It's Sunset's birthday and her friends are on the a cruise to celebrate. However, there are two problems. 1) A pent up Rainbow and 2) a storm no one ever saw coming
Near the start of the term break of Princess Twilight's School of Friendship, and after the event in Four Castles amusement park, it's Sunset's birthday and Sci-Twi had decided to celebrate it with a cruise and had invited Princess Twilight, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkie and Rainbow.
However, Rainbow, having not bested the last two baddies, is looking for some more excitement then what everyone else had planned.
Yet there is a storm on the horizon...one that seems odd
The sky was abuzz with the squawking of seagulls, the blowing of a ship’s horn and the various conversations of people. Under the sky was the open ocean and afloat on it was what could be best described as a fairly small cruise ship or a fairly large yacht. Near the vessel’s port side stood Sci-Twi and Sunset. They were dressed in long sleeve shirts and shorts that went down to their knees. Sunset’s shirt was royal purple with her aura mark in the center of her chest. Twilight’s shirt was two shades of purple and pink, much like her hair.
With the two was Fluttershy, who was dressed in a yellow topped and green bottomed sundress, Rarity, who donned a loose white blouse with purple skirt with a white sun hat, Applejack, who wore her usual red plaid t-shirt shirt with jean shorts, Pinkie, dressed in a blue blouse with green t-shirt, and Rainbow, who was sporting a green and red tracksuit.
Sci-Twi was holding a brochure that read, “‘Welcome aboard the Luxe Deluxe, where you'll set sail for a full week of luxurious luxuriating on our most deluxe luxury liner!” She read out loud to her gathered friends. “I’m pretty sure they just made up most of the descriptive words.” She said Twi with a confused voice.
Before anyone could respond, the paladin leaned over the side of the ship and vomited. After she finished, she took a breath, “Sound’s luxurious.” The farm girl moaned, the words saturated with sarcasm.
Sci-Twi gave a nervous laugh, “Well, there’s an onboard petting zoo.” She said as she started to list off the amenities of the liner. This brought a massive smile to the druid’s face before she turned back and patted Applejack’s shoulder in a clear attempt to show support. “There’s also an all-you-can-eat buffet.” These words led Pinkie to hop up and down as if she were about to explode with joy. Everyone, sans Applejack, shared a giggle, the paladin however leaned over the rails and vomited again.
The paladin then gulped after she recovered, “Ah think Ah may have forgotten ta pack my sea legs.” She then gagged as she tried to keep whatever remained in her stomach within her stomach.
Sunset stepped behind and embraced Sci-Twi from behind, “Thank you for setting this trip up, bae.” She said and kissed the side of Sci-Twi’s head. “You didn’t have to do all this, ya know.” She said as she rubbed her cheek against Sci-Twi’s affectionately.
There was a groan, everyone turned to Rainbow. “We get it, you’re a thing.” the elementalist slightly moaned. While everyone gave her a scowl, Rainbow turned from them and looked at the vast open water around them. “Although I’ve gotta hand it to ya, Sci-Twi. You really have an eye for climactic battle settings!” The rest looked at each other clearly perplexed. Rainbow then leaned over to the side. “Imagine, us mono e mono with a sea monster poolside!”
“Not to burst your bubble, but we’d be in the worst possible place for a confrontation with a resident of the deep. Not that any creature would take the time to come up here, the drop in pressure would cause various tissues and vessels to burst.” Came a familiar monotonous but blunt voice as the group was joined by Lemon Zest, who wore a bikini top that was pink with green bar strips and a light green short, Indigo Zap, who wore a one-piece dark blue swimsuit with a pair of white shorts, Sour Sweet, who was dressed in a golden sundress, Sunny Flare, who was dress not too dissimilar to Rarity, however her top was light turquoise with her bottom matching her hair, and the speaker, Sugarcoat, who was dressed not dissimilar to Applejack but her shirt was white.
Indigo leaned against the railing of the ship with a smirk, “Also RD, girl, wanting to fight a sea monster, you clearly need a good…" she then started to chuckle lightly, the implication she assumed was self-evident.
The multi-colored hair elementalist rolled her eyes in response, "Seriously, you think that is what I need." Rainbow scruffed at the notation. "Listen, we didn't bring Cozy to justice and even though the whole park thing with Vignette and Chrysalis was taken care of, I… um... we still didn't kick her rear." Rainbow challenged as she called attention, if not intentionally, to what was really going on. However, everyone else shook their heads, with the truth blatantly clear in their minds, Rainbow
"I am gonna have to agree, with Indie, you need a good-” Lemon spoke up as she went to the railing too. The two smirked and bumped their fists with a wink at Rainbow.
Applejack then vomited over the side of the ship again, "Can we not talk about that while Ah am not feelin’ s’ good, anyone got somethin’ fer seasickness? Or jus’ an upset stomach?” The ill paladin pleaded as she groaned in slight pain. Sugarcoat reached into her pocket and took a ginger root. The true-namer then handed the root to Applejack. The paladin accepted it with a small nod and started to gnaw at it.
“Yeah,” Sunset said as she stepped to the side, mostly to call attention from Applejack, "Since we’re one man down right at the bat, I think we should not try to tackle a leviathan.”
“Leviathan, or rather Livyatan, is not a common noun, it’s a name. And since it comes from the verb ‘lavah’ meaning ‘to twine or to join’, ‘Livyatan’ is ‘the twisted or joined one’. The blanket term ‘sea monster’ Rainbow used earlier is, ironically, the more accurate phrase in this context.” Sugarcoat pointed out as she adjusted her glasses.
“Thanks for the info dump, miss know it all,” Sour groaned.
“Now now, let’s not get at each other’s throats. While Sci-Twi’s primary goal was to celebrate Sunset's birthday, but we also here to relax." Rarity commented.
Applejack then turned from the railing as she gnawed on the ginger root. "Ah'm game. Besides couldn't even spend one day at Four Castles without some sort of calamity."
“Which we then uncalaminated!” Rainbow shouted as she threw her up for a high five. Pinkie was the only one not willing to leave her hanging. However, even she could not put much of her heart into it.
Once Pinkie sneaked back, Sunset gave a frustrated sigh on her part and everyone else’s, “If I recall Princess Twilight wrote that it was all due to AJ and Rarity.”
“Well speak of the princess and she shall appear.” came the voice of Princess Twilight from behind the lot. They all turned to see Princess Twilight dressed in a one-piece swimsuit that was dark violet in color. Next to her was Flash Sentry, who was dressed in a pair of green shorts and a white t-shirt with red sleeves. At his belt were his buckler, hand crossbow, and sword. Flash was carrying a fairly large tray with drinks for the cluster. Princess Twilight already had her drink in hand.
As everyone accepted their drinks, there was a pungent silence with regards to the uncanny similarities between the two Twilights. “This could get confusing.” Pinkie chimed in breaking the uncomfortable silence.
The two Twilights gave a nervous laugh as everyone tried to look at their drinks, sans the only man in that gathering. Flash had a small smile and soft laugh, “No wonder we broke up.” Flash said clearly directing his comments to Sunset, as everyone started to drink their beverages. “We like the same things too much.” He said and all the girls did a spit take and started to cough, while Flash had a silent but visible chuckle. The faces of Sunset, Sci-Twi, and Twilight went beat read as the other girls then started to laugh. After a second both Sunset and Twilight went to Flash and each started to hit his upper arm three times. “Ow, ow, okay, okay, I’m sorry,” he said as he managed to take a couple of steps back.
Once everyone calmed from the laugh, Rarity placed a hand on Sci-Twi’s left shoulder, “Well, Sci-Twi, this is a most deserved respite. We're all very thankful for the chance to relax and do absolutely nothing.” There was a sudden beep from a pocket in her dress. She then reached into it and pulled out her portable phone. “Oh!” Rarity gasped then screamed and panted. As everyone looked on utterly at a loss at what to do or why Rarity was acting that way, “We're in international waters!” she cheered. As everyone looked at each other still at a loss. “That means tax-free, duty-free and tariff-free shopping!” Rarity cheered and started to leave the group with a few laughs.
Everyone else started to head their own way, Pinkie and Lemon towards the cruise’s buffet, Fluttershy and Sour to the onboard petting zoo, Sugarcoat seemed to be helping Applejack towards the cruise’s infirmary, while Sunset, Sci-Twi, Twilight and Flash walked off Sunset said, “This is gonna sound crazy…” she started to say. Even Indigo walked all, everyone leaving Rainbow to stand alone and groan in frustration.
About ten minutes later, both Pinkie and Lemon arrived at the buffet. The two were enthralled at all the food mostly the sweets. “Honey walnut crisp!” the jester cheered at the delicacy.
“Candy-coated cupcakes!” Lemon pointed out as the two continued to enjoy the food with their eyes. While their mouths started to water.
“Banana sorbet delight!” the two said together as the spotted the next delectable treat they conspired to consume. The two then gasped as they spotted on a tray with its cover on.
“I don’t believe, the one,” Lemon started as she licked her lips.
“The only,” Pinkie added as she grabbed a napkin to clean her own mouth.
“Triple Choco-Berry Blasted Butter Biscuit Bundt Cake!” the two squealed at the top of their lungs.
“I waited my whole life to taste a cake like this!” Pinkie exclaimed as the two stepped to be almost on top of it.
“I’d say ‘get in line’ but this ain't a one girl show,” Lemon added as the two grabbed the top of the lid. They nodded and lifted it only to reveal the absence of said cake.
Lemon dropped to her knees as tears started to pool in the corners of her eyes, while Pinkie took a more… vocal approach to express the injustice. “NOOOOO!” she screamed at the top of her lungs.
The two were about to break down to tears when a female chief arrived with a try in one hand and a spatula in the other. “Excusez moi, mademoiselles,” she said as she took the cover off to reveal the cake the two desired. “How about one fresh from ze oven?” she asked with a smile. The two gasped in delight as the chief set aside the lid and prepared to use the spatula to cut the cake.
Just then Rainbow’s hand appeared and struck the spatula, in the process her strike hit the tray with the cake and sent it flying, with a “ Hee-yah!”
