High Tide, Low Company

by MacDragon


Uprising

Uprising

They galloped through the tunnels quickly; their plan had been enacted as night fell. The island militia had decided to retake the island this night and their plans would help them achieve it. There were three groups responsible for three objectives that kept the island in control under Draquus Command.

Pip had volunteered himself and his crew to help with the fight. He was partnered with a group of ponies from the island, along with three Guardians, Quillweave being one of them. Radko and Quix had gone with a larger group that was responsible for taking back the port, much to Radko’s disproval. He’d been less than thrilled to hear that Pip had volunteered to work alongside the Draquus, whom he made no point to hide his mistrust. Pip understood his reserves, but he figured that if the Draquus meant him harm he’d have done so long before now.

They continued through the twisting tunnels for some time before their leader held up and slowed considerably, forcing the rest of them to slow down to a walk. Silence ensued as they moved, nopony dared make a noise louder than a breath. The tunnel rose gently upward as they moved on, eventually they made it to a spot where the tunnel seemed to end, it was here they stopped and many of them began checking their gear and tightening their belts. “This is it, were at the door, since its dark out so we will be ok for the most part, as long as we don’t come out of here in the middle of a Draquus patrol. Gear up. Captain Pip, Quillweave, are you both ready?” Asked the pony.

Quillweave and Pip looked over their odd equipment, Quill replied in confidence, “Yes.” Pip eyed the bandoliers he wore. Each one contained three little ceramic orbs, painted black with a thin braided fuse. Nixx had worked through the day creating the few they had. He’d filled each one with different powders. Nixx had been sure to explain to them that they were to be planted at various places inside and around the outpost, such as barracks, or supply tents. What exactly they did though Pip was unsure. “Yes, let’s go.” He replied.

With that the lead pony stepped up to the slanted wall and carefully pushed against it, there was a slight breeze as the air from outside spilled in, the scent of salt and campfires mixed in the air around them. Pip looked forward to see a doorway now stood open leading into the dark night. There was a quiet whistle and with it the Guardian ponies walked out slowly and vanished into the night. Soon after there was another shrill, chirping whistle; this time they all filed out quickly and as quietly as they could manage. Pip was at a loss as where to go so he followed the others as best he could, working their way to the staging area.

They soon reached an overgrown hill where they ducked behind boulders, trees, and the tall native grass. Below them they could see the Draquus outpost, torches lighting the night in flickering orange light. It sprawled out in a misshapen setup, guard towers irregularly spaced along the borders separated sometimes by large empty spaces. What little Pip knew of land based tactics, and it truly was small, told him enough to know that this mashed defense was halfway put together by their view, messy and inefficient. They camp was exposed in many areas, straight to the center. At least it would make their mission that much easier to achieve.

He knew his job; he could see it from here. Along with Quillweave he was to infiltrate the outpost, plant the bandoliers in key positions they had marked out to him before they moved out. One was an armory where the camps gunpowder was kept; the other was either a barracks or a mess hall. Quillweave had his own targets as well, a large storage building; the other was the Draquus command tent. This target he had volunteered for. Pip knew stealth was key here, the others would remain behind, far enough as to not blow their cover, but still close enough that if trouble arose they would be able to assist. Even with that though Pip knew in his gut that if trouble arose they’d be hard pressed to get to them in time, silence was key for certain.

“Are you ready?” Came a whisper that drew Pip from his lookout. He looked around for its source but could not see who had said it. There was a shuffle near the brush to his left, it was then he spotted the owner of the voice, but only just so. It was a pony with a muted brown coat and tightly braided mane by what Pip could make out by close study. The pony was hard to recognize visually on account of his attire, for he was covered from head to hoof in some kind of concealing mesh that hung loosely about his frame and was woven together out of what looked like the very grass he stood near.

Pip replied without much pasue, “Yes.” The camouflaged pony immediately began moving down the hill towards the encampment, swiftly followed by Pip and Quillweave. They followed a dried creek bed down to the edge of the outpost where the brush grew dense and allowed them to remain hidden as they approached the camps outer wall.

