The air was a stiff mixture of salt and wind, with the sound of creaking boards and sloshing water along the hull. Even in the dead of night, the waters of the Celestial Sea churned with the same vigor they did all those years ago, as if knowingly protecting Equestria. Light was scarce along the deck, save for a small orb of light cast from a unicorn’s horn as she patrolled. The vessel rocked, back and forth, as the crew pony struggled to maintain balance and grasped onto the railing for support.
From the sides of the ship the pony could make out the silhouettes of other vessels. Their white sails billowed in the strong wind that pushed them along the coastline. Along the port side, off into the distance, the shimmering glow of Equestria’s greatest city stood as a beacon against the night, and at optimal range. She looked on and gave a sigh before giving the deck one final sweep and making her way to the illuminated captain’s cabin. The door heaved open with a creak, bathing the darkened deck with light before the unicorn stepped inside.
“Vice General,” she saluted, ignoring the sight before her. “We’ve come within firing range of Manehatten and are ready for bombardment. On your order.”
Her commanding officer sat behind an ornate wooden desk, sipping from a cup of steaming tea as he took in the news. Beside him, tied in coarse rope and bound to an equally ornate chair, was the mare from the party. The unicorn guard nervously avoided her piercing gaze and delivered her report stepping out, stepping out quicker than she came in. Once the door clicked shut and only the wind of the sea could be heard, the countess spoke.
“You’re a monster,” she spat at Shield Wall, jostling her ruby locks.
Shield Wall closed his eyes and sighed. The steaming cup left his lips and floated gently back down to its saucer, punctuating the soft chuckle in his throat as molten eyes met Abby’s fierce glare.
“My dear, if I had a bit for every time I have been called that over the past six years I would never have needed the nobles' support.”
“But why are you doing this?” Abby demanded. “What purpose does destroying Manehatten serve? I once thought you a good stallion, not one stricken by madness.”
“My darling countess,” Shield whispered, extending a hoof to Abby’s face as she desperately pulled away. “You both are beautiful and possess a pure heart, but you know nothing of strategy, or of Equestria’s needs.”
“It’s needs? Equestria doesn’t need another war.”
“That is all it needs!” Shield lurched toward the now whimpering countess, his barred teeth causing her to shrink into her seat. After a few ragged breaths Shield Wall’s face lost its tension and returned to its usual, focused expression.
“My dear, I cannot expect you to understand in one… eventful night, but I assure you all will be made clear in-”
“All that is clear is you are utterly insane,” she said without facing him.
Her defiance spoke louder than her words and Shield Wall felt the weight of it on his mind. It was an unusual emotion that surged within him, spreading out to the tips of his ears and into the depths of his gut. To him, he had done everything right. He had his warships, the plan was moving along perfectly, even his life-long nemesis laid dead miles away. All was as it should be, except for Abby’s utter defiance. The sight twisted his insides into a painful, wrathful knot.
“You… you ungrateful… I rescued you from a life of mediocrity and debasement! Had I allowed that meager whelp to live he would have pulled you into the very same filth from which he arose. You owe me, countess!”
“Owe you?” Abby lurched forward, ignoring the constricting binds. “I loved him! We shared a love the likes of which is utterly foreign to you! Is that why you took him from me?”
“I killed him because he was filth! An impudent, floundering pile of waste who far too often stepped above his station! Seen as Shining Armor’s equal, slithering into your heart, then being allowed the chance to succeed me. Me! His interference with the yak invasion I orchestrated was the final straw.”
Shield Wall crept forward. He held his golden eyes fixed on Abby’s face as she quivered from the sheer anger radiating from him.
“I killed him because he forgot his place. You should be grateful.”
Abby opened her mouth to speak before being cut off by the sound of screams from outside the cabin. The wooden walls shook violently as powerful booms echoed out around them. The galloping of hooves, ponies above barking orders, and the cracks of wood could all be heard as the door to the cabin flew open, threatening to be cast from its hinges.
“Vice General! We have a problem!”