“CAKE OVERBOARD!” Pinkie and Lemon screamed only for the cake to land on the ground with a splat as everyone gasped. Lemon and Pinkie turned to the elementalist with snarls on their faces as they were about to rip Rainbow apart.
Before they were successful, the chief cried, “Mon gâteau!" as she steamed at what just happened. Rainbow could only give a nervous laugh at what befell the cake just as Pinkie and Lemon jumped at her.
Fortunately for before the elementalist faced a premature demise, she, Lemon and Pinkie were seized by the chief and threw the three out of the buffet with the doors slamming behind them after they landed. The two continued to scowl at Rainbow. Rainbow gave another nervous slightly apologetic laugh. “You better run,” Lemon said in a soft voice but clearly full of ire. Rainbow gulped and bolted.
Elsewhere inside of the ship was room about the same size as the buffet. Inside the room was a floor of actual dirt with grass and small trees growing from the floor. Also present were half a dozen or so children of various ages, often younger than a decade interacting with animals often found in petting zoos, and some which are known to be there but not common. All the while the animals gave their various calls, namely, the goats bleated and the birds chirped. Among the patrons were Fluttershy and Sour, Sour had let herself be surrounded and ‘overpowered’ by some of the critters and was being licked making her laugh.
Fluttershy smiled as she patted a very young goat, “A goat on a boat?” she asked the kid* with a laugh. The goat only bleated happily. “And I thought I’ve seen everything,” she added as she let the young goat go over to a young girl. Fluttershy couldn’t help but smile at the sight of animals and humans interacting so harmoniously. She then felt a paw patted her leg. She turned to see a rabbit with dark grey fur. He then started to chatter at her. Fluttershy reached down and patted the rabbit. The rabbit seemed to purr at the affection he was shown. He then chittered more at Fluttershy. “Oh my, forty-two grandchildren at your age, that is impressive, Mr. Bouncy.” the rabbit chittered a little more. “Okay, I’ll call you, ‘George’.” Fluttershy then turned to Sour as the barbarian got up as the animals went to the others in the zoo. “Sour, this is George Bouncy, and he’s like to introduce his grandchildren,” Fluttershy said.
Sour gasped as her eyes dilated, “Is his name really George?” she asked. She then squinted. “If you’re messing with me…”. George Bouncy then hopped over to Sour and brushed against her leg. “AWWW!” she said before she picked up the rabbit. “You’re the cutest rabbit ever!” She then brought George up so that she could whisper into his ear, “Especially a certain white rabbit that will never be named.”
Fluttershy was about to comment as she knew which rabbit Sour was talking about, but elected to let it go. The two turned their attention to George’s warren as he hopped to the ground and seemed to wave to the warren to meet the two. However, Rainbow seemed to zip in and was standing in between George and Fluttershy, “Not today!” the elementalist declared as she shielded Fluttershy.
“What the actual…” Sour started to ask but trailed off as she recalled the ages of the other humans in the petting zoo, “figleaf are you doing?” she asked after a few seconds of finding a word that would slip pass any possible parental concerns.
Rainbow turned to face the two, “Sure, he seems cute and cuddly now.” she stated but then turned back to George, “But have you seen what a magic-infused evil rabbit can do?” she asked.
“Um... eat carrots?” Sour answered while she and Fluttershy looked at Rainbow, both silently questioning their friend's sanity.
“Yeah,” Rainbow affirmed, before she pointed her right index finger at the rabbit, “evil carrots!” she shouted. This startled the rabbits and other animals, and they all went back into their enclosures, frightened by the elementalist. This annoyed and saddened many of the children there.
Fluttershy covered her face with both hands and groaned. Sour, on the other hand, took matters into resolving her anger into her own hand. Literally. Before Rainbow knew what had happened, she was thrown out of the petting zoo, landing face first onto the carpeted floor, as Sour’s roar of “AND STAY OUT!” resonated in her head in what seemed to sound like an eternal echo.
Several minutes later, on the deck, Sugarcoat was helping Applejack walk, “Okay, having you go back to your cabin to lie down was a less than stellar idea.” Sugarcoat stated. All the while Applejack kept her mouth closed and covered it with one hand, her face was grass green. The ship then creaked as it continued its voyage. The paladin gagged as she reached for the ship’s railing.
“What's up, AJ, Sugar?” came the voice of Rainbow from behind the two.
Applejack could only respond with ‘mmm’s as she kept her mouth closed. “One would surmise what the most apparent answer is.” Sugarcoat replied just before Applejack retched over the side of the vote. “I would advise against suggesting that this is more than just an extreme case of motion sickness.
“But AJ’s never had anything like this on a train or Twilight’s skyboat.” Rainbow pointed out. She then gasped. “Something’s evil afoot.” she concluded as she grabbed Applejack and shook the paladin at what seemed to be a blur, “GET OUT OF MY FRIEND, DEMON!” As she finished. Applejack staggered out of the hold, went over the rails and vomited. Once she finished she turned her eyes to Rainbow, and if looks could kill… “Heh,” Rainbow weakly and apologetically laughed as she rubbed the back of her head. “Or no demon involved.” Rainbow then bolted as the paladin was joined in her death glare by Sugarcoat.
About an hour later, Rainbow continued to walk about the ship. She groaned in utter frustration and boredom as she traveled about the ship. She would ask everyone, “Have you seen any bad magic on board?” About a dozen people answered her with shrugs until one pointed in the direction of the ship’s theater. Rainbow dashed there and opened the door.
The place was full of a mist that seemed to sparkle slightly. Rainbow smirked as she readied to fight. She then heard a female voice laugh, albeit distorted as if it was echoing. Had Rainbow took a second to think she would have remembered that laugh.
“Prepare yourself…” the voice said just before Trixie emerged from a patch of the stage that was clearer than most of the stage, “for the Great and Powerful Trixie of the High Seas!” she said as she spoke into the small microphone that was held by her ear. She then bowed and turned to the audience and held up her left hand with two fingers up, “Two shows daily! Tip your waitresses!” she said with a wink.
She then spotted Rainbow in the allele in a state of confusion. “Hello, Rainbow, here hoping for a glimpse of the most ultimate power in the universe?” she asked with a massive smirk on her face and seemed to pat herself on her back, “Sorry, but like everyone else, you'll have to wait 'til tonight.”
Rainbow recovered as her ego was struck with its anti-ego in Trixie, “Nah. Just looking for bad magic.” the elementalist stated bluntly.
Trixie groaned as she turned away, “Well, sorry to disappoint you,” the bitterness in her tone clearly showed the cut in her facade. She started to prepare for a trick, “But the bad magic of others always follows the amazing magic of moi.” she added as she tried to inflate her ego again.
“What do you mean?" The elementalist asked the illusionist, with her head tilted to her left and a slight squint of her eyes.
Trixie groaned with an 'Ugh,' as she slouched and then covered her face with her right hand. She took a breath and pointed to the mostly empty auditorium. “I'm talking about the old grandpas in the audience,” as Trixie spoke, Rainbow’s attention was turned to a couple of old men that each looked at least seventy Summer Sun Celebrations old. The two were trying to perform some basic magic tricks and failing. “who see my show and then try to impress their kids with a disappearing coin trick on their way home!” Trixie finished as her point was demonstrated.
Rainbow was perplexed at that for a moment until something hit her, “Their magic only shows up in response to your magic!” she exclaimed.
“Yeah, I just said that and I thought Applejack was dense,” Trixie muttered with an eye-roll.
“You're a genius!” Rainbow then bolted from the theatres as she, in a way, thanked Trixie.
“Well, obviously.” Trixie said as she prepared for the ‘endless handkerchief’ trick.
Elsewhere on the deck, near the ships’ topside pool, as all this was transpiring, Flash, Twilight, Sci-Twi, and Sunset were sitting around a table with their drinks. Flash was sitting opposite of Sunset with Sci-Twi sitting opposite of Twilight, “So you mentioned something sounding crazy.” Flash said before he could take a drink, electing to get to the heart of the matter.
Sci-Twi and Sunset looked at each other, Sci-Twi seemed to have a slight shiver as if she was nervous about something. Sunset gave her a reassuring smile before the two looked back at Flash and Twilight, “If I recall you two are engaged,” Twilight spoke up before Sunset could. “So congratulations are in order.”
“Thanks, Twilight,” Sunset said with a grateful smile, “But there is a legal issue.” Sunset started to explain. She took a breath, “You see, according to the marriage laws of Midnight Castle…” Sunset trailed off as she was unsure how to say it.
Sci-Twi sighed and spoke up, “Women of childbearing age can’t enter into a marriage contract with each other unless they are both married to either the same man or two different men.
“That sucks,” Flash commented.
“Well, it actually makes a lot of sense,” Twilight countered, “Think about it, same-sex marriages limit genetic diversity and the society’s birthrate. Now that I think about it, Lyra and Bon Bon aren’t married even though they do cohabitate, and it's not uncommon to see them each spending Hearts and Charms Day with a guy.”
Flash then turned to face Twilight, “Don’t you think supporting those kinds of laws is backward thinking?” He asked with a raised eyebrow.
Sci-Twi then spoke up, “If anything, writing down those kinds of laws is actually rather forward thinking; acknowledging that some women are more likely to be drawn to women then men and that should they be allowed to act on that without something to, well, keep them in the gene pool, that’s fewer women who would marry, and Bullion discovered that if a man is unable to contribute to the society’s future members, he is less likely to actually contribute to society at all.” She elaborated.
Before Flash could ask, “And we actually came to terms with that,” came Sunset with a raised right hand. She then held out her left hand, which Sci-Twi accepted and held, “So we decided that we should enter into a polygamous marriage, well more actually a polygynous marriage with the same guy.”
“Well, sorry you two can’t just be happy together, but I’m sure you two can find a guy you’ll be able to put up with long enough,” Flash said, his condolences were visibly sincere, even with his smile as he tried to lighten the mode before he started to drink.
“Actually we were thinking about asking you,” Sunset said. Flash’s spit take brought a massive smirk on her face and a laugh, “I can’t believe you didn’t see that coming Flash.” she chuckled. “That’s for earlier.” She added as she continued to laugh at Flash’s reaction.
After Flash finished his cough, “Ha ha very funny.”
