At long last, our heroes once again move forward in their seemingly endless journey.

Three days ago, they were given a boat that, with the gratitude of The Highlands, could take them wherever they needed to go. Due to the increase in danger across the lands, however, they had to make their next destination the only other place that could be considered as peaceful as Equestria, itself... Atlantis.

Alas, though, the trip to Atlantis from The Highlands would take a week... and already at day three, trouble seems to stir... from far below the sea, no less...

Inside the dining room of the S.S. Atlantis, Gilda and Pinkie Pie were sitting at the same table, telling each other about a few "interesting" stories about their childhood... but in reality, Gilda was just quietly sitting on the bench with her elbows leaned on the table, and her talons buried within her cheeks. With half-lidded eyes, she was nodding off to what Pinkie was saying.

Finally, Pinkie managed to catch her attention. "By the way, what do you think about Swift?"

Gilda raised up from her talons, and stared at the curious Pony mare with a raised eyebrow. "What? What're you talkin' about?"

With a giggle, Pinkie replied, "Oh you know, silly! What do you feel when he's around you?"

Giving an annoyed groan, Gilda replied, "Why the buck does everyone keep on askin' us about that? We feel perfectly fine, alright?"

Pinkie nodded her head and replied with her unbelievably large smile, "Hey! You and Swift have become boyfriend and girlfriend! You know what that calls for? A PAR-" Before she could finish her sentence, however, Gilda covered her mouth with her talons, and deadpanned.

"No, Pinkie. No parties this time, alright? We're happy enough already, so a party wouldn't be necessary. All you gotta do... is just congratulate us, and go with the flow... alright?" Pinkie noticed that Gilda wasn't looking as angry as she normally would be before she and Swift admitted the events that transpired three days ago to the rest of the group. "Although I'd hate to ask... but why have ya been askin' me that same question the last three days in a row? Last time I was in Ponyville, ya didn't even ask any of the other couples the same question!"

Pinkie's smile slowly lowered, before she looked away. "Um... well..."

Then Gilda sighed, before patting Pinkie on the left shoulder. "Look, Pinkie Pie... I've told ya that tryin' ta romance with Justin ain't gonna work. Ya wanna know why?"

With a sigh, Pinkie looked down at the glass of punch that she was drinking. Then she slowly nodded her head and replied, "Because he and Ruby are going to Equestria to leave this world, anyways... and if I were to get too attached to him, then... then it would be even harder to say good-bye in the end."

Then Gilda nodded her head. "Trust me, Pinkie... there's plenty of Stallions out there for ya!"

Pinkie nodded her head and replied with a serious expression, "You're right! I just need to keep my eyes peeled, and not think about romancing with Justin!"

Suddenly, the spoken human stepped into the room with a morning yawn, and a smile on his face. "Whew! Finally, I got a chance to take a bath, and sleep on a bed again!"

For the first time since Pinkie saw him, Justin's hair was no longer covered in dirt... and it was neatly combed down once again, while his beard even appeared to be groomed to the best of his abilities, allowing it to fall down to his chest in a straight row.

At once, when he looked at her without the muck over his bright, lightly-tanned face, Pinkie's eyes dilated again, and at once, she began to drool... before fainting in Gilda's arms, which made her roll her eyes and groan, before gently placing the unconscious pink mare on the table.

When Justin noticed the scene before him, he quickly hurried to Pinkie and asked, "Pinkie! Are you alright?!"

Gilda looked at him and replied, "Yeah, she's fine. Just had a little too much salt in her drink, that's all."

Justin nodded his head and replied, "Ah, okay... I've heard that salt is pretty much my world's term for 'alcohol'. Quite strange, really."

That statement caused Gilda to raise an eyebrow. "What's so strange about it? Do humans have some sort of salt tolerance?"

With a chuckle, Justin nodded his head. "Yeah. Funny story about that, really!" He then sat on the bench at Pinkie's right, while beginning his story.

Back in Druathica, when it was just Ruby, Gilded, Swift, Zula and I, we made it to Draemarth City. When we made it there, it didn't take long for us to figure out that we were short on bits, and had to find a way to earn some for the boat ride to The Highlands.

