It is near the middle of the day in Equestria. Ponies were going place to place, talking to one another, everypony had something to do on this day, especially the pegasi. They were busy working in the sky, making sure the weather was perfect for this occasion, Rainbow Dash being one of them. She was already finished with the side of the sky she was assigned to, so to help, she keeps an eye on the other pegasi to make sure they are working. She was currently reminding a grey furred, yellowed eyed pegasus mare where she was suppose to be.
"Ohh, so I was suppose to take the northern west side of Ponyville along with the twins?" The cross-eyed pony ask Rainbow Dash again while scratching her head in confusion.
The Rainbow maned mare places her hoof to her face in aggravation. "Yes Derpy! For the seventh time, yes! Not sea level west. If you need to, I can lead you there." The mare named Derpy looked up at Rainbow Dash with a sweet smile and gave a gentle nod. Rainbow rolled her eyes and started to lead Derpy to the twins she was assigned to. It wasn't a easy task though, Rainbow Dash would turn left, Derpy would turn right, and vice versa. It had gotten to the point where Rainbow dash had to lead Derpy by the hoof to them. The two mares were finishing up a large cloud once Rainbow Dash and Derpy got to them. Rainbow Dash waved at them to get their attention and they went over to her. When they got to Derpy, they weren't mad at all surprisingly.
"There you are Derpy. We were starting to get worried you got lost in a cloud or something." The slightly taller one spoke first. Derpy only tilted her head at the remark. then she said something that got Rainbow Dash's attention.
"I wasn't lost, I was getting rid of some clouds that were on the ground." The Rainbow Maned Mare perked up to Derpy when she said what she said so calmly.
"Excuse me Derpy? What did you say?" Rainbow Dash flew close with a ear sticking up to hear it more better. Derpy repeated herself and Rainbow Dash's ears drooped down. They were silent for about eleven seconds until Rainbow Dash broke the silence. "I'm gonna go check it out. You two keep an eye on Derpy for me." And before they could answer her, she zipped downwards to the ground to see if what Derpy said was true. When she got to ground level, she decided to walk to save energy, she didn't want to waste it on looking for a "cloud on the ground". She looked around the east of Ponyville for these clouds when she came across a stand where a orange earth pony mare in a stetson. Rainbow Dash decided to pay her a visit for a brief moment.
"Hey AppleJack. How's business going for you?" Apple Jack looked at Rainbow Dash, not expecting her to show up... at least now.
"Oh. Howdy there Dashie. Business is doin' fine." Apple Jack tipped her hat to Rainbow Dash. "Say... why not you go ahead and buy some Cider?" Rainbow Dash's ears twitched and immediately got in line.. the non existent line it was. and placed seven bits on the desk. Apple Jack went ahead and filled a mug with cider and gave it to Rainbow Dash. In a split second, Rainbow Dash chugs it down, savoring the taste. She did try to make sure she didn't spill the cider. After finishing the cider, she slammed the mug on the counter, causing the bits on the counter that weren't collected to leap into the air and land with a clank. AppleJack collected the bits before Rainbow Dash sends them to the moon.
"Well, thanks for that little treat Apple Jack." Rainbow Dash was getting off track from what she was doing. Rainbow Dash and Apple Jack talked for a few moments about the usual things. It was until Apple Jack started to talk about the weather, then Rainbow Dash got up with a yipe and started to run off.
"Sweet Celestia, I forgot I was doing something!! Thanks Apple Jack!" Her voice was starting to lower in volume as she ran off at high speeds. The Orange Mare just stood there in confusion for a brief moment, then she went back to welcoming new customers.
Back with Rainbow Dash, she decided to speed around the town to quickly find this "cloud".. and like that, around sugar cube corner, it was shrouded in a low cloud that most call mist.
"That's strange... even with it's nice appeal, the mist makes Sugar Cube Corner look a bit eerie then it would normally be." Rainbow dash decided before she got rid of this mist. She opened the doors to The Bakery and, as usual, Pinkie was there but looked like she was thinking about something. She wasn't looking at Rainbow Dash, but was looking at the door as if she saw a family pet be taken away.
