Dragon of the Depths
Main Tavern
The crew of the Dragon had gathered together as Razor was finally going to brief them on what this voyage was for. Snow and Zenith had set up a projector aiming at the far wall were everyone could see, as they did that the crew just sat and talked. Thunderlane and his group had signed up earlier after figuring that it would be better in case the other groups crossed paths with them.
Razor walked in and after speaking with the two for a few minutes he walked up to the front and called for everyone's attention.
"Alright everyone, now that we're all here it's time for the reason for our current voyage be told. I wasn't able to earlier due to unforeseen things coming up. So without further ado," He gestured to Snow who turned on the projector up, on the wall a building of unknown make appeared.
"This building here is a possible appearance of the structure known as the "Lost Tombs"."
Angel raised a hoof, "The Lost Tombs? What's that?"
"The Lost Tombs are part of what once was an ancient civilization that vanished long ago, no records of it remains." Apollo answered.
"The only traces ever found of this civilization were these paintings on rocks and walls of things like fish, crabs, and Krakens." Fire Gem added.
Angel nodded understandably, Razor continued.
"The Lost Tombs hold an artifact called the "Trident of the seas". The stories say that whoever holds it will have complete control over the Sea of Legends. My arch rival Iron Horn, a Unicorn Stallion for our new crew mates, is looking for it. Even through he always kicks himself in the flank with artifact hunts. I think I say for all of us what could happen if he got a hold of it."
The crew nodded in agreement.
"The Lost Tombs is the trident's last known location, because of the magic that protects it I can't use my compass." Razor said holding up the item. One of the Merpony crew members raised a hoof.
"Captain, pardon me for saying this but... you usually don't go after artifacts like this, don't get me wrong we understand not letting Iron Horn get his hooves. But you once mentioned that you had a personal reason for this search."
"You are right about that, I do have a personal reason."
"Captain, you know you can tell us, we've all sailed the Sea of Legends together for a long time." A Thestral Mare said.
Razor smiled, "I know, it's just this reason brings back some memories, both good and bad."
He gestured to Snow who placed the picture of Razor and his mother.
"This is my reason, that Kirin hatchling you see is me in the arms of my mother, Silver Winds, when I was very young."
Right away all the female members, including the ones from the Traveler, started dawwwing at how cute Razor looked as a hatchling, causing the heavily blushing Kirin to hide his face with his hat, much to the other crew members amusement. Atlas stepped in after a few minutes.
"Alright that's enough, if he blushes any more and harder his coat's going to turn permanently red, and I'm quite fond of his silver coat."
A male Dracony Drake (Earth Pony) spoke next.
"So that's your mother? She very pretty."
"Thanks." Razor said.
"So that's where you got your looks from, what was she like?"
"Total sweetheart, and a very good cook just like her grandson."
"What happened to her and why dose it have to do with the Lost Tombs?" Thunderlane asked.
"That was were my late father cast her to the waves, while I very seriously doubt there'll be anything left of her I do want to at least give her a proper burial, and finally get some closure." He let out a sad sigh. "I've held onto it for seventeen years, it's time for me to let it go and finally close that chapter forever."
Razor wiped some tears that began to fall with a foreleg, not caring if he was showing weakness in front of the crew. To him crying wasn't a weakness, it was letting the pain out.
"I never even got to say goodbye."
The crew were silent, unsure of what to say, looking at their Archduke with looks of sympathy. His pain hit quite a few of them home as they to had been through similar things, some started softly crying their own tears with the ones sitting next to them rubbed their backs or gave other forms of comfort while others just stared at their tables, some took their headgear off in respect. After a minute the crew mates looked at each other and nodded. They turned back to Razor who had Atlas rubbing his neck and said together,
"We're all with you sir."
Razor lifted his head.
"You pull us out of our own despairs, it's only right we help you out." A Thestral Winged Mare said.
"Most of us would most likely be in some sort of prison or dead if not for you." A Nirik male said.
"You gave us all a new life we could live again sir, a place were we could belong, you took us under your wings and healed us, outcasts no one else wanted." A Painsh Earth Pony said.
"That is right, when everyone else cast us out into the cold and dark, you came and spread your wings, shielding us from their hateful scorn." A Pegasus Stallion said spreading his own wings for emphasis.
