RECAP: Gurrad is deadened, but the rest of the prisoners have escaped along with Celestin, Rose and Grump. Also, Discord shipped Clog's sink.

"Congratulations, rabbit," said Skalrag. "You're a natural born killer. Who would have thought it?"

Joshy didn't answer.

"Are you all right, old lad?" Martin asked.

The hare sat on the edge of the boat, his head in both paws, shaking and weeping uncontrollably. "No, I'm not all right, sah. I'm a bloody murderer, no better than Badrang! I've slain two creatures."

"At least you're not dead," Martin consoled him.

"The way I feel right now, I don't know if I want to go on living!"

Martin said, "I don't like to kill either, but sometimes I have to, to defend myself and others. If you hadn't killed those two rats, they would have killed you. I'm sure whoever your parents are, they'd be proud of you."

"It still wasn't pretty, though," said Rose. "I know how Joshy feels."

"An' I don't understand where my magic is comin' from either," Joshy sniffed. "I was gettin' used to the idea of bein' able to summon food whenever I wanted it, but now I just used magic to kill, an' I didn't even really mean t'do it. I don't know how to control my powers!"

"I had a problem with control when I first started developing my magic," said Princess Celestia. "It just takes time and perseverance. Luckily, I had a fantastic teacher, an old unicorn named Star Swirl the Bearded. He was able to give me some insight into my powers."

Joshy wiped away his tears. "D'you think he could help me too, wot wot?"

Celestia lowered her head. "I'm afraid not. He died just a few seasons ago. But maybe I could help you."

"Right now we need to focus on keeping the water out of this boat so we don't sink!" said Skalrag. He was the only one baling at the moment. The others had gotten distracted.

"Oh my goodness, you're right," said Celestia. She cupped a handful of water between her hooves and tossed it out. "You know, I never did thank you for giving Captain Clogg that whack on the head so I could get away from him."

"And he was a big help in the tunnel, too, digging through those last few feet of dirt when Grumm got too tired to finish," said Brome. "He might have a mole ancestor in his family."

Skalrag showed a small smile, but he tried to hide it. "Just remember, I didn't do any of those things because I like you fellows. I did it for myself. By helping you escape, I was helping myself escape, too. We have mutual need, remember?"

"There's no shame in doing good deeds," said Rose.

"Well, maybe not for creatures like you, but we foxes are different."

Something struck the side of the boat, causing the timbers to creak. Brome looked up from his baling.

"I hope that was a rock or something floating by. I'd hate to think it was a big fish!"

Rose peered down into the water. Her eyes went wide with shock. She looked up, pretending to scan the horizon.

Her brother shook his head. "C'mon, Rosie, you can't fool me. I saw you gaping into the water. What's down there?"

"It's a big fish!" Rose's voice was little more than a whisper.

They stopped baling. Joshy chuckled halfheartedly. "Big enough for us to catch an' eat, wot?"

Rose shook her head. "The other way round, friend. It's big enough to catch and eat us!"

There was another thump against the boat's side. Grumm sat tight, staring uncomfortably at the sky.

"Burr, Oi 'ate t' think o' moi pore bottom a-pokin' through 'ee bowt wi' a gurt fisher swimmin' under Oi."

The fish struck again!

This time it fractured the planking, and sea water squirted in as the boat settled lower.

The boat filled up, water rushing in over the sides as it dropped from beneath them, plummeting into the depths below. In an instant, they were all in the sea.

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The next thing Joshy remembered, he was lying face up on the beach. Brome was leaning over him, pounding on his chest to pump air back into the hare's lungs.

"I say, thanks awfully, old chap," Joshy said as soon as he could. "Where are Martin an' the others?"

Brome looked out over the waves. "There's no sign of 'em."

Joshy wiped water from his eyes. "I hope they're all right, wot."

"If they're still alive, they're probably heading to Equestria, like we agreed," said Brome.

"But that doesn't help us! We have no bally clue how to get there. What are we goin' to do? I don't even know where the flippin' flippy flip we are!"

"I know where we are," said Brome grimly. He pointed to the body of a dead rat with a knife sticking out of her. Nearby was an empty suit of clothes.

Joshy gave vent to a wail of frustration. "Wot? No! How did we end up back here? This is where we were tryin' to get away from!"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Nightmare Moon was on the walltop when Discord sidled up and whispered in her ear, "The beasts you had in the prison pit are all gone."

Nightmare Moon narrowed her eyes. "GONE? WHAT DOST THOU MEAN? THEY HATH DIED OR BEEN KILLED?"

"Nope!" Discord said cheerfully. "They escaped!"

"RUBBISH, NOBEAST ESCAPES MY PRISON PIT."

Discord could barely restrain his laughter. "They're gone all right. The strange thing is that there's no sign of escape. The grating was locked tight and the pit was secure."

"THIS MUST BE MY SISTER'S DOING! I SHOULD HATH KILLED HER WHEN I HAD THE CHANCE!" Nightmare Moon screamed. "WHY ARE YOU SMILING, IDIOT?"

She was interrupted by a cry from the shore. "Nightmare Moon, ole messmate! Sing out, 'ave you 'ad enough?"

"IS THAT YOU, CLOGG? I'M THE ONE THAT SHOULD BE ASKING THEE THAT QUESTION. I HATH BURNED THY SHIP, STOVED IN THY BOATS, AND LEFT THEE WITH NOUGHT BUT THE SEA BEHIND THEE AND ME WITH MY FORTRESS AND MY HORDE IN FRONT OF THEE. WHAT D'YE SAY TO THAT?"

Captain Clogg's irrepressible laughter rang out of the darkness. "Haharr harr! But yer a few beasts short. My bullies slew a good number of yours, and some of yer darlin' liddle slaves 'ave escaped. Did ye know that?"

Nightmare Moon replied, "OUT WITH IT, STOAT. WHAT D'YE WANT?"

"A truce an' a parley."

"OHO, THERE'S A CHANGE OF TUNE FOR YE. WHY SHOULD I PARLEY WITH THE LIKES OF THEE, THOU GREAT PLAITED SEA SWAB?"

"Cos iffen yer don't, I'll lay long siege to yer great palace. It don't cost nothin' to camp right 'ere on yer doorstep an' fish yer waters, an' plunder yer fields. Me an' my buckos ain't goin' noplace. I could keep a war goin' until yore dim in the eye, long in the seasons, an' white in the mane. Then you won't get no empire built, an' sooner or later yer horde'll starve. So be a good little pony an' parley wid me."

Nightmare Moon considered the offer for a moment. "VERY WELL. COMETH IN AND WE WILL TALK."

"Haharrharrharr! So be it, then. Open yer gates an' let me in."

Now it was Nightmare Moon's turn to chuckle. "THE GATES SHALL REMAINETH SHUT AND LOCKED. IF I WERE TO OPEN THEM, THY CREW WOULD CHARGETH IN AND ATTACKETH. INSTEAD, I'LL HAVE SOME OF MY BEASTS LETTETH DOWN A BASKET ON A ROPE, AND WE'LL HOISTETH YOU IN WITH THAT."

"Hoho, ain't you the suspicious one, an' me comin' 'ere in all good faith. Righto mate, we'll play yer liddle game."

TOBY CONTINUED: Will they come to an argument? What about Marten ad his companions? Keep reasoning for an answers to these questions.