"Um.. Pinkie? You alright?" Rainbow Dash had a raised eyebrow while asking this. Pinkie didn't notice her and stood up strait and Greeted Rainbow Dash with a smile.
"Hiya Dashie. I saw this cute kitten kitten scamper by, but whenever I tried to call it over, it wouldn't respond and run off." Pinkie Pie nodded and gestured to a shelf were cupcakes were presented. "Would you like a cupcake Dashie?" Rainbow Dash looked at them and decided to get the Pink Cupcake. Pinkie got out a neat box of cupcakes. Rainbow Dash payed for the cupcakes and went ahead and asked a question.
"Have you seen the fog that's outside the Bakery?" Pinkie looked up again. She kinda giggled.
"Actually Dashie, that's mist... and yes. It's kinda strange to be honest. Mind doin' something about it?" Dashie nodded and walked outside, forgetting about the cupcakes she payed for just a second ago. Pinkie pie just stood there looking at it and said something apparently to herself.
"I guess we'll have to eat these our self, don't we?" a bit later, a small snapping noise came from upstairs. "Okay. you too Gummy" She giggled as The toothless baby alligator did a little roll down the stairs and landed with a thump."Oof. not too hard there." She helped up gummy as he was wiggling upside down. Rainbow Dash was trying to gather up the mist, but as much as she tried, she failed to even nab a bit of it. In a bit of aggravation, she flew around The Bakery in attempt to pack the mist together. It worked, but at the cost of rustling some furniture in Sugar Cube Corner.
"Oops, sorry there Pinkie. You alright down there?" Rainbow Dash stopped her flying and walked back into Sugar Cube Corner. There was tables and chair all over the place. The Counter was alright, thankfully, and there was Pinkie and Gummy sitting behind it on a chair, clapping. They were wearing 3-D glasses and eating popcorn (Well, gummy tried to eat popcorn.) Rainbow Dash decided to play along and took a bow. Pinkie Pie tossed a Rose that came out of nowhere. "Thank you. Thank you. I'm here all week." Rainbow dash and pinkie started to laugh.
"Ooh, hang in there buddy" She pointed to the bit of the roof that fell outside. Rainbow Dash watches the dangling bit of roof fall to the ground outside. She had a nervous smile drawn.
"Heh.. sorry about that Pinkie. I'll get Apple Jack to help us out later." She walked over to the the box that held the cupcakes on the floor and empty with a giggling Pinkie Pie patting her stomach. Rainbow Dash just looked at pinkie as she decided to waddle to get another box for Rainbow Dash.
"Here you go Dash. I had this here in case I was hungry but I ended up eating yours. Don't worry, they're the same." she pat the box and pushed it to Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash gave Pinkie Pie a thank you and walked out to get back to work while Gummy walked on Pinkie's Stomach looking at it as Pinkie Pie giggled at Gummy's curiosity.
-------
"Rainbow Dash, you're late." There was a mare wearing Sunglasses with a not so happy face getting on to Rainbow Dash.
"But Shaded Sunshine, I was busy taking care of some mist that was around Sugar Cube-" The mare interrupted Rainbow Dash by holding a hoof over her mouth.
"I don't want any lies. There was no reports of fog today or the next two weeks." The Mare pulled Rainbow Dash aside and continued what she was saying. "Rainbow, you are the element of loyalty. Of LOYALTY for Celestia's sake! You shouldn't be doing things like this!" The mare's golden fur looked like it was turning red the more she shouted. Rainbow Dash was keeping quiet to not anger this mare more.. even if she mispronounced mist for fog.
"Am I interrupting something ladies?" Shaded Sunshine jumped slightly at the sound of another voice. It was a stallion with a icy blue mane, dark blue eyes, a winter colored tail, a simple blue fur coat, and a cutie mark that is a cloud shooting out glimmering hail. Before she could say anything to cover up what she was doing, which was chewing our Rainbow Dash, the rather charming stallion spoke again. "Sunshine, Rainbow Dash has done things we can't do without more time. So just give her some slack alright? She probably saw something she had to take care of."
