//------------------------------//
// Chapter 5 
// Story: Wet Dreams 
// by totallynotabrony 
//------------------------------//

	It was not too long after leaving the griffon port that we spied another ship in the distance.
“Hey Rainbow!” I shouted.  “Go check that thing out!”
She sighed and flew away to have a look.  I figured it was best to know what we were up against.  While even I wasn’t stupid enough to want an unnecessary fight, I sure as heck wanted to be ready if that’s what was required.
I watched through my spyglass as Rainbow circled around the other ship for a bit and came back.  “Just a bunch of traders,” she said.
“Maybe we can talk to them,” said Twilight.
“We can use some fruit,” I commented.  “Don’t want to get scurvy.”
Twilight rolled her eyes and said nothing.
The ship sailed closer.  It did not carry a flag, and the crew was made of mixed species.  They looked like a rather motley bunch, but seemed non-threatening.  Still, I stayed close to the cannon on the aft deck.  I told Spike to get a fireball ready, just in case.
When we were within hailing distance, Twilight called to them.  She said we were on a scientific and diplomatic mission.  They advised us to steer clear of pirates.  That was about the end of the conversation.  They sailed away.
“Well, they weren’t very nice,” grumped Pinkie.
“There must be more pirates out here than we thought,” I said.
Twilight frowned.  “It troubles me that we hadn’t heard anything about piracy before we came on this trip.”
“Maybe the other sailors can tell we’re inexperienced and they’re just trying to scare us,” said Fluttershy hopefully.
I shrugged.  “We can only hope.”
We continued on to the south.  A troubling line of clouds appeared on the horizon, drawing slowly closer.
“Hey Rainbow,” I called.  “Get rid of that storm.”
She shrugged.  “We’re not in Equestria anymore.  The ocean is just like Everfree Forest.  Nopony controls it.”
“Nobody but Poseidon,” I said, sighing.  “I suppose it’s too late to sacrifice someone for the sake of clear weather.  Or maybe I’ve got my gods mixed up.”
“Ah don’t like the look of them clouds,” said Applejack.
“We’d better secure the sails,” added Rarity.
The rest of the ponies worked while I continued to steer.  The wind was picking up, and we had to get the sails tied up so the excessive breeze wouldn’t tip the ship for a dip.  In the water, that is.
“Does anypony else get excited by thunderstorms or is that just me?” asked Pinkie.
“I like them,” I said.  “At no other time do you feel quite as alive as when you’re dodging lightning bolts and shit.”
A few raindrops pattered down.  “We’d better get below deck,” said Twilight.
“Oh, no problem guys,” I said.  “I’ll just stand here in the middle of a thunderstorm."
The purple unicorn looked at me.  “I thought you just said you liked that?”
“Yeah, but I don’t especially like getting wet if I can help it.”
Thunder rumbled and the rain picked up.  I glanced out over the water at a flash of lightning.  When I looked back, the deck was clear, and I was the only one outside.
I muttered a few choice words and set about keeping the ship pointed into the wind.  There was no need for us to get too far off track.
Several minutes later, I was still at the wheel.  My few choice words had evolved into a constant stream of profanity.  I didn’t think we were inside a hurricane, but wouldn’t have been terribly surprised if that turned out to be the case.
I was pretty much convinced that we were going to die.
The hatch to the below deck space opened a crack.  “What are you doing?” shouted Twilight.  “It’s dangerous out there!”
“No shit!  I’m pretty sure our odds of survival are nil, but since we’re on a freaking ship and I can’t run away, I might as well stand here and take it like a man.”
“Are you really sure we’re doomed?” asked Twilight.
I gestured to the storm.  “I think the wind’s picking up even more.”
“That’s it?” she demanded.  “We’re just going to sit here until the sea kills us?”  She put her face in her hooves.  “No no no, this can’t be happening!  There has to be something we can do!”
“Can’t control it,” I said.  “Just luck of the draw.  Sometimes you punch mother nature in the face, and sometimes she kicks you in the dick with a terrible storm.”
“But…you can come down and have a party with us while we wait for the inevitable,” said Pinkie.
I thought for a moment.  “Yeah, all right.”  I let go of the wheel and stepped towards the hatch.
I heard a sudden crack, and looked up to see one of the masts splintering.  It loomed large in my vision as it fell towards me.

“Are you okay?” asked a soft voice.  Fluttershy, I thought.
I opened my eyes.  I was lying flat on my back on deck.  The yellow pegasus stood over me, blocking some of the light from the shining sun.
“We lived through the storm?” I asked.
“Ah reckon so,” said Applejack.
“What happened?”
“You had a little accident,” said Twilight.
“Huh.”  I sat up.  Our boat was damaged, but still floating.  The masts and rigging were a mess.
“Ship sighted!” called Rainbow.  She zoomed off to have a look.
“Is this a dream?” I asked.  “We’re still alive, I’m not in any pain, Rainbow’s doing her job without being asked…”
“We had better get this mess cleaned up,” said Rarity.  She began tending to the scattered sails and rigging material.
“I have a ‘Hooray, we survived’ party to plan!” said Pinkie.
While the rest of them worked, I got up.  “Where’s my spyglass?” I asked.  I found it among the debris.
I put it to my eye and looked in the direction Rainbow had gone.
“That’s weird,” I said.  “That ship doesn’t have any sails.”
Rainbow came hurtling back.  “I’ve never seen anything like that before!”
Realization hit me.  “Oh my God, holy shit, we’ve crossed time and space!”
I frowned.  “Or I’m dreaming.”