Chapter 21: PPOV (Pony Point of View)

One morning at Twilight's castle, Twilight and Chase were in the dojo practicing with the alicorn stallion blocking punches from his wife.

Twilight has been practicing real hard to become a kunoichi since Chase has not only been helping her, but with the help of Pakku Shisho and Santos Blaze, she's been making valuable progress with her skills.

Chase then tried to kick Twilight, who jumped out of the way. Chase grabbed Twilight's arm, but she flipped. Still holding his wife's arm, Chase rolled Twilight on his back and she back-flipped off, landing in a fighting stance.

The two alicorns stared each other down as they switched their fighting positions before they charged at one another as Chase was about to land a solid back kick to Twilight, only for her to catch her husband's back hoof, flipped him in the air and she palm strikes him in the chest, sending the alicorn stallion to the ground.

Soon he recovered and just before he could fall on his back, he quickly got on his feet and back flipped away from Twilight as she missed him when she tried to punch him.

Twilight was in a crouch on the ground before she smiled victoriously.

"And that concludes our practice!" Chase said as he walked over to his wife with a proud smile on his face. "Wow, honey. You're doing pretty good with perfecticing your moves nonstop."

"Well, I did have a pretty good handsome teacher helping me out." Twilight said as she batted her eyelashes at her husband with a flirty smile, making Chase smile amusingly.

"As long as you are doing well, you'll be a great martial artist like me in no time." Chase said with a chuckle.

Twilight giggled as she snuggled under her husband's chin as Chase held his wife with a foreleg. It was then Spike and Nyx came into the dojo after having breakfast.

"Well, I hope you guys are all done with practice, we gotta go to the train station soon." Spike said, gaining the alicorn couple's attention. "Hope you haven't forgotten about it."

"Oh yeah, right!" Chase said with a grin. "I forgot about the train."

Twilight smiled excitedly.

(Scene changes)

About a few minutes later, Twilight and Chase were racing each other parallel of the train tracks just outside of town. Nyx was keeping up with them, enjoying herself but still wanted to know what was so important about the train her parents were talking about. Spike was left far behind and was soon panting out of breath as he came to a stop.

"Twilight, Chase, Nyx, can you slow down a bit," said Spike, sweating heavily as he sighed to himself.

"Sorry, Spike," said Twilight with Chase and Nyx right behind her. Twilight could help but bounce on her hooves, "It's just Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Applejack are getting back from their Seaward Shoals boat trip, and I can't wait to hear all about it!" She then put Spike on her back as she headed to the train station. Chase and Nyx followed beside her.

"It's such a shame Rainbow Dash, Soarin, and Fluttershy had to miss it for their Cloudsdale flight school reunion," said Twilight, "and Sokka went with them. Maybe the rest of us not going was for the best anyway. I know the three of them were really looking to getting out of their element."

Twilight then jumped up to the station platform, along with Mario and Diamond Tiara right behind him. Chase smiled calmly as Twilight bit her lip and scouted about, trying to contain her excitement.

"Getting out of their element?" Spike asked as he jumped off Twilight's back.

"What do you mean, Mom?" Nyx asked.

"I think they all just wanted to try something new," said Twilight.

"Huh. If that's the case," said Spike, "I guess a boat trip qualifies as that."

"My only worry is that they'll be so excited, they'll talk over each other, and I'll miss some of the details!" said Twilight, as she made a scroll and quill appear and handed them to Spike, "Just to be safe, I may need you to take notes."

Twilight then shoved the items into Spike's claws.

"Uh...right," said Spike reluctantly as he took the items and had a long face

"Don't get too discouraged, Spike. Just try to live through it." Chase advised.

It was then the train whistle was heard. The train then pulled into the station. It was then the group winced as they saw Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie looking very dirty and very angry.

"Whoa, what happened to you guys?" Nyx asked with concern.

Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie just kept glaring. Twilight, Chase, Nyx, and Spike quickly grew uneasy at the glares from the three other mares.

"So how was the trip?" Twilight asked sheepishly.

The three angry ponies simply grunted as they all tried to exit the train at once. Applejack stomped away to the left, Rarity stomped away to the right, and Pinkie...she didn't want to walk away in either direction. So she simply climbed over the train and ran off. Chase, Twilight, Nyx, and Spike were left stunned and confused.

"I guess that answers your question, honey." Chase said with a disturbed look.

"Well that was awkward," said Nyx.

Twilight just said nothing. She was feeling rather worried.

"Well, at least you don't have to worry about them talking over each other," Spike pointed out, but that did nothing to make Twilight feel any better.

*Main theme*

A few hours later, Nyx and Twilight worked together to set up the table in the dining room for a tea party. Spike and Chase arrived with plates of freshly baked cookies and set them on the table. Twilight then used her magic to pick up the teapot and wiped a spot on it to make it shine. Nyx looked a bit worried when she saw Twilight cleaning the teapot.

"Guess I still need practice making a teapot look spotless," said Nyx sadly.

"You did just fine, honey," said Twilight gently to her daughter, nuzzling her lovingly as Nyx nuzzled her mother back before they pulled away. "I'm just being nitpicky. Anyway, I don't know what happened on that boat trip. But once Rarity, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie have some tea and talk it out, I'm sure everypony will feel better."

"Assuming they show up honey," Chase remarked as Ray arrived, landing gracefully on his master's back.

"They will," said Twilight as she put the bags of tea into the hot water inside of the teapot.

Spike then grabbed a cookie to eat and went to bite it when Twilight pulled away and put it back on the plate with her magic. Spike just smiled apologetically as Twilight smirked. Nyx rolled her eyes.

"Do you have any self-control?" Nyx asked the little dragon.

"I do!" Spike retorted indignantly, "Who said I don't?"

"Well a little birdie told me about a tale of a dragon who wanted to make a gem cake but couldn't keep himself from eating all the gems," Nyx remarked in a sweet but sassy tone.

"Oh, you had to bring that up!" Spike remarked angrily and pouted in embarrassment. He hated being reminded of that incident.

"Be nice, Nyx," said Twilight in a motherly tone, "Spike learned his lesson...eventually."

Spike blushed as he continued to pout.

KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK

"Looks like they've arrived," said Chase. Twilight headed over to the double doors and opened them with her magic.

"Come on in, everypony!" Twilight said in a mannerly tone, but then noticed that there weren't any hoof-steps.

She looked down to see three familiar critters standing before the door.

"Gummy, Opalescence, and Winona?" said Twilight as she stepped aside allowing the three pets to walk in. "This is a surprise."

Spike ran up to the double doors to look out as well to find nopony else.

"Aren't Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Applejack with you?" Spike asked in confusion.

Chase, Nyx, and Twilight then heard the sound of purring. Twilight found Opal nuzzling her and then saw that there was a note on the cat's collar. Twilight used her magic to collect it.

""Sorry, darling"," said Twilight as she read Opal's note, ""But I must decline the invitation to your soiree. While I'm sure it will be positively resplendent, there are certain ponies I'd rather not associate with at the moment", Rarity."

Twilight looked rather upset.

"Sounds like she's gotten upset with her friends on the boat trip." Chase said with a suspicious look.