"You gave our families a place to live and us a life of adventure, and even if you a Noble, your a competent one and you'll grab a shovel and dig a long side the rest of us." A Unicorn Stallion said.
"And let you guys have all the fun? Digging for treasure is part of the fun." Razor said with a smile.
"We're with you in this Razor, right to the very end." A Thestral Horned Stallion said thumping his hoof against the table he was sitting at.
The rest of the crew all said their own agreement, Razor looked over them with a growing smile.
"Thanks everyone, you have no idea how much I appreciate that. Now moving on I have some good news and some bad news."
"What's the bad news?" Snow asked.
"I received word from one of our coves that both Celestia and Luna are coming after us with a fleet of two hundred fifty ships lead by a Juggernaut, and the guardians of the non-pony SOFS students and Neighsay are coming as well..."
As Razor had predicted, the crew and Head Officers did not like it, but their reactions weren't as bad as he thought they would be.
"Okay you all took that better then I expected."
"This isn't the first time someone came after us sir."
"It's kind of old news for us."
"Remember the old Royals, after all but two of them were dead they rest came after us."
"Not that it mattered in the end."
"Still the fact that their bringing a Juggernaut is a bit worrying, those ships are no joke." There were sounds of agreement.
"What I want to know is why is Neighsay coming? The guardians of the non-pony SOFS students I understand, but why Neighsay?!"
"He want's to use our so-called "kidnapping" of the SOFS students as leverage to shut Twilight's school down."
There were groans and faces meeting hooves, hands, paws, and tables. Many were cursing Neighsay, some with implied death threats.
"So what's the good news?" Atlas asked, Razor gave a predatory smile.
"Tomorrow, we're hitting a Caribou treasure fleet, a very loaded one."
That raised the crew's morale up a few levels if their exited cheers were anything to go by, Razor held up a had for silence. Once things quieted down he continued.
"Now later tonight Shadow, Snow, and I will be making a stop at Fortune Rock. While we're doing that I want the rest of you to begin teaching our new crew members the skills they will need while their staying with us, go slowly and be gently with them, understood?"
"Yes sir."
"Good, and because this voyage is more for something personal, we're going to be going on treasure hunts on the islands and shipwrecks to make up for that as we search for the Lost Tombs. I think that's everything, as you were."
With that Razor turned and left the room, the crew resumed what they had been doing. The newest crew members turned to each other.
"The Princesses are coming with a Juggernaut and a fleet of two hundred fifty ships." Vapor said.
"Those Juggernauts are no joke, they're the reason the Caribou built their Titans." Thunderlane said.
"Even though the two ships have never faced off, as the Caribou's leadership keeps them at home." Soarin said.
"Still, this whole thing, I just hope a war doesn't start because of us." Summer said sadly.
"We can only what and see what happens." Angel said.
They sat there thinking, the Princesses might be willing to let things silde if they knew that the ones they thought kidnapped were on board safe and sound, but at the same time, they might attack right away. There was also the other groups.
Later, after supper
Flitter walked along the main deck deep in thought, going over everything that had happened. She climbed up the steps of the quarterdecks til she reached the fourth level and walked over to the railing, she placed her front hooves on the railing and looked out over the water in the sunset light.
She stood there staring into the horizon for awhile thinking about what she and her friends had learned today, when she felt something gently tap her side, looking over she found herself looking at Silver Moth, who was looking up at her with his head tilted to the right.
"Miss Flitter?"
"Please Sliver, just Flitter." She said softly.
"Oh, okay, I was wondering if you wanted to join me and the rest of your friends for some cookies."
Flitter's eyes lit up, she loved cookies and she needed something to get her mind off her thoughts.
"I'd be happy to." Sliver gave her a bright smile.
"Follow me."
Flitter did as she took in Silver's apparel; He wore a simple purple shirt with a red leather vest over top, a pair of black gloves with extra padding on the tops and a brown leather strap held with a metal ring around the wrist, a long scarf like his father's with an added pin in the shape of a dragon head around his waist, red pants with purple lengths of cloth over the top of his boots, his boots were black with brown leather straps with silver buckles around the ankles.
