Beast Buster tapped a hoof tip against his artificial eyes, thankful that while Unicorns were kept as slaves the NTU didn't completely reject the use of magic. Sadly for him, the burns would stay as scars and more than a few times his fellows had cringed seeing his face now.
As much as he hated to admit it to even himself: He knew he was lucky the dragoness didn't kill him, for that was no normal dragon.
After he had recovered and could see again he brought what the dragoness had told him to the higher-ups of the port. They'd been quite enthusiastic hearing about Star Wing, but that same enthusiasm dropped like a crate of anvils into the sea when he mentioned that Razor Tail had got to her first.
Archduke Razor Tail.
It was a name feared and hated by the higher-ups of the NTU in equal measure. Of all the Pirates to sail the Sea of Legends none had earned the fame of the Kirin Pirate Lord, every single pirate and bounty hunter that had ever gone after him had perished and those he let live (after all: Leave one alive to spread the tale) had spread word on just how bad of an idea it was to go after him. Add to the fact he had so many loyal followers, even creatures of the sea, and the NTU’s personal experience after they had gone after one Razor deeply cared about: His wife Atlas Moth.
The NTU had thought it would be an easy job. Oh boy, did they learn their lesson. Atlas was as deadly as her mate. And once word of the assault reached Razor's ears? Sixteen Treasure Fleets looted clean, treasure, ships, crew and all. Ten Merchant Fleets vanishing into the mists never to be seen again. Six War Fleets ambushed and stolen right out from under their noses, and an entire coastline of ports wiped clean off the map with only burnt ruins and salted ground as the mark.
Beast Buster sat on his bed, shuddering at the thought. He took pride in his name, but he had encountered Razor once, and only just escaped with his life. He remembered looking at the Niriked form of the Western Kirin, looking into those soulless white voids. An image that would haunt his nightmares for the rest of his life. Razor wasn't a beast; He was death and vengeance given flesh and blood.
If there was one species on the planet that the NTU avoided enslaving at all costs it was the four races of Kirin. For they knew how to destroy their enemies so thoroughly that they'd never rise again.
The Griffins before Nightmare Moon's banishment learned that the hard way after their Warlord of the time killed a Kirin Hatchling, and the Kirin very nearly wiped the Griffins out entirely.
Beast Buster set his hat on his bed-side table and laid his head down on his pillow, letting out a weary sigh. While the older and more experienced NTU Captains knew that going after the Outcasts was a really bad idea, there were those that wouldn't listen to reason, dreams of glory filling their heads until there was no room for anything else.
And he was sure that there were those that looked to defect or go rogue among those fools.
—-
The Dragon of the Depths docked at the small little island. With a new adventure spread out before them, Razor Tail gathered his crew together.
Star was fiddling with her horn, flashing repeatedly back and forth between her regular self and her Night Fire persona, Atlas Moth watching with a careful eye.
“So far Star, you are doing fairly well, but as you were not born a changeling, you’ll have to expect some difficulties. From what I’ve seen you’ve managed to get the appearance right, but it looks like you’re having trouble actually holding the disguise, as the image is constantly flickering. You are doing well, but you are going to need more time before you get it right Star.”
“Alright,” Star said, turning into Night Fire again with a hopeful grin. One that faded as Atlas shook her head, pointing out the flickering image. “Ugh,” Night grumbled, flexing her arms before returning to her Star Wing persona.
Razor’s voice then called out as he placed a map on a crate sitting more or less in the center of the main deck.
“Alright everyone, now that we’ve arrived it's time to go over why we’re here: We’re looking for something called the “Abyss Eye”.”
The crew looked at him in surprise as Star tried to do the same, but her curiosity won out.
“A giant eye in the depths?”
“No Star,” Razor said, then started explaining. “The Abyss Eye is a diamond, one of the world’s largest in fact, around the size of a foal. From what we know it was being transported from its home island which has been long lost to the Blood Sea, before the ship carrying it was raided by pirates who took the diamond to this island. Now, I know where the Abyss Eye is… but that’s the problem. The diamond is inside a small cave with only one way in or out: A hole too small and narrow for an adult to fit through. There’s also the fact that the cave sits under water, with the water filling it during high tide. Now using a “reverse periscope” I was able to locate the Abyss Eye so I know it’s where it should be, and it turns out it’s inside a skull. How it got there I don’t really want to know.”
One of the crew then asked. “How are we going to retrieve it Captain?”
Razor sighed, “Before I answer that; I want it to be clear I do not like the option and if there was another way I’d take it in a heartbeat. But there isn’t and it’s the only option.”
