[PiE] Moonlight on the Water (Chapter 1)

This is a new story that I'm writing for the PiE threads (Ponies in Earth). This tale follows the adventure of an Anon who lived in Canada back in 1895 and departs on a voyage in his schooner but soon finds he can't handle life out there. But when Luna the princess Alicorn of Equestria shows up, she needs the help of her new companion to find a way home.





>You took in a deep breath of that salty sea air.
>It always helped to clear your head and your senses.
>The gentle sound of the waves brushing past your ship with the occasional squawking of a gull passing over head. As the tepid warm breeze blew through your hair and washed over you, soon the gulls departed away from you and your ship.
>Whatever was left of land was now far behind you.
>You are Anon.
>The year was 1895, and you departed only an hour before noon from St. John’s port.
>It was early summer and the weather was proving to be quite favourable. Your ship, the Nimue was one of the finest schooners you spent your life savings on. It was a two-masted ship that ran 86 feet by 23 feet and could skip on the water’s surface if the conditions were right.
>You have enough provisions to last month’s with careful planning and the navigation to go anywhere.
>Only one problem.
>You didn’t know where you were going.
>By your calculations you were heading out east from the mainland, but you had no idea where you and your ship were to go.
 >Technically, you could go anywhere. But the more you thought about your reasons, the more your mind drifted off. Just like your mind, so too should your ship drift aimlessly.
>As the midday sun warmed up your body your mind wandered off as it usually did.
How is she doing?
>You took off your hat and held it over your breast and prayed for a good reply from the doctor.
>The doctor could only give you a grim look. “I’m afraid there’s not much else we can do for her. I’m sorry.”
>A gut wrenching sensation over took you, and you felt your heart sink.
W-what do you mean? There has to be something we haven’t tried.
>The doctor placed his hand on your shoulder reassuringly. “You might want to be with her for these last moments. It’s the best you can do for her.”
>Your mind is drawn back to what was happening around you.
>That was another thing some of your friends and family didn’t like about you. It was having your head in the clouds.
>Your father was adamant about you planting your feet on the ground and finding a well respected job, your mother was more lenient but she would often express the same opinion.
>Drifting about and doing odd jobs, you picked up some useful skills but you never really knew what to do with yourself.
>Maybe you just hated work.
>Or perhaps you were never happy with what life had to offer.
>It’s almost been an hour since you departed.
>Keeping at the helm, you manage to get yourself into a good position with the wind at your back. Now would be a good time for a light snack.
>Leaving the helm, you went below deck and shuffled among the supplies until you found a small tin of biscuits with concord grape jelly.
>These biscuits more or less resembled hard, small flat disks, but they would keep longer that way.
>As you bite into the crunchy treat after smothering it with a generous dollop of jelly, you looked out to the horizon and could not see anything for kilometers around.
>Nothing but you and the open sea.
>Maybe a trip to the exotic islands of the Caribbean would be a nice change of pace? But you weren’t a fan of humid weather unfortunately.
>Hot weather always agitated you.
>But she didn’t mind so much.
>With a heavy sigh, the doctor leads you up to the room where they were taking care of her. As they opened the door, you could see her lying on the bed holding a cloth to her mouth.
>You give the doctor your thanks and close the door behind you. Pulling up a chair you sat beside the bed and held her hand. Her eyes almost look sunken into her skull; skin that was once full of life has gone pale and clammy. Hair tied back with scraggly strands spread across her forehead with drops of perspiration.
>She coughs into the cloth and apologizes immediately. You rub her forehead as she groans softly, “I guess we won’t be getting that house we were saving up for...” you could see she was cracking a weak smile.
Let’s not... think such thoughts, eh? I’m sure you’ll pull through.
>She shakes her head disapprovingly, “Doctors said this tuberculosis is going to do me in.” She has another coughing fit and apologizes right after.
You always say sorry, dear. You don’t have to say it all the time.
>”I’m sorry...” she smiles and laughs weakly but instead coughs more. This time, more blood could be seen on the cloth.
>You put your fingers into your mouth and realized you already consumed the biscuit without even realizing it.
>The sway of the schooner as it moved up and down rhythmically caught your attention.
>You shouldn’t be having these thoughts.
>But at times it can be really hard to ignore.
>Perhaps some music would help.
>As you searched through some of your personal belongings, you pull out a box containing a graphophone and several discs that go with it. Your uncle who was travelling in the United States purchased one and gave it to you for your birthday a few years ago.
>It was incredible. Music without the musicians! You only heard about these by word of mouth, but you never thought you would actually get to own one.
