"I can't believe no one else wanted to do this with us!" Sunset shouted as she and Pinkie stood aboard the slow-moving raft taking them from New Orleans Square across the river to Tom Sawyer Island.

"Right?" Pinkie exclaimed. "It's like they just want to stand in lines all day! I mean anyone knows I appreciate standing in a good old-fashioned line, and cataloguing and categorizing different kinds of lines, and making videos about lines, and standing in line with you even when I already have the object you've been waiting in line for, but..."

"But we can't just stand in them all day!"

"Exactly! So why not just spend a bunch of time running around an island full of fun pirate stuff!"

The two forcefully high-fived each other.

"Alright," Sunset said intensely. "We've had our coffee, we've had way too many sweets for this early in the morning, and we are ready to go. Now let's run around and see everything this place has to offer before we crash!"

"YEAH!"

They watched as the raft slowly approached the island dock with feverish anticipation. As soon the gate was opened, they dashed off to start their explorations. They ran up the steps to the first location they encountered, Lafitte's Tavern, where they were disappointed to learn they couldn't actually go inside the building.

"Awww..." Pinkie moaned.

"Arrrr, it seems there'll be no plundering any grog for our return voyage here today, matey," Sunset replied in an atrocious pirate voice, which made Pinkie burst out laughing.

They darted back down the steps and found themselves in front of a cave. They peered in to find a wooden gate with "DANGER - KEEP OUT" written across two boards that formed an X. "Geez, there's gotta be some places we can actually go, right?"

"Never fear, matey," Sunset replied. "I be confident we'll yet find some treasure, arrrrr."

They returned to the path and noticed a small waterfall to their right. "Ooooh, fancy!" Pinkie said as she stood and admired the sight for a moment before moving on.

They soon came upon Dead Man's Grotto, a large cave adorned with a sign bearing the name and carrying two lanterns underneath. Above and to the right, the girls spotted a small additional sign reading "Beware!"

"Avast," Sunset cried, "I do believe we've located an abundant source of treasure!"

"Wow, are you really gonna keep that up the whole time?" Pinkie asked.

"No, not really," Sunset replied, dropping the accent. "I was already feeling like I was running out of pirate phrases."

"Well, either way. Let's go!"

They crept inside, wandering through a set of tight and dimly lit corridors before finding their way to the interior. Ghostly voices whispered as they passed by a display Dead Man's Chest and pressed on. Soon they were in front of gated window featuring much apparent treasure within. Above was a sign with a predictable message: "Beware the Cursed Treasure." Turning to another window nearby, this one with a chest filled with gold coins and a crowned skull to the right, they noticed a slat underneath the window through which they could reach inside.

Pinkie quickly stuck her hand through, and from the window Sunset saw the treasure vanish, leaving only an empty chest and bare skull! "Pinkie, stand up and look here!"

"Huh?" Pinkie obliged, removing her hand. The image of the treasure returned. "When you stick your hand through the slot, all the coins and things disappear!" Sunset stuck her own hand in and out several times and watched a big smile spread across Pinkie's face.

"Ohhhh, that's so cool, Sunset!"

After a few more times playing with the effect, the duo moved over to the next window, featuring a digital pirate ghost guarding more medallions. They then found another sign: "A WARNING to them what breaks the Pirate Code; Behold the fate of any thievin' scoundrel who dares to steal a shipmate's plunder. Signed, J. Gibbs." To the right of the sign was a moaning animatronic pirate prisoner, bemoaning his lot in life. A window high in the cell revealed the full moon, and the pirate's form became skeletal, delighting Sunset and Pinkie.

They ambled back outside the cave into the light of day, then took the steps up toward Smuggler's Cove. As they reached the top, they saw a bridge to their right, but before that they found another area off to the left. Darting up the steps, they soon found themselves underneath a large treehouse.

"Oooooohhh..." Pinkie looked at the tree with awe. "Do you think we can climb it?"

"Ummmm..." Sunset thought. "I'm not sure. I'm guessing probably not. There'd be an easier way to get up there if they wanted you to."

