With the three fillies Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo caught onboard the SS Raindrop, the seven heroes immediately escort them into the galley, seating them side by side on one side of the table and seating themselves on the others.

“What in Equestria are you doing here?” Rarity barks at the young trio.

“Technically,” Pinkie interrupts, “we’re outside Equestria.”

“I don’t care! Why aren’t you back at home with Mom and Dad Sweetie Belle?”

“Well…” the small unicorn filly hesitantly replies, “It was Scootaloo’s fault! She was the one who tempted me into sneaking onboard.”

“What?” The orange pegasus filly snaps back, “Don’t blame me. It was Applebloom’s fault for planning on us sneaking in inside the crates of apples.”

“Don’t go accusing me of anything.” The yellow Earth pony filly growls, “Who do you think levitated us and herself into those crates to begin with? Sweetie Belle?”

“Hey!” Sweetie Belle sharply replies, “It was your idea.”

“All of you quit it!” Applejack angrily yells. “As I can read it, all of you played some part in stowing away. Now what I want out of all of yous is an apology. Twilight, let’s turn this baby back home to send these babies back home.”

“Wait!” Scootaloo cries out, “We can help you! Don’t you want Applebloom, your little sister, to get her cutie mark?”

“For what? Being a stowaway?”

“…Is that an option?”

“Girls,” Rainbow Dash replies in an annoyed tone, “We appreciate your want in helping us. But as I told you, it’s too dangerous. If you all were on deck when those sirens attacked us, you’d all probably be Kraken food by now.”

“But that was just one small incident.”

“Yeah,” Applebloom chimes in, “and besides, we were all just curious about the music and banging going on outside. You were all acting so strange, wandering around the edge of the boat, almost oblivious to everything happening around you.”

“Wait,” Spike interrupts, “You weren’t affected by the singing?”

“No, at least not like you others,”

“If you weren’t affected, why didn’t you help me?”

“We were… too scared… and the boat was a little too wobbly…”

“Oh.”

“Come one,” Sweetie Belle whines, “let us help. We’ll stay below deck when Korsan’s around, we’ll cook, we’ll clean inside, we’ll mop the poop deck, we’ll clean your beds, anything!”

“For the last time,” Rarity furiously declares, “no! Any objections?”

“Nope,” Applejack responds.

“Same here,” Rainbow adds.

“Sorry, but I have to agree with them.” Fluttershy mumbles, trying to avoid eye contact with the fillies.

“Absolutely not.” Twilight replies.

“No,” Spike utters, “Pinkie Pie?” The rest of the mares and Spike turn their attention to Pinkie Pie standing in the middle of them all, staring at the fillies ever growing pupils. The pink Earth pony bites her lip in guilt as the fillies keep increasing their pupil size and quivering their lips, attempting to persuade the older mare to give in.

“Pinkie, don’t fall for it.”

“I can’t…” Pinkie mumbles as her eyes grow wider and wider with theirs. “Can’t… resist… so… sad…” Soon, the trio’s eyes begin to water as well as a few fake sniffles added to their act. Finally, Pinkie snaps. “I can’t say no! You can stay with us, just please, make it sto-op!”

“Oh my feathering deity,”

“Seeing Pinkie sad makes me sad,” Fluttershy whimpers, “I take back by vote. You can stay.”

“Well,” Sweetie Belle happily declares, “looks like we’re half and half. So, what’s it going to be? Are we just going to be sitting here?”

“Gr…” Twilight grumbles as she responds, “If you’re going to be with us, we have to establish some ground rules.”

“What?!” Applejack and Rarity snap at her, “We’re letting them stay?”

“Rule number one, you must always be where one of us tells you to go. So no wondering around the ship,”

“What?” Scootaloo cries out.

“Rule number two, whenever we come across another pony of any sort, you must go inside and hide, regardless of whoever snapped and let you on deck, unless the situation says otherwise.”

“No pirate fighting?” Applebloom squeals, “Drat.”

“And final rule, no meddling in our business. If we didn’t ask for your help, you do not help.”

“Fine,” Sweetie Belle heatedly replies.

“Any other rules one of us wants to add?”

Pinkie replies, “No cuts, no buts, no coconuts.”

“…Okay then. Rarity? Applejack? Any problems?”

The two mares give a short glance at each other before responding in sync, “None. Sounds good. Now all three of you fillies stay here,”

“Good, now back to following Korsan. Where is he anyways?”

Meanwhile, far away from Twilight and her gang, Korsan’s ship flies high above the water heading towards Thieves’ Hold. At the crow’s nest on top of one of the backmost masts of the ship, leaning over the edge, a red, lanky stallion is levitating a telescope in front of an eye as he looks at the rival ship.

“Captain,” he loudly calls out, “you might want to hear this!” Standing on his hind legs at the large metal steering wheel on the second floor deck of the quarterdeck, Korsan hears the crew member. Quickly, he pulls up a lever right next to the wheel and runs down to the main deck and towards the bottom of the stallion’s tall mast. The stallion meanwhile quickly slides down the sides of the ladder with his hooves, reaching the waiting captain in seconds.

“What is it Ryan Aran?” Korsan promptly asks.

“It’s our followers’ ship. There are three more ponies we didn’t see.”

“What are they like?”

“Three fillies, one Earth pony, one pegasus, and one unicorn.”

“Anything notable about them?”

“From what I saw, the unicorn one looks to be the white mare’s sister. They’re all in the galley Captain.”

“I see, I’m going to have to play by another angle if that’s the case. Have Chopin sketch the new sea dwellers after he’s finished with the main seven.”