It was a simple wall, mostly made of stacked timber and a scattering of barbed wire. Nothing more intricate than that had been used in its design. “Shall we go then?” he asked with a slight step forward.

“Wait!” Said the camouflaged pony in a sharp whisper and an outstretched fore hoof.

“What is it?” Pip asked in an alarmed tone.

In answer to this the pony kicked a fair sized stone into the open grass between them and the edge of the encampment. Pip was not sure of the purpose, if it even had one, that this served. He soon found out though. As he watched the rock sail through the sky and land, or should have landed, in the grass. Instead it vanished with a whisper of disturbed leaves. Pip looked closer. Where the stone should have hit ground it instead had fallen into a hole that had previously been covered up.

“Holes?” he said in a quiet question.

“Not just holes, Pits. Punji pits to be exact.” Said the pony.

“Punji pit? What exactly is that supposed to be?” Pip replied once again.

“It is a hole dug in the ground around a defending area. They are filled with spikes, usually poisoned. If the fall into one does not kill you then the poison will. It’s slow and painful.” Replied Quillweave in a hushed whisper.

“How do we get there then?” Pip questioned.

“Watch.” Said the pony and pointed to the edge of the encampment where a Draquus guard was patrolling the perimeter. As they watched he wove his way through the open field in a twisting path. Now that Pip looked he could see many more holes that were concealed with grass and leaves, obvious to a searching eye but nearly invisible to anypony who would walk into the field aimlessly.

As Pip watched the guard walk through the field he was suddenly anxious of the uncovered pit, he was certain it would notify the Draquus of their presence. Just as he had this though the creature, pony he corrected himself, once the pony reached the spot where the uncovered pit was located he watched as the Draquus leaned down and arranged the grass to cover the pit once more and then stand upright again, looking around cautiously. Pip stifled a sharp breath when the ponies gaze fell on him, its eyes were not round, no kindness showed in them, they were slit, like a dragon, or a lion, predatory. Pip was at once frightened and worried, both for his sake and the sake of his crew and the ponies on the island. He stared back; it was all he could do, stare back in horrified fascination. He was certain the pony knew he was there and was sure to raise alarm but he was gladly disappointed when the Draquus looked elsewhere and then walked on, again in his winding fashion, vanishing around the next turn of the walls. Pip sighed in relief and looked to the others who looked as relieved as he did.

“I hope you payed attention to his path.” Said the pony that had lead them there.

“I did.” Quillweave said in response when Pip didn’t answer.

“Good, because it’s now that you must go. The guard will pass again in just a few moments now go, and be careful.” Said the pony.

Quillweave moved quickly out of the brush, Pip stuttered a moment but was quick to follow. Quill moved with lithe grace, cautious of each deadfall and spot on the ground that hid the deadly pit traps. Pip followed as best he could, but even with that he was unaccustomed to moving with such agility on dry land, he could move freely and with as much grace as Quillweave did at sea, but land was different still for him, even with that though he managed to follow him through the large open field.

They made it to the other side and into the camp just as the patrolling guard passed into the field once more, headed the opposite direction. Pip and Quillweave were pressed close to the edge of the nearest timber pile crouched low to avoid being seen. The guard passed by without pause. Quill looked to Pip and then with a wink vanished into the night.

Pip was at first fairly surprised that the other pony just left him there, but then he remembered they had a time limit to achieve their goal. He took a deep breath and hurried off to his objectives.

Pip did his best to remain silent, but on the hard packed ground it was difficult. Thankfully the dark of the night did well to hide him, as long as he stayed in the shadows at least. The last part proved more difficult than he had expected, more than once he was forced to make quick nervous dashed across lit areas. Each time frayed his nerves; he knew if he was caught he’d be killed for sure.