"Alright Flawless Hail. I guess being here in this heat is kinda getting to me.." The yellow mare flew over to the stallions side, nudging him.
"Come on Sunshine, let's get you some rest." Flawless Hail held Sunshine by the hoof and led her to the ground. Rainbow Dash only watched and went back to watching the pegasi. She couldn't help but look over the horizon to see more unnatural clouds that was actually mist stretching over towards Ponyville. She decided to fly over to Twilight's to ask her if she knew anything about this uncalled for mist.
Upon getting to the library, Rainbow Dash saw Twilight through a window looking around for a book. Rainbow Dash flew down and knocked on the door in which Twilight opened the door rather quickly. Rainbow Dash waved at Twilight, she waved back.
"Oh, Rainbow Dash, come on in for a second." She pulled Rainbow Dash inside the Tree House. Before Rainbow Dash could ask anything, Twilight Sparkle laid down a big book and began to speak too quickly for Rainbow Dash to understand. "So I've been reading about some sort of 'blank pony' and I found out-!"
"Whoa whoa Twilight. Slow down. I came here to ask about some strange mist I found earlier today. There wasn't suppose to be any today at all." Twilight stopped talking and went ahead and looked for a book relevant to what Rainbow Dash was talking about. After ten minutes, Twilight finds a book with the front having a picture of a silhouette of a mare with her front hooves up streaming green mist from them while a dragon neither Twilight or Rainbow Dash has seen before. They both looked at each other and Twilight sighed.
"Well, Spike told me this book has some missing pages in it ever since the incident with the library exploding. He was able to salvage some pages though."
Rainbow Dash smirked at the though of the tree spontaneously blowing up without any rhyme or reason, then spoke calmly."Well, go ahead and read whatever pages are left then." Twilight open the book and began to read what little there was.
"It says here, that the mist that was not suppose to be here could be the result of a Mist Weaver. A said group of ponies who spent their life training in battle and the ability to control the fog that inhabited their home... Unfortunately, that's all there is to it." Rainbow Dash groaned, she was not very pleased that the one time there was something going on and Twilight had a full book about it, it was ruined by a tree that used self destruct.
Rainbow Dash was going to say something, but Pinkie blasting the door open with her party cannon, sending confetti and streamers (and the door) in all sorts of directions. Rarity and Fluttershy were behind Pinkie and the three were wearing neatly made dresses made by, of course, Rarity herself. Pinkie pie is wearing a pretty pink and white dress with a few candy patterns on it. It was a bit tight around her belly area though, but Pinkie payed it no mind. Rarity was wearing a really flashy and beautiful dress... as usual. And Fluttershy is wearing a pinkish, white dress with her hair neatly done.
Pinkie wobbled over to the two and pulled them up."Come on ponies, we have a little meeting to get to. Apple Jack is waiting at the train station." Pinkie Pie was a bit jumpy, but not as much as she bounced over to the door, stopping at times to not hurt herself. Rarity stepped in with two dresses and gave them to Twilight and Rainbow Dash.
"We're sorry that we didn't tell you ahead of time. Spike was asleep and I was busy making these, Fluttershy was getting everything ready for the animals and Pinkie was, well, being Pinkie I suppose." Rarity went ahead and went out the door to help support Pinkie.
"Um.. we'll be waiting for you guys... take your time.. if.. if you want to.." Fluttershy walked out the room quietly. Twilight and Rainbow Dash looked at each other then went their separate ways to put on the dresses.
-----
They all arrive at the train station. Fluttershy was watching some birds fly around the houses, Rarity was making sure everyponies' dresses were in good conditions, Rainbow dash was exercising her wings, Twilight was looking at the ruined book she brought up earlier, Apple Jack was standing around, still wearing her hat, and Pinkie Pie was sitting down due to her weight is going against her. Pinkie quietly resided sitting down a different way.
