"I'll be honest Soul, I'm surprised you kept the outfit." Cotton Sail as to his younger sister Winter Soul as she when over her belongings that Outcast agents had gotten from their former home, among them being the very same red leotard-like garment with white belt that Soul had worn during her brief time as a slave. The two of them and Silver Moth were in one of the many cabins aboard the Dragon of the Depths, it actually reminded him of one room aboard a cruise ship. The room was rectangle-shaped with a king-size bed at the far end, a desk and couch in the middle, and an enclosed bathroom next to the door complete with everything one would expect.
"Well... despite why I was wearing it, I... rather like it actually. When Mr. Tail's Healers removed it and gave me that cream to sooth the burning I asked them to let me keep it, as I do think I look cute in it and it is surprisingly comfortable against my coat." Soul replied, a light blush on her face.
"It wouldn't be the first time a former slave had done that." Silver, sitting off to the side, said. Cotton looked over to him, a confused expression on his face.
"Really lad?"
A fourth voice answered.
"Yes."
The three jumped in surprise as Razor entered the room, continuing to speak.
"It's actually very common for freed slaves to keep their outfits, seeing as a way of showing that their time as one didn't break them and as a certain rude gesture at their former "masters". In fact back in Imperator's Grave, two of the Juggernauts in the Defense Fleet, called the "Twin Sisters", are crewed completely by former female slaves who still wear the outfits of their former life."
Cotton and Soul looked surprised and amazed at that.
"Really? They see it as defying their former masters?" Cotton asked.
"Yes they do, and they are very proud of it. Now then," Razor turned to Soul. "Soul, would you and Silver run along? I need to talk to your brother."
"Okay Mr. Tail. Come on Silver." She grabbed the Hybrid's hand and pulled him out of the room, her and Silver laughing. Dragonfly and Cotton smiling at them as the door shut behind them.
"They sure have bonded well haven't they Cotton."
"That they have Razor, Soul may only be eleven years old but I think she has a crush on your son."
"From what you told me about not having anyone her age to play with I can see why."
"And I'm very happy to know she is with someone both she and I can trust. Now what did you want to talk about?"
"I would like to know what your plans are now Cotton? You said that NTU would start hunting for you once word reached them."
"I did, and after talking with my crew and the ones from the other ships we've decided to head to Imperator's Grave."
"Oh? Why there?"
"Well for a couple of reasons: One, its the home base of the Outcasts so it is well defended and the NTU would have a very difficult time to get in. Two, the last time the NTU attacked Imperator's Grave, before the Outcasts came to power, they got their tails handed to them. And three, As it is the, for lack of a better word, anchor point of every major trade route in the Sea of Legends, the NTU would find every single Merchant worth their salt attacking them alongside its Defense Fleet. Not to mention the Sea Wyverns that see the place as their nesting ground and other creatures in those waters."
"That is true, Imperator's Grave's defenses has beat back many an attack over its history, both normal or otherwise."
"And as time has gone on every ruler of the place has simply just kept increasing and upgrading them."
Both chuckled, while the NTU attack had happened before they were born, the story was well known: The NTU had wanted to take over the place as with Imperator's Grave being the spot were the Sea of Legends trade routes crossed it would allow them to have control of those routes. Unfortunately for them, they underestimated three things: The fact that as the only remaining free port at the time, every single free Merchant and sailor would fight to their last breath to protect it and keep it free. The powerful defenses including over a hundred 100-ton cannons and numerous Keg Mines. And the will of those who lived on the cluster of islands, archipelagos, and islets. The NTU Fleet had consisted of sixty Sloops, forty Sloops of War, thirdly Schooners, twenty Brigantines, sixteen Frigates, ten Men 'O War, six Ships of the Line, and two Juggernauts. To make a long story short, the NTU lost almost the entire fleet with only two badly damaged Brigantines escaping while most of the fleet was sunk and the rest including the two Juggernauts captured and added to the Defense Fleet.
That failed attack was one huge embarrassment for the NTU and since then they had never launched another attack aimed at Imperator's Grave. Razor looked at Cotton.
"Well I know you will be safe there Cotton, the Outcast Agents can help you and the others disappear until the NTU gives up and writes you off. Then you can make your return."
"I hear that, and Razor... Thanks... for all this."
Razor smiled and pulled Cotton into a hug, surprising the Earth Pony but he returned it happily.
"Remember Cotton: Outcasts band together."
Later the next day
After a tearful goodbye between Cotton and Soul the former sailed off in his Juggernaut with the six Ships-of-the-Line escorted by an Outcast Fleet towards Imperator's Grave were they would be safe form the NTU. Once that was done the Dragon sailed to it next destination, a large island simply known as "Tower Island". The island had gotten its name from the enormous crumbling structure that climbs beyond the clouds located in the center of the island, no one knew the history of this place as most of the writing the the was was either gone or unreadable. The only way into the tower was through a gigantic "courtyard" as all other ways were just sheer cliff.
From Razor's research he believed that the Orange Crystal was somewhere within that tower, where however was unknown so he would need to use his compass to find it.
It was early morning the next and a very thick fog had rolled over the water around the ship as they approached Tower Island slowly, thick enough that those on deck couldn't see a few feet passed the ship if even that. Those in the crow's nest could see over the fog so they would alert the rest of the ship if they spotted anything.
The Pegasus manning the nest was cleaning and looking through the telescopes over the water when, lifting his head up and blinking, he looked through again. On the horizon was a fleet of two hundred fifty ships with a Juggernaut at the front, the lookout's head snapped back once he saw the flag.
Equestrian Ships!
Spinning around to the voice pipes he shouted into them.
"ALARM!!! Equestrian ships off the port bow! Repeat, Equestrian ships off the port-AAAARRRGGGGHHHH!!!!"
The Lookout nearly jumped out of his skin when Razor suddenly appeared next to him.
"Razor... *huff* Sir... Don't *huff* sneak up *huff* on me *huff* like that! You nearly gave me a heart attack!"
"Sorry but your shouting of alarm nearly did the same to the crew on deck."
As the Lookout tried to calm his anvil beating heart Razor looked through the telescope at the Equestrian fleet, he pulled back with a somewhat worried look. He then moved passed the now calmed down Lookout and flew back to the deck where the others were waiting.
"It's them." Razor said as he landed.
"The Equestrian Fleet?" Atlas asked.
"The very same." Razor replied.
Those from the Traveler came over, for a time there was some discussion on what to do next. A number of the Traveler group saw this as a good thing as they could talk to Princess Celestia and explain the misunderstanding, others however including Thunderlane, Soarin and a few others were not as optimistic because the Equestrian Fleet might be at battle-ready state and would attack the second they saw any pirates. Eventually a decision was make: Razor would send a note asking for Celestia to met him on the island in the center of the Tower Courtyard where they could Parlay while Atlas and the others got the Dragon clear of Tower Island, if all went well than the Traveler group would met up with Razor and Celestia and they could go from there, if not... they would have to take things as they came.
A bit Later
It had been about an hour after the message was send by bird, the Dragon was moving away from the island in case something when wrong. Razor meanwhile had flown over to the island landing a ways from the Tower in a narrow pathway between ominous cliffs and a waterfall with a stone arch close to the left cliff wall. It took a bit of walking but soon he reached the Courtyard, walking forward Razor could see the Tower in the distance. The Courtyard itself was a wide open area that was once flat brick with many stone pillars scattered about but now most of the brick had sunk into the ground and only the base of a few pillars remained, littering the Courtyard now was a huge amount of shipwrecks of all kinds, including the last remnants of a few Ironclads.
How they ended up there, quite a ways from the shore, was beyond him.
Razor soon reached the center of the Courtyard and waited, if things went well Celestia would be here in a few minutes and they would talk things out... but his gut was telling him something was wrong and after this long he had learned to trust his gut, and he had his doubts it would be that easy, that and the long experience from sailing the SOL for as long as he had. Looking around Razor's ears and nose were moving like crazy, trying to pickup any sounds or scents that were out of place.
He wasn't disappointed as two minutes after arriving...
"HALT KNAVE!! YOU WOULDN'T ESCAPE US!!"
One didn't have to be a genius to know who that was. Turning around he saw a fully armored Princess Luna standing around a hundred and fifty feet away from him, and she wasn't alone. Celestia in her own armor stood next to her sister with Neighsay, the five foreign leaders and the Pillars. Behind them were nine Royal Knights and around a hundred or so guards. Razor's mouth formed into a thin frown as he quickly took stock of his situation; it was clear that the Parlay had been rejected and he knew this wasn't a fight he could win his own. Now, Razor was no coward but there was an important line in the Pirate Codex: Successful pirates know when to run.
And now would be a good time to run... expect for a few problems: He knew that if he tried the flyers would be on his tail like moths to a light, and he could possibly endanger those on the Dragon which he wasn't willing to risk. As he began glancing around to see if there was anything he could use Celestia spoke.
"Archduke Razor Tail... we finally meet."
"So it would seem." Razor said calmly, tighten his grip on his halberd as Celestia continued.
"I do not know why you chose to attack an Equestrian port town and later kidnap Ponies and other creatures from the cruise but now because of that you overstepped your bounds. I was content to leave you to your business here in the Sea of Legends and I'm truly sorry, but you reign must end." There was some regret alongside the serious tone in her voice.
