//------------------------------// // A sea Cruise // Story: The Sands of Saddle Arabia // by Paradise Oasis //------------------------------// "Wow this sea air is sooo amazing!" Surprise giggled, standing up on the ship's bow, her hooves and her wings spread. "I, like, thought being on a sea would sooo totally be boring! Can you believe how boring that sounded, being out in the middle on the ocean with nothing but water? But then Paradise said it would totally be fun, and I knew Paradise wouldn't lie to me, and she was so like totally right! The waves, the fish, the rocking of the boat! I can't believe how totally-super-duper-fun and awesome it is out here!" "Surprise, would you please try to control yourself?" Paradise grumbled, rolling her eyes as she looked up from the ma. "We were extremely lucky to get a ride on this voyage, and I won't have you misbehaving!" The four mares were traveling on a pink and white sailing vessel, lying the deck chairs in their bikinis, and enjoying the sunshine and clear skies overhead. After some initial seasickness at the start of the trip, the result of the ship bouncing up and down on the waves, they finally seemed to have settled in and begun to enjoy the journey. "Huh, this is strange. Not even a single stallion has looked at us yet." Paradise sighed in a disappointed tone, lifting her sunglasses with her left wing, and looking around. "Maybe we should have worn skimpier swimsuits?" "First of all, Paradise, I don't think stallions care about how revealing our outfits are- we don't normally wear any clothes." Vanilla grumbled, glaring at the other mare in annoyance. "Secondly, would you please stop thinking about boys? You're starting to remind me of Firefly!" "Aw, don't blame Paradise vor her desperation, Vanilla!" Daffodil said with a laugh. "It's not her vault she hasn't been on a date zince the paleopony period!" "Ha ha, very funny!" Paradise grumbled, putting her shades down. "I bet you two don't get any guys looking at you, either!" The continued to lie there for several hours, enjoying the peaceful splashing of the waves. It was about midday when the captain walked over to the other three ponies, smiling warmly as she greeted them. "I hope everything is satisfactory for you and your friends, Miss Paradise." Main Sail, a mare with a blonde mane and blue coat, greeted them. "We're so happy to be having such a quartet of distinguished guests from Ponyland!" "Oh, think nothing of it, my good Captain Sail!" Paradise replied, gesturing to her other two friends who were lying on two deck chairs in their bikinis. "We're just happy to be going along, isn't that right, girls?" "Oh, Ja! I be lovin to take a trip on zee ocean, yah!" The Swedish pony grinned, popping a potato chip into her mouth. "It's zo vuderbar zhat vou offered to take us to ze kingdom of Zaddle Arabia!" "Yeah, I've been wanting to learn some of the famous coffees of Saddle Arabia, it'll really spruce up the menu at my cafe!" The unicorn agreed ecstatically. "My customers are dying to try something new and exotic on our menu!" "I would be careful there if I were you, ladies." The captain warned cautiously. "I've heard some very unsavory things about the Saddle Arabians, and their strange customs. I'd watch my back, if I were you." "Awww, they really couldn't be that bad, right?" Surprise commented, trotting back to the aft deck. There, she noticed a large table filled with foods of every kind. "Ohhhh, sweet! Girls, it's a buffet!" "That is a complimentary meal, for all of our passengers and crew." Main Sail replied with a smile, gesturing with her hoof towards the table covered with sandwiches, drinks, and deserts. "Feel free to help yourselves." "Yipee!" The white Pegasus yelled in triumph, jumping onto the table like a shark onto a school of fish. "Omnomnomnomnom-!" "Surprise, no! That food is not just there for you!" Vanilla protested, trying to pull her friend off the baked goods. "Leave some for the rest of us!" "Say, vhat did you mean vhen you zaid 'unsavory', und 'strange customs'?" Daffodil asked, as Surprise picked up the whole table with her hooves, to empty it into her mouth. "Well, they seem to be a little primitive and backward- a bit on the barbaric side, I've heard." The captain replied, swishing her tail around in agitation. "It's due to stallions being in charge of things in that herd, I suppose." "Stallions? In charge?" Paradise laughed. "Most stallions couldn't find their way out of a paper bag without a mare to lead them!" "Vou are zelling zhem short, Paradise." The earth pony replied, looking over at her skeptical friend. "Male ponies are much more capable than you realize." "I've also heard stories of mares disappearing in that place." The captain shivered, trying not to think too much about it. "Single girls go to visit Saddle Arabia... and never return!" "Wow, that sounds really silly!" Surprise giggled, setting the now-empty table back down on the floor. "Those mares couldn't have just disappeared into thin air, they gotta be somewhere!" "Nooooo, I wanted to try some of those lettuce and tomato sandwiches!" Vanilla cried, looking down at the empty plates the Pegasus had left behind. "Next time, I'm packing our meals for the voyage!" "Better be a little quicker if you want the food next time, Vanilla!" Paradise teased her, before turning back to the others. "Wow, I just can't wait till we get there- the ancient pyramids to explore, the colorful bazaars, the exotic dancing!" The mare nearly drooled at the thought. "I can almost picture it now..." "You won't want to imagine it any more , after you've paid a visit on the Saddle Arabians." The captain told them with a sigh, before trotting away. "but you've heard my warning, and I'll say no more." "Huh, I starting to vonder if it vas such a good Idea to come along vith you on this vacation, Paradise." Daffodil told her with a sigh. "Maybe ze rest of us zhould haf gone to Equestira on vacation, instead." "Oh, you're worrying too much, Daff. We'll be fine." Paradise rolled her eyes. "What, do you think we're going to run into some trouble while we're here?" "Hey, look everybody! I'm gonna do a high dive!" Surprise climbed up on the bow, and leapt off into the ocean. "Wheeee! Lookout below!" "SURPRISE! ARE YOU CRAZY!?" Twist yelled out in a panic, as all three mares ran to the rail. "There's sharks down there!" They all saw the hungry beasts with teeth all leap in the direction of the hysterically laughing mare, followed by the sounds of a lot of struggling and splashing. Surprise was then launched right back up onto the deck, without a scratch or mark on her. "Good gravy! Are you all right, girl?" Daffodil asked in a panic. "Vhat the ehck happened down zhere?" "Seems the sharks thought I tasted really bad!" Paradise replied, a goofy grin on her face. "Guess I shouldn't of eaten those two Maretonian burritos last night!" "Ewww, Surprise, that's gross!" Vanilla snorted, looking away in disgust. "Hey, girls, look!" Paradise exclaimed, pointing a hoof towards the approaching shoreline. "There's the Saddle Arabian coast, I think we're here!" And as the boat approached the misty shore, the four mares aboard had no idea what was in store for them....