"Pinkie, darling, if your dress is too tight, just say something okay?" Pinkie Pie laughed quietly and did a simple reply
"Rarity, I can be in bigger situations. I just need a day and this will all go away." Pinkie Pie patted her stomach and laughed.
"I sometimes question your capabilities Pinkie Pie." Rarity did a little chuckle as Twilight Closed her book
"Hey ya'll, I think I hear the train comin'." Apple Jack called out to them and they started to get prepared and Rarity helped Pinkie Pie because although she was comfortable, she was also stuck...
"Thanks Rarity." Pinkie said as Rarity dusted off her dress.
The train arrives with a screeching halt for the new passengers to get on, in which they did. Fluttershy sat quietly next to Rainbow Dash, Apple Jack sat on her lonesome, and Rarity sat with Pinkie Pie. While they waited, Twilight was trying to make a theory about the ponies in the book. There was loads papers torn out of the book. Twilight tosses the book onto the holders above since it's would have taken most of her seat. Pinkie was giggling at Twilight and something Rarity was telling her.
"I know it sounds silly darling, but imagine if I can make a dress out of something that isn't silk or anything along those lines, but be more durable and comfortable. That would be marvelous. I'd wear that kind of dress all the time." Rarity was starting to daydream about the ideas of those kinds of dresses. The train arrived in Canterlot, and all the passengers got off. The girls decided to walk there, due to how better the weather has gotten. Rarity was still daydreaming, so Pinkie had to tug Rarity the direction they needed to go so she doesn't wander off the wrong direction. Pinkie passed the job of keeping an eye on Rarity to AppleJack and was going to many food stalls. Pickles, Mangoes, Cupcakes, Ice cream, ect. Applejack chuckled when Pinkie Pie brought over a pillar of food on her back to the girls. They were getting close to the Castle and got a unique view of some crazy looking ponies who bleached their fur, cut their mane and tail, and gave themselves black contact lenses.
"Those ponies are as crazy as cats chasin' red dots, but they are a different kind of crazy." Applejack tried to look away from them, but it looked like they were staring directly at her and everyone at the same time. Applejack decided to tip her hat over her left eye to not be able to see them.
"So what was the princess needing us for again?" Pinkie Pie was doing her best to keep the pillar of food on her back and walk at the same time.
"Pinkie, you were the one who told us about this." Rainbow Dash replied to the Pink pony. Pinkie Pie just remembered and caught up to her friends ahead of her.
They made it to the Castle entrance and Pinkie wanted to take a break for a minute. She placed the cartload of food to the side and layed on her side. "We might as well have a snack before we go in, who knows how long Celestia will be talking." Pinkie grabbed a thing of ice cream and began to eat it. The other five decided to as well, each of them getting something different. After their snacks, They entered the castle through the doors and made their way to the throne room. A guard who was assigned to escort them to the throne room stuck along and led them to said throne room.
"Princess Celestia, the six mares you summoned have arrived." The Royal Guard who led the mane six advised princess Celestia of their arrival. The mane six are then allowed to step forward to speak to princess Celestia.
"Thank you Keen Eye. You are dismissed." The Guard, Keen Eye, then leaves the room, and closes the doors behind him. "Girls, I am sure you understand why I called you here, correct?" Celestia walked to a nearby table and gestured the mane six to sit down.
"Not in particular, but I am sure most of us here would like to have some information." Twilight was speaking to Celestia for the main six. Celestia frowns and shakes her head.
"Twilight, I heard you have a book about something relevant to the situation, right?" Celestia asked.
"Yes ma'am Princess Celestia." Twilight sparkle reached into her bag... when she found out it wasn't in there... "I... did have a book about it..." Twilight sighed.
