//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 - Sky Ho! // Story: The Skies Belong to us! // by enamis //------------------------------// Chapter 1 - Sky Ho! “Mhaaaaaaaaaain!” A raspy voice hissed as the headwinds scattered the sound. A creature of gray whit eyes of bright green, dressed in a small red vest pulled back. Clutched in its giant claws was a big, bright amethyst. “OH, NO YOU DON’T!” A small purple figure shouted and leaped forward, tackling the gray creature. The two rolled forward across the deck and slammed into the door leading to the quarters. Another being burst through the doors whit its golden eyes burning whit anger. “What do you dumb-flaks think you’re doing?” The figure whooped and opened its brown wings out of instinct just to look more intimidating. “Heee ssssstarted it!” the larger being hissed in defense. “No I didn’t you hay-licker! That was mine since the last raid!” the smaller protested. “SHUT IT!” the third boomed. She folded her wings and ran a claw through her white feathers. It was odd seeing a griffon out of its pack, especially on a skyship no-less. This one was a unique specimen to say the least, whit a coat of warm, ochre brown and eyes whit a cold golden hue whit purple markings highlighting them along whit the tips of her ruffled feathers. She sighed and rubbed her temples. “Alright you pony manure, let’s take it from the top. What is this about?” the griffon snapped, her anger becoming very noticable. “Thissss pathetic excuse for gem hunter insssists that this is his, when its obviousssly mhain!” the larger being hissed once more. In addition to its ginourmous claws he had a large jaw whit jagged teeth meant to crush rocks or even bones. A tail resembling a spiked club impatiently swayed from one side to another. His sharp claws slowly scratched against the gem in impatience. In addition to the red vest he wore a simple collar lined whit sharpened diamonds and a bright alabaster gem signaling his rank. “Shut your hay-hole you stupid diamond dog!” The smaller creature spoke. Whit a body of purple and scales along its back in a shade of bright green the small dragon stepped in. From his back sprouted two awkward lumps that were supposed to grow into wings. The dragon cast a deadly gaze whit his green eyes. The diamond dong didn’t bother. After a moment of silence and intensive groaning, the griffon finally spoke. “Listen, I have enough migraines already and the weight of keeping this flying piece of buffalo-crap in the air doesn’t help. If you two dumbflanks dont shut it...” The griffon’s eye twitched as she stared down her two crewmembers. “I swear to Cadence I will throw you overboard once were in the STRATOSPHERE!” she shouted in all her griffon might as she placed her sharpened talon at the dog’s neck. “Now give me the gem and don’t utter a single peep or... It. Will. Be. Your. Last...” The diamond dog gulped and shakily handed over the amethyst and instantly skidded away as fast as its tiny legs could allow. The dragon just stood completely paralyzed. “Spike?” “Yes captain Gilda?!” the dragoon dubbed Spike shouted in terror and saluted in front of his captain. “Tell Rover to choke on a crap-bucket. And by that I mean he’s on poop-duty for the rest of the moon.” Gilda calmingly said as she turned around to walk inside. “My pleasure Captain!” Spike saluted once more as a devilish smirk formed on his face. His bud’ was soooo going to get it! “Oh and you’re on deck duty scalewad.” Gilda flashed a sly smirk before slamming the door shut whit her tail. Spike stood on the rickety deck whit a disappointed expression. Well… He thought to himself. At least I'm not stuck on poop-duty! He laughed and walked away to rub it in Rover’s face. --------- “Mom what’s the matter, you look angry?” A small orange filly walked by and saw the griffon whit her head on the table. “Idiots…” Gilda the griffon groaned. “Oh… well then... I’ll be up at the crow’s nest, ok mommy?” “Go ahead squirt.” Gilda lifted her head to meet the filly’s pale purple gaze. She gently tousled the little pony’s fushia mane as they both smiled. The pony happily strutted away as anger had already lifted from the griffon. Something about those eyes… she just loved them… just like she loved her lil’ Scootaloo… “Cap’n?” A voice interrupted Gilda’s happy thoughts. She looked behind her and saw an equine whit a black chitin shell sporting a pair of arctic blue eyes whit no pupils and frail insecticide wings. The creature wore a pale black triangle hat whit a blue outline. Two large fangs poked from its mouth. “Sup’ Checks?” “Why did I allow myself to be named like that…” “Cuz we saved yer’ hole-ridden flank, that’s why! And besides, Checkers isn’t a bad name, it sounds a bit like ‘changeling’ doesn’t it?” The black creature sighed and seemingly rolled its eyes, but you couldn’t really tell. “So what’s up anyway? It’s not like I was having a midlife crisis or anything.” Gilda mocked. The changeling let out an annoyed sigh. “You sigh too much.” Gilda stated. Another