//------------------------------//
// Ch 17: Dead in the Water 
// Story: A New World, An Old Haunt 
// by Professor Frogenshtein 
//------------------------------//

Baltimare was a thriving port town, full of industry and commerce. Equestrian goods were often sent there to be shipped overseas by way of horseshoe bay, while all manner of items from foreign lands were received there to be sent all over the kingdom by train or delivery pegasus. The town itself was packed with market vendors, selling inventory that would spoil if they tried to ship it out.

When Dante had announced that the town was their next stop, Frothing Stein had insisted that the yamask go into town with him (Lucius had, of course, followed in the yamask's shadow); Stein's company had a large base here where he'd set up a family summer home, and the unicorn wanted to introduce the ghost-types to "the greatest pony family they'll ever meet (on that particular day in that particular headquarters)!"

Well I don't want to oversell it; there are plenty of perfectly pleasant packs of ponies of particular pedigrees and progeny.

Sure, whatever. As Stein led the pair of ghouls through the town, he noticed a certain tension in the atmosphere. There were fewer stalls open, and the streets weren't nearly as crowded and bustling as usual. The professor ushered the group along faster; something told him they didn't want to dawdle for whatever might be going on.

I bet it's another side story taking place, and that Wooden Bit stallion is no doubt involved. Harrumph! That jerk; I bet his story's even canon!

Stein's internal ranting was short-lived, however, as they approached a large, brightly-colored building that looked almost like someone had coated a factory in candy. The bricks were colored in a variety of shades of green, the mortar tinted a faint puce, and tall, thick red-and-white striped smokestacks stood at irregular places on the lemon yellow roof, bubbles floating out of them. Above a set of tall, orange double doors, a sign glowed slightly in bright purple letters.



FrSt Foods


Flavor comes FrSt!


"Welcome to the factory!" Stein proclaimed, sweeping a hoof towards the entrance, which slowly opened at the unicorn's prodding.

Dante stared, squinting a little at the sheer brightness of the place. "It's very... Colorful."

Stein shrugged. "Didn't know what the place would look like until it was finished," he said, leading the group inside to a more modestly-colored office, "and we're so close to the bay that we can't paint over it."

"And I still say it's your fault for getting puce mortar!"

All eyes turned to the back doorway, where another stallion was entering the room. Dante gasped, while Lucius simply stared; the pony looked near-identical to Frothing Stein, even down to his clothing, save for the fact that he had no horn. As the lookalike drew further into the office, Dante noted that his 'cutie mark' was that of a waffle cone topped with a large purple gemstone, surrounded by little wrapped candies.

"I've told you a hundred times," Stein responded to the newcomer, "I ordered puce because they were out of periwinkle!"

"You should have gone for MAUVE!"

"Hold it! Hold everything!" Lucius, wanting to avoid a shouting contest, popped up between the two equines, giving Stein a questioning glare. "What is going on here? Who's this guy?!"

"Zounds," the hornless Stein exclaimed, pointing a hoof at Lucius, "a specter!"





The mysterious stallion was, in fact, Professor Frigid Stone, one of Stein's triplet brothers who co-owned the company.

"I didn't know you had brothers," Dante posited.

"You never asked," Stein replied. "But yes, I have two near-identical brothers; Stone here is my earth-pony brother, and..." Stein glanced around, looking for someone else, before turning to the earth pony. "Where is old feather brains anyway?"

'Stone' shrugged. "He's out of the office right now; off working on his 'lemon twister' I think."

Author couldn't think of a name?

Nnnnnnope. Ran out of words starting with 'fr' that had to do with food.

Uuuughh, now there's two of them.

Hey, you're supposed to narrate, leave the color commentary to us.

What he said.

(Oh Arceus give me strength...)

"So," Dante interjected, "what does Stone here do?"

Stone puffed out his chest, a proud look on his face. "I am one of Equestria's foremost scientific minds in the field of physics and geology, though I do dabble in other fields."

"We all dabble," Stein remarked. "I think he's asking about your talents with sweets."

