//------------------------------//
// XXIX Shining Armor 
// Story: A Dream of Sunny Days 
// by Roranicus 
//------------------------------//





Shining Armor groaned as he levitated a log toward the furnace. Now that the snowstorms had become commonplace, keeping the barn well-heated proved a serious concern. Shining watched the flames engulf the log he'd placed into the fire, then he climbed up the ladder to the loft area for some well-deserved rest.

He found his straw bed and dropped his exhausted body onto it. His group had found six families escaping the famine in Ponyville earlier that day, and had sent them on their way to the Empire. Checkmate and Tenderheart had volunteered to escort them to the Saddlefree train station, where most of the workers had been bribed to turn blind eyes to the refugee smuggling operations.

Even then, they might not be able to keep it up much longer. Just last week, a wagon hiding refugees had been seized by Cloudsdale soldiers who nabbed the ponies inside. They probably had been put to work making weapons and armor, or growing food for the military. Shining had even heard stories of children being held as hostages in work camps while their parents were forced to become soldiers, although it was becoming hard to separate fact from fiction, given the amount of propaganda thrown around by both sides.

Shining sighed as he stared at the ceiling. He made a mental note to have Chipper Skies remove the cobwebs; the spiders seemed to be at it again. He closed his eyes.

"Whatcha doing, Shiny?" Pinkie's giddy voice asked.

He opened his eyes and found Pinkie standing in front of his bed. "Just getting some rest. I haven't slept too well these past few days."

Pinkie walked to the bed and sat next to Shining. "You miss Cadance, don't you?"

"That obvious, eh?" Shining said with a weak smile.

"It's okay," Pinkie said. "I miss my friends, too."

Shining sat up and sighed again. "You know, Pinkie. Sometimes I wonder why we do all of this."

"To help ponies, silly."

"Are we really though?" Shining said. "I received another letter from Cadance. The conditions in the refugee camps are getting pretty bad. The Crystal Empire just doesn't have the resources to support so many ponies, and the assembly is doing everything to keep the Equestrians out of the city. I was thinking we could send more ponies to Manehattan, but now that Luna has taken it, that option's out."

Pinkie placed a hoof on Shining's back and smiled. "We'll get through this. Maybe we can find some other place willing to take in refugees. Yakyakistan or Saddle Arabia maybe? Still, at least we got these families away from the war. That counts for something, right?"

"You're right."

"I have an idea," Pinkie said. "Why don't you go to the Empire for a few days? Take the next train. Maybe you and Cadance can find a way to help all those families."

Shining chuckled. "I don't think Cadance would let me come back to Equestria if I set a hoof back in the Empire." He shook his head. "And what about you? I know you've been worried about Applejack ever since we heard about the attack on Ponyville. I'm sure you'd like to take a break and visit your friend."

"And where would you be without me?" Pinkie said as they shared a laugh. Her expression turned more serious. "To be honest, I wouldn't know what to expect if I returned to Ponyville. You remember what happened the last time we ran into Canterlot soldiers."

"Those were griffons," Shining corrected.

"Applejack already has enough problems without having to defend me," Pinkie continued. "I'll see her and all my other friends soon, and you'll get back to Cadance, too."

"You seem awfully sure."

"I'm not, but I prefer to stay hopeful. You'll see, we'll be laughing about it with Twilight before you know it."

"You know what the scariest part of it is?" Shining said. "I almost forget about Twilight sometimes. With all that's been going on, it's hard to even remember she's the reason you and I started this."

"We'll find her," Pinkie said with a knowing smile.

"Pinkie," Shining said as he stood and shook his head. "I wonder how you manage to stay positive about everything all the time."

Pinkie shrugged. "Must be all the candy I eat."

Shining raised an eyebrow and shook his head as he suppressed a chuckle. "I'm going for a cup of coffee. You think your sisters feel charitable enough to let me have one today?"

"Sure. Maud's actually pretty fond of you."

Shining scratched his head. How Pinkie was able to tell what her sister liked and disliked was still beyond him. They left the barn and headed for the house.

Maud was mixing some vegetables in a cooking pot when Shining and Pinkie walked in. She nodded to Shining as approached the coffee pot, indicating he could make himself a cup.

"Thanks," he said. "Do you want a cup, too?"

"You're welcome," Maud said in her usual flat tone. "And no thanks. Coffee makes me jittery."