He looked at Star. She paused for a moment, before shifting back to Night Fire and striking a pose. “I know - I know, I’m hot.” She shot a burst of fire into the air before grinning. Though her grin faded at Razor’s lack of laughter. She shifted back. “Don’t worry sir, whatever it is, you can count on me.”
“Star, as much as I want to say you don’t have to… you’re the only one small enough to enter the cave. Now I’m not ordering it or anything; it’s your choice whether or not you want to try.”
Atlas walked forward. “Honey, why not send a Changeling?”
“Something in the rock around the area disrupts transformation magic, reverting the individual back to their natural form so that option is a no-go.”
Star cricked her neck. “It also helps that I want to try. You guys took me in and gave me a home… getting a diamond sounds like a good start to paying you back.”
As the crew prepared to disembark, Razor took Star aside as she briefly shifted to Night Fire again.
“Night Fire, you’ve been working on your persona for days since we departed, and it’s clear to both Atlas and me that you’re getting frustrated from it. You’re not going to make progress with it if frustrated. Trust me I would know.”
“Frustrated?” Night Fire asked. “My Captain, I mean no disrespect, but what gave you that idea? I’m not frustrated!”
“The fact that your mane and tail hairs are starting to curl and your scales are changing colors like the northern lights among other things.” Atlas pointed out.
Night Fire’s grin somehow remained, even as her eyes contracted to slits, one of the eyes twitching.
Razor merely grinned.
Night Fire’s smile fell, and she sighed, reverting back to Star Wing. She hung her head. “Geez, it even feels better when I’m like this,” she bemoaned.
Atlas and Razor assured her as they disembarked and headed into the cave sections. However, as the crew set off into the island, they were unaware of a few occupants already there: NTU operatives.
The leader - a bold young captain by the name of Wolf Waster, spied through a spyglass at Star Wing, drinking in her form as she talked with Atlas Moth.
“The fabled Princess Star Wing,” Wolf Waster whispered. “Back from the dead… and eagerly delivering herself to us.”
“But sir,” his right hand man insisted. “Look who she's with!”
“I know who she's with, Sneeze,” Waster snarled at his first mate. “It won’t make a difference; Archduke Razor Tail may be the greatest warrior in the land, but not even he’s omnipotent. He likely doesn’t even know that we made another entrance into the cave with the Abyss’ Eye. Speaking of which…” He turned to another NTU operative. “Mr. Smoke Ring, are the charges in the cavern still set to blow?”
The NTU operative lifted a match and a fuse. “Kaboom!” he giggled insanely.
Waster’s grin was scarier than the wolves for which he was named. “Excellent.”
###
As the crew delved into the caverns, Star moved further ahead, eager to delve into the cave and get what the Archduke needed.
“Star, be careful,” Atlas warned, as Star delved into the cavern.
“Don’t worry, Ms. Atlas,” Star replied with a grin. “I used to squirm through vents and passageways like this all the time back home. Some of the colts and fillies used to call me the Vent Rat for it.”
“You… make it sound like a compliment,” one crew member noted.
“A great man once said, ‘never forget what you are,’” Star replied. “‘Wear it like armor…’”
“‘And it can never be used to hurt you,’” Razor remembered with a grin. “A wise man.”
With one more laugh, Star popped out to the other side. As the sound of her rooting around emanated, one of the crew members noticed something. A crate of familiar red dynamite.
“TNT!” he warned.
A string of cursing filled the air as the other crew members heard the warning and spotted the crate, the magic users casting shield spells to cover as many as they could while the others scattered. As the crew scattered, the fuses suddenly blew.
Star jumped, hearing the explosions behind her. “Captain?!” she asked. "Atlas?!"
She was answered with explosions. Dust coated her fur and the exit widened from the blast, but luckily, the ceiling didn’t cave on her. As the small space rumbled from the force of the explosion, what at first appeared to be a white stone tipped over.
Star gasped in delight: it was the Abyss’ Eye! Seizing it, she tried to hoist it up, only to discover Razor’s line about it being the size of a foal wasn’t hyperbole. Briefly struggling with the jewel, Star looked back as the last of the explosions sounded. To her delight, the explosions had widened the exit more than enough for her and the Abyss’ Eye. Getting an idea, Star rolled the diamond back into the cavern and out.
“Captain, I got it!” she cheered… only to pause.
A massive pile of stone separated her from the crew.
“Captain?!” Star called, shoving the diamond to the side and pressing her hooves against the rock. “Atlas! Can you guys hear me?”
“They can’t,” a voice responded.
Star paused, turning. Down a separate path - one likely opened by the explosions - a group of earth ponies were slowly walking towards her, more like wolves than ponies. They wore uniforms different from the more casual garb of the Outcasts. And the looks in their eyes… they reminded Star of an old memory. A very bad memory.
