Several hours had passed since the Commander was taken prisoner. Celestia's sun was high in the sky, showing a clear blue sky that she yearned so badly to be flying through. But instead, she could only sit on her bed and think about what possible reason Sombra and Canterlot would be out here for. But each time she tried, she just couldn't find any reason to justify this action.

"So how quick do you think that ship's gonna sink once we open fire?" a voice outside the cell asked. Her ears perked up immediately when she heard that before looking at the wall made of iron bars. Two guards were stationed on the other side with their backs to her, each of them wielding a spear.

"If I had to guess," one of them replied. "She won't even last one hit. Especially with those crates of gunpowder on board."

"You think so?" the other asked. "That'd be kind of disappointing if you ask me. I'm hoping that she lasts at least one round from each gun."

"What are you two talking about?" the mare asked as she walked over to the bars.

"Quiet, prisoner!" the one on her left ordered as he turned to look at her. Spitfire just glared silently at him in response.

"Now now," the one on the right intervened, holding a hoof out in front of the left guard. "Let's not be rude to our guest. Besides. It ain't like she's in any position to stop what's gonna happen anyways. What harm would come if she knew what was coming?"

"I suppose so," the left guard answered. "Seeing her reaction might give me a laugh too."

"I doubt it," she said while rolling her eyes.

"We'll see," the one on the right replied. "You see. There is a ship out there that is heading this way. A ship that a certain stallion is on. This pony has escaped our leader in the past. But he will not be so fortunate this time."

"Huh," she replied. "Must be pretty talented if he was able to get away from Sombra in the past."

"He didn't escape from King Sombra," the guard replied. "He escaped from our Queen."

"Queen?" the mare asked in a confused tone while looking at both of them with a raised eyebrow. "Are you stupid or something? You guys don't have a Queen."

"Typical response... from a pony," the right guard said. "There's much more at play in this war than you realize."

"What are you talking about?"

"We'll show you exactly what we're talking about," the one on the left answered before a ring of green colored magic formed around his hooves. Spitfire's eyes widened while looking on as the magic suddenly enveloped his entire body until it dissipated, revealing a changeling where the guard once was. The mare just audibly gasped as the one on her right did the exact same thing.

"Changelings?!" she shouted as she stepped away from the bars, completely unexpecting this. "How are you here?"

"We've always been around," the changeling on the left replied. "Hiding among you. Biding our time. Consuming the love needed to survive."

"Until our glorious Queen joined forces with King Sombra to take over Equestria, giving him the rule he desires in exchange for allowing us to feed off of the love of you pathetic ponies," the one on the right added.

"But then..." Spitfire said. "What did this pony that Sombra is going after do?"

"He was a stallion selected by the Queen herself to help create a new generation of changelings and rule together," the left guard answered. "But he rejected that honor."

"So she's the one that Sombra was talking about?" the mare asked. "The reason you're out here? The one his heart belongs to?"

"Yes," the right one replied. "Now obviously our Queen was not happy when this stallion refused her offer to become a changeling King. She was so enraged that she attempted to kill the stallion herself by trapping him aboard his liner and sinking it. But he managed to save his ship and escape his fate. When she discovered this, it only fueled her anger. She then decided that she would no longer try to make a King for herself. Instead, she'd try to find one. Enter King Sombra and the newly returned Crystal Empire. Seeing as how both him and her shared common enemies..."

"You pathetic ponies!" the left one interjected while pointing his hoof at Spitfire. The Wonderbolt Commander only just narrowed her eyes and glared back at him.

"Yes," the one on the right continued. "Because we shared a common hatred for all of the ponies in Equestria, an alliance was created. But soon after, the King and Queen decided to make it more than just some alliance."

"So Sombra proposed to marry our beloved Queen. Thus creating a truly powerful empire for both to rule over," the left one continued. "But she said she would accept his proposal only after he proves his love for her."

"By going after this pony?" Spitfire asked.

"Exactly," the right one replied. "If he manages to capture Captain Blade and bring him to the Queen for a lifetime of imprisonment, we will remain permanent allies as the two will be joined in marriage." He then paused before looking right into her eyes. "You wouldn't happen to know who Captain Blade is now, do you?"

