//------------------------------// // Chapter 6 // Story: Captain's Journey // by Sphinx_Herald //------------------------------// “So, why are we going back to Hayvana? We barely managed to get out last time!” says Captain as he and his crew sail for the pirate forsaken city. “We're going there because we might be able to find a docked brig. If we can, it means we won’t have to fight as many soldiers as we would if we were to find one at sea,” replies Ebony. “I guess that makes sense. Sounds like you know what you’re doing. Are you sure you weren’t a pirate before we met?” asks Captain raising an eyebrow. “I never said that I wasn’t a pirate. Which I’m not, by the way. I’m just… smart, that’s all you need to know.” “Fine, don’t tell me,” he says. “Why don’t you drop the disguise?” he whispers to her. “We just met them. They would try to kill me if they find out now. I’ll show them at some point if they’re still with us, and if we all survive long enough.” “Fair enough. Starry, are we still on course?” he asks. “Yes, we are still on course. Why would you think we are off course?” replies Starry. “I just feel we that are going the wrong way,” he says. “You have no sense of direction whatsoever. If we were listening to your directions we’d be at Canterlot. I, on the other hoof, don’t make mistakes.” “Let me get this straight. We are not going to use cannons?” says Smokey. He is sitting against the rail of the boat, cleaning out his flintlock pistols. “No, we need the ship,” replies Ebony. “That ain’t no fun.” Captain hears the word ‘idiot’ mumbled from somewhere over by Starry and gives a little chuckle. “Tell you all what. When we get this ship, I’ll treat us all to some rum,” he says. They continue on in silence, until they arrive at the city. The harbour is a large concrete structure just above the water with several wooden docks expanding outwards from it. Merchant ships rush to unload their cargo and deliver it to the stores. The concrete mass is littered by small merchant stalls, large groups of ponies gather around to see what they are selling. Large stacks of crates and barrels line the waters edge, waiting for pick-up. Even from the water, Captain can see the large number of guards posted along the streets. I wonder who they are looking for, he thinks sarcastically. It doesn’t take him long to spot a brig, further down the harbour. It has Celestial Royal Navy flags, about sixteen cannons, and a large ram fitted to it. It has white stained wood with gold trim (usual colors for Celestia’s army). Perfect, not as good as a galleon, but good enough for now, he thinks. They dock their boat a good distance away from their target so they won’t be noticed. Ebony stands up, and turns toward Captain. “You’re going to have to wait here,” she states bluntly. “What, why? I can help take the ship!” “Yes, but there are a lot of guards out there. I think it’s safe to assume that they are looking for us, and you’re not hard to miss,” she says pointing at his pink mane. “Please don’t mention my mane. Also I’m the captain I have to go.” “No you don’t. If you go out there you’ll get us all caught. I’ll make sure we get the ship, and I’ll send someone to get you.” He lets out a sigh. “I guess you’re right. Good luck then.” “Thanks. Arrel, Smokey, Howler, you’re with me, come on.” The four walk off of the ship, and onto the dock. They make their way past the merchant stalls and through the crowded harbour, trying to remain unnoticed by the guards. Which is easier said than done since there is a diamond dog in the group. However they manage to make it to an alleyway a short distance from the brig, without incident. Ebony turns to Arrel, “I need you to do some recon. Fly above them come back, and tell us what we are up against,” she says. Arrel shoots up, his colors camouflaging him into the sky. “Right, the two of you get ready. We’ll go after he comes back.” A few moments later, Arrel lands in front of the group. “There are four guards on the ship itself. There are another four on the dock stopping anyone from getting to it. There is still some cargo on board which means, more are going to be coming, or they’re leaving soon.” he says. Ebony sits there taking in the information for a minute before looking back at the crew. “Okay, I have a plan. Howler you’ll have to swim around the ship, and come up from the water. Arrel, and Smokey, you two cover him from the air. Avoid attracting the attention of the ones on the dock. Try to keep it quiet, that means no guns Smokey.” “Why, can’t we just kill them all?” asks Smokey “No, there are too many guards posted around here. If they see or hear us we’ll be surrounded in seconds.” “What if the ones on the dock notice us?” asks Arrel. Ebony takes a deep breath, “You kill them,” she finally says. “What are you going to be doing?” “I won’t be fighting, if that’s what you are asking. I’ll try to distract the rest of the guards around here. Once you get the ship come and get us from the gunboat.” “Got