Sci-Twi then spoke, “We are being serious." This silenced Sunset and lead to both Twilight and their mouths to hang open. Sci-Twi gave a nervous laugh, "Well, Sunset does know you, you two were together for a while, that you ended it and that she's no longer the person she was when you two broke up." Sci-Twi tried to reason.
"I know it's a lot to take in, you don't have to give us an answer today or this week. Just think about it." Sunset requested as she looked at both Flash and Twilight. "Both of you." She added.
Flash got up from his chair and started to leave, "If you ladies will excuse me. I got a lot on my mind."
After Flash left, "I should go and check on him." Twilight said as she as she got up and left.
Sci-Twi turned to Sunset, "Do you think we asked too much?"
Sunset sighed, "This was a dumb idea. I never should have suggested it."
"Well, nothing ventured nothing gained," Sci-Twi said weakly as she tried to look on the bright side. Sunset only brought her face to the table and groan.
About twenty minutes later, Twilight found Flash learning against one of the ship's walls. "You know it’s kind of flattering, two girls wanting to marry the guy I am dating.” She said as she tried to look at the bright side as she looked to the sky, “It means that I managed to get a desirable guy.”
Flash turned to look at her with an unconvinced look on his face, “Really, you expect me to believe that it doesn’t bother you at all that someone you count as your friend pretty much says, ‘Hey, I can’t marry the person I want to, but there is a way around, so can we marry your boyfriend, thanks.’” Flash said as he raised the octave of his voice and tried to sound more feminine. Twilight could tell he was mocking Sunset. Flash then groaned and sighed. “I can’t believe that Sunset would do something like that,” he added as he crossed his arms in front of his chest before he sighed and looked at the sky. “Looks like she hasn’t changed.”
Twilight placed her hand on his shoulder, “Do you want to talk about it?” Flash just turned to face her with a slight dip of his head and a raised eyebrow. “Alright, we won’t talk about your past relationship with Sunset.” Twilight then looked out to the ocean, “You’re right it does bother me that someone pretty much proposed to you and we never even talked to each other if we wanted to get married, even if it’s not to each other.” She then sighed, “But would I be a bad friend to say ‘No’ right off the bat. Besides it’s not my decision.”
“But it does affect you,” Flash muttered to himself. He then sighed, “To be honest, I want Scootaloo to name my first daughter, she even has one picked out, ‘Starburst’, after my second boon with you as my patron. And I like the idea of you and me cuddled up together in front of a fire on Hearth Warming Eve, as chestnuts roast and I don’t need mistletoe as my excuse to kiss you as our grandkids show our kids how right we were.” Twilight couldn’t help but smile and blush slightly. Flash then sighed, “I know it’s technically my decision, but I wish I didn’t have to,” he then went silent as he thought back to his cabin. Inside it, on a nightstand was a small box, or at least not make it alone.
At the same time, in the last of the ship's shops, Rarity and Sunny were wrapping up a shopping spree and as the cashier was ringing them up. Once the final numbers were crunched and the total was shown. “Ninety-nine bits and ninety-nine per-cent bite?” Rarity asked with a smirk and giggled, “My savvy shopping smarts strike again!” she said triumphantly like she won a competition. “Here's a hundred bit note,” she said as she collected herself and handed the cashier the bill. She turned to Sunny. "You can never go wrong with me." She laughed as she reached to accept the change, a one per-cent bite coin with her eyes closed.
“Maybe I should see about claiming more territories out to sea.” Sunny joked. This caused both Rarity and the cashier to freeze in various forms of shock. “Then again, it is these shops that actually put the cruise in the black and they would go out of business and then I’d be stuck on the shore.” This brought a slightly nervous laugh from Rarity as she dropped the coin.
Just before Rarity could go to pick it up, a man about their age with tan brazen skin with some freckles on his face, blonde hair, and dressed like the rest of the cruise’s crew kneeled to pick it up. “Let me, miss?” he said with an accent that sounded very different then what Rarity ever heard. Before he gave it to Rarity he bit the coin to see if it would bend as if it was truly made with copper, “By golly, that's real copper, it is!” he exclaimed with a slight cheer. As his gaze raised as he straightened himself up, he couldn’t help but be entrapped by Rarity’s eyes, “Blooming delightful!” he said in awe. He then coughed as he collected himself, and sought to return the coin, “A... penny for your thoughts, miss?” he asked in a joke, as he showed his green eyes.
Rarity blushed at the gesture and site. She then started to stammer as she collected herself. She then laughed, “Oh, you can't afford my thoughts.” she joked as she sought to assert herself but accepted the coin.
The young man then chuckled at the joke, “Quite right.” he said as if he acknowledged what Rarity could be true. “Lovable scamp like meself couldn’t hope such,” he said with a slight dejected. “The name’s Ragamuffin,” he said as he introduced himself with a slight bow. He then saw all the stuff that Rarity and Sunny had purchased in bags. He then looked to the two. “Need a 'and?” he said as he offered to carry their purchases.
Rarity couldn’t help but laugh as she accepted the “Uh, Ragamuffin, was it?” She asked as she tried to make sure she got it. The recently identified Ragamuffin nodded. “Well, aren't you the gentleman, asking to help two ladies and not even seeking their names.” she said as she gestured to the bags, “I think I can speak for Baroness Flare and myself that we’ll gladly accept your generous offer.” As Ragamuffin picked up the bags, “I'm Rarity, by the way.” She introduced herself.
As Ragamuffin got the last of the bags, “Give meh a moment,” he said as he took a second to make sure he was able to say the name correctly, “Rar-it-ee?” he asked as he tried to say Rarity’s name. After his attempt, “Did Ah get it, Milady?”
Rarity smiled and had a small laugh, “Close enough,” Rarity said and the two started off towards the cabins of the two patrons. All the while Sunny was frozen at the sight of Ragamuffin and how quickly Rarity seemed to be taken by him. “Sunny, darling, come on.” Sunny snapped out of it, but she still couldn’t shake what she witnessed.
About a couple hours later near the bow of the ship a stage was set up for a band performance. There with their instruments were Sci-Twi, Sunset, Fluttershy, Pinkie, Lemon, Sour, Applejack, Sugarcoat and Indigo. Indigo strummed her guitar as Fluttershy jangled her tambourine, Pinkie and Sour were at their respective drum sets, as Applejack was seated with her base to her side. Lemon had with her sampler, Sugarcoat was not far from her keyboard, but had offered Applejack another ginger root. Sci-Twi gave a ‘Hmmm…” as she tried to find a way to lighten the mode for most of her friends. “Look at us!” she said with a nearly obvious forced degree of cheer. “Getting ready to play at a pool party!” she continued. “Who knows what hijinks will ensue, am I right? Maybe I'll fall into the pool fully clothed! And everyone will laugh!” the girl continued her attempt as she laughed. “Are you not having fun?” she asked as it was clear that most weren’t getting happy.
“I am,” Indigo answered and played her guitar pumping herself up. Once she finished, “Did you guys check out the sauna?” she asked and then gave a blissful sigh. “Just right.” she then turned her full focus back to Sci-Twi, “You do know that the pool’s on the other side of the ship, right?” she asked. Sci-Twi scowled slightly. Indigo shrugged, “But it would be funny to see that.” she finished with a laugh.
Pinkie was the next to respond with a sigh, “Every since I started my apprenticeship with the Cakes, I've been taught that you could only berry blast a butter biscuit on a bundt cake with two layers of chocolate. But this afternoon, I saw the truth. The buffet has a Triple Choco-Berry Blasted Butter Biscuit Bundt Cake.” Pinkie recounted.
“And I can testify to that,” Lemon added with a regretful sigh.
“How was it?” Sci-Twi asked excitedly about the cake.
“I don't know!” Pinkie shouted as she banged the drum with her sticks. Her ire over the situation and threw the sticks, “Rainbow got Lemon and me banned from the buffet!”
Before Sci-Twi could question, “Really?” Lemon asked as she turned to Pinkie, “I thought it was because we were about to murder her because she killed the cake.” Lemon then paused for a second, “But if she didn’t kill the cake, we wouldn’t need to murder her,” she reasoned.
As Sci-Twi remained awestruck, “She also scared the animals in the petting zoo. Now they don't want pets.” Fluttershy added as she looked to the ground with a tear in her eye.
“She made it a normal zoo!” Sour growled as she started to bash her drums for a solid minute in wrath. “And I didn’t get to say hi to George’s family.” Sour cried as she finished.
Applejack then groaned and bit into the ginger root. Sugarcoat patted Applejack in an attempt to be reassuring, “Given Pinkie, Lemon, Fluttershy and Sour’s stories, I think you can infer our interaction with Rainbow.” Applejack the got up and went over to the railing to vomit.
Sci-Twi looked at everyone, “But you're still having fun, right?” she asked weakly. While Indigo gave a thumbs up, everyone else seemed to give very weakly if not sarcastic ‘yes’. Sci-Twi sighed in depression.
“It's not your fault,” Sunset said as she placed a hand on Sci-Twi’s shoulder. “To be just we kind of crossed a line or two ourselves with Flash and Princess Twilight.” the pyromancer confessed.
“But Flash doesn’t have to say ‘yes’, and we didn’t give him a deadline.” Sci-Twi pointed out.
Sunset shrugged, “Yeah, but he’s dating Princess Twilight.” she pointed out. “Maybe we should offer them an apology.” Sci-Twi took a second to think and accepted it with a nod.
Just then Princess Twilight arrived, “Sorry I’m late, I need some time to think.” She took a breath, “I have come to terms that this is Flash’s decision. I don’t really like it, but if Flash wants to accept your proposal, then I will find a way to live with that.” She said as she looked away slightly.
“We owe you an apology, we shouldn’t have presented the offer as we did. Maybe even making the offer.” Sci-Twi said as she offered her hand to Twilight. “I’m sorry.” Twilight pulled Sci-Twi into a hug of acceptance.
After the two broke their hug, “Hey, gang!” came the voice of Rainbow. Everyone turned to see the elementalist approach the group with a bag in her hand, “Sorry I'm late! So, listen. I've got an idea for our show tonight! We unleash some awesomeness on the crowd! I'm talkin' rainbow lasers!” Everyone looked at her confused. “You know, when we fire our Rainbows of Mass Reformation,” she said as she pulled out the Elements of Harmony and the box that housed the Rainbow of Light.
