Chapter Fourteen: The Pirate and the Merpony
Sombra's Castle
Sombra used his magic to examine the egg again. "It appears to have calmed down, so we might not have to worry about it for a while....." he went to his Crystal Ball and saw what looked like a ship in the sea and a mare on the beach. "What have we here?"
Rarity steps in, "Hello Sombra! We're here!" the CMC, Forrest, and Polkey Dots darted in.
"This is so cool!" Scootaloo yelled.
"Hello children, Hello Rarity...." Sombra greeted.
"Hi Sombra! What are you looking at?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"This is the Crystal Ball I've told you all about...."
"What can you see?" Apple Bloom asked eagerly.
"It appears we have a visitor on the island, and a ship coming to the island...."
Pirate Ship
The ship said 'The Terrible Revenge' in black letters on it's side, and a wooden merpony was carved in front of the ship. The sails were white, and the flag was black with a skull and two bones in an X behind it. A stallion stepped out of a door. He had peach colored coat, black mane, thin mustache, and tail, a gold earring on his left ear, a red pirate captain hat with a pink feather, dark blue patch over his right eye, blue coat with gold facing, wooden left hind leg, his left front hoof was made out of gold, he carried a sword in his brown belt, and his cutie mark was a skull with two bones in an X behind it. A green parrot wearing a red bandanna stood on his shoulder. A unicorn, dressed as a pirate, stood in the crows nest with a telescope. He then spotted Sombra's Island, "Land ho!" he yelled.
The captain looked, "Set sail to that island!" he ordered the stallion in charge of the wheel.
"Aye aye Captain Blackmane!"
Sombra's Beach
Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle were making sand castles, Rarity was sunbathing, Polkey Dots was juggling seashells and rocks, and Wild Forrest was trying to teach Apple Bloom how to swing on vines. Apple Bloom hung on tight with her mouth and hooves but she fell down and landed on a big plant. Wild Forrest laughs, "No, like this!" he held on to a vine with both hooves and swung while screaming the Tarzan scream. Apple Bloom watched as Forrest was swinging from vine to vine, doing flips in the process, then he swung and grabbed Apple Bloom.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, "Whoo-hoo!!" Forrest looks back at her and smiled. "Forrest, watch out for that tree!"
Forrest looks back in front of him, "Huh?" they smashed into the tree and fell! Forrest rubbed his head while falling, then he took Apple Bloom into his arms and they landed safely on his back hooves. "Are you alright?" Forrest asked setting his friend down.
"A little shaken, but I'm alright. Are you okay?"
"Yes, I've been through worse..." Then they heard the sound of singing, "You hear that?" Forrest his ears twitching.
"I sure do.... It's so pretty....." Apple Bloom said smiling.
"Let's check it out!"
They exited the jungle and went to another side of the beach. There they found an aqua green mare with a long blonde mane, her eye color was as blue as the sky, and she had a white flower on the right side of her head. She sat up and showed she had a fish tail instead of hind legs! Her scales pink, purple, light blue, and light green and her Cutie Mark was three bubbles. She began smoothing down her long mane down with her hooves and sung: "Everyday I wait here, wait for my love to come.... But not one came not even where I came from....." The kids walked up closer to her slowly, smitten by her beauty and beautiful voice. Without noticing them she sung again: "Everyday I wait here, wait for my love to come.... But not one came not even where I came from....."
She started humming when she turned her head and saw the children. "You have a beautiful voice...." Apple Bloom told her happily.
"And you're beautiful too....." Wild Forrest added. Apple Bloom elbowed him grunting.
She giggled, "Thank you children. I haven't seen children since the night the master here had that party."
"What's your name?" Apple Bloom asked.
"My name is Valtameri, the Daughter of Aqua Marina, Queen of the Deep Sea Kingdom. What's your names?" she asked nicely.
"My name is Apple Bloom."
"And my name is Wild Forrest, we're from Ponyville."
"Ponyville? I never heard of it...." Valtameri took a deep breath and blew bubbles that shined in the sunlight. "I often see ponies on land, in the sky, or on ships but they don't see me...." she said.
"Why's that?" Apple Bloom asked.