Pinkie helped Maud by cutting some carrots as Shining filled a kettle with water. He spoke up after a few minutes of silence. "Do we have enough food to last the winter?"

"We should," Maud said. "Unless it lasts longer than three months."

"Then this war needs to end in three months," Pinkie said. "Otherwise the windigos won't go away."

"We still don't know for sure if windigos are even real," Shining said with a frown. "It could just be an aftereffect of all this messing around with the weather."

"Either of which can be fixed by ending the war," Maud said, her eyes still glued to her broth. "Pinkie, pass me the salt."

"Maud's right," Pinkie said as she tossed the salt to her sister. "Maybe we should try to find Luna again?"

Shining shook his head. "If the stories about Manehattan are true, then her response to an offer of peace was to invade a city."

"You'll think of something," Maud said.

Shining sighed as the water started boiling. He poured it through the coffee filter and made two cups of coffee, passing one to Pinkie. He was about to take a sip when he heard galloping sounds coming from outside. "Somepony's coming," Pinkie said as her tail shook and her ears perked up.

Windstream rushed in, just as everypony in the room rose. "What's wrong?" Shining asked when he saw the urgency on his face.

"Pinkie, Shining, you'll want to hear this," he said as he moved aside, allowing Tenderheart to come in with an orange-coated filly wrapped in a blanket. Her purple mane was disheveled, and she looked like she hadn't seen a bath in weeks.

"Scootaloo?" Pinkie said as she rushed to the filly's side. "What are you doing here?"

Scootaloo took a deep breath. "Princess Luna sent me to find you, Pinkie Pie. I know where Rainbow Dash is." She panted as she stared into Pinkie's eyes, "And Twilight's with her."





"So let me get this straight," Shining said as he leaned on the kitchen table. "Luna has been visiting you in your dreams and allowed you to share a dream with Rainbow Dash. From there, you claim to have learned that she's still alive, and held with Twilight in High Roost."

"In a tower called King's End, yes," Scootaloo said. The hot cup of cocoa Tenderheart had given her seemed to have given the filly her energy back, and she'd ditched her blanket halfway through her story. "If you go to Baltimare, there's a captain called Featherwave who'll take you there. He'll wait for you in a place called 'Salty Waters'."

Shining looked around the room. He had gathered his inner circle to hear the filly's story. As such, Gabrielle, Windstream, Tenderheart, and Checkmate sat around the table. Pinkie was going through a bag in a corner, being uncharacteristically quiet. Chipper Skies sat next to his mother and stared out the window.

"Sounds fishy to me," Checkmate said.

"I wouldn't have come all this way just to lie to you," Scootaloo argued.

"I don't think you're lying," Checkmate said. "I think Luna might have manipulated you. She could have fed you a dream of Rainbow Dash, and then sent you to us."

Scootaloo shook her head. "No, it was Rainbow Dash. And Luna wouldn't lie to me. Rainbow's being tortured, and they might torture Twilight too if you don't save her!"

Gabrielle frowned and turned toward Checkmate. "Why would Princess Luna lie about this? What would she have to gain?"

"Get us out of her way," Shining said as his brow furrowed. "She also gets us to spy on the griffons for her."

"I don't think a filly's dream is proof enough to go on such a dangerous mission," Checkmate said with a frown. "I'm sorry, Scootaloo. You're free to stay with us for a while, but I won't do Luna's dirty work."

"Hold on," Gabrielle said as she raised a claw. "There could be some merit to this. King's End is well known in High Roost — it's a prison tower with a grim reputation. Some say it was built to house dangerous magical creatures. If the griffons have an alicorn princess captive, that's where they'll keep her."

"See? I'm right," Scootaloo said as she leaned forward.

"Not so fast," Shining said. "We need to discuss this. Is there anything else you haven't told us, Scootaloo?"

"Only that Princess Luna isn't bad. Ponies are telling a lot of lies about her, but she only wants what's best for Equestria."

"Things aren't always that simple," Shining mumbled to himself before turning toward Chipper Skies, who was leaning on the table. "Chipper, why don't you show Scootaloo to the barn? She'll be staying with us for a while."

"Sure," the teenager said with a disinterested nod. "Come on, Scootaloo."

