Legend of the Loch

by not the real VAV

Legend of the States

“Wait…your navigator is…is blind?”

Jessie saw Atlas flinch, a bit hurt by Whirlpool’s harsh tone.

“Yeah. You got a problem with that?” Garnet Tide crossed her hooves across her chest. “If ya do, ya can kindly show ya’selves off my boat.”

Cardinal Atlas seemed touch by her defensive manner.

“Well how is a blind navigator going to lead us? They don’t make maps in braille, sweet cheeks.”

Garnet went a shade of red but Jessie couldn’t tell if it was from the embarrassment of being called ‘sweet cheeks’ or because of anger from hearing Whirlpool mock Atlas.

As Whirlpool opened his mouth to make another retort, Atlas interrupted.

“I know the water like you know your fish, Mister Sturgeon.”

Jessie could see the angler’s shock. Garnet looked smugly at the rude fisherpony.

“How do you know I fish?” he asked, genuinely surprised.

Atlas chuckled. “I’m blind, Whirlpool, not slow.”

Jessie smiled. The navigator looked at the orange earthpony and smiled widely. Jessie didn’t know if this unicorn was psychic or faking it or just special. How would he be able to tell the Loch Ness fanatic was grinning at him?

“Fine. But if we die-,” Whirlpool placed a warning hoof on Cardinal’s chest. “-I’m kicking your flank in the After Life.”

The gold unicorn kept his confident smirk and said, “I look forward to it.”

He strode off to the center of the boat where a map was pinned to a wooden table. Jessie was amazed at how easily and bravely the blind pony led himself around the boat. Not once did he stop or hit anything.

“Now listen to me, chica,” in the corner of Jessie’s eyes he saw Whirlpool point at Garnet Tide. “This lad makes a mucho grande mistake and I’m throwing him overboard.” He addressed the captain.

Garnet Tide scoffed and walked away.

“You shy?” Garnet asked as she passed Jessie. She gestured for the stallion to follow her. Jessie looked to Whirlpool, feeling like a foal who needed permission. The angler shrugged.

“No. You are just new to me. I didn’t know how you’d react.”

Garnet smiled. “Yer the fellow who’s lookin’ fer Nessie, right?” She asked with her thick Scottish accent.

“I am. I figured if Whirlpool was a good enough fisherman he’d help. But I’m afraid my plan won’t work.”

Garnet cocked her head.

“He doesn’t believe.”

The captain shook her head. “Ah. He a catholic? That’d be why.”

Jessie shrugged. “I don’t think so. He said he was from Ireland but he moved to South America. I don’t think there are many Catholics where he’s from.”

“True. You ever been out of Scotland?” Garnet asked curiously. The lad shook his head sadly.

“Me neither.”

Jessie looked at her with surprise. She chuckled at his expression. “May seem like a captain of the S. S. Uganda went to Africa. Nope. Other way around. The seller came here.”

After brief silence, Jessie spoke. “I wonder what it’s like in the States.”

Garnet smiled. “I heard those ponies basically live off of burgers and fries.”

Jessie laughed. “You can’t forget about donuts.”

“Or popcorn.”

They were both laughing madly. They began to sing on the boat.

" Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave! "

Jessie felt something smack him in the side of the head. While rubbing the injured side he looked left to find Whirlpool Sturgeon shaking his head disapprovingly. He was tempted to say, “Bugger off,” but he didn’t. Whirlpool was his only hope of proving Nessie was real.

“Yes?”

“The donut doesn’t want his crew talking with the likes of meh,” she gestured to herself.

Jessie smiled but dropped it when Whirlpool scolded both of them. In the corner of his eye, Jessie saw Garnet stick out her tongue and walk away.

“Why don’t you two like each other? You seemed just fine moments ago.”

“I only acted fair-,”

“Somewhat decent!” she interjected. The statement caused Whirlpool to quietly scoff and roll his eyes.

“-because I needed her to take me out. Nina over here – she’s a bit of a la molestia.”

Jessie’s eyes went wide as he sputtered, “S-sorry s-she’s a WHAT?!”

Whirlpool rolled his eyes and sighed. “Calm down chico monstruo,” he chuckled. “It only means an annoyance.”

Jessie calmed down and smiled. “That’s makes more sense.”

Author's Note:

"Meh" is not supposed to be me. It's how she says it with her accent.
And I did look it up on several sites - la molestia means an annoyance despite having is sound like a very popular version of dear Princess CELESTIA.