"My mother doesn't want me befriending ponies that are not merponies because I lost my father to pirates when I was still a baby. But, I'm convinced that not all land and sky ponies are bad so I try to make friends here on this island out of my mother's watchful eye. And so far I've made friends with the master of this island, King Sombra. Will you children be my friends?" she held out her hoof.
"Of course I will!" Apple Bloom yelled and placed her hoof on the merpony's hoof.
"And so will I...." he placed his hoof on the girls hooves. "Sorry for your loss...."
"Thank you, Wild Forrest. By the way I saw other children and a mare just down the beach. Are you with them?"
Apple Bloom gasped, "Yes, they are! You have to meet them! Follow us!" Valtameri jumped into the water and swam down the beach following the running children.
"Aaah, this is what I call a holiday...." Rarity said still sunbathing.
"Rarity!" Apple Bloom yelled.
Rarity stood up fast, "What is it, dear?"
"You'll never believe who we just met!" Apple Bloom points to the ocean. Rarity, Polkey Dots, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle looked at the direction Apple Bloom was pointing as Valtameri rose from the water.
"Greetings...." she said.
Rarity got up and walked over to her, "Hello, my name is Rarity...." she greeted politely.
The merpony smiled, "My name is Valtameri, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance...."
Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Polkey Dots ran up to her.
"Hi! My name's Scootaloo!"
"Hello, my name is Sweetie Belle."
"And you can call me Polkey Dots!"
"Hello children, I'm happy to meet you...." the merpony said with a smile.
"Can you come out of the water?" Rarity asked.
"I can...." she jumped and landed on the sand. Scootaloo's, Sweetie Belle's, Polkey Dots', and Rarity's jaws dropped and their eyes opened wide.
Rarity looked at Valtameri and then her tail, Valtameri and her tail again, "You're.... you're..... what.... ah..... uh...." she said fast, then she fainted.
Sweetie Belle ran over to the merpony, "So beautiful!"
Scootaloo trotted over to her, "So cool!"
Polkey Dots walked over to her, "Are you a merpony?"
"Yes, have you heard of us?" she asked.
"I've heard stories, but I didn't know you were real!" the little clown replied.
Valtameri giggled, "Surprise! By the way, is Rarity a fainter?"
"Just depends...." Sweetie Belle said.
"You're her sister, correct?"
"How did you know?"
"It's easy, you two bear a resemblance except for your manes and tails...."
"I guess we do, don't we?" Sweetie Belle asked looking back at her sister. "Do you have any sisters?"
"Yes, nineteen to be exact...."
"Nineteen?!" all the kids yelled together in shock.
"Yes, and I'm the youngest of them all. I can wake up your sister if you want me to, Sweetie Belle."
"Go ahead!" Sweetie said before the merpony smiled and her eyes glowed aqua blue. The a wave of water came and splashed all over Rarity!
Rarity gasped, "Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!" all the kids and Valtameri laughed.
"I'm a prankster, too!" the merpony told the laughing kids before laughing again.
Rarity got up and said in an angry tone of voice, "Why.... YOU!!!!" They all stopped, "You ruined my mane! And you got wet sand all over me! Now I'll have to get cleaned up! Agh!" she turned away and headed towards Sombra's Castle. After she was out of sight they all laughed again. Rarity entered the castle shivering and still wet.
A female servant came up to her, "May I be of some assistance?" she asked.
"Yes, please. Please take me to the shower...."
"Follow me...." They went into a room with a hot tub. The servant turned on the hot water and filled it, then put bubble bath in it and bubbles came in a few seconds. "It's not a shower, but it'll clean and warm you up...."
"Thank you...."
Rarity dipped a front hoof and pulled back for a second and then walked in. "Ow, oooh, hot!" then she felt herself relax and sighed. After cleaning herself up she sat back just to relax, "Ahhhhhh, I wonder if I could get Twilight to get one of these....." then she felt her shoulders being rubbed, "Oh! Oh, that feels good!"
"Shall I continue, miss?" the servant asked.
"Yes, please do...." she then closed her eyes.
Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, and Polkey Dots put on floaties. Forrest, a skilled swimmer, had no need for floaties. They all started swimming with the merpony when they spotted the Terrible Revenge and pirates coming right towards them! Valtameri turned invisible. "Ahoy!" one of them yelled. "Ya kids wouldn't know anything about thee treasure buried on this island, would ya?"
