//------------------------------//
// Ch14 Battle at Sea, The Tide Vs. The Wing 
// Story: Under Crimson Sails 
// by Priceless911 
//------------------------------//

“WHY ISN’T IT WORKING!?!”
In a fit of anger, Iron Hoof punched the mystical purple pearl as the metal chime from his horseshoe echoed through the cargo hold of the Iron Wing. Nervous for their lives, the surrounding crew in the hold held their silence as Iron Hoof turned around and looked over them, “Well?...”
The crew looked at one another as one replied, “I’m not sure captain… I was certain the iron horseshoes were the key.”
Iron Hoof looked at the sailor as he replied, “Certain… you were certain… YOU BLASTED FOOL!!! I don’t need certain, I need it to work!”
He looked at an older sailor, “You! You were under the last Iron Hoof when he attacked the Annabelle right? What did he do to activate this thing?”
The sailor replied, “I… I don’t know capt’n… he just held it and waved his hoof over the top of it towards us… then we changed.”
Iron Hoof took the pearl and held it up in his hoof as he waved the other hoof over it, “Like this?”
With nothing happening, the sailor replied, “Well… sort of… it was more like spreading seeds in a field or somthin’.” 
Iron Hoof tossed the pearl to the hippogriff sailor as he spoke, “How?… Show me!”
As the hippogriff unexpectedly caught the pearl, he held it in his talon as he started to reply, “Well, first he held it like this… then he started to wave his hoof over the top of it. Kinda like…”
Slowly the hippogriff started to wave his other talon over the pearl, as he did the hippogriff could see a slight glow start to emerge from the mystic pearls center. However, before Iron Hoof could notice the light, a call came from a higher deck, “Captain! My want to get topside, we got a storm brewin’.”
Confused, the captain looked towards the stairs as he mumbled, “Storm?... there weren’t a cloud in the sky a minute ago…” he looked back to the sailor, “Belay the lesson for now… I need to see to this.”
With that Captain Iron Hoof and most of his crew left the cargo bay as the sailor holding the pearl and another standing next to him remained as the other sailor spoke, “The pearl… was it?...”
The hippogriff holding the pearl put his finger in front of his beak as if to say shush while he placed the pearl back into a padded chest and spoke, “Captain needs us up on deck, let’s go see what he needs.”
Nodding in agreement to both the order and the dishonest action, the second sailor followed as the two locked the pearl in its chest and left the cargo hold.
Up on the main deck of the Iron Wing, Captain Iron Hoof and his crew looked to the sky as Iron Hoof spoke in confusion, “A storm brewin’… and a moment ago it seemed as if the sun would beam down on us for the rest of the day.”
A hippogriff called from the main deck as he spoke, “It’s a bad omen capt’n! a storm this fast has to be the leviathans doin’.”
Captain Iron Hoof replied in irritation, “I be the only god on these waters worth fearin’. Shift the course towards Home, I will get the power in that pearl even if I have cut it out of the priestess’s flesh.”
Not far over the horizon, the Bloody Tide sailed unknowingly towards the Iron Wing as a voice echoed from beneath the waves, “Captain… your prey lays on your current course… and it’s as you say. He is no subject of mine.”
Captain Sail nodded as he spoke from the helm, “Aye… and thank ya for answerin’ my prayer your lordship… I think your subjects may have a different light on you from here on out.”
The voice replied, “I suppose you are right… to insure a fair sea battle, the storm above is my gift. It will not rain anything upon you, nor will it allow anything else to do the same. However, as I mentioned earlier, it will be up to you and my guardian to kill Iron Hoof. I will accept collateral damage to his crew, but keep in mind, it is Iron Hoof that is your target. I would like to spare as many of his crew as possible.”
Though he didn’t like that, Captain Sail nodded in irritation as Siren stood next to him and replied, “Understood… we will do our best.”
The leviathan answered, “Then I shall leave you in peace… good luck to you both.”