Flitter quite liked Silver, since coming aboard he had been very helpful and was very friendly, not to mention adorable. He had won over pretty much everyone from the Traveler currently aboard. She followed him into a small galley where the rest of the Traveler Ponies and the student six were. Cloudchaser looked up as they entered.
"Hey Silver, Hey Flitter."
"Hey, you guys just hanging about?"
"Yea, we were waiting to see if you would join us." State said.
"Silver said he made cookies and offered us some." Scootaloo said.
Flitter sat with the rest as Silver got the cookies, he set the tray down and asked, "Is chocolate chip okay?"
They all answer that yes it was, they each took a cookie which was quite large, like Silver had taken four or five and combined them together.
"Wow Silver you make these big." Smolder said flipping hers around.
"Yea, they were originally smaller but I had them too close and they merged." Silver rubbed the back of his neck with a sheepish smile.
Shrugging Thunderlane took a bite, and jerked his head back is surprise. His company looked at him with various looks while Silver looked worried.
"Thunder? You alright?" Soarin asked.
"Yea, this is among the best cookies I've ever tasted!" He answered after swallowing.
The others each took a bite, and gave similar reactions.
"Wow Silver your a really good baker."
"You could give Pinkie Pie a run for her bits."
"Were did you learn how to bake this well?"
"I didn't, dad thinks it might have come from my Grandmother."
Sounds of agreement followed, much to Silver's relief. After they all had their cookies they sat and talked, mainly asking Silver questions about himself and his life aboard the Dragon of the Depths. Silver knew some good jokes that send his company to the floor laughing so hard they thought their sides would split, they were surprised that, at his young age, he knew how to handle swords, work a ship's rigging and sails, and several other things aboard a ship.
"Dad thought those skill might be useful one day, but he wouldn't allow me to train with a gun til I'm a young adult, though I do know how to fire a cannon."
"How dose the rest of the crew treat you?" Dinky asked.
"Very well, they play with me when off-duty, greatly appreciate my cooking, and even see me as a mascot of sorts just to name a few things. They also say me cheerful demeanor really helps with morale."
"Well I do agree with them on the cooking." Soarin said causing the young Kirin/Changeling hybrid to blush.
"Of course you do Soarin, you're a well known big eater." Thunderlane said with a smile. Soarin just shrugged in response.
"Guilty as charged."
They continued talking for awhile on various topics into the night, before Atlas entered.
"I'd hate to break the bonding up, but it's Silver's bed time."
"But Mom, I'm not tir- *Thump*-zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz."
Silver just fell asleep right there on the table, much to the amusement of his mother and the Traveler group.
Later
The Dragon of the Depths had dropped anchor off of Fortune Rock, one thing the Dragon had as a flaw was it's size, besides being a large target (which was why there were many protection runes dotting the hull), was it's deep draft. The draft prevented it from traveling into areas were even Frigates and galleons could go. As a result, Razor, Snow, and Shadow had taken a longboat to the beach.
Fortune Rock was a islet that was mostly rock with a small beach on one side, most came here for one reason; to have their fortunes told by the islet's sole inhabitant, a male Zebra known as The Teller. This Zebra had lived on this islet for a long time and sailors of all kinds came here to have their next fortunes told.
The three pirates walked slowly towards the lit cave, every sailor would agree that there was something, unnatural, about this Zebra and many were creeped out by him. As they entered they heard the Zebra speaking.
"Storm..."
The three walked down the hall decorated with skills and bones with glowing carvings, potions and bottles filled with glowing bugs, and leaves and plants of many kinds.
"War..."
They entered the main chamber, it too was filled with the same things as the hallway but at it's center was a raised dais with a silk carpet with a unknowable pattern on it, on the carpet were several pieces of dried bark with strange markings.
"Conflict..."
And sitting on the carpet was The Teller himself, like all Zebras he wore several gold rings but was the only "normal" thing about him, his mane and the hair on his tail was far longer then one would expect and in dreadlocks, the thing that unnerved many was the thick, heavy strap of cloth over his eyes from which a ghostly green liquid run down under it like forever running tears.
"As it was... So shall it be again..."
Razor walked up and sat on a mat in front of the dais, coiling his tail around his legs. Snow and Shadow stayed standing and flanked him, Shadow on the left and Snow on the right.