Twilight then stepped in front of every, “ARE YOU CRAZY?!” she asked as her nostrils flared. “The Elements of Harmony and the Rainbow of Light are not toys!” the demigod declared.
Rainbow rolled her eyes and groaned, “You sound just like the other Twilight. You know Sparkler, Surprise, Firefly are on board. The other Applejack didn’t say anything against it and Posse was silently in support.” Rainbow replied as she crossed her arms like a teen not caring for the lecture she was getting from her parents. “Besides, you’re not the only one of us that can get the Elements from the Tree.” She added. “So let’s add a massive dash to the show tonight!” she declared as she about to pass the Elements out. “Who's with me?” she asked.
Twilight just threw up her hands and walked back. Sunset then stepped forward, “I got this.” she said to Twilight before she walked up to Rainbow. “Rainbow, we need to talk.” Sunset then pulled Rainbow to the side and a little out of earshot. The pyromancer took a breath with her eyes closed to collect herself. “Rainbow, Sci-Twi went through a lot of effort to get this set up. I know the main reason is that it’s for my birthday, but that’s not the issue.” She took another breath. “I’m gonna be blunt,” she paused before she muttered to herself, “because that’s the only way to get the point across” She took one last breath, “You’re ruining the cruise for everyone!” she announced. She stopped herself and elected to speak calmly. “Listen AJ is not in the best shape, Fluttershy and Sour really wanted to interact with the animals in the petting zoo, and Lemon and Pinkie really wanted to try that cake. I get it, a part of you is looking for a problem to solve. But right now there isn’t.” She took another breath, “Listen something might happen that requires us to act, or not. The thing about being a hero isn’t to go looking for trouble, but to solve them when they come up.”
Rainbow was silent as she took in all in, “Yeah, I was…” she started only to hear a clearing of Sunset’s throat, “fine, I am overdoing it. But can we do one laser show?" She asked as she brought her hands together and pleaded with sucre eyes and a quivering lower lip.
Sunset sighed and shook her head, "I think we can do it. Just the one time." Rainbow couldn't help but smile as she hugged Sunset. The two then turned to rejoin the others.
Just then Sunny, Rarity and Ragamuffin showed up. "Hello, darlings!" Rarity said as she and Sunny got on to the stage.
Sci-Twi was the first to speak, "Where have you two been?" She asked the behalf of everyone. Ragamuffin offered his hand. "'Avin' a li'l chat with ol' Ragamuffin, she was!” he said as he introduced himself just as Applejack walked back and ended up standing next to Ragamuffin. Everyone went silent at the sight of Ragamuffin and Applejack and their similarities it was as if each was a gender swap of the other. They all then stole a look at Rarity then back to the paladin and the crewmember before they looked at each other. They all seemed to ponder if Rarity was aware of the situation, sans Sunny and Rainbow, Sunny was relieved to see that she wasn’t the only one that made the same connection. Rainbow, however, couldn’t help but smile at it all as if she was saying ‘I ship it’. Applejack was confused as to why everyone was looking at her like they were and she turned to see Ragamuffin. She looked to Rarity and was just frozen as all she could blink. “Thanks for ev'rything, Rarit-y.” he said as he gave Rarity a slight bow. Rarity sighed blissfully as she waved goodbye to Ragamuffin. “Well, good luck, cheers!” and he departed.
Rarity again sighed in bliss and joy, “It's like he fell out of a historical romance novel.” she said clearly enthralled.
“You do know he’s basically a dude AJ, right?” Indigo asked the question on everyone’s mind but none were willing to ask. Everyone turned to Indigo shocked at how blatant she was. “What? How can she not see it?”
Rarity sighed, “So I like my men blonde, green-eyed, freckled and with an atypical accent?” she asked. “Now let’s do our rehearsal,” she said as she picked up her keytar. Everyone elected to just roll with it and question it later.
Hours later as the sun was starting to set, as the water rushed and wind pulsed around the ship. As Ragamuffin and the rest of the crew were in the final stages of the set up for the performance. One of the things that stood out was Rarity clapping in gratitude to Ragamuffin. Ragamuffin smiled in turn. After everything was ready, both Twilights, Sunset, et al, got on the stage. , and started their song, with the box housing the Rainbow of Light with all the keys in the keyholes and each of the girls either wearing an Element of Harmony or variation of the Element appropriate to them.
Rainbow started the actual singing, “Get in the groove You bring your dancing shoes I'll bring the attitude You bring the crew so we can move Light up the floor Turn up the bass Yeah, let me see that smile on your face Come on and go with the flow Gonna steal the show, yeah.” as she sang the rest of the cruise’s patrons walked towards the bow’s deck and one by one they started to dance.
Princess Twilight and Sci-Twi both sang into their microphones, “Let me show you how it goes”
“Repeat after me!” Sunset said during a break in the lyrics as she pointed to the audience.
All the girls then sang, “'Cause it's all, all, all, all good I feel abso-absolutely amazing 'Cause it's all, all, all, all good I feel abso-absolutely amazing.” as the patrons continued to dance.
“Rainbow lasers!” Rainbow shouted as there was an instrumental break. During which the Elements of Harmony (and their copies) started to glow and the box housing the Rainbow of Light opened and the Rainbow used all of the Rainbooms as channels transforming Princess Twilight, Applejack, Pinkie, Rainbow, Rarity and Fluttershy into their Rainbow power forms. However, Sci-Twi, Sunset, and the Shadowbolts too had the Rainbow of Light affect them. Sunset gained an orange streak to her hair, Sugarcoat gained streaks of yellow-orange and red-purple, Sour’s turquoise streak went wider and gained a small orange streak, Sunny gained a couple of turquoise steaks and a golden streak, Lemon gained a dark turquoise streak and a magenta streak and finally Indigo gained a few brownish orange streaks, while Sci-Twi matched Princess Twilight, sans wings. The beams from the Elements and the Rainbow of Light then shot from everyone in the air above the ship and exploded with an unmistakable boom The result of it caused the lighting to burn out, the ship’s power to wind down and for it to stall out. Within seconds. Rainbow was smirking as she put her guitar down. “Oh yeah! It's about to go down!” she declared.
“The ship's going down?!” a patron asked in extreme concern. Then other patrons started to scream and panic, some starting to run around the deck
“ Not the ship! The ship's not going down!” Rainbow shouted as she tried to be heard over the crowd. “I meant evil! Stop screaming!” she tried to order. In a second, the Rainbow of Light exit all the hosts and returned to the box and the copies of the Elements dissolved and returned to the true elements as everyone returned to their normal form. All the while Rainbow could feel the burning glares from the others. She slowly turned to face the rest. She gulped, “I really screwed up big time, didn’t I?” she asked before she gave a nervous laugh.
As the patrons had started to panic, Ragamuffin got a megaphone and began to speak in a voice that sounded forceful yet also calm and gentle. “Everyone, please remain calm.” The tone of his voice caused most of the patrons to ease slightly. “Now I know t’ ings can be frightin’, but we’ll ‘ave the ship running as soon as possible. For your safety, we request that you return to your cabins and remain there. Parents and guardians, please keep a close watch on your charges. Crew members are passing out flashlights and will gladly escort you to your cabin.” As Ragamuffin spoke members of the ship’s crew did what he announced. “We realize that this is a major inconvenience, but your safety is our primary concern.”
Everyone slowly but calmly started towards their cabins, leaving Ragamuffin, a handful of the crew, Sci-Twi, and the Rainbolts. Ragamuffin lowered the megaphone and turned to the remaining crew members, “Tell the first mate to make sure t’at t’e s’ip’s engines are manually off and need the manual override to start up. I don’t want t’is the boat to go 100 knots as soon as we get ‘er goin’. I’ll be at the w’eel once everyone is off the deck.” He ordered. One of the crew members nodded and left. “Drop the archers and get the stabilizing buoys out, t’is mig’t take aw’ile.” A couple more left with a nod. “Get the engineer down to the engine room, and if he’s there, see how you can help him, and make sure he gives meh updates, I’m on channel three.” A couple more nodded and left. Ragamuffin turned to the last crewmember with him. “Tell the second mate to get ready to call for help. We mi’t not need to make a distress call, but that’s not a chance I can take. Let him know I’m on channel three” The last of the crew nodded and left.
Ragamuffin wanted to smile, proud at how he managed the situation thus far, but he stopped himself as he looked out at the ocean and gave a sigh, “Well, calm seas make poor sailors, t’ey say.”
It was then that Ragamuffin recalled that the performers that were still on the deck. “Sorry ladies, but you…”
“You’re the captain?!” Rarity exclaimed in shock. She then started to fane herself with her hand, “I spent most of my day with…” she started to stammer before she fainted and was caught by Applejack. The paladin rolled her eyes before she pulled her arms back and allowed Rarity to fall to the stage floor. It took Rarity a couple of seconds to collect herself and get back on her feet. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“If you took a few seconds to actually look at his epaulets you can see the four golden stripes thus signifying he’s the captain,” Sci-Twi informed as she adjusted her glasses while her eyes were closed.
Ragamuffin gave modest laugh as he rubbed the back of his head. “Sorry for misleadin’ ya, Miss Rarit-y into thinkin’ I was just a normal part of the crew.”
“Don’t be, my father led my mother to believe he was just a rugby player, only to show during the first game he played while they were dating that he was his team captain.” Rarity said as she closed her eyes and brushed it aside with her right hand.
Everyone turned to Applejack with slightly raised eyebrows and lips turned down as if to ask, ‘Did you hear about this story?’. The paladin gave closed-eye nod as if to confirm the validity of the story. “As cute a story that is, I think he’s waiting for us to head to our cabins.” came Indigo after the paladin’s silent affirmation
“Actually, ladies, I was gonna escort you and make sure you were safely off the deck,” Ragamuffin said as he took out his flashlight. “S’all we,” he said as he pointed his light in the direction of the nearest door into the ship.
