//------------------------------// // 4. Brewing Storms // Story: A Sailor's Notes // by Thunderblast //------------------------------// Lunch came along a bit quicker than anticipated, even though it was still early in the morning. Both me and Dad left his office, him having unexpectedly packed lunches for the two of us and stuffed them into his bag. In the courtyard sat a few picnic tables and we sat down at one. We ate in silence, all the while taking in the warm sunlight as it broke through the few clouds here and there. Today was to be, surprisingly, one of the warmer days of the year. Summer temperatures didn't even get up past the higher sixties, all because of how far north we were. In the sun, it felt more warm, and eventually I had to take my flannel shirt off to remain comfortable. Finishing up our lunches, Dad stood up, tossing away any trash left over in a nearby trashcan and returning. "Hey, Anchor, ready to see the shipyard?" I blinked, my eyes widening. "The shipyard? You never said anything about that!" "I wanted to keep it a secret," he winked. "Come on, let's go. I'll show you around." Eagerly I stood up, trotting around the table to Dad's side and following him closely as he led toward the coast. Beyond the offices sat a few warehouse-like buildings, and a single crane. Some sailors lingered around, carrying boxes back and forth from a small cutter vessel tied to one of the docks. To the right, a significantly larger all-grey ship. A missile cruiser, commissioned by the Equestria Navy two decades prior. It rested unoccupied, alongside another on the opposite side of the dock. Dad led down the shoreline, toward the cruisers. My eyes didn't once shift away from them. For all I knew, they were probably as wide as they could possibly go, heck, even sparkling like cartoon comic art when it comes to shock and awe. We stopped at the beginning of the pier, between the two massive ships, my gaze still stuck like glue to them. "So, Anchor, what do you think?" Sea smiled warmly, glancing over towards me. "They're so much bigger than I thought... They're amazing!" I squealed with excitement. My father's smile faded, and he motioned his hoof to tone it down. "Hey, hey. No yelling. We don't want to attract any unwanted attention." Quickly, I calmed myself down, eyes widened. "Right, right." He lowered his hoof, then made direct eye contact. "There's something else I have to tell you, Anchorage." "About what, Dad?" "About that new ship." "Oh, the new destroyer?" "Yes, the new destroyer. Listen, you know how I said at dinner a few nights ago that the games would determine a commanding officer?" I nodded. "Yeah. Why?" Dad let out a soft sigh, easing himself. "That isn't happening anymore." "What?!" "Now, hold on. The games are still going to happen, just, there is no true prize except for a trophy or medal. Anchorage, the reason why, is because—" He stopped, looking up above me slightly. "Because why?" "Anchorage, stand beside me. Now," he spoke using the side of his mouth, eyes locked on something behind me. As quickly as my hooves could, I moved to his side, eyes now set on a base watch pony making his rounds, with us in plain sight. The pony approached, a rifle around his neck. He stopped just a few yards away, head tilting, then approached my father. "Sir, non-Navy personnel on base is restricted. Are you aware of that?" "Yes, sir. We went over this at the gate. My son is... well, he's working with me for the day. I'm simply showing him around in case he wants to be just like his father. Right, Anchor?" He looped a hoof around my neck. I nervously nodded. "Y-yeah, just in case." The guard raised an eyebrow at my response, shifting his gaze back to Sea. "I'll let you off with a warning. I do not want to see him anywhere on base again unless it is when you leave, or else I'll have no choice but to bring you to Commander Glacier. Is that clear?" "Yes, sir." The two of us replied, exchanging looks afterward. "Good," the guard nodded once, walking around us to continue his patrol. My father let out a deep sigh of relief, wiping his forehead off. I looked at him worriedly. "Dad, I'm not sure if I want to be here anymore." "Why not?" He quickly snapped his head to look at me with surprise. "I'm not supposed to be. You could get discharged, or worse, because of this!" "I was only trying to do something I thought you would like, Anchor. Clearly I was wrong about that, severely wrong," he grew a slight glare. "I'll call your mother and let her know you'll be coming home early." "What?" My pupils shrunk to pinpricks. "Why are you getting angry?" "Because, I..." His glare quickly disappeared, changing to that of one of despair. "I... don't know. I don't know anymore. There's too much goin' on to keep track of. I thought I was doing a good deed by takin' you with me here, now it's all backfired completely." My ears slightly fell, I lifted a hoof toward Dad. "Then, tell me. What's going on?" "I can't." "Why not?" "You won't like it, not one bit." "Dad, do you really think I care at this point? I'm trying to talk to you." "Are you s-sure?" "Yes!" Sea stared me in the eye for what felt like a full minute in silence. He broke the eye contact, then took a seat on the edge of the concrete, hind hooves hanging over the water below. He stared out into the open ocean beyond the ship docked to the side. I followed him over, sitting beside him and too looking out to the water. "Just tell me, Dad. It won't be that bad." "I... really don't know, Anchorage." "If it's about deployment, you're being awfully sketchy about it. Is it that?" A few more moments of silence, then a slow nod. That was one thing out of him. "Why so paranoid? You've been deployed, like... fifteen or sixteen times. That was before you met Mom, too!" "This is different, Anchorage." "What's so