Despite her heart picking up the pace, Star forced herself to grin. “Well, thank Faust you gentle-stallions are here,” she said, before pulling at the wall. “Can you give me a hoof with this wall, these stones are kinda blocking the path.”
“No duh,” the lead earth pony said. “That’s so that dumb kirin can’t save you.”
Star’s heart raced faster, but she forced her smile to stay in place. “Alright,” she said, turning back to the ponies. “Taking a shot in the dark here, but… you guys ain’t Outcasts, are you?”
The ponies chuckled. “Look at that, she’s a bright one,” one of them noted.
Star’s smirk widened, remembering a little trick her Uncle Flash had once told her. “Oh, you haven’t even seen bright,” she replied, before her horn flashed.
With a BANG like a grenade, a pulse of light burned into the ponies’ eyes. They reeled, clutching their faces with yowls of agony. Wolf Waster was the first to recover, blinking his eyes… only to find Star gone.
He swore. “Spread out!” he roared. “The entrance is blocked; she can’t get away.”
Star heard him right as she reached the exit. Or rather, what would have been the exit. Her heart fell as she found another pile of rocks waiting for her.
Her heart wanted to race; her mind wanted to fall into a panic. But she forced herself to breathe.
‘Okay, Star’ she forced herself to recall. ‘Remember that one story about the colt who was home alone when robbers came to town…’
##
As one of the NTU minions reached the exit, he glared around at the lack of any hoof prints.
“Darn,” he muttered. “Little horse must be using those wings.” He looked up… right as a rock smashed him in the face.
Cackling briefly, Star flew back into the tunnels, shutting her snout and letting her dark fur camouflage her into the shadows. She avoided notice as the NTU ponies converged on their downed companion.
“Wart! You alright?” one of the ponies asked.
They got answered with a laser point lighting up on the rock.
“OH!” was all the minions got out before the rock exploded, hit by a beam spell from Star Wing. Three more minions down, though she wasn’t sure how many were left.
‘No matter,’ she thought as she crawled along the ceiling like a spider. ‘I can handle them…’
##
Smoke Ring and Sneeze looked on with pride at the clearing ahead of them. Strewn with seashells it was, all baited with TNT.
“This is it, Smoke Ring,” Sneeze said with glee. “There’s no way that little princess can get out of this. We’re gonna catch her, and then…”
“Kaboom!” Smoke Ring said gleefully.
“Well, kaboom yeah,” Sneeze admitted. “But then Captain Waster will be so happy with us, and then…”
“Kaboom!” Smoke Ring hissed, pointing.
Sneeze paused, and gasped, as he saw a familiar sparkle of star-like spots heading towards them. “Right, sh-sh…” he whispered, hunching down.
As the two ponies hid, Star came to the entrance to the cavern. Her eyes narrowed as she saw the clam traps laid out for her. Looking up, she saw similar traps hanging from the ceiling. Humming in thought, she glanced at her wings, and shut them tight.
Then, as Sneeze and Smoke Ring watched on in shock, Star began to dance her way around the traps. Spinning, tip-hoofing, and even fluttering gently with her wings, she made her way across the cavern.
Eventually reaching a side that had a small passageway out, Star Wing did one more pirouette, before locking her eyes right on Sneeze and Smoke Ring. She grinned. “Hey, fellas.”
“Kaboom?” Smoke Ring asked.
“Sh-sh-sh!” Sneeze insisted. But Star’s grin only widened as she picked up a small stone.
“Kaboom?” she mused. “What a marvelous idea.”
She then tossed the stone into the air and dove into the passageway. Smoke Ring and Sneeze got one moment to scream, “OH, NO!” before the stone hit.
##
Wolf Waster jumped as Sneeze and Smoke Ring’s screams emanated alongside the rumble of explosions. Unfortunately, when the screams and explosions dissipated, one final sound he heard… was Star Wing’s defiant laugh.
The NTU Captain rubbed his head, sore and annoyed at how well Star had avoided them.
"Little filly is more tricky than I thought. She'd better be worth all this trouble."
He then blinked, realizing something. "Wait... where's my hat?"
"Yo-ho, my lads!" Star called. When they turned to her, she had the hat on. "I'm the Captain now!"
"YOU LITTLE THIEF! GIVE ME BACK MY HAT!!!"
"Come and get it or swab the deck, me hearty," Star replied, jumping out of sight with a laugh.
Wolf growled, before turning to his men. “Well don’t just stand there; get her!”