Celestia walked over to the purple mare. "It's not a problem if you forgot about it. The next time you do ride the train, do check to see if it's still there. I'll have the conductors take a look to make sure it wasn't taken." The princess gestured over to the table she had prepared for the discussion. Each of the mane six sat down on the chair designed for them. "Understand that I may not be able to fill you in entirely, due to the fact that I do not know much about this either. I, however, shall do my best to let you all know." Celestia's horn glowed and a tea cup hovered over and poured herself a cup of tea. "We have been getting reports about spontaneous mist covering the coastal sides of Equestria and our trade ships, supposedly, sinking while within the mist. We are not entirely sure what is causing this, but ponies around here have a theory it might be a sea dragon. Now, I am not one to assume theories, but at this rate, I'm not willing to lose more ponies to some sort of dragon." Celestia looked out the window towards the coast, which was hidden behind a row of mountains, then back to the mane six. "I would like to know if any of you are willing to tag along a trade ship to make sure that it sails safely." Twilight looked over at her friends who were looking at Celestia. They looked over at Twilight.
"What do you girls think? You up for it?" Twilight said to the other mares.
"I'm in!" AppleJack called out.
"I'm up for adventure, so might as well." Rainbow Dash crossed her hooves and nodded.
"Um.. Well, alright. you can.. count me in.." Fluttershy said in a whisper.
"Me too! Me too!" Pinkie Pie said, bouncing in her seat.
"Oh, I don't know. I might break a nail or get my mane in a mess..." Twilight looked over at Rarity who was being a bit too dramatic of the simple things. Rarity sighs, "Oh, alright. Count me in.."
Celestia smiled at them and gestured over at the window she was looking at before. "The docks are over in that direction. There, you'll find the trade ship, and the ship you'll be riding. It's a assault ship from long ago, I took the liberty in having the dockworkers improve it for this trip."
"I, as well as the others, understand. Thank you princess Celestia."Twilight gets out of her chair and bows. The others do so as well.
"You are all dismissed. I shall have a guard help escort you out." Celestia calls over a guard to escort the mares back out. Keen Eye, the guard from before, is the one who comes to her call, escorts them out, and speaks to the Pink pony about how things were for them.
------
The docks had waves that moved gently, brushing across the ships that are either getting prepared to depart, or recently returned from a voyage. Ponies were left and right, moving, trading, and selling cargo to one another. The mane six, especially Rarity, loved the view of the calm ocean. They were given a document telling them which ship is the trade ship, which one is the assault ship, and the captain they need to speak to.
"Let's see, we need to find a captain Silverhoof." Rainbow Dash was given the documents to keep a hold of them.
"Oh, I remember Silverhoof, He is such a sweetheart." Pinkie Pie was closing her eyes and was smiling from a past event with him. Rarity looked over at Pinkie Pie with a raised eyebrow. "The party I threw for him was definitely not a shipwreck. He even gave me a present." Pinkie pie waved her front hooves in happiness.
The mane six came across a rather tall pony. He had a white mane, tail, fur coat, and redish pinkish eyes with a ship on the waves as a cutie mark. "Greetings ladies. how may I be of service of you?" The tall stallion looked at the mane six, and recognized the pink mare who was looking at him with a sweet smile. "Pinkie Pie? It's been so long, a month or two actually." He waved at Pinkie, and she jumped up to him and gave him a hug.
"Silverhoof! It's so great to see you come back from a voyage!" Pinkie Pie was rather excited to see the unique stallion.
The two regained their postures. "Come on Pinkie Pie, I'm sure I'm not that special." Silverhoof adjusts his hat with a smile as Pinkie Giggled.
"You were the only one this year who asked for a pirate themed party. I still remember when you taught me about pirates and what they do. I'd say that party shimmered me timbers." Silverhoof just sighed and shook his head. Rainbow Dash hands over the documents to Silverhoof to see. After a moment of silence, he looks at them with a quick nod of the head.
"Welcome aboard lasses! Come along, I shall show you her!" The stallion gestured the mares to follow him, in which they did. They looked at a large ships with cannons on all sides of the ship, a crescent shape at the tip of the bow, and a name engraved on the sides saying 'Neptune's Greed'. When Silverhoof sees them looking at the name, he tells them "Aye, ye be looking at Neptune's Greed. A fine ship I must say! Rebuilt to her former glory, being strong enough to fight off the toughest dragons here!" Silverhoof laughed as he continued to walk them to the boarding station, making sure he nor the others run into any deckhands who are bringing in and out cargo. "Now be warned ya land lubbers! This be your first time sailin', you may be gettin' some petty issues. However, there can be far worse situations!"