"First off, I did not kidnap them. They stowed away by accident! Secondly, I attacked that town for a personal reason and I only killed one Pony, and not someone who would be missed."
"Either way you still attacked and took them, who knows were they are now." Luna growled.
"That I can answer easily, they're-"
Before Razor could tell them that the "kidnapped" ones were safely aboard his ship, Neighsay spoke up.
"And why should we believe scum like you?!"
Razor snorted, "Scum? Maybe you should look into a mirror Neighsay."
Said Pony snarled, "I am not scum! You filthy monster!"
"Monster!?" Razor started laughing, much to Neighsay's and the others' confusion. Razor followed up before anyone could say something.
"You called me a monster, you wouldn't be doing that if you had been here eighteen years ago. And I do in fact clean my body at least once a week."
"And you take that as a joke?!"
"Compared to some of the individuals I've taken out during the years, I would be a saint!"
The two continued to argue between each other trading insults for a few minutes before Luna's Royal Canterlot Voice broke it up.
"ENOUGH!!!"
After everyone's ears had recovered Celestia continued.
"Razor, I did not want to do this but I have no choice. If you come peacefully then you can live the rest of your life, if not... then I will have no choice but to put you down."
"And we have you outnumbered knave so you can't fight or escape."
Razor frowned deeper, Luna was unfortunately right. It was a hundred and thirteen against just one, far too much for him to handle on his own and out in the open like this. Retreat wasn't an option either in this case. Lightly biting his tongue his eyes glanced around, moving over the shipwrecks that littered the area.
Wait... shipwrecks...
The gears in Razor's head began to turn faster than usual, he realized that he had something he could use. He looked towards his opponents as a toothy smile spread over his face as everything clicked into place, much to their surprise and confusion.
"What are thou smiling about?!"
"While it is true that you have me outnumbered, you picked a rather unfortunate spot to confront me."
"And by that what do you mean?" Ember asked.
"Allow me to show you..." Before anyone could stop him Razor lifted his halberd up and slammed the bottom spike into the ground as the weapon glowed bright green, the ruby eyes in the dragon head-shaped hammer changed to green as many tentacles of energy shot from them and into the water under the wrecks around him. Within a few seconds multiple large green tetragonal-shaped crystals which after being fully formed sank into the wrecks.
Then it happened...
All the wrecks glowed brightly for a second, then they began to shift.
Before the shocked eyes of the Equestrians they watched as the wrecks began to transform; broken hulls became torsos as masts became limbs as rope and chain twisted around them forming something akin to muscle, various items attached themselves to the wrecks, on the end of the right "arm" cannons ranging from 12-Pounder Carronades to a few 100-toners and everything in between. the smaller the cannon the more there was. The cannons formed around where the wrist would be into a revolver-like setup while on the other arm a large hand made of planks and beams formed with long fingers made of beams and broken masts, each one tipped with hooks, spears, harpoons and the like.
As the wrecks changed around him Razor was speaking.
"Rise... Rise... Awaken my Golems. Rise... Rise... Awaken my Golems... Rise..."
As he was saying the last Rise he looked over at the Equestrians who stared at the Golems as they began to stand up, their new limbs being covered by the remains of barrels and broken cannons as broken ship cranes became joints. Finally the Golems stood tall as fog rolled in and the Equestrians swore they could faintly hear pipe organs playing, the shortest Golems, make from Sloops and other small ships, stood around twenty five feet tall while the largest ones made from Juggernauts stood at least forty feet tall. The Equestrians could only stare, having never seen something like this. While it was true that Golems weren't a new thing, not at all, no creature had ever created ones these sizes before.
Even Celestia and Luna were speechless and worst, there was at least sixty of the Golems.
It took a few minutes, but eventually the nine Royal Knights spoke up.
"Are you freakin' Kidding me?!"
"Ooohhh hay..."
"Motherbucker..."
"Aye, what just happened?"
"Oh this is bad!"
"Now I've seen everything."
"Umm... okay, alright, this is actually really bad............................. I must learn how to do that."
"Ah... Horseapples"
"Uh no..."
Razor smiled both brightly and evilly at their shock.
"While I was unable to use them during the three year long "Rise of the Outcasts" War, these prove their worth during the later battles with the NTU. Meet the Wreck Golems, one of the Outcasts' most powerful land units."
Razor then stood straight looking at Celestia and Luna who stared back.
"Now shall you deal with me oh Princesses, Archduke Razor Tail, the Pirate Lord of the Sea of Legends." He flared his wings, "and all the powers of the SEAS!!"
Razor sung his halberd up till the tip of the top spike pointed towards the sky, where a blue beam of pure magic shot up into the clouds. The clouds began to shift and twist, heavy rain started to fall, hitting those below like needles as deep thunder was heard, lightning flashed, and the winds began to pick up, blowing hard against them.
"How can you have this sort of Power?!" Neighsay shouted over the wind and thunder. "Kirin can't use magic!"
"Not normally, but we do have our own Rune Magic and it allows us to do many things. The Golems were years of hard work, the storm... no one can control the weather in the Sea of Legends, I merely amplified the minor storm above us into a raging one."
Razor pointed his halberd forward and with a low, whale-like bellow, the Wreck Golems lumbered forward as Razor rapidly turned and bolted to the Tower while slipping his goggles on. Celestia and Luna noticed and teleported in front of him but Razor jumped into the air, the wind catching his large wings like sails and carried him into the raging storm. Celestia and Luna following suit.
The three reached the eye of the storm and hovered there, Razor staring the Princesses down as they did the same. No words were exchanged, not that they could be with the storm around them. Razor then shifted his wings so the wind around the edge of the eye carried him in a circle around the two Alicorns, who used their own wings to turn and follow him with their gaze. Razor circled around them several times before Luna made the first move.
She charged swinging her scythe, Celestia behind her with her war hammer. Razor waited until the last moment then flared his wing out fully, the wind catching them and he flew out of the way. Luna overshot him and went straight into the wall of storm clouds, vanishing from view. Celestia had better luck and was able to turn her body around, swinging her war hammer which was intercepted by Razor's halberd. The two clashed as the storm raged around them, Luna joining in once she reached the eye again. Sparks flew every time the ax blade Razor's halberd meet either the blade of Luna's scythe or the head of Celestia's war hammer.
Soon however, it became clear to Razor that the Alicorns had the advantage. While it was true they were rusty in terms of fighting skills, they still had incredible stamina and will. Razor knew he couldn't keep this up so he made a new plan
'Time to disappear.'
By this point the three had rose above the storm so Razor closed his wings, plummeting into the clouds as the surprised Alicorns quickly followed.
That had been his plan however, years of sailing the Sea of Legends had taught Razor how to "fly with the storm" while the two Alicorns found themselves fighting the winds and rain. The two had always known that the weather in the far north where the Crystal Empire sat had a will of its own, but this was something else entirely. Now that they were fighting this storm the differences became clear, unlike the weather of the north, this one actively fought back. Every time they used magic to push the clouds back, multiple lightning bolts shot out and strike them, forcing them back. The rain pelted them hard, the winds blowing with such force that even the strongest Pegasi would never be able to fly and combined with the rain meant that the two couldn't see far or well.
It quickly dawned on Celestia and Luna that this what Razor had wanted: By luring them into the storm he had forced them to focus on fighting against the weather, and it was cold! The winds alone were freezing, close to the ones in the far north, add in the rain that the two were freezing even more. It really did not help that the rain was hitting them like billions of needles per minute, and just to add insult to injury, there were hail stones the size of marbles hitting them as well.
"HOLD ON LUNA!!! KEEP FIGHTING BACK!"
"CURSE THAT PIRATE!!!!"
Razor Landed on the floor of the tower's fourteenth level, using his claws to stop his sliding. He had heard Luna's yell and laughed as he stood up.
"I believe that is what they call "Trolling", and you two should have known that I don't stay to fight a battle I don't think I can win. After all, a successful pirate knows when to run."
With another laugh Razor turned and walked deeper into the tower, pulling out his compass to guide him to his target.
Meanwhile
The troops on the ground weren't having much luck either. For one, the Golems were much tougher than they had first thought, each time they managed to cause decent damage to one they could only watch as the wood rebuilt itself. For another, the Golems were pounding the Guard with their cannons and limbs, slowly pushing them back. Thankfully no one was dead, Razor had been careful to set the Golems on "Stun" so at worst the ones who "fell" were only knocked out, their breathing still strong as ever. Their fellow guards were quick to get those knocked out off the battlefield.
The Royal Knights and the other leaders weren't having much luck either, Ember had long know that Dragons were very strong but even she was having trouble fighting not just the Golems but the weather around her as well; for one, the wood was too wet to catch fire and every time she focused her flame on one spot that Golem and the ones around it would attack at once, forcing her to dodge. For another, the sheer cold of the combined wind and rain was effecting her movement, Dragons normally had great protection against extreme temperatures but most of that was to heat which allowed them to swim in lava. This unfortunately meant that those same Dragons were more vulnerable to cold weather, this wind and rain was making her sluggish as she had to focus on keeping her body warm on top of avoiding fire from the Golems' cannons.