"No. I don't," she replied before thinking about what they said. "And... what would happen if he doesn't manage to capture him?" This question just made both changelings look at each other before suddenly breaking out in laughter at her as a response.

"How exactly is he going to escape?" the left one asked as they turned to look back at her after finishing their fun. "The pieces have already fallen into place. All that remains is sending his beloved ocean liner to the bottom of the Equestrian Ocean."

The mare's eyes widened in horror while she backed away from the bars as the changelings started laughing maniacally again.

---

"So how long will it be until that ship gets here again with our new armor?" Rainbow Dash asked as she and Admiral Broadside made their way down a hallway toward his office. "I can't wait to get mine!"

"Calm down, Sergeant," Broadside said. "I'm just as excited as you are to see the new items come in. But we'll have to wait a few days before they arrive. At least five."

"Five days?" the mare groaned. "Aww come on! I can't wait that long!"

"I'm afraid you're going to have to," he replied as the two stopped in front of his door. He was about to open his mouth to speak again, but his voice was cut off by another pony clearing her throat.

"Excuse me, Admiral," a mare's voice said, making both of them turn around to find a gray colored earth pony mare with a black mane and matching tail standing in front of them.

"Ah. Ms. Melody. It is good to see you," Broadside replied as he looked at her. Octavia Melody, a former cellist, had just become his new secretary not too long ago.

"I have the cargo manifest of Mareitania that you requested, sir," she said as she turned slightly to show a leather satchel she was wearing.

"Excellent," he replied before using his magic to levitate the paper out of her satchel. As soon as it was clear of her, Octavia simply smiled before walking away from the two ponies. "Let's see," he said as he read what was written on the paper. "There's the crates of armor. Usual crates of food and supplies." His eyes then widened as he then saw something unexpected. "And a hundred crates of high explosive gunpowder?! What in Equestria are those doing there?"

"Is everything alright, Admiral?" Rainbow asked before her eyes caught sight of what was written on the paper.

"I'm afraid not," he replied. "I need to get a message out to the Mareitania right away. She can not be allowed to cross the ocean with a hundred crates of gunpowder aboard. She needs to turn back and get those things off." He then looked at the mare in front of him after folding the paper and tucking it in his pocket. "If you'll excuse me, Sgt. Dash," he said before opening the door with his magic. "I have to get this taken care of immediately." After saying that, he turned to walk inside. But just as he started to walk, a hoof forcefully hit the left side of his head. Dazed from the hit, Broadside turned to see the rainbow maned mare as she smirked nefariously at him. "What... is the meaning of this?" he asked angrily as he rubbed where he was struck before she shoved him into his office and casually walked in behind him before locking the door behind her. "Have you lost your mind, Sergeant?! I'll have you arrested and court martialed for this!"

"Quiet, you pathetic pony!" she harshly ordered in response. Hearing that come out of her mouth shocked the Admiral into silence as he never thought he'd hear her say something like that. "You think that I'm one of your soldiers?" she asked before chuckling slightly before becoming engulfed in green colored magic. The stallion's eyes widened in horror as a changeling was now standing tall over him.

"A changeling?!" the Admiral asked in shock as he looked at the creature in front of him. "How is that possible?"

"We've always been around, pony," the changeling answered. "Feeding off of the love you ponies have to give. Just barely getting by in order to survive."

"What have you done with Sergeant Rainbow Dash?!"

"She's currently in the dungeon of the Crystal Empire," he answered before chuckling in an evil manner. "Proving to be very uncooperative with interrogations regardless of what tortures we put her through."

"You... monster!" the stallion shouted before lunging at the changeling, only to be grabbed in an aura of green magic. He couldn't move as much as he tried before the sound of more chuckling could be heard. But it wasn't coming from the changeling in front of him. He wasn't even the one that was holding him in the aura of magic.

"You ponies are so easy to fool," another voice said from outside the stallion's field of vision. "I'm actually quite surprised with how easy it was to infiltrate your facility."

"That voice..." the restrained one thought as he heard hooves stepping beside him.

"What should we do with this pony, my Queen?" the changeling in front of him asked.

"Queen?" he exclaimed in his head before soon enough, the Queen of all changelings, Queen Chrysalis, appeared in his sight.

"Well. The answer to that question is very simple," she replied before looking at the pony in her magical grasp. "But I will let the Admiral decide."