Once Chipper Skies had led Scootaloo outside the kitchen, Windstream spoke up. "This could help us do something concrete to stop the war. If Princess Twilight really is being held captive, she could put a stop to all of this."

"But if not, we'd be wasting our time while ponies suffer," Tenderheart argued. "We're doing good work here."

Gabrielle's brow furrowed. "For how long though? We've already sent the Crystal Empire more refugees than they can support, and we're running dangerously low on medical supplies." She turned her attention to Shining. "I grew up in High Roost. I have a sister living there, and her husband's doing his military service as a guard in the castle. Let's do it, Shining. We can free your sister, and make sure she doesn't share my husband's fate."

Checkmate frowned. "I'm worried you might be making this personal, Gabrielle. Luna's feeding us exactly what we want so we'll charge blindly toward High Roost."

"Lightning Dust was defeated in Ponyville," Gabrielle said. "It's the perfect time for us to switch our attention elsewhere, now that she's no longer a problem."

"Except she wasn't captured or killed," Tenderheart said. "She'll be receiving reinforcements any day now, and everything will start over. We'll be needed more than ever."

Shining massaged his temples. He would do anything to save his sister. What Checkmate said, however, made sense. If Luna was manipulating them, her plan was perfect. Feed a young filly exactly the dream she wanted to see so she'd come to them with a sad story. She offered Shining her sister back, Pinkie her friends back, and all they would need to do is leave the lands she was trying to conquer and spy on her enemies for her. "I need to think," he said.

"You can do that on the way," Pinkie said from her corner of the room, holding a pair of saddlebags. She replied to the puzzled looks she got from everyone in the room with a firm nod. "My friends are in trouble. I'm going to help them. It's your sister, Shining."

"But, what if Checkmate is right and it's a trap?" Shining said.

"Then we still won't have ignored a valid clue," Pinkie continued. "This is why you left the Crystal Empire, remember? You wanted a chance to find Twilight."

Shining slowly rose from his seat and sighed. "You're right, Pinkie. If there's a chance, we should take it." He looked around the room. "Gabrielle, I want you to come with me and Pinkie. You know your way around High Roost, and I don't want to pass on your expertise. Checkmate, I'm leaving you in charge here. Keep up what we've been doing."

"Will do, sir," the crystal pony replied with a nod. "I hope you're not making a mistake."

"Pinkie's right," Shining said as he smiled at her. "I left the Crystal Empire to find my sister. That's exactly what I'm going to do."





It took four days for Shining Armor, Pinkie Pie, and Gabrielle to arrive in Baltimare. Checkmate had managed to find them a train that would take them there while passing through Ponyville. Pinkie had asked to visit her friends, but Shining refused her; she was too well-known and word would have gotten out to the griffons had she been seen.

The rest of the trip went on without incidents. They traveled in the cheaper seats to avoid gathering attention. They also opted to wear warm traveling cloaks that had the dual advantages of protecting them against the cold and hiding their features, including their cutie marks. Even the Canterlot soldiers who came in to inspect the train midway through the trip didn't recognize them.

They arrived in Baltimare in the late afternoon. Unlike the war-torn lands Shining had grown accustomed to, this city was bustling with activity. Everywhere, posters vaunted the merits of the Canterlot royal couple and their army. Factories were busy producing weapons and armor for the future soldiers being enlisted by the many recruiters they encountered on the way. Signs everywhere reminded the population that only families who supplied at least one volunteer for the army would receive food rations — a subtle reminder of the looming threat of famine.

"Reminds me of High Roost," Gabrielle grunted under her breath as they neared the docks.

"Which part?" Shining asked.

Gabrielle sighed. "The constant military glorification. The reminders that you're not a true citizen unless you're willing to fight and die for your nation."

Shining nodded. "A lot of this was probably Bouvier's idea, too. They're turning Equestria into a second Griffingard."

Pinkie eyed a wall suspiciously. "I don't quite remember this ever happening," she mumbled at a war poster in front of her. It displayed Twilight locked in a fight with Luna, with a caption that asked the populace to 'Remember Princess Twilight.'

Shining groaned and rolled his eyes. He had expected one side or the other would use his sister as a propaganda tool. Hopefully Scootaloo had told them the truth, and Twilight really was in High Roost. Perhaps she could put an end to this madness once she returned to Equestria. "Let's just try to find the ship," he said as he shook his head.

