17th November, 221 BNM

North Muttlantic, 500 miles north of Shetland isles

20 miles north west of Ferao Islands

For 9 days they had been on the crew of the Scurvy Blythe, and had slowly been making their way across the hazardous winter waters of the North muttlantic ocean, stopping at the Viking inhabited Ferao islands for a relatively calm supply run.

But now, the islands had already begun to grow distant on the horizon, as Glaceland beckoned at least another 5 days ahead.

There was much to be found out about the crew of the Scurvy Blythe, including the Gryphon Captain Blythe, and the first mate Fox Irvin, that so intrigued the two wizards [one more noticeably than the other, with Siral seeming more withdrawn in his own thoughts].

The crew were a motley mixture of mostly Shetland Kingdom folk, Shetland Earth Ponies, Foxes, but also a few Gryphon 'privateers' from Gryenmark, the captain himself included.

The Scurvy Blythe was a medium sized Cog type ship, 2 tall masts with triangular sails and rigging driving it to their places of venture, the crew about 30 in number.

When asked about their ways, it was simple. Raid and trade, or in more 'legal' cases, delivery runs of cargo, and any larger financial gains were split according to shares.

Where the raiding had its uses was in gaining their 'bonuses', but if there was any instance where they could take a cargo to someone other than their assigned deliveree for a greater profit, there wasn't a hesitated moment.

But apparently, their first mate, Irvin, had a knack for such 'deceit'. On a mission where a delivery of rare jewels for a governor in Elkway had a potentially higher bidder in a Germaneighish province, Irvin had urged Blythe to set sail for there instead.

The result had been a very strong gain, and Irvin being promoted to first mate, thereby getting the second largest share on the crew. But the result was them being wanted by that governor, with bounties on their heads.

But it wasn't like as raiders during times of lesser trade that they had yet to get bounties on their heads. Anybody who was known as a pirate had someone putting a price on their head after all.

And it Irvin's skill in paying themselves out bounty hunters with his wily skills that saved them trouble a lot of the time. If that didn't work, then Blythe's methods came into play.

Irvin was the cunning one, while Captain Blythe was always able to sense when they should back out, attack, or continue on their path.

After all, Blythe had named his own ship after himself in a bid of ego early in his sailing career.

When asked about the first part of the ship's name, the crew joked that Blythe called it that in anticipation of the gum disease that any long time seaman would likely incur.

Given many of the crew's breath, it was well founded, though the foxes of the crew were less prone to it by their entirely carnivorous diets.

One reason why many of them, Irvin included, could charm some their tricked out of valuables one way or another.

17th November, 221 BNM

Mid-Morning

Scurvy Blythe

"Heave!"

The net was hoisted aboard, a large enough catch of fish being pulled aboard by the handful of ponies and Gryphons holding the ropes, while 2 foxes scrambled to the edge of the railing to grab the netting itself and help it onto the deck.

As he looked around, not assigned any duties right now, as everyone on the ship had at some point, Starswirl leant against a bow railing as he stared out at the horizon ahead, the sea air now still as refreshing, but no longer as exotic.

The waves lapped around as the main fish haul was hoisted aboard, and as he stared around, Starswirl saw Captain Blythe stood beside the wheel, as the foreman pony kept them on course. The grizzled black and grey Gryphon talked with a young fox, their crow's nest boy, as he showed him something on a navigation chart he held in his talons.

But just before Starswirl, with some crew off their duties for now, they had been playing a simple game of dice, where Irvin was taking part too, though he was being closely watched by the others for some reason.

"Alright, I'll wager 2 silver pieces on, 23."

Irvin raised an eyebrow at the Shetland Pony's bet, as the fox remarked back: "Okay, I'll raise you up to 3 silver pieces on 17."

"9." A teenaged Gryphon said.

"18." A smaller fox archer added.

"No you blaggard, you have ta' go at least 3 more or less, remember?" The first Pony grumbled, whacking the small fox over the head as he said this. The smaller fox gave an embarrassed laugh, as he remarked:

"Right, sorry, numbers's not me strong suit. Uh, 20 then."

"Alright, lets see." Irvin remarked, as he began to shake the cup. Interested, Starstwirl eavesdropped from up front, as the Shetland pony crewmember asked warningly:

"Ye are using normal dice aren't yeh?"

"On my soul, MY dice only come out against those who live on dry land." Irvin added, as he threw the cup of 5 dice down.

13.

Looking at the young Gryphon, Irvin remarked with a toothy grin: "So Gunter, you and me closest, are 4 off 13 each. Split the prize, or should we do winner take all roll?"