Thankfully, I have a slight history in guitars, though... instruments that slightly resemble the Ukulele. With the knowledge I have of guitars, I ended up practicing the Ukulele a few nights, then began playing a few tunes from my world's historical days... needless to say, it caught on pretty quick.

Then, after we managed to save up enough money to take the boat to The Highlands, we figured out that all the tickets were taken... and as you probably know, the route only has one boat that goes back and forth, since the control one has of water vehicles are more limited than the aerial ones... but after what happened between Gryphonia and Druathica, don't expect me to take another airship ever again.

Anyways, I'm getting off-topic here. So when we thought all hope was lost, we heard a group of drunkards were in the local tavern, boasting about their latest purchase... which, ironically, was the last five tickets. Then, they decided to get cocky, and challenge anyone to an "Ale Drinking Contest". They started betting bits, and won every round.

Anyways, one of them decided to pick me, and challenge me to their stupid challenge. Of course, I said no, because I don't drink alcohol... never have, and never will.

Their confusion, of course, led to them asking me what in the world alcohol is... and mentioned something about me already drinking too much salted beverages.

I took a taste-test, and could guarantee that the salt that the inhabitants of this world get drunk over is the same salt that humans put on their foods as a delicacy.

With that in mind, I took them up on their challenge.

After flawlessly defeating them without showing even the slightest bit of tipsiness, they went in all-or-nothing... and wagered their tickets in the process. In return, I'd have to buy all their drinks in the end, if I were to lose.

Yeah, I think they were too drunk to realize the level of stupidity of the choice that they made.

Anyways, after beating them in their own game, I took the tickets, left the bits for the bartender, who appreciated the kind gesture, and the following day, we were on our way to Port Greenhold, where we were ambushed, and dragged to the cells.

"And the rest, as they say, is history!" Justin concluded, just in time to notice Pinkie Pie drooling on the table next to him.

With an impressed smile, Gilda chuckled. "So... you out-drank a group of what? Foxes? Goats?"

"Minotaurs." Justin stated matter-of-factly, which made Gilda's smile drop into shock. "Come to think of it, Minotaurs seem to be the ones who hate me the most... can't explain why, though. Maybe it's just in their nature to be competitive, or-" Before he could continue his sentence, Gilda cut him off.

"Wait, wait, wait... you mean to tell me that you out-drank a gang of Minotaurs?!" When Justin nodded his head, Gilda hummed. "Huh... guess I'm gonna have ta see ya in the taverns! Perhaps you can get us a flank-load of bits in those challenges!"

Justin shook his head and stood from the table. "Sorry, but I'm not that kind of guy. I might be able to handle salt greater than a Minotaur, but that's no excuse to abuse that power... besides, Ruby shouldn't grow up under that kind of influence, anyways. She's a Pony now, after all... one from this world, that is... so I wouldn't doubt if it would affect her the same way it affects everyone else."

Gilda nodded her head in understanding. "Good point... hmm... I wonder what Swift's up to. Anyways, catch ya later!"

Justin nodded his head, and shook her talon good-bye. "It's been good talking with you. Oh, and congratulations, you two. I've been trying to teach Ruby some basic mathematics, so I couldn't really talk much to everyone else."

"Huh... interesting. Anyways, let her hang with me, and I can teach her some fighting tricks!" Gilda boasted.

With a chuckle, Justin replied, "I'll keep that in mind..." After that, Gilda headed out the door, only for Maud to walk in as well.

When she looked at Pinkie Pie, she hummed. "I take it Gilda told you that she's been drinking too much?"

Looking back, and noticing Maud walking in for the first time, Justin nodded his head. "Yeah... something like that."

"You know she's only eighteen, don't you?" Maud stated.

"Who, Gilda? I thought she said she was nineteen."

Maud shook her head. "Pinkie's only eighteen, so she isn't allowed to drink yet... and Gilda's a Gryphon, so she is allowed, and has been since she was only sixteen."

Justin raised an eyebrow at that statement. "Oh... well, I'll be sure to keep an eye on her, so she doesn't do this anymore, then. Thanks for bringing that up."

Maud, though expressionless, sounded more stern at this point. "I don't think she was drinking, Justin... I think there's something going on between the two of you. As her older sister, I'd like to know what it is."