"Why do you come..." His voice was deep, sounded like many voices, both male and female, whispering at once, and it sounded like it was everywhere.
"Is it for power to challenge the Rage of The Tides..."
'Even the most arrogant of creatures on this planet wouldn't dare to try that.' Razor thought.
"Do you want glory... To rival the greatest legends of these waters... with such I cannot help."
The Teller reached down and picked up the pieces of bark.
"Or is it something else..."
He dropped the bark which scattered like cards.
"Ahhh... Yes... Fortune."
He reached down and picked up the closest middle on."
Dragon of the Depths
Early Next Morning
The Dragon of the Depths had arrived close to the Caribou convoy route, staying in the cover of the island chains waiting to attack. Flyer scouts had been send out to watch for the fleet and had spread out to cover all directions. Razor stood at the railing to the right of the helm, their fortune the Teller had given had been in the Outcast's favor, the weather was perfect; calm water, favorable winds, and clear skies. The best weather for Caribou hunting.
Although the Dragon of the Depths had a lot of firepower and they had special enchanted shots for things like this, the Dragon was still a very large ship, the Caribou would see it coming and that meant that some could escape, something Razor wouldn't allow, every lost fleet weakened the Caribou that much.
Razor Tail however had ways to make sure the Caribou ship wouldn't escape, thanks to Gold Fire, and the Sea and Merponies.
He turned to one of his Merpony officers.
"Launch the subs." Was all he said, the officer saluted, turning about face, and walking below deck.
A few minutes later, eight large doors on the hull under the waterline open and out of each came small, completely enclosed craft. They were shaped like a cylinder with the front shaped into a dome which had four hatches on it, the back had two rudders with a propeller each and on top was a structure about ten feet high, on top of that was a pipe sticking up.
The Outcast's newest toys, designed and built by Gold Fire, the submarine, and you best hope, not hunting you.
The subs were crewed exclusively by Seapoines and Merponies, due to their ability to breath both in and out of water. The eight subs spread out, moving silently through the water to their positions to wait in ambush. Razor watched as they disappeared, a small, toothless smile appeared on his face.
"Once the scout report the convoy's route, the subs will attack followed by the Dragon." He looked up into the sky,
"It's a good day for a hunt."
About midday
Scout Team One
Scout Team One, consisting of the Pegasus Stallion Lightning Diver and the Thestral Mare Night Storm were atop one of the mountain peaks with a spyglass looking out over the water.
"Anything Storm?"
"Nothing so far Diver, just islands and open water. Wait... THERE!!"
Diver grabbed his own spyglass and looked where Storm was pointing. There they were, the Caribou fleet they had been waiting for. Diver grabbed his ear comm crystal.
"Scout Team One to Dragon of the Depths, we have confirmed sighting of our prey."
"Understood, how many ships?"
"Looks like we have about twenty treasure ships, thirdly sloops, nine brigantines, six frigates, four Men O' War, two ships-of-the-Line, and... A Caribou Titan!"
"Say again Scout Team One, a Caribou Titan?!"
"Aye! It looks like it's hanging back right now."
"Those treasure ships must be something important! All Scout Teams, return to the Dragon."
(All Scout Teams) "AYE!!"
"All subs, begin your attack, target the ships on the edges of the fleet first."
(All Subs) "AYE!!"
Dragon of the Depths
Razor turned towards his waiting crew who had heard the radio.
"That Caribou Titan has traveled far for the treasure ships cargo, it must be important for them to send one here. What are they hiding... All creatures, Battle Stations!"
"Who's ready for a hunt?!" Snow shouted pulling her sword out and thrusting it into the air, her answer was the crew cheering then rushing to their stations. Some crew members ring several bells who's sound echoed down through the ship's many decks, down below doors to ammo stores were opened and steam and magic power mechanisms came to life and began to ferry ammo to various areas. The massive steam engines came to life with a heavy rumble.
Crew rushed to the cannons and started to ready them.
Fire Gem: "Prepare to fire!"
An Outcast Officer: "Prepare to fire! Man those guns!"
The gun ports in the sides and at the front opened to allow the cannons to slide into they're firing positions. The Traveler group could only watch in amazement as the crew worked with smooth, practiced ease. Soon, the ship was ready. Razor took the helm with a predatory smile.