To the shock of only the young captain, Pinkie grabbed each instrument and placed it into her hair. As he was about to ask, “It’s Pinkie Pie, don’t question it. We mustn’t have you lose your mind,” Rarity said before she couldn’t help but coo “my captain.” She placed a kiss on his cheek as she and the others allowed Ragamuffin to escort them to their cabins, Rainbow in the rear, she didn’t need to see the cold shoulder from the rest to remind her how badly she messed up.
Within twenty minutes, everyone was back in their cabins, sans Rarity and Rainbow, Rainbow had just opened the door to see her ‘sister’ on her bed with her mouth wide open and snoring. Rainbow took a breath, “Glad at least one of us had fun.” she said to herself.
Just as she shut the door, Scootaloo seemed to bounce up, “What the?” the young monk asked.
“Take it easy, Scoots,” Rainbow said as she went to her own bed and lied down. “I really messed things up with the whole laser show thing with the Elements of Harmony and Rainbow of Light.” she mused.
“Well, it was a pretty awesome show,” Scootaloo said as she tried to cheer Rainbow up.
Rainbow gave a weak smile, “Thanks Scoots. But with the ship dead in the water…” the elementalist replied.
Scootaloo rubbed the back of her head, “Well, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and me had a great time today.” Scootaloo saw a small smile on Rainbow’s face, but then saw it fade as Rainbow turned away as if she was trying to get some sleep. Scootalo gave a sad smile as she went back to bed.
Shortly after escorting Rainbow to her cabin, Ragamuffin arrived with Rarity at her cabin. “Well, Miss Rarity, I gotta get meself to the helm and get the ship goin’.” He gave a nod and started to turn away but his shoulder was grabbed by Rarity. The enchantress turned Ragamuffin to face him and planted a kiss on his lips.
“Stay safe.” Rarity said as she placed both her hands on his chest. She then opened the door to her cabin and stepped in and closed the door behind her, leaving Ragamuffin with a half-drunk smile. There she spotted Sweetie Belle asleep in her bed. Rarity wanted to tell her about her experience, but maybe it was too soon.
As everyone had gone to their cabins and carried out Ragamuffin’s orders, a dark cloud slowly drifted towards the ship from just beyond the horizon. In the cloud, there was a sudden glow of light blue that looked like two ribbon-like horns. Then from in the cloud, there was a massive flash of lightning making the glow turn to black against the sudden white field.
Hours later, at most likely was morning, the ship’s engineer was still working on the engine, but most of the ship’s power was restored. This was mostly noted as most of the crew and the passengers were in the buffet and eating. Sitting at one table were Applejack, Apple Bloom, Sunset, Princess Twilight, Sci-Twi, Sweetie Bella, Scootaloo and Fluttershy. “Pinkie and Lemon still banned?” Sunset asked.
“No, Pinkie’s just still really mad at Rainbow about the cake,” Fluttershy answered. “I asked her about asking for another one, and she went on this long explanation about limited resources for what the cooking crew has access to and the allocation to make the most of each dish to satisfy the most passengers, I didn’t really get it,” Fluttershy said as she shook her head.
“I think Pinkie was trying to say was that the chief can’t just wipe up another of those cakes because all the ingredients needed to make an addition cake then what was rationed were already allocated.” Sci-Twi chimed as she tried to help by clarifying. “So how are you doing, Applejack?” she asked as she turned to see the paladin devouring her food not too dissimilar to a man on the edge of starvation and clearly happy about it.
“Ah made this potion Zecora taught me, and after AJ drank it she passed out like a log and now she’s like was back on the farm.” Apple Bloom informed as Applejack got up and went to get more. “Ah just hope doin’ t’at ain’t like a half-trained mule.” the artificer added. Everyone turned to her in confusion. “Just when yall think yall understand it, it’ll kick yah in the head.” Everyone then gave an ‘oh’ as if they suddenly got it. Apple Bloom rolled her eyes not believing the lot. “So where’s Rainbow Dash?” she asked.
“She’s still in the room, I think she’s still down in the dumps,” Scootaloo answered.
Applejack then returned with more food, most noticeably a fairly large triple-decker burger with cheese, bacon, ham, and fries with melted cheese and bacon bits. “Well, at least we don’t ‘ave tah shame ‘er now. Besides if she didn’t want to awesome all over the place, Apple Bloom wouldn’t have had time to make that potion, Ah wouldn’t have been so willing tah take it and now Ah walk this ship like Ah was strolling down Main street.” The paladin said before she bit into her burger.
After taking a few more bites, “That’s a good burger.” She sighed in slight bliss. Everyone was slightly perplexed at this. Before the paladin continued to eat, “Ah’m gonna forgive her once Ah finish this meal.” Everyone else went back to their meal in silence.
Elsewhere in the buffet, Sunny, Sour, Indigo, Sugarcoat and Lemon were also eating. Lemon was enjoying a slice of the triple choco-berry blasted butter biscuit bundt cake, while Sour seemed to have calmed down from the petting zoo incident. “Dare I ask, are you two over what happened yesterday?” Sugarcoat asked.
“Nope.” Lemon said, “But I am willing to move on if Rainbow apologizes.”
Sunny, Indigo, and Sugar then turned to Sour, “I wanted to see George’s family, and animals can sense when I am angry,” Sour informed as she ate from the whole roasted piglet that was her meal.
Indigo, Sugarcoat and Sunny looked at each other silently saying “A rock could tell when Sour was angry”, before saying “stay quiet she’s in a good mood.” If Sour noticed that she was too engrossed in her meal to say anything. Once she finished her current bite, “So if Rainbow is willing to say she’s sorry, I’ll accept it.”
Pinkie then entered, her hair flat. “Good morning.” she sighed as she walked over to the buffet table. She sighed at the sight of the cake. She didn’t get a slice and elected to grab something else, just a piece of toast and some eggs. She then joined her friends at their table.
“No bundt cake?” Sunset asked as the jester sat down.
Pinkie sighed, “Being mad at Rainbow doesn’t make me feel like me.” She replied as she poked at the eggs with her fork. Pinkie then took a shade of gray with another sigh. “I’m going back to bed.” She said and got up without eating her food.
“Looks like we should forgive Rainbow,” Sci-Twi suggested.
“Only if she says she’s sorry and asks for forgiveness. Otherwise, she’ll never learn.” Princess Twilight commented.
Just then Ragamuffin arrived some of his own food and sat down in the seat on Pinkie’s left, “Can’t stay long, but quick update. T’e engine’s gonna start up soon and we’re gonna ‘ave to go a little faster t’en plans to make up for the lost time. So until we’re back on track, you s’ould stay in your cabins.” He informed as he started to eat.
“Excuse me, Captain, but maybe trying to make up for the lost time by trying to reach where we would be might not be the best course of action. I’d recommend cutting out the planned stop in Manahattan and turn around earlier.” Princess Twilight pointed out.
Sci-Twi shook her head before she countered, “That’s not recommended,” she started. Princess Twilight looked to her and the two entered into a conversation, “There’s not enough fuel to make that trip, the stop in Manahattan is in part to refuel and there’s not enough remaining energy from the solar power generated from the panels stored, especially with the current cloud coverage.” She said as she pointed towards the window.
Princess Twilight rubbed her chin for a second, “It is true that we have a lot of cloud coverage, but that’s not an indicator for how the weather is going to be later today.”
This exchange left even Ragamuffin slightly dumbfounded. Ragamuffin then laughed, “Well, ain’t t’ey clever.” Ragamuffin complemented before he finished his meal. “Not that’s any of old Ragamuffin’s business, but are you twins?” He asked. Sci-Twi and Twilight looked at each other and started to stammer unable to form an answer. Ragamuffin elected to just move on as he saw he wasn’t going to get an answer. “Well, best be off to the w’eel. Ladies, I ‘ope you’re still enjoyin’ the trip despite t’is ‘iccup.” Ragamuffin then got up and gave a nod fair well.
With the captain gone, the girls silently returned to their meals, “Why the long faces?" Came the voice of Starlight as she joined the group. She was dressed in a bunny suit and not the costume for children. Before anyone could ask, "I promised Trixie that I would help her with a few of her performances. I should read the fine print." Starlight confessed with a groan. This brought a massive laugh from Pinkie as brightening a shade. As everyone else snickered.
“Can I see the show?” Sweetie Bella asked Rarity.
Rarity patted her sister on the head, “When you’re older.”
“I don’t remember sending you an invite,” Sci-Twi commented as she tried to figure out why and how Starlight was on the cruise.
As Starlight ate her meal, “You didn’t, my passage on this cruise was a gift from my father. Sort of an unreceived Hearth's Warming Gift.” putting the bespectacled girl at ease. After finishing some of her meal, “So back to you, why the long faces?” She asked. She then took a look around the table and noticed the absence of Rainbow. “Rainbow’s still in the pond after her stunt last night and everything else from yesterday.” she surmised. The older woman, sans Applejack who was clearly continent as she devoured her meal, looked down towards the table. Their silence spoke volumes. “Not that’s any of my business,” Starlight provided the caveat, “but if this was in my student counselor office, I’d say that you would feel better to offer Rainbow your forgiveness. I remember this time...” Starlight then trailed off and stopped, “Sorry school policy, unless a law is broken or a there’s a clear and present danger to the student or others I can’t say more.” she then started to laugh nervously.
“A few of the boys did a ‘Hottest Teacher Ranking’ list.” Applejack commented in a deadpan. Starlight only blushed as she got up and walked away nervously. “Knew it.” Applejack smirked.
“Teachers’ of Friendship hotness ranked by their students.” came a familiar voice from behind the paladin. They all turned to see Vignette on her phones. “Not really newsworthy, or share-worthy. All in all a rather juvenile thing, but who was number 1?” Vignette asked as she turned to the group.
“The answer would surprise yah.” Applejack replied with a small smile on her lips as she tapped her chest just below her clavichord and patted her right thigh. “So what brings you here?” she asked.
“I was cooped up in a warehouse for days, I needed a real va-ca.” Vignette sigh before she returned to her phone. “By the way, the explosion of The Elements of Harmony and Rainbow of Light is currently the most trended everywhere and is not slowing down,” she said as she showed her phone to the group. “You all should do something like for next year’s Whirling Constellation Music Festival.” This left everyone blinking in shock of the recommendation. Vignette then got up with a sigh of bliss, “Well, better get back to my cabin. If the captain is right, it’s gonna be a bumpy ride.” she then left the buffet.