Dodging the random patrols and odd Draquus was easy enough for him, they didn’t seem to think that anyone would dare sneak into their camp and so their observation was more relaxed than it should have been, but Pip was not one to complain. The sooner he got to his objectives, the sooner he could leave. He walked slowly between tents, some of which he could hear snoring, others silent. He paused and huddled close to the dark side of one as a Draquus passed by him, so close he could see the fangs that protruded from behind its upper lip, and the transparency of the bat like wings. It passed quickly and turned down another path, the wind of its passing smelled of meat, Pip swallowed a gag and the accompanying horror.

Edging out just enough to look both ways he made sure it was clear before sauntering quickly to the other side of the main path, immersing him once more in the world of tents and snores. Ahead and to the left he could see his first target, the mess hall. It looked markedly empty; he had expected to have more difficulty at this spot considering it was where they ate.

Pip looked to and fro, once positive it was clear he made his move, he crept around the tent, looking for a good place to drop the bandolier. He found it soon enough, he left it in a pile of boxes and unopened casks. With that he dashed to the closest set of tents and ducked low in the dark corners, taking pause long enough to slow his pounding heart. He took a steadying breath and then steeled his nerves for the final objective.

He worked his way past tents, piles of boxes and barrels, and past patrols as carefully as he could be with his nerves fraying a little more each moment he spent in the presence of the horrifying creatures. Normally things of evil or monsters of the night would not bother him, but the idea that these ones in particular had once been ponies like him for some reason terrified him more than usual. Just the thought that they would eat animals, even other ponies possibly, was enough to make him sick with fear. But Pip was accustomed to fear and it only motivated him more to do his mission right.

Up ahead he could see the fires of a forge, hear the clang of mallet on metal. Down the way from this was the storage area for their firearms. Pip tore his vision from the forge and worked his way to the storage building. It was large, probably able to store as much as the holds on his ship. Surely not all of it was gunpowder. There was a guard though, a big one, Pip was not intimidated by this though, and normally the big brutish ones were as simpleminded as they were strong. But he was not going to chance it, Quillweave was nearly as big as this one, but he was sharp as a tac. Pip thought of a way to get around the guard. Then he remembered the pony in camo, the trick he’d used to uncover the pits. Simple and easy, Pip kicked a rock and watched as it went clattering into an area of boxes to the guards other side.

It worked; the guard had heard it and went to inspect the noise, leaving Pip with an opening, and he took it. Inside the building was dark, nearly impossible to see at first, but ever so slowly Pips vision adapted to the darkness and he could see clearly enough. He found he was suddenly wishing it had not cleared as much as it did.

From the moment he was able to see he was mortified. He was right in assuming that the building was used for more than just powder storage, but he had not once stopped to imagine what else could be inside, he wished he had. From the rafters hung a grotesque assortment of animals, all limp and lifeless, some still covered in fur, others were sliced open, gutted, and some still dripping blood, fresh. Pip gagged repetitively, trying his hardest not to vomit. It was then he noticed the spot on the floor he stood upon was sticky, he looked down and was once again greeted with a grisly scene, the floor around the area was red with blood, mostly dry but still wet enough to be sticky and with each step it grew less sticky and more slick as he neared passing under the still bleeding animal bodies above.

Pip forced himself to move, stifling the bile that rose in his throat. He passed under the hanging bodies and into a cleaner area. Here he sat for a moment to catch his breath and force his stomach to settle as it churned and tried to force its way out. He could still smell the blood in the air but noticed it was mixing with another smell, a bit metallic and burnt. Gunpowder.

Pip forced himself to his feet once more and ambled through the dark into another room. This one was filled predominantly with large barrels marked with caution warnings. These had to be it, he was certain of it. He removed the final bandolier and set them behind the barrels. After that he moved quickly through the building, he found another door, a larger one, probably used for loading and unloading. He took that route and was outside quickly. There was no sign of any patrols about so he moved toward the rows of tents in front of him to make his escape.

