After a few weeks traveling across the seas in the zeppelin, Equestria’s coastline soon comes into view.  The ponies on board quickly turn excited and are now anxiously waiting to set hoof on land after all of this time in the air.

“Land ho!” Cecil declares, poking his head out from one of the windows.

“Thank goodness,” Jarvis exclaims from the adjacent window.

“I’m going to get sick at any second now, get me off!” Maurice groans from the back of the blimp. As Twilight, Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Spike, and Rainbow Dash look over the incoming harbour, a warm sense of relief is felt thorough them.

“We did it.” Twilight sighs. “Our adventure is over.”

“Yep.” Spike replies.

“I can’t wait to get home and finish ’Daring Do and the Lost Kingdoms of Trihearth’.”

Rainbow Dash then chirps in, “Oh yeah! That book was awesome! Who would’ve guessed that Daring Do’s mother is a member of the Four Knights’ Counsel?!” The purple alicorn silently slides a hoof to her face in frustration. “Oh, sorry Twilight…”

“No… hard… feelings…” Twilight mumbles below her hoof.

“What’s that?” Spike asks.

“Well…” Dash replies, thinking of the simplest way to explain to a non-fan. “The Four Knights’ Counsel is a group of ponies that seek out the Items of Death that belonged to the Tetrad after defeating Lord Muerte in his Draco Incarnation form.”

“…”

“Yeah, it’s fairly complex, but I think I summed it up pretty well.”

Twilight then retorts, “What about the Philosopher’s Legend? That’s important to the Four Knight’s Counsel.”

“Not after Wolf took the Philosopher’s Legend.”

“It’s being used as black money to fund the creation of Iron Lock Beam.”

“Oh please, that isn’t canon. Even A.K. Yearly said it was just speculation.”

“How else do you explain the fourth clone?”

“There are multiple theories to it.”

“Look, ‘Daring Do’s Resentence’ might not be the most well-received book, but it is canon!”

As Dash and Twilight continue to argue, Spike turns to Applejack, who silently shakes her head to him, a sign not to get involve. Rarity attempts to move to another part of the ship and away from her friends, but accidently bumps into Slasher behind her.

“Oh!” Rarity exclaims as she turns to face her. “My apologies Slasher, I didn’t see you.”

“It’s fine.” Slasher humbly replies. “This place isn’t all that big compared to The Perfection.

“Quite right, quite right. Are you going to be alright, without The Perfection and Korsan?”

“Yeah. November and Nitin are thinking of hiring me along with a few other crew members, give us a change from criminal life to business.”

“What about prison?”

“I’ve heard that Equestria has some nice prisons, at least better than Ti. With some of my friends with me as well, it can’t be too bad to spend a few months there.”

“Well, good luck to you.”

“What about you Rarity?”

“What?”

“Are you going to be fine, even after Korsan?”

“…”

“Yin and Yu told me about it. They said that it looked like you two were… you know…”

“I’ll be okay. Korsan was a, a conflicted pony. I just thought I could bring out his better side.”

“Were you actually in love with him?”

“I… don’t know. Speaking of love, how are you and Yu doing?”

“Wait, what?”

“Oh, heh, Yu Shou. How are he and you doing?”

“We’re doing fine.  There’s always been something going on between us I guess. I hope when we get to the slammer that Yu and I get the same cell.”

“I?!-No, Shou!” The two mares instantly giggle at Rarity’s blunder. Behind them, Twilight and Rainbow’s argument grows slightly louder, now with Ryan Aran and November Gale joining in.

“What’s going on over there?”

“Just some silly debate over Daring Do, lore and whatnot,”

“I see…” Slasher then screams out into the crowd. “Side note; Duo shot first!” Instantly, the gathering at the window explodes with arguing voices. The small brown mare snickers to herself as the yelling echoes in her ears. “Hehehe, it’s true though Rarity. He did.”

“I’ll keep note of that.” Rarity replies. “See you when we land.”

“Okay.” Rarity then proceeds to make her way to the front. Along the way, Yin and Yu walk up to her and trot by her side.

“Hello Ms. Rarity,” the two brothers greet her.

“Hello.” The white mare replies.

“Is Twilight getter better?” The stallion to her right asks.

“A little scarred up, but Twilight’s fine.”

“Have we told you yet about how awesome you and your friends were when fighting Korsan?” The left one asks.

“Yes, two times before.” Rarity answers.

“Oh.”

“But it’s fine. I’m still pumped from the fight as well.”

“Aren’t we all? This should be worth of celebration.” The other brother proclaims.

“Quite right Yin.” Rarity replies.

“Wait,” the left brother stampers. “You figured out which one of us is which? How?”

“I have a hunch that you don’t usually use bigger words like ‘celebration’.”

“I hope that wasn’t an insult.”

“Oh course not dummy,” Yin jokes. “That’s my job.”

“Oh ha-ha, I hope we get cells at different ends of the prison.”