"Split, we both still gain from these winnings." Gunter remarked, taking half of the wagered silver pieces from the deck, while the others save Irvin grumbled or cackled at the outcome. Irvin cursed under his breath at a non-risktaker, and possible gains he could have had himself.

Starswirl thought to himself what this said about Irvin. He was a cheater in gambling when there was stuff to gain, and he didn't have to live with the people he robbed.

And he was willing to get more even after he'd already ended up with more than he'd started with.

Further back on the small ship, Siral had ventured out, feeling uneasy himself. He didn't have a good stomach for the seas, but he had enough self-healing magic to fight off the seasickness. Every other pony on the ship must have a sea stomach, otherwise they'd have already died by lack of ability to vomit giving way to colic.

Ignoring the smell of fish on the main deck being sliced up, and salted for storage as food for those who had meat [foxes and the omnivorous Gryphons], Siral slowly walked up the stairs to the captain, giving a respectful salute that Blythe required of any crew that came to him without being called.

Pointing for the crow's nest fox boy to get back to his post, Blythe walked around the wheel Pony to speak to Siral against the railing.

"Your friend seems interested in my first mate, he shadows him enough." Blythe noted, to which Siral looked out at sea, remarking with a half lie to hide the truth:

"He's still suspicious after he had his money pouch taken."

"Like the rest of the crew, Irvin won't steal from anyone we have to sail with. Besides, what I'd like to know is why you are even aboard this vessel?"

"Us?"

"Nay, you. Yer mate Starswirl is clearly intent on being here, but you seem distant. Ye do yet duties fine, but what is this I hear about you being very keen on news from Equestria or the New Gryphon empire?"

Resisting the urge to shuffle a paw, the middle aged looking 90 or so year old black Unicorn replied:

"Its been a while since I've been back there, I can't help but be curious."

"Aye. We've all left homes behind, most of us for good, on this ship. I was once a captain in the employ of Gryenmark's navy." At this reminiscence, Blythe spat uncouthly over the railing, to which Siral made the note:

"You don't miss it I see."

"Aye. All a bunch of cock and bull, posturing for power and prestige, and lavishing themselves in riches and glory while hard working gentlemen like meself back then worked for them, even fought for them. It paid well, but I just hated being subservient to anything but my own freedom. And because a lot of ships disappear in the channels north of Elkway, it was easy for me and a few crew to repaint and take the ship as our own without a fight. Of course, all the old crew are dead by now, attempted mutiny that newer crew wouldn't tolerate. Aftah that, crew like Irvin came in, new faces."

Turning to the Unicorn, Blythe continued on: "But ah must admit, you two are not as arrogant as the tales of many a Unicorn, or those Alicorns, put ye to be."

Siral frowned, as he'd heard one too many tales of Alicorns and Unicorns, the former especially, flaunting their power in their governance. Blythe then decided to take advantage of this right now, the Gryphon wrapping a negotiating clawed arm around Siral's body, the Gryphon making sure Siral didn't get a noseful of his breath:

"But its obvious yer here to ask something of me, which is fine, as your mate Starswirl is shadowing the one who has this idea in wake of your two arrivals."

Arching an eyebrow, Siral then saw Blythe march to the edge of the railing, bellowing out over the deck:

"IRVIN, STARSWIRL, mah cabin, now!"

Up at the bow, the Grey Unicorn snapped his gaze to the captain, noticing Siral had been there talking with him. From the dice game, caught mid loss, though pleased he was still in gains, Irvin turned his head to the captain too.

Meanwhile, the sea waves hit the ship as it sailed on north west all the time.

Scurvy Blythe, Blythe's cabin

The captain's quarters were small, but they were one of the only two cabins that had a proper bed, though as a Fox, Irvin's bed didn't need to be as big as the Gryphon captain's anyway.

Sat at his desk, the grizzled captain let Irvin finish the plan to the two Unicorns:

"-potential for better results, so I think now we can actually embark on some of the quests, more dangerous ones, me and a few other crew would rather not risk."

Starswirl and Siral eyed each other at this, the black Unicorn with the weblike, bald lined scars all over his black fur much more suspicious. It was Starswirl who asked dubiously:

"Risks?"

"Rumours of dangerous waters, or highly sought after and competitive prizes to be had." Captain Blythe remarked, the Gryphon pulling out a few parchment papers. Taking some in paw, Irvin's purple eyes were glimmering with some scheming as he mumbled them off, while Siral and Starswirl shared some knowing, perhaps doubtful looks at each one to varying degrees:

"-Neighverlands silver bullion convoys, the Bay of Grolstrom treasure hoard, the list of high risk stuff is endless if you help us make it easier." Irvin added, but Siral asked the obvious:

"Why is the treasure hoard dangerous?"