>Along with it you pulled out your violin case. This one you owned since you were little. It was still fresh in your memory.
>As a little boy, you would travel down Water Street with your older brother to get bread and food every Saturday morning. There at the corner, there was this old man.
>With the few wispy strands of white hair on his head and his almost skeleton like frame, he would sit on a small chair and play his violin.
>His melodies would fill the street with docile yet melancholy tones. People would sometimes stand around and listen, or pass bye and give him some money.
>His music spoke to you. And you wanted to play music like he did.
>You begged your parents to buy you one, or at least let you have lessons so that one day you can save up for a violin of your own.
>Both mother and father thought this was a sign of your future career and invested in a violin that you received one day for Christmas.
>You were the happiest boy that day; even as you dragged the bow across the strings and produced a rather horrid sound you knew you would keep practicing and one day play as good as that old man.
>Bringing up the graphophone and violin to the deck, you set up the music player to play one of your favourites. It was one of the more lively tunes you had. Placing the disk on top, you secure it in place and wind it up. With a flick of a switch, the music player comes to life as music starts to play.
>You’ve been practicing on your violin for some time now. As you listened to the melody, you take out the violin and ready your bow.
>With quick light movements, you do your best to keep in time and play each note perfectly.
>Your eyes glance over the waters, and the shimmering of the sunlight reflecting of the uneven waters catches your eyes and your mind seemingly drifts off again.
>Her name is Gwyneth, and you knew her ever since you were both kids.
>Through thick and thin you hanged out together. She was the tallest girl in the neighborhood and no one picked on her.
>As the two of you grew up together, the bond you shared grew as well. Gywneth was the woman you wanted to be with for the rest of your life.
>Before you realized it, you asked her hand in marriage.
>However, life has a funny way of sneaking up on you.
>Her health started to deteriorate soon after. She would get terrible fevers, chills and coughed up blood.
>She insisted it was just a fever and nothing more, that it will soon go away.
>But it never went away. It only got worse.
>Soon she was taken to the hospital. There she spent the rest of her days receiving the best treatment, but to no avail.
>So there you sat next to her, helpless to do anything but wait for her to die.
I should’ve taken care of you sooner. Why would you try to pass it off as if it were nothing?
>”You know I don’t it when you worry. One of the reasons I fell in love with you is how compassionate and caring you are.” She squeezes your hand reassuringly.
I could say the same for you. Is there anything I can do to make you more comfortable?
>Her breathing becomes more laboured as she spoke, “No matter what happens to me, don’t forget the important things in life.”
I won’t...
>As much as you didn’t want to cry in front of her, you couldn’t help but feel the hot tears streaking down your cheeks. “And... just as I loved you... please...”
>She was growing weaker by the second.
What is it, dear?
>Gwyneth looks up to you for the last time, “Never stop loving...”
>Everything seemed to stop at that moment.
>Her hand goes limp in yours.
>You could hear the local church bell ringing in the distance.
>The graphophone finishes playing for a while and you didn’t even notice until the eerie silence creeps over you.
>Shaking your head out of your hypnotic state, you take out the disk and put in another one. But your nerves were getting the better of you.
>Maybe it was time for a quick break.
>You reach into your pocket and pull out a pipe. This was a gift from your grandfather. Pulling out a loose mix of tobacco you took great strain to pack it carefully.
>Once the pipe was prepared, you take out a match and strike it. You hold the flame above the pipe and inhale deeply to get a good burn going.
>Almost instantly you could feel your anxieties melt away.
>The sound of glass cups clinking and cheering is heard in the background. The smell of tobacco and fermented yeast fill the air.
>”Are you daft?!” he barked at you from across the table. You were afraid he was going to react this way.
No I’m rather quite serious. This is something I really want to do.
>He looks at you as if you gone insane. He almost laughs as he clasps his hands together and looks down at the table, “Why? Why do you think this is a good idea?”
Maybe this time away will do me some good, but I can’t do it without your help.
>He looks back up to you and sighs as he takes another swill from his mug, “You’re my little brother, and I feel... obligated to try and talk you out of this.”
My mind is made up. I want to sail around the world.
>Again he scoffs at you, “I know father would let you navigate at times, but navigating solo in a schooner? That’s mad talk.”
>You knew he was going to give you a hard time.
This is really important to me, and I promise to pay you back whatever you contribute.
>He puts his hand up to interrupt, “Money isn’t the issue here. The issue is you going out there by yourself. What would you do if something were to happen out there?”
What happens, happens.