With nothing more to say on the subject, the leviathan stealthily swam away without anypony aboard the Bloody Tide noticing as Captain Sail spoke to Siren, “Ya ready for this battle lass?”
Siren smiled, “Aye Captain… I aim to take back what’s mine… I know ya don’t care to take Iron Hoof’s head anymore, but are ya still willin’ to race to claim it?
Captain Sail smiled, “Ya know I can’t turn down a challenge from the Siren of Pirate Cove.”
With the two accepting each other’s challenge, their smiles were overshadowed from a voice on the main deck as it called, “Get your Land lobbin’, beak nosed, winged plots on those guns NOW!!! You’re on my ship now, and I won’t have the capt’n guns ill kept nor unarmed for this or any fight! Work smartly or I'll pluck your hippogriff feathers and shove ya in the howitzer to see if they help ya fly any better then they help ya scratch your plots!!!”
Working faster, the hippogriff sailors rushed to load the cannons as Powder Keg smiled at their progress as Captain Sail called from the helm, “Enjoyin’ the new hooves Mr. Keg?”
Powder Keg smiled as he replied, “It’s all about the language and culture captain. Once ya understand how to talk to ‘em, it’s easy getting ‘em in line.”
all of a sudden there was a loud thump as a hippogriff dropped a cannon ball on the deck as Powder Keg looked back at him and spoke, “Oh I’m sorry… did ya break your nail lassie?... Get that ball up and loaded or I'll test that same shot on your head!!!”
Working fast the hippogriff frantically picked up the cannon ball and went back to work on the cannon as Captain Sail smiled, “Keep up the good work Mr. Keg. We’ll make fine sailors of them yet.”
As the crew continued working, Siren spoke, “Probably would have been better to leave them on Home like the Queen suggested.”
Captain Sail nodded, “Aye… but we left our surgeon behind to continue helping the wounded, and we can use the spare hoo… talons. Sides, they know the risk of bein’ here and they volunteered on their own. Better a volunteer crew, then a shanghaied one.”
Siren nodded as she replied with a thankful tone, “Aye… and for good reason too… We lost a lot of families in the attack yesterday. Even the foals wanted to join in on today’s fight… I’m happy you wouldn’t let them. Just… I’m grateful that you decided to help us.”
Captain Sail smiled, “S’pose if I had anythin’ better to be doin’, I would still find an excuse to stay and help. Sides, I did all this work to make you into a good captain, so I s’pose I should see it through and help you get your ship and crew back. Just remember your side of the bargain lass.”
Siren smiled, “Don’t count your loot too soon captain. You’ll get your song all in due time.”
Before Captain Sail could reply, the barrel colt called from the crow’s nest, “Capt’n!!! It’s as the beast said! I can see a mast on the horizon! It’s got to be the Iron Wing!”
Pinpoint looked out over the sea with a spyglass, as he smiled, “Looks like we have the Wing on our bow captain. Shall we strike the colors?”
Captain Sail smiled, “Aye make the call Mr. Po- on second thought…” he turned to Siren, “Why don’t you make the call Lass? It’ll be good practice for ya.”
Siren smiled and nod, “Would be an honor and pleasure captain.”
Siren Stepped forward and called, “ALL HOOVES ON DECK!!! Ready the cannons and get to your stations! Barrel colt! Strike the Colors… and while you’re at it… Show them the color of blood!”
The barrel colt smiled with a sinister grin as he replied, “Will be a pleasure Miss Siren.”
As the barrel colt moved to follow the order, Captain Sail stepped forward and corrected him, “That’s Captain!... and don’t ya forget it!”
With that, Siren looked at Captain Sail and smiled with pride as he looked back at her and smiled. As they did this, Pinpoint saw them and sighed, “Welp, I guess this was bound to happen eventually. Better late than never I s’pose.”
Captain Sail looked at Pinpoint, “What was that Mr. Point?”
Pinpoint shrugged his shoulders, “Nothin’ captain… nothin’ at all.”