"Uh, no one really knows, other than nobody whose tried for it ever returns." Irvin remarked offhandedly, the fox shrugging as Blythe added: "Hence why we've yet to even think it, until now maybe."

"What do we get out of it if any of these high risk ventures pays off?" Starswirl wondered. Blythe raised a talon to point at both Unicorns:

"Your fair shares, newcomer rates. So, if you help us get a very big load, you get a lot yourself."

As the Gryphon captain looked at his first mate, the fox pointed out: "I'd take it if I were any of you two. Easy money, if you wizards live up to what we hear of Unicorns and Alicorns."

Starswirl was visibly giving some thought, the grey Unicorn thinking that perhaps getting Irvin to have a lot of wealth may well what sates his greed and turns him generous by sheer excess.

But at this, Siral frowned. He was thinking of the whole point of this.

Starswirl answered:

"I think it is worth considering, once we get to Glaceland. See if anything else comes up."

But Blythe noticed Siral was clearly of different mindset, and sure enough, Siral voiced his concerns:

"I don't think we should flaunt our power for such a trivial reason."

Starswirl gave Siral a stern, almost pleading look, eyes flashing ever so briefly towards Irvin, but the black Unicorn was unmoved. A moment of stillness came over the cabin, until Irvin heard a faint shout from above deck, as did Blythe.

"-ptain!"

"What is going on up there?" Blythe grumbled as he quickly dashed out of his cabin to deck, while Siral decided to follow too, wanting to get out of the still somewhat tense atmosphere in the cabin.

As Siral left, not knowing the Black Unicorn overheard his initial agreement on both of their behalves, Starswirl remarked: "We'll do it, but we have input on what one of these quests to do."

Irvin nodded, as he said enthusiastically: "Great, and trust me when I say these are well worth the treasure they'll have. You two make it easier is all."

"We'll see what happens." Starswirl added, as he walked out too, as Irvin followed the Unicorn out.

Scurvy Blyth, main deck

Stood with a taloned hand over his eyes, Captain Blythe saw the faint greyish/white sails on the horizon, the Ferao islands much more distant now even further back on the horizon. Up in the crow's nest, as Starswirl, Siral and Irvin joined, the fox boy shouted down:

"Ee's changed course, seen us an all! Viking ship's lighter, they'll catch us up!"

"Blast it… Not the first time they've given us trouble coming this way." Blythe remarked coldly, as Starswirl had some thoughts just then:

"I could use some magic to summon a few breezes for us, save us a day and help us lose them right now."

At the grey wizard's suggestion, the conniving Fox turned to him and asked: "Why not do that earlier?"

"The need never arose." Starswirl remarked. As Siral looked out, he then turned to look at the sails, scowling in thought of his own.

Blythe turned to the wizards: "Do what ye can."

But Siral paid the captain no heed, but the Fox Irvin then asked: "Unless you don't think your magic should be used for such trivial-"

A sudden breeze picked up, but it was Siral's horn that glowed, the black Unicorn remarking bluntly: "I'll allow it to save me a day of having to contend with seasickness."

As the breeze continued to fill the sails, Starswirl added his own blue magic, turning the entire series of sails a slight blue hue as the breeze Siral had summoned focused on them. After a few minutes, at which point the ship was noticeably travelling faster, they stopped, though the breeze kept up.

By the time it was clear the Viking ship was to be left behind, and the crew were in a better mood, and less distrusting of the wizards, the voyage settled down into monotony yet again.

Yet throughout it all, there existed a divide between Starswirl and Siral. Unspoken, yet present.

Starswirl was the one who associated with Irvin more than Siral., to the point where Siral spent a lot of the time outside his usual duties of cleaning, helping keep up the ship's speeding breeze, and speaking of the state of affairs of Equestria and new Gryphon, both of which seemed intrinsically linked by recent history.

20th November 221 BNM

Night

Scurvy Blythe main deck

Sure enough, the breezes the wizards conjured up saved them a day in sailing time, and they were due to arrive in Glaceland's port of their call for trade and resupply, and planning of the next step, tomorrow.

Most of the crew slept, Captain Blythe too. But of the few that were awake, Irvin was among them. The Fox leant back, idly flipping his compass with the hidden lockpicks inside in his paw as he stared up at the night constellations.

A sound of hooves preceded the second wizard coming to join the other on the bow, and even if he didn't move from his position on the middle, Irvin's hearing let him eavesdrop enough.