>He looks at you puzzled for a moment but a small smile creeps over his grim expression, but it becomes sympathetic. “If it’s because of.... her, I know you’re going through some tough times. But everybody does, eh? I can’t let my little brother go on a crazy trip because of some broad.”
It has nothing to do with her. Stop avoiding my question; will you help me?
>He sighs and finishes off the last gulp of his beer, “I figured you’d be too stubborn to talk out of it.” He places the empty mug down onto the table, “Very well. Let’s get down to business then...”
>The sun was starting to go down in the late afternoon, and the weather was still showing signs to be in your favour.
>This schooner was your home now.
>The idea was weird, but you still think it was the right choice.
>Gwyneth would’ve loved to sail with you.
>The tobacco in your pipe diminished, time out here really does go by fast.
>You pick up your violin again and begin to play another tune. A few squeaks and squawks, but you were better now than before.
>It was something you will have to perfect now that you’re out here.
>Away from everyone.
>Your family.
>Nothing but memories from here on out.
>What new life did the ocean have in store for the likes of you?
>Perhaps you will be attacked by pirates, but once you go toe to toe with their captain and show them you’re not afraid they would make you one of them.
>Maybe even get swept up in a storm to the exotic islands to live out the rest of your days.
>Sirens would call out to you, their sweet seductive voices causing you to steer to your doom.
>Forced to walk the plank, with nothing but deadly man eating sharks waiting for you below. But you will make a daring escape and make off their treasure.
 >Become the next Flying Dutchman?
>Who cares?
>You are your own man now. It was time to stop living in the past.
>There was a pause in your train of thought.
>You remembered her last words to you: Never stop loving...
>With a sigh, you still contemplated over what she meant.
>Never stop loving her?
>Would you forget about her if you kept following your own reckless and wild ambitions?
>Better keep playing the violin.
>As the day ended, you would continue this cycle for days to come.
>Finally, you decided to keep a journal entry.
>Who knows, maybe if you parish out here, your tale of woe and adventure will become the next big seller.
Day 9: My provisions are lasting me quite well. The stars at night are the most clear and vivid out here at night. At times I feel as though I have become one with nature itself. I’ve noticed that this one star shines particularly bright next to the pole star. It’s rather interesting that I recall there being none as so bright before. I’m starting to become more proficient with my music.
>The days and nights went on, same as before.
>But as time went on, you found yourself starving.
>Not for food and water, that you had plenty of. But starved for something else.
>Companionship.
Day 32: I believe my music is what’s keeping me going at this point. It wouldn’t hurt to have someone to chat with and share my stories with over hot cup of tea. But as time goes by, I can’t stop thinking about my beloved Gwyneth. Why did she have to depart from me so soon? Have I done wrong? What sin did I commit for this to happen to her?
>A few days later, you couldn’t handle this burning anger and sadness in yourself.
>Your life.
>Gywneth.
>All your friends and family.
>Gone.
>Left behind and for what?
>An adventure for redemption? To find love? To forget the past?
>Even you were starting to hate yourself, but even more so at God.
>You stand up and at the top of your lungs you yell to the heavens.
You had no reason for doing it! WHY GOD? TELL ME WHY!!
>Your body shook at this rage you felt. And you felt somewhat better for yelling.
>But a response would’ve been nice.
>Maybe it was time to head home.
>But what would you tell them when you get back? Oh, life out on the ocean was too tough for a city boy like yourself?
>This was going to be hard to explain.
>Turning the ship around, you make the necessary navigations thanks to your compass to head back west.
>A couple of days past on your trip back home.
>It felt like such a waste to let all these provisions and rations go to waste. Maybe you can donate them to an orphanage.
>As the night sky overtook the dusk, you looked up in a hypnotic state to the heavens above.
>Maybe you should’ve been an astrologer.
>Looking to the northern part of the sky, you could see that one star beside the pole star shining brightly again.
>What if this was a sign?
>Could it be that a heavenly symbol from above was beckoning to you? Or perhaps you have gone mad.
>You could only gaze at this speck in the dark sky as the night goes on.
>You take your eyes off it to reassess that you’re on the right course to home. You take out your compass and lay it on the table you placed on the deck.
>As you began to look at the map, you heard a sound.
>It was like an explosion in the distance.
>You look around, but nothing could be seen in the pitch black.
>Another boom was heard.
>You brought your attention to the northern skies where you saw the bright star shining even brighter,
>And it was getting bigger. No....
>It was getting closer.
>Whatever it was, it was hurtling towards you and your ship.