Captain Sail ignored the comment and looked to Powder Keg, “Mr. Keg… you heard the lass, your station for this battle will be the crow’s nest. Mr. Point can handle the gun teams hear.”
Powder Keg nodded, “Aye Capt’n I'll get up there.”
Captain Sail added, “And don’t forget your musket. We will be relyin’ on your keen shots to cover us while we face Iron Hoof.”
Far off on the Iron Wing, the Iron Pirate’s barrel colt called, “Captain Iron Hoof! Mast off our starboard bow! It’s the Bloody Tide!”
hearing the order, The new quartermaster pulled out a spyglass, only to have it yanked from his hoof as Iron Hoof brought it up to look through it. When he did however, his usual reflexes brought it up to his missing eye as he quickly realized his mistake and shifted it to his other eye as he looked over the sea to his enemy’s ship. As he saw the Bloody Tide, Iron Hoof smiled, “Well well… it’s as if fate wanted one of us to settle this score… and his roger is joined by a red flag.” He lowered the spyglass and gave a sinister smile, “Good… then it’s a battle to the death he wants.”
Iron Hoof passed the spyglass back to his first mate as he called over his ship, “Captain Sail has returned to claim my head! But he will find that the Iron Pirates ain’t willin’ to roll over and show our bellies to anypony from the main seas! Let’s show him why the name Iron Hoof is a name of legend!”
Before he could say anything else, the first mate spoke up, “Captain… what about the ship? Are we in the proper state to face him?”
With that, Iron Hoof looked at the scorch marks that rested along the forecastle, then he looked down at his hooves at the freshly replaced timber beneath him as he replied, “Repairs are done… so there should be no need to worry. Sides, we ain’t gonna let him get close enough to hit us as hard as he did before.” He looked over the deck of his ship as he pointed at a few sailors, “You three! Load and aim the Howitzer! We’re gonna strike him down before he can get into range. The rest of you! Get your heads out of your plots and get this ship ready for battle! Load all cannons and strike the colors with a red flag… the story of this ghost hunter ends today!”
Back on the Tide, Captain Sail and his crew readied their guns as Captain Sail looked to Siren, “What do ya say lass? Aim for their bow?”
Siren shook her head, “No, I’m sure he removed the Greek fire. Even an idiot like him won’t make the same mistake twice.”
Captain Sail nodded, “Aye, then what’s the call. We are takin on your ship so I'll let you decide how we take her.”
Siren replied, “As quickly as we can… a few vollies with the cannons then a close grind along her hull to hook and lock her down. Then we can have a close… chat with the Iron pirates.”
Captain Sail smiled, “A bold plan… but can your ship take it?”
Siren smiled, “She may have taken a beatin in our last meeting… but she is as tough as I… the real question is… can your Tide handle it?”
Captain Sail nodded, “Aye lass… No ship can topple the Tide.”
Siren smiled, “Then le-”
Before she could finish, a loud shot was heard as the howitzer on the Iron Wing fired a shot that flew into the sky and vanished into the clouds. Seeing this, Captain Sail called, “Everypony Brace for impact!!!”
High in the sky, the howitzer shell and its lit fuse flipped towards its target, however as it flew through the clouds, unseen sub-zero tempratures started consuming the shell in frost as it starting to form over the solid black bomb making the solid iron casing slowly turned grey while snuffing the lit fuse out.
Back on the sea, everypony aboard the Bloody Tide braced themselves for impact as the brittle ball of iron came in from above as it hit the base of the mast putting a small gash in the solid post as it shattered the frozen howitzer shell like a crystal ball. As the shards of iron scattered over the deck of the Bloody Tide, the surprised crew stopped bracing themselves as Pinpoint trotted down to the main deck as he picked up a shard of the shell and called, “Its frozen captain… shattered like a block of ice.”
Captain Sail was confused as Siren spoke, “Hm… so that’s what the leviathan meant by a gift that wont let anythin’ rain… he must have made the clouds some sort of freezer for anything that would try to fly through it.”