And they were firing at any flyers with chain-shot, though fortunately for the flyers the shots acted more like bolas in that they wrapped around their target which send them falling, though they were caught by other flyers before they hit the ground.
Ember's luck soon ran out as one Golem, one made from a Schooner, fired chain-shot at her. Ember saw it coming but was too slow, while it didn't wrap around her, she would have preferred that a million times more to what happened instead. The chain in between the two cannon balls hit her right wing and she let out a loud scream of pain as that wing was both broken and dislocated at the same time by the hit.
Most Dragons, due to their large sizes when adults and sense of invulnerability from the fact that most never encountered anything that could actually harm them, only a few things could which were heavily respected and feared by the Dragons. Out here, in the Sea of Legends, it was a whole different story as the inhabitants had many things to take Dragons down and force them to taste their own mortality, Chain-Shot being one of those things. As Chain-Shot was designed to destroy sails and masts of ships, someone at some point got an idea and tested it. Turns out, Chain-shot and similar weapons were very, very effective at bringing down Dragons as the shots destroyed their wings, sending them to the ground.
A downed Dragon, is a dead Dragon.
They say one couldn't outfight Dragons, one could, they just needed the right tools and the plan.
Thorax heard Ember's scream and caught her before she hit the ground, he quickly retreated from the battle and brought her to the medical post they had set up before confronting Razor. The Medics took one look and immediately took Ember into emergency surgery, working fast to heal the wing and save it. Before she passed out from the shock and pain, Ember managed to get a glace at her right wing, seeing it bend hit her hard.
And seeing blood, her blood, hit her harder.
Thankfully for her the Medics were able to save the wing and she would be able to fly fine again but she would be grounded for a good long while.
Ember had tasted her own mortality that day, and it horrified her more than she ever thought possible for a Dragon to feel.
The Royal Knights
_________________________________________________________________________________________
(A/N: This next part is a bit long, there is a little dialog but not much. Sorry about that.)
The nine Royal Knights, having seen Razor fly into the tower, gave chase and after weaving through the battle line reached the entrance at the base of the tower. The first one to make it there was a Pegasus Stallion who was younger than the others but still old enough set down on the stone floor and started shaking the water from his wings. He had a dark red coat, short gold mane and tail and sky blue eyes. His Cutie Marks was a pair of crossed aluminum baseball bats with rubber grip tape and a faded green oval label on both with a baseball placed over where the bats crossed. He wore a slightly baggy, red winter cap or beanie with two dark red stripes, the bottom on being much thicker that the top stripe on his head. Over his eyes were a pair of red goggles with lighter colored flame designs, a grey frame, a black strap, and orange-yellow rims. Around his neck was a short white scarf, and a red bomber jacket, which included a chest patch showing the Stallion's Cutie Mark and another patch below with a sideways baseball bat and baseball on his torso. Under the jacket was a white t-shirt. On his back in between his wing was a large leather satchel that had two small pockets on the sides, and around his waist was a brown belt.
The Stallion took his beanie off and start wringing out the water from the rain, snorting out a breath as he did.
"Holy crap, I used to work with powerful storms in Cloudsdale before joining the Guard than becoming a Royal Knight and I have never seen storms like this before!"
A loud voice answered his complaint as its owner entered.
"Ah Home Base I've handled worse than this."
"Trencher, while yes you have fought underground against rogue Diamond Dogs and even faced off against Nightmare Moon, have you even seen a storm like this before? I know for a fact I haven't, and I use to work with storms."
Trencher was a large (Big Mac-sized) Earth Pony Stallion with a brown coat, a buzzed-cut red mane and short tail, and yellow eyes. His Cutie Mark was a 68-Pounder Cannon firing with a red glow covering the cannonball. He wore a red trench coat, a slightly over-sized reddish-brown Germane Stahlhelm with the Equestrian emblem on the sides in a shield decal on his head, around his neck was a short grey and black striped scarf and a small back gas mask large enough to cover the muzzle with a tan strap and attached to a black tube that when to a small dark red oxygen tank-like canister, black Epaulettes with red edging on his shoulders, over the tench coat was a brown bomber jacket with red fake fur interior and red armbands with his Cutie Mark patched onto the sides of the upper front legs. Around his chest was a gray flak vest with a zipper, three different sized pouches, and shoulder pads. Across his chest from the right shoulder was a brown leather chest strap holding a large combat knife. On the lower left side of the strap is a small leather pouch. Around his waist was a utility belt featuring a bladed buckle, canisters, and two large pouches. Over his flanks were a pair of brown saddlebags that were worn and slightly tattered with a large, worn and heavily faded black leather strap that held the flap closed with a silver buckle. Two badges, one a small round silver badge with a skull set over top explosions on the main body of the bags and the other an orange shield-shaped badge with the image of a helmeted Earth Pony head with a thin badge above that read "Rock Crushers" on the flap. Completing his looked was a pair of light brown camouflaged pants with silver knee pads and a pair of of dark brown tanker boots with metal plates capping the soles on each hoof.
Trencher bit his tongue as he glanced sideways at the stone floor.
"Fair point Base, at least now we know this Kirin means business."
The next member of the nine Royal Knights to enter was the only Mare of the group, she was a Unicorn with a blue coat with a bright red mane and tail, green eyes, and a Cutie Mark of a Dragon head shooting fire from its mouth. She wore a red firefighter's helmet with an orange pentagonal-shaped crest with her Cutie Mark emblazoned on the front, a red hoodie with flame decals under the helmet and a set of red robes that reached to her elbows and knees, and a red fire extinguisher which included a Pulaski, a type of forestry firefighting equipment, attached to the side. Over her chest was a black strap with Pony dolls resembling the Mare. One possessed the Western depiction of an angelic halo, while the other has cartoony devil horns and a pitchfork and over her flanks were two different bags: On her left was a worn knapsack stuffed with fireworks, an oil can, a gas cylinder, and a BBQ cookbook while on her right was a blue backpack with three small pockets and a tag with the Mare's Cutie Mark. Attached to the backpack are a bottle with a red mug on one side, a paper folded in half on the other, and a rolled up sleeping bag on the top.
Both packs had three green bottles each with a white rag and duck tape around the neck holding the rag in place. Around her forelegs were blue armbands holding a silver lighter and a matchbox each and over her hooves were black welding gloves.
She stepped into the room and shook the water off her, an annoyed look on her face.
"Too much water for ya, Flame Flower?" First Base asked, the Mare gave him a glare.
"Not so much as too much water, rather way too much water! I've never seen storms rage like this before." She finished with a snort and a pout. Trencher laughed.
"I still say fire is for cooking s'mores, not a "real" weapon." He said with a smirk.
Flame Flower glared at him, then her horn lit up. Trencher knew at that moment, he had bucked up.
"Oh no!"
Flower's spell went off and Trencher was engulfed in flames.
"I stand corrected! Fire, Fire, Fire!!!"
Trencher hit the stone floor and starting rolling around trying to put the fire out as Flower glared at him, Base thinking of something to say, hoping to not set her off.
"With how much you like to burn things it still surprises me that you're a volunteer firefighter Flame."
She turned to him.
"I may like to set things and enemies alight, but I hate seeing innocence creatures hurt. Besides, since I know my fire it makes me the prefect Pony to turn to regarding flames and fire damage."
"It's still surprising Lassie." A Northern Mountain accented voice sounded off behind them, the two turned to see a Cave Thestral Stallion walking in. He was a good head and a half taller than most Stallions and had an dark grey coat, the trademark deep blue webbed mane, wings, and tail and a dark yellow eye. His Cutie Mark was a heavy-looking but still small, glowing, spiked bomb with large, blunted spikes and over his left eye was a black eyepatch. He worn red coveralls with a heavily padded Bomb suit, with a very large collar over his torso with the collar extended to cover most of the neck and surround the back and sides the head leaving only the top exposed, atop his head was a red bomb disposal helmet with a full face visor, just barely visible under the helmet through the visor was a red bandana with his Cutie Mark marked in white in several places. Over his right shoulder was a red, plaid sash held together with a bronze buckle, battle damaged silver metal plates on the shoulders and pouches on his waist with one on each side, on his chest were two pairs of red dynamite packs of three. On his knees were Orange knee-pads with black caps, worn, padlocked wooden chests with a key strapped to the bottom over heavily padded flaps with his Cutie Mark that covered his flanks. Covering his hooves were brown work boots with metal caps painted yellow and a metal plate held on by two leather straps with metal buckles on each lower leg.