different?!" "Everything!" "Then, tell me what's different. We've gotten this far." "You're not ready." "I'm fifteen, dad. What could I possibly not be ready for? At school, they've already taught us about the Lunar Rebellion, they've taught us about the Great Griffon War, they've taught us sex-ed, they've taught—" "I'm sorry, they've what?" My eyes opened wide, then moved over to Dad, who stared me on directly with an eyebrow raised. I felt my cheeks heat up significantly. "You get the point, right?" "Well, maybe I feel you're not ready," he gave that look of seriousness. "Your mother would agree." "Well, she's not here, is she?" "That is not the point, Anchorage." "Then what is?" "The point is, I'm not ready for you to grow up yet," he answered, a slight tone of desperation growing in his voice. "I'm not... ready." I froze, eyes growing wide yet again. "What...?" Dad stared down at the water in front of us as it sloshed against the concrete pier. "Anchorage..." "Yeah, Dad?" "You're growin' up so fast. I mean, look at you. You're in high school, you're fifteen years old, where have I been this whole time? On a ship." "Dad—" "I was hardly ever here for you, Anchorage. When I was, I was afraid I wasn't doin' something right. I was never doin' anything right. I'm a sailor, I'm accustomed to taking care of my crew members. I... never grew used to takin' care of my own foal, my one and only son." I watched him carefully as a single tear gathered up in his eye, still staring down toward the water below. "Dad, please..." "I was never here to watch you grow up, Anchorage. I focused on other things when I should have focused on you. This political scuffle made me think of that," he slowly turned to look at me, the tear sliding down his cheek gradually. "That's why I'm afraid for you... for your ever-so fast-approaching time to become an adult, for you to take on your own responsibilities and... move out, start your own family... and move on." My ears fell back, eyes shifting down toward the water as well, as did Dad's. Sighing inaudibly, I slowly looped a wing around his back. "I'm not going anywhere yet, Dad. There's nothing for you to worry about." "But you might change your mind." "That is a possibility, yes. Just like everything in life. You never know what's going to happen. That's why you gotta cherish things how they are now in case it does go downhill." A small smile cracked on Sea's muzzle, and he turned to me. "When did you get so wise?" "What can I say? I'm growing up," I returned the smile, though weakly. "I love you, Dad." "I love you too, Anchorage. I don't ever wish for you to think otherwise just because of how often I've left you and Mom." "I wouldn't, because I understand." "Are you sure...?" "Positive." Sea blinked slowly, then nodded once. "Then I suppose it's my time to grow up and accept things how they are." "That would be a good idea." "So would heading back inside, don't you think?" He then said with a tone of concern. "Huh?" "There's a storm comin'," Dad said, standing up. "Come on, let's head back before the rain starts." ⚓ Rain trickled down and pattered against the office window, a thick, grey mist shortening the visibility tremendously. This was the type of weather we were used to. That, and sudden, unexpected bursts of cold and snow. Aside from that, it was another boring day at the office—wait a minute, it was the same day. This time, however, Dad had something for me to do: shredding papers that he didn't need. Not the best of things to do to pass the time, although, it was far better than sitting back and looking pretty. Even though his office was already super tidy, it shocked me just how much he wanted disposed of, meaning I would have to make a quick dash or two to the trashcan outside of his office to empty the shredder can. As I stood out in the hallway dumping out shredded bits of paper into the trashcan, however, a glance to my side caught an approaching figure from a few doors down, moving at a steady pace. Remembering I wasn't supposed to be there, I quickly finished up dumping out the can and walking back into Dad's office, shutting the door and sitting back down in the seat. My hopes were that the pony in the corridor coming toward me would brush off seeing me—if he saw me at all—and continue on his way without confronting Dad. That was quite frankly the last thing we needed to be concerned about. Unfortunately, it was now the first thing to worry about. The door swung open, standing there in the doorway was the pony in the hallway. "Sea Current?" "Aye?" The pony briefly glanced at me, his expression not changing. I tensed up in my seat. "Meeting's being called. You're needed," the sailor turned to walk out, then stopped. "Bring him, too." It was at that moment I felt both of our breaths catch. Me and my father exchanged looks, then got up to follow him out. My mind raced at what was ahead of us. Was the meeting about Dad? Was it about me? Was it about both of us? What on earth— Glancing upward, I saw we were now standing in the meeting room, along with at least a hundred other sailors. A couple of which peered our way, but didn't speak up. So far, so good, I thought, seating myself beside Dad. Rather closely, too. At the front of the room, where it was more darkened, sat a whiteboard, a rolled-up projection screen, and on either sides, numerous plastered papers that couldn't be made out from where we were. Or, my eyesight is just terrible. A trio of ponies entered, one without his cover (uniform cap). Everypony in the room stood, creating a collective rustle of clothing and hooves on the floor, and I followed suit quickly. "At ease," the older-looking pony called out, and all sat back down. He cleared his throat, stopping and scanning over the collection of sailors in the room. "What we are here to discuss