"Let the hunt begin."
He turned to Snowy, "Let's go."
Snow gave a smile that would make a Kirin proud and turned back to the crew.
"All anchors up, Full Speed!"
The Dragon shot forward out of her hiding place and turned to face the Caribou fleet head on. The fifteen Sloops at the front charged to meet her, only to be greeted with fire from the Dragon's bow cannons. Two sloops were blown in half from below, the subs had drawn first blood. The remain sloops spread out, the Dragon responded with rockets and mortars, hitting several and damaging they're hulls and sails.
As the sloops tried to flank the Dragon, one unlucky one was run through with the Dragon's front ram, splitting the sloop in two. The others didn't fare much better as they meet the Dragon's broadsides, though four manage to fire they're own. As the fifteen sloops when to the deeps, three brigantines meet they're end from below. Down below the subs moved from ship to ship firing cylinder shaped objects out of the now open hatches on they're fronts.
The object in question was about eleven feet long with the ends tapering to a point, at the back were four small rudders, two horizontal and two vertical in a cross shape, behind the rudders was a small propeller. At the front was some sort of cap, and dotting the body were several small runes.
This was the Outcast's newest weapon; the torpedo, a device designed along side the submarine. It was fitted with a small steam, magic boosted engine and one of two different warheads, the first was the standard high-explosive made from a gun powder barrel stuffed with as much powder as it could fit, the second was similar to the enchanted ammo the Outcasts used to disable and capture ships, and fitted with a modified tracking spell. The modified spell used the same basic principle in that it would track its target, but in this case the spell allowed the torpedo to home in on a target. This battle was its first real use, though tests had shown great promise.
Three more brigantines and six sloops fell victim to the torpedoes, looks like they be proving they're worth.
Sub One: Fire!
Sub Two: Bring them down!
Sub Three: Empty the tubes!
Sub Four: Sink them now!
The Sub crews were hitting the small ships with the regular torpedoes and saving the disabling ones for the treasure ships and the larger warships as per Razor's orders. The Caribou sloops and brigantines weren't really built to good quality and ships like that were rather cheap to build, The treasure ships were spared sinking so the Dragon's crew could loot them, both the ship and treasure, after they had been disabled. The larger warships, the frigates, Men O' War, ships-of-the-line, and the Titan were prizes in their own right, plus Razor felt why sink something that you can use, because for one of those four types the Outcasts "liberated", weakened the Caribou's Naval power by that much, especially the Titans.
Sure, the Caribou could just more, if their economy was not suffering right now. For the better part of a decade the Outcasts of the Abyss had been raiding their hold in the Sea of Legends, liberating slaves, and looting their more valuable ships from them. As it stood, the fleet the Dragon was raiding now was trying to leave the Sea of Legends, not enter it, as most of the Caribou's wreath and slave came from here. Now, the Caribou leaders firmly believed that the ships they lost over those years was due to the sea itself, not attacks by the Outcasts, and there was a reason for this: They had no idea the Outcasts of the Abyss were a faction.
While it was well known the the Outcasts were a faction, the largest in the Sea of Legends, the Caribou (expect the Rednose Clan, who hated the current Caribou ways and were on the Outcast's side) were very arrogant and had a very inflated ego. To them, the Outcast was just one ship, not a faction.
Which played into Razor's plans just fine.
Another reason was because no one outside of the Outcasts actually knew the true size of the faction, almost each and every ship belonging to the Outcasts was completely of custom make, with the only thing remaining stock was the ship's class. They also sailed under their very own custom flags and sails, only when needed to they fly the Outcast's colors which was what the Dragon of the Depths flew at all times.
The reason for this was two fold; to hide the true size of the Outcasts, and for each ship and her crew to build their own reputations.
Back with the battle the Dragon fired a broadside into the remaining three brigantines and nine of the sloops ending them to the abyss while the last three were sunk by the subs. The treasure ships were all disabled by this point along with the warships, and with they're crews knocked out for a good while the Dragon's own crew could take their time. However the subs had run out of torpedoes, and the Titan was coming forward.