“Not as much as I do. Do you know how loud your snoring was to the cabins right next to yours back on The Perfection?”

“Not as loud as whatever you were doing in the toilets.”

“Wait what?! I thought those things were sound-proof.”

“It’s wood. I’m pretty sure loud clopping can get through it.”

Uncomfortable about where this conversation is going, Rarity attempts to stoically say goodbye to the brothers. “Alright, he-he, I best be going now.”

“See ya.” Yin and Yu reply before promptly returning to their own business. Rarity gallops ahead into one of the more lavish areas of the large zeppelin while Yin and Yu turn around and head back. Inside a parlour room, she finds Sweetie Belle, tightly hugging onto Butch Taylor’s leg while Princess Cadence quietly watches. Noticing Rarity’s arrival, the alicorn princess holds hoof up to her lips. Rarity nods and keeps quiet and watches.

“Please,” Sweetie Belle sobs into the dark blue fur before her, “I don’t want you to go to prison. I don’t want you or any of our friends to do.”

“Look little one,” Butch calmly whispers. “I did a lot of bad things during these past years as a pirate. We all did.”

“But you’re good now. You helped us.”

“I know we did, but…”

“But what?”

“…Not everypony is going to be happy if we were just let loose. It’s very complex.”

“I won’t be happy if you go to prison.”

“I know. Look at it this way; we good guys are only going to be gone for a couple of months. And then, it’s back to normal for everypony, like hibernation.”

“All the way back to ‘normal’?” Cadence bursts in.

“Well, save for the, crime and stuff, mostly.”

“…”

“What?”

“Well,” Sweetie sniffles. “I guess I understand. I am still going to miss you, and all of our other pirate friends.”

“I’ll miss you as well. One more hug alright, your sister’s waiting for ya.”

“No, no,” Rarity replies. “No rush at all.”

“See you later Butch.” Sweetie Belle replies. A magic aura surrounds the filly and slowly lifts her up to the large stallion’s chest where the two then give each other a final hug. She is then set back down and quickly turns to Rarity.

“Heh,” Butch happily growls. “I’d like to see some of the younger ponies deal with what I’ve been through.”

“I’m pretty sure it would’ve taken them a fair while.” Cadence replies.

“Quite.”

“Geez Louise,” Applejack mutters between herself and Applebloom. “That was too much to handle. All of that talk about Iron Locks and stuff. It really tires out your head.”

“You said it ‘sis.” Applebloom replies. As the two Earth ponies tour around the zeppelin, Maria approaches them from the other direction, holding something in her mouth. Her red eyes stayed glued to the floor as the three mares stop before each other.

“Howdy there. You’re…”

“Maria.” She mumbles.

“Maria!” Applejack exclaims. “That’s right. What’s that you have in your mouth?” Slowly, Maria lowers her head to the floor and cleanly spits out the object.

“It’s one of Korsan’s anti-magic straps. The guards got it off of Chopin, the mime.”

“Oh. What are you doing with it?”

“I’m giving it to you. Well, more specifically, your sister.” Gently, Maria grabs the strap with her hooves and firmly wraps it around Applebloom’s right leg as if it were a bracelet. The two sisters examine the small device now on the younger sister. “You wanted to protect your family right? Here you go. If you want to disable it and take it off, just get a small needle and poke it into the lock in the middle.”

“T-thanks.” Applejack stutters, unsure on how to react to something like this. Her gaze turns to face Maria once more, who has returned to her solemn staring of the carpet floor. “Hey, what’s eatin’ you hun?”

“…I’m sorry. I’m sorry for what I’ve done to your friends and your kinds. I was at Korsan’s side, I let him force me to hurt Earth ponies and pegasi. I didn’t think twice when he told me what to do for no good reason. I don’t know how I’ll ever be forgiven for the way I treated you and your friends.” Maria’s voice breaks down before eventually turning into sobs. “I’m so sorry! I have no excuse for it! I was too cowardly to do anything, I was too gutless to stand for what is right, risking what can only amount to a beating in exchange of another’s life! I-”

“Hey, hey, hey,” Applejack shushes. “Don’t beat yourself up like that. You’re not the only one. Even I joined Korsan. I was so scared of my family getting hurt, I forgot about the lives of others. At least you stepped up to Korsan with that Faction-thing.”

“But-b-but-”

“Maria, I forgive you.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. And besides, your life ain’t over yet. After a few months’ time, you’ll be back on your hooves, and can start your life anew.”

“True… Thanks.”

“No problem ma’am.” The two mares give each other a small hug, embracing each other of their woes. In the corner of Applejack’s eye, she can see Applebloom fiddling with her new bracelet. “Actually, can I get a small needle off of ya?”

“Huh? S-sure…” Maria and Applejack part from each other and Maria pulls out her skinniest dagger from her saddle. Applejack grabs the knife and carefully jams it into the anti-magic strap. The strap immediately snaps and falls to the floor, where it is picked up by Applejack with her mouth. “What are you doing?”