Or so he had planned. Before he could though something heavy slammed into him, knocking him off his hooves, it was on him in a flash. He was pinned, the large figure holding him in place. Pip looked up, it was the guard. The large draquus grinned with a sharp toothed smile and a deep gravely laugh. Pip kicked hard at the creature’s armored chest to no avail. He knew he was in for it when the pony reared up to deliver the killing blow, so he braced himself. It never landed, another assailant slammed into the draquus with a muted thud. Pip blinked and saw it was another draquus, no, it was Quillweave.

Pip watched as Quillweave bowled into the other draquus with brute strength. Kicking and lunging every step of the way, virtually all the other pony cold do was try and dodge the blows as they came. This went on for some short time, it was a quiet struggle, one wanting stealth, the other wanting the glory of the kills to himself. It was a miracle nopony else heard the scuffle as it continued.

Pip watched as they kicked and rushed each other, neither giving nor gaining ground. Then to his astonishment Quillweave did something wholly unexpected. With the makings of a kick the other draquus went to move, when he did so Quillweave dropped the kick and lunged forward instead, whipping his head up under the others chin.

There was a thump as they made contact, and there they froze, in a strange stance, face to neck. Pip wondered if they had both just stopped from exhaustion at first, then in the sudden silence that followed he could hear strained breathing from one of them. Pip looked closer and noticed the other draquus was wide eyed, nostrils flaring, and he could hear the sound of its breathing becoming heavier, more labored. He looked down to where Quillweave still held his head just below the ponies chin, it was then he noticed the blood, trickling down its neck in a red stream.

There was a quick frenzy of movement from the other draquus, it bucked weakly, then gave a kick that landed with a soft thud on Quillweaves armor. It continued to struggle but somehow Quillweave was able to keep it still. Suddenly there was a sickeningly audible crunch, followed by a strangled whiney of pain that gargled out of the draquus’ mouth with a stream of fresh blood. Its legs shook and its eye’s rolled back in its head as it collapsed to the ground, it was not breathing, dead; Pip realized.

Quillweave did not move his head as the pony fell but instead began to move so the body drug with him. It was at that moment Pip realized he was not simply holding his head there but instead had a firm grip around the pony’s throat, fangs buried deep in its neck. Quillweave drug the body behind the building and as Pip watched, opened his jaws a little at first then more as his fangs slid out from the draquus’s jugular with a dribble of blood oozing out in globs behind them, Quillweaves muzzle was covered in blood, Pip watched in disgust as he licked his lips clean and rubbed a forehoof over the parts he missed to wipe away the worst of it, he then proceeded to spit on the ground repetitively to expel the blood from his mouth.

“I hate doing so.” He said in a weak voice, spitting again as he walked back to Pip. “We need to leave now, quickly.”

“Yes, Yes. Let us leave this place at once.” Pip replied in an equally disturbed voice.

They went together through the tent city that made up the camp, once again dodging guards and patrols maneuvering through sleeping draquus, and hiding in what darkness they could find. They reached the walls in good time, with no alerts raised, things were good. Pip had not expected to make it as far as they had, luck was on their side. Pip and Quill looked to and fro across the open expanse of grass, judging their path through the punji traps. There was a whisper of movement from across the way, a stone plopped into the grassy area quickly swallowed by a pit. Pip couldn’t help but give a slight smirk, the ponies timing was impeccable.

They waited patiently as the guard patrolling the area passed them by; again, nonchalantly covering the trap, before disappearing around the next turn allowing them to make their move. Quill went first, quickly picking his way through the traps, marking the safe trail for Pip, who followed close behind. They moved carefully until they were close to the far side. Quill passed the last of the traps; Pip hot on his tail, Quillweave suddenly stumbled and started moving to the side in an odd falling fashion. Pip saw the trap open up as the cover fell in, without thinking he body checked the draquus as hard as he could, closing his eyes as he went. They crashed into the brush in a heap. Pip looked around; Quillweave was there, as was the camouflaged pony that was squished beneath him. Quill looked to Pip with a nod of thanks and quickly picked himself up off their guide.