With a sigh, Justin replied, "Look, I don't even know what you're talking about, okay? I've only met her about a few weeks ago, when we first got to The Highlands, and I only view her as a friend... and I view her as that only because she helped us get out of there."

Maud nodded her head. "I see... well, I don't know if you know this already, but she seems to be romantically attached to you... and for that, I cannot say why."

Justin sighed, and placed his right hand over his forehead. "I had a feeling she never dropped it..."

"Dropped what?" Maud asked, before tilting her head to the left slightly.

Justin's right hand lowered to his eyes, and as he rubbed them and shook his head left and right, he replied, "When we first met, I was in a prison, held up in bars... and when I looked her way, she... stared at me... in an odd way."

Maud hummed, and rubbed her chin in thought. "Hmm... can you show me how she looked?"

Justin shook his head again. "Sorry, but any expressions that her face can make... kinda defies logic in many ways."

Maud nodded her head again. "I understand that one... then can you at least describe it? I may not show any emotions, but that doesn't mean I can't understand them... especially Pinkie Pie's."

With a nod, Justin closed his eyes again, and started thinking back on the past couple weeks. "Well, her eyes were completely wide open... her mouth was open, and formed into a smile... and her tongue was out. She was drooling, and from the looks of it, breathing heavily."

Maud sighed at his revelation, and closed her eyes. "Then it is as I had feared... she's not only attracted to you romantically, but she's also attracted to you physically."

"What do you mean by that?" Justin asked, now with an even more worried tone in his voice.

"It means that you might want to avoid going near her when that happens... but at the same time, don't hurt her feelings, because that could have some... unwanted side-effects." Maud finished, while looking away.

"Like?" Justin asked, only for Maud to blink, and turn back towards Justin.

"You've read about Ponies, correct?" Maud asked, only for Justin to nod.

"At least, I've read about Earth Ponies being more stronger, and capable of more manual labor than the Unicorns and Pegasi combined."

"Then... have you read about 'Estrus' Periods?" Maud asked, which caused Justin to step back nervously.

"Y-yeah... what about it, though?"

"When Pinkie Pie looks at you like that, it's best to pretend you didn't notice, and bring something up that would require you to get away from her... then avoid contact with her for the following week. You're lucky the past week has been filled with trouble, though... otherwise, you would've had to deal with her while she's... you know..."

Justin nodded his head. "I'll also keep that in mind... but why do you think she fainted? She hasn't done that last time."

"Simple," Maud began, "it's because she changed her personality. It's a... unique ability that she has, to say the least. When we lived on the Rock Farm, she was oftentimes miserable... but at the same time, she was the most daring of us all. In fact, she was the one who often faced off against the Timberwolves when they were to invade. While our neighbors would've used the simple 'Repel them with metal sounds' technique, she actually ran up to them, destroyed them, and then burnt their ashes to keep them from returning."

Both of Justin's eyebrows raised at that statement. "Wow... so she's that dangerous?!"

"Only if angered, or threatened... but despite common rumors, she's still in control, and can change between, what we call, 'Pinkamena Dianne Pie'... and back into 'Pinkie Pie', at will... and either way, she won't harm a friend, regardless. Think of it as her... darker personality, but more tamed than the usual victims of MPD... Multiple Personality Disorder."

Again, Justin nodded his head. "I'm glad to know that one, at least. Thank you for the heads-up!"

Maud then walked closer to him and asked, "But I have to ask, though... what exactly do you have against starting a relationship? I know you and your daughter are both trying to go to Equestria so you can go home again, but what if there isn't a way to send you back to your world? Or what if you end up going back, but return here again someday? Wouldn't you like to have an extended family to look forward to coming back to see again, eventually?"

Justin closed his eyes, and began heading out the door. "It isn't about me not wanting to start a relationship... it's about a promise I made... long ago."

"Who did you promise, exactly?" Maud asked, now starting to cause Justin's hands to curl up into fists.

"I'd rather not say." Justin whispered.

"Why not? You are in control of your life, now! Who could possibly hold you against starting a relationship?!"

Finally, Justin snapped. With a glare on his face, he punched the wall to his right with his right fist, and looked down... silencing Maud's questioning, and leaving a large dent in the wall. Then, at the top of his lungs, he shouted, "I PROMISED RUBY, OKAY?!" Then his eyes began to fill with tears.

