This... was actually going better than I expected it to.

As it turned out, Rarity was alive -- unconscious, but alive. That was a huge load off my shoulders... at least it was until I remembered what she'd be finding out soon enough.

I thought about not telling her, but ultimately decided to if I got the chance. I figured it would've been better hearing the grim news from me than the Captain or Napoleon.

They probably would've been dicks about it.

Despite the whole 'evil grin and ominous statement' thing, the Captain -- whose name I still didn't know -- had apparently meant what he said in the most reasonable and nonthreatening way possible.

Go figure.

The fear that had built up waned when I realized he wasn't going to outright torture me for information. I still remained wary, mostly because I had the feeling the Captain was the type of guy to fly off the handle without warning -- all cordial smiles one second, then ripping your throat out the next.

He just gave off that kind of vibe.

In any case, I had been let out of the cell and was able to get my first look at Rarity. As I stepped out of my cell, I tentatively glanced at the Captain. When he made no move to stop me, I quickly walked over to Rarity's cell and peeked inside.

She was not in good shape.

Her coat was dirty, her mane and tail were ragged and unkempt, her forehead was bleeding just above the horn -- which was covered with what I assumed was an anti-magic horn ring -- and her face was stained with dried tears.

Where did they even get the horn ring? Did they expect unicorns to just show up in Abyssinia?

I thought about asking the Captain, and after a moment of deliberation, I did. Rather than chew my head off, he just chuckled his deep evil sounding chuckle and smirked at the unconscious unicorn still being held within the cell.

"While I know of them, I've never had the pleasure of seeing a pony in the flesh," he turned his gaze to Napoleon who had been cursing and spitting some rather racist sounding insults Rarity's way as he tended her head wound, "Napoleon here however, has had much experience in... ah... escorting ponies to our fair country to help in the betterment of our society."

So equine trafficking then... fantastic.

"Wait, how does he get... away... with..."

The Captain seemed to know where the conversation was headed and threw a vicious warning glare my way.

"ah... yeah, sorry," I muttered lamely before looking back over to Rarity, "so... what are you gonna do with her... and me for that matter?"

As if I didn't already know...

"It seems the white one has quite a way with words, and enough feminine charm to woo even the surliest vulture if what I've heard is true," the Captain replied, stroking his chin contemplatively as he eyed Rarity, "no, she has too much potential to be used as a mere slave to some fool noble..."

He hummed to himself thoughtfully for a minute before smiling wickedly, his dagger like teeth shining in the darkness of the prison.

"I think she'd do quite well as my own personal siren, wouldn't you?"

My brows furrowed in disapproval.

Of fucking course.

"So... what, you're gonna use her to lure poor idiots right into your clutches?" I replied, trying very hard not to sound disingenuous, "I don't think she'd go for it... but I also assume you'd have some kind of plan for that, right?"

"Indeed," the Captain answered with a light chuckle, "Naturally I wouldn't send her out without a bit of training first. Rather than give her up to some noble who'd only use her as some lowly handmaiden or personal whore, I plan to make her into something more than that."

I knew exactly where this was headed, and I was already trying to figure out a way to stop it.

"So..."

He crouched down in front of the cell and grinned at the mare, his tail eagerly flicking this way and that.

"I'm going to groom her to be my right hand... mare."

God. Dammit.

"What about the others?" I asked, furrowing my brow, and trying to ignore the dread welling up in my stomach "the other ponies who... what is that?"

I had just happened to glance back to where Rarity lay and just happened to see Napoleon stick Rarity with some kind of needle. He stood up and replaced the now empty syringe back into the pocket of his suit before looking at me over his shoulder.

"No business of yours, freak," he growled. He then fully turned to face the Captain, his voice all kinds of compliant, "she will be out for some time, but when she wakes she'll be ready to be molded into whatever you desire her to be, Captain."

Wait... what?!

"Excellent work, Napoleon," he replied before turning on his heel and walking back towards the door leading out of the room, "now come along, both of you. There's still some time yet before the rest of the slaves and crew get here, and we have much to discuss... especially about you, strange one."

I was about to open my mouth to state the obvious hole in their plan to capture and enslave the extremely well known and well connected saviors of Equestria, but thankfully caught myself at the last second.

Telling them wouldn't do anything but tip them off to a possible search and rescue operation, and probably make them do something... drastic.

So I kept my mouth shut and looked back at where Rarity was still imprisoned before following Napoleon and the captain outside the prison and up a stairwell. As I thought further on the possible consequences of their actions, more issues rose up in my mind.

Once word gets out that the Mane Six are missing, the Princesses aren't gonna just sit around and do nothing -- assuming they're the same in this universe.

I assumed Luna knew about their trip to Abyssinia, and if she were to decide to check in on them via their dreams, they'd know something was a little more than just off.