“We need to go, quickly. Our time to rendezvous with the other group is approaching quickly.” Said the pony in a hushed whisper.

“Very well, lead the way.” Quillweave said.

They moved off in a quiet hurry. The camp below was oblivious to their presence as they crested the hill and met up with the others. Once they had arrived the rest of their group grabbed their things and followed the ranger pony quickly. It was full night, by then. They had timed their actions very well and were only but a few moments off of their scheduled time. They followed no noticeable trail as they went across the countryside, their guide seemingly picking a path on whim. More than once they were required to duck behind trees and cover as draquus patrols passed on high.

Pip could soon smell the sea on the air, more so he could smell the scent of fish, a nauseating smell, not like at sea, but more like what one smelled when working close with seafaring creatures of the meat eating variety, and he’d had plenty of proof of that to know what could be expected in the port they were to take in the wee hours of the morning. He pushed the thought from his mind, focus was important.

They met up with the second group as they came upon a wooded ridge overlooking the Port. There were a large number of the Guardian ponies waiting for them; Pip had been unaware as to just how many of them were around. They all waited patiently, standing just behind the trees that hid them as they viewed the port below. Pip walked to the closest tree he dared to for fear of being seen. Looking out over the port made him realize why the other ponies had insisted on a diversion, the port was crowded with draquus, they moved to and fro as they went about their nightly routines about the docks. How so many of them could work effectively Pip didn’t know, but he did see that without a diversion they would be trotting into certain doom.

“Were ready.” He heard behind him. Pip turned and could see the leader of the local ponies speaking with Nixx. His technician nodded his head and Pip noticed right away as he began working some spell he’d not seen the tech perform. It was quick, but it produced a sparkling light, like the fuse on a firework. The flame hovered above the technician for a moment before splitting into a group of the fizzling sparking lights. They all hovered for a moment before vanishing with a snap, whizzing away in the direction they had just come. Pip looked at the tech with a questioning look, the technician only smiled back in a wry, mischievous look.

Almost as soon as the sparks vanished the Guardians began to muster, loading weapons, tightening armor, and bowing to one another in some practice Pip failed to understand. Quillweave was a part of it as well, regardless of his appearance. His brethren seemed to be oblivious to his different look, just as he had claimed. The other ponies, the locals, also prepared their things, mostly checking over one another’s gear in brotherly fashions or just talking in low voices to one another. They grouped into two groups, one on the left of the ridge and one to the right, where the slope of the hill ran smooth and formed a natural incline downhill on either side.

Quillweave trotted over to Pips group where they had remained as the others prepared.

“Left or right, Captain Pip, your crew follows you; I would do so myself but I must lead my brethren myself.” Said Quill, as he lowered a helmet over his head, it matched the rest of his armor, every surface scrawled with writing.

Pip looked to either side; both were identical and no doubt had the same roles. Either way it was no different. “What does it matter? Are they not the same?” He asked.

“The same? Why ever would you think that? There is always a difference. Some simple, some complex, like if you choose right, you’re not on the left, so therefore it’s different! The outcome will change, but how, is only known by action.” Said the draquus.

Pip didn’t really understand the ponies track of thought but he chose anyway, “Right, we will go right.”

“Good, Good. I’m sure the right side will do just fine, but so too will the left side, I’m certain.” Quill said cryptically, followed by a chuckle.

The laugh was what keyed Pip into the simple fact that the draquus was just playing mind games with him to lighten the mood. He laughed back in good humor.

“May the winds of battle guide you to safety friend.” He said and turned to join his clan.

Pip shot a quick question back before the draquus was out of earshot, “What is the writing on your helmet?”

“So you noticed,” he said, turning back, “this is another story from the land that we come from. One close to my heart and so, close to my mind. The words protect me, another gift, but not from my order. Perhaps if we survive the night I will tell it to you, but for now, we must make ready. I’d imagine our time of action draws near.” He turned away and trotted to join the rest of the Guardians, taking a place near their front.