After a solid second of remaining shocked, “That’s two cameos of people we’ve meet.” Pinkie commented somewhat flatly. She then shrugged. “I wonder who else will show up?” she asked as she returned to her meal.
Sunset’s eyes then widen. “Juniper!” she said before she got out of her seat, “I can’t believe I forgot to invite my own sister!” she then dashed to the table where her other sisters were.
This left Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie and the CMC utterly confused. The seven turned to the two Twilights. Sci-Twi adjusted her glasses, “You see the father of the Shadowbolts is also the father of Sunset, and he… well…” Sci-Twi trailed off.
Applejack then raised her hand to silence Sci-Twi before she started to stammer, “Let meh guess, he was an actual stud.” the paladin commented. Everyone, sans Apple Bloom, turned to the farm girl in confusion. “That’s what yah call a male farm animal, usually dogs and horses, that’s set aside to be the father.” Everyone then gave an oh as they connected the dots. “Yah’all should send a year on meh farm.” she groaned and returned to her meal.
As Sunset arrived at the table where the Shadowbolts were eating, “Listen, have any of you seen Juniper?” the pyromancer asked in a slight panic.
Sunny was the one that spoke up, “Why do you ask?” she questioned her elder half-sister with a slightly raised eyebrow. As Sunset started to stammer in apparent nervousness, “Yes, I have seen our half-sister. She’s been around the whole ship often doing this.” Sunny elaborated as she brought both of her hands in front of her face and made a rectangle with both thumbs and index fingers.”
“It’s called framing. Well, technically it’s spot framing.” came Juniper’s voice as she, dressed in a pair of short shirts and a mostly unbuttoned and short-sleeved button-up shirt with the bottom tied off in the area of her bosom came and sat down in the open spot of the table on Indigo’s left. With her meal Wallflower Blush with a simple and easily overlooked plain green sundress. “But that’s not the point. I am getting ideas together for a movie. And Wallflower will be my leading lady.” she added as she placed her left hand on Wallflower’s shoulder.
“Listen, Juniper, sorry I haven’t really interacted with you yesterday. I know you’re here in part because Sci-Twi invited you.” Sunset with a sigh of regret.
As the pyromancer turned to Wallflower and prepared to speak “Don’t even,” Wallflower started as she raised her hand silencing Sunset. “You promised to be nicer towards me, then you dragged me onto this boat, you left me with this movie-crazed lunatic,” she said as she pointed to Juniper. Juniper was about to protest, but it died in her throat. However, Wallflower didn’t let up. “And you didn’t even bother to check on me after you, your friends and your and the loon’s sisters decided to light up the night sky without thinking about what the release of that much magic could do.” the girl vented. After a second she lowered her hand. “Now you can apologize.” she as she crossed her arms in front of her chest.
Sunset closed her eyes and took a breath, “I was wrong to pretty much leave you in the hands of Juniper and to not check on you after the show.” Sunset stated. “I am sorry.” Wallflower then gave a nod of acceptance.
“Aren’t you interested in the movie I want to make?” Juniper asked. Everyone else looked at each other and shrugged before nodding. “It’s a period piece, circa 900’s AC....” Juniper started.
However, before she could continue, “T’is is your captain speakin’, the en’ine up and ready to go. To make up for the twelve or so ‘ours we lost, we’re goin’ to be goin’ at top speed soon. For your safety, please return to your cabins.” came the voice of Ragamuffin over the ship’s PA. “We’ll be startin’ up the en’ine in fifteen minutes. If you haven’t finished your meal, feel free to take what you haven’t finished back to your cabin. Thank you for your patience.” the captain finished. Juniper pouted due to the interruption.
“So maybe later you can tell us your movie idea?” Sunset offered as she left the table.
A couple of hours later, everyone had returned to their cabins, sans the CMC and the Rainbolts (minus Rainbow Dash), all of whom were gathered in Sunset and Sci-Twi’s cabin, with everyone playing war. “Well, I think Juniper’s movie sounds lovely.” Rarity said as she placed her card down.
Applejack was the next to play, she rolled her eyes, “Of course you’d like some poorly thought out romance story.” the paladin commented. Once she set her card down she saw that it was a match to the card played before Rarity’s card. The paladin then slapped the deck, “Sandwich!” she declared before she added the pile to her deck. “Besides who would she get to be the guy?” the paladin asked as she placed her top card which was a challenge card. Apple Bloom was the next to play and started to play cards to answer the challenge, which she did and challenged Scootaloo who failed to beat the challenge but the pile was taken by Sweetie Belle as she was the one that saw a sandwich.
As Sweetie Belle played her next card, “Well, from what I’ve seen and heard of Flash Sentry, he can easily pull off the role of the actual love interest.” Sci-Twi commented. She then froze as she recalled what she and Sunset had already asked of Flash the previous day. “Of course it would be more of a he’s the first person to actually treat the protagonist as an actual human being.” she then gave a weak apologetic laugh as she turned to Twilight.
Twilight only shook her head, “If Flash does agree to the role, I won’t get jealous.” she then placed a card. Just then there was a loud boom of lightning. “That’s odd. Even with the storm that was creeping up on us when we had breakfast, at the rate the ship is going we should be clear of any storms.”
Everyone else mostly shrugged their shoulders save for Applejack, whom, almost unbeknownst to everyone else started to look pale. For no reason that could be immediately fathomed Applejack slapped the growing pile of cards as Pinkie was answering a challenge and there was no match or sandwich, “FALSE SLAP!” Pinkie shouted, “You now have to pay a penalty card.” the jester added as she looked up to face Applejack, however, once she saw the paladin’s face. “You okay AJ?” she asked her softening voice betrayed her concern.
Applejack placed her deck of cards down and with her left hand held her head as she looked at her right. “I don’t feel so good,” she answered before she moved her left hand so that she rested her right thumb in its palm. “My thumb feels like someone’s pricking it,” she muttered before she went silent. She then silently mouthed a prayer and her eyes flashed granny smith green for a second. Once the flash was over, Applejack was on her back shivering and quaking as if she was overwhelmed by something.
“AJ!” Apple Bloom shouted as she rushed to her sister’s side. “Speak to me.” the artificer pleaded in tears as she witnessed her sister convoluted. “Somebody help!” she pleaded as she grabbed AJ and held the paladin’s head to her chest.
Applejack then stopped moving and slowly seemed to regain control of herself as she tried to catch her breath, “That’s no normal storm.” the paladin stated. “There’s something evil about it,” she added as she started to sit up on her own.
“We should inform the captain.” Rarity said as she was the first to head to the door. However, she didn’t get far before her hand was grabbed by Sunset.
“Maybe before you go running after your new fixation, we should see what we're dealing with. Also, check the barometer,” the pyromancer said as she pointed to the barometer in the cabin. “It’s over 760 millimeters mercury, there shouldn’t be a storm.” Sunset then turned to the others, “Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, you three stay here. I’m going to check this storm out. Anyone with me, show with a raised hand.” Everyone looked at each other.
“Well since Applejack keeps winning these card games, it would be fun to actually do something aside from site around.” Indigo chimed. The adults then all raised their hands, some more enthusiastically like Pinkie and Lemon, others more reluctantly, like Fluttershy.
After donning their life preservers they left the cabin and cautiously made it onto the deck. While they could feel the speed of the vessel as it went along, they were able to maintain their balance as they each got out. And even though they knew there was no reason for a storm, nearing the ship was a massive typhoon with lightning cracking among the clouds. “This is weird,” Lemon remarked.
However before more could be ascertained, Fluttershy screamed at the sight of the storm that was surrounding them. “What is it?” Twilight asked as she noticed Fluttershy’s panicking state.
“This isn’t a normal storm. It is an elemental, a storm elemental!” the druid shouted in fear. Everyone looked at her in utter befuddlement. Fluttershy sighed, “Not even either of the Twilights or Sunset.” she muttered under her breath. “While Fire, Air, Water, and Earth are the four primary elements in our cultures, other cultures count Wood and Metal as Elements, sometimes Light and Darkness are recognized as Elements, Ice, while solid water is often treated as an Element in it of itself and Lightning or Thunder is also treated as its own Element, and there is also Void, Aether, Space, Consciousness, Energy, and Spirit, depending on the culture are also recognized as Elements.”
“Fluttershy darling, while that was very informative, that doesn’t explain how there can be a Storm Elemental.” Rarity pointed out.
“I think she was trying to point out that our understanding of just Fire, Earth, Water and Air as key elements for our existence. It would, therefore, steam to reason that in certain cultures, a storm can be viewed as a separate element in it of itself.” Twilight expressed.
“Abit of stretch, but given our track record… sure why not.” Pinkie chimed in just before a bolt of lightning cracked the sky. While most of the girls tried to duck as best they could, Pinkie remained standing and squinted at the storm elemental that was assaulting them. “Is it me or does this elemental vaguely look like the Storm King.”
Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, and Fluttershy gave a ‘huh’ as they lifted their heads. And almost uncannily the storm began to shift the structure of the clouds and began to take on a roughly familiar visage with the insignia of the Storm King becoming much more visible. As the storm’s form began to look more and more like the marauder, the wind began to howl as if it was speaking, “Tempest! Bring Me Tempest!” was heard.
“Was that?” Rarity asked. “No, it can’t be. He was petrified and shattered into a hundred pieces.” the enchantress protested against her own understanding.
“Do you mind filling in the rest of us?” Sour asked just before another bolt of lightning cracked the sky.
Twilight was the one to answer, “One week before the most recent Summer Sun Celebration a Magicborn forsaker that went by the name of Tempest Shadows led an army of a yeti-like humanoid called storm guards and captured Chantalot in the name of a man that called himself the Storm King. The day before the Summer Sun Celebration he used the Staff of Sacanas to drain the power of me, Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, Princess Cadance, all the leaders of Mystica’s allies, the Pillars of Virtue, my brother Grandemarshall Shining Armor and my niece Flurry Heart,” the demigod listed off.
Sunset then spoke, “Were you still a demigod after he used the staff?” the pyromancer asked.
“No, Twilight was transformed back into a normal Magicborn.” Applejack answered. “Why do you ask?”