Captain Sail smiled, “Aye… he truly does want this to be a fair sea battle… then let’s not disappoint.” He looked forward, “Back to stations, all ahead sails!”
Back on the Iron Wing, Iron Hoof was confused, “What?... Why didn’t the shell explode?”
The hippogriffs on the howitzer replied, “Captain… somthin’ went wrong with the shell… the clouds must have put out the fuse or somthin’. S’pose it’s the Leviathan’s doin’?”
Iron Hoof was angry, “Blast you Sail… you and your god.” He called, “Unfurl all sails!!! Let’s take this fight to his deck!”
Both ships now headed for each other as both captains of both vessels had full intentions of killing the other. As the ships started to get within five hundred meters of each other, Captain Iron Hoof called, “Hard to port! Line them up with our cannons!”
With that the helmscolt turned the helm till the Iron Wing’s starboard cannons were pointing directly at the Bloody Tide as Captain Sail saw the action and called, “Ready the Guns and bring her to port! If it’s a shootout they want then lets oblige!”
As the order was called, the helmscolt of the Bloody Tide turned their helm to line up their cannons. Once both ships had their starboard cannons lined up with one another, their helms colts started turning to the starboard side as they began circling each other while leaving their cannons lined up with their enemies. With both ships now turning to starboard and both lines of cannons pointed to their opponent, both captains looked at their enemies as they called at the exact same time, “FIRE!!!”
At that moment, Smoke filled the air between the two circling ships as cannonballs from both ships flew through the air and pommeled the opposite ship. With sailors from both ships bracing for impact and trying to reload the cannons Captain Sail called, “Keep at it lads we on-”
At that moment, a cannonball flew by and hit the railing of the upper deck as most of the shattering rail few through the air hitting and killing the helmscolt as the unfortunate stallion fell to the deck and released the helm.
With the Bloody Tide no longer turning, the hail of cannonballs from the Iron Wing started changing their focus from the center of the starboard side of the Bloody Tide to the stern. With the cannon fire getting closer to them, Siren rushed to the helm and grabbed it as she spoke, “Blast! We can’t hold this too much longer captain!”
Taking it upon herself, Siren kept their straight heading for a few more meters before pulling hard to starboard as she turned the vessel around and lined up with the pursuing Iron Wing. As she made this action Captain Sail could see that they were now on a collision course with the Iron Wing as he watched Siren call over the deck, “FIRE THE CHASE GUNS AND READY THE HOOKS!!! Boarding parties ready your swords, it’s time to take the fight to them!”
By this time, the crew of the Bloody Tide didn’t need confirmation from their captain as the chase guns started going off while Siren looked at Captain Sail and replied, “Time to end this captain… you in?”
Captain Sail smiled, “With you lass?… count on it.”
She smirked, “I would say in your dreams… but now… there’s a chance.”
With their foe now on their bow, Iron Hoof called, “Fire the chase guns and ready the hooks… I want Captain Sail’s head on a pike!”
The Iron Wing and the Bloody Tide fired a barrage of cannons at each other as both ships closed in on with absolutely no hesitation in their speed, cannon fire, or intent.
As the ships approached each other, the captain of both ships called to their crews, “BRACE!!!” 
At that moment, the two ships collided as the angle of their impact caused The Bloody Tide to grind along the starboard side of the Iron Wing as both crews tried to jump aboard the opposing ship or throw grappling hooks to it. Although the hooks on both ships locked properly, the damaged railing of the Iron Wing broke them free as the force of both ships pulled them apart leaving the Bloody Tide to pass by the Iron Wing with a small number of opposing crews fighting on the opposite ships. Seeing that a few Iron Hoof pirates were on his ship, Captain Sail called, “Gunners! Suppress those stowaways!!! Mr. Point! On the helm! Lass, you’re with me, I hope you got your dagger ready. We’ll need all hooves for this fight.”
With that, Pinpoint trotted up to the top deck as he passed his sword to Captain Sail before taking the helm from Siren. Siren felt concerned though, “What about you’re other sailors on the Iron Wing? Will they be alright?”