"What are you doing here?" he angrily asked.

"Just making sure that you don't ruin my plan for revenge," she answered. "Wouldn't want any messages about gunpowder crates being sent out. Now would we?"

"How did you manage to get those crates on board that ship?"

"By forging your signature, of course," she replied. "It was so easy to replicate that I was tempted to do more than I already did." This made the captured pony glare at her before she cleared her throat. "Now. I'm going to let you choose your fate," she continued. "Either you come quietly with us back to the Crystal Empire for interrogation and imprisonment. Or..." She then slowly slid one of her front hooves in front of her throat, signaling only one thing for him. "So what will it be, Admiral?"

"You think I'd willingly go anywhere with you? Especially for torture and interrogation?" he asked before laughing. His laughter continued for at least a few seconds before his facial expression turned into a serious one. "I would rather die than do that."

"Such loyalty," Chrysalis replied before gently rubbing her hoof under his muzzle. The Admiral couldn't do anything to stop her, no matter how much he tried. "It reminds me of how much my subjects are to me."

"I am nothing like them."

"Indeed," Chrysalis replied. "That is exactly what the last pony in your position said." She then looked over at her loyal subject in the room before nodding at him. "But unlike him..." she continued while turning her head to look back at him. "I'm going to make sure that you won't be able to escape from your decision." Once that was said, she levitated him up off the floor before moving him toward the window behind his desk. The other changeling quickly opened it for her before soon enough, he was floating just in front of it on the outside.

"Why'd I have to pick an office on the top floor?" He thought as his eyes gazed at how far of a fall was between him and the pavement.

"Any last words?" Chrysalis asked while turning the pony around in the air with her magic.

"Curse you, you waste of oxygen!" Broad sternly replied while glaring at her. "I hope you rot in Tartarus for eternity!" This made her smirk before chuckling.

"We'll see about that, Admiral," she replied before bringing him close enough to her to where she leaned forward and smooched him on the lips. Broadside struggled in her magical grasp. But couldn't do anything as he was forced to kiss her. Once the kiss was finished, she moved him away. "I hope you enjoyed that, Admiral," she continued. "Because what's coming next will not be so pleasant." She then chuckled in her own devilish way before smirking. "Goodbye," she coldly said before stopping her magic, allowing the stallion to plummet fifteen stories to the ground below. Once she heard the screams of multiple ponies below, she stuck her head out and saw the Admiral's lifeless body on the pavement in a pool of blood. She then saw many ponies racing out of the building she was in while wearing similar styled uniforms as the deceased.

"What should we do now, my Queen?" the changeling asked as she pulled her head back in.

"We shall return to the Crystal Empire and await the arrival of my love," she replied as she walked away from the window. "Now come. Before we are discovered."

"Yes, my Queen," the changeling replied before the two of them left the office, disguising themselves in the process.

---

"Captain!" Port said as he rushed to the bridge while carrying a paper in his magical grip. "Captain Blade!"

"What is it, Port?" Steel asked as the green unicorn came to a stop in front of him.

"A message..." Port replied as he breathed heavily from having sprinted from the wireless room. "From.. the Navy!" Steel then took hold of the paper that Port had in his magic before reading it.

Keep an eye on the horizon. She's heading your way.

- TS

"Sir?" Port asked, breaking Steel's concentration on the paper.

"Canterlot seems to be coming our way," Steel said before folding the paper up and placing it in his pocket.

"Should we turn back?" the green stallion asked. "If we do it now, we should be back in Mareseilles before sunset."

"We can't," he replied. "These supplies in our hold are long overdue as it is." After saying that, he then paused to think about the situation. "But maybe there is something we can do."

"What?"

"Once the sun sets," he began to answer. "We'll take her down to half speed. And we'll also run dark as well. No lights at all."

"That's extremely risky, sir," his friend replied. "No other ship is going to see us if we do that."

"Precisely," he said. "I know for a fact that ever since the news of Canterlot being in enemy hooves got out, a large majority of ships are now laid up until the situation is dealt with. I wouldn't be surprised if it was just us out here."

"Wow," Port said in a surprised tone. "I never thought I'd ever hear that."

"Just shows how much of a threat that battleship is," Steel replied. "We're faster than she is though. That's why we're still operating."

"I see."