As if on cue, there was a sudden series of booms; Pip looked out past the wooded grove they stood in, back the way they had come. There were flashes of light, loud thumps as the sound of small explosions reached them from afar. A dull glow rose in the distance. For a moment Pip wondered what it was, and then there was a massive fireball that lit the night sky for miles around in an angry red and orange glow, followed by an ear shattering explosion that broke dead sticks from the trees above, and shook the ground below their hooves.

Pip turned back to look down upon the port below. The draquus had stopped their business and now all looked skyward. After a split second of stillness many of them began taking wing. So many took flight that it looked as though a black cloud floated above the port, then as a flock of birds does during migration they headed off towards the outpost, flying directly over their position, casting flickering shadows upon the ground around them as they passed above.

The cloud of draquus passed rapidly, still they waited, until Pip could no longer make out the dark forms of the draquus overhead. They waited for some time after. Everypony was still as stone, a group of statues standing ready. Then out of the motionless silence one of the locals stepped forward into the open and produced a horn that he promptly blew into with all the wind in his lungs. The deep baritone note echoed down the hill in one long, unbroken bugle. This was followed by a many voiced shout from all the ponies around them, save for the guardians who remained still.

As the many voiced call reached its crescendo the two sides began their charge down the slope towards the port, and the remaining draquus. Pip and his band followed, crystal clear on what was expected of them. It was not a blind, confused charge, but one built on savage adrenaline and anger. Pip was flanked on either side by Radko and Nixx who were bent on making sure their captain was safe, Quix was just behind them, both he and Nixx held their crossbows close with magic.

The drumming of their hooves drowned out the calls of the draquus below, there were a lot of them, but most had left to investigate the blaze that towered into the sky behind their charging line. The draquus formed up as well, some taking to the sky with long lances, others remaining on the ground, a solid wall of seething opposition.

As they drew closer, Pip could see the heavily armored creatures smiling in vicious anticipation. They towered above all but a couple of the ponies in their own line. The draquus had the distinct advantage of size and brute strength on their side, there was no doubt about that, Pip noticed their line beginning to slow, ever so slightly as they drew near the draquus line. They held their momentum though, none would give, but they continued to slow, they knew crashing headlong into the line of creatures would cost them; they didn’t know what to do now but continue to charge.

They didn’t have to think for long though; there was a vibration in the air, slight at first but quickly growing into a powerful magical field in front of them. Then out of the wall of flickering magic came the Guardians, charging ahead of their line, giants in their own right, each one in front had large lances of their own pointed forward, the noise of their armored hooves striking the ground drown out even that of the larger group behind them, it sounded as though a thunderstorm rose from below.

The effect was immediate. The draquus line faltered almost instantly, but it was too late for them to turn. The Guardians crashed down on them like a tidal wave of steel. Pip watched as the Guardians slammed into the ranks of the draquus with brutal precision. Each lance finding its mark, the effects were gruesome.

The crunching of bones, splitting screams of pain and the crash of metal meeting metal tore through the air. Pip watched as one Guardians lance punched through the chest plate of its target, driving deep into the ponies’ chest cavity, and punching out through the bottom of its rear left leg. The Guardian let go of his magical hold on the lance instantly even as it continued its charge. Others did the same as they tore through the draquus line with impunity. The second line of ponies could do nothing more than leap over the shattered bodies as they drew closer to the slowing line of Guardians.

The armored ponies were wreaking havoc on the draquus. Those that were not engaged in hoof to hoof combat had taken up their powerful crossbows and were dropping the airborne ones from the sky around them with deadly precision; a rain of pin cushioned bodies fell from the sky. The Guardians had stopped their charge, now wading into the mass of bodies that was the draquus line. They kicked with practiced aim, each blow landing with massive force. Pip watched as one of the Guardians brought a fore hoof down and connected with the draquus he fought. Its horn shattered under the impact, the blow flattened the draquus to the ground, and its head no longer resembled a healthy round shape. Some of the guardians had drawn their swords; they swung in great arcs, and thrust with pin point perfection. Their magic affording them a longer distance of attack than the magic inept draquus could manage. The large swords crushed any unlucky enough to get in range. As much as they smashed those they hit, they also cut, often severing the limb they made contact with.