Following close behind the Thestral was a giant of an Earth Pony Stallion (Trouble-Shoes-sized) with a red coat with the hooves uncovered showing their brown color, blue eyes, and a buzzed cut mane and medium-length tail of yellow. His Cutie Mark was an antique minigun made almost entirely of brass (bearing resemblance to the original 1862 Gatling gun made by Richard J. Gatling) with a number of modifications. He wore a black ushanka with a large gold star set on the front on his head, a red t-shirt with a black greatcoat with red armbands which had his Cutie Marks in yellow over it and over that on his right shoulder was a bandolier with seven small pouches on the front and one big pouch on the back. Around his neck was a large grey and red champion belt with golden decorations and the Stallion's Cutie Mark on front of it. Over his left shoulder was a red sash with a yellow stripe and a yellow icon of an antique blacksmith hammer banging against its top, on his front hooves were a pair of black, gold-lined diamond-studded hoof boxing gloves with a skull emblem ring on each. Attached to his right upper leg was a small brown book with his Cutie Mark on the cover held in place by a leather strap with a silver button, on his back were four metal army-green cases with a red-colored icon of four Gatling Gun bullets. His lower half was covered by a pair of camouflage fatigues and a holder with a set of four Gatling Gun bullets hanging from the belt on the right side, on the belt over his flanks was a large red medical pouch with a basic white cross on the right and a large rectangle-shaped brown pouch held closed with a black leather strap and silver buckle, on the pouch lid above the buckle was a small red pin with the same hammer and anvil icon as the sash, and a red and white metal lunch box with a logo visible on the front of the item. The logo was the Equestrian symbol with the letters E, R, and K in Equestrian writing, under the letters in small words was "Equestrian Royal Knights".
Just behind the giant Stallion was a Dracony Wyvern Stallion who was shorter but still slightly taller than the average Stallion with a blue coat with lighter underbelly plates, red mane and tail tip, and green eyes. His Cutie Mark was a railroad monkey wrench (typically used in the early 1900s) over top of a brass gear. He wore a hardhat with a string of yellow, green, purple, and red Heatswarming lights wrapped around the hard hat and powered by an attached magic battery pack on the back of the hat and a strap-on helmet lamp, similar to those used by miners on his head. Over his eyes was a pair of welding goggles, the right lens had a black mechanical eye with a glowing red lens snapped on with the Equestrian symbol printed on the side. Over his left ear was a red-colored rectangle-shaped device with a red light facing forward, a white microphone with a black end facing the same way, a small black screen with a green heart monitor-like set-up and a yellow caution sign above it. Spread though and wrapped around his bread-like chin spikes a string of yellow, green, purple, and red Heatswarming lights just like his hardhat.
He wore a brown leather flight jacket with short sleeves, white fake fur lining and cuffs, a pair of pockets, his Cutie Mark emblem on the jacket's left shoulder and a red armband with a white Equestrian symbol on the right shoulder over a red shirt with a small pocket on the left side of the chest, on his stomach was a vest with straps with brass buckles running over the shoulders and one around his back. On the vest is a silver wrench, two orange magic batteries, a screwdriver with a red handle and two front pockets secured by velcro. On his back in between his wings was a leather tube which contained a rolled-up red blueprint and a yellow ruler, a thin strap going over his right and over his torso holding it on. His right hand was replaced with a robotic prosthetic hand while his left hand was covered by a large red-colored metal glove with a wrist-mounted computer device with a green glowing monochrome screen, and several buttons and knobs. On the screen was a picture of the Dracony setting up with his hand on his hip and giving a large thumbs-up.
Around his waist was a brown leather belt with a brown canteen with a dark brown cap, a silver metal plate with an orange dot with the Dracony's Cutie Mark in dark grey in the large dot and two brown straps with silver buckles holding a grey Combination Wrench to one side. A large light brown pocket with a rolled-up top and silver buckle holding two small dolls with one fashioned in the likeness of the Mare in the group and one in the likeness of a female Griffin with blue feathers on the right side and a red hand welder with a long neck and a gauge at the base and a black cord wrapped twice around and held onto the belt with a thick brown leather strap on the left, a red work light with cage attached to a small black magic battery with orange lightning bolt and red switch via a short orange cord hung in the center of the cord loops.
Over his flanks were two different saddle back-like items; over the right was a red leather messenger bag filled with random bits of broken machinery while over his left was a pack designed to look like a miniature device of some kind. The various details of the device were used to represent pouches, pockets, and zippers on the backpack, including an orange water bottle for what was either a gas tank or power pack and miniature buttons for the device's knobs. Over his legs he wore a pair of dark brown pants with some kind of metal exo-skeleton over top and two orange kneepads, and on his right foot was a red leather cowcolt boot with a complementary riding spur. His left foot was robotic prosthetic that appeared to be made out of parts similarly to his hand.
The Dracony shook the water from his outfit as the giant Stallion passed by, only giving Trencher a sideways glance as the latter managed to put the fire out, stopping at the door that lead deeper into the tower. The Dracony looked over at Flame Flower.
"Flower darlin', must you set Trencher on fire every time he insults your fire?" His soft voice contrasting with the annoyed glare he was giving her. Flame gave him a smile in response.
"He never learns, besides its not like he's ever hurt by my fire. It only hurts those I want it to hurt." She said matter-of-factly as she gave the Dracony a nuzzle and kiss on the cheek, the latter responding by giving her a boop on the nose, causing the Mare to giggle. Sure enough Trencher walked back over, covered in soot but otherwise unharmed.
"Still, I've camped in nasty conditions many times but the soot left by her fires is hard to get out and gets everywhere, including places I'll not talk about." He grumbled, looking at the Dracony. "Can't you do something about that Gold Wrench?"
Before Gold could answer another, slightly muffled, voice with a clear Germane accent rang out.
"Well Dummkopf, if you would stop insulting the Fraulein's* fire than you wouldn't have to deal with the soot!"
The voice belonged a Unicorn Stallion who stood only a half-head shorter than Princess Luna with a pure white coat, blue eyes, and black mane and tail. His Cutie Mark was what looked like a modified red-colored fire hose nozzle wrapped in black tape and outfitted with a bottom handle. He wore a stylized, extremely flared form of a Germane Stahlhelm with an added steel brow which had his Cutie Mark on it in red and a small line gap for his longer-than-normal horn, attached to the right side of the brow plate was a headlight made up of three neon tubes and a bent antenna protruding from a small battery pack at the back of the light frame. A pair of headphones that fully covered his ears was visible under the helmet. Over his eyes were a pair of red glowing goggles with flaps in a dark grey frame, covering his muzzle was a red respirator mask with a grey cap on the front and a grey filter on the right side, on the left was a translucent red tube connecting to what appeared to be a small red oxygen tank with grey top and a small gauge hanging on the Stallion's belt.
Around his neck was a multicolored striped scarf that trailed half-way down his front legs. Over his torso he wore a maroon greatcoat which was covered by a white smock, and a red undergarment visible around the base of his neck. The greatcoat featured a large collar and sleeves that partially covered his red gloves, while the smock had his Cutie Mark in a circle on each of its shoulders though one was covered by a plug embedded in his right upper foreleg which was attached via a tube to a device attached to the front of his right foreleg with three red and glowing vials. Over the chest of the coat was a stylized version of the Germane "Infanterie-Panzer" (Literally "infantry armour") with a large brown vest with the right side having two slots for what appeared to be syringes, while the left side had a pouch with his Cutie Mark on it and two medicine bottles inside.
Besides the red tank, on his belt was a red leather equipment satchel with a darker-colored emblem of his Cutie Mark accompanied by a worn clipboard with paper hanging from the side and a set of two white pill bottles along with two red pouches; one with his Cutie Mark on the case. Over his rear half he wore a pair of camouflaged combat slacks with red and dark grey kneepads. Over his right flank was a red satchel with a grey belt with a silver buckle; the sides of the satchel had two pockets with a silver button on each side and the flap was held down by a strap. On the center of the bag was his Cutie Mark. On his left flank was a larger red satchel that was open, showing three large syringes on the side and two rolls of bandages and two large medicine bottles inside. His back hooves were covered by black combat boots with red gaiters or spats over them.
With the Stallion were two more following behind, both Pegasus: The first was around the same height with a tan coat, yellow eyes, and brown mane and tail. His Cutie Mark was an large apple pierced by an arrow. He wore a large brown hat with half the rim folded up with a white bird feather tucked in and the Stallion's Cutie Marks also on the folded side of the hat. Under the hat was a set of one-eyed magic night vision goggles with two red lenses, which fitted over his left eye over the pair of black-rimed yellow tinted sunglasses. Around his neck was a a necklace that has been laced through several lightly bound crocodile teeth. He wore a brown leather duster coat with long flaps that when over his plot and down to his lower hind legs with a slit in the center to allow his tail through, over the chest of the coat was a brown padded vest with a thick, white fleece layer around his neck area, and two straps hanging underneath. Under the coat was a red shirt the his Cutie Mark on the upper forelegs and the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, on each of his lower forelegs was a tattoo of an Eastern Kirin, on his right hoof was a red mitten with the front half folded back and on his left hoof was a thick leather gauntlet resembling the gloves typically used by falconers. The glove had a loose string for adjusting size on its side and the strap and thicker area around the base was red.
Over the chest on top of the vest was a brown leather harness with four jars filled with a red** liquid of some kind strapped to it. On the Stallion's back was a leather quiver with a tan trim holding crossbow bolts with a partially chipped hoof-carved tribal shield with red and white paint and a large magic battery taped to the back. Two wires were going from the battery to the shield, held in place with black tape. Around his waist was a large red belt with a small brown bait/tackle bag with fish hooks attached with a red piranha dangling from one of them on the right side and a large brown flask with a white cap on the left side. Over his legs he wore a pair of red camouflage pants with two pockets on either side of the pants and his back hooves were covered by a pair of large cuffed light-brown and red boots made of leather. The cuffs of the boots were wrapped with red leather belts with metal buckles.