Caribou Titans were massive ships, if you were to take two four gun deck ships-of-the-line, line them up end to end (not counting the bowsprit) double its beam, and add another four on top you would get the Caribou Titan; a eight hundred and four foot, eight gun deck monster carrying up to four hundred forty eight guns.
The Traveler group, who until today, had never seen one before. They could only stare with wide eyes and open mouths at the monster bearing down on them.
"So that's a Caribou Titan, I've heard the stories but they don't do it justice." Soarin said.
"Isn't that what they built to counter the Equestrian navies Juggernaut?" Thunderlane asked.
"Aye, that would be it." Apollo answered coming up behind them.
Razor's eyes narrowed, the Titan was a major prize to be had, worth more then its weight in treasure, but would not be easy prey, as they were crewed by an elite branch of the Caribou Navy. The Caribou had only been able to build twenty five Titans due to they're cost, fifteenth "liberated" by the Outcast, five lost to the deeps, and six still under Caribou control.
With the subs out of torpedoes they would have to capture it the old fashioned way, time to fall back to one of his oldest strategies; the old chain shot and board.
Razor: "We need more speed Miss Snowheart!"
"Go Go Go, Forward!"
The Dragon and the Titan moved towards each other, as if sizing their respective opponent up and daring them to make the first move. After several minutes, the Titan made the first move. The report of mortars sounded off as shots fired from the Titan's bow.
"Incoming!"
The Dragon responded with fire from its swivel guns and puckle guns, which acted like a point defense system and they manged to intercept the mortar shots. The Dragon then returned fire with its own mortars and rockets, the mortar shots hit the Titan's deck hard while the rockets detained in midair, spraying the deck with grape shot.
"Bow Cannons, fire when ready!" Razor shouted into the voice pipe that lead to the bow. The sound of the bow 68 pounder and 110 pounder cannons firing a storm of chain shot into the Titan's masts and sail was the answer. After taking the hit the Titan turned to port and fired it's own broadside.
"HIT THE DECK!!!"
The crew hit the deck as the ship's Unicorns cast magic shields and the protection rune lit up, blocking most of the shots while some got through dealing only minor damage. The Dragon pulled up next to the Titan, its own broadside ready.
Razor: "FIRE!"
Atlas: "FIRE ALL!"
A mix of solid shot, grape shot, and chain shot fired from the Dragon's starboard broadside cannons, the Caribou on the main deck dropped like flies. Snow left her spot next to Razor and called out,
"Swords, grenades at the ready, prepare to board!"
One of the broadside triple 24 pounders fired a chain shot in to one of the Titan's main masts, causing the surviving Caribou to fall screaming as the mast buckled and fell towards the Dragon's deck . The crew in the area saw it coming and ran for cover as Snow walked forward, the falling mast crashed onto the starboard deck wall and main deck dealing minor damage and landing right next to Snow, who just gave it a uninterested glare after it landed. Behind her the crew who dived for cover slowly got back up.
Snow thrusted her sword into the air.
"GIVE NO QUARTER!!!"
Snow lead the charge as the Dragon's boarding ramps lowed onto the Titan's deck and the cannons fired another barrage of grape shot. The second the remaining Caribou saw Snow, they began screaming in terror with a few diving off the side. Those that didn't, fell to her sword and those of her companions. The Titan's Captain tried to fight Snow but one hard swing from her sword destroyed his, he tried to fee but Snow grabbed his neck and ran her cutlass through his stomach, runes flaring white while the Caribou let out a silent scream of untold pain.
"Fell that," Snow hissed, "that's the pain of every. single. slave. your kind has ever taken, right from the very first one. All. AT. ONCE!"
The Caribou went limp and Snow pulled her sword out, throwing the body to the deck. She then reached down and ripped the medals off the Caribou's uniform as her companions finished off the rest with only minor injures. Snow turned and raised her sword.
"The ship is ours!!"
The crew cheered loudly in triumph.
Later
"Weigh heigh and up she raises, weigh heigh and up she raises, weigh heigh and up she raises, early in the morning."
The crew were happily singing as they took the very large amount of treasure off the former Caribou treasure ships, with the Traveler group helping out. As it turned out, there was something important that five of the treasure ships had been carrying; would-be Pony slaves. According to them and confirmed by the Titan's Captain's log the Caribou had hoped the Titan would have kept enemies away while they sailed back to Caribou water. On the way they had ran into an Outcast Anti-Slaver fleet which had given chase and had arrived soon after the Dragon's victory.
