John’s perspective:

“That thing… is bucking… humongous.” I gasped as I gazed upon the monstrosity of a boat that was docked in the harbour. It had to be 700… 800… 900 feet long and at least 100 feet wide. The thing was… ridiculous.

“Indeed. They call it ‘Lunar Titan’” Brixie told me and I gulped. I suppose ‘Lunar’ was in tribute to Celestia’s sister Luna, or Nightmare Moon as the tale goes. And ‘Titan’… well the boat speaks for itself.

It had four huge steam stacks spread across the ship and it was currently loading passengers. “So… why did you bring us here? I have this feeling that you didn’t just want us to look at it.” I asked and Brixie nodded.

“Indeed. We shall embark upon this… Cruise liner.” She told me but before I could say anything Daring spoke my mind.

“Why? Why in all Equestria would we want to go on that thing?” She asked and I nodded. Daring noticed me nodding. “Oh for Celestia’s sake John, we are not going on that ship.” Daring scowled, I guess figuring I was just gonna go along with Brixie’s decision.

“We’re not. Not unless she has a good point… I hate water.” I informed them. They all gave me a curious look.

“Water? Seriously John? Water is not the reason we aren’t going on that thing. It looks… expensive.” Daring mused and I nodded. “Do you have a fear of water?” She asked and I gave a half nod.

“Sort of. I don’t ‘Fear’ water… I just can’t swim all that well.” I replied.

“Some of Black Mane’s gang have boarded that ship.” Brixie interrupted our conversation but our attention went straight to her. “I heard some police officers talking about them while I was in custody.” She informed us.

“Okay. Plan B: we’re going on the ship.” I announced quickly and Daring groaned in disappointment. I looked to her and smirked, “Hey, I’m not happy about this either. Remember: I hate water.” I told her then we rushed to the docking area.

“Excuse me sir!” Yelled out a random, French sounding, crew-stallion. I looked over to him and waved. He waved us over to him. “Sir, there are no firearms allowed on-board.” He informed us and I realized that they probably weren’t gonna let us just walk on with all our guns showing.

I gave him an acknowledging nod. “Uhm thanks. Hey where do you buy a ticket for this… cruise?” I asked and he directed us over to the ticket booth near the boarding ramps. We stood in line for what seemed like hours and finally got to the front.

“Yeah… uhm… can I get four?” I asked the attendant gave me a stupid look. “Four ponies?” I asked again.

“How many rooms would you like?” He asked and I rolled my eyes.

“Uhm… how many beds come in…” I began but Brixie cut me off.

“First class, parlour.” She ordered and the attendant nodded. I gave Brixie a look.

“Brixie, we’re looking for Black Mane and his gang not…” I began but then quickly silenced myself figuring that ponies might freak-out if they found out that a notorious criminal was aboard.

“That will be 4350 bits sir.” The attendant informed me. I had quickly forgotten about the ticket and gasped.

“Fo…fou… f-f-f-four thous… four thousand bits!” I stuttered and he shook his head.

“Four thousand, three hundred and thirty bits sir, exactly.” He re-informed me and my jaw simply slacked open.

I looked back to Brixie. “Brixie, we are not paying that kind of…” I began but she cut me off.

“John, if we are to find who we are looking for then it would be best to have full accessible service of the entire boat.” She argued. I sighed in defeat. I really didn’t feel like arguing right now. This was more of an investment than a simple renting of a room.

I paid in full cash. The attendant and every-pony around me eyes’ went wide as they watched me pay 4350 in pure bits.

Daring hissed into my ear. “That’s way too much don’t… goddess dammit John!” She hissed as I handed over the money. The attendant returned my payment with a set of keys which I presumed to be for the room we had got. I looked to Brixie.

“Brixie I… this… ugh never mind.” I said in a somewhat irritated voice. We could have easily just gotten a third class room but I guess not. We went to board but the attendant called out to us.

“No weapons are permitted on board sir!” He called out and I groaned. Right…

“Oh guys… we should… probably look fancier if we’re going on a cruise.” I offered and Daring gave me an irritated look. “Trust me.” I told her.

Daring’s perspective:

I can’t believe John! He spent over four grand on a friggin boat cruise! And why?! Because Brixie said to, that’s why! I was literally twitching in fury and Billy could tell.

