Twilight and Spirit both stood in Canterlot harbor watching the crew of the Rusty Reel, a fishing boat, get their boat underway to depart.
“Have you ever dealt with dragons before Spirit?” Twilight asked standing on a crate to be more eye level with Spirit
“Spikes the first dragon I’ve met face to face. I saw and adult fly over the desert but that was from a distance.” Spirit said
“I’ve had a few run ins with them they are quite intimidating”
“I’m ready” Rarity announced to the two. Twilight and Spirit both stared at the unicorn who had a cart filled with luggage that
was being pulled by a palace guard.
“Rarity this isn’t a vacation we can’t bring all of this with us.” Spirit said as he looked through various things from the cart. “Is that a couch?”
“You don’t expect me to rest on a hard chair do you? Now where is our yacht?” Rarity said looking around for the fanciest
vessel. Spotting the Princesses personal yacht she headed toward it. “I’ll just put my things in there.”
“Whoa” Twilight said jumping in front of Rarity “That’s our boat over there” Twilight gestured to the fishing boat.
“You’re kidding” Rarity began to laugh. She looked at Twilight and Spirit as they didn’t say a word. “Please be kidding”
Rarity was sitting in the middle of the deck of the Rusty Reel as it tugged out of port. “This is so humiliating” she said “for a
lady such as myself to travel on this bucket”
“Come on Rarity it isn’t that bad” Twilight called as her and Spirit leaned over the side of the boat.
“It smells” Rarity stated
“That’s the fish we unloaded before you boarded.” A deckhand pony called out
“Tell me again why we are going on this boat” Rarity pleaded to Spirit
“Because the waters near the lava fields are rocky and this is the sturdiest boat around.” Spirit said staring into the water
“Then why don’t we fly?” She asked
“If we get spotted by dragons too soon it might be a short trip” he added
“And why couldn’t I bring my things?” she continued
“No room” Twilight said
“And where are the handsome sailors? I thought sailors were supposed to be handsome and romantic.” Rarity looked at the
crew who consisted of a bearded scruffy colt and a scrawny deckhand who was mopping the deck.
“That’s just in the romance novels you keep reading in my library” Twilight lectured “you should really try other genres”
“Relax Rarity” Spirit said "you’re missing some really nice scenery”
“How can I relax when it smells like a tuna’s house?” Rarity responded as she joined the two on the side of the boat. Rarity
looked at the forest on the edge water. The water was crystal clear various fish and other creatures could be seen
swimming alongside the boat.
“Hmm it is quite nice” she admitted
“See” Twilight said “it’s not all bad
“Aye its lovely compared to where you’re all headed.” A gruff voice said.
The group looked behind them to see an older colt with a grey mane and a peg back left leg. He walked toward the group
his back left knocked against the wooden deck of the boat.
“Hello Capt. Fin” the Spirit greeted the colt “no problems departing?”
“Everything is fine” Capt. Fin said as he began to eye Rarity “I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure.”
Capt. Fin grabbed Rarity by the hoof and kissed it. Rarity immediately pulled it away and laughed awkwardly.
“Ah…eh how charming” she looked at Twilight who was stifling a laugh “and this is my friend Twilight."
Rarity grabbed Twilight and placed here in between herself and Capt. Fin.
“Nice to meet you Captain so you’re in charge of this boat” Twilight said kindly
“Huh…Well yes” The Captain said as he moved toward Rarity again. Twilight moved herself between them again
“I would very much enjoy getting a tour of your fine vessel” Twilight said
“Plenty of time for that later lass” Captain Fin said a little annoyed.
“Oh well I was hoping you would share some of your sea stories as well?” Twilight said faking a sad tone. Capt. Fin perked
up at the mention of sea stories
“You…You want to hear my stories well then let’s get that tour started!” an excited Capt. Fin led Twilight below decks of the
boat.
“There I was a mighty storm at my back and the great white shrimp in my net….” Capt. Fin trailed off as he disappeared out
of sight. Twilight mouthed a “You owe me” to Rarity as she followed the Capt.
Rarity let out a relieved sigh.
“I thought you wanted a handsome sailor Rarity?” Spirit teased
“Hmm well maybe Twilight was right time for a different genre. So what do we do when we find this elder dragon?” Rarity
asked
“I honestly don’t know. From what I understand dragons can be very greedy creatures I hoping we can buy their help. As for
what a dragon would want is beyond me.” Spirit said staring back into the water
Rarity stood silently next to the Spirit “Where are you from?”
“Huh” the Spirit said slightly startled.
“Where are you from?” she said again
“Far away” the Spirit curtly
“You’ve said that before. We know nothing about you yet you are helping.”
“Tell you what” Spirit said looking at Rarity “when all this is over I’ll tell you all about me and where I came from”
“Promise” Rarity asked
“Promise” He said “For now let’s focus on the task at hand.”
“…and that’s how got the ole’ tree stump here” Capt. Fin said as he and Twilight emerged from below decks
“How fascinating Twilight said faking enthusiasm.” She looked at Rarity and Spirit as she rolled her eyes
“How much further will we reach our destination Captain?” Spirit interrupted the colt’s stories.
Capt. Fin glanced at his surroundings and looked into the sky. “We’ll reach our destination before sundown though it looks
as if a storm is heading our way.”
“A storm?” Twilight said “The pegasus’ were told to hold off on the storms for a while.”
“Well somepony didn’t get the memo.” Capt. Fin said as he walked toward his crew. “Mr. Pequod batten the hatches and
prepare the Reel for a storm.”
“Aye Aye Cap’n” the bearded colt began his work
Capt Fin turned to his guests. “I suggest you get below deck while we'll handle everything topside.”
Rarity quickly headed below desk as the first drops landed on the boat. Spirit and Twilight looked up at the sky as they
followed Rarity.
“I’ve got a bad feeling about this” Twilight said to the Spirit “Not even a pegasus created storm should appear this quickly.
You think Shadow is involved?”
“No idea. Hopefully it’s just you being paranoid” Spirit said as he pulled a hatch closed behind him