As the Waveworm sailed down the river, Lask Frildur used his cell phone to call Ublaz. "We're zailing back to Zampetra," he said. "We didn't get the pearlz. Inztead we're bringing two poniez az hoztagez- the Tearz of all Oceanz are to be their ranzom. What d'you think of that? At least we have zomething to bargain with…"

On the other end of the line, Ublaz's yell was so loud that even Romsca could hear it, standing three feet away from Lask. "BARGAIN? I AM UBLAZ, EMPEROR OF SEAS AND OCEANS! I TAKE! Twice my creatures have failed me. Twice! If I had gone after the pearls myself in the first place I would have them now, set in my new crown! There will be no more bargaining or playing of games. When the Waveworm drops anchor here, we will sail again back to the land of Equestria- all of my ships and every creature on Sampetra. That way there will be none left behind to seize power and plot behind my back. I will lead everybeast, monitors, Trident Rats and corsairs, against the ponies. I will smash their country stone from stone and rip those pearls from the wreckage. The ruins of Equestria will remain as a marker to the deadbeasts that lie beneath them- the ones who tried to defy the might of Ublaz!" He hung up.

Bladetail approached Romsca. "Those monitors are pesterin' yer liddle ponies agin, Cap'n."

Lying bound on the deck, Fluttershy tried to hide behind Rarity as a monitor named Fraddle poked his evil head close to them, grinning and grinding his teeth, enjoying the pair's distress. "Tazty poniez, you will tazte nize!"

Against her instincts, Romsca had found herself feeling protective towards the two ponies. She had spent the whole day keeping the lizards from tormenting them, and suddenly her temper rose. She strode up to Fraddle and kicked him sprawling. "Keep your foul-smellin' snout away from da ponies, or I'll black dem lamps for ya!"

Fraddle scrambled upright, teeth bared, claws raised defiantly. "I do az I pleaze, ferret. Lazk Frildur givez me my orderz!"

"Well, here's an order from me, scalebrain," Romsca snarled. "Die!" She whipped her switchblade out of her pocket, ran Fraddle through, and tipped him overboard. Then she whirled on the other monitors. "Ya see what happens ta guys dat get funny wit' me? Let dat be a warnin' to da rest of ya!"

Fluttershy whispered softly to Rarity, "Romsca is not totally against us. We may have a friend."

Romsca had overheard. "I ain't your friend. I'm keepin' youse two alive for my own benefit. If anyt'ing happens to you, I'll get croaked myself! Youse is da cause of all da trouble. You an' your bunch of kale, dey give me a swift pain. For half a cent I'd soak youse a wallop to da solar plexus dat would put youse ta sleep for da long count, you- you…" but here words failed Romsca.

Rarity held her head high, and her gaze never wavered from the ferret's eyes. Presently she curled her lip. "You coward!" she said quietly. "You are nothing but an insufferable bully, and a cowardly murderer. You are only fit to strike from behind, or when your victim is unsuspecting. Do you think I fear a thing such as you?"

With an ugly grunt Romsca turned her back and walked away.

The lookout called from the crow's nest. "I can see the ocean!"

"Bully!" Romsca exclaimed. "Dey'll never catch us now!"

The ship entered the open ocean, and headed west, back towards Sampetra.

It was almost out of sight of land when Rainbow Dash, Discord, and Joshy reached the shore. They were just in time to see the Waveworm disappearing in the distance.

"Darn!" said Joshy. "We didn't move fast enough!"

"We'll never catch 'em now, out on the ocean!" Rainbow Dash cried. "We can't fly that far, and who knows where they're heading?"

"Even if I have to follow them over the world's edge, I'll bring Fluttershy back to Ponyville," Discord vowed. "And if those corsairs have harmed her, I'll kill them all!"

Just then Captain Celaeno's ship landed on the beach. "Ahoy, mates!" the parrot called. "Rainbow Dash, what a pleasure it is to see your face again! What are you doing here?"

"We're on the track of some pirates who captured our friends Fluttershy and Rarity," said Rainbow Dash.

"What a coincidence," said Celaeno. "We're chasing those same pirates ourselves. What do you say we join forces?"

"Sounds good to me. I wonder where they're going?"

"I know where they're going," said Grath Longfletch. She had been standing next to Celaeno, but Rainbow Dash only noticed her now. "Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Grath Longfletch, last of the Holt of Lutra. Those pirates attacked my home, killed my family, and stole six pearls, the Tears of all Oceans. They'll be headed back to the island of Sampetra, where Emperor Ublaz Mad Eyes rules."

"What sort of creature is he?" Joshy asked.

"He's a pine marten."

"What's that, some kind of bird?" said Rainbow Dash.

Discord explained, "A pine marten is a member of the weasel family. It looks sort of like a cross between a weasel and a fox."

"I've never set eyes on Ublaz before, but I've heard stories about him," said Grath grimly. "They say he can hypnotize animals with his eyes."

"I say, that must be why they call him Mad Eyes, wot!" Joshy exclaimed.

"Well, his magic is no match for mine," said Discord.

"So, how do we get to Sampetra?" Rainbow Dash asked.

Celaeno said, "The other day we captured a rat who also comes from that island. He's promised to show us the way there."

"Okay!" said Rainbow Dash.

And so Rainbow, Discord, and Joshy joined Celaeno and her crew, and they set out for Sampetra.