"There's treasure buried here?!" Sweetie Belle asked excited.
"Ye heard right lil' lass!" he took out a map and showed it to the kids. "It says here about treasure belonging to thee legendary pirate known as Goldhooves, our Captain's ancestor! Ye know anything or not?"
"No, sir. We didn't know there was treasure on this island...." Scootaloo said.
"Then why are ye here?" the pirate demanded.
"Visiting a friend..." Apple Bloom replied.
"What kind of friend?"
"His name is King Sombra, his castle is right up there." Polkey Dots pointed to the cerulean castle.
The pirate looks at the castle and then the map, "I can't find this castle on this map....."
"He lived here for a while, so it's still new." said Scootaloo.
"I see, we're gonna have to tell thy captain about this!" with that they left.
Valtameri turned visible after they left, "I'm so sorry! Are you alright?"
"Yes, we're fine! They were just asking questions."
The merpony sighed in relief, "Thank goodness. I'm sorry I turned invisible, I panicked because they're pirates...."
"It's alright, no harm done." Wild Forrest assured.
"You can turn invisible?! COOL!" Scootloo yelled.
Valtameri looks over and see's the captain exiting his ship. Once she got a good look at his face she smiled and blew heart shaped bubbles. Sweetie Belle notices the look on her face "Are you alright?"
"I'm going to be just fine....." she answered not keeping her eyes off of Blackmane.
Throne Room
Sombra was sitting on his throne when the guards, escorting some pirates and their captain, approached him. "What have we here?" Sombra asked.
"Bow down!" one of the guards ordered. Except for the captain, the pirates bowed down. Instead he walked closer, took off his hat and then bowed.
"What can I do for you?" Sombra asked.
"You're majesty...." the captain began, "Thy name is Captain Blackmane, and we seek the treasure buried on this island...."
"Treasure?"
"Yes sire, here...." he hands Sombra the map. Sombra examines it and see's the X.
"I haven't searched there. And since I have no use for the treasure I give you my permission to search for it and keep anything you find along the way." he said handing the captain back the map.
"Thank ye, sire...." then they heard humming.
Rarity came out wearing a pink robe and a pink towel over her head, "That was very relaxing...." then she spotted the pirates. "Eeek!!!" she ran and then came back all dry and her mane and tail fixed up. Then she gave a pose.
A heart came into Blackmane's eye as he trotted towards her, "Ye are one of thee most beautiful mares I've ever seen...." he said tipping his hat.
"Why, thank you. My name is Rarity...."
"We're about to search for buried treasure, would like to accompany us my lady?"
"Oooh, a treasure hunt?!" Rarity said getting all excited. "Count me in!" Blackmane smiles showing that one of his teeth is gold. "I can use my ability to find the treasure for you...." then she sniffs the air, "What's that smell?" she then looks at the pirates behind Blackmane, "Oh, it's you three. I suggest you all take a bath after we find the treasure."
One of the pirates sniffed himself and then had a look of disgust and one of their faces turned light green, "Phew!"
"Whatever ye say my lady. Boys, get thy wagon ready!" with that the pirates left the room.
"And I'll dress in something suitable for treasure hunting...." Rarity left and later came back in a safari jacket and hat. "I'm reaaaady!" she sung.
They left the castle and headed into the jungle with the pirates following behind and one of them pulling a wagon with shovels. Rarity used her magic to find gems and use a stick to make an x in the ground. "Ah, don't you love thee sight of gems?" Blackmane asked as the wagon was filling up.
"Oh, yes. I could stare at them all day and think of what dresses, costumes, and many things I can make using them...." Rarity sighed happily.
"Ye use gems for decorating?" Blackmane asked.
"Yes, it makes them more beautiful! What do you use them for?"
"We horde them and become rich!" one of the pirates replied.
"Really, is that all?"
"Pretty much." Blackmane answered.
"Why with treasure you can buy anything you want or maybe live like a king."
"Good suggestion my lady, but we're not interested in those things, har!" another pirate replied.
Suddenly Rarity's horn acted up, "I think we found it! Follow me!" together they all ran until they came to a huge boulder. Rarity scans it, "It's under this rock!"
"We're gonna have to move it." the captain said. "Alright ya scalawags! Get to work!" he ordered.
