John’s perspective:

I plopped the suitcase down on the couch. It was getting rather late and the sun had already set, allowing the moon to rise. I quickly pulled out a bunch of miscellaneous items until I found what I was looking for. I grabbed my shoulder holster and slipped it on, along with the custom M1911.

Daring gave an irritated gasp. “You didn’t seriously bring the guns along did you?! You’re going to get us kicked off this boat.” She scowled and I shrugged.

“Well what else was I going to do? Leave the guns in Baltimare?” I asked sarcastically. She rolled her eyes. “Meh, don’t worry, I brought yours along to… in case you start to miss it.” I told her and she just left the living room with a scoffed look on her face.

I had found out that it was a rather long voyage, three days to be exact. We were going to Los Pegasus. Starting in Horseshoe Bay, we’d travel up and around the arctic then back down to Los Pegasus. It didn’t sound all that bad. It would give us plenty of time to hunt down Black Mane’s gang members.

I looked to the grandfather clock. It read ‘8:35’ with its big clock arms inside the circle of ticks. I thought to myself. ‘I wonder what other ‘Luxuries’ this place has?’

I quickly dressed up, with the trench coat concealing the M1911, and began to trot out. “Where are you going?” Daring asked and I shrugged.

“I dunno… figured maybe I’d go and see what I can see.” I told her and she rolled her eyes.

“Billy, go with him. On second thought, John wait. We’ll all go.” She stated. Billy looked to me then to the suitcases which secretly stored our weapons. He quickly grabbed his Luger and holstered it inside his jacket, doing his best to conceal it.

Daring just shook her head in disappointment, muttering ‘Stallions’ under her breath like we were impossible or something. After they all got ready we left down to the lower sections of the boat. Jeeze, this place really did have everything. Dining areas, gymnasiums… literally the boat was like a… small luxurious village or something.

We stopped by the dining area and took a seat at one of the tables for four. Billy sat across from me and Daring sat across from Brixie. Daring was to my right and Brixie was to my left.

“Oh man… this place is swanky huh?” I asked the group, trying to ease up the obvious tension in the air. Billy nodded with a smile on his face. Brixie had a smile as well but Daring… well Daring was looking not too impressed. I looked to the menu and quickly guessed why. Everything was rather… expensive.

“I’ll… I’ll cover dinner… I guess.” I said through a gulp. It couldn’t be that bad. I still had a rather large amount of money left and besides… I just dropped four grand onto a three day trip… four day, sort of. It was today, tomorrow, and the day after that. Then the morning of the fourth day would be when we arrived at the docks in Los Pegasus.

A butler quickly came over and we ordered. The price came out to twenty bits, which was kind of hefty but didn’t bother me all that much.

When our food arrived I took notice of the musical band playing on the stage nearby. They played a beautiful and relaxing melody that made me feel rather nice while I ate the sliced and fried potatoes. Though rather out of style, french-fries were pretty good and I wasn’t going to pass up the chance to have any.

I dipped my fries in ketchup and noticed several other ponies looking to me… and Billy, as we devoured our food in what could be perceived by high class citizens as an ‘Un-couth’ manner.

“Uhm… Billy.” I whispered and he looked up from his lasagna, some sauce stains on his face. “We’re getting looks… maybe we should… use the utensils?” I suggested. Daring face-hoofed.

“You think?” She asked with a sense of ‘Durr’ in her voice. I nodded and she just rolled her eyes muttering under her breath, “Stallions.”

I sat up straight, well as straight as I could without risking to reveal my handgun, and picked up a fork then began to politely eat my fries with a sense of etiquette in my manners. Goddess it was difficult.

I went through two goes of fries and some spaghetti before both Billy and I decided it was time for desert. Brixie and Daring only ate a little. Daring only having two sandwiches while Brixie only had a salad.

I ordered a pumpkin pie, an apple pie and some apple fritters along with some cider. We got the food and the pies were already pre-cut. Billy went to grab a piece but I slapped his hoof away. He gave me a curious look and I looked to Daring.

“Ladies first.” I offered and she snickered.

“Thank you John… I guess you really are a gentlecolt after all. Billy you could learn a thing or two from him.” She commented. Billy shot me an unimpressed look. I simply smirked and shrugged.

After the two mares got their slices of pie Billy immediately grabbed the pie. “Hey!” I exclaimed and Billy scoffed back several pieces of pie before I managed to grab the pie plate and stuff back several slices as well. Within seconds we ended up wrestling on top of the table, grabbing for food but ending up just squishing it and smearing it all over ourselves.