The second Stallion who was also the last member of the nine Royal Knights stood around the average height of normal Stallions with a Congo brown coat, blue eyes, and temptress (color) short mane and tail. His Cutie Mark was a partially serrated, double-edged butterfly knife with roses engraved along the blade and a symbol of an encircled rose is imprinted on the handles. He wore a dark gray cavalier hat with red ribbon, edging, and large feather on his head with a red ski mask with diamond patterns adorning the sides and neck of the mask and a light red/pinkish pom-pom on the top (though that was hidden by the hat). Over his left eye was a single-lens magic night vision goggle attached to black strapping under the hat, each ear had a small red earpiece with a coiling cord of a lighter shade going down into his outfit. Gripped in between in his teeth was a straight red and white candy cane***.
Around his neck was a long, red and dark red striped scarf with fringes at each end over a red turtleneck, a small black microphone visibly sticking out on the left side of the chest under his dark red overcoat which had an upturned collar, eight buttons on the front, and red belt with silver buckles around his waist and forelegs. On his left shoulder hooked on the overcoat's epaulet has a black magic-powered device with red wires attached to the battery, a small switch, and a small red dome in the center of the device. The dome was emitting a red hologram of a Mare. A red rose bud was worn on the left lapel of his overcoat and his rear half had a pair of dress pants the same color as the overcoat with a pair of knee high black leather boots with red belts held on by dark silver buckles.
(A/N: Again sorry for how long the above part was but with these guys, and you might know them by now, it was sort needed. Now let's continue the story.)
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This group of nine Royal Knights, named (from top to bottom) Home Base, Trencher, Flame Flower, Blasting Cap, Big Round, Gold Wrench, Healing Ray, Sharp Eye, and Hidden Blade had once been mercenaries working for a rather large company in Equestria but things had happened and all the company's assets had been seized and shut down by order of Princess Celestia years ago, which had left these nine out of work. However the Princess had seen use for their skills and made them an offer: In exchange for ten thousand bits a month and protection for their families who were under threat of their former employer's agents, the nine would work for the crown working missions that would make use of their skills.
The nine had though it over and took her offer, Hidden Blade saying: "Princess, we shall gladly take your offer, as along as our families are kept safe from our former employer's agents until it is safe for them again we will work for you. With the ten thousand bits a month as a bonus, we might just take it as a permanent job."
So the Nine as they came to be known started their new career, their first mission being removing the threat to their families. Eventually after several years Celestia made another offer from them to become Royal Knights and all it included such as even better pay and other bonuses. The Nine had accepted and had never looked back, Blasting Cap and Gold Wrench had even found love; the former in a Winged Thestral Mare name Night Rose and the latter in Flame Flower (the two had never realized their love despite the others' efforts and, to the others' surprise, a former Griffin Squall. Blasting Cap had married his Mare and the two had twins; a Winged Thestral Colt who they named Dusk Storm and a Pegasus Filly named Rose Silver. The two had been surprised that one of their foals was a Pegasus but it didn't matter to them. Dusk had been born blind in his left eye like his father and grandfather before him.
Unfortunately for Cap and his foals, his wife and their mother had suffered a fatal illness that even though the doctor's, Healing Ray included, tried their hardest ultimately couldn't stop. Night Rose soon passed away in her hospital bed, her family with her until her last breath, Cap promising her he would take care of their foals, his team joining in on the promise with Round saying: "We'll raise them as team, help them grow strong and make mother proud."
Night Rose had given him and the others a toothy smile in response and said "I'll hold you all to that." before she close her eyes for the final time, a content smile on her face.
It had been hard for Cap and his foals but with the help of his teammates the three had made it though the rough times, the lost still hurt but they and mourned and moved on.
Gold Wrench in the meantime had married both Flame Flower and the Griffin who was named Glacier Winds and while Flame had yet to carry and bring a foal into the world (She didn't feel ready yet and her mates wouldn't force her), Glacier had somehow given birth to an Earth Pony filly how the three had named Sparky Gears, who had taken after her father in a lot of ways, including his talent with machines.
The Nine had come on this mission to the Sea of Legends and now found themselves in their current situation.
Trencher and Healing Ray started to argue before Round stomped a large hoof and drew them back to the task at hoof: Going after the Kirin Pirate. The Nine quickly refocused and moved deeper into the tower, going quickly but carefully as they had no idea where the Kirin could be.
Meanwhile, on the tower's upper floors.
Celestia and Luna landed on the stone floor cold and soaking wet, the latter scowling as she lit her horn and dried her coat of the water.
"It seems sister that we have underestimated what this Razor Tail is capable of."
Celestia finished drying herself and nodded in agreement.
"So it would seem Luna, those Golems and the storm were completely unexpected. Mind you, from what Wave told us, Pirate Lords have their title for a reason. We must not underestimate him again."
"Agreed, we had both forgotten just how versatile Kirin Rune Magic is."
"No Creature has fought with them in over a thousand years, not even Discord and Tirek fought with them."
That much was true, during the former's brief return and even during his reign Discord had left the Kirin alone, apparently because the Western and Eastern Kirin had developed a way to strip the Draconequus of his magic. Whether is was was true or not was unknown but either of the two Princesses wouldn't put it passed the Pony/Dragon hybrids. The latter had likely planned to attack the Kirin after draining Equestria but met an unfortunate end before he could finish the draining.
The two sisters looked down the dark halls of the ruined tower, the wind making an ominous sound as it blew through the wreckage. Celestia looked at Luna who looked back at her.
"Stay close Luna, we're in close quarters and Razor will have the advantage here. He could ambush us from any angle."
Luna nodded and the two slowly made their way into the tower, closely watching their surroundings.
In another part of the ground level around the same time as the above two events
The Pillars
Starswirl was using his magic to wring out the water from his hat and cloak, of the few types of magic he'd been unable to study before being frozen in limbo, Kirin Rune Magic was one of them. Since he and the other Pillars had returned he had been trying to make amends with the four Kirin races for that insult and while there was a little progress it was still going to be a very long road. Starswirl let out a tired sigh putting his hat and cloak back on, even though he never got to study the rune magic in depth he did know a few things which until now he had forgotten about: One, just how versatile it was.
It was no secret that Kirin were, for the most part, unable to use magic thanks to the species of Dragon that their second half came from so they had to get creative. Only Eastern and Mountain Kirin could us magic but the range of the abilities was very, very limited; Eastern could only use levitation which any Unicorn could learn and use but the former were well known for being very creative with it while Mountain Kirin had that and some basic growing spells. The other two; Western and Valley Kirin didn't have magic at all, the former were the pioneers of Rune Magic and were the most skilled with it. Valley Kirin were a bit of an odd ball; they didn't use magic at all, but they made up of it in ways to render those who relay on it powerless and their other skills.
Even Starswirl, who was long ago racist towards Dragons, knew full well that Kirin were best either left alone or to have as an ally. The Griffins had learned that the hard way just once, and they were almost wiped out during that(4). Kirin, the Western race in particular, put the "pragmatic" in "combat pragmatist". Western Kirin lived in a land where almost everything, even the very air in some places, was absolutely bent on killing them so they had no choice but to be combat pragmatists. Now there were lines Western Kirin wouldn't cross and there were a number of laws regarding duels and such. Western Kirin were also very close-kit, to the point where they almost always referred to each other either by name or more commonly as brother or sister.
Mountain Kirin were a bit of black sheep as they tried to avoid combat if they could and generally settled things through song or other methods, they way of combat was pretty much unknown as their home was simply too far away from any nation and the area around their home was widely consisted both useless and not worth the effort to hold.
Eastern Kirin were also rather peaceful, but were masters of the shadows. In a war an enemy never saw an Eastern Kirin, because they had already hit their targets and vanished into the shadows before the enemy even knew what had happened. Eastern Kirin had a well earned reputation of being the world's best assassins and special operations units, even Celestia had use their services more than once. That reputation had lead to Eastern Kirin military units being call "an army of ghosts".
Valley Kirin, their home had only been invaded once, and no nation had ever tried since. Valley Kirin were, to quote Trencher: "Valley Kirin know a little more about Jungle, Marsh, and guerrilla warfare than you do pal because they invented the three, and than they perfected the three so that no creature could best them in the ring of honor." The place the Valley Kirin was covered in thousands of valleys and canyons, some reaching eighteen thousand feet deep and all with sheer cliff and the areas that weren't those were just covered in thick jungle and deep marsh. Not to mention the highly toxic plant life and the Valley Kirin's immunity to almost all poisons in the known world.
Starswirl shook his head and looked at his companions, they were fine if soaking wet and cold. Both Mage Meadowbrook and Somnambula had removed their attire to wring the water out, Flash Magnus was shaking water from his wings then took his helmet off only to get even more soaked than before as a bucket-full of water somehow fell out of his helmet a second after taking it off. Flash was normally a pretty chill Stallion but the level of frustration on his face spoke volumes. Mistmane was using her magic to remove the water from her outfit, mane and tail while Rockhoof didn't seem to mind at all. Stygian wasn't with them as he had other things going on back home, like taking care of his expecting wife and soon to be born foals. As they were doing all this Starswirl took stock of their surrounds.