it.” Arrel says before taking to the air with Smokey. Howler dashes down the harbour a bit, then jumps in the water. Now, how do I get the attention of the guards? she thinks. She comes out of the alleyway and turns toward a slightly crowded vendor stall, a colt runs out of the group with a bag of bits in him mouth. An idea hits her and she ducks into the alleyway. A minute later a yellow earth pony mare comes walking out. She approaches two guards, trying to look as unassuming as possible, idling glancing around. Though the act is dropped the second she is close enough. She yanks the bit pouch off one of the guards and runs down the harbour, keeping the water to her right. The guards closely follow, calling at three other guards ahead of her to try and stop her. She bolts left into a crowded street. However she is quickly cut off by guards coming the other way. Thinking quickly she throws the bit pouch onto the ground, sending shiny bits flying across the road. Ponies scramble to get the precious bits, quickly forming a mob around the thief. The guards try looking for a way through, they decide to force their way through. That is until they hear screaming coming from the mob. “CHANGELING!”. Panic ensues ponies start running every which direction, toppling into guards. Once most of the horde is gone they catch sight of a changeling flying off into the sky. I think that will keep them busy for a nice long time. For a civilian, she sure knows what she’s doing, Arrel thinks as he flies far above the deck of the brig. He watches as Howler slowly swims his way to the starboard side of the ship. I can’t believe I’m working with a diamond dog, he thinks. In fact I can’t believe any of this. I’m working for a pink headed captain, who now has a crew of seven, and is trying to capture a brig with four crew members. Scratch that, three, the female doesn’t fight. Then again it`s not all that bad, I mean there is Starry. He is so wrapped up in his thoughts that he almost misses the fact that Howler is climbing up the side of the ship. The diamond dog lifts himself onto the deck and draws his katana. Howler quietly approaches the patrolling group of ponies. Howler slits the throat of the last one in line, stopping to slowly lower the body to the deck. He does the same to the next one, reducing the number of patrolling guards down to two. He is about to go for the third one, until the guards notice that there are less hoofsteps. They turn around and immediately see the two bodies of their fallen comrades, but they aren’t given the time to react. Howler quickly slashes at them, dropping them both to the deck in one swing. Smokey and Arrel land on the deck of the ship. “You two get rid of the bodies. I’ll go and tell Ebony,” Arrel says. He prepares to take flight, crouching lower to the ground and spreading his wings. “Stop right there,” he looks toward the dock, four stallions are standing on the deck of the brig now, one of which is leveling a pistol at Arrel. Howler slowly unsheathed the sword of one of dead guards. The movement, completely unnoticed by the newcomers, “Surrender now, or we will kill you,” he declares in an authoritative voice. I wonder if the dog can keep up? Arrel thinks. To answer his question, a sword is thrown into the chest of the guard with the pistol. Arrel takes advantage of the distraction, taking to the air a few inches above the deck, quickly making his way around the group. He draws his sword and slashes at the hindlegs of two of the guards.They fall to the deck with screams of agony. Howler dashes at the last standing one. The guard draws his sword, putting it in the path of Howler’s katana and his neck. However it does nothing, Howler cuts the sword in two, along with the neck of his opponent. Arrel finishes the two laying on the ground. “Right, I’m going now. Be sure to get rid of all the bodies.” A few minutes later, Captain is trotting down the dock toward his new ship. He is closely followed by Starry, Ebony, and Twigs. Arrel is reconing the area, to make sure nopone is coming. He walks onto the ship, and looks around admiring his the brig. He turns toward Ebony, “I thought there were guards on the dock.” Ebony replies with a small shrug. Arrel lands next to Captain, “There is a group of soldiers coming this way,” he says. “I think we should get outta here.” A smile spreads across Captain’s face. “Good, I was getting tired of this place anyways. Twigs, Howler, Smokey take this thing off the dock, and raise the sails. I want to see how fast my new ship is,” he looks around, “Ebony, I see we still have some cargo on board, mind checking what it is?” She walks around the deck of the ship looking through the crates and barrels. “A few kegs of rum, a good amount of gunpowder, uniforms, a few crates of swords and about five hundred bits,” she replies. “And no you can’t have the rum, we would make more bits if we sell it.” “We can make a few bits off of the uniforms, and swords too.” “Captain, she is ready to go