Countless bodies littered the ground, and even the rooftops as the guardians performed their deadly dance about the port. What draquus that were remaining were ill prepared to fend off such a violent assault and they fell in the dozens. Blood grew thick upon the port grounds, if one were not careful of ones hooving they could easily fall. Their coats were flecked with blood as it rained from the sky, more draquus above succumbing to the practiced accuracy of the Guardians below.

The second line of ponies, his line, had made contact in all the butchery. The locals proved to be quite able to hold their own against the few draquus who escaped the onslaught of the Guardians. They worked in teams, or pairs, never one on one Pip noticed. A good decision as one draquus stood almost half a shoulder above any of them, or more.

Radko suddenly made impact with Pip, shoving him to the side as a lance fell from above and drove into the ground where he had been standing. A draquus swooped down from above and landed heavily behind Radko, sword drawn and ready; a mistake from the start.

Radko bucked his back legs into the assailant’s chest with all his might. There was an audible crunch of breaking ribs. The draquus dropped to his knees, Pip looked over and saw to large puncture wounds in its side that were gushing blood with every heartbeat. The creature wavered and fell to its side with a crash, there it stayed, blood pumping out in spurts till it slowed and stopped. Pip was at once thankful that the weapons Radko wore on his legs were theirs and not the enemies...

The fighting had spread all across the port by the looks of it. The draquus were suffering heavy casualties. Their attempts to regroup were thwarted time and again by the Guardians, many of which now had taken up support roles, leading the local ponies in combat, they were taking the port quickly, soon the draquus were being pushed back, out of the port.

The first rays of morning light were beaming over the land when sails were spotted coming around to the mouth of the bay. Pip looked to it, the morning sun made it hard to see against the brightness. Regardless, Pip knew it was the Bonnie Lass, he would know it anywhere.

The ship sailed straight into port, guns blazing; the crew on board did their captain proud. Almost every shot fired was a direct hit on a draquus vessel roped in the harbor. The thundering of cannons was loud; the first round of fire brought the combatants to a standstill, the locals, Guardians, and Draquus alike. Once they saw the first volley make contact with a draquus ship the remaining draquus began to fight harder. They ran to their ships, to try and save what they could, to escape. They fought fiercely, but they were losing quickly, the port would be taken from them soon enough.

Quillweave was suddenly at his side, “Quickly! You must be away from here, the others are coming back from the diversion, we can’t guarantee your survival, nor the survival of your ship and crew. Already they are in sight, they close rapidly. You must leave now! I will lead you the way, quickly now!” He shouted at them and set off toward the end of the port where Pip could make out a longboat rowing toward the shore covered by heavy fire from the deck of the Bonnie Lass.

Pip and the others raced after Quillweave. They dodged through fighting and collapsing masts, fire and gunshot. Pip looked back the way they had come, the fighting had stopped, the draquus defeated, but in the distance a great cloud of darkness approached the dock. The large force that had left to investigate the explosions was returning; Pip knew at once they outnumbered the locals and the guardians. The coming fight would crush them.

They made it to the longboat where they were greeted by more of his crewmembers, happy to see him but eager to get back aboard the Bonnie Lass. Pip looked back again to the approaching cloud of Draquus. He then looked to Quillweave who was watching as well.

“This whole thing, you knew they would not be able to take the port, what was the purpose of this whole plan? You will all surely perish, why go to this trouble?” He asked even as he was ushered into the waiting longboat.