They were in some kind of large, column-filled chamber with many overgrown tree roots and the room was filled to the brim with glowing bugs of some kind. On the wall opposite of them was a passage leading deeper into the tower. As he stared down the dark corridor the others came up beside him, uneasy looks on their faces. This reminded them too much of when they and the Mane Six fought the Pony of Shadows. None of them said anything for a long while, the silence was finally broken my Flash Magnus.
"We need to be careful, its only us now. I thought I saw the Princesses and the Nine enter the tower from different spots but I'm not sure."
"Flash is right, if they are here we need to met up and face this Kirin together. Everycreature else is in no condition to fight after the battle with those Golems." Mage said, her voice filled with worry.
They had finally destroyed the last of the Wreck Golems but only the Princesses, the Nine, and the Pillars were in any condition to face Razor Tail, everycreature else was either too wounded or too worn out by the fight. Thankfully there had been no deaths and the only serious injury had been Ember's wing which the Healers said only time and rest was needed to fully heal it after they did their work.
Starswirl nodded his head grimly, it was only the possible seventeen of them against one Western Kirin, who likely had many more tricks up his armored sleeves. They now knew that they couldn't underestimate what he could do.
"Let's move, stay close." He said, leading the rest of the Pillars into the dark passages.
Razor Tail
Somewhere high above the seventeen Ponies
The clicking of Razor's claws echoed throughout the stone halls and rooms, mixing with the sounds of the storm that raged around the tower. At the moment he was walking through a rising pathway running along the inner walls of the tower, with a large opening in one of the wall showing the storm outside and letting the heavy rain and wind in.
Razor paused for a moment and looked out through the opening and into the twisting storm clouds, thinking about what was to come. He knew conflict was going to happen next time he met Celestia, so bringing back up might be a good idea. He signed, he had promised the youngsters that he would take them home safe and sound after this voyage but now... he was wondering if he would be able to keep that promise.
"I really put myself in a hard position, didn't I."
Maybe he should have brought at least a few of them along, that might have prevented this. But then again, it might not have. Razor reached into his coat with his left wing hand and pulled out the plastic-cased picture of his mother.
"Mom, I'm not sure what will happen now. I made that promise but now... now I'm uncertain if I'll be able to keep it. I have my doubts Celestia will be open to talking, especially after what happened down there, really messed up there didn't I. Whatever happens next, I hope I can make the right choices and keep that promise to the youngsters."
He put the picture back in his coat and continued on, he had just reached the highest he could in this area when the sound of voices reached his ears. Looking down he saw none other than Celestia and Luna far below entering the area. Now Razor knew that he could just slip away, find the crystal, and flee back to his ship before the princesses knew it but there was still the risk of the two seeing him and following. Razor knew he couldn't allow that, he cared more about those on his ship than any treasure. The Dragon of the Depths still hadn't cleared out yet so there was the risk of the Equestrian Fleet chasing them.
Razor knew he had to keep the Princesses focused on him.
Slowly he put his compass away and slid his halberd onto his back, and carefully pulled out his other back weapon; his G82 bolt-action rifle. Of all the weapons he carried, his G82 was his most powerful after his halberd. He preferred to save it for long-range shots and when facing armored enemies at range. After all, 11x60mm rounds were nothing to sniff at. The rifle itself was heavily customized and was actually his very first weapon; unlike the standard G82 used by the Outcast Gunners, Razor had actually found the rifle on Ironclad's Rest. How it got there was unknown but the moment he laid his eyes on the damaged rifle he knew it was his.
Razor had repaired and rebuild the rifle and it served him very well since, not once had it jammed or misfired and it always fired when he needed it to, saving his life more times than he could count.
In appearance the heavily customized G82 had the body in the shape of Zebra Jezail and was made of wood from a rare tree in the Western Kirin homeland and was reddish-purple in color that was considered beautiful but as many enemies had found out the hard way this wood was as strong as hardened steel. The rifle had its sights off-set to the left side and a hexagon-shaped barrel and muzzle with a tapering half-six sided triangle end. Running along the underside from the front of the trigger guard to where the front sling loop would be was a dragon that glows like fire, the tail forming the front half of the trigger guard. At the end on top of the barrel, where the end of the body and exposed barrel meet, was a metal plate with a tapering point towards the front with a large diamond-shaped ruby on top, under that was the rifle’s telescopic bipod with a folding grip behind it for better stability. Fitted under the barrel and in front/under the end of body was a retractable spring-loaded bayonet that was 23.5 inches in overall length with a 18.5 inch blade. Behind the grip on the first section of the body was a length of silver cloth with one edge colored red wrapping around the barrel twice with a round gold plate with the Dragon’s sail symbol on it and two red feathers sticking out downwards at a 45 degree angle towards the ground, then just behind the first barrel band with the dragon head under it was a hexagon-shaped plate with a ruby curved into the Dragon’s sail symbol with a claw-like spike under it with the claws of the dragon gripping the sides of the spike. The side of the wooden body had a plate on each side with the front ends tapering into a claw-like shape. Next is a length of green cloth wrapped around the barrel three times with two silver coins attached with tiny rings and a red feather on the underside sticking out towards the stock at a 45 degree angle, then a length of blue cloth wrapped three times around the barrel with the second barrel band after it. After this band was a short underside ridge with a short spike at the front with a folding grip behind it, in between the rear sight and bolt is a length of red cloth wrapped three times around the area.
The bolt was decorated with two diamond-shaped rubies and two tiny diamond-shaped sapphires on the side, and two dome-shaped emeralds (one on the tip of the bolt handle, the other on the washer), next to the blot on the left side were two slots for the scope. The trigger was shaped like a claw and made of jade with a trigger guard with the rear half in the form of a metal strip that was also claw-shaped and the tail of the glowing dragon forming the front half. The stock was curved starting thinner after the bolt and widening towards the butt plate, the stock has a length of purple cloth wrapped three times around the stock behind the trigger guard and a length of gold cloth with a red and silver stripe wrapped around the stock with two orange feathers sticking out towards the back on top with a small diamond-shaped ruby in between the feathers and a gold hexagon plate with a sapphire curved into the symbol of two crossed halberd with a dragon head over top on each side of the stock. There were nine tiny diamond-shaped emeralds on the rifle with three on the second barrel band (one on top and two on the sides), two under the bolt (one on each side), and four on the bolt receiver (three on the left behind the slots for the scope, which is set towards the front and one on the right behind the bolt handle when closed). The rifle had a detectable a hexagon-shaped scope when needed, for use at long range.
Razor carefully shouldered the rifle as he'd done many times, taking aim. Now, while he could easily take one of the two Ailcorns out right than and there, that wasn't his goal. He knew that taking out one of the sisters would only lead to a lot of trouble and his bullets, the real ones anyway, were reserved for those that deserved them, like the NTU. One he was ready he pulled the trigger, the distinctive "crack" filling his ears.
Razor had been aim to miss, so the shot didn't hit either Ailcorn. Still, the sight of both jumping six feet when the shot impacted a few feet above them was something Razor would remember for the rest of his life. By the time Celestia and Luna had turned around and saw him Razor had already put the rifle back in its place and was sprinting down the hall, hearing Luna's shout as the two took chase.
Just as Razor wanted.
One nice thing about having an extra pair of hands on his wings was he could keep running at full speed on all fours while his wing hands did other things, like setting up the explosive in their grip. Looking like a stick of dynamite with wood covering to resemble a long and tin barrel, this charge was known as a "Destabilizing Charge". A like side project of the Outcast head of research, Power Gears, this explosive had been designed to send powerful shockwaves similar to that of an earthquake into its target, like a wall. This charge had made getting into areas and covering escapes easier as enough in the right places could bring down an entire section of a city wall with fewer charges. Stopping only to place the Destabilizing Charge Razor took off down the hall, a few minutes later Celestia and Luna rushed past only for the former to hit the tripwire and set the explosive. Now both were unhurt by the blast as it when into the wall though a whole bunch of dust and smoke was thrown up, than the ceiling between them fell.
Celestia recovered quickly, coughing out the smoke and dust. Looking behind her she saw the collapsed passage and now sign of her sister
"LUNA!"
"I'm alright sister," her voice echoed through the hall, "But the blockage is too thick for me to get through and I don't want to risk bringing the rest of the passage down on us by moving anything. You go on ahead, I'll find another way."
"Alright Luna, be careful."
"You too sis."
Celestia turned and continued on alone, eventually reaching the top of the tower, or at least as high as she could go on hoof. At least five floors had collapsed long ago, leaving only the walls. The wreckage of those floors littered the one she was on, giving the place an ominous feel which was not helped by the storm that raged outside. Looking up she noticed that the storm appeared to be formed around the tower as she could see sunlight and clear sky above, indicating that the tower was in the eye of the storm. Celestia drew in a breath and shouted.
"Razor Tail! I know you're here! Show yourself!"
"Right here Celestia."
