniffed as she began to sing her Lullaby. "What a lovely little song," a voice behind her said. She yelped as she turned around but relaxed a little as she saw Rainbow Dash sitting outside her cell. "What do you want?" Applejack asked, right now she was too sad to really talk to anyone. "I was just checking on you... is there anything wrong with that?" she said with a playful smirk and wink. Applejack looked at her a little irritated. "Maybe..." "Fine, I was going to ask you something," Rainbow admitted as she paused. "Come, let's not wake the others," Rainbow opened the cell door, letting Applejack walk out. They walked up the stairs and outside. When they reached the main deck, Applejack looked up and gasped. "What, never seen stars before?" Rainbow ruefully asked when she saw Applejack's face. "I have seen stars before, but never have I seen the hole sky at once," she absently mumbled, still looking at the beautiful night sky. "Oh... why?" "I've been locked inside the castle walls since my parents died. I've probably only seen half, either the wall or the castle got in the way of the whole sky. But this is fantastic, I always wanted to see the world, though I guess..." Applejack didn't look away from the stars, she was too lost in the beauty of it to tear her gaze away. "Sooo... this is the longest you've ever been away from home?" Rainbow curiously asked as they walked to the quarterdeck, at the stern of the ship.