Stone blinked, his smile wavering a bit.

"Right, yeah, I'm good at candy and ice cream too. Invented a hundred and thirty-seven flavors sold worldwide. Pays the bills and such."

Had to spoil it, didn't you?

Sorry, just making sure the audience knows. Besides, a hundred thirty-seven is a big number!

"Well anyhow," said Stein, speaking aloud again, "what say you come with us on an adventure?"

Stone's smile drooped further. "I'm sorry, but I can't."

"But... But why not? You love adventure!"

"Brother," Stone sighed, placing a hoof on Stein's shoulder, "you know that any other day I'd leap at the chance to go exploring and let the company run itself, but matters here require my full attention. Yours too, if you can help."

Stein's eyebrows contracted. "What's the situation?"

"One of those new 'pokémon' creatures is blocking our supply route, shouting that he won't move until we 'get word ta th' Cap'm'."

Dante and Lucius, both of whom had been uninterested, suddenly snapped to attention.

Aahh, another new character?

You know it.





"Ye filthy landlubbin' layabout, I'll keelhaul the lot of yeh!"

"I'll sooner walk the plank as fall tae a bilge rat like ye!"

"Thems be fightin' words, ye bald-faced picaroon!"

I sighed, noticing Lucius put a hand to his face as crashing sounds echoed out from the room in front of us.

"It sounds like he's made a friend," I muttered.

Opening the door, I was very nearly greeted by a Hydro Pump to the face; I barely managed to throw a Protect up around myself as torrents of water rushed towards me. I sighed in relief as the attack splashed harmlessly off the shield.

Stein and Stone, both standing to either side of me, did not sigh in relief, as they were thoroughly soaked.

Inside of the room, amidst the remains of several broken and empty wooden crates, stood two beings, both staring in shock (and slight dread) at our entrance. The first, whom I recognized as my missing teammate, was a jellicent, tinted a noticeable shade of green rather than the blue that was common of the species.

"Marcellus!" I called, putting on my 'I am disappoint' face, "Front and center!"

The water/ghost type flinched, hovering over to me. "Cap'm!" he blurbled, "I knew ye'd find me! Yer lookin' well– erm, metaphorically speakin'..."

I responded with a glare. "Deck. Swab. Three years."

"Aye, Cap'm." The jellicent swam solemnly through the air to hover next to me, where Lucius could continue glaring at him as I looked back at the destroyed room.

The second individual, whom I did not recognize, was an odd creature, who looked almost like someone had stuck the back end of a pyroar to a flying-type, then dyed the result a myriad of different colors before sticking a black moustache on its beak. Its feathers were green at the front and face, fading to white at the wings and plumage, with dark orange talons; at the back, it had off-white fur marked with black stripes all over, its tail alternating with black and white rings. It wore a short navy-blue jacket that had holes in the back to accommodate its wings, and it held a worn (but still serviceable) tricorne in one talon. The creature looked warily towards the sodden pony professors, who regarded it coolly behind their goggles.

"Ah-heh– ahoy perfessors," the creature spoke, its gruff voice obviously male. "This ain't near as bad as it be lookin'–"

Stein and Stone spoke in unison. "This is coming out of your pay."

"Arr..." his head drooped as he put his hat back on.





Introductions were held; the jellicent was introduced as Marcellus, first (and only) commander in our team's aquatic division, and the feathered-and-furred creature (called a 'gryphon') was introduced as Freighter Stern, company partner in charge of shipping materials and goods.

"But– if he's a company partner, how can you dock his pay?"

Both professor ponies shrugged. "How do you keep your kids grounded when they can phase through walls?"

"Fair point," I conceded. "Also, should we address the interesting coincidence that both Stern and Marcellus talk like pirates?"

Stein and Stone looked contemplative for a moment.

"Nah."

"Nope."

I nodded. "Cool."

"So," Stein turned to Stone, clapping a hoof on the earth pony's shoulder, "since that little situation is taken care of, how about that adventure?"