Though surprised by the Dragon of the Depths victory, they had taken the would-be slaves to bring them back to Imperator's Grave while an Outcast recovery fleet took the former Caribou ships to the nearest Outcast shipyard for proper repairs and customization to cleanse it of the Caribou ownership.
As they waited fr the recovery fleet Snow added her new medals to her coat, bring the number from eleven to fifteen. The other Head Officers went over the ship looking for any missed damage while the ship's medical personal tended to the minor injuries.
Razor himself was in his office going over the logs they had collected, apparently things were getting rather heated in the Caribou's territory with more and more of their ships being lost, ever increasing slave revolts, and collapsing economy an that was just the tip of the iceberg. Razor couldn't help but crack a smile at that.
"Looks like all that work is finally paying off, and the new torpedoes worked like a charm. Maybe we could get them installed on the rest of the fleet, though they still need further testing."
He then picked up the spice container that he picked up from Ashbone Spires, he did not understand why this was there when the Caribou hadn't been in that area in a hundred years.
"Could the two have some sort of deal? That doesn't make sense, the cannibals will attack anything not them that set foot on the island."
Shrugging he set it down and picked up a chest, it was shaped like two trapezoids stick together at the bottoms and was big enough that if the average human was to carry it they would have to grab the handles on the sides and the chest would cover their torso. The chest was made of purpleheart wood and had silver decorations along the edges, and over the body, on the front at the spot were the two trapezoids meet was a dragon head facing forward with the mouth wide open, to the sides of the head were two locks built into the chest, on the face of the lid above the head were three sapphires and a large emerald on top, and there was a red light emitting through the gaps and cracks in the wood, out of the key holes and dragon head eyes, and on certain spots on the silver along with glowing gold runes.
This was Razor's personal chest were he kept a number of important items that held great value from his adventures, and some of the items his mother had left him.
He set it on the table and pulled out two keys from an inner pocket of his coat, while he had a ring of keys on his belt ones like these were for things that were very personal for him. The keys resembled the one that his compass had for an arrow but had three sets of teeth shaped into a Y when viewed from the front and were gold in color.
He slipped one into the left slot and turned it clockwise, followed by the second one into the right one and turned it counter-clockwise. This was one of a number of tricks and fail-safes Razor had installed when he build this chest to keep intruders out, Only his wife and Head Officers knew of this trick. It wasn't just his personal items in there, there were important documents regarding his future plans for the outcasts, lists of all the agents in the coves set up around the world, and detailed papers on Kirin rune magic among others. Each in a hidden compartment of its own and further protected by rune magic and special keys.
When both the keys were turned the locks popped open with a hiss of air and light puff of smoke. He gripped the sides of the lid and slowly opened the chest. Pulling the crystal out of a pocket he placed it inside and closed the lid, the locks engaging and sealing the chest up.
"Better keep that in there safe and sound until we get the power ring."
He then stood up and walked over to his pipe organ.
"Time to play some music." He sat down and started to play, the sound traveling through the ship and into the ears of the crew, boosting their stamina.
Equestrian Fleet
The Alicorn of Freedom
The Equestrian fleet had entered the Sea of Legends and were slowly sailing through a thick fog. The Juggernaut, the Alicorn of Freedom, was at the front with the rest of the fleet close behind. The Alicorn of Freedom was a six hundred and three foot long, six gun deck ship with a total of three hundred and thirdly six guns painted in the Equestrian colors of white and dark blue. Prince Luna stood at the bow staring out, her, Celestia, Neighsay, and the five foreign leaders were on board heading into the Sea of Legends.
There had been fights with their voices between them from when the first set sail, until both Celestia and Luna had given them a double dose of the Royal Canterlot voice tell them to, to put it lightly, shut the buck up.
Things had been quiet since, likely because no one wanted to face off against two angry Alicorns with splitting headaches.
After they had entered the Sea of Legends, Luna had been amazed to see this place with her own eyes, having only read about it before. Still the reason they were here was something Luna wasn't too happy about, the fact that some of the foals from Ponyville, the SOFS students, and foreign students had been kidnapped by the pirate lord Archduke Razor Tail.