is the ongoing situation in the east Griffon colonies, or the G.E. for short. As we are all very much aware of, the Griffon Empire's Naval Commander was executed in the streets of Grestin about three weeks ago, and their Primary Generals are nowhere to be found. "I have now been informed that two of the four Primary Generals are now dead, as well, and the remaining two are in captivity under the new rule, which is spreading across the kingdom like the plague. Their primary goal is to assassinate the King next and assume control over the Griffon Empire." Some in the room gasped, others quietly exchanged brief conversations about the matter. The high-ranking stallion at the front tapped his hoof on the floor, bring all eyes back to him. "With these assassinations, while the King is still in power, he has no control over the country's military, and it is already halfway in control by the assailants, which have now given themselves the name, the New Order of Gryphons, or N.O.G. "Added to that, we now have reason to believe their naval fleet is crossing the Antlertic, possibly on a path toward Equestria. If this is truly the case, then it will be all hooves on deck here quite soon," the commander spoke grimly in the last sentence. More chatter built up in the room, increasing in volume after some time. Two more hoof taps brought their attention back to the commander. "I ask of you all to remain on the task at hoof. We could very well be on the threshold of war, mares and gentlecolts. The first naval-involved war in centuries. Your commanding officers will hold separate briefings to prepare you for deployment." ⚓ The walk home was long. Long, cold, and wet, to be more precise. Neither of us said a word from the moment we left the gate to when we came up on our home. Just by a single glance to my right, I could tell how he felt, judging by the look in his eyes. This was a new type of fear between us both. Today had been a long day. Long for me, even. Being on base when I wasn't supposed to was stressful to begin with, having to deal with the tension in the air during the commander's meeting only added to that. Both me and Dad knew very well he would be leaving again soon. I think the worst part about it was knowing the both of us had to break the news to Mom, rather than Dad bring it up to the both of us like he used to. Walking inside, we gently hung up our clothes, Dad holding his hoof on the jacket after hanging it up and staring down toward the floor. I felt my ears fall back, and I reached a hoof to rest on his shoulder. He didn't even look my way, nor acknowledge my presence. At least, not for a minute, which is when we heard Mom coming. "Hey, how are my two boys?" She approached with a welcoming smile. "Fine, dear, just fine," Dad replied. His tone was enough to make Mom question it, which was her next look. "Something wrong, honey?" Her smile faded, an eyebrow raising with suspicion. She then looked at me to see I had a similar reaction. "I think it's somethin' to talk about over dinner, alright?" Sea slowly wrapped a hoof around Mom, nuzzling her mane slightly. "Of course, hun." ⚓ By dinner, we sat at the table, eating our meals quietly. No one had said a word just yet, and Mom still had her look of suspicion and concern all across. Fifteen years taught me how she felt just by facial expressions. "Sooo..." She began, scooping her fork at some mashed potatoes. "How was work?" "It was good," Dad replied flatly, poking at his food. I did the same, my head leaned onto my hoof. "That's... good," she turned to me, swallowing a bite of her food. "How was it with Dad today?" "A bit slow, but good," I hadn't moved my eyes up to her. This caused more suspicion. "Okay, both of you, what is wrong? You have been like this for the last hour and a half. Did something happen?" Sea looked at me. I looked right back at him. He nodded gently once, turning to Mom. "Sweetie, there's somethin' I need to tell you that Anchorage already knows." Hazy's brow furrowed more, she slowly nodded in response. "Alright. What is it?" Dad took her hoof slowly, gripping it with a slight tremble. "I'm being deployed again soon." "Deployed?" Mom blinked twice. "I mean... what's the concern about it?" Dad sighed softly. "We... might be going to war." "W-war?!" Mom gasped, eyes opening wide with shock. Dad nodded slowly. "They're ordering everypony to be on alert and the fleets are heading out for sea soon. There's reason to believe the Griffons are going to invade Equestria if nothing is done." "The Griffons? Invading us? But why?" "Honey, I don't think that's something you need to—" I jumped up slightly, fork clinking on the plate. "The eastern kingdoms are under attack by their own, their king is being overthrown and their generals are being killed!" Dad glared slightly at me afterwards, Mom gasped again and looked at him. "Honey..." "Hazy, I promise you. Everything is going to be just fine—" "H-how do you know? What if you go out and don't come back?!" Dad sighed, then made gentle eye contact with Mom. "Listen, dear, Equestria has the most advanced naval force in the world. The Griffons have one of the oldest and least advanced. They still have wooden ships and conventional cannons. If by any chance they managed to sink one of our vessels or disable it, there's another two to take its place." Just by the sound of his voice, it was the least bit evident he was lying about something. I knew he was worried. He had reason to be. Mom believed him, though. "If you say so, Sea," she nodded in understanding. Dad nuzzled her gently, pulling her close. "I don't want you or Anchorage to worry." Mom sniffled slightly. "When do you h-have to leave?" She squeaked out. Dad once more sighed. "In a week or two. Until then... I promise to spend as much time as I can with you. Both of you."