A key to getting ahead in life, as his parents taught him, was to always know everything you could about anyone you work with. It could come in handy.

So Irvin listened out of sight, as he casually stargazed.

As Siral was positioned as a watcher at the front of the ship, Starswirl had decided he couldn't sleep, and came up out of the hammock quarters he and the wizard slept in.

"The stars are shining tonight." Starswirl remarked, coming up beside Siral to lean against the railing too. The Grey unicorn in the blue cloak contrasted with the Black Unicorn in the Grey cloak, both in appearance, with Siral's scars marring his coat, and in their mood.

Siral didn't speak, other than nodding slightly. At this, Starswirl gave a slight sigh after a few moments of silence, tired of just the waves lapping against the ship as it ploughed on with their breeze carrying it strongly towards Glanceland, still a night's sailing away.

"Siral, you realise you cannot keep any doubts to yourself. You're even blocking your mind. What is bothering you?"

"Nothing important to you." Siral remarked, clearly telling a sore truth, yet not telling everything. Frowning, Starswirl pointed out to his slightly younger friend:

"If it is bothering you enough to put you in an even more withdrawn mood than usual, I feel it is important to me to know."

"You never complained about me being withdrawn before now." Siral remarked bluntly. Starswirl gave an aggravated, but sympathetic look, as he pointed out:

"That was before this voyage, before we came to this time period. Before Geldrath-."

"Do not speak that name!" Siral spat viciously all of a sudden, and he himself didn't know where that spate of anger came from.

"Siral, I didn't mean to anger you. I just worry about you."

This seemed to trigger something in Siral, as he looked down in a slight lament, remarking with some bitterness:

"As much as you worry about this grand destiny those oracles sent you on? Or is that exactly why you worry about me at all?"

Starswirl was left silenced for words, as Siral than wandered away to patrol somewhere else on the ship's decks. The Grey wizard gave a small sigh as Siral left towards the back of the ship.

He'd been like this, and getting worse, since the entire incident in the Malabutu Valley, at the merciless hooves of Geldrath, while Starswirl had not fully succeeded in helping his friend despite the Tigress Nahia's aid.

He'd been growing increasingly worried about Equestria, and any events of politics or conflict, especially concerning Alicorns, but more worryingly he'd been openly questioning the entire point of this endeavour of Starswirl's he'd tagged along on.

Starswirl was all too concerned Siral may well truly become a danger if this went on much longer, just as the line to worry about those close to his heart on the journey wanted about. The one line he'd omitted to tell Siral.

The line he didn't know Siral knew about as a result of Geldrath's tortures and revelations.

With a snort, Starswirl stared down at the faintly visible white rippling waves at the prow of the ship, the lapping of the waves.

"So, what was this about oracles and Geldrath?"

A Fox's voice snapped Starswirl's gaze around, as he saw Irvin standing there, an interested smirk on his toothy mouth, twirling his compass in his paw as he did out of a habit.

Scowling, Starswirl figured if he'd heard that, he'd heard everything.

"Nothing that concerns you."

"Well it clearly concerns your friend, so maybe a second opinion who hasn't been travelling with you might offer an unbiased viewpoint." Irvin smoothly practiced his negotiation skills, but by the looks of it, Starswirl wasn't fooled by it.

Though the Wizard clearly knew he had heard too much, and with that, unlike any of the 4 times before him, Starswirl told of the first half of the prophecy.

Starswirl was careful to omit any mention of the roles of 6 exemplary beings of 6 different virtues each, and that according to it Irvin was the 5th so far.

What he did tell Irvin was of the 7 beings to emerge that could threaten Equestria and the world, that he had been dispatched to jump through time multiple times in search of to counter when they arrived, to guide with any experience he accumulated over the ages.

And he told of how Siral had voluntarily come along despite Starswirl's protests to live his own life, though he lost to Siral's curiosity and desire for experience.

Whistling slightly as Starswirl finished his tales. He'd been told pretty much what happened in an abbreviated sense with all 4 prior ones, though not one mention of them as exemplary beings.

"So that's why you were so miffed about me nicking your pouch. You had magicked gifts from your travel mates who're dead by now."

As Starswirl nodded, the wizard's expression softened slightly as he saw Irvin was understanding, though not necessarily sorry for it.

The Wizard then decided to ask: "So, what do you see in your future Irvin?"

The Fox was quiet, though he cast a slight look outwards to the black horizon of the night. Not going unanswered, Starswirl probed: "If we help you on one of these risky schemes or quests, and we all get a large amount regardless of share cut, what then?"