Luna was understandably quite angered by this.
"We'll find you knave, you wouldn't escape."
She was brought out of her thoughts when she saw some wreckage float, she watch it for a second and turned back, only to see a lone lifeboat with an unconscious young adult Earth Pony Stallion in it. Eyes wide Luna turned back to the ship's deck.
"In the Water!"
Celestia, with the ship's Captain, A Unicorn Admiral named Iron Waters, ran up to the sides followed by the others and looked over.
"PONY OVERBOARD!" Iron shouted then started giving orders.
"Man the ropes, bring him aboard!"
The ship's Pegasi crew members flew down and carried the lifeboat onto the deck. The crew carefully looked over the Stallion, he had a light green coat with a dark blue mane and tail, a cutie mark of a wave, and a damaged black collar around his neck. Luna saw it, tore it off, and incinerated it in a fit of rage.
That type of collar was only worn by Caribou slaves.
"His breathing is strong and the only injures are surface wounds."
The Earth Pony groaned as he came to and opened his eyes, which were a light blue, and looked into Celestia's worried eyes. He blinked, a light of hope in his eyes.
Prin... Princess Celestia?" He reached up with a shaky hoof and placed it onto her snout, the look on his face showing that he was praying this wasn't a dream.
"This is real my little Pony, this is not a dream, it's okay, your safe now." Celestia said gently running a hoof of her own through his wet mane. The Stallion was still for a second, then broke down crying with a relived smile and wrapped his forelegs around Celestia, who was at first surprised, but returned the hug, rubbing the sobbing Pony's back.
Thorax, who was standing off to the side, looked out over the water, then his eyes widened.
"Oh sweet First-Mother..."
Ahead was a fleet of totally wrecked and blazing ships, all of Caribou make. The other leaders had similar reactions.
"What happened here?" Ember asked.
"Looks like the powder magazines exploded, Caribou ship tend to run heavily armed." Seaspary answered.
Everyone looked at the Earth Pony who had fallen asleep in Celestia's forelegs.
"He might have the answers, but let him have some rest, food, and water before then." Iron said.
Later
The Stallion, who's name was Wave Surfer, had recovered and sat down to tell them what had happened.
"I was the, now former, personal slave of the admiral of this Caribou feet though he only used me as a punching bag, we had been sailing through a thick fog like this. I had just been getting up after he knocked me to the floor when I heard another Caribou shout "Steel Hull", which send the admiral running out with a look of panic. Next thing I knew a massive explosion ripped the Titan in half, I had manged to get free when what remained went under."
Everyone was shocked, but let him continue.
"After I swam back up I found an intact lifeboat and climbed aboard. As I did that, the bulk cargo ship in the fleet was suddenly attacked by some kind of sea creature, tentacles shot up, wrapped around the ship, and pulled it under, whole, crew, cargo, and all, along with some unlucky sloops. The rest were all destroyed in blasts of fire and water. I was the only slave, and now survivor, of the fleet."
There was silence, finally Luna spoke.
"Well Wave, your safe now. You don't have to worry about them anymore."
"A whole bulk cargo ship, a giant sea creature pulled a whole one down. I just don't have words." Seaspray said.
"Wave, what is this "Steel Hull" you mentioned?" Iron asked.
"I'm afraid I can't tell you much, only what I've heard."
"Beats the hay out of nothing."
"Well, from what I know, Steel Hulls are an unknown ship type that appeared about two years ago. From the stories, they can hit a ship from up to fifteen miles away, far out of retaliation reach of enemy ships. They are said to be invulnerable to all forms of weapons, and fast, very fast."
"Have you seen one?" Celestia asked.
"No, no one has ever seen one and lived, they only attack Caribou ships, and only when visibly is poor, such as in the dead of night or in thick fog. And that pretty much all I know about them."
Everyone looked at each other, it seemed pirates weren't the only thing in the Sea of Legends.
"Well thank you Wave, get some rest now, you've been through too much already." Iron said.
Some of the crew took Wave below deck to rest while Celestia, Luna, Iron, Neighsay, and the rest of the leaders looked at each other, things had just got more complicated.
Hopefully whatever the "Steel Hull" was would leave them along.