Maud remained silent for a moment, before looking back at Pinkie Pie. "But... she and my sister get along very well, though... what do you mean-"

"I'm not talking about my daughter..." Justin interrupted, which made Maud raise an eyebrow in confusion.

"Not your daughter? So wait... you mean to tell me that..."

With a heavy sigh, Justin nodded his head. "Yes... I'm talking about my fiance... my daughter's mother."

"What... happened?" Maud asked, now sounding far more concerned than before.

Taking a deep breath, Justin turned back to her and replied, "She died... after giving birth to my daughter."

"But... she isn't biologically your daughter, is she? She told us, already."

Justin nodded his head. "Yeah... but even so, I took her in. After all, I was engaged to her mother when she was born... and as such, I feel it is necessary to be her father... since her biological father was a criminal... a rapist, no less."

Maud looked away from him, and slowly nodded. "I'm sorry for your loss... we've both gone through a tragic loss... so I know how you feel." As she said that, she pulled the pebble that remained of Boulder from her pocket.

Justin looked at the pebble, and then looked away. "It wasn't your fault that she died... if anything, I'm the one who should be sorry... your friend sounded like a good person. I wish I could've met him."

Suddenly, Justin felt a pair of arms wrap around him from his back. When he turned around, he noticed Ruby was there, hugging him. Weakly smiling, Justin lowered to the ground level, and picked her up in a returning hug. "Daddy... I don't want you to be sad... or mad."

Justin chuckled at his daughter, and gently brushed her mane. "Hey, Ruby... don't worry, I'm feeling better, now... sorry if I caused a commotion." Then he turned to Maud, and smiled. "Thank you, Maud... it's been a while since I could talk about-" before he could finish his sentence, however, the ship started to shake.

"What the..." he began, before Gilded ran in. Then Justin passed Ruby to Gilded and said, "Gilded, watch over Ruby! I'm going down to the Maintenance Room to see what Stealth is up to!"

With a nod, Gilded replied, "Be safe, Justin!"

"I never am." Justin replied with a smirk, before running out the door, and towards the manhole. Then he pulled open the door to the manhole, and slipped through, only to find a few spots in the bottom of the metallic boat, and Swift constantly running through the rising puddles of water from the holes that were spraying water from. "Stealth! What's going on down here?!"

After plugging a hole with a small screw, Stealth replied, "Something hit us from the south, mate! We need to find land, and we need to find it quickly!"

Suddenly, the door to the manhole opened again, and Limestone ran in. "Justin! Stealth! We need to abandon ship, now!"

"What's going on in the radars? Did you find something?" Justin asked, as both he and Stealth followed her to the manhole; shortly after Stealth plugged the last of the holes with whatever he could find, and checking to make sure he knew that the holes that were spewing water were all plugged up, and no longer a threat for now.

Limestone nodded her head as they climbed up and replied, "Yes... and it's something big!"

The second that they exited the manhole, the group were all standing at the edges of the rails, trying to find the source of the massive quake that nearly took the ship.

At first, it almost seemed to be gone, until Marble's voice called from the loudspeaker, "GUYS! WHAT'S THAT UP THERE IN FRONT OF US?!"

When the group looked up front, their eyes widened at the sight of a massive glowing white orb of light attached to a black tentacle-like pole that rose from the water, four times the length of the ship up high. Then, from the distance, they saw a pair of giant, pupil-free eyes attached to a colossal, spherical fish with an enormous mouth, filled with teeth three to four times the size of the ship.

"Oh, buck..." Gilda stuttered, before turning to Justin. "WE JUST PISSED OFF A BUCKING ANGLER WHALE!"

As she said that, the distant Angler Whale began to growl, before roaring in a loud, roach-like hiss, before starting to make a floating dash towards the boat.

Author's Notes:

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Consider the pic at the top of this announcement a size reference (though the one in the story isn't THAT big. No need to worry about it being THAT overpowered!) Oh, and for the source, it's in THIS LINK.

Here we are again, My Little Bronies! A New Chapter, of a New Day! (Imagine how much of a doozy it's gonna be to fight THAT thing! )

As always, stay tuned, My Little Bronies! And remember... "When someone's got you down, it takes a TRUE friend to help you back up... but for most to know you need their help, it's always wise to ask for it."