"Here we are," Pinkie said with a smile as she hopped in the direction of an unsavory-looking watering hole. A wooden sign identified it as 'Salty Waters' in fading paint. It looked like the place where Scootaloo had told them the captain would be waiting.

Shining adjusted his winter cloak before following Pinkie inside. The tavern stank of vomit and cheap rum. Drunken sailors sang lewd songs at the tops of their lungs. A few even whistled as Pinkie passed them. She winked at them before taking a seat at a table. Gabrielle and Shining joined her.

"So, we just wait?" Gabrielle said.

Shining nodded. "This is the place Scootaloo mentioned. We should order drinks so we don't arouse suspicion."

Pinkie nodded as she waved an earth pony waitress over and yelled loud enough for every patron to hear. "I'll take a cranberry juice!"

"I think there's something about subtlety you just don't get," Gabrielle said with a wince.

The waitress made her way to their table. "I was going to get to you," she said in an annoyed tone as she frowned at Pinkie. "So, what can I get the rest of you?"

"An ale for me," Shining said.

"I'll have a glass of gryppa if you have it." Gabrielle said.

"We keep a stock for griffon sailors," the waitress said. "I'll be right back with your drinks."

Shining nodded his thanks and waited for the waitress to step away before he returned his attention to his companions. "Let's try to stay quiet for now. Hopefully we'll be contacted soon. In the meantime, better try to fit in without attracting attention." He glared at Pinkie. Her definition of fitting in would probably involve singing with the sailors.

The waitress returned with their orders. Shining quietly sipped his beer, observing his surroundings. While most of the patrons present were ponies, a few griffon crews occupied their corner of the tavern. Shining even saw a few donkeys and a zebra couple. A group of soldiers were playing darts, using a crude drawing of Princess Luna as a target. Just beautiful, Shining thought as he rolled his eyes.

An earth pony stallion with a blue coat and a short, well-coiffed white mane separated himself from the crowd and stood before their table. "May I join you?" he asked.

Shining raised an eyebrow. "Depends. You are?"

"Someone who used to have bad dreams," the stallion whispered, prompting Shining to nod in the direction of an empty seat.

The moment the stallion sat, Pinkie spoke up. "I'm Pinkie Pie. What's your name?"

"I'm Captain High Seas. My ship is the Defiant Mare. Our common friend already told me about you, Pinkie Pie. I don't know who your friends are though."

"I'm Emerald Shield," Shining said.

"Gabrielle," the griffon said. "You can take us to High Roost?"

He glanced around the room, obviously nervous. "My ship leaves tomorrow," he said with a nod. "My crew isn't aware of our arrangement though. The three of you will have to come up with a good story to explain your presence on the ship."

"I have family in High Roost," Gabrielle said. "These two are my friends, who are traveling with me."

"We can work to pay for passage," Shining added. "It'll look better for you if we provide payment."

"I was going to suggest it," the captain said.

"Works for me," Pinkie said with a smile.

High Seas raised an eyebrow. "Just follow the plan. You should take a room here for tonight. My ship leaves tomorrow before noon. If you're late, we leave without you."

Shining nodded. "We'll be there. Thanks."

The captain nodded as he left the table. He promptly exited the tavern, no doubt to return to his ship. Shining took another sip of his beer. "Let's finish our drinks, and then get a room. I want us ready to leave early tomorrow."





The docks were already bustling with activity when Shining, Pinkie, and Gabrielle left the tavern early in the morning. The day was a particularly cold one, with the sun barely visible through the thick clouds. Braziers were lit to provide warmth, with groups of ponies huddling close to the flames. A few questions from Pinkie directed at one such group allowed them to easily find out where the Defiant Mare was moored.

"Let's hurry and find the ship," Shining whispered to his companions. "I don't really care to remain in this city any longer than necessary."

"Agreed," Gabrielle said.

"It's right over there." Pinkie pointed at a large ship with two masts and a statue of a pegasus with its wings outstretched at the prow. It was moored at the end of the docks, and the sails had yet to be unrolled. 

The group approached the dock as swiftly as they could without drawing attention to themselves. Shining frowned as they neared the ship. A group of soldiers were posted in front, and what few sailors were on deck were sitting down, seemingly in no hurry to get the ship ready for departure. "Something's wrong," he whispered.

"I don't like it either," Pinkie said.