"Yup." Nyx nodded in agreement with her father as she watched Gummy climb into the table and landed on his back. Winona sat on a stool and just let it spin her about. "And I'm guessing the other notes Winona and Gummy have probably have the same declines on them."

Ray nodded in agreement with her as he lightly chirped in reply.

Twilight used her magic to retrieve Winona's note, which was covered in slobber.

"Sorry, I can't make it"," Twilight read aloud using her own version of a country accent, ""But I'm still a mite upset about everything that happened on the boat", Applejack."

Chase then found Pinkie's note...was written on Gummy's stomach.

""Sorry I can't make the tea party today," said Chase, "But there's a small problem with the guest list. Plus, I'm right in the middle of a very important cupcake", Pinkie."

Twilight was now very upset. Then she felt her disappointment turn into anger.

"Come on, Spike, Nyx, honey," said Twilight firmly, "Since our friends won't come here and tell us what happened, we'll just have to go to them!"

"Coming!" Chase and Nyx replied as the the three ponies made their way. Nyx noticed that Spike wasn't behind them.

"Come on, Spike!" Nyx called out.

"Right behind you!" said Spike as he stuffed his mouth with several of the cookies and followed behind them, leaving Ray alone with the rest of his critter friends.

(Scene changes)

At the Carousel Boutique, Rarity was just glaring angrily at her messy mane from a pony-sized mirror. She sternly removed the piece of seaweed in her mane and started to brush her mane back into shape. Rarity then winced and lifted part of her mane to find that a crab had made its home in it. Rarity gasped.

"I'm sorry," said Rarity huffily, "but my mane wasn't made to support marine life!"

Rarity used her magic to place the crab on the floor. The crab angrily walked away, catching the attention of Twilight, Chase, Nyx, and Spike.

"That was unexpected," said Nyx to the group.

"Ruined, completely ruined," said Rarity as she used her magic to hold a very dirty trench coat.

"I don't know," said Twilight, "Maybe you could-"

"Throw it away," Rarity interrupted as she dumped the coat into a waste bin, "Yes, I agree. Just another innocent casualty of that disastrous boat trip."

"Think you can give your testimony on the situation, Rarity?" Nyx asked.

"Please, darlings, I don't know if I'll ever be able to discuss it," Rarity replied in dramatic fashion as she summoned her chasse sofa and reclined on it, "It's far too painful."

Rarity then gasped dramatically. Chase and Nyx looked at her with blunt looks. Spike looked relieved as he pressed the scroll and quill on Twilight's side to emphasize he didn't want to take notes.

"If it's too difficult to talk about," Spike said gently, "we completely understand."

"Well, since you dragged it out of me..." Rarity continued as Spike made a face showing he was regretting opening his big mouth, "It all started at the docks. I knew Applejack and Pinkie wanted to get out of their element, so I thought I would surprise them with an elegant cruise."

By now, Spike was taking notes reluctantly.

Flashback

The scene changed to show Seaward Shoals docking area. There was a large boat ready for sailing as Rarity arrived wearing a life jacket and had a porter pony holding a rather small travel bag.

"I had brought a small bag with just a few key essentials," Rarity narrated and then her past self spoke.

"All right ponies," Rarity said excitedly, "Prepare yourselves for luxury on the high seas!"

Pinkie was already at the docks wearing her own life vest and had saddle bags loaded with games and other things.

"That sounds...fun?" Pinkie said uneasily.

It was then Applejack made her presence known. The orange pony was wearing a worn black jacket with a green turtle neck, red beanie on her head and had a sour look on her face with one eye closed.

"The sea air carries a potent for trouble this day," Applejack narrated darkly with a sea dog accent, "'Tis a treacherous and perilous journey that lies ahead of us! We sail to adventure...or our very doom." Rarity and Pinkie gave Applejack funny looks.

"I...have no idea what you just said," Rarity pointed out as she and Pinkie both smiled sheepishly, "but wardrobe is delightfully seaworthy."

Applejack sternly stomped aboard the boat while Rarity and Pinkie followed behind her.

(Scene changes)

As the ship was finally at sea, Rarity was steering the ship while Applejack was just keeping watch from the front. Pinkie was standing near the mast enjoying the view.

"Despite Applejack's colorful seafarer attitude," Rarity narrated again, "I was still determined to get my friends out of their element by providing them with all the refinements of a luxury cruise. I made sure to bring the most delectable nibbles for them to enjoy." Rarity then pulled out a tall metal dome from her bag and walked up to the others as Applejack was adjusting one of the sails as she set her plate and dome into a wooden table. Applejack and Pinkie looked at the treats skeptically.

"Ooh, I brought food too!" said Pinkie as she emptied a bag filled with various candies and other snacks into the deck.

"Let's see," said Pinkie as she pointed at the treats and snacks, "I've got cotton candy, taffy, circus peanuts, and lots of other super-yummy stuff."

"Oh, Pinkie Pie, that all looks positively delectable," Rarity remarked in a rather insincere tone, "But you simply must try one of these cucumber sandwiches. Dig in!" Rarity then used her magic to give Pinkie a cucumber sandwich.

"Hmmm. Hmmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm," Pinkie Pie hummed as she looked at her sandwich.

"Arrr!" Applejack grunted loudly in frustration, still using a sea dog accent, "Get those off me ship!" She then tossed all of Rarity's treats into the water. Pinkie and Rarity ran to the edge of the boat as the treats sank into the sea and the water bubbled.

"Oh! I'm so sorry!" said Rarity sadly, "I had no idea you had such a distaste for cucumbers!"

"Yar-har-har-har, harder-har-har-har!" Applejack chortled like a pirate gone insane.

End Flashback

Spike and Twilight were left stunned at Rarity's testimony. Nyx and Chase looked rather skeptical as well.

"So you're saying Applejack voluntarily took an entire plate of cucumber sandwiches and dumped them overboard," said Chase, "because she despised cucumbers?"

"That is correct," said Rarity.

"Hmm...That doesn't sound like Applejack," said Twilight.

"Huh," was all Spike could say.

"Well, hold on," said Rarity indignantly, "because it gets even worse."

"How?" Chase asked curiously.

"Pinkie tried to lighten the mood with some fun maritime games," Rarity continued.

Flashback

As Applejack was sternly steering the ship, Pinkie set up a piñata in the shape of a fish nearby.

"It's piñata o'clock!" Pinkie announced, "Wanna give it a whack, Rarity?"

"Oh, darling, of course!" Rarity replied as she took the stick with her magic. Suddenly there was some thunder and lightning as the boat got caught up in an oncoming storm. Applejack laughed like a mad pony.

"I'll be chartin' a course to the very heart of that maelstrom!" said Applejack as the weather conditions grew more severe. Applejack then looked at her map when Rarity appraoched.

"Ahem. Er, Applejack?" Rarity suggested, "Just a thought, but maybe we should steer the ship toward calmer waters."

"This be the only way to Plunder Cove!" Applejack announced. Rarity then winced as some more lightning clashed and the water got rougher. Applejack didn't seem to notice or care.

"Perhaps if I took a quick look-see at that map of yours," said Rarity as she tried to look at the map herself, "I could find us a more cruise-friendly path-"

"Yah!" Applejack retorted as she sternly pulled the map away from the marshmallow mare, "There'll be no mutiny aboard me ship!"