"So the darkness will now be our ally," he continued. "And once the first light of a new day is seen, we'll bring her back up to full speed. Hopefully by doing this, Canterlot will just pass by us with plenty of space in between for us not to be threatened."

"I still think it's risky," the First Officer replied. "But what choice do we have?"

"Indeed," the Captain replied. "Also. Until sunset and each day until we reach Manehattan, I want to double the number of lookouts. I don't want to give them any chance of sneaking up on us with those fourteen inch cannons."

"Aye sir," Port replied before going off to gather more lookouts. Steel looked on as he disappeared inside before hearing the sounds of hooves approaching from behind.

"Captain Blade," a voice said, making him turn around to find a small group of ponies in the wheelhouse with him. This was a bit strange as the stains of coal dust on their coats signaled that they were stokers.

"Is there something I can help you ponies with?" he asked in a confused tone while giving the ponies a puzzled look on his face.

"Sorry to disturb you, sir," a pony with blue fur replied. "We're representing a good majority of the crew and wanted you to hear our concerns."

"Alright." Steel said. "I'm all ears."

"Sir. The crew is a bit... nervous as to traveling on a ship loaded with gunpowder."

"Especially with Canterlot out there somewhere," another stallion added.

"And..." the assumed leader of the group said. "We think that it's in everypony's best interest if you... turn the ship around and take us back to Mareseilles."

Steel was stunned by the request that these ponies wanted him to fulfill. Never had this ever happened to him before.

"So you want me to turn this ship around?" he asked. "With all of these crates of food and supplies for the citizens and soldiers of Equestria. Along with this special armor for the Royal Guard as well? All because of some gunpowder crates." Each pony in front of him hesitantly nodded. "Well I'm sorry to say this..." he continued. "But your request is denied."

"But sir!" the blue stallion said. "What if we run into Canterlot and she starts firing on us?"

"Okay." Steel said. "First off. What's your name, sailor?"

"Blue Moon," he answered.

"Well then, Mr. Moon," he replied. "Let me just ask you something. Have you lost faith in this ship?"

"Excuse me?"

"Do you not think that this ship can avoid being hit?"

"Sir," he said in a confused tone. "Have you forgotten how big this ship is?" This question made Steel chuckle before looking over at the pony at the helm.

"Would you mind letting go of the wheel for a moment?" he asked. The pony simply nodded before letting go and stepping away, allowing Steel to take hold of it with his magic. He then turned to look at the ponies in front of him. "I suggest you all brace yourselves," he said before swinging the wheel all the way to the right, making Mareitania heel over toward her port side. The ponies stumbled backward, hitting themselves against the wall behind them before he swung the wheel back toward the left, resulting in the deck slanting toward the starboard side.

"No no no no no." Blue cried out as he and the other ponies fell forward before crashing into the wall on the other side of the bridge before the Captain straightened the ship out. The sound of the ponies groaning made a smirk come to his face as he looked at them.

"Do you all need another demonstration of my ship's maneuverability?" he asked while keeping ahold of the helm.

"N-No sir." Blue replied as the other ponies silently shook their heads in agreement.

"Good," he replied. "Now if you still feel unsafe on this ship, you all are more than welcome to abandon your duties, your pay, and your country. You will be cast adrift in however many lifeboats would be needed. But I'll let you all in on something. With the threat of Canterlot out there, the number of ships out here has been drastically reduced. So Celestia knows how long it would be before you're rescued, brought back to Equestria, and charged with the crime of desertion. Which would result in a long stay in prison."

"I uh....."

"So what's it gonna be, Mr. Moon?" Steel asked before letting go of the helm and taking hold of each engine telegraph handle with his magic. "Shall I stop the ship and prepare the lifeboats so that you and anypony else that wishes to leave may do so?"

"N-No," Blue stuttered in response. "T-That won't be necessary."

"Good," the red stallion said as he let go of the handles. "Now I want all of you to go back to your posts immediately."

"Y-Yes sir," the stallion replied before he and the other ponies quickly left.

"Captain!" Port's voice called out before he appeared on the bridge again. "Captain! What's going on? Are we under attack?"

"Not at all, Port," Steel replied before chuckling. "Just had to persuade a few possible deserters to stay. That's all."

Next Chapter: Chapter Six Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 45 Minutes