Said Alicorn spun to the right as the Kirin she was looking for launched from a window with a great beat of his wings and landed twenty feet away from her. He stood up to his full height and stared her right in the eye, sizing her up while Celestia did the same. After staring at each other for a few minutes Celestia spoke.
"I will admit you caught me off guard twice today, that wouldn't happen again. I was willing to do this peacefully but now to you leave me no choice."
"Like you did before! I offered a parlay and I would have honored it, I would have been happy to just talk! What did you think I was going to do?! You came at me with a bucking Army!!"
"Pirates didn't honor anything, they're just scum!"
"Some may be, But I'm still a Kirin! You know how we are about honor!"
"You were born a pirate so you have no concept of honor."
Razor's eyes narrowed to the point where the pupils almost disappeared as his lips pulled back to reveal his sharp teeth.
"One; I was not born a pirate! That town we burned to the ground was my hometown!"
Celestia was very surprised by that, but she didn't dwell as Razor continued.
"Two; You know nothing about me! When I came to the Sea of Legends at twelve years old slavery was king. Everyday countless creatures spend their lives in chains, under the iron hoof of the NTU and used for their masters' pleasures. When I slew the first Royal those that had been freed all looked at me with shock in their eyes."
Razor planted his hands and hooves into the stone floor.
"You say I have no honor, just because I'm a pirate. Compared to the ones that ruled before me, I'm a saint! That day so long ago, as I stood one the back of the slain Royal, the creatures around me looked on. Than one approached me, and he thanked me for freeing them. One by one they all thanked me, I looked back at them and saw a tiny ember of hope. Hope for a better future, a better future for their young! One where parents didn't have to die from disease, from famine and leave their young alone in a cold, heartless world."
Razor flared his wings out as he continued.
"For generations the creatures here suffered unbearable hardships! When I slew that Royal, they saw a new leader, one that would give them the future they could only dream of. All I asked for was time, and they gave me that time."
Celestia found herself taking a step back as Razor's voice gained strength as he when on.
"In the time they had given me, I had rebuilt our lives, I had rebuilt our homes, and I had rebuilt our pride! You see me as an honorless monster Celestia, if I was one than I wouldn't even reach the lowest point compared to the ones that lived here before."
"You poured molten gold on a Griffin!" Celestia shouted back.
"That Griffin was a slaver of the worse kind, I was originally going to just slash his throat and be done with it, until I found out just what he did! He would take his slaves and force them on each other, selling the offspring and repeating until they no longer could give more from the damage, once that happen he would have his way until he got tired and put them down. He only saw his slaves as animals. I saw the conditions they were kept in, not even pigs would live in that!"
Celestia stayed silent, a thousand and so years had allowed her to learn many things, including reading others rather easily. So even she knew Razor wasn't lying, which shocked her. Pirates were just scum, yet if he was been truthful... she did't even want to think about it.
"What about those youngsters you took then? What have you done with them!?"
"They're safe Celestia," Razor's voice was rather soft, much to Celestia's confusion. "I would never harm gems such as them."
"Gems... what?"
"Not all treasure is gold and jewels Celesita, you should know that. After all, you see Twilight Sparkle as your very own daughter, and despite the things you have put her through I know that you deeply love her."
"How do you know that!!?" Celestia demanded.
"I have eyes and ears everywhere Celestia, not much happens without me knowing. And don't try to find them Celesita, you'll never find them."
"We'll see about that, and back to the youngsters, how do I know you're not keep them for your own pleasures!?"
Celestia was suddenly blasted by an intense heat have as Razor went Nirik.
"What did you just say!!!" That wasn't a question, he voice sounding demonic. Razor snarled as he continued.
"No Kirin worth their tail would ever do that to anyone! You have the gall to think that I would! Just because I'm a pirate! I was brought into the world by that!! My father never married my mother and forced himself on her more than once, eventually I was born. My father hated me, saw me as a "Lesser Species" but my mother. She loved me, for five years she raised me as best she could while she had other foal. Her happiness was not to last however, my father locked me in a cupboard and cast her to the waves. I lost seven long years of my life in that 5-by-5 foot prison. I escaped when I was twelve, breaking free and returned many years later to claim my vengeance, burning the place to the ground leaving nothing but ash"
Celestia blinked, then her mouth fell open as her eyes widened.
"That Earth Pony Noble, he was your father??!"
Razor turned back to normal, glaring hard at her.
"Yes, but you'll never find proof. When he locked me away he made absolutely sure the world never knew of me."
"But he only had one son."
"That was my brother, the family I never met, the one our father left to die!"
Razor snarled again as he and Celestia began to circle each other, the latter's head reeling at what she had just been told.
"And I would never need them for my pleasures, I'm MARRIED, and happily so. She and I love each other very, very much and we give each other more than either of use would ever need."
Celestia was having trouble comprehending what Razor had said.
"You're married?! Who would..."
Razor chuckled.
"A soul as shattered as mine was, she had lost her sister and almost her entire Hive. Neither of us knew at the time, but when we found each other, our souls begin to heal."
"And about your pleasures?!"
A fond smile can over Razor's face.
"A Changeling's ability to share their energy with their mate allows us both to last a long time. By the time we are finally done we are more than satisfied."
Razor's face turned hard.
"But now I know that words alone will not change anything, that much you have made clear." Razor pointed his halberd at Celestia. "If you try to kill me Celestia, you have the right to take my life, but know that I will also take yours. And hope that those you leave behind will be prepared for what comes after."
Before Celestia could response Razor yelled "Come on!" and leaped into the air, halberd at the ready. Celestia jumped up swing her war hammer, only for Razor to spin to the right, dodging the weapon and delivering a kick to her face sending Celestia into the wall. She hit hard, her magic slipping from her weapons as it fell away from her, Celestia was than hit by the side of Razor's long tail which send her flying into a pile of rock, she tried to stand only to find a wing pinned under a heavy slab that was once part of one of the upper floors. Ailcorns were very strong but Celestia found she couldn't move the slab and her magic couldn't grab it either. Razor had landed and was moving towards her when he suddenly looked up and rolled to the right, just as Luna came down, the blade of her digging into the stone where Razor just was. While it had been a nice entrance, Luna found herself having a hard time removing the blade from the rock, forcing her to abandon it as Razor stood on his hind legs and charged.
Luna dodged as Razor brought the weapon's ax blade down, sparks flying upon impact. Luna that attacked, she may had been an Earth Pony before becoming an Alicorn but she had learned the lessons her father figure, Commander Hurricane Bolt himself, had taught her. Western Kirin and Alicorn engaged in a melee with Razor using his Halberd like a staff to block and attack, Luna using the marshal arts she had learned to do the same. The fight only last mere seconds as Razor used his weapon as leverage to boost his kick which stuck Luna in the chest and send her into the wall behind her, loosing rock slabs above her as they slid down. Razor ducked to avoid them, Luna took advantage of that and rushed forward to deliver a back leg kick to his chest and face. Razor was knocked backwards and fell into a hole in the floor, but as he fell he twisted around, both ends of his halberd hooking onto two ledges and allowing him to use his momentum to swing back upwards back hooves first. Luna looked over the edge only to receive a blow to the face that knocked her several feet back as Razor landed on his two back hooves and right hand.
Razor and Luna stood up eyeing each other up for a few moments, before Razor pulled out his sword and charged. Luna dodged each swing and landed blows where she could, but Razor counter with his own. This fight last for a full thirdly seconds before Razor got the upper hand and forced Luna to bend backwards but she was ready and used her back hooves to run and push off the wall and over Razor, grabbing his mane with her teeth and throwing him away. Razor was quick to recover and used his claws to slow down, sparks flying as his metal-encased claws dung into the stone. He got up on all fours and charged, but Luna was ready for him and used her right foreleg to clothesline the Kirin as he charged. Razor did a complete flip and landed on his front behind her, losing his grip on his sword as this happened. He quickly grabbed and pulled one of his pistols out of his belt and fired back as Luna charged. She felt the red trapping bullet brush the hairs on her neck as it flew past, swinging a back hoof around and kicking Razor's hand, knocking the pistol out of his grip and away from him. Razor retaliated by bringing his tail up and knocking Luna over him, he than followed it up by pouncing at her but Luna used both her back hooves and kicked him in the chest, sending Razor crashing into the floor ten feet away as he rolled head over tail.
Celestia during this whole fight had been pushing the slab off her wing, slowly making progress.
Razor got back to his feet when they heard an explosive below them followed by someone yelling a battlecry, Razor reacted first and rolled to the side as a certain Earth Pony Stallion landed where he just was moments ago, an entrenching shovel with a tan wooden handle fastened with green metal held in his right hoof, sparks flying as the metal shovel head hit the stone. Luna smiled seeing the newcomer.
"Sergeant Trencher, nice of you to join us."
"Not just me either your highness."
Razor stood up, his sword appearing in his hand. But before he could attack a loud bang was heard and his sword flew out of his hand in a shower of sparks. Surprised Razor turned his head around, spotting Sharp Eye laying prone on a ledge two floors above them, in his hooves was a long ornately carved bolt-action rifle with a small circular sight attached to a long rod, secured with golden straps. It has a curved stock with a golden recoil pad and a laser sight attached under the barrel. The Stallion chuckled as he opened and pulled the bolt back, ejecting the spent casing and cycling the next round. Razor frowned, on one hand he was angry about being caught by surprise like that but one the other he was impress, it was rare for him to face-off against other Snipers, especially ones with the skill level of Sharp Eye.