"Look at me! I'm the captain too!" said Pinkie, now wearing her own captains hat as she grabbed the map away from Applejack. Soon Applejack and Pinkie were playing tug-o-war with the map. Rarity also joined in so it was a three way fight for the map.

"Clearly, Pinkie Pie had caught Applejack's sea madness," Rarity pointed out to those taking notes." The three ponies continued to argue and fight for the map. Then a wave crashed over the boat and knocked them apart. Applejack then looked to see a giant tidal wave coming right at them.

"Is that all you've got?!" Applejack retorted and laughed manically. Rarity cringed as Applejack steered the boat right into the tidal wave, which quickly and easily overtook them.

End Flashback

"Then what happened?" Spike asked as Twilight and Nyx cringed.

"Oh, the boat sank. Obviously," Rarity said plainly.

Nyx, Twilight, and Spike shared a puzzled look with each other. Chase pondered.

"So Applejack got some sort of sea madness and caused the boat to capsize?" Twilight asked, trying to make sure that what she had heard.

"I know Applejack can be a stubborn mule at times," said Chase, "But she usually has enough common sense not to do anything reckless...most of the time."

"Yeah," Nyx added, "That sounds more like something Rainbow Dash would do...no offense!"

"None taken," said Chase, "I could totally see Rainbow Dash stupidly take on a tidal wave...and fail miserably." Twilight didn't resist rolling her eyes at that remark.

"After all the effort I put in to provide her and Pinkie with the exact luxury cruise they needed to get out of their element," Rarity huffed, "that is how Applejack thanked me!"

"So you were stuck out in the middle of the ocean?" Spike remarked, "How in Equestria did you get back?"

"Spike, darling, you'll have to forgive me," said Rarity dramatically as she leaned away from the group, "I am far too emotionally drained to discuss the matter any further!"

Then the marshmallow pony used her magic to scope up some ice cream and ate it. Chase looked at her as if her method was not true.

Twilight and Spike walked up Rarity.

"Rarity, I don't suppose there's any chance you might be...uh, exaggerating things? Just a little?" Twilight asked with a meek smile.

"Yeah, it doesn't sound true to us." Chase said with a firm look.

Rarity looked offended by this.

"Well! I can assure you that that is exactly what happened!" Rarity said angrily, "But if you don't believe me, you can ask Pinkie Pie. I'm quite certain her story will be the same."

"I'm betting this is all just a hoax." Chase said with a blunt look.

(Scene changes)

Once they arrived at Sugarcube Corner, Twilight and Chase immediately told Pinkie that they had talked to Rarity and told her what she had said. Pinkie had a bitter look on her face.

"So that's what Rarity said happened on the boat, huh?" Pinkie asked indignantly while sternly opening the oven and puts in a tray of muffins to bake. Twilight just smiled sheepishly.

"We thought there was a chance she might have..." Twilight cleared her throat, "embellished the story just a tad. So we wanted to hear about what happened from you! Did Applejack really capsize the boat?"

Twilight also noticed Spike, who was sitting on a counter, was trying to lick some frosting in a bowl, but she used her magic to take the frosting spatula from him and shoved another scroll and quill into his claws.

"Of course not!" Pinkie replied, "Pfft, that's just silly! There's no way Applejack could've sank the boat!"

"I knew it!" said Twilight.

"That's a relief," added Spike.

Chase and Nyx were not convinced by this.

"Because Rarity did!" Pinkie exclaimed as she got into Twilight's face.

"What?!" Twilight, Chase, Nyx, and Spike gasped together.

"It all started on the docks," Pinkie narrated as she put some baking items on her head, She then shook her head so a frosting tube, measuring cup, and a stick of butter landed side by side between Twilight, Chase, Nyx, and Spike, starling them, "I knew Rarity and Applejack wanted to get out of their element, so I figured I'd throw them the funnest, silliest boat party ever! But I guess Rarity had other ideas."

As Pinkie spoke, she got between Spike and Twilight, donning a bitter look on her face.

Flashback

"I thought I overpacked until I saw Rarity and her team of porter-ponies!" Pinkie narrated as the scene showed them at the docks.

Applejack was already there wearing a red beanie and her life vest while holding a treasure map in her fore-hooves. Pinkie then arrived with her saddle bags and board games.

It was then Rarity appeared wearing a gem studded captains outfit with turquoise sunglasses, white captain's hat, and her mane tied up into a curly pony tail. Behind Rarity was a large group of porter-ponies carrying a single piece of her luggage.

"Prepare yourselves for a luxury cruise!" Rarity announced, "A day of opulence, decadence, and extravagance!" Applejack and Pinkie shared worried looks with each other.

"That sounds fun," said Pinkie in a deadpan tone.

"Ahoy, mateys!" said Applejack cheerfully, "Batten down the hatches, y'all, 'cause this here's gonna be a boat ride for an adventure!"

"Eh, I can live with that," said Pinkie. Rarity just smiled and rushed on board. Pinkie and Applejack smiled at first as the porter ponies went on the ship to drop off Rarity's luggage, but those smiles soon turned into worried looks as the number of porter ponies didn't seem to end.

"Huh. They just keep coming," Pinkie remarked.

(Scene changes)

Once they were at sea, Rarity was at the steering wheel while Pinkie and Applejack were at the front of the boat.

"Now, you can't throw a silly boat party without snacks," Pinkie continued to narrate, "So I made sure to pack the funnest party food I could find!" Pinkie then set a tin plate loaded with her treats and set them on a table.

"Rarity, would you care for some cotton candy?" Pinkie asked as she held out some paper cones filled with blue and pink cotton candy, "It's freshly spun!" Rarity flinched as the cotton candy was presented to her and looked indignant.

"Oh, Pinkie Pie, those all look simply...well, simple," Rarity said snootily as she used her magic to remove Pinkie's treats, and set a metal plate with a dome on top of the table and removed the dome top, "But they're obviously unfit for a luxury cruise. Now, my cucumber sandwiches, on the other hoof...Try one, then you'll understand." Rarity then grabbed a sandwich slice and shoved it into Pinkie's mouth. Pinkie just chewed and ate the sandwich. Applejack then went to grab something from the plate.

"Ooh, are those chocolate chip?" Applejack asked hungrily. Then Applejack and Pinkie were shocked when Rarity tossed the entire plate overboard, making the treats sink into the water and some bubbles appeared in the water.

"Sorry!" said Rarity snootily, "Cucumber sandwiches are so ten seconds ago."

End Flashback.

"Wait, wait, wait," said Twilight as Spike was stuffing his face with popcorn he found during Pinkie's testimony, "That doesn't sound like Rarity."

"You can say that again," said Nyx, "Rarity would have to be out of her mind to simply toss perfectly good cucumber sandwiches into the water on purpose! Not to mention claim their out of style! Cucumber sandwiches never go out of style when it comes to high class gatherings!"

"Just wait until you hear how much more unlike her she sounds!" said Pinkie.

"Pinkie just admitted she exaggerating Rarity didn't she?" Nyx asked Chase in a deadpan tone.

"Yup." Chase said in the same deadpan tone.

"I thought I'd lighten the mood with some super-fun party boat games," Pinkie continued, "But Rarity was a real wet blanket."