--
The half moon hung at the peak of its journey across the sky. It’s soft glow reached down across the cascade of clouds beneath the wooded hull as it skirted along the surface. The aerial ocean seemed to glow in some parts from the light of cities beneath, helping the airship find its heading. The figure at the helm cried out his commands, sending the crew scurrying across the deck and bringing the fires of the airship’s balloon down. It sank into the clouds, enveloping it in the darkened mist before breaching the bottom. From below they could see the stretching lights of Manehatten cast their glow out over the Celestial Sea. The captain lifted a spyglass to his eye and peered out to the subtle divide between the city lights and the dark void of the nighttime sea.
“Aye, there they be,” Gorn announced. He passed the spyglass to his right, and a black-clad hoof took it from him. “Just as the picaroon said. Three ships, bearin’ Griffonstone colors, all movin’ into position along the coast.”
The pony peered through the glass and scanned the sight below. They were intimidating pieces of naval technology. Large, with sails to match, and sporting three imposing rows of cannons along their broadsides. The decks, however, seemed sparsely populated and the Ghost could only spot a hoofful of ponies working the controls.
“They’re understaffed,” he stated. “Enough ponies to get the ships moving, but not enough for an actual engagement. They must be relying on hit-and-run.”
“Then we have our chance,” Rarity piped up from beside them. “We can move in from behind and help the poor countess out of there.”
“We gotta stop those guns, though,” Gilda glided down from the crows nest, straightening an armored plate along her chest. “If we hit them in the ass hard enough, we can hit their powder stores and send them straight to Tartarus.”
“Him, darling, we can’t afford to harm the rest.”
“Eh, screw them, they knew what they were getting into.”
“We’re not killing the others.” The Ghost collapsed the spyglass and returned it to Gorn. “Once those cannons fire on Manehatten it’s over, so we need to do everything possible to keep that from happening.”
“Well we be outgunned six to one, I trust yer thinkin’ a somethin’ good.”
“We start at the flagship. The Tornado needs to go in fast and low to take their sails out before we can board. Gilda, Rarity and I will take the flagship and get Abby away from Shield Wall, so the rest of you need to keep the other two ships occupied however you can. With luck, the Manehatten Port Authority will be out there to make the arrests after we’re done.”
“There still be a whole messa’ guns on those ships. The Tornado ain’t fit to take that kinda beatin’.”
“Then do something crazy. I’m sure Darrox kept you around for something other than your pleasant attitude.”
Gorn’s cracked beak pulled back into a wicked smile. He sauntered over to the helm and spun the wheel hard, sending the Tornado hurtling down toward the ocean surface at a breakneck speed. The crew grasped onto the railing with all the strength they had, some gripping to each other. Rarity shouted obscenities at Gorn that were simply drowned out by his demonic cackling. All that could be heard was the rush of wind as the row of warships came closer and closer into view.
--
“Vice General! We have a problem!”
At the very instant the guard uttered her words she was pulled from the doorway by a sudden swipe of black. The door to the cabin banged against the frame as the sounds of shouting and cracking wood arose from outside. Shield Wall spared no time in rushing through the hanging door and out onto the deck. The image around him was chaos.
The ships had come out of alignment and began to drift along both sides of his own. From above, Shield Wall watched as a floating wooden hull stampeded through the towering masts of his small fleet, sending splinters and bits of sail cascading around him. He erected a force field as the airship screamed overhead, a loud cackle following its charge, and knocked part of the mast on top of him. On both sides his ships came under attack from rounds of cannon fire raining down upon them as figures leapt down to their decks.
Despite the rubble around him he could see two figures descend upon the guards on deck before him. One descended with a glittering aura of blue, firing off sharp bolts of magical energy and sending her enemies into the sea, while the other came careening into a crowd of them, colliding with the mass and scattering them like terrified bowling pins. Shield Wall lowered his barrier and focused its energy into his horn, before the sound of fluttering wings reached his ears. The same mass of black returned from above to send Shield Wall crashing through the door behind him with a powerful kick, back into the cabin. He skidded across the floor and collided with the desk.
Abby’s head whipped around to the now demolished doorframe of the cabin. Her breath left her chest as Shield Wall’s impact reverberated through the room and frightened eyes followed the path of his entrance, landing on the darkening light pouring into the cabin. There, standing before them both, was the answer to her silent prayers.