The ponies scrambled to obey… only to fall into a massive pit. On the other side, Star laughed with glee as their screams were cut off with brutal CRUNCHES, followed by moans of pain.
Her laughing, however, cut off right quick when Wolf managed a massive leap and cleared the pit. He tackled her to the ground, pinning her down and knocking his hat from her head.
Star yelped, scrambling for purchase, only for his hooves to slam into her chest. She squeaked, coughing as she struggled under his grip.
“Alright,” he growled. “Enough of your games, you little brat.”
“Oh, come on…” she choked out despite her fear, her horn lightning up. “I was having fun. Weren’t you?”
She tried for a beam spell in his eye, but he head-butted her hard with a harsh “NO!” Her eyes rolled and her spell went out as he stood over her with a growl.
“The NTU would’ve paid fine bits for you as a virgin,” he growled, re-positioning her underneath him. “But I deserve something for all the trouble you gave me.”
Star struggled to regain her composure, trying to shove him off as he pressed down on top of her. This wasn’t how her story was supposed to play out. Where was Archduke Razor Tail?
Thankfully, just before the wretched pony could go any further with her, an explosion made the entire cavern rumble. A light lit up just ahead of the two. With the pit blocking off his only means of escape, Wolf Waster was only able to stand up and try to draw his pistol as Razor Tail shot around the corner, followed by the rest of the Outcasts.
_________________________________________________________________________
A few minutes earlier
Atlas stood up shaking the dust and rubble off her, the crew around her doing the same. Thankfully, no one was hurt due to the quick shield spells. But she noticed right away that there was no sign of Razor or Star. Before she could dwell on it however, the rubble pile in the center suddenly burst upwards as an armored fist and arm shot up, followed by Razor emerging unhurt but looking very cheezed off as his Nirik form burned ominously.
“Everyone alright?” he asked. After a round of confirmation from everyone - everyone but Star - he pressed the tip of his halberd against the rocks blocking their path before releasing energy, exploding the rocks. The Abyss’ Eye sat forgotten and alone next to the cave entrance. However, Razor’s focus was on the hoof prints leading down what looked like a pony-made tunnel.
“Secure the Abyss’ Eye,” he ordered his crew before he charged after whoever had left the hoof prints. Most of the others followed him, a few only staying behind to follow his orders and make sure the Abyss’ Eye didn’t go anywhere.
_________________________________________________________________________
Wolf drew his pistol as Razor rounded the corner, trying to line a shot up on the Kirin’s head. But Razor was faster on the draw. With a thunderous bang Wolf’s pistol was shot right out of his hoof. The NTU slaver tried to pull out his sword, but Razor was on him before he could even grip the handle.
Then Razor attacked… with his teeth and fire, Wolf could only scream as Razor unleashed the fire and let it burn Wolf for a few minutes, before ending it by literally tearing the Pony’s throat out.
As Razor destroyed the slaver, Star scrambled away, finding sanctuary at Atlas Moth’s side. The Changeling Queen picked Star up and held her against her chest, covering Star’s ears and turning away.
##
As the crew left the caverns behind and Razor sent a group of the Abyss Guard soldiers to find where the NTU had come from, as well as finish off any survivors, Star’s head remained downtrodden.
Atlas leaned down and gave the Filly a gentle nuzzle. “What’s wrong, Star?”
“I got cocky,” Star said. “I almost had them all… and it wasn’t enough.”
Razor turned and smiled at her.
“You did alright Star, not many your age can claim they held off a group of NTU soldiers like you did. But it’s clear you will need training to fight against ones like the Captain.”
“Yeah.” Star realized how glum she sounded, and puffed her chest up. “Yeah, you’re right. I’m gonna be just like the guys in my stories; when they couldn’t overcome something the first time, they trained, got stronger, and overcame it the next time.” She grinned up at her captain. “Next time we clash with the NTU, they’re gonna regret ever messing with me.”
The Outcasts around her smiled, already planning how to train her. Razor then placed a hat on her head, the same one that formerly belonged to Wolf.
“And now you have a reminder of your first adventure.”
Star felt the hat on her head. “A-Are you sure?” she asked hopefully. “I mean… I didn’t beat him…”
“While it may not have gone as you expected, Western Kirin have a saying: any adventure you walk away from is a good one, regardless of the outcome.” He smiled as he gently nudged her with his fist. “And you can say you stole a NTU Captain’s hat right off his head.”
Star smiled at the thought. “Yeah,” she mused, gazing up at the hat. “I guess I did.” She gazed ahead with determined optimism. “Next time, though, I’m gonna have something that I defeated the original owner in battle for.” She quickly turned to Razor. “Of course, I’ll… need training first, but… oh, you know what I meant.”