Mariel trod water, holding the swallow between her teeth, the Gullwhacker about her neck weighing heavily in the sea. Cries from the searat ship died away into the fog, and now she was alone on the deep, shrouded by the all-enveloping mists and without her companions. Suddenly something grabbed her footpaws and pulled her under. Kicking madly she wriggled and fought underwater. The mousemaid lashed out, connecting hard with something. Whatever it was had let go of her. Mariel fought her way to the surface, and emerged next to Spike, who was spitting water and gurgling.
"Gwaawhg! I must've gone right t'the bottom then. Was that your paws I grabbed hold of?"
Mariel was overjoyed to see her friend. "Spike, it's you!"
"I'll say it is. Who did you expect, a fish with claws an' spikes?"
"Can you see Pinkie Pie or Apple Bloom?"
"No. I hope they're all right. I wonder how far we are from shore."
Mariel squinted. "I can't see a thing in this fog."
"Then let's just float here until it clears. D'you want my sword? It makes a good float."
"We'll both use it, then."
They both held on to the sword. It buoyed them slightly, and they kicked their legs slowly to keep afloat. They lost all reckoning of distance or position as they floated for what seemed like endless hours. Gradually the fog began to thin, giving way to slightly choppy water and mists, which were soon dispelled by a stiff breeze.
Mariel's mind kept playing tricks on her. She kept seeing impossible things. Once she thought she saw a great ghostly green ship pass by her and Spike, but when she blinked it disappeared. A little while later she saw a boy and a dog floating in the water nearby. Mariel rubbed her eyes. If she was having hallucinations she wasn't going to last much longer.
Spike spoke. "My claws have gone all dead an' shriveled with the salt water."
"Spike, I'm sorry I got you into this. I should have travelled alone. Now Pinkie and Apple Bloom are probably dead and we're not going to last much longer."
"It wasn't your fault," Spike said. "We'd have come along whether you liked it or not. Now stop that kind of talk an' save your breath."
"You're a good friend, Spike… I won't forget you…"
"I hope Twilight Sparkle thinks of her trusty assistant feedin' the fish every now an' then."
"I can't hold on anymore," Mariel said. Her paws slipped off the sword.
Spike tried to yell, but his voice was too tired. "Mariel…" he gasped. But he couldn't hold on either. He let go too. Mariel and Spike were both sinking.
Suddenly a pair of talons closed on Spike's arms and lifted him out of the water. He looked up and saw that a parrot was carrying him. She was Captain Celaeno!
"Ahoy, Spike," she said. "Looks like we dropped in at the right time, eh matey?"
The rest of her crew was hovering nearby. Another parrot was carrying Mariel, and a third had grabbed Martin's sword.
"We'll take you up to our ship," Celaeno said. The birds flew Spike and Mariel into the sky, where their airship was floating.
Mariel gaped. "I've never seen a flying pirate ship before!"
"Don't worry," Spike said hastily. "These are the good kind of pirates."
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Onboard, Mariel and Spike told the parrot pirates their story.
"Unbelievable," Captain Celaeno said when they were finished. "Who does that Gabool the Wild think he is? Someone ought to throw him into the sea!"
"Will you help us, then?" Spike asked.
"I'd be delighted to, Spike. I remember when you and your pony friends freed us from the clutches of the Storm King. One good turn deserves another."