“EXCUSE ME!” Yelled a voice and both Billy and myself stopped mid-wrestle. I was about to stuff a fritter in my mouth and Billy had a piece of apple pie squished against the side of my face which leaked bits of goo into my mane.

“Uhm… yeah?” I asked like there was nothing wrong. He gave an irritated look to the both of us then I quickly realized that we had made a mess. Both Brixie and Daring had stepped back from the table.

“This is not a place for rough housing. It is a place for…” He began but I quickly interrupted him.

“Quick, Billy, make haste. Back to the parlour!” I laughed but as we tried to escape we ended up toppling ourselves and onto the floor.

“You’re… you’re first class! Oh I apologize. I thought you were third class ruffians by the way you acted so… uncivilized.” He commented and I shook my head.

“Nah, we were just having a bit of fun.” I told him. He nodded as he gave a very suspicious nod and touched a bit of excess food from the table and examined it on his hoof.

“Indeed… fun.” He commented as both Billy and I stood up. “Well I do say you are… quite the group and I would love to meet you all at a more… appropriate time. Tomorrow at breakfast. Seven o’clock, just ask for Mr. Extravagant Pants.” He said. I offered to shake his hoof but he simply looked at my messy hoof with a look of uncertainty then just gave a nod and trotted back to his table.

I was about to say goodbye when Daring suddenly grabbed me by the ear and began to drag me away. I looked to Billy who was being carried away in Brixie’s magical aura. ‘This isn’t going to end well.’ I thought to myself.

One and a half hours later:

Well it went better than I thought it would. Daring didn’t rip me a new one and simply had me take a bath, though Billy and I had to put our clothes to wash afterwards. I sat down and looked to the others. At the moment I had my old western wear on which I found was more comfortable than anything else.

“So… who gets what room?” I asked. Every-pony pointed to a room but me. Guess I was stuck in the living room. I thought to myself for a second and looked to Billy. “Billy I’m bunking with you.” I told him and he chuckled.

“Whoa there John. I don’t swing that way.” He laughed but I shook my head.

“Yeah neither do I but… well those two don’t seem to get along too well and I ain’t gonna sleep on another couch. Those beds are easily meant for two, heck you could get three on it if you tried. So it’s settled, I’m sleeping with you.” I told him and he let out a sigh.

“Alright… but keep to your side would yah.” He stated. With that we all left to our own rooms, well minus Billy and I who now shared a room. We both laid down and passed out. It only felt like a few minutes before I felt Billy nudge me. “Move over… you’re on my side.” He mumbled. I nudged him back.

“No you’re on my side… you move over.” I mumbled back, sort of in a tired daze. In moments it became a nudging match. “It’s… my side. Your side is… over there.” I whispered but he quickly shuffled to try and push me over.

“No, I’m right up against the wall. Now move over already!” He exclaimed quietly. I noticed the clock and realized it was eleven at night. Jeeze had we really been up this long fighting or had I just been sleeping for longer than I thought?

“If you don’t like it then maybe you should go bunk with Daring!” He whispered and I chuckled at the thought of it.

“Yeah because that would go over sooo well.” I whispered then thought for a moment. She had bunked up with me before, by accident, and I had slept peacefully all the while. She was a heck of a lot smaller than Billy and didn’t nudge at me while I slept. I contemplated it for a moment longer before I felt a small nudge to the side of my ribs.

“Fine-fine! I’ll go bunk with Daring. At least she doesn’t jab at me while I sleep!” I hissed then rolled off the bed and landed on the floor with a THUNK. The floor was actually quite comforting, considering my exhaustion, and I started to pass out on the floor.

I sort of passed out and entered a semi-unconscious state, knowing full well what was happening around me but not able to do anything with my body. It was relaxing but then a sudden and loud snore jolted me awake.

I heard Billy snoring and looked to the clock. It was one in the morning. I groaned to myself. I rolled on the floor, sort of trying to find a more comfortable spot. In my sleepiness I didn’t really feel like getting up.

Soon enough I realized that this was not going to do and stood up. I felt around on the bed but Billy was sprawled out and sleeping peacefully. I groaned as I staggered to the room door then proceeded across the living room. My mind blurred and my world seemed to spin as I stumbled across the dark living room.

I found a doorknob and opened it only to find the washroom. I quickly thought about sleeping in the tub but discarded the thought then closed the door behind me as I went to the next door.

I opened it and let my vision adjust to the surroundings. I fumbled around inside the room until I felt something soft and smooth, it felt like a bed. I smiled then quickly snuggled into the bed and immediately my mind was set at ease as I passed out.

Author's Notes:

Budum-tssh I have a feeling this is going to go very badly or... well just get disregarded like most other things that happen