Flashback

Applejack was now steering the ship as Pinkie hung up her green fish shaped piñata.

"It's piñata time!" Pinkie said excitedly, "Ooh! Wanna give it a whack, Rarity?" Rarity then gave a very exaggerated posh laugh and then stopped.

"...Oh. you were serious," said Rarity bluntly before adding in condescending tone, "Well, that's adorable." Rarity then walked off importantly, leaving Pinkie feeling hurt as she held the blindfold with a fore-hoof.

"I'll give it a go!" Applejack volunteered.

"That's the spirit!" said Pinkie, now feeling better, "Let's get this boat party started!" She quickly tied the blindfold on Applejack's eyes, spun her around, and had her hold the stick.

"Whoooooa! Heh-heh! Whoa, doggie!" Applejack chuckled as she wobbled about on her hind legs. Then there was a clash of thunder and lightning. Applejack lifted her blindfold as she and Pinkie winced. Their boat was sailing right into the middle of a storm. Applejack rushed back to the steering wheel to regain control of the boat. Then a wave crashed over the ship, washing over Pinkie's games. Pinkie then saw that Applejack and Rarity were now fighting over the map.

"Tug of war?" Pinkie asked, "Now we're talking! Whoever wins gets to be captain!" The three ponies continued to grunt as they did tug of war with the map. Then Pinkie saw that the steering wheel was spinning and rattling out of control.

"Or...one of us should just be captain now?" Pinkie said worriedly. Rarity let go of the map, making Applejack and Pinkie recoil into the back railing. Then the marshmallow mare rushed to the front of the boat.

"Oh, don't worry, dear," said Rarity as a giant wave appeared before them, "Luxury cruises never sink."

"What?!" Pinkie exclaimed as Applejack tried to regain control of the ship. But it was too late. The wave crashed over the ship.

End Flashback

"And that's why the boat sinking was all Rarity's fault," Pinkie finished as she was stirring something in another bowl.

"Okay, time out here!" Nyx snapped, "Why in Equestria would Rarity say or think of something so stupid?! I mean..."luxury cruises never sink"?! Any pony who follows high society knows about the tragedy of the Titanic!"

"Nyx does have a point," said Twilight, "that seems...odd." Pinkie gave Twilight a death glare.

"Honey, you just put Damage control on her!" Chase whispered as he leaned toward his wife. Twilight smiled sheepishly.

"I mean, we trust you, of course," said Twilight quickly, "But it's all so...extraordinary?"

"Oh, it's "extraordinary", all right," said Pinkie, "But that's exactly what happened!"

"Is there anything else you can tell us Pinkie?" Chase asked, "every detail is important for our investigation."

"Well..." Pinkie pondered, "In fact, the only thing I might've gotten wrong was that there were even more porter ponies!"

Chase and Nyx gave Pinkie deadpan looks.

"I'm seriously regretting asking my question," Chase remarked to his daughter.

"With Pinkie, there's a risk asking her just about anything, Daddy," Nyx replied in a deadpan tone.

"But to be sure, you should talk to Applejack," Pinkie added, "She'll know exactly how many porter ponies there were!"

Twilight just looked stunned and Spike looked just as baffled. Chase and Nyx blinked.

"Actually, that's not a bad idea, Daddy," said Nyx to Chase in a hushed tone, "Speaking to Applejack, not the porter ponies." Chase stared and then smiled.

"Sounds like a plan," said Chase before addressing Twilight and Spike, "Come on, guys!"

"Okay, hold on a sec, Chase," said Spike but then looked at Pinkie, "but if the boat sank, how did you all get rescued?"

"I'd like to know the answer to that as well," Nyx added.

"Oh that's easy," said Pinkie, "We just-" Suddenly some black smoke appeared above their heads and Pinkie sniffled something burning.

"My muffins!" Pinkie screamed and ran into the kitchen to do damage control.

"That's it!" said Spike, feeling fed up, as he jumped off the counter, "We've gotta go talk to Applejack."

"Good idea," said Twilight, "She'll straighten this out."

As the conversation ended, the black smoke had cleared, which probably meant either Pinkie saved the muffins or disposed the burnt ones. No pony bothered peeking into the kitchen to check as they made their exit from the bakery.

"I just really, really wanna know how they made it back!" said Spike, "But yeah, that'd be great too."

"Hmm..." Nyx pondered as Twilight took notice.

"Something on your mind, sweetie?" Twilight asked her daughter curiously as Chase also looked at his daughter with interest.

"Twilight, wasn't there a waxing crescent moon during the time Applejack, Pinkie and Rarity were on that boat trip?" Nyx asked. Twilight was rather stunned at her daughter's question, but also impressed at the topic.

"Yes, there was a waxing crescent moon," said Twilight, "what about it?"

"Well...a few weeks ago, Miss Cheerilee was talking about this deep sea creature to the students at her school that will migrate close to shore during the time the moon is a waxing crescent," Nyx explained, "But if that creature were in the area...(sigh)...nevermind...it's just a silly theory."

"No theory is silly if you take the time and effort to do the research, honey," said Twilight.

"Hmm, it might be something worth looking into," said Chase, "Once we visit Applejack, we'll stop by Cheerilee to see if this creature of yours would go anywhere near Seaward Shoals."

Nyx nodded with a smile, glad her little theory was being taken seriously.

(Scene changes)

It wasn't long before the group arrived at Sweet Apple Acres. Clay told them exactly where Applejack would be. Whenever the orange pony was fuming about something, she would use that pent up energy to buck apples. Like before, despite Chase's recommendation, Twilight filled the orange pony in on what Rarity and Pinkie had said about the boat trip.

"Hold on a tick," said Applejack angrily, "Pinkie Pie says it's Rarity's fault, and Rarity says I sank the boat? Well, that's plumb crazy!"

Twilight and Spike shared looks with each other.

"As much as I know you can get stubborn sometimes and that stubborn pride can make you do dumb things..." Chase pointed.

"Grrrrr..." Applejack growled.

"What Daddy is trying to say that, despite your stubbornness," Nyx corrected, "You wouldn't be dumb enough to face a tidal wave head on."

"Darn tootin' I wouldn't!" Applejack retorted, "If you four really wanna know what happened, I'll tell you."

Twilight just smiled excitedly and discreetly handed Spike another scroll and quill. Spike saw the items coming early on and sternly snatched them from Twilight's magic grip.

"Y'all know how Pinkie Pie and Rarity wanted to get out of their "element"?" Applejack began, "Well, I brought a treasure map to give 'em rip roarin' seafarin' adventure!"

"I still can't wrap my head around the fact that Rarity would turn down a treasure hunt," said Nyx, "She loves anything involving precious jewels and such."

"I thought so too," said Applejack before adding bitterly, "But they had other ideas."

Flashback

Once again, the scene changed to show the docs, but this time Applejack was already at the boat wearing her life vest and her stenson hat. She also had several shovels tied to her back. Rarity then appeared wearing a cream colored dress and hat that dated around the close of the 19th century. She had only one porter pony carrying her bags.

"La-la-la! Prepare yourselves for the most luxurious boat outing that ever outed a boat!" Rarity announced. Applejack just smiled. It was then Pinkie arrived with her saddles bags LOADED with games and other things that towered above her.