Captain Sail smiled, “Thinkin’ ‘bout the crew?... Good lass, we’ll make a fine captain of you yet. Don’t worry about them, I have a special order for just such an occasion.”
Over on the Iron Wing the small group of Crimson Pirates looked around as one spoke, “The Tide has passed! You know what to do lads!”
Another called, “Aye, MAKE FOR THE RIGGING!”
With that order the surrounded group of pirates immediately started climbing up the Jacob’s ladder as a small few fought to keep the iron pirates from following. With a number of Crimson Pirates climbing into his sails, Iron Hoof didn’t notice the Bloody Tide turning around to pursue as he called, “Ready the muskets!!!”
With that call, a create was pulled from below deck as the Iron Hoof pirates opened it and began pulling out muskets as they started to open fire on the intruding pirates. Though many were able to duck behind the sails for concealment, the canvas wasn’t enough to stop the lead shots as one by one the Crimson Pirates started to fall.
Luckily, as the Crimson Pirates continued climbing into the rigging they started cutting lines and sails leaving the Iron Wing to slow down as the Bloody Tide started closing in from behind. With all his focus on the stowaways, Iron Hoof called, “Stop fooling around and kill them already! You lot are a bunch o-”
“CAPT’N!!! THE BLOODY TIDE!!!”
As soon as the warning was called, the Bloody Tide had already caught up to its target as the frigate colligated a second time with the Iron Wing, only this time it was from behind as it grinded along the port side with hooks flying over the Iron Wing. As the grappling hooks fell onto the unsuspecting ship, one landed on the Iron Wing’s helmscolt as the sudden jerk on the line caused it to dig into his body, killing him while pulling him away from the helm and preventing the Iron Wing from escaping a second boarding attempt. As the hooks locked onto the Iron Wing, the Crimson Pirates wasted no time in pulling the two ship together as the crews tried all they could to tie the ships together. When both ships were tied, the captain of each vessel gave their orders, starting with Captain Iron Hoof, “Kill as many as you can, but remember, Captain Sail is mine! Attack!!!”
Captain Sail called, “Take ‘em down however you please gents! But as for Iron Hoof?... My fight be my fight!”
Knowing what the term meant, the crew of the Bloody Tide drew their weapons, as they and the Iron Hoof Pirates clashed in a fight that turned the deck of both ships into a miniature battlefield. Seeing all the combat on the main deck, Siren wasted no time as she drew her dagger and jumped from the upper deck as she landed on an Iron Hoof pirate, digging the blade into his back and killing him instantly. After pulling her dagger from the dead sailor, Siren wasted no time as she darted across the main deck slashing every enemy she could while aiming for throats, arteries and other fatal  weakpoints. Seeing her attacks, a larger Iron Pirate at the end of the deck, saw her coming as he drew his sword and blocked her attack before using his strength to push her back a few steps from him. Seeing that she was outweighed, Siren planed her next move as the large stallion swung his sword with a vertical strike. Seeing this, Siren used a combination of the dagger and her Iron horseshoes to block the attack, then using his weight against him, she shifted her dagger to the side as she caused the large hippogriff’s blade to dig into the ground as the nimble mare’s hooves stayed protected while she stepped onto the pinned sword. Using her horseshoes with her speed, Siren was able to use the step of the sword to lung forward and jump off the Stallion’s chest doing a backflip and kicking the stallion with her hind hooves in the process. As she leveled out in midair, Siren then proceeded to throw her dagger as the blade dug into the underside of the sunned stallion’s jaw as it immediately killed her target, leaving him to fall back and hit the ground at about the same time as she landed on her hooves.