"We should ask around," Gabrielle completed.

Shining nodded. "I agree. Hopefully somepony here can tell us what happened."

"This guy would know," Pinkie said as she hopped toward a bearded pegasus stallion with a bandaged wing sitting on the ground. "Hi. Want some candy?" She produced a hoof-full of candy from her saddlebag and gave it to the ragged pony.

"Oh, sure," he said, a look of confusion on his face. "Say, you wouldn't happen to have a few bits, would you? I've been down on my luck ever since I was injured fighting in the Fillydelphia riots."

"Of course," Pinkie said as she handed him three bits. "By the way, any idea what happened to that boat over there? What's with all the soldiers?"

The stallion spat on the ground. "Turns out the captain was a filthy traitor. He was spying for Princess Luna and conspiring against the royal couple. Thankfully, somepony ratted him out."

"Do you know who?" Shining asked.

"Heck if I know," the pegasus said. "Whoever did it is a hero. Probably saved a lot of lives."

"Then I'm glad he was found out," Shining said. "Thank you for the information."

They stepped away and Shining sighed. "This isn't good," he whispered.

"Do you think they know about us?" Gabrielle asked. "We might be better off fleeing the city."

Pinkie shook her head. "I'm not abandoning Rainbow or Twilight. We'll find another ship."

Shining placed a hoof on Pinkie's shoulder. "Gabrielle's right. For all we know, the guards are already looking for us. If the soldiers still follow Canterlot guard procedures, they'll warn every ship captain about us and order them to call the guards if we attempt to book passage. I should know — I wrote those procedures."

"I would imagine this also applies to the train station," Gabrielle said with a frown.

Shining nodded. "We might have to find some place to hide."

"We don't even know that anypony's looking for us," Pinkie argued. "I'm sure one of the ship captains would agree to help us find Twilight."

Shining groaned. "You don't actually suggest telling every captain the truth, I hope?"

"Just the ones I think I can trust," Pinkie said with a smile. "Don't worry. I'll be careful. I'm good at knowing who to trust."

"You're gonna get us all killed," Gabrielle snapped, the volume of her voice earning her a glare from Shining.

Pinkie sighed. "I know you're scared, but trust me. It'll all be okay. These are all good ponies who got dragged into this war the same as all of us. We have to trust them."

Shining shook his head. "Let's find a place to hide for now. I don't like us discussing this in the open. We can decide our next move with a roof over our heads."





Shining kept watch from the only window in the hotel room they had just rented. While he'd spotted a few soldier patrols, none seemed to show the inn any interest. Either they didn't know his group was hiding in there, or Pinkie was right and there was no search.

A knock on the door made him jump. He made his way to the door and cracked it open. A sigh of relief escaped his muzzle as he recognized Gabrielle, carrying two bags full of vegetables.

"These were overpriced and not particularly fresh, but at least we won't starve," she said as soon as the door was closed behind her.

"Thanks," Shining said. "I don't suppose you managed to hear anything about Pinkie?"

Gabrielle shook her head. "Nothing. It's a big city, and I didn't try to find her. As much as I disagree with her running off like that, I think she's smart enough not to get caught."

"I hope so," Shining said with a sigh. "I'm worried she might not be thinking clearly. The prospect of finding her friends seems to be the only thing driving her."

"I would have thought you'd feel the same about finding your sister," Gabrielle said as she emptied the bags on a table.

"I have years of training as a royal guard. Pinkie doesn't have the same level of self-control. Still, I hope that she's right."

"I just hope she doesn't get herself captured," Gabrielle said with a frown.

Shining sighed as he took another peek outside. He averted his eyes and swore to himself. "I shouldn't have allowed this. I knew this entire thing was a bad idea the moment that filly showed up. Luna's smart enough to know exactly how to manipulate ponies. We played right into her hooves." He took a deep breath and turned toward Gabrielle.

"It doesn't add up," Gabrielle said as she stroked her chin. "Why would Luna get her own spy caught? And why bother sending us all the way here just so we'd be captured by her enemies?"

"You're right," Shining said. "Still, we chose to trust her on the word of a school filly. I put both you and Pinkie in danger over something that may well only be a dream."

"Let's just get out of here," Gabrielle said. "We can attribute blame after."

"I don't suppose you have a plan?" Shining asked as he raised an eyebrow.