"And more fun than you can shake a stick at!" Pinkie said with a maniacal smile on her face and squee, "Because I brought a stick!"

End Flashback

"Okay, I gotta ask this," said Nyx, "I know Pinkie can get hyper sometimes, but your implying she went insane before the boat trip even started? You're sure she just wasn't overexcited?"

"With Pinkie Pie, who can ever tell," said Applejack indignantly.

"Well that's a bit insensitive isn't it?" Nyx remarked, clearly offended.

"Nyx, settle down," Chase warned his daughter gently, "Remember, keep your questions objective."

"Right...Daddy," said Nyx hastily to her father, "Please continue Applejack."

Applejack snorted as she went back to her story.

Flashback

"Alright mateys," said Applejack as she held her map on her fore-hooves, "but just y'all wait 'til you see the high seas adventure I've got planned!"

Applejack then noticed that Rarity and Pinkie had already boarded the ship. Pinkie was just bouncing about while Rarity was viewing the horizon. Another porter pony` was putting all of Rarity's luggage onto the ship. Applejack just put her map away and smiled optimistically as she boarded the boat.

(Scene changes)

Later at sea, Rarity was at the steering wheel. Pinkie and Applejack were at the front of the ship. Applejack then pulled out her own personal spyglass and started to scan the sea for good treasure spots.

"Unfortunately, they seemed less interested in a treasure huntin' adventure," said Applejack, "and more interested in snacks." Applejack had just discovered a sunken ship when she looked behind her to find Pinkie putting her collection of snacks onto a wooden table and made an offer to Rarity.

"Oh, darling, that food isn't fit for a pony of proper breeding, darling, and refinement, darling!" Rarity declined snootily as she presented her metal dome loaded with her fancy treats, "Now my cucumber sandwiches, on the other hoof..." Applejack looked annoyed while Pinkie eyeballed the sandwiches with a crazed look on her face.

"Bet you I can fit them all in my mouth!" Pinkie remarked and opened her mouth wide to do just that, "Ahh..."

"Pinkie, darling, please!" Rarity retorted as pulled her metal place away.

Pinkie just chomped the air like a hungry Pac-pony. Applejack went to break up the disagreement when she suddenly stepped onto a stray volleyball. Applejack yelped as she crashed into Rarity, who ended up tossing her food overboard. Rarity and Applejack winced, Pinkie looked clueless, as all three watched the food sink into the water and some bubbles surfaced from the water. Rarity gave Applejack a fierce glare.

"Uh, Rarity, I-" Applejack stuttered, trying to apologize.

"Well, I never! Hum-ph!" Rarity huffed and stomped away.

"Me neither! Hum-ph!" Pinkie huffed and stomped away as well.

End Flashback

Twilight and Spike both had blunt looks on their faces.

"Do you want to say it, or should I?" Twilight asked Spike.

"I'll go," Spike volunteered, "That sure doesn't sound like Rarity or Pinkie Pie!"

"We do know that Pinkie can definitely shove large amounts of food into her mouth," said Nyx, "and that Pinkie can be a tad inconsiderate, but it's usually not intentional."

"And Rarity can get a little huffy sometimes during mishaps, even if it was an accident," said Chase, "and I've seen Pinkie copy or mimic others before. But this behavior does seem a bit extreme, AJ."

"Oh, it gets a sight worse than that!" said Applejack.

Flashback

It was then Pinkie set up her green fish piñata.

"It's P.W.T. - Piñata Whacking Time!" Pinkie announced.

"Oh, darling, whacking is a base pastime for common ponies," Rarity said snootily, "Doesn't interest me in the least."

Rarity then walked off, leaving Pinkie disappointed. She then looked to see Applejack steering the ship. Pinkie then got an idea.

"Meh. Hee-hee!" Pinkie Pie giggled behind Applejack and peeked out from behind her a couple of times. Applejack looked unamused but still suspicious of what Pinkie might be up to. Then Pinkie surprised her by tying a blindfold over her eyes.

"Huh?" Applejack said in shock when Pinkie blindfolded her and spun her around.

"Whoooooa!" Applejack said dizzily as she wobbled about the lower part of the ship on her hind legs and holding a piñata stick on one fore-hoof. Then some thunder and lightning were heard as Applejack recovered and lifted her blindfold. She winced when she saw that their boat heading into a storm.

"Looks like we need to change course!" Applejack as she rushed to the steering wheel and pulled out her map. Suddenly, Rarity took the map away with her magic.

"Ooh! Why, this will make a perfect tablecloth for my cheeseboard!" Rarity remarked.

"Maybe so," said Applejack, "But it's also the only way to find Plunder Cove!" Then Pinkie snatched the map and was just giggling with a giant captain's hat on her head.

"And Pinkie Pie was just about as helpful as a weasel in a hen house," Applejack narrated.

"Captain Pinkie Pie reporting for map duty!" Pinkie announced.

Then the three ponies started doing tug of war with the map. Then a wave crashed over them, making Applejack let go of the map and fall over. Applejack then winced when she saw that the boat's steering wheel was spinning out of control. And then a large wave appeared in front of them.

"Hold on, everypony!" Applejack shouted as Pinkie stupidly stood nearby with her tongue sticking out. Applejack fought for control, but the wave easily consumed the boat.

End Flashback

"Wait, so it was Rarity and Pinkie's fault?" Twilight remarked as she, Chase, Nyx, and Spike were checking the scroll.

"Yup!" said Applejack bluntly as she put a bucket of apples on her back, "and maybe if they ever apologized, I'll consider talkin' to them again."

"Sure there isn't anything you need to say sorry for?" Nyx asked.

"Why do I need to apologize?!" Applejack snapped as she got into the alicorn filly's face.

SLAP!

Applejack's face whipped to the side as she yelped. The orange pony rubbed her now sore cheek as she noticed Nyx glaring at her sternly.

"I'm just asking if you've ever thought about anything you might have done to make them act this way! Saying sorry, even if you think you did nothing wrong, might go a long way in settling things." Nyx answered sternly.

"I have nothin' to say unless they apologize first!" Applejack said firmly and walked off.

"If they all blame each other, I don't know how we're gonna get them to talk again," Spike pointed out.

"Neither do I, Spike," said Twilight, "Neither do I." There was a long silence before Chase snorted definitively.

"Hey now, cheer up everypony!" said Chase, "I know these three testimonies sound different and they are clearly blaming each other for what happened. But with a little extra evidence. I think we can filter out the contradictions in each testimony and get to the truth!"

"Right, Dad!" said Nyx with a nod.

"But we don't even know where to start!" Twilight remarked.

"What about my creature theory and that waxing crescent moon?" Nyx pointed out, "Don't you think it might be worth looking into?"

"What does that creature have to do with this boat incident, Nyx?" Twilight asked her daughter.

"Because I think one of the places the creature visits is Seaward Shoals," said Nyx, "I'm gonna go see Miss Cheerilee to be sure. If you don't mind, Daddy?"

"Not at all," said Chase, "In fact, I need to take a visit to Cloudsdale Weather Factory. I think an archive record of the weather patterns for Seaward Shoals, might be useful for this case. I could get Sunray and Jade for this." Twilight and Spike looked at each other.