"Aye aye captain!" they yelled at the same time. They dropped the shovels and got out of the wagon's harness and began pushing the boulder.
"Put yar backs into it!" the captain yelled.
"Why don't you help them?" Suggested Rarity.
"I would but I have only one hoof and one leg!" he shows her his front left hoof, "This here hoof is solid gold...."
Rarity stares at the shiny hoof, "It's pretty...."
"Thank you, it wasn't easy but I was able to melt a lot of gold coins and shape it into a hoof to replace the one I lost! And to keep it clean I polish it every morning."
"Captain! We got the boulder moved!" one of the pirates yelled.
"What are ye waiting fer? Dig it up!"
"Aye aye captain!" they got their shovels and started digging.
"Say, I've been thinking." Blackmane said to Rarity.
"Yes, Captain Blackmane?"
"Why don't you be my first mate? Together we'll sail the world digging up all the treasure we can find! Har!"
Rarity put a hoof to her chin and then imagined all the gems that she can gather, but then she started thinking about her family and friends and how they might feel and how dirty she can get. "I appreciate the invitation, really I do. But I think a pirate's life isn't a life for me...." she told him.
"That's a pity..." Blackmane replied.
"Treasure! YES!!!" one of the pirates yelled while carrying up a treasure chest. Rarity and Blackmane rushed over to the chest and opened it up. Inside we're diamonds, emeralds, sapphires, rubies, pearls, silver, gold, and jewelry. Rarity's eyes sparkled at the sight of the treasure.
"I never thought I see it, with me only eye...." Blackmane said breath taken. "My ancestor's treasure!" with that they all cheered. Even Rarity found herself cheering. "Alright ya scurvy dogs! Let's head back to the ship!"
"Aye aye Captain Blackmane!" the pirates yelled putting the chest in the wagon. It took all three of them to move the wagon back to the beach. They found the CMC, Wild Forrest, and Polkey Dots still playing.
Sweetie Belle runs up to her sister, "Where have been all day?!" she asked.
"I was out treasure hunting!"
"Did you find anything?!" Sweetie yelled getting excited.
"Oh yes, we did!" she looked over at the pirates pushing and pulling the wagon.
"Wow!"
"Yes, wow! If it weren't for her we wouldn't have found thy treasure!" Blackmane replied.
"It was a little messy, but I...." before Rarity could finish a net draped over her! "HEY!"
"Sorry fair mare, but you and yer ability is needed! Take her to my ship!" Blackmane ordered.
"Leave her alone!" Sweetie Belle angrily.
"Ah, I wouldn't try anything if I were you...." he points behind her. She looks back and sees four pirates surrounding her friends with swords! Forrest stood his ground fearless and growling at them.
Blackmane laughs and then a shadow appeared out of nowhere and Sombra appeared. "Stop this at once!" he ordered.
"Sorry Sombra, but I take orders from nopony especially kings!" he said. Forgetting about the kids he drew his sword.
"Have it your way...." Sombra's horn glowed and a red sword appeared in front of him.
They both stood there staring until Blackmane yells, "En garde!" then their swords started clashing at each other. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom covers her eyes while the others watched in amazement. Sombra, being more experienced with swords, quickly got the upper hoof and knocked the sword out of the captain's hoof. Then Sombra used his hind legs to kick Blackmane to the ground. Before he could get up Sombra held him down with his own front hooves with murder in his eyes. "Okay, okay! I surrender!" Blackmane yelled in fear for his life.
Sombra began to calm down and the sword vanished. "Release Rarity...." he ordered the captain.
"Aye.... aye..... you heard him! Let her go!" the pirates did what they were told and took the net off her. Sombra got off and turned around. Blackmane got up, smirked, and pulled out a spare sword!
"Sombra, look out!" Scootaloo yelled.
Sombra turns around fast and Blackmane rushes towards him. Before the two can do anything singing was heard: "Please dear ponies do not fight, settle this another way.... No good can come from violence, it only ruins the day." It was Valtameri! Just the sight of her caused Blackmane and the pirates to drop their weapons. "Let's be friends and live in harmony, and it'll all be good.... Love, giving, caring, hope, and believing, that's how it all should.... Yes, that's how it all should...."