“Forgive the intrusion,” the Ghost said with a rumble in his voice. “Had I known you were entertaining company, I would have rescued her earlier.”
Shield Wall stumbled as his stood, wiping the blood from his mouth. He stared down the Ghost as the sounds of battle echoed around them.
“And had I known nobility would be joining me, I might have provided a more barbarous service at my estate, but I am glad you have come.”
“Then consider this an intervention, Shield Wall,” the Ghost said as he stepped forward. “Your plan is madness. Manehatten Port Authority will be here and there’s nowhere to run. I’m giving you the chance to surrender.”
“Surrender? Even after all the terrible and unforgivable things I have done, especially to your master, you would let me live?” Shield Wall mocked, a twisted grin spreading across his face. “You know I could never accept.”
“I’m counting on it.”
A stillness grew between the two that, even though lasting a moment, seemed drag on for an eternity. The Ghost stepped forward, before Shield Wall’s aura pulled Abby from her binds, tearing her dress, and placing her between him and his enemy. She tried, in vain, to resist the powerful magical bind around her, a spell the Ghost recognized.
“Let her go,” he growled.
“And give up my only leverage? I think not. Your master may have deserved an honorable duel against me, but his whelp is another story, entirely.”
“You wouldn’t hurt her. After all, why kill her lover if you didn’t intend on keeping her for yourself?”
“You know, then,” Shield Wall gave a slight chuckle, his breath sending chills along Abby’s spine. “Of course you do, Serenade must have told you. I wonder what else he revealed, thinking his cooperation would save his life?”
“You mean like how a no-good, low-class dirt horse made you jealous?”
“Do not presume to know me!” Shield’s face twisted in anger. “That runt thought himself superior, so I proved him wrong!”
“And after all that effort, her heart still doesn’t belong to you.” The Ghost’s words brought forth a visible tremble in Shield Wall’s hooves. “I wonder how that feels, Shield? To know that despite all your power and influence, all your achievements, you still fall short of the nopony that kept it all from you.”
At those words Shield Wall flew into a frenzy. He tossed Abby aside, launching her violently against the wall, and charged the Ghost at full force. His enemy leapt over him and threw a kick to the back of his head, sending him stumbling out onto the ruined deck. He spun and fired into the doorway as the black cloak deflected each blast and lunged for him.
The two traded hooves in a furious exchange. All around the two ponies were the sounds and sights of battle. Smoke billowed up from the small fires scattered across the deck, and out across the water the other two ships seemed completely overrun.
The Ghost swiped at Shield Wall’s face with his cloak, forcing him on the defensive. Each slicing piece of fabric landed against the barrier keeping Shield’s hide undamaged until a pair of black-clad hooves bucked against it. The magical aura shattered into glimmering pieces and more flurries of hooves launched toward their target. The quick strikes of the Ghost rapped across Shield’s torso and forced him against the splintered remnants of the mast, but the relentless barrage came to a halt when bits of wood rose from the deck, wrapped in a golden aura.
Shield Wall launched the pieces, one by one, with pinpoint accuracy. The sharp splinters were deflected by the skillful swipes of his enemy’s cloak. Shield Wall grimaced, sending the remainder of his artillery flying against the Ghost, who curled into a black ball as the volley collided with his form and sent him back.
“Hey! General Tightwad!”
Shield Wall’s gaze turned upward at the sound of the gryphon’s call. She rocketed toward him with her glistening claws extended and ready to tear into his flesh. He prepared himself for the impact and, with practiced form, wrapped his forhooves around the feathered flyer. He pushed his hindlegs back against the deck to leverage himself, locked his hooves around her neck and spun around to send her flying toward the Ghost. She crashed into the wooden railing and slumped down beside her ally.
“Holy smokes…” she huffed, gripping her ribs. “I’ve never seen a unicorn do that.”
“Let me handle him. Abby’s in the cabin, get her out!”
As Gilda rushed for the cabin, the Ghost took a few steps forward and launched the end of his cloak at Shield Wall. The unicorn sidestepped the oncoming attack and smirked.
“You missed.”
