More and more, I become convinced that the powers we face are those of darkness and dark magic. Those attacks that are always most fearsome come at night, or with darkness as their shroud, and wither in the face of light.

I wonder, then, if magic of light and life could truly be our path to defeating it. The shards, powerful as their promise is, seem to feed off the same darker side of pony, or human, psyche. I fear that relying on them will prove, ultimately, fatal to us -- that our success would also be our fall, if they were our weapons.

Perhaps a new sun must shine over this sea, before we can find freedom.

Princess Celestia

I have waited to see if they would return, as some occasionally do, but I think any further waiting is pointless. It is my sad duty to report that as of now, I am the only specimen of ponykind remaining here.

Those of you who remember my sister or Pinkie Pie fondly... if you have any message you wish to pass to them, then I will accept them, and if it is in my power to do so, I will pass them on when I next see them.

We have seen so many go of late, and yet I truly believe they have returned home as those who come back to us have reported doing. Do not weep for your lost friends, but rejoice that you had them as friends, even if for but a short time.

[Morning of the 27th]

[Not sure how she managed to get up there as sick as she is, but Haruta is in the crows nest, hidden away all crumpled up and chilling there.]

[In a voice that says she’s reading (or trying to) Haruta talks about... weird facts. She sounds REALLY out of it though.]

Clownfish are born male, and will only change sex to become... a dominant... female. [a long SNORT at that] Namur, is that true? Why would anyone want to cha--no... no.... no never... mind. Don’t wanna know... oh, but some sharks can smell a single drop of damn blood... in like three miles away.

Sharks are real cute.

Some snake is a great actor. It... it tricks its people... i mean it’s predators... by playing dead. They even smell dead. Best they don’t have awesome hair...

This black cat thing...run...s... so fast... that dust kicks up like... like smoke. Like they leave... the world on fire as they run. Stupid narcoleptic fire cats.

There’s a monkey that screams so loud it can be heard from three miles away. I... mmm, I dub it the Luffy Tailed Loud Monkey. Mmm yes. Good. [she coughs, and doesn’t say anything for a few minutes.]

Frogs. I love frogs. I was told a story once.... ‘bout a frog... and a pearl, and it’s a good story. Did you know... group of birds.... it’s a flock. But ... group of frogs? Called an army. An army of frogs. Go frogs! Go to war! [said stronger, almost yelled, before fizzling out and going silent again for a minute]

Frog poison can kill 100 men. Dart froggies can kill thousands... man, frogs are bastards. [Snorts again, and coughs, sounding grouchy now] Says some frog species can poison other frogs, but they eat some tropical flowers... and push food down with their eyes, and get better.

Frogs suck.

[flipping sound of her going through this book faster now, then growls, sounding annoyed.] This book is stupid. Nothing on phoenixes. Stupid...

[ANYONE ON DECK... might want to duck and cover. The book got chucked from the crows nest after that.]

[There is a small growl, then a thunk and silence for a while. She might reply back a little later. If anyone replies to her, but she's sorta out of it for a bit again.]

Well! I may be imprisoned, perhaps out of necessity, but that is no reason I can't enjoy having a human body. I've been watching you all, of course, but there's quite a difference between observing a human and being one!

I do not think I could do this long-term, I admit. A weakness on my part, but I would miss my magic and my wings dearly after a time. But since I expect this to pass fairly soon, as most of the curses and curious afflictions we have endured do, I feel no alarm in enjoying this.

Fingers are remarkable, and I can barely believe how easy these curved spines of yours make it to stand on my rear legs... or, excuse me, my only legs. I never properly appreciated how different it must be for you to always have two limbs free for manipulation, or even casual social gestures. I understand so much now!

I wonder if I can work up a spell of transformation...

[For everyone, those on the journals, you can't see him, but he sounds mopey. He sounds like he's laying down somewhere and is bored or sad or tired...]

[A huff of air, puffed out from tired black lips. His deep voice drawled slowly:]

I've been here six months now. Six months. No one from my crew has showed up yet.

[He huffed again. Someone is a little homesick. Sure he might know NOW that his Captain leaves them for some time to do great things, but he would still have the rest of his idiot crew, right? And he does love this crew dearly... but... he misses the smell and feel of the seas back home.]

I put on weight here. [No he didn't.] I got slower here. [Has not.] Does anyone want to spar? None of you monsters with the swords and rubber either. I mean real fist to feet sparing. After that last battle I think I need to improve on... everything. A bear can't get rusty. It's unheard of.

[To Straw Hats that are around: You can find him laying belly down on the deck in a patched up orange jump suit, arms in front of him and his journal on the ground. He looks... bored.]

[He'll be here for a while, so either come sit or lay with him, or encourage him to spar. Bepo needs to take his mind off home!]

When my sister and I paired our power together, we could take on any foe. Sometimes we needed help, such as from the Elements of Harmony, but if not for Luna and the bonds we shared, we could not have used them either.

I was separated from my sister for a thousand years, and after only a brief time together again, I have found myself here and apart from her once again. I miss her dearly.

But that doesn't mean I am powerless and infinitely tolerant without her by my side. Some people seem to think otherwise.

Luffy. Can I hope that we will be more cautious in our choice of sailing partners, in the future?

[Celestia is writing all this from a spot on the deck, and her script remains impeccable despite her contained, controlled anger. (Writing with telekinesis helps with that.) She has not been in a good mood since the fire on Eternal Bliss.]

voice;

[The crackling, roaring sound of a raging fire greets the journal this day. In the background, the frazzled screams of shopkeepers, residents, and other people can be heard.]

Yes . . . now they understand. Why must it be only I who suffers?

Give me my happily ever after!

[Shouts of "you madwoman!" and "you're going to pay for this!" ring out in the crowd, but no one dares attack Kodachi because she's already put to sleep several of those who tried.]

When will I get married?!



action; open to the crews of the Katabami and the Million Merrily

[Kodachi's standing in the middle of a town square. Behind her, the precious gardens, temples, and shops of Eternal Bliss are burning in a blazing inferno.]

[She's still in her wedding gown, a black rose bouquet clutched in her hands.]



[ooc; after the fire's put out, about half of Eternal Bliss (or "marriage island") will have been burnt to a crisp. No one will be hurt, but the island certainly won't as pretty as it once was. If you want someone to blame, blame Ranma.]

I am sorry.

[That simple heartfelt statement of grief and regret -- absolute, sincere regret that she has no reason to believe will be accepted by anyone -- is all Celestia has the strength for. Having spoken the words, she lowers her head back to her forelegs.]

[She has neither moved from this spot on the deck, nor eaten anything, nor slept, since she was dragged out of the collapsing fortress after doing her very best to murder everypony.]

[This script is absurdly good, the sort of writing that convinces the reader that good penmanship is a waste of time because it'll never reach this level with any amount of practice.]

To my fellow pirates and all others reading this,

I have met some of you, but for those I have not, my name is Princess Celestia, and I owe you an apology. Despite my best efforts, this is not my world, and thus, this is not my sun. I have tried to raise it many times over this past very long night, but with no success at all. For those of you who had to endure... less than pleasant circumstances, I can only offer my sympathies.

On that note, particularly if you are somepony I've met here, I would like to hear from you and know you are all right. I assure you I am well in turn.

I'd like to hear what everypony learned during this long night, as well. After such a trying time, it helps to put words to the lessons you have learned during these dark spots. Whether this was an act of caprice or malice, we undo the whims of the forces that oppose us by growing and learning from what we experience.

~Princess Celestia