"And what are we supposed to do?" Spike asked.

"You can just stand there and look dumb," Nyx suggested.

"Bleh!" Spike remarked with a raspberry.

"Just teasing, Spike," Nyx giggled, "How about you and Twilight look at the testimonies and see what you can find? Then Daddy, Uncle Sunray, Aunt Jade, and I can meet you once we're done gathering our information."

Twilight blinked and then smiled.

"Sounds like a plan," said Twilight, "Let's do this!"

(Scene changes)

Back at the castle, Twilight and Spike were in the throne room trying to figure out how to find some truths amongst the three ponies testimonies. Twilight was pacing back and forth as Spike sat lazily in one of the larger thrones. Chase and Nyx had not returned just yet. The two had just informed Jade and Sunray about this and they were willing to help out any way they can.

"There's gotta be some way to fix this," said Twilight, "If Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity keep not talking to each other, they could forget what good friends they really are!"

"I just don't get it!" said Spike as he looked at the long scroll filled with the notes he took, "All of their stories are so different!" Spike sighed to himself. We're never gonna figure out what happened." Twilight then used her magic to grab the scroll and looked through it.

"Their stories were different," said Twilight, "but they also had alot in common."

"I guess..." said Spike as he walked in front of the purple pony, "They were all on a ship that sank, and...that's about it."

"Not quite," said Twilight as she used her magic to pull over a blackboard and began drawing some illustrations of the following items: a cucumber sandwich, some bubbles, and a wave.

Twilight then pondered to herself. It was then Chase, Jade, Sunray, and Nyx arrived.

"Twilight! Guess what!" Jade announced to her sister-in-law, "Nyx's theory just might have a connection to what happened after all!"

"How so, guys?" Twilight asked. Sunray pulled out a book from his saddle bags.

"This is the book Cheerilee let us borrow," said Sunray, "It talks about a creature that migrates close to the shore of Seaward Shoals whenever the moon reaches its waxing crescent phase!"

"And not only that," said Chase, "Jade, Sunray, and I just got back from obtaining a record of the past weather conditions at Seaward Shoals. Including what the weather was like during Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie's boat trip."

Twilight used her magic to grab the book and the weather records. She quickly shuffled through the pages of the book and examined the weather records. She then looked at her blackboard. Chase walked behind his wife to help her out with Jade and Sunray by their side. Nyx and Spike waited impatiently. Then Chase, Jade, Sunray, and Twilight whispered to each other.

"A-ha!" Twilight exclaimed, starling Nyx and Spike, "Not only do my husband and I know how the boat sank, we have a pretty good idea on how to get Rarity, Applejack, and Pinkie together!"

"We just need to speak to one more pony, or ponies to be more precise," said Chase, "Then we'll have all the puzzled pieces we need to solve this mystery and mend Rarity, Applejack, and Pinkie's friendship!"

"Awesome!" Nyx said excitedly. Spike just looked rather uncertain.

(Scene changes)

The next day, Twilight, Spike, and Nyx were at the docks of Seaward Shoals with a small sailboat behind them. Chase, who had come with them, had just arrived in the docks with some papers in his magic grip. Jade and Sunray had come with them and were told by Chase to hide so they can prevent Pinkie, Applejack, and Rarity from escaping.

"Alright, guys, I got the information we needed," said Chase, "Now all we just need is our three friends to arrive and we can start putting the puzzle together."

"I hope this plan of yours works," said Spike.

"It will, Spike," said Nyx confidently, "It will."

It was then Applejack arrived and rushed up the docks to see them.

"Winona brought me your note about a friendship emergency!" Applejack panted, "H-How can I help?" It was then Rarity arrived.

"Opalescence delivered your message, Twilight and Chase!" Rarity panted, "What's the emergency?"

Rarity didn't notice that Applejack was looking at her bitterly. Then Pinkie appeared between them and shoved the two ponies apart.

"It's a good thing it was time for Gummy's bath," said Pinkie as Applejack and Rarity both gave the pink pony bitter looks, "or I might not have seen your note about the emergency, Twilight and Chase!"

It was then Pinkie saw that Applejack and Rarity were there.

"What's she doing here?!" Applejack, Pinkie, and Rarity interjected as they pointed a fore-hoof at each other.

"Sorry, but we just didn't know how else to get the three of you here together," Twilight explained.

"And there really is a friendship emergency!" Chase added, "Yours!" The three ponies all had rather snooty and pouty looking faces.

"Oh, there's no emergency!" Applejack said with an eye roll, "I'm just waitin' for an apology."

"An apology?!" Rarity said appalled.

"What?!" Pinkie snapped, "Why would you want me to apologize when it was Rarity's fault?!"

"What are you talking about?" Rarity retorted as she shoved Pinkie's fore-leg down, "Applejack clearly caused the boat to sink! She stranded us in the middle of the ocean!"

Spike then growled in frustration.

"Will somepony please tell me how you made it back?!" Spike yelled.

There was a pause of silence as the three ponies shared uneasy looks.

Flashback

After the boat sank and was destroyed, each pony gave a loud gasp as they surfaced from under the water. Applejack grabbed her now soaked hat to find that the water was...shallow?! They found that they were just a few feet away from the docks. Applejack looked embarrassed. Rarity looked indignant. Pinkie looked clueless.

End Flashback

"Well...Maybe it wasn't in the middle of the ocean..." Rarity remarked.

"Ugh," said Spike as he face-palmed himself.

"I can sympathize with your feelings, Spike," said Chase, "that final testimony actually helps us with our case and the recent evidence I gathered this morning."

"Even so," Applejack said sternly, "I don't appreciate bein' hornswoggled into comin' back here." She then walked off with a huff.

"On that, at least, we agree," said Rarity as she turned to leave too.

"Yeah!" Pinkie said firmly before she turned to leave as well.

"Oh, you guys are not going anywhere yet." Chase said slyly with a smirk as Nyx and Twilight shared the same smirk with him.

"And how are you gonna make us stop?" Applejack asked snooty.

It was then they were given the shock of their lives when several chains wrapped around them out of nowhere, causing them to yelp in surprise.

"What the hay?!" Applejack asked in surprise.

"What's going on here?!" Rarity demanded.

"Who put the chains around us?!" Pinkie added just as surprised as her friends.

"That would be us." Jade said as she and Sunray appeared from underneath the docks as they joined their family.

"Jade, Sunray, what are you two doin' here?!" Applejack demanded angrily. "Get us outta here right now!"

"Not until you guys are coming with us." Jade replied sternly. "This argument with you three has got to stop right now."

"This is not like you guys. You're joining us whether you two like it or not!" Sunray added firmly.

Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie didn't reply back as they glared at the five.

"I know you each have a different perspective on how the boat capsized and blame each other," said Twilight.

"And lucky for you guys, we've managed to solve the case." Nyx added with her mother.

"Oh really," said Applejack skeptically.

"Yes, we have," said Chase, "and if you come on the boat with us. We'll show you what really happened."

"You three wanted the truth," said Nyx, "and now we can give you just that...the truth."

Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie gave the other five ponies skeptical looks. Then gave each other skeptical looks.

