I almost tumbled onto my face as the ship suddenly began to rock among the waves roughly. "damn it all to the gods! The storms about to hit us hard ponies!" Golden Will yelled as Bell came quickly down the steps. "young calf! Get the two inside the cabin! No place for an injured and a young one to be out in this storm!" I saw her nod as she quickly ran over to Soft Heart as she held onto the mast and quickly lead her over towards me. I opened the door to let them in as they quickly got inside as I watched a bolt of lightning strike the water near the ship.
I quickly closed the door as Bell began to comfort Heart. Just sitting on the makeshift bed of mine as the two rocked back and forth. I sat down in the chair at the desk as I listened to the thunder outside and watched the waves through the windows in the back. "hey... Paul..." I spun around in the chair dramatically as Bell giggled lightly. I soon saw that Heart was sleeping in Bell's arms as they rocked back and forth. Her smile soon became a sad one. "would... something ever happen to me..." she looked towards Heart. "please promise you would do all that you can to protect her?"
"nothings going to happen to you Bell..." I said in high hopes.
"but what if something does?!" she yelled as Heart stirred in her arms before she simply fell asleep once more.
"Bell... I would give my own life before you would lose yours..."
"I'm a hunted cow Paul... they would find me should they win the war... when... they win the war..." she stated sadly looking down as she turned around and slowly moved Soft Heart into the bed. Soon covering her up.
"then we will help the ponies." I simply stated. "help give them a chance to win this no matter how small the chance is."
"but would it be the best thing? You could find a hidden place to live with Soft Heart... they wouldn't be looking for you... I would only cause you to get caught." I looked at her with sadness as I quickly shimmied over to her the best I could with the crutch and sat down next to her as I put a hand on to her shoulder.
"because the ponies are going to need all the help they can get. The only problem we would have is successfully getting over to them. My worlds weapons would be a massive advantage for them."
"and if we were caught?" she then asked in a tone I wouldn't expect her to have... one filled with venom.
"I know... that your afraid of what would happen to you should you be caught Bell. If required... I would help you as fast as I could... but if all else fails... I would give my life to ensure you didn't have to go through with it..." she gasped as her head snapped towards me with tears in her eyes.
"then what about Soft Heart?!" she nearly yelled. "Paul! She lost her family because of my kind!" tears were coming down her face. " I want you to promise to not help me should I be captured... or killed... please..." she sobbed into my shirt as I held her close. She was hysterical from what I could tell. Her own mind fighting against her won judgment and personality.
The talk with Golden Will really stirred her up. It might be a few hours until shes calmed down enough to actually see logic and the truth and conviction in my words. I continued to hold onto her as her sobs soon became sniffles. "are you ready to listen to reason Bell?" I asked in a whisper. I could feel her nod against my chest. "you have friends all around you to help you. We will no doubt make friends on the way to Canterlot. We just have to tread carefully and move with caution. We will all make it out of this Bell and as I've said before..." I looked down towards her as she looked up towards me. " I will give my life to ensure you both survive... as I've already promised both you and Soft Heart. Did I not promise you?" she shook her head as I gave her a soft smile. "then you have nothing to worry about right?"
"right?" I rubbed the top of her head as her face filled with a small amount of happiness.
"good to see that you understand... now then... I suggest you get some rest..." she nodded as I helped her get tucked in with Soft Heart who immediately held onto Bell. Both of us smiled as Bell pulled her body in and held her close. I kissed her forehead as she blushed from the gesture. "sleep tight..." she gave me a nod along with a yawn before she closed her eyes with her chin on Heart's head.
I gave a soft smile as I sat on the edge of the makeshift bed. I stood up as I stumbled a little from the large rocks from the ship battling against the waves. I sat down at the desk as I looked back over to the bed to find the two still snoozing away. I turned in the chair and looked at the waves and lightning as thunder could be heard often.
War was something I didn't wish on anyone... and from what I could tell the ponies were a peaceful race. The possibly only reason why they would be attacked would probably be either about religion or they were jealous about their lives. There was a loud boom as I felt the entire ship creak, moan, and shake terribly. It woke Heart and Bell up from their short rest. They looked towards me as I heard screaming outside of the cabin as well as large amounts of yelling. I quickly got to my feet with my crutch as I grabbed my magnum from the top of the desk and quickly went over to the cabin door.
I opened it as I was assaulted by the heavy winds and rain. I shielded my eyes as I looked out over the deck. I could see a ponies body on the deck. Not moving as the other 4 ponies were struggling with the sails and the rigging. I watched as his body twitched and spasmed as I noticed a black scorch mark on the left side of the deck. My eyes widened as I realized that he was struck by lightning... with how the ship was rocking I would potentially be thrown overboard as long as I had my crutch... there was nothing I could do but close the door slowly and lean up against him. "Paul? Is something wrong?" Bell asked as she held Heart close as she trembled in fear.
"one of the ponies were most likely struck by lightning..." she gasped as she quickly covered Heart's ears. "from what I could see... he has no chance of surviving..." tears came to her eyes as she rocked with Heart back and forth on the bed. I walked over and sat down on the other side of Heart before I held onto the two. Bell crying while Heart remained confused as to what happened.
I stayed awake for many hours after that... I was able to get Heart and Bell back to sleep after an hour of comforting the two of them. I sat in the chair at the desk as I watched the door to the deck. My magnum always within reach as I thought about my life.
Becoming an agent was something I never expected to happen. Considering I knew my wife since we were babies and we got married when we were 20... I was 21 now if I could remember it correctly. I became an agent at the age of 18 when my superiors noticed my adaptability. Becoming one of the agents allowed me to go on vacations often while at the same time doing my missions... soon being sent to the base in Japan for a future operation. More agents were found and sent until that dreadful day before the mission could even commence.
"you alright young bull?" I heard Golden Will ask as I raised my hand.
"just... a tiny bit tired... I saw what happened. Are they?" he shook his head slowly.
"we were unable to help him for several reasons... the electricity coursing through his body, and the ship needing everyone to be able to hold together." he stated. "we had just given him a burial at sea..."
"at least its a burial..." I simply stated.
"certainly. Do they?" he asked as he looked towards the makeshift bed.
"Bell knows... I do not believe Soft Heart knows just yet... Bell doesn't know who though." he nodded.
"it was the husband of the wife on board." I gained a saddened look in my eyes. "shes become reclusive in the sleeping area. Hopefully, she will know he sacrificed himself to allow her to live." I looked at him confused. "she was assisting with the rigging that helped hold up the mast. She was grabbed into a piece of metal. He noticed it just before I did and pushed her out of the way but accidentally grabbed the rigging on the metal. If she doesn't realize this I will notify her of it." I gave a small smile. "but with the storm, I believe we have been blown off course." I frowned.
"how far off course?" I then asked him.
"no idea until we come reach an island. Hopefully soon as we lost a few our supplies due to the storm." I nodded. "I suggest you get some sleep. One of the ponies were able to locate a needle and thread. He will stitch you up once you wake up." I simply nodded as I gave a loud yawn. "ill wakes you up if anything comes up." I gave another nod as I leaned back in the chair. "gave a good nap young bull..."