Applejack mumbles in response, “You know, after some thinking over these past few weeks, I realize that I don’t need this thing. With my friends and determination, I can protect my family just fine. I’ll just give this to the princesses. They can study it and whatnot.”

“Okay.” With the anti-magic strap now secure in her mouth, Applejack turns around to head for the cockpit, only to have Rainbow Dash, Twilight, and a bunch of other ponies cut her off.

“Uhh… Can I help you?”

“Applejack.” The two leading mares ask at once. “Were the Federalists in cahoots with Renegade during the Shadow Noah Incident?”

“…”

As the zeppelin lands in the harbour of Vanhoover, everypony on board picks up their belongings and prepare to exit. The doors to the outside open, and sunlight immediately pours into the landed aircraft. Ponies, guards, and pirates all flood out onto the stone ground of the harbour. Maurice bends over and kisses the ground. However, the sudden urgings in his stomach cause him to instantly run out towards the ocean shore. As Twilight and the others step out of the vessel as well, they are immediately greeted by their friends and family from Ponyville. All except for Applejack though, as she instead walks over to Celestia and Luna on the outskirts of the mob.

Applejack draws herself next to Celestia and gracefully calls out to her. “Princess Celestia.” The larger alicorn princess, along with her sister, both look over to see Applejack, holding the anti-magic strap in her hoof. Although she tries to look proper, the switch from four hooves to three causes her to clumsily walk along.

“Yes Applejack?” Celestia asks.

“This is one of Korsan’s anti-magic straps. I was hoping you can take it and study it or whatever you do.”

“Oh yes,” Luna replies before turning to Celestia. “I remember that. Remember when Korsan came to the gala and attached one of those things to my horn?”

“I do.” Celestia answers. “Thank you Applejack, this will serve us very well in research.” Celestia then proceeds to use her magic to pick up the black strap, only for it to stay put. “Oh, right, anti-magic.” Instead, the alicorn holds open her wing, in which Applejack places the strap on it. Celestia then folds her wing in and secures the object. “Right then, to Canterlot.”

“Wait,” Applejack speaks.

“What is it?”

“You know what Korsan was sayin’ about pegasi and Earth ponies right?”

“Yes…”

“Well, don’t let it get too deep alright.”

“Sure.”

“Even though ya might not have the happiest of beginnings, or born with what you want, or anything like that, you’re still you. You can still do great things, everypony can. Ain’t that right?”

“Correct. You have made many friends and have done so many things.”

“I just to make sure that everypony knows that.”

“I’m sure that will be the case, especially with you around.”

“Thanks Celest’.”

“Alright then. Sister?”

“You go on ahead,” Luna replies to her sister. “I’ll just check on Twilight one more time and see how our pirate friends and foes are doing.”

“Very well then.” With a flick of her horn, Celestia vanishes in a bright flash of light, leaving behind Luna and Applejack. With her sister gone, Luna flies over above Twilight, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Spike, Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo. In front of the ten ponies are guards transporting Korsan’s loyal pirates, including Chopin, Horus, Ivan, and Pip, to the barred coaches waiting for them. Tightly held by the guard’s anti-magic spells, all the more villainous pirates can do is give their evil glares at the onlooking mares, who simply brush off the invisible threat.

“Well they’re not going to be seen for another thirty or so years, I can guarantee that.” Luna mutters out loud. Upon hearing her comment, Twilight looks up and sees Luna.

“Hi Luna!” Twilight exclaims. As the black alicorn begins to decent, Twilight scoots over to make room for her in the crowd.

“Quite a humble departure isn’t it?”

“Expecting something?”

“Not yet anyways. Tomorrow most likely is when the ceremonies will take place.”

“I’ll remind the girls to wear their formal outfits tomorrow. Since somepony ruined the twist on one of my books, there isn’t really a purpose to finishing it so soon.”

Twilight then suddenly exclaims. “Shoot!”

“What is it?”

“I forgot the Diamond Eye! Now it’s probably at the bottom of the sea next the wreckage of Korsan’s ship. The other half of it is also right there as well… Bah…”

“Don’t fret over spilt milk. We can always retrieve the Diamond Eye some other day since we know where it is now.”

“You’re right, you’re right. Say, speaking of the Diamond Eye, do you know anything about someplace known as Alicorn Island?”

“Hm… Not much comes to mind. Sorry.”

“Oh well.” As Korsan’s pirate train comes to an end, the pirates that fought alongside Twilight, including Slasher, November, Yin, and Yu, march under the aid of the guard, as they are taken to their own prison carriages. Unlike their rivals, Slasher and the other heroic pirates are smiling, and are waving goodbye to their friends.

“Don’t worry about your friends Twilight.” Luna reassures her. “They’ll be well taken care of. Hopefully these other nations Korsan has messed with will understand.”

“If you say so.” Twilight and her friends all wave back to the pirates as they are swiftly whisked away to prison, but only for a short time before coming back just as happy and free as ever.