The Draquus, the Pony, responded without turning. “The island was lost long ago, those remaining have etched out a living here, they survive as best they can under the reign of these monsters. Not in peace of course but in secret, in hopes that one day help would come. And so it did, with you. When we discovered you hail from Equestria we knew it was time to act. Everything up to now was done so that you could get word back to your nation, to the Princesses; to both plead for help on our behalf, on their behalf, and to warn your own kingdom of the coming darkness. Now go, we will cover your escape, fear not for us, we will meet again, Go, now go!”

Pip wanted to say more but got no chance as the Draquus galloped forward and snapped open his wings, leaping into the air and soaring off to join the defending locals and his brethren.

They made it to the Bonnie Lass and were hauled unceremoniously aboard. Pip ran to the helm and looked out to the port as the wind caught their sails and pushed them out of the bay. He could see everything. The cloud of creatures was descending upon the port defenders in mass, all from on high. As they exited the mouth of the bay into open waters he could see the defenders fleeing deeper into the buildings around the port as they were forced back. It was then he noticed the draquus flying out over the bay, they were coming for the Bonnie Lass. They would not make it. There was not enough wind.

Suddenly there was a flash of light from the center of the defending line, Pip ran to the spotting scopes and with no great manners shoved the watch pony aside and looked through himself to see its source. The entire band of guardians was smack in the middle of the writhing mass of Draquus, they held firm, the stories he’d been told holding true to their prowess. But the numbers were pressing in on them.

Still they fought.

Another flash, this time brighter and followed by a pulse that made the air around the port ripple with magic.

Pip looked up, a swarm of draquus was getting nearer to the mouth of the bay they had just exited, and they would be on them in no time.

Yet another flash tore through the sky, the air in front of the pursuing draquus rippled with magic powerful enough that it distorted their pursuer’s bodies like one might see when looking on hot stone in the summer.

Another bright flash enveloped the sky, Pip looked through the scope; the Guardians had stopped fighting as the draquus around them shielded their eyes.

A final flash seared the sky and air all around the port. So bright it cast shadows across the deck of the Bonnie Lass, the radiant light temporarily blinding them all before it vanished with a clap of thunder.

Once his vision cleared Pip looked out across the water to the port and the Guardians, a rippling blue sphere surrounded the entire bay, he could see the broken bodies of the pursuing draquus plummeting to the water below on the other side of the bubble. The Guardians had continued their fight now, there was no sign of the local ponies anywhere in the port, Pip feared the worst. They sailed away quickly as the wind picked them up in its powerful grip; the last thing he could make out in the brawl he watched through the scope was the Guardians in a tight circle, fighting in all angles. In the center stood Quillweave, watching from afar as Pip and his crew sailed away.

Pip pulled back from the scope and looked with his own eyes on the scene behind them. There was a massive magical barrier surrounding the port, it must have been what stopped their pursuers. Its surface was engraved with darker images of twisting vines and leaves. It was all at once a work of art and a formidable defense, truly powerful magic.

Pip turned away from the scene as a shout for his attention came from the forward spotter.

“Captain! Sails!” yelled the spotter.

Pip trotted to the scope and looked through it. Out in the distance he could just make out sails of black. Many sails, large and daunting, the vessel was massive, but it was fleeing. It matched every description he’d been given. He immediately gave orders to set course to follow. He knew this was the ship responsible for destroying Jibland, he was determined more than ever to get to the bottom of this threat.

He trotted back to the helm where Dinky stood at the wheel. He looked to her, it had been nearly a week since he’d last seen her he realized, happiness and fear shot through his mind at once, the trials ahead he feared for her safety, but he was happy to know she was with him. Fatigue gripped him and his eyes grew heavy. Dinky smiled at him and said in a whisper, “Go, Sleep, I will watch the ship.”

Pip nuzzled her warmly, inhaling softly, holding the smell of her in his nose for a moment before he retired to his quarters. He fell into the bed gratefully, his eyes drooping quickly as sleep overtook him. He rolled into a more comfortable position before he lost the ability to. He looked around him as a crowd of bubbles floated in through the window and danced about his head, lulling him into much needed sleep.