"Well, not that I have any doubts," said Rarity as she glared at Applejack and Pinkie before she got out of the chains followed by the other two ponies, "but it will feel good for everypony to see exactly whose fault it was."

"I think we all know which pony's about to be proven right," said Applejack as she glared at Pinkie.

"We sure do," Pinkie remarked sternly. It wasn't long before everypony had their live vests on and were on board the boat.

"Like I said, I sure hope this works," said Spike.

"You worry too much, Spike," said Nyx as Twilight untied the rope keeping the boat docked, "We've got this. Right, Daddy?"

Chase smiled and nodded in agreement.

(Scene changes)

By the time they were out at sea, Spike, Nyx, Jade, and Sunray noticed that Applejack, Pinkie, and Rarity were looking very huffy and were not speaking to each other. Spike chuckled nervously.

"Whatever you're looking for," said Spike to Twilight, Chase, Jade, Sunray, and Nyx, "I hope you find it soon."

Twilight was still scouting about when she smiled.

"Don't worry, Spike," said Twilight, "We've got it all under control. Honey, Nyx, Jade, Sunray, time for you to shine." Chase, Sunray, Jade, and Nyx smiled, shared nods with each other as they turned to face the others.

"Well, since you three are enjoying each other's company," said Nyx, "It's time for us to begin our cross-examination."

"Your what?!" Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie exclaimed as Chase stood before them with a firm look on his face.

"Let's start with the beginning of the day when you three arrived at the docks," said Chase, "All three of you gave different accounts of how your friends were acting upon getting on board the boat. All three of you all had one thing in common. At least one of you was not acting like their usual self."

"Because they were the ones at fault for the boat sinking!" Applejack protested.

"Actually..." Sunray smirked.

"All three of you were acting in an over the top manner," Nyx pointed out, "Rarity was being extra snooty. Pinkie was being extra hyper. Applejack was acting like a pirate...with a country accent. And you drove each other crazy because of it!"

All three ponies cringed.

"Uh...um..." Applejack stuttered.

"Well...to put it mildly..." Rarity said nervously.

"Well, depends on what you mean by hyper..." Pinkie remarked uneasily.

"Moving on," said Jade, "Another fact that we found didn't add up was how much luggage each pony brought. Rarity, you said you only brought a single suitcase, correct?"

"Well, yes I did," said Rarity.

"Then tell me..." Nyx pointed out. "...why is there rather expensive masseur bill from a total of fifteen porter ponies who all said they had to carry somepony's luggage?"

Rarity cringed and bit her lower lip. Pinkie and Applejack smirked.

"I'd wipe that smile if I were you Pinkie," said Jade.

"Because only thirteen porter ponies said they had got sore carrying Rarity's luggage," Chase replied, "the remaining two porter ponies reported carrying a heavy loaded of board games and sports equipment."

Pinkie cringed and chuckled sheepishly. Applejack just chuckled.

"You think it's funny, AJ?" Sunray remarked. "The four of us heard from both Pinkie and Rarity that you were a bystander during the whole conflict about the snacks they had brought for the trip. While you claimed to be an innocent bystander, I have confirmation that you, Miss Honesty, lied."

Applejack cringed and then growled.

"On what grounds?!" Applejack demanded angrily.

"Both you and Rarity confirmed in your testimonies that you were the one responsible for dumping her cucumber sandwiches overboard," said Nyx, "While Rarity said it was on purpose, you said it was accident. But neither is correct."

"All three of you said that there was a disagreement between Rarity and Pinkie over the snacks," said Jade, "It is clear that there must have been a fight that broke out between these two ponies. And when you, Applejack, tried to intervene, but she ended up somehow tossing the snacks into the water yourself or made Rarity toss them out of impulse from all the arguing."

Applejack blinked.

"How...how did you know...? I...I mean..." Applejack stuttered, "I don't know what your talkin' about!"

"You know exactly what we're talking about here!" Chase retorted sternly, "Rarity and Pinkie clearly overpacked for the trip and Applejack was the one who failed to settle the snack dispute and caused Rarity's cucumber sandwiches to be tossed into the ocean! You just confirmed that this was what really happened."

Applejack and Rarity whimpered. A sign that they weren't going to deny that fact as truth.

"In addition," said Sunray, "We can also confirm that all three of you started to fight over the map when the storm appeared. This also confirms a very important fact."

"All three of you were so busy fighting over the map and arguing with each other that you completely left the ship at the mercy of the watery elements," said Nyx, "In other words, nopony was steering the ship until it was too late!" All three ponies cringed.

"Um..." Pinkie stuttered.

"Uhh..." Applejack stuttered.

"I...uhh...I..." Rarity snapped.

"And the most embarrassing thing about your behavior?" Chase pointed out.

"Was that all of this took place before the ship ever went thirty yards past the dock!" Nyx finished with a firm look on her face.

Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie's jaw all dropped in shock. Even Spike's jaw was hanging out from Chase, Jade, Sunray, and Nyx's discoveries. Twilight just smirked.

"W-w-w-what's your proof?!" Applejack demanded in a shaky but nervous tone. Rarity and Pinkie were sweating heavily.

"Yeah, sure that's what happened but we're not gonna admit that is exactly what happened!" Pinkie added indignantly as Rarity face-hooved herself.

Pinkie had practically confessed that's what happened.

"Before you all came this morning," Jade explained, "I got an eyewitness report from all fifteen porter ponies who eye witnessed what happened on the boat from the docs. I also spoke to the boat rental pony who gave you the very boat you three destroyed! The whole reason you are even resorting to blaming each other is because of this..."

"The bill for the boat you three destroyed with your carelessness and for, in his words, littering the ocean!" Chase replied as he showed the three ponies a familiar looking piece of paper, "According to this receipt, all three of you pitched in 30 bits for the rental, but the pony is now demanding a total of 360 bits for completely destroying it!"

Applejack, Pinkie, and Rarity winced. Suddenly their anger and defenses were now starting to crumble. They were now starting to feel guilty, as well as embarrassed.

"Did you guys split the costs? Or are you actually trying to make each other take the blame and pay for the entire sum alone?" Jade asked.

"Stop!" Rarity cried out as she panted heavily in exasperation, "Just...stop..."

"Okay, we confess!" Pinkie added sadly, "It's all true...everything..."

"It's the honest truth," said Applejack, as tears pricked her eyes, "All that did take place and the bill is the reason we all got really angry with each other. So I guess we're all to blame for the boat sinking..."

"Yeah..." said Rarity and Pinkie wearily.

"Not quite!" Nyx replied sternly.

Applejack, Pinkie, and Rarity were stunned as Chase, Jade, Sunray, and Nyx smirked.

"Once again, you are incorrect," said Chase, "Care to explain, honey?"

"Thank you sweetie," said Twilight as she approached, "While all of your stories seem very different, they all had something in common - cucumber sandwiches."

Applejack, Pinkie, and Rarity looked puzzled.

"What in the hay does that have to do with anythin'?" Applejack asked puzzled.

Twilight, Chase, Jade, Sunray, and Nyx shared some smirks as the purple pony tossed the sandwich into the water.

"And why would you waste a perfectly good hors d'oeuvre?" Rarity asked.

"You also mentioned bubbling water," said Twilight as some bubbles appeared in the water where the sandwich had sank.