"You," Razor turned his head to were the new voice sounded, seeing Big Round standing ready for a fight with Healing Ray right behind him. "Yes you, you are dead!" Round finished pounding his front hooves together. Razor looked around and found the others of The Nine were around him.
"Ten on one huh?"
"Eleven on one actually" Celestia said as she landed next to Luna, having finally gotten her wing free during the fight. The former glared at him.
"You caught me off guard before Razor but now you are outnumbered, this isn't a fight you can win."
Razor looked at her, than slowly smiled, causing those around to tense. They knew what happened the last time he smiled like that.
"Not if I don't play fair."
Before anyone could react Razor threw something at the floor, creating a massive pitch black smoke cloud that completely covered that level. Sharp took his eye off the scope, staring at the black smoke in surprise.
"Bugger!"(5)
In the smoke Razor quickly focused on Healing Ray, one would thing Celestia, Luna, or Big Round would be the main threats. While one would be right to think that, Healing Ray was the biggest threat in Razor's eyes as the Unicorn was will versed in healing spells and had a unique one called "Ubercharge". The Ubercharge spell had four effects that Ray could chose; Invulnerability, Critical hits, Accelerated Healing, and three types of resistances which were Melee, Magic, and Fire. Now Ray could only use one at a time, he had to "recharge" after using one, and the effects only lasted for a few seconds. Razor wasn't taking any chances and quickly attacked, Ray was caught off guard by the sudden attack and activated one with a yelp of surprise. A red sheen covered the Unicorn, show that it was the Invulnerability effect, Razor pulled back knowing he couldn't do any harm while the effect lasted but he did have a small victory by making Ray waste the charge.
The smoke didn't last, clearing seconds after it was thrown, only for the group to see no sign of Razor.
"Where'd he go?!" Home Base shouted.
"Spread out! He couldn't have gone far!" Trencher ordered as Hidden Blade helped Healing Ray up.
"I need to recharge, made me waste ze one I had."
They spread out, looking for the Kirin, who was actually below them. Razor had slipped down through a hole in the floor, and was currently hanging onto the ceiling thinking up a battleplan.
'Okay... I can't take all of them at once in the open like that, I'm outnumbered and outgunned. Alright, Sharp Eye is the largest threat as he has overwatch on the area, a sniper with his skill level only needs one shot. My armor will block his hits but my head is unarmored and I'm not willing to risk whether or not he's shooting to kill. Home Base is the fastest but can't take many hits, a few good ones should put him down for awhile. Trencher and Blasting Cap I need to engage in tight quarters, force them to use their melee weapons. Flame Flower wouldn't be too much of a threat, at least in regards to her fire magic but still has her melee weapons and unlike most Unicorns can take several good hits. Big Round is a huge threat thanks to his large size, strength, and the items of special food he has. Gold Wrench might be tricky as he has his heavy crossbow, take that out first. Healing Ray is also a huge threat thanks to both his healing spells and Ubercharge. Hidden blade relies on staying out of sight and hitting from behind, keep my ears open for his decloaking sound. Finally Celestia and Luna, the stone of the tower is keeping them from using their magic to their full power but they can still fight well so I will need to hit from other angles and use my flare grenades to blind them as I attack. If I do have to engage all of them at once, keep on my toes and light on my wings.'
Letting go of the ceiling Razor gently and silently landed on the floor below him and moved carefully, climbing back up while staying out of sight. Standing up with his back against a pillar he pulled out a pistol and a flare grenade, hooking the latter's pin he pulled it and tossed it. It clicked once on the stone floor causing everyone to look towards it, right before it burst in a blindingly bright light. Hearing the yells of pain Razor closed his eyes and followed his ears and nose to Sharp Eye. The Pegasus Stallion had just got his vision back as the light faded, only to see he had Razor right on him. He yelped in surprise as the Kirin attacked, three quick punches knocked Sharp back from his rifle with a following hind hoof kick knocked him from the platform, sending him to the floor two levels below. Half-way down Sharp hit Hidden Blade head-on, they both crashed to the floor, down and out for now as the others looked over. Home Base saw Razor first and charged, bat at the ready. Razor jumped to meet him, a light blue/white sphere appearing in his right hand. As Home Base reached him Razor twisted to the left as his halberd appeared in his right hand, Home Base only had time to say "Oh Crap!" before the side of the halberd's head slammed in the side, sending the Pegasus crashing to the floor as Razor landed and charged before the others could react.
Razor hit Trencher first, knocking him back as the two rolled across the floor. Trencher recovered quickly, glaring at Razor.
"You call that killing me? I am not-" He was cut-off as Razor used his teeth to grab Trencher by the tail and toss the Earth Pony into Healing Ray with a long bang, knocking the Unicorn out cold.
"Ow my head!"
Razor than jumped into the fray, swinging his halberd and tail around in a storm of blades and forcing his opponents back, their melee weapons meeting his in clashes of sparks. As the fight went on the group got several good hits on Razor but he didn't slow down, eventually knocking out Flame Flower and Blasting Cap. Big Round pulled back nursing a large bruise on his face and a black eye. He called for Ray only to remember that the Unicorn was out cold.
"Oh right... Oh Sandvich." He pulled out half of a sandwich made with two triangular slices of bread. Between the slices of bread are lettuce, tomatoes, Swiss cheese, and a few slices of both ham and bologna and topped with a green pimento-stuffed olive pinned to the Sandwich by a toothpick. Before he could take a bite however Razor knocked away Trencher and looked towards Big Round. Razor growled as fire spewed from his mouth and through his teeth before he charged, Big Round was to slow to react and took a charging Kirin head-on, knocking the big Stallion back and on top of Healing Ray who had just woken up rubbing his head. Razor caught the Sandvich in between his teeth and and swallowed it whole, his wounds healing very quickly. Trencher put it best.
"Oh no."
Razor than opened his mouth and released a blast of fire, most of the group dodged it but three weren't so lucky.
The Pillars meanwhile were running down the a hall following the sounds of battle only to stop as at the sight before them.
"Oh I'm burnin', I'm-I'm burnin'!"
"The burning, the burning!"
"I do believe I'm on fire. ..... Apologies. Ahem. Fire, fire, fire!"
Home Base ran pass the door with his tail on fire, followed by Trencher who was rolling, than finally Hidden Blade (who had recovered before being hit by the fire) walked by with his mane on fire, after he said Apologies and cleared his throat he ran pass the door again panicking this time.
The Pillars could only stare at the scene before running into the room, Razor was on the other side facing all of them though it was clear from the way he was leaning on his halberd that he couldn't keep this up much longer. Not that the others were fairing any better; each one was nursing injuries of their own with only Celestia and Luna not looking away worse for the wear. Razor saw the Pillars enter and growled, just before a loud beeping filled the room as a small rune on Razor's left gauntlet started blinking green. He looked at it and smiled, the Dragon was clear. He turned back to his opponents.
"Well its been fun but have what I came for," With a flick of his right wing wrist an orange crystal three inches long with one end pointed. "and my ship is clear of your fleet.
Luna snarled.
"You're not getting away that easily!!"
"Sorry Princess, maybe next time."
Before anyone could move Razor lifted his halberd up once again and slammed the bottom spike into the ground as the weapon glowed light blue and in a flash of light and fog a pillar formed around him. When it faded he was gone. Trencher once again voiced everyone's thoughts.
"Dang it!"
Celestia frowned.
"We'll meet him again, at least now we have an idea of what he can do." She looked at the floor in deep thought.
"But... what does he want with that crystal?"
Starswirl walked up next to her.
"I don't know, but whatever it is, it can't be good.
There were various agreements from those around them, Razor had escaped and they didn't know when they'd run into him again. They just knew that it wouldn't be easy, they had an idea now but they also knew Razor would bring back-up next time.
(1) As I had said before my keyboard refuses to type the words correctly, for those of you who are wondering, Fraulein is German for lady.
(2) If you know who the Nine are based off of I will say now that those jars are potions, not what they would otherwise be.
(3) I don't approve of smoking, but due to who this Stallion is I needed something else and candy canes fit the bill
(4) During the early years after the Hearts Warming the Ponies came under threat of the Griffin hordes which where lead by a Warlord who wanted to wipe the Ponies out completely, but that same Warlord make a grave mistake: He killed a Western Kirin hatching that had been visiting the attacked village, beating it to paste. The four Kirin races retaliated fast and hard, showing absolutely no mercy* and they did not stop until the Griffins fled beyond their reach but by that point only barely enough Griffins to maintain their species had survived. Since then the Kirin, and by extension Equestria, as mostly been left alone for the other major powers fear setting the Kirin on that sort of rampage again.
While the modern day Kirin have left that part pf their past behind, the fear is lingers.
*Kirin, the Western race especially, place great value on their young and killing one is considered an act of war. To the Kirin, killing one or any other young that live with them and they raised, means that the enemy will show no pity or remorse, so the Kirin will give none in return.
(5) Would that be racist towards Changelings?
