//------------------------------//
// Chapter 1: Calm Skies 
// Story: A Storm For the Ages 
// by DmitriTheWriter 
//------------------------------//

The skies were clear above the ocean, not a cloud anywhere to be seen. The seas were almost dead, only spurred by the occasional sea breeze as gulls flew lazily about. It was early morning, the sun only just beginning to climb past the horizon.

High in these fair skies, a blue-coated pegasus with a rainbow mane prepared to go into a dive.

Rainbow Dash plummeted to the sea in a dive and skimmed along the surface of the water, creating waves in her wake as though she were the North Wind. After flying for some time, she ascended once again and set loose a triumphant roar.

"YEAH!"

Dash giggled as she skimmed the waters, making waves and soaking her coat and mane in seawater. Suddenly, as she was shaking off her latest load of seawater, Dash spotted an unfamiliar ship just on the horizon, that seemed as though it wasn't there before. The ship was colored an unnaturally deep brown, and its black flag depicted somepony's cracked skull with two crossed bones below it. It was a very large ship, larger than the flagships in Celestia's Royal Fleet, and it looked as if it would need a crew of 100 ponies or more just to maintain it.  As Dash approached the ship, she didn't spot any crew members on board whatsoever. None. The only pony on deck was fiddling with a bracelet on their forehoof. The bracelet appeared to be made with solid gold, and was marked with various inscriptions that meant nothing to Dash. The pony's cutie mark depicted two golden swords clashing, complete with sparks between them. Their pitch-black mask completely covered their face, and their gray-colored coat made them look ethereal, like a storm cloud, ready to strike out with lightning at a moment's notice.

Dash flew in place just out from the ship's port bow and waved towards the lone foreboding seafarer. "Hi there. What are you doing here?"

"I should ask the same of you," the masked pony replied, in a deep, disinterested voice. Dash decided to think of him as a stallion for convenience' sake.

"Well then allow me to introduce myself to you. I'm Rainbow Dash, coolest pony in Equestria, champion flyer, and perfector of the Sonic Rainboom. You've probably heard of me,". 

"I haven't," he said matter-of-factly

"Oh. Did I also mention how I saved the world three times?"

"Is that so?"

"Yeah. And I was completely awesome while doing it. Now tell me about yourself,"

"And why should I?"

"You seem pretty cool, what with your ship and your...flag I guess, and I want to get to know you better. So come on, tell me your name,"

"Very well. The name's Chrysaor," The sea underneath Rainbow Dash began to churn as Chrysaor adjusted the bracelet, like a sea monster was thinking of making her into a meal. "And I kill all who oppose me and my birthright," 

"Wait, what!? I-I never opposed you! At least not that I can remember," Dash began to sweat profusely. "I haven't stolen your birthright, whatever that is!"

"It's nothing against you personally, arrogant one," the whole ocean, as far as Dash could see, became choppy as if  it was in a hurricane, despite the clear skies, "It's just that your race has cheated me before, and I'm simply returning the favor."

A pillar of seawater erupted beneath Dash, but she quickly zipped out of harm's way.

"Yeeaaah, I really should be going now. It was nice talking with you," 

"But why? The fun's only begun,"

Dash zoomed away from the ship, due east towards the Equestrian mainland. The nearest land was about one hundred and fifty miles away, but Dash didn't feel worried. She sighed in relief and looked back behind her to get one last glimpse at the masked pirate on the horizon. When she turned her head, Chrysaor was soaring about a hundred feet behind her, with his now visible wings outstretched and a massive tailwind trailing behind them that Dash could now feel on her hind legs. Dash's eyes bulged in surprise, and she began to fly more hurriedly. Chrysaor's wings, as well as his tailwinds allowed the masked demon to easily catch up to Dash. Dash went into a sharp dive, with Chrysaor following close behind.

As Dash thundered towards the ocean surface, the air around her began to flare up and become visible with her increasing velocity. As the rainbows came into being around Dash, she blasted off due east just above the face of the water. The Sonic Rainboom spread in all directions, confounding Chrysaor, who crashed into the ocean. The masked demon resurfaced two seconds later, but Dash was already long gone.

"So that's what the Sonic Rainboom is,"