"The skies are being watched, so I can't just fly out. Our best bet would be to hang around the train station. One of Checkmate's conductors will stop by Baltimare eventually. Then we'll just have to smuggle ourselves out of the city."

"I don't like the idea of staying around the train station, but we may not have a choice."

"One more thing," Gabrielle said with a sigh. "If Pinkie's not back tonight, we'll have to abandon this inn and find some other place to hide. If she gets captured, she could reveal our location."

"Under the tender care of griffon interrogators," Shining completed under his breath.

Gabrielle nodded. No words needed to be spoken. Pinkie and Shining had already managed to barely escape griffon captivity once. They wouldn't be as lucky if they got sloppy a second time.

"Apple?" Gabrielle asked as she picked up two fruits from the table. Shining nodded and the griffon threw him one. He grabbed it with his magic and took a bite, trying not to think of their current predicament. They ate in silence when a few quick knocks at the door made them share a panicked look.

"Stay here. I'll go see who it is," Shining whispered as he made his way to the door. Just like he had done earlier, he cracked it open, only to find an exhausted but still smiling Pinkie Pie staring at him. "Pinkie! We were worried sick."

Pinkie entered the room and closed the door. "Good news. I found us a ship."

"To High Roost?" Shining asked incredulously. "Which ship? How do you know it's not a trap?"

"The first mate seemed nice," Pinkie said with an innocent smile. "Also, she's down in the lobby. If she wanted to sell us out to the guards, she'd have called them by now."

"You brought her here?" Gabrielle snapped. "Are you insane? What part of 'we need to lay low' did you not understand?"

Pinkie walked around the griffon and grabbed an apple from the table. "It's why I only brought the first mate here, silly. Don't worry. I have a good feeling about this."

"Oh, well if your gut feeling says so, then by all means, let's blindly follow this stranger," Gabrielle said as she threw her claws in the air.

"I think we can at least hear this pony out," Shining said. He smiled at Pinkie. "We've both worked with Pinkie long enough to know her instincts can often be trusted."

"Thanks, Shiny," Pinkie said. "So what do you say, Gabrielle?"

The griffon sighed loudly. "Fine. I suppose if we made it this far, we might as well give this pony a chance."

"That's the spirit," Pinkie cheered. "Come on, follow me."

Shining stopped in his tracks "Hold on. Just in case this is a trap, Gabrielle, I want you to stay here. If we're not back in two hours, just assume we were captured and escape the city. The others should know what happened so they can prepare."

"Good thinking," Gabrielle said with a nod. "And good luck."

Pinkie led Shining Armor to the lobby, where a light green pegasus mare sat on a dirty cushion. She wore her short blond mane under a bandanna that featured a perfect replica of her cutie mark: a steel anchor. The lobby was a relatively spartan room, with the earth pony stallion working the reception reading a book behind the counter. He was far enough away that they could speak without him overhearing.

"So you must be Shining Armor," the mare said. "I've always wanted to meet royalty." She stood up and grinned from ear to ear.

Shining groaned at Pinkie. "You told her everything, didn't you?"

Pinkie nodded with a smile. "Well, she recognized me anyway, and I'm a good judge of character. I figured I should trust her if we want her help."

"Wait, if she recognized you, wouldn't it mean the guards really are looking for us?" Shining asked. He had a moment of panic and stretched his neck to look outside one of the tall window, making sure no soldiers were waiting for them.

"I didn't recognize her from a wanted notice or anything," the mare said with a giggle. "As far as I know, the soldiers don't even know any of you are in town. I recognized Pinkie Pie because she's one of Equestria's heroes."

"Oh," Shining said, blinking a few times.

Pinkie placed her leg around the mare's neck. "You see, Coral Drifter here has been following what Twilight and the rest of us have been doing. She has a sister called Night Glider who had her cutie mark taken away. You know, from the village where everypony had the equal sign cutie mark."

Shining nodded. "Yeah, Twily told me that story."

Coral Drifter chuckled. "You call the princess 'Twily'? That's so cute! Anyways, I'm Coral Drifter, like Pinkie said. I'm the first mate on the Siren's Madness, a ship that travels between Baltimare and High Roost. We could take you there."

"And what would be your price?" Shining asked.

