I opened my eyes and grimaced as my entire body was sore. I leaned up on the bed as I accidentally moved my legs out of instinct and came into pain. I looked at my arm to find that it was also splinted. Most likely one of them saw my left arm and had it splinted and bandaged. I found a crutch next to the bed which I slowly grabbed and put under my left arm. There being a small harness to attach my splinted arm to it. Doing so I slowly stood up and adjusted its height before walking over to the door and opening it. Immediately I began to hear Golden Will yelling out orders to the ponies so the ship could sail smoothly. Taking my time I made my way up the ship until I soon reached the top. "good morning to you!" Golden Will yelled at me with a smile. "its a good morning for sailing!" I smiled and gave him a nod.
"it sure looks like it!" I leaned against the railing in front of the steering wheel. I looked around the ship as I noticed something. "wheres Bell and Soft Heart?"
"still asleep... the ponies all agreed that the young calf should look after the young filly. Considering that they are comfortable with each other." I nodded to his logic. "planning on having them woken up shortly, however. Best to get them prepared for whats to come." I looked at him confused as he noticed how I was looking at him. "weather dictates storms a brewing... a nasty one at that. Might be best for you three to be in the cabin."
"is there any way I could help?" I asked him.
"not with that leg or arm. The best you could do is keep the young calf and filly safe and in the cabin." I nodded.
"I'll go wake them up then. See if Bell would like to assist with preparations" he nodded.
"you do that." going down the steps while moving with the waddle of the ship after a few minutes I soon reached the sleeping area. Walking in I smiled as I saw Bell and Soft Heart in a hammock... Bell wrapped around Heart in protection. Walking over slowly and quietly I soon stood beside the hammock as it swayed back and forth with the sway of the sailing ship. "Heart..." I nudged her softly as she murmured. Her eyes still closed I nudged her again. "come on Soft Heart its time to wake up..." she slowly sat up as she began to rub her eyes. I then finally noticed the wings she had on her back as I smiled. So she was a Pegasus... she then looked around and almost yelled when she saw me as I brought a finger to my mouth and pointed at Bell. She giggled lightly before she began to play around with Bell's face. Creating funny faces as Bell's eyes soon opened causing Heart to yell in surprise and fall backward. I quickly caught her as the hammock started to bounce up and down from the sudden loss of weight. Soon it dispersed Bell onto the wooden floor as both Heart and I laughed at her expense. "good morning to the two of you."
"good morning!" Heart yelled with happiness as I gave her a soft smile she looked up at me with a smile.
"good morning to you as well." she slowly stood up as Heart continued to giggle a little. "is something happening?" she then asked.
"everyone's preparing for a coming storm from what Golden Will says. You two are going to be in the cabin with me during the storm." Bell looked up. "its what he says you two should do. I would help but I cant due to well... my left side being almost entirely out of commission."
"can I go play on the deck?" Heart asked in a cute tone as I looked at her.
"yes you may but please stay out of the bigger ponies way alright? They are very busy." her face lit up as she ran out of the small room. I chuckled at her energy as Bell stood up next to me. Considering my height it 5 feet 10 inches tall... she stood at 5 feet.
"isn't she just a bundle of energy today." she said in a kind voice.
"well... considering everything that happened yesterday I'm glad that she has this much energy and that she's not dwelling on the past... or she might just not remembered what happened to her parents." Bell only gave a saddened nod. " let's go and make sure she doesn't get into trouble shall we?" Bell only giggled as we walked out of the hull of the ship as I heard loud booming laughter coming from the helm.
"you really scared a dragon?!" I heard Heart yell out in amazement.
"yes, I did! He was just a newly matured dragon!" he laughed again as Heart joined him in laughter. The ponies were all now moving around the ship in a steady pace than the hurried pace like before. "he was an arrogant beast who had nickered a battle ax my pa gave me!" Golden Will stated. "while I never liked and used the ax because he made it out of gold and gems. It was the thought that counted so I just had to get it back by any means necessary. I was so mad I ended up giving out a roar that sounded like a hydra! He jumped out of his scales I tell you to just get out of the cave he was in!" I chuckled as Heart began to ask him questions at the speed of bullets.
"alright Heart... let the old Minotaur steer the ship..."
"awe..." Heart moaned out as she was lifted off of his shoulders and placed on the floorboards.