As if he was hypnotized he walked over to her, "What magnificence!" he took off his hat and knelt down. "YOU are the most beautiful mare I have ever seen!" he said taking her hoof into his hoof. Rarity and the children ran towards one another and embraced. Together they all watched the pirate and the merpony. "Your song has changed me and I've been seeking you for so long!" he kissed her hoof. "I've fallen in love with you fair creature, say you'll travel with me and eventually become my wife....." he then chuckled.
Valtameri blushed, "I happily agree, but will you be good pirates from now on?"
"Of course, anything for you me sweet...."
Blackmane walks up to Rarity, "Please forgive us for our actions. To make it up to you we'll give you the gems we've found."
Rarity gasped and put her hoof to her chest, "You really mean it?!"
"Of course my lady, besides we only came fer Goldhooves Treasure! And maybe, MAYBE I'll think about using the treasure for good things. It makes us better ponies don't it?"
"Of course! Thank you! And I'll make something for Valtameri to travel with you in return!"
"I'll help too." Sombra told her.
Hours later, after handing the wagon to Rarity the pirates went back to their ship. "Are ye ready to go my love?" Blackmane asked Valtameri in a really big aquarium made out of glass, gold, diamonds and jewels.
"I'm ready when you are!"
"Then let set sail maties!"
After weighing the anchor the ship started to move. "Goodbye children! Goodbye Sombra! Goodbye Rarity!" the merpony yelled waving at them. Together they all waved back at her, "I'll write to you soon!" Valtameri promised.
"Goodbye now!" Blackmane yells.
That night Rarity, who invited the others over, and the children sat in the bubbling hot tub. "So just the sight of the merpony and her song made Blackmane want to change?" Twilight Sparkle asked.
"Let's hope he keeps his word...." Easter putting an arm across Fluttershy's shoulders.
"I guess all he needed was love....." Fluttershy said.
"What a day this has been!" Rarity said.
"Yeah! I'm really happy for Captain Blackmane and Valtameri too." Scootaloo replied.
"Valtameri finally found love and Blackmane will be a good pirate from now on." Apple Bloom added.
"And to think he wanted ME as his first mate and probably his wife!" Rarity said.
"Are you jealous?" Rainbow Dash asked with a snicker.
"Heaven's no! He's not my type!" they all laughed.
"Just like the doctor ordered...." Rainbow Dash said stretching.
"Yeah after a whole day of fun, action, responsibilities, and a little love it feels good to kick back." Pinkie Pie replied.
"Good friends, no trouble, and a bubbling hot tub! How much more could you want?" Sweetie Belle asked. Then they all sighed and relaxed.
Pinkie Pie then feels her Pinkie Sense, then she stretches and yawns, "I'm all funned out, I think I'll turn in for the night...." she said getting out of the hot tub. As soon as she go out the bubbles stopped.
"Hey, where are the bubbles?" Applejack asked Pinkie Pie who was about to exit the room with a towel.
"Actually, that was me!" she yelled back. All except Forrest gasped and then Pinkie Pie bursted out laughing, "Just kidding!", then she pulled a switch and the bubbles came back on.
"Hahaha! That's a good one Pinkie Pie!" Rainbow Dash yelled.
"Pinkie Pie, that's gross!" Rarity in disgust.
"What, it's just air!" Spike said before laughing. Then he looked up and Pinkie Pie fell from the ceiling and into the tub splashing on him and the others.
"If that were REALLY me, it would sound like this!" she put her hooves together and made a farting noise with them.
"Some manners..." Rarity groaned and then closed her eyes to relax when she felt her shoulders rubbed, "Ahh, that feels good. Thank you!"
"My pleasure Lady Rarity...." the servant replied.
"What a day...." Rarity said before sighing happily.
The Terrible Revenge
Valtameri was sitting at the edge of the ship staring out at the ocean. Blackmane walked up to her, "What are ye doing out here?" She looked back at him and reveals that her fish tail turned into hind legs and a blonde tail. Blackmane's jaw dropped and before he could say anything she stood on her four legs.
"I can travel on land and in water now!" she yelled all excited and hugged the captain. "And we can always be together!"
Blackmane smiles at her, "Aye aye...." Then their eyes met and then they kissed. After kissing they stood there embracing each other and looked at the moon and the stars.
Songs: Valtameri's song part one
Valtameri's song part two