Sunset froze at the answer for a solid second, “Twilight, how much do you know about the Staff of Sacranas?” the pyromancer asked cutting to the heart of the matter. Twilight’s silence answered the question better than any words she could speak. “The staff transfers a piece of someone’s soul into a weather formation.” Sunset said, “And if he used it after stripping you of your demigod state, a piece of each of the Storm King’s metaphysical parts were transferred into the storm he had. We need the staff to disrupt the storm and put this storm elemental down!”
Twilight nodded. “I’ll be back as soon as I can, see what you can do about the storm.” Twilight then closed her eyes and was gone in a flash.
Everyone turned to Sunset to know what she was thinking, “We need either a demigod or rarely powerful elementalist to use the staff.” she said.
Sci-Twi got up and went towards the doors to get back in. “We need Rainbow Dash. She’s the only one other than Princess Twilight who can use the staff and she’s the most powerful elementalist on the ship.” She then went back inside as the others turned to face the storm elemental.
Back in Rainbow and Scootaloo’s cabin, Rainbow was still on her bed, sighing in sorrow. “You really know how to mess things up, don’t cha Crash?” She asked herself. “What is wrong with me? Am I that much of an adrenaline junkie?” She sighed, “Maybe that’s why Scoots liked watching the Washouts and wanted to join them, they’re so much like me.” She then looked to the ceiling, “Huh, guess Lightning and me ain’t so different.” Just then she heard a knock on the door. Rainbow got up reluctantly. She knew it wasn’t Scootaloo, she had a key to the room.
“Coming,” she said with no emotion.
Once at the door and it opened, Rainbow saw Sci-Twi, “Listen Rainbow we need to talk.” Sci-Twi started, the fear in voice hinting to the current state of things.
However before Sci-Twi could get started, Rainbow raised her hand, “Before you say anything, Sci-Twi, I've had a lot of time to think about yesterday.” The elementalist stated. She took a breath “And I spent the better part of it wishing I could make it up to you and everyone else.” She paused as she looked Sci-Twi squarely in the eye, “Because I ruined everyone's trip for nothing.” She confessed with a breath, “There's no baddie to fight! Nothing evil afoot at all! The only villain trying to ruin things was me. I know you jumped through a ridiculous amount of hoops to arrange this for Sunset’s birthday and I messed it up. I’m sorry, I don’t expect you to forgive me.”
Sci-Twi smiled. “Glad you’ve learned your lesson,” she said a little too quickly as she dashed into the cabin and behind its window, “and I’m sorry to undermine this great moment of character development, but have you looked out your window?” Rainbow shook her head and looked where Sci-Twi was pointing.
“Okay so we have some bad weather,” Rainbow commented not getting what Sci-Twi was trying to say. Sci-Twi then showed Rainbow a barometer, “That can’t be right, if we’re in a high-pressure area, why would we be in the middle of a storm.”
“Fluttershy thinks it’s a storm elemental and Sunsets believes its consciousness is the same as the Storm King guy you faced.” Sci-Twi exposed.
“Wait for what?” Rainbow asked as she was starting to follow, but not quite.
Sci-Twi grabbed Rainbow by her wrist, “Honestly, you have got to be the densest person I’ve ever met. We need an elementalist and you’re the most powerful one on the ship. So let’s go!” Sci-Twi panicked as she ran out of the cabin bringing Rainbow along with her.
Back on deck, the others were casting the few ranged spells they had access to, but nothing seemed to work against the Storm King in his new form. The elemental seemed to be laughing at the pitiful attempts to assault and batter it. In turn, it increased the howling of its winds and attempted to strike the ship. However, its lightning was blocked. And back and forth this went on until Sci-Twi and Rainbow arrived at the deck. It was then that Sci-Twi pointed to storm with a frown of ‘Now do you see it.’
Rainbow looked past Sci-Twi and saw the massive Storm Elemental attacking the ship. Rainbow stared at the monster in complete befuddlement. “How long has that been there?”
“About fifteen minutes now,” Sci-Twi explained, “To paraphrase what I said before, Fluttershy told us it’s some kind of storm elemental and Sunset surmised that it was created by the mental remnants of a villain you’ve fought before. The Storm King?” Sci-Twi spoke his name as if worried she said it wrong.
The corners of Rainbow mouth sank as a worried expression spread across her face. She had heard tales of elementals and the damage they were able to bring when she was being trained to be an elementalist, but never in her life did she think she’d ever see one. The fact it also was carrying the face of a once thought dead enemy, who had an obvious axe to grind here, did not help in alleviating her feeling of dread. “So... what’s the plan…” she asked with a gulp.
“Princess Twilight teleported to get something called the Staff of Sarcanas as a means to disburse this storm elemental,” Sci-Twi informed. “But there has to be something else we can do in the meantime,” she added as she went onto the deck.
Rainbow, however, remained behind. For her want of action, this was not what she was expecting, but at some level, she had asked for this. “Well, Crash, you made this bed,” she gulped. “Now sleep in it.” However, before Rainbow stepped back on the deck, Twilight teleported back with the staff.
“Got it.” Twilight declared as she took the staff with both hands and pointed the crystal at the center of the elemental. “Now it’s time to end this,” Twilight said as the crystal started to glow.
The Storm King turned its attention to Twilight and even if he didn’t seem to recognize Twilight or the staff, he did see a threat and sent a half dozen bolts of lightning at Twilight, shocking her. As everyone was utterly transfixed and left agape at what befell her, Twilight’s arm went back throwing the staff into the air. Twilight fell to her knees and everyone rushed towards her. As all that happened, Rainbow stepped onto the deck and caught the staff. She felt something emit from it and enter into her. She felt her hair start to float and her wings start to beat. She couldn’t explain it, but she knew what she had to do and that she had everything she needed to do it.
She smirked as the looked at the Storm King in his new form. “It's hero time!” she said and flew into the wind and ascending to what seemed to be the eyes of the storm elemental.
Once Rainbow was in front of what seemed to be the face of the Storm King immediately gaining its attention. The elemental’s face began to contort and change into an expression that resembled confusion. The weapon she was holding somehow was familiar to him. The girl holding it also seemed familiar. The elemental turned its eyes towards the ship and suddenly notice five other colors besides the rainbow before him. Blond? Two shades of purple? Two shades of pink? Memories began filling his mind, memories of six sorcerers who had stolen that weapon from him, who aided Tempest. Rage like the elemental had never felt before filled its being. The wind picked up and growled out its next words. “Staff? My Staff! You stole! You destroyed me!” His gaze shot from Rainbow towards ship then back toward the elementalist again. “YOU! THEM! TEMPEST! YOU DESTROYED ME!”
Rainbow smirked, “Taste the rainbow, mother fucker!” she shouted as she shot bolts of energy from the crystal of the staff that made of the seven colors that made the visible light spectrum. The elemental cried out in pain and shock that he could be injured. As Rainbow flew she bobbed and weaved, making herself harder and harder to hit. No matter how hard the Storm King tried to swat her, Rainbow seemed like a hornet, able to avoid her foe’s blows and stinging all the while.
The elemental roared over the sound of crashing thunder. “I DESTROY YOU! DESTROY THEM! DESTROY TEMPEST! I… DESTROY… EVERYONE!” the Storm King howled in protest as he failed to swat her.
“Sorry, but forecast update, clear skies,” Rainbow then dove right into the elemental’s face as it opened it’s maw. Everyone gasped as the Storm King then shut it’s maw around Rainbow as they feared the worst. However before anyone could even shed a tear, there was a massive rumble within the elemental. Then a massive explosion of the seven colors of the rainbow that destroyed the clouds that formed the body and ended the storm, with only Rainbow and open skies for miles around. Rainbow was partially charred in her clothes, hair, and skin, “with one hundred percent chance of awesome and being twenty percent cooler.” she tried to pat herself on the back. Yet before she could do anything else she started to feel herself start to fall. However, she was caught by Indigo. Once the two were safely on the deck, Rainbow the collapsed.
“Better get them to the infirmary.” Applejack said as she picked up both Rainbow and Princess Twilight. As they all turned they saw that other patrons of the cruise had come to see what happened, some with recording devices. “This ain’t gonna build up Rainbow’s ego, at all.” the paladin bemoaned with an eye roll.
Rainbow groaned as she started to move. As she opened her eyes, “Well look who decided to join the living.” She heard. Rainbow then opened her eyes to see Applejack setting in front of her and the bed she was on. Rainbow groaned again as she sat, “And it’s a good thing, we can’t seem to get rid of you that easy too.” the paladin added with a chuckle.
“How long have I been out?” Rainbow asked as she started to get out of the bed.
Applejack bobbed her head in thought for a couple of seconds, “About four hours, give or take twenty minutes or thereabout.” the paladin replied as she got up and walked to Rainbow. “Twilight already got a clean bill of health half an hour ago,” she added as she patted Rainbow on the shoulder.
Rainbow then placed her hand on Applejack’s arm, “Listen AJ, yesterday I screwed up big time and I’m sorry about everything, from making your seasickness worse…” she trailed off before she looked down.
There was a moment of silence before she felt the palm of Applejack’s right hand smacked her across the face. “You’re confession accepted and penance performed, Ah forgive yah.” The paladin said as she turned to leave.
Rainbow rubbed her swollen cheek, ‘I deserved that,’ she thought to herself before she too left, after getting checked by the physician on staff. Not long after she arrived back at her cabin only to find the Scootaloo had let Pinkie, Lemon, Sour, and Fluttershy in. Rainbow gave a slight sigh, “I should have seen this coming.” Rainbow muttered to herself. She took a breath, “I know I messed up your day yesterday and part of your trip.” She turned her focus toward Fluttershy and Sour mostly, “I was wrong to accuse that rabbit and scare off all the animals in the petting zoo.” She then dipped her head in remorse, “I’m sorry.” She then raised her head and turned to Lemon and Pinkie, “I was so eager for action, I murdered the cake you two wanted to try. I am sorry.”
Fluttershy was the first to speak as she saw the faint outline of Applejack’s palm still on Rainbow’s face, “Looks like Applejack was a little rough.” the druid said as she gently placed her hand on the swollen cheek. She then pulled Rainbow into a hug. “You’re gonna have to sit Angel for a week, but I forgive you,” she said.