The black tendril returned with a large piece of the mast in its grasp, colliding against Shield Wall’s back and forcing him to the ground. The Ghost took his chance and charged his enemy through fire and debris. Each rampaging hoofstep, however, lost its speed as a golden aura surrounded them. Shield rose to his hooves as the Ghost continued to flounder against the immaterial grasp he was trapped in, the field creeping up from his hindlegs and threatening to consume the rest of him. Shield’s expression grew ever more euphoric as his horn’s glow intensified.
His jubilation was cut off, however, by the quick snap of the cloak against his horn. He hollered out in pain as his grip on the Ghost was released, deftly landing on all fours. Two lengths of cloth enveloped the stunned unicorn and squeezed, holding tight as the Ghost launched toward him with a thundering kick to the jaw. With each powerful blow the cloak constricted tighter before Shield Wall was lifted from his hooves and spun around like a sling, and with a quick snap he was sent careening across the deck. His painful slide came to a stop in the middle of a crowd of guards, dodging magical fire from Rarity. More guards fell as Shield Wall stood, and his furious eyes locked with the white unicorn.
Rarity’s confidant smirk quickly fell as the glimmering of magic from Shield Wall’s horn came shooting out as a stream of arcane death. She had just enough time to erect a gemstone-shaped shield of her own that held back the spray, but only just. Shield’s magic spilled over the sides of the barrier, and little by little it began to give way. From the other side of her diamond barrier, however, a howl bellowed from Shield Wall and Rarity spied a small dagger protruding from his leg. The Ghost glided over top of them and landed between her and the wounded unicorn.
“Oh, good heavens! Thank you, darling,” Rarity huffed, wiping sweat from her brow. “I’m afraid I’m somewhat out of my element in open combat. And I didn’t even bring those darling boots App-.”
“Rarity, please, not now,” the Ghost demanded through a strained pant. “Gilda’s getting Abby. Make sure the crew members are taken from the ship safely.”
Before she could even respond the Ghost was off again. Shield Wall locked eyes with him and pulled the knife from his leg, unflinching, and wielded it in his aura. Deadly swipes glided through the air, mere inches from the Ghost’s chest, before one made it underneath his foreleg. The stinging pain of the gash shot through his chest as he stumbled back. Shield Wall took the opportunity and sent a mighty kick to the Ghost’s side and sent him down the deck’s stowage port leading to the galley. Shield Wall followed, knife in grasp, and scanned the dark compartments around him, finding nopony.
“This is a wonderful bit of sport you’ve brought to me, Aristo,” Shield Wall huffed. “I cannot express my gratitude to the late Darrox for leaving me such a wonderful plaything.”
His eyes scanned the tables and crates surrounding him, with nothing more in sight.
“I’m not here as sport, Shield Wall.” The voice came from all around Shield Wall as he spun in place to find its source. “I’m here to bring you to justice.”
“Well, you know I cannot allow that.”
A single dagger flew out from behind Shield Wall, slicing along the side of his face before landing against a far off crate.
“You wretch!” Shield Wall spat at nothing but the shaking room around him. “You and your filthy breed will be the foundation upon which I build a new world!”
Another dagger flew from the shadows and slashed along its target’s back.
“Do you expect me to be afraid? You’re a raving unicorn on a ship with no sails. Hardly intimidating.”
“I will find them! Whoever you love! Whoever you care for! I will find them and bleed them before you!”
“Too late for that.”
The cloak reached out for Shield Wall and ensnared his face. The Ghost rushed out from the darkness and threw himself against his furious foe, beating the blinded unicorn senseless with an unhinged volley of blows. They ascended the stairs back to the deck and the Ghost tossed his enemy across the wooden floor. Shield Wall spat blood upon the boards before standing, sending his foe a venomous glare and rushing into a single-minded assault.