"Well, who's gonna stop me if I wanna try?" Pinkie said cheekily. Sunset laughed.

"C'mon, Pinkie," Sunset said as she grabbed her by the arm of her shirt and pulled her along. They descended back down past a squall towards the bridge, which bore another warning: "Don't Rock or Sway Bridge".

"Are they ever gonna let us have any fun?" Pinkie moaned, then smiled as Sunset giggled.

"Nope. It's a villainous conspiracy to snuff the fun out of this whole area. Trust me, I know all about villainous conspiracies."

"You don't say?" Pinkie snarked with a grin.

"Like my villainous conspiracy to make you walk over this bridge before me," Sunset said as she lightly nudged Pinkie backwards onto the bridge, which turned out to be much sturdier than implied by the warning sign and the ropes supporting it.

As they walked across, they noticed the wreckage of a ship to the left; in the center was a flooded hole with a pirate skeleton and some open boxes of coins. They exited the bridge into Smuggler's Cove, where they found a set of bilge pumps. Pinkie and Sunset each took one side of the left one and started pumping, which the soon realized was emptying the water out of the ship; more of the skeleton was revealed, and a second skeleton emerged on the other side.

"Aw, now Mr. Skeleton's got a friend!" Pinkie cheered.

"Unless he's got a bone to pick with him," Sunset replied. She looked and saw Pinkie glaring at her.

"You're too young for dad jokes, Sunset."

"I mean I gotta practice if I ever want to be an expert, right?"

"No one should be an expert at dad jokes, SunShim!"

"Hey, no need for that!" Sunset laughed. "Anyway, speaking of bones, look at that cage over there!"

Pinkie looked around and spotted what she was referring to, a round rope cage built around bones and skulls similar to those seen in the Dead Man's Chest movie. Pinkie quickly darted inside and insisted on a picture. Sunset obliged, before Pinkie then returned the favor.

Walking further, they found a capstan wheel and turned it; across from them, a nearby crane hoisted a large treasure chest from a shipwreck, with a skeleton clinging to the bottom of it. "Aaaah, scary skeleton!" Pinkie yelled, and the chest dropped back into the water.

"There's been skeletons all over the island, Pinkie!"

"Well, yeah, but that one looked at me funny!"

Exiting Smuggler's Cove, they found themselves crossing a pontoon bridge, with came with yet another warning: "If ye go this way matey and yer boots get wet it's yer own fault!"

"That sign can't tell me what to do!" Pinkie shouted defiantly. "I'll blame whoever I want to blame for my wet boots!"

They stepped onto the bridge, which, true to description, was only supported in parts, leading to a much more rickety walking experience as the boards sunk downward underneath them. They barely managed to avoid getting their shoes soaked. Afterwards, they next entered the Shipwreck Den, a large structure modeled after, well, a wrecked ship. Inside they found an odd set of wall drawings depicting dancing skeletons, whose movements Sunset clumsily attempted to re-enact to Pinkie's amusement.

They ascended the steps into the light and wandered around the area above the den, which was littered with small telescopes and other playground-type features for kids. They got to a less-crowded area and stood looking out at the river towards where the boats had launched.

"I know we said we'd do the whole island, Pinkie, but I'm starting to feel like I'm coming down from our sugar high," Sunset mused. "Do you want to head back to the rafts?"

"Yeah, I think so." Pinkie yawned. "I think I could probably stand to be in a line or two."

"Sounds good to me." The two of them got to the end of the platform and walked down the steps to the exit. They set back off past the Fort Wilderness building and headed back towards the landing to await the next raft.

"Thanks for coming with me, Sunset." Pinkie smiled warmly as they kept walking. "It's nice to just be able to run around like this sometimes and not have to worry about rides or big crowds."

"Not a problem, Pinkie. I feel the exact same way."

They stopped and hugged each other for a nice, relaxing moment before continuing on.

Next Chapter: Indiana Jones Adventure (Rainbow Dash & Applejack) Estimated time remaining: 7 Minutes