The druid then stepped aside as Sour stood up. She walked up to Rainbow and took a breath. She clenched her fist and was about to strike Rainbow. But she stopped just right at Rainbow’s nose, she then flicked Rainbow’s nose. “Ow,” Rainbow said as she turned and rubbed her nose.
Sour then smiled, “Next time you see me petting an animal, leave the area.” she said with a sanguine smile. “I forgive you.”
Sour then stepped to the side as Lemon got up and walked up to Rainbow. She took out her earbuds, put them into Rainbow’s ears and pressed a button on her mobile music player and blasted foghorns into Rainbow’s ears once. Lemon took the earbuds out. “We’re good now. But next time you see I am enjoying a piece of cake, sit in the corner.” Lemon then also stepped to the side. Which only left Pinkie.
Rainbow sighed, not sure what to befall her. Pinkie got up, walked over to the cabin’s refrigerator and pulled out six plates, each with a slice of the triple choco-berry blasted butter biscuit bundt cake, she then pulled out six forks. She began to pass them around, but stopped at Rainbow, “Are you sorry?” the jester asked as shut one eye and brought the open one extremely close to Rainbow’s face.
“I Pinkie promise, cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” Rainbow answered as she performed the ritual, “I am sorry.”
Pinkie then smiled and gave Rainbow the slice of cake. “All I needed to hear.”
Elsewhere, on the deck, Princess Twilight stood at the railing as she watched the ocean as the ship cruised along. She was silently joined by Flash, “I don’t know if I should be impressed or concern about girls, tackling a storm elemental on a ship in open water. So many things that can go wrong.” the sentry chuckled getting her attention.
Twilight gave a slight laugh, “You know the two aren’t mutually exclusive ideas.” she commented as she elbowed him. “Besides at least we were doing something other than brood in our cabins.”
Flash shook his head, “I wasn’t brooding, I was thinking about Sci-Twi’s and Sunset’s request. And I believe I figured something out.” The two then turned to face each other, “It would be a lie to say I don’t want it, but it’s not a decision I can make alone,” Flash then reached into his pocket a small box. “This isn’t exactly when or how I wanted to do this...”
Twilight took Flash's other hand, "Then don't." she said as she cut him off. "If it's not the right moment, don't force it." she added.
Flash blinked a couple of times, "Did Miss Freak-Out-Aria just imply that I should let it be?" Flash asked in bewilderment.
Twilight gave a light nervous laugh as she looked away slightly, "I need to learn to not panic over everything."
Flash too had a small laugh. The two then looked into each other's eyes and smiled. From Flash's vantage he saw a bit of the sunlight glimmer in Twilight's eyes. It was the one sight he would do what ever to always see. "Maybe, but perhaps instead I should sieze the day." he said. He then dropped to one knee. Twilight was left utterly speechless as all she could do was watch what Flash was doing, “Princess Twilight Sparkle,” Flash started. “They say that home is where the heart is, you don’t have to make me you’re home, but if you would be willing to be mine…” Flash trailed off. “Wow this is so corny.” he joked. He then cleared his throat as he opened the box to show a ring with the main gem that was cut to look like a merger of his and her aura marks, “I can’t imagine greater happiness.”
Twilight covered her blushing face as tears of joy started to form in the corners of her eyes. She then started to nod before she squeaked, “yes”. “Yes.” she reiterated as she removed her hands and nodded before she held her left hand. “Yes, I’ll marry you.” Flash then took the ring out of the box and slide the ring up her left ring finger.
Elsewhere among the ship’s hallways, Rarity was walking until she spotted Ragamuffin. “Oh, Captain,” she said to get his attention.
Ragamuffin obliged, “Miss Rarit-y, thank heaven you’re alright!” he said with a clear smile. He then coughed in an attempt to compose himself, but anyone could see that he was extremely glad to see her. “So ‘ow are you?” he asked.
Rarity smiled before she turned to look slightly away and gave a groan, “A little annoyed that we held up last night and the whole storm elemental matter, but there is a highlight that made the last day worth it.” Rarity finished as she turned her gaze back to Ragamuffin. Her eyes sparkling like gemstones, a slight blush on her cheeks, slowly her eyelids opened and closed as if batting.
Ragamuffin pulled slightly at his unbuttoned shirt collar, “Well, it’s meh job to make sure my passan’ers ‘ave cruise to remember.” he managed to get out without stammering.
Rarity took a step forward and placed her right hand on Ragamuffin’s chest, aligned with his heart, “You’re dealing with an enchantress, oh captain, denial is so out of season.” She then placed a kiss on his lips and a piece of paper in his shirt pocket. Rarity then took a step back, “I look forward to catching your Riverdance performance tomorrow night.” Rarity said before she started to walk away.
“Wait, Miss Rarit-y.” Ragamuffin called to her, unspokenly asking her to stop. Rarity did stop and turned to face Ragamuffin only to realize that he hand leaned towards her and his lips met hers. It was short, lasting a second before Ragamuffin broke it, “I ‘ope you enjoy the s’ow.” he whispered as he managed to slip a piece of paper into her hand. “I ‘otc’a ‘et ‘oin’,” he said before he started to leave. However, as he turned to leave he stopped as he felt Rarity grabbed his left hand.
As he turned to look at Rarity, “I thought you were a gentleman, you know it’s rather rude to tease a lady, a gentleman would make sure she is thoroughly satisfied.” Before Ragamuffin could protest, Rarity took his radio, “Which channel is the first mate on?” she asked.
“Two,” Ragamuffin answered.
“First mate, this is the Captain’s radio, we need some information, when is the captain’s next shift at the wheel?” Rarity asked into the radio.
“Um… he just left and technically he’s still on call.” the voice on the other end responded in a tone that was a mix of nervousness and confusion.
Rarity rolled her eyes before she spoke into the radio, “Well, he is the cabin, but when does he relieve you at the wheel?” she asked trying to clarify.
“I’m relieved by the second mate in eight hours, the captain relieves her eight hours after that.” the first mate said after what seemed to be a minute of silence.
Rarity smiled, “Thank you.” she singsong as she returned to Ragamuffin the radio. She then leaned close to him and whispered into his ear with a sultry voice, “Well, captain, my captain, are you a gentleman?” she asked as she batted her eyes at him.
Ragamuffin rubbed the back of his head and neck, “Well, I ‘ave plenty of time until meh jig.” he pointed out before he lowered his hand and gave Rarity a closed-eyed smile. “Wo’,” he called out as before he knew it he was in front of Rarity’s cabin.
Rarity then knocked on the door, “Sweetie Belle, are you in the room?” she asked. They waited about a second or two and when there was no response, Rarity opened the door.
However, before they could enter the cabin, Twilight flew up to the cabin, “Rarity, you won’t believe it, Flash proposed!” the demigod said as she showed the ring.
Rarity smiled, “That’s wonderful news, darling, we should get all the girls and celebrate, but,” the enchantress then coughed as she tilted her head towards Ragamuffin and then towards her cabin. Twilight blinked in confusion. Rarity sighed, “Darling, you know I wouldn’t ask for you to not be my friend, but maybe you should ask Princess Celestia for tips on how to read the room.”
Ragamuffin coughed and the two turned their focus to him, “It mi’t not be any of meh business, but t’ere are six days left on t’e cruise so per’aps anot’er time, Ms. Rarit-y.” He said with a smile of understanding. Rarity was about to reply. “To parap’ase, ‘Sisters before boy-toys’.” he stopped her. Rarity smiled and hugged him with a peck on his cheek. The two women then left to inform their friends. Ragamuffin shrugged his shoulders and elected to head to his cabin to get some sleep.
A couple of hours later, as the stars blanketed the sky, Twilight, Flash, et al, were gathered on the deck near the pool all around a table and they had all said “Cheers!” as the clunked their drinks together as they celebrated Flash's and Twilight's engagement. As they each gave their congratulations to Twilight, she knew that she and Flash knew there was a conversation that they needed to have with Sci-Twi and Sunset. As the group’s party continued, Twilight pulled Flash, Sunset, and Sci-Twi aside. As the four sat down, “So now that we’re engaged,” Twilight started, “there is still the matter of your proposal to Flash.”
Before the other two could speak, Twilight raised her hand to silence them. “Let me continue,” she said before she shut her eyes and took a breath. She remains silent for a second longer, “Too be honest, I don’t like the idea of Flash marrying someone other than me, but you two should be happy.” She took another pause. “So here’s my counter offer, Flash and my wedding will be first, I decide when he marries you both and I have priority of his time.”
After a couple of seconds of thought among the three others, “So basically, you’d have primary custody.” Sunset surmised.
Twilight gave the comment Sunset made some thought. “Yeah, I guess I would.” she consented. She then turned to Flash, “Do you object to that compromise?” she asked. Flash only shook his head with a smile. Twilight then turned back to Sunset and Sci-Twi. “So…?” she asked.
Sunset and Sci-Twi turned to each other and seemed to have a silent conversation between them. After a couple of seconds, the two turned to Twilight, “I think that’s fair.” Sunset answered first.
“I currently see no better terms, I agree,” Sci-Twi said with a closed-eye smile.
The four then took another swig of their drink, “So about the rings to signify our engagements?” Flash asked as he pointed to Sci-Twi with his left index finger and to himself with his right and then shifted his hands so that his right index finger pointed to Sunset and his left to him a couple of times.
“Let’s celebrate this moment for now,” Sunset commented and the lot agreed.
Epilogue
Seven days later, after Twilight et al had returned, the demigoddess opened the doors to the Castle of Friendship. But her mind was elsewhere as she hummed ‘Once upon a dream’ as she flew about the castle to her room. As she flew by Spike’s room “So how was the cruise?” Spike asked as he turned his attention to her from the comic book he was reading.
Twilight turned looked into the room and showed her left hand, “Flash proposed, I’m engaged! I’m gonna tell, Mom, Dad, Shining, and Cadance!” she then bolted to just that.
Spike looked to the stack of mail which he brought into his room. He was about to get up and give her the letter from Princess Celestia, but he elected to shrug and returned to his comic book, “I’ll give it to her in the morning.”