"Can I get one of those stained glass windows after we rescue the princess?" Coral said. "I'm just kidding! You'll have to talk to Captian Seaswirl. He bought the ship about a month ago."

"So your ship has a new captain?" Shining asked. "How come?"

"When the war broke out, Captain Stormfeather decided he wanted to retire," Coral said. "He knew his ship might be pressed into service by one side or the other, and didn't want any part of it. It took him a while, but he managed to find a buyer. It was a bit strange at first serving under Captain Seaswirl, but I'm not complaining. He managed to keep us out of the war so far, and we make good coin trading between Griffingard and Equestria."

"I see," Shining said.

"They're going to High Roost anyway," Pinkie said.

"Look, I'll tell you the truth," Coral continued. "Captain Seaswirl hates the war. If what Pinkie told me has any truth to it, then the entire crew of the Siren's Madness will jump at the opportunity to help you."

Shining shared a nod with Pinkie before replying. "Alright, take us to your captain."





The Siren's Madness was a relatively small ship with a single mast. A group of four sailors were busy playing a game of cards on deck, using a wooden crate as a table. They ignored Shining and Pinkie as Coral Drifter brought them on board. The duo was taken to the captain's cabin, at the aft of the vessel.

A tall unicorn stallion was feeding some crackers to a caged albino parrot when the group walked in. He wore a short red vest over a well-maintained gray coat. His long goatee and short, dark blue mane seemed fairly disheveled in contrast, and the sinking ship on his flank didn't inspire confidence. He stared at Shining with piercing yellow eyes. "Well, well, well. What do we have here?"

"Captain, these two seek passage to High Roost alongside a third passenger," Coral said. "I really think you should hear out their story."

"Oh, I'm sure it's a good one," the captain said, stepping forward. "Not every day I have the Prince of the Crystal Empire on my ship."

Shining groaned under his breath. There was no lying to this stallion. "What would it take for you to take us to High Roost?" he asked.

"The truth," Seaswirl said, smiling and displaying a golden tooth.

Pinkie stepped forward. "We're going to High Roost to find Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash. I think my friends are being held there, and I really want to find them. Twilight could stop this silly war, too, if we save her."

"Interesting," the captain said as he fed a second cracker to his bird. "I'm already familiar with your exploits, Pinkie Pie. My first mate is quite the admirer."

Coral blushed. "I was going to ask you for an autograph."

Pinkie smiled. "If you help us do this, I'll organize your next birthday party."

"Would you be willing to have us on board?" Shining asked.

"It's our route," Seaswirl said with a shrug. "And I suppose I'd be a fool to give up on the prospect of being a hero."

Shining's eyes met Pinkie's again. They both shared a nod. "Then I suppose we were in luck to find you," he said with a smile, extending his hoof. "We can work to earn our keep on your ship."

The captain shook Shining's hoof before walking to his desk. He picked up a small box and opened it. "I was going to make myself a cup of tea, would you like some?"

Shining nodded, just as Pinkie rushed to the captain's side and picked up the box. "Hold on a second," she said. "Where did you get this box?"

Seaswirl raised an eyebrow. "From the hold. This is Talon Mint tea. It only grows on the Talon mountains, near High Roost."

"And you've been importing it to Equestria?" Pinkie asked with a severity Shining wouldn't have expected from her.

The captain stroked his goatee. "Ah, it's quite an interesting story, actually. This tea was quite popular in Canterlot, and the previous owner of this ship made quite a fortune importing it. You see, it was Princess Celestia's favorite, and apparently some ponies started to drink it, trying to emulate her."

"Princess Celestia had a tea box just like yours in her quarters," Pinkie said, her eyes fixated on the small blue box. "She got it from Griffingard?"

"Actually, I believe she was first introduced to it as a gift from Ambassador Antoine," the captain said. "The ambassador kept supplying the princess with Talon Mint, according to my predecessor. Apparently he had his staff keep the best leaves for her."

Pinkie's mouth gaped open as she held the tea box. "Princess Celestia had her own tea reserve," she mumbled.

Shining took a hesitant step toward his companion. "Pinkie, what are you going on about?"

Pinkie grabbed hold of Shining's head. "The griffon ambassador was the one supplying Princess Celestia with her favorite tea," she repeated. "She kept it in a box like this one in her quarters. Don't you get it? This is how she was poisoned. Ambassador Antoine murdered Princess Celestia."