Everything from magic to knives, wood to discarded weapons were used in the conflict between the Ghost and Shield Wall. Ponies from the other ships attempted to swing over to assist their leader, but were taken out of the air by Gilda and the crew of the Tornado. With no back up, Shield Wall’s attacks became more ferocious. He swiped with powerful hooves and sent wild streaks of magic across the deck in the hopes of catching his nimble target. The Ghost and his cloak danced around Shield Wall with terrifying finesse. Even after bone crushing blows from the Vice General, his skillful strikes still landed with precision and purpose. Shield Wall, with a roar, tackled the Ghost to the ground and wrestled for dominance, winning out against the tiring earth pony. He stood over the Ghost and prepared to unleash the same torrent of magic he did on Rarity, his power gathering in a terrifying light. The Ghost reached up, grabbed Shield Wall’s neck, and jammed his horn onto the deck as the radiating appendage pierced the wood with a crack of arcane might.
The blast went off, the beam cascading through the ship like a needle through cloth. A deafening explosion came from within the ship. Cargo and pieces of wood shot up into the air from the blast as the ship’s secondary powder stores ignited and created a fierce cloud of destruction. The Ghost and Shield Wall were rocked from their skirmish on the deck. Shield was flung against the railing of the ship, wincing at the loud pop that rang out from his body. The fireball fell back into itself and Shield Wall grasped his dislocated shoulder, gasping and cursing in agony. Another small blast went off as he fumbled over the damaged limb. Before him, however, the Ghost limped forward.
He was covered in soot from the blast. Any shrapnel that wasn’t lodged into his side and leg slowly fell from the impervious cloak and clacked against the deck. He gasped for air, each step a painful journey as he closed the distance between him and his enemy. The two stared at each other for what felt like hours. All pain and weakness left the Ghost, among the smoke and fire, as he delivered a powerful strike to Shield Wall’s face that sent him back to the floor.
“You think I’d be afraid of threats? Like there’s something left that you haven’t already done to me?”
Shield Wall tried his best to recover, grunting from the pain in his shoulder, before a kick landed against his face again.
“I’m not afraid of you, Shield Wall. I haven’t feared you for six years.” The Ghost stood tall, despite the pain, and glared through the eyes of his dirt ridden mask. “Ever since I was pulled from the cold ocean you left me in, I’ve waited to see this very same image.”
Shield Wall’s face emptied of all emotion, his golden eyes the only thing betraying the fear in his chest.
“You took everything from me, Shield Wall. My home, my father, my love! The vile marks you left on my back are a reminder of all that I’ve lost, so I’m taking everything from you. Bit by bit. Lash by lash!”
The booms of the powder stores did nothing to knock Shield Wall from his trance. The pain in his shoulder was simply nonexistent. All he did was stare.
“I killed you…”
“You did,” Silver said, removing his mask to reveal his long-hidden truth. “And I have returned to haunt you.”
The subtle expression on Shield Wall’s face began to grow. He teeth were bared, lips curled, eyes bloodshot. With an uncanny display of strength he pushed his dangling limb back into its socket with a sickening click, showing absolutely no sign of the excruciating pain it brought him. With a strained grunt he stood to face his enemy, feeling the fires begin to encircle them both.
“So tell me, what was his name again? The name of that pony you cast to the ocean, only for him to return and burn down everything you worked for?”
“I will hurt-”
“What was his name?! I want to hear you say it!”
Shield Wall stood, embraced only by the smoldering ruins of his grand scheme, and stared into the eyes of his torment. When he spoke it was low, and rose from within him like an unholy growl.
“Silver Spade.”
At that the two lunged at each other, desperate to finish their eternal struggle. The Tornado circled above them and began its descent toward the sinking vessel. The ship was rocked, however, by a second round of explosions from the ship’s primary powder stores. Abby, Gorn, Gilda, and Rarity all rushed to the railing to look out upon the battle below. Silver and Shield Wall continued to pummel each other, mercilessly, as the fire spread around them. Abby screamed out to Silver, desperate to get his attention, but her voice was drowned out by another blast, the largest of them all. The resulting fireball rose up into the sky, threatening to singe those at the Tornado’s railing, and engulfed what was left of the fleet below.
The burning wreckage sank faster into the crashing waves. Those on board the Tornado watched as a small fleet of rescue ships came rushing out from Manehatten’s shimmering port. Many of the ponies were brought aboard and held as the airship gently crested the water below. It was soon surrounded by the smaller boats, before Rarity presented herself to them, holding what little composure she had left as the rest of the small fleet fanned out, searching for survivors.