"We keep it and find the next lot." Irvin remarked. Starswirl bluntly made a passing remark:

"A rather narrow path to be on."

"A rich one if I keep playing my cards right." Irvin pointed out, with a satisfied smirk on his face at his history so far. But Starswirl's next question wiped that smirk from his face at what in insinuated:

"Surely if you get rich enough you won't need all of that wealth?"

"I'll have earned it though, so who cares if I need it. I'm going to finish life from as far at the bottom as I started. Every bit, penny, doilan, whatever I can get my paws on for myself is one step away from where I started in life." Irvin remarked bluntly, jabbing a paw at him as he remarked with some sarcasm present:

"You being a Wizard, a big shot among Equestria from whatever time you started in, you probably had stuff handed to you out of worship. Others wizards, Alicorns, just like all big timers in wherever you go, you have it easy, so you can feel free to be 'charitable' because you have it as throwaway stuff."

Starswirl wanted to say he was wrong, that he worked hard to be where he was, and that his natural born talent still required him to work hard. But it was true, wizards and presumably Alicorns were well respected enough to the point of gifts and easy positions and jobs coming their way, back in Starswirl's time, and now presuming by Irvin's buried dislike of the 'upper class'.

Suddenly Irvin's greed made sense. He'd likely come from a very poor background, and clearly didn't want to go back to there at any cost by gaining wealth however he could. Which meant anything he earned was all the less likely to be so freely given away.

Secretly, Starswirl knew hard cases like Irvin had been who turned out to be exemplar beings in the past, but it was here for the first time that he truly didn't believe Irvin could change. Irvin's greed was his way of living among these crew, he was merely greedier than others by way of downright cheating if he can, or using sleuth and deceit to con others out of wealth, and likely a decent fighter for when things went bad, despite Captain Blythe clearly being more the combatant among the top 2 on the ship.

As Irvin gently clawed at a railing, Starswirl added with some apologetic tone: "I am sorry you think that way, and that I can't refute your opinions."

"Still, maybe you and your friend can help us anyway, add that to your repertoire at the end of it. Besides, we may well come across something for you two to help with in Glaceland when we get there."

Irvin flicked a slight wood shaving off the railing he'd made with his claw, whilst Starswirl asked the obvious: "And what shall we find in wherever port we end up in?"

"Whatever you wish, if you have the money, and if you find those who you can sucker instead of being suckered." Irvin remarked, as he trailed off, dreaming of the last time they were at this port. As he jabbed an elbow into Starswirl's flank, the Fox remarked tastelessly:

"Might find some of your Unicorn kind there from Equestria, maybe. Mostly a Gryphon presence if anything, they don't really like each other over the last few decades. 'Bout as much as the Faroench and Shetlands like each other. But I heard that Lady Athalie's expanded a lot since we last were there."

"Who is Athalie?" Starswirl asked. With a slight smirk, or maybe a grimace, Irvin's bushy tail wagged as he said mysteriously:

"A regular Gryphon we meet for various kinds of business. You'll see when we arrive tomorrow. She might have somePONY who arouses your interest."

21st November 221 BNM

Late Afternoon

Glaceland, Raykjevick city

Harbor approach

The arrival to Glaceland's cold, snow covered capital city was pock marked only by a brief stop in a small whaling town along the south coast to resupply for the day sail to the Glacelandic capital. It was the only true city on the island, about 5,000 Gryphons and Elk living there.

Had it not been for its location along a Muttlantic trade route, the hard conditions to grow food there would have made it hard for any non-meat eating kind to build there. But they did, and so despite any tensions between empires, gangs or companies, Raykjevick saw trade from all parties crossing the Muttlantic, a transit hub, and a nest of piracy, news from both sides of the ocean, and dealings illegal or legal as a result.

Looking out from the ship, the crew excitedly murmured about the upcoming shore leave of a few days. Captain Blythe had the usual duties to uphold for resupply purposes, though he would accompany Irvin to other places to seek greater sources of income or wealth.

Having two wizards in their command for now was a boon to not waste, even if there was a divide between the two as Irvin had informed Blythe. Some shore leave may do them good before embarking on any quests or whatever if turned out to be.

Besides, if anyone had potential news for them to take to heart for wealth or otherwise, Lady Athalie's tavern and lodge was the place to go to, the heart of Raykjevick.

Author's Notes:

Insights, doubts and a speed boost amidst the dull parts of long sea voyages.

But unlike the 4 before him, Irvin is an exemplar who knows about the Prophecy. He just does not know the entire part, only the first half about the 7 threats to emerge later on the world through Equestria.