“Aye-aye, I’m onto it.”

“Good.” The bipedal pirate then walks towards the doors to the galley behind him. Upon entering he sees Maria, the white mare combatant from last night, and a slightly older yellow stallion with a long, light blue and purple mane and tail sitting at the table next to each other, staring into each other’s eyes, oblivious to the captain’s arrival. “Maria Vanshwitz, Hans Kraus,” Surprise of his unseen presence, the two crew members stumble from their seats before quickly getting back up and saluting him.

They immediately respond, “Yes Captain Korsan?”

“Apologies for my intrusion, but I was merely curious of what my crew’s been doing.”

“No woes.” Maria quickly replies, “Nothing out of the usual here in the galley nor the kitchen. Isn’t that right Ivan?”

“Aye.” A gruff stallion’s voice cheerfully echoes from the kitchen next to the galley.

Korsan accidently chuckles to himself as he sees the two desperately trying to keep their secret from him before responding, “No need for such secrecy, I know.”

“You do?” The yellow stallion gasps.

“Yes.”

“I apologize for my unprofessionalism.”

“There’s no need to be sorry. I can see that you two have strong affections for each other. As long as it doesn’t interfere with your duties, I respect your relationship.”

“Really?” Maria exclaims with joy.

“Why yes. We’re not monsters here. We treat love as it is.”

“Thank you Captain.”

“Your welcome Maria and Hans, I best be going now. I have to do some research in phycology.”

“Is this about the mare aboard that Equestrian ship?”

“Why yes, it’s been discovered that she has a sister with her as well, something I didn’t anticipate.”

“I apologize for my intrusion, but I heard you and Isyan talking about her a few minutes ago. You seem to be attracted to her from what I heard from below deck. I’m not sure a mind attacking scheme will get her to like you Captain, especially with your plans with the Diamond Eye.” The pale mare lowers her head in shame and closes her eyes, awaiting some form of punishment from her leader. However, she instead feels a cold claw caress her chin as her head is being lifted back up to Korsan’s face. The pirate pegasus looks at her with a warm smile as her red pupils reveal themselves to his single icy blue eye.

“Don’t feel ashamed, most ponies usually disagree with my ideals. However, I have studied well enough to know what I’m doing. Everything comes down to a basic science, including magic and emotions. If harnessed properly, the world practically kneels down to you. Do you understand?”

“Yes Captain, I do understand.”

“Good. Now run along you two.”

“Yes Captain.” The two crew members reply before quickly marching out the door. However, before Maria reaches halfway out, a pair of metal claws are then felt stroking the back of her neck.

“And for future reference, don’t eavesdrop on me when I’m talking with a crewmember privately, especially my cousin. Let’s just say that some consequences are receiving a small buff.”

“Aye-aye, Captain…” The mare nervously responds as she leaves the chamber. Now alone in the galley, with only the cook in the adjacent kitchen with him, Korsan begins to slowly pace around the room, examining each of the seats as he walks.

“Ivan Voorhees, I have a favor to ask you.”

“Aye,” he promptly responds.

“Keep an eye out for Maria Vanshwitz, Hans Kraus, and Isyan Maden. If you hear anything fishy from them, report it to me.”

“Aye?”

“Let’s just say that some ponies are knowing a little too much and talking a little too much. You know the saying for such an occasion.”

“Aye…”

“Dead pony tells no tales…”

“Aye,”

“Perhaps, perhaps it is true. Idiots they are if it is.”

“Aye,”

“Captain!” Ryan exclaims as he bursts into the room.

“What?” Korsan asks.

“We lost sights of their ship. Chopin was observing them for a while until he had to sketch, but when he looked back into the glass afterwards, they were gone. They seem to have gone another direction.”

“Blast…”

“What should we do Captain?”

“Continue our course to Thieves’ Hold.”

“But what about the mare?”

“If they could survive the sirens and Kraken of Siren Gulch, chances are set that they’ll reach us eventually. And even if they don’t follow, I have a backup plan.”

“Are you leaving this up to fate and a backup plan?”

“In a scientific sense. Besides, this will give me plenty of free time to do some research.”

“I guess so.”

“Let’s just continue with our regular ways, forget that galleon.”

“If you say so. By the way, how has progress on the Diamond Eye been?”

“Dead ends so far. It turns out that it’s not two halves, but instead two separate Diamond Eyes.”

“What?”

“They don’t fit together to form one, their edges don’t meet properly. But don’t fret. Our ultimate objective will soon be reached. I just need time and focus.”

“If you say so Captain. Oh! One last thing,”

“What?”

“Well, you didn’t hear this from me, but I’ve heard from Clara that Frankie told Maria told Phlox told Lazarus told Ivan told Lilis told Lotus told Yin told Yu told her that Butch has been considering retirement for a while now.”

“Ivan, is this true? Did Lazarus tell you that your partner cook’s been considering it?”

The cook humbly responds, “Aye.”

“Hm, very well then,”

“What are you going to do about it?” Aran asks, “The only other ponies who’ve retired were old Nitin Gale and his daughter. And let’s just say, to be blunt, they haven’t really enjoyed our company since.”

“A notable point Aran, I congratulate you. I’ll examine Butch sometime later to come to a conclusion for the old stallion. You’re free to go.”

“Okay then Captain.” As the tall pony trots out of the galley, Korsan’s eye looks back at the burly black stallion through the serving window between the galley and the kitchen.

Ivan promptly speaks, “Aye…”