Smiling at her accomplishment, Siren trotted up and reached for her dagger. However, as she did, she heard a battle cry from another Iron Hoof pirate as he came swinging in from a rope and tried dropping in on her with his sword drawn and ready to kill her. With No time to defend, Siren could only watch as her death seemed imminent, however just as the sailor was close, a shot rang out as the sailor was thrown off course by a large caliber bullet, as he hit the ground a few feet short of his mark. Guessing at what it was that caused the sailor downfall, Siren looked to the Bloody Tides crow’s nest as she saw Powder Keg reloading his musket with a supporting smile while he gave her a trusting nod. Knowing that he had her back, Siren nodded back as she readied her dagger and continued the fight on the main deck.
Up in the crow’s nest, Powder Keg finished reloading his musket as he pointed it across to the Iron Wing’s crow’s nest before pressing the fire lever and hitting the Iron Wing’s Barrel colt with deadly accuracy. As the opposing barrel colt fell from his crow’s nest, Powder Keg went to work reloading his weapon as he scanned the area for his next target. Just as he finished loading his musket, an Iron Hoof Pirate climbed to the rail of his crow’s nest and swung his sword at Powder Keg leaving the gunner only enough time to duck under the unexpected attack. As the enemy pirate’s sword hit the mast behind Powder Keg, the gunner slightly tilted his musket upward as he pressed the firing lever, shooting the attacking pirate at point blank range and throwing him off the mast and onto the deck below. Taking the hint, Powder Keg drew his bayonet as he attached it to the end of his musket and began loading the next round.
As soon as his weapon was reloaded, another enemy pirate finished scaling the mast rigging as he poked his head over the crow’s nest railing and took a swing at Powder Keg. Expecting this, Powder Keg blocked the swing with his musket as he parried the blade, dug the bayonet into the foe, and pushed him away leaving yet another corpse to fall onto the battle below. Then as Powder Keg looked down across the Iron Wing’s deck to pick his next target, he spotted a gun crew as they finished loading the howitzer and turned it in his direction so that it would fire directly at him. Seeing this Powder Keg mumbled, “Uh oh…”
Wasting no time, the frantic gunner reached for a rope as he spoke while readying himself to jump, “Crap, crap, crap, crap, crap, crap, shi-”
Before he could continue, the howitzer fired off as the flying shell hit the bottom corner of the crow’s nest, causing an explosion that tossed Powder Keg out of his post, over the upper deck and off the ship as he splashed into the water a few feet from the stern of the Bloody Tide. His musket however fell short as it landed on the upper deck of the Tide as the sound of its landing caught Captain Sail off guard.
Seeing the musket without its shooter, Captain Sail looked to Pinpoint and spoke, “Mr. Point! We got a stallion overboard!”
Pinpoint nodded, “Aye Captain I got him.”
With that Pinpoint rushed to the railings as he lowered himself down to retrieve their master gunner. With his focus on Pinpoint’s actions, Captain Sail wasn’t paying attention to his surroundings as he started to sense something. Reacting fast, Captain Sail quickly turned around, raised the sword he was given, and blocked an incoming attack as both the attacker and his target locked both blades and eyes. With a sneering glare, Captain Sail’s attacker looked passed the interlocked swords as he spoke, “Sail…”
Captain Sail smiled, “Sabastian….”
With anger, Iron Hoof pushed himself away from Captain Sail as the two captain’s stared each other down from about five paces away. With safe distance between them, Iron Hoof spoke, “You got a lot of nerve showin’ your face on these seas… especially after what you did to me.”
Captain Sail looked at his enemy’s eyepatch as he smiled, “Oh, I'd consider it an improvement… nothin’ attracts the lasses more than a battle scare. Though I can’t do much with the rest of your face.”
Iron Hoof replied with an unamused tone, “So that’s all ya got… petty insults? Seems your stories were exaggerated a bit.”
Captain Sail smiled as he replied, “Aye… as were yours…” he looked at the Iron Wing, “Brown cotton sails… and here I was told they were made of leather from your victims’ hides.”
Iron Hoof smiled, “Ain’t quite lived up to the legend have we?”
Captain Sail readied his stance as he replied, “Then shall we finish it? Mr. Ghost?...”
Iron Hoof readied his stance and paused for a brief moment as he replied, “On your guard, Ghost Hunter!”