"I'll tell you some stories of my adventures tonight at story time. Would that lift your mood?" Golden Will asked with a smile.
"yes!" she ran off as I smiled. He chuckled as he looked towards the two of us.
"good to see you awake young calf." she gave a small bow. "no need to bow on this boat. We are all equals. Regardless of what the king would think..."
"that's good to hear." I stated with a smile. "thanks again for coming to help me. I owe you my life."
"you helped me. I helped you. Debt has already been paid." he simply stated as he took a drink from a mug next to him on a small table. I then remembered something I needed to do.
"do you happen to have a map of the planet?" I asked him as he nodded.
"certainly. This old mind of mine has gotten forgetful recently. It's recommended having a map on all ships anyway. Why do you ask?" he asked me.
"I want to compare it to my own map. See if a hypothesis of mine is correct." he shrugged his beefy shoulders.
"certainly. Just look inside of the desk in the cabin... I need to have a quick talk with the young calf here anyway." nodding I walked back over to the steps and slowly went down them. Moving quickly I walked into the cabin and over to the desk in the back of it. I crouched down as best I could as I went through his desk. Quickly finding a large map I smiled happily as I picked it up, put everything back to how it was, and then walked over to the door only to stop once I opened the door.
"so you were banished from your clan... I must say for a young calf such as yourself it is not expected but also not unexpected. Just what did you do to get banishment?" I heard Golden Hood ask as I took a seat on the crate of the right stairs. I opened the map as I listened in on their conversation.
"I refused to... throw away the friendship I had with a few ponies not long after the decree of war was given. It was the last straw for my mother as she threw me onto the streets..."
"I am surprised you didn't sacrifice yourself to escape the punishment of banishment..." he stated sadly.
"I almost did... but Paul stopped me before I could. He helped me by lying to Minotaur's of my clan who began to help me..." I heard her say as I spotted a very large mountain on the map. I began to make conclusions in my head as I continued to listen. " I don't know what I would have done if he had any come and helped me... he even made the promise to me and Soft Heart to protect us until his final breath."
"that is good... for a young calf like you to find love." I blushed as I heard her begin to sputter. "I'm only jesting young one. What was the name of your clan?"
"why?" I heard her ask.
"I might know a few things or two about them to assist you on your journey."
"I come from the Seacow clan." there was no response for about a minute before he spoke up.
"most of what I could say about them is that they are one of the few clans who own ships... they are commonly used for sea warfare when the situation calls for it. The front liners of sea warfare to be specific when the king demands. With the decree, griffons, and zebras... I don't think Equestria will be able to handle the entire invading force even with their magic..." Golden Will stated.
"then... what are the ponies on the ship going to do?" I heard Bell ask in worry.
"I promised them and any other safe passage to Equestria. But if the rumors about the griffon king are true... he will of already attacked Equestria's main ports on both sides of the continent. We will most likely have to land in a random land area... now let me ask you a question. What would you do if a member of your clan located you?"
"i... would run?" I heard her ask unsure of herself.
"I would end myself if I was in your position..." I heard her gasp. "you don't truly know what happens when a banished is found. While you are told they are killed immediately... they are instead brought back to the clan head... while at the same time every day they are in captivity they are broken to the point they wouldn't fight... for males it is simply breaking their body... but for females... it is breaking their will." I could feel the fear from Bell. "if you are found you must end yourself. They would first celebrate that they found you. That would be your last chance to end it all before the journey home begins... it would only be a matter of time until they find you young calf should they win this war they would be free to travel around.."
"what... could I do to hide from them?" I heard Bell ask.
"truthfully? Try to run... but they will end up finding you. They will definitely find you should they decide to ask the griffons to assist them." I could hear small amounts as crying as well as a small thump. "now young calf you should not worry... you have an exotic guardian watching over you. I am sure he will try his best to watch over you." after that, there was no more talking as I finished looking at the map.
If what the map said was true... the mountain in the middle of Equestria would possibly be mount Everest if the map was right. If that was right then that would be the only base I actually knew where one was. To find the others would either have to be just luck or just plain dumb luck and stumbling upon them.
I folded up the map and quickly put it away into the desk where it used to be. I then proceeded to walk outside only to shield my eyes as a flash of lightning appeared in the sky.