He trotted over to me and rested a hoof on my shoulder. “Hey relax. Look at it this way: at least you didn’t have to pay for it.” He said with a chuckle.

“Yeah but Billy… that was four grand… FOUR BUCKING GRAND! Where the hay did he even get that kind of cash? He could have bought… pretty much anything he wanted.” I exclaimed and he laughed.

“Kid… you gotta read more. Old Johnny there has been around the block a few times. Capturing bounties alive, taking out notorious outlaws… basically he’s the one that keeps law in the Wild West, so to speak.” Billy informed me and I just sighed as I felt the fine dress that John insisted I wear. He said ‘We should look presentable… since we’re first class.’

Billy noticed my irritation with the dress and laughed. “Well… I’m not exactly too keen on changing into freak clothes so you can count me out.” He laughed and was about to step away when both John and I grabbed him.

“Oh no you don’t!” I exclaimed. “If I have to wear these… fine garments, then so do you.” I ordered him. John nodded. I gave him a glare, “Doesn’t mean you’re off the hook either. I’m still scorned that I even have to wear a dress. I swore to myself that I’d only wear a white dress on my wedding day.” I scowled and he chuckled.

“Then marry some-pony and quit whining.” He laughed then quickly slipped a fine suit jacket onto Billy who squirmed worse than John did when I tried to get him in a t-shirt. Jeeze stallions were impossible.

Finally we were all ‘Dressed’. John and Billy wore suits. John had chosen a brown trench coat with a brown suit vest underneath with a white dress shirt and black tie. Billy had a black suit jacket, white dress shirt and black tie. They both sported black dress pants and dress shoes.

Brixie had a purple dress on with sparkly stars on the side and me… I had a white wedding dress. Well it wasn’t actually a wedding dress for say but… it looked like a wedding dress.

John picked up two suitcases and mounted them on a saddle harness to his side. Billy picked up the other two and the duo nodded then we all proceeded back to the dock where the boat was getting ready to depart.

After boarding the boat we immediately went to the first class parlour hallways. The doors were largely separated and sparse up where we were. We were looking for B60. Finally we found it and John unlocked the door then led us in. All of our eyes went wide and our jaws slacked open in astonishment.

John was the only one able to mutter anything. “Hooooolyyyyy… sssssshit.” He gasped, actually swearing. I nodded and we just stood there for the next fifteen minutes and looked at the living room of the suite.

“Well… should we… look at the rest of the place?” John asked. His question quickly brought us all back to reality, which was still kind of like a dream considering the absolute luxury of the suite.

John and Billy both dropped the suitcases and began to search the place while I stood with Brixie, both of us still having looks of pure shock on our faces. Brixie spoke first. “This… is incredible.” She whispered and I nodded.

“Brixie… if this wasn’t so expensive… I’d say you made a good call.” I muttered. Though I wasn’t much one to live in the lap of luxury… this was just breath taking. The place looked like it was meant for Celestia herself, not… a bunch of misfit adventures.

John spoke before I even noticed he was back in the living room. “This place has got a living room, private bathing room,
wardrobe room and… uhm there’s only one problem.” He stated and again I was brought back to reality, sort of.

“What? The price hit your wallet to hard?” I asked and he shook his head then nodded somewhat.

“Well that and… there are only three bedrooms…” He trailed his sentence off and I chuckled. My mind quickly raced back to my irritation of Brixie and John.

As I stepped past him I snickered to him, “Well that’s no problem if you ask me. I’m sure Brixie would ‘Love’ to share a bed with you.” I said in a somewhat prissy tone.

He gave me a curious look. “Huh? I don’t get it.” He asked then Billy slapped him upside the head again. I smiled as I left to a bedroom only to be taken aback by the sheer beauty of it. Like I said: if it wasn’t so expensive… Brixie made a good call.

Author's Notes:

AHHHHHHHH TITANIC REFERENCE!!! Eeyup, that's right. I always wanted to do something like this. You know I never actually watched the movie 'Titanic' figuring 'Why would it become the 2nd most gross incoming movie in the world if everyone already knows the ending?' then my English teacher was like 'It wasn't the ending, it was the touching and very moving story line that went with the movie' I just looked to her and said "Everybody dies, what's to like about that" course I hadn't seen the movie before or even read about the sinking so I just figured that everybody died... that got me sent right to the principle's office for being "Disrespectful"