sigh. Jeez… “So just tell me what do you want? I still need to do a thing or two around here.” “Our food’s running low, Gilda. Thankfully we stocked up on clear water back at the Valley, but we’re going to have to go on a raid soon.” “Sounds fun, anything on our way to Morr’ock?” “You mean Talos?” “Talos, Morr’ock, what’s the difference, it’s the same place.” Gilda closed her eyes and lay on her back on the long bench. “It’s preferred to call it Talos since the crew consists of mostly uneducated idiots…” “Sure their retards, but what smart pony would want to follow another to the end of the world and back?” Gilda smirked. “True.” The changeling sighed and sat down at Gilda’s feet. “C’mon Checkers, what’s wrong?” Gilda got up and sat next to her sad-looking first mate. “It’s just me and my morals Gilda, don’t bother…” “Oh? Those again? Geez, will you ever get over it?” Gilda added a chuckle to her arrogant smirk. Checkers looked in her eyes and the smile faded. “Listen Check’s…" Gilda stretched out her arm and notably placed it around the changeling's shoulders. "It doesn’t matter who you are or where you are or what you're doing and ether its right or wrong... because your whit a family. Your family... No one cares about anything and at the same time we all care… have you ever had a real family Check?” “You know how drones are born and raised…” “Riiight…” Gilda fell quiet. They simply sat there until a sudden flinch from the griffon. Gilda turned her head and laid a small peck on the changeling’s cheek in the speed of light. A blink of an eye later the door slammed shut and she was gone. Checkers sat there for a long time absorbing the delicious love that filled the air around him. Only for him… it something more than just food… --------- “ALRIGHT SKUNKWADS LISTEN UP!” Gilda ran along the railing before jumping and digging her talons into one of the moorings that connected the ship’s hull and the reinforced balloon. That was her usual announcement point. She flapped her brown wings as she stood there for a couple of seconds. The crew quickly gathered. Scootaloo slid down the pole of the crow’s nest and crashed into Spike that was walking by. From deep within the engine room Sparkler and Dinky emerged whit a thin layer of coal dust covering their faces and bronze goggles hanging from their necks. Out of somewhere Rover peered out, you could practically see the stink-lines. Vinyl finally left her usual post at the front of the ship to join the crew. All that was missing was Checkers but Gilda didn’t worry about him that much. “Alright ya scurvy ridded sacks of flesh, we got’s a new assignment!” Gilda roared in her usual medium-loudness. The crew mumbled whit anticipation. “So, Check’ dropped me a note saying we’re gonna starve to death pretty soon.” The crew gasped. “Just kidding!” Gilda laughed. “But no, seriously, we’re gonna be out of food before we get to Talos so any of you dimwits know a good place for a raid?” The small pale purple unicorn filly whit a dirty-blond mane and an oil stain on her cheek by the name of Dinky pushed through the small crowd and looked up at her captain. “What up Dinkster?” “I’d say PonyVille I mean its on the way and-” the filly started. “DINKY!” Everybody looked back to see Sparkler whit a disappointed grin. “What did you promise mom, young lady?!” Dinky shrank in her shoulders a tad and looked away slowly dragging her hoof around and about the deck’s worn wooden planks. “No raiding PonyVille…” the filly mumbled. “That’s right Dink’s. No.” Sparkler looked up at Gilda and the look in her eyes ended that argument. “How about we just drop by a visit and not raid our hometown, eh? They practically shower us whit gifts anyway…” Spike suggested. Gilda rolled her golden eyes in slight annoyance. “It’s not going to be fun, but fiiiiiiine!” the griffon grunted. The crew smiled. “On one condition.” The smiles went away. “We get to raid the next town of my choosing.” The griffon smirked. “…Fair enough...” “...Yea I guess so…” “…I wonder what the CE are doin’?…” “…God, I miss home…” “…Mommy here I come!…” The mutual agreements brought a smile to the grumpy griffon’s face. She stretched out her giant wings and positioned herself head-down. “ONWARDS AND UPWARDS!!!” Gilda roared as the entire crew suddenly began to cheer. “Thunder and Lightning!” She continued as the entire crew took their positions. Scootaloo climbed back up to the crow’s nest and whipped out a brass telescope. Spike ran down to the engine room to ignite it whit his breath. Dinky took Checker’s place at the wheel and calibrated the course for their hometown. Rover, Sparkler and Vinyl ran to adjust the sails and ‘wings’ as they had grown to call them. “I SAID THUNDER AND LIGHTNING!” Gilda roared once more and took flight. She landed on the tip of the bowsprit and let the wind rustle her feathers. “WINGS AND STEEL!” The crew shouted back. Gilda smiled. “ONWARDS AND UPWARD CUZ THE SKY AINT’ OUR LIMIT!!!” she roared as the skyship gained momentum and sailed onwards. To adventure!