Even if Luna didn't patrol their dreams for whatever reason, there'd be some suspicion and investigation as to what happened to the girls after a certain amount of time had passed with no word, assuming Spike hadn't been able to get out one last letter before he died.

And if the Discord of this universe somehow got involved...

"Fucking Christ, man..."

"What are you on about, freak?"

My head snapped towards the wary pig further up the stairs, his beady little eyes looking back at me with clear disdain. In my ruminations, I hadn't even noticed I had spoken aloud.

"Huh?" I replied dismissively, "oh no, it's... nothing, don't worry about it."

Napoleon narrowed his eyes suspiciously, but thankfully just snorted and faced forward once more. I shook my head and went back to my thoughts as I followed the two up the stairs.

I don't know what they did to Rarity, but I need to find some way to get her and the rest of the girls out of here... somehow.

It was clear that whether I interfered or not, things were gonna go to hell in a handbasket real quick, especially if this Discord got involved -- again, assuming this Discord was around and anywhere near similar to the Discord of canon.

If I was lucky, things might even work themselves out without me getting too involved.

I really hoped I was lucky.

Either way, I figured there'd most likely be a war between Equestria and Abyssinia once the Princesses caught wind of this whole mess, unless Celestia opted to go straight for Abyssinia's slave trade issue rather than blame the entire country itself.

I mean, it seemed like something she'd do, but with the death of two of the Elements of Harmony and Spike...

And then there was the issue of the remaining Elements being on the other ship. I had to find out how the hell to get to the other ship, and fast. Once it set sail, I'd lose my opportunity to reach any of them.

I didn't want to do this -- hell, I highly doubted I even could -- but I was tossed into this mess and I did decide that I was going to try and save these worlds rather than destroy them if I could help it.

If I could help it...

Nope, not gonna think about it. Stay at least somewhat positive, Salva--

I yelped in both pain and surprise as a large furry hand grabbed a fistful of my hair and forced my face upward. I found myself looking into the narrowed eyes of the Captain as he looked back at me, his expression showing a large amount of annoyance.

"Get your thrice damned head out of the clouds before I tear it from your scrawny little neck!"

I was too shocked at the sudden vehemence to give any sort of response, merely wincing in pain as his grip on my hair tightened. A second later he released me, forcing me backwards slightly and causing me to stumble a bit as he let go.

I heard the little pork rind chuckle in amusement from somewhere behind me.

"I loathe being ignored," the Captain growled, straightening up and turning back to the door we were all apparently standing in front of, "the reason you're not down there with the pony or dead by my claws is because I'm curious about you."

He turned and looked back at me over his shoulder, his glare enough to set me on edge.

"Once my interest wanes -- and it will -- you'll receive no more... favoritism from me, strange one," the Captain said in a low threatening voice, "if you cross me, I'll have no qualms about tossing your carcass overboard. Remember that."

I nodded mutely as I rubbed my head.

Do that and see how it works out for you, pal.

Despite my spiteful thought, the Captain's threat still made me a bit shaky, and I resolved to pay a bit more attention in the future. With that in mind, I took a second to look around me.

Apparently I had been so out of it, I completely missed how we had gotten down this hallway. The area was fairly well lit, with circular windows on one side of the hull bathing the hall in waning sunlight.

The floor was covered with red carpet and the hallway itself led to a pair of double doors that the Captain was even now pushing open. I managed to catch a glimpse of a chair, part of a long table, and a large window with several squared frames that took up a good chunk of the wall.

If I had to guess, I'd say this was the--

"Be grateful, strange one," the Captain exclaimed, stepping inside the large room, "you will most likely be the only one other than a select few of the crew and Napoleon here, to ever set foot in this place."

Napoleon pushed past me and headed into the room behind the Captain, leaving me to go in last. Looking around, I could see more of the interior, and contrary to what I was expecting, the place was rather spartan -- only a few chairs, the long table, some empty dresser and a drawer, and a single well made bed.

There were only a few knick-knacks here and there, some small lamps for lighting, and a candelabra on the long table. Another glance around and I suddenly remembered the ship was supposed to be brand new.

The Captain moved towards one of the many large windows and stared out at the horizon. The setting sun shone brightly in front of him, casting his back in a dark shadow.

After a moment he held out his arms and, without turning around, he spoke, his voice booming and dramatic.

"This is my sanctuary, my home away from home, my temple!" he lowered his arms and turned to face me with a smirk, his next words spoken at a regular volume, "welcome to the Captain's Quarters, strange one."

He made his way over to the long table and pulled out a chair before dropping himself down and gesturing for me to do the same. I looked from the offered chair and back to the Captain, who was wearing that wicked grin I had seen back in the prison area.

"Have a seat and let's get down to business, shall we?"

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