Then Twilight, Jade, Sunray, and Chase used their magic to lift the boat out of the water as a huge wave passed under them.

"And the swell," Twilight continued, "Nyx mentioned to me yesterday that Cheerilee had her class studying this particular creature who's migration patterns take it very close to Seaward Shoals during this time of year. And cucumber just happens to be the favorite food of the tri-horned bunyip and bubbles followed by a swell is what happens when they swim up to the shallows from deep water."

Applejack, Pinkie, and Rarity stared in surprise.

"So...we attracted a tri-horned whatchamacallit?" Applejack remarked, trying to make sense of what Twilight had said.

"With cucumber sandwiches?" Rarity added.

"Sounds like a stretch," said Pinkie Pie skeptically.

It was right then the creature surfaced out of the water.

"We've got evidence," said Chase smugly as Sunray and Jade smirked with him.

"Just turn around," Nyx added.

"Hello, bunyip, sir!" said Twilight cheerfully.

The bunyip smiled and rolled over in the water playfully as Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie turned around and saw the creature with their own eyes.

"So that's a..." said Rarity.

"A tri-horned bunyip!" Twilight finished for the marshmallow mare, "Who's very sorry he accidentally knocked over your boat? Right?"

The bunyip nodded in reply. The three mares were stunned.

"If it helps settle your minds down," said Chase, "Twilight and I spent last night learning his language, which was easy since bunyips understand pony language."

"Wait, the storm had nothing to do with the capsizing?" Pinkie asked.

"Nope!" said Twilight.

"Not really." Sunray added.

"According to this weather report," said Jade as she held a sheet of paper, "This area's last storm was over two weeks ago. The weather calls for clear skies until next week."

"The darkness you girls thought was a storm was just from the size of the wave before it crashed over the boat," Chase explained.

"All right," said Rarity, "Even if our friend the bunyip is responsible for sinking the boat, and we're at fault for not paying attention to the signs of an oncoming wave, it doesn't excuse a certain pony's behavior!"

Rarity sternly pointed a fore-hoof at Applejack.

"Me?!" Applejack exclaimed offensively, "How about you and Pinkie Pie?"

"Pfft - What?" Pinkie stuttered indignantly, "Who? Me? No-"

"HOLD IT!" Chase said sternly, cutting the fight.

Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie gave Chase long faces.

"Let me guess," said Applejack, "You got proof as to why we acted the way we did."

"You are correct," said Nyx confidently, "Mom?"

"Thank you, Nyx," said Twilight as she addressed the three girls, "I think I can explain that too. Each of you spent so much time trying to come up with the perfect way to get the others out of their element, that you didn't notice your friends were doing the same thing!"

"And because you were so focused on what you wanted to do," said Chase, "You closed yourself off to each other. Thus when one pony tried to present their ideas to you, you saw it as them trying to ruin your own ideas, which led to all the fighting and disagreements you three had during your trip."

The three mares were left surprised once again.

"Wait a minute," said Applejack as she looked at Pinkie, "You brought all those games and things for us?"

"Of course!" said Pinkie, "I figured a boat trip was the perfect time to do things that were silly and fun!"

"And I was just trying to give the two of you the elegant cruise I thought you deserved," Rarity added.

"And I just wanted to give you a high seas adventure, since that's be somethin' new and different for y'all," said Applejack. Then it finally clicked in their minds that Chase and Twilight were right.

"Ohhhh," said Applejack, Pinkie, and Rarity in realization.

Now the three ponies were no longer angry with each other. They just felt silly.

"That is so sweet," said Rarity, clearly touched now that she knew the truth, "You must have gone through so much trouble."

"Well, not half as much trouble as you did makin' all that fancy food," Applejack said to Rarity and then spoke to Pinkie, "and you brinin' all those games!"

"I guess this just teaches us that even long time friends need to work at communication," said Twilight.

"Indeed," said Chase as Spike, Jade, Sunray, and Nyx nodded in agreement.

"Well, there's something I'd like to communicate to you all right now!" said Pinkie as Twilight, Jade, Sunray, Nyx, and Chase walked up to the three mares, "You girls, Chase, and Sunray, are the best friends a pony could ever have!"

"Oh, let's never fight again!" said Rarity happily as Pinkie pulled them all into a group hug and Spike rushed in to join.

"You got it!" said Pinkie.

"Agreed!" said Applejack at the same time as Pinkie.

The bunyip couldn't help but give a little whimper since he had seen everything and felt left out.

"All right, you big softie," said Applejack, "Bring it in!"

The bunyip then picked up the entire boat and gave it a happy nuzzle. Those on the boat just smiled.

"Oh, and one last thing, guys…" Chase said with a smile.

"What?" Pinkie, Rarity, and Applejack looked at him with a smile.

SLAP!

"OW!" The three mares yelped as their heads spun around before they rubbed their now sore cheeks in pain.

Chase gave them a stern glare.

"Don't ever do that again, because I don't wanna have to clean up the mess you three class clowns leave behind! Okay?!" Chase asked in a fatherly tone.

Pinkie, Rarity, and Applejack smiled nervously as they nodded to him in reply.

Twilight, Jade, and Nyx giggled in amusement.

(Scene changes)

Later on, Pinkie set up her piñata as the bunyip wore a blindfold and held the stick in his mouth.

"Come on, bunyip, sir!" Pinkie cheered as the creature gave a few practices swings, "You got it!"

At the other side of the boat, Applejack and Sunray had teamed up to use a net for some deep sea treasure hunting. It wasn't long before the two ponies pulled up the net and inside of it was some sea shells, sea weeds, and a nicely sized treasure chest.

"Well, AJ!" said Sunray with a smile, "I think we found ourselves some treasure!"

Applejack smiled excitedly as she opened the chest. Inside was gold coins, pearls, and other trinket including some gem studded drinking goblets. Rarity grabbed three of the goblets and filed them up with ice cream, whipped cream, an a cherry to make sundaes for the three ponies.

Nyx was just watching the scene with a smile on her face as Spike was just bitterly writing stuff down on another scroll. Twilight, Jade, and Chase then walked up to them.

"One thing's for sure, Spike and Nyx," said Twilight, "There's nothing like a luxurious adventure boat party to get you out of your element."

She then removed Spike's quill and scroll from his claws and gave the little dragon some ice cream.

"You said it!" said Spike as he dug into his treat. Nyx and Twilight shared a loving nuzzle.

"I think we did pretty good, Mom." Nyx said with a smile.

"Yes we did, honey." Twilight said in agreement with her daughter.

Rarity handed her and Jade each a goblet filled with ice cream.

"Thanks," said Nyx.

"This looks so delicious." Jade added and they enjoyed their treat.

Chase and Twilight smiled as they watched the alicorn filly and mare eat their ice cream before sharing a hug and kiss with each other.

"You are so amazing Chase," said Twilight, "You helped bring our best friends back together."

"With a little help," Chase reminded her. Twilight chuckled.

"Of course," said Twilight, "but I'm just saying that I think you're very special and I love you." Chase smiled.

"I love you too," said Chase as they nuzzled each other lovingly for a moment. Then went to join the rest of the fun.

The group continued to enjoy their time at sea until long after the stars came out.