They made it to where they can get onto the ship. Captain Silverhoof was instructing the deckhands to hand on for a second and let the mane six get on, then they may continue working. They did as he said, and the mane six get onto the boat where they saw a unicorn mare who had a black mane and tail, blue eyes, a grey coat, and a horn that looked as if it was burnt. She looked unemotional and just stared at the mares coming onto the ship
"Girls, this is lieutenant Blunt Shot. She's in charge of the cannons, firearms, and spells on this ship" Captain Silverhoof called Blunt Shot over to greet the new crew members
She greeted them with a silent bland "hmph" and hoof bumped each of them, startling Fluttershy because of the strength put into the hoof bump.
"You girls get acquainted with the ship's layout as I explain our next voyage to the lieutenant." He pulled her aside and started to explain the message he received as the mane six went to the lower floors of the ship to see what it has to offer. They see countless cannons, cannonballs, Gunpowder bags, a couple of crates, and a small bookshelf with a net and seashell as decoration. The lower floor had a lesser amount of everything, and housed a few hammocks for the crew members to sleep on. The lowest floor had little cannons, and had more crates and hammocks more then anything. Pinkie Pie claimed the bigger hammock and told the rest she'll catch up with them in a moment.
"Aye, you lasses be about ready to go?" The captain shouted to the mane six as he heard them coming back up. "Even if you are, we still have till sunset to get a move on. This cargo movement will take us a bit. Why not socialize with some of the crew?" The mane six agreed and started to look at some of the mares and stallions that walked along the ship, Pinkie Pie, coming back from below the deck. They met a lot of the crew members, and many rather unique ones as well.
---Sunset---
The sun was golden as it lays on top of the sparkling water, deckhands have stopped loading cargo in, and Neptune's Greed was all set for the voyage. Captain Silverhoof was standing near the steering wheel as he looked at the horizon where the sun was laying.
"Alright lads and lasses! We are all set to set sail!" Silverhoof looked at the crew members as they looked at him. "We are on a mission to stand guard of the trade ship that is to our port! We must not let whatever is taking these boats down get near it! Do I make this clear?!" as he barks out the words, the deckhands and crew members started preparing the sails, the cannons, and everyone was getting prepared as the mane six looked around, a tad confused.
"Alrecht! gie yer hides in gear lasses, it's gonnae be a lang trip!" Lieutenant Blunt Shot shouted in a rather unique accent. As the crew were getting prepared, the unicorn stepped up to the mane six. "Micht want tae rest up. lang day tha' moorns nicht, but remain oan guard."
"Uh.. pardon?" Rarity spoke up to her, and the lieutenant glared over at Rarity.
"I said rest up! Don't want any of ye to be passin' out while we make this trip, Divot.." she was going into a mumble around the end. The mane six looked at her, then at each other. "Aii, you be at the third floor of this ship. Now git!" She shooed the mane six to the inside of the ship, Rarity not appreciating the attitude the mare had to them. The mane six made it to the third floor and lay in their hammocks.
"Well girls? Are you excited?" Twilight decided to say something. "I mean, we'll be going to some sort of new part of the world with new people, landmarks, it's going to be great!" Twilight was getting excited just thinking about it.
"Yeah, well what about dem mist monsters that who's rumors were being spread like wildfire?" AppleJack asked, lifting her hat off and placing it besides her.
"Well, if such thing exists, I'm sure we can handle it. Besides, I'd love to take a look at one of these things. They sound like sea exclusive creatures." Twilight gave a reply with a slightly worried smile. What if one did exist? What if they couldn't handle it? Those thoughts started to come into her mind. She looked out one of the windows to the docks, and she sees that it was moving ever so slightly. The ship was moving, and soon, they will be on the opens waters. She smiled and started to close her eyes, as she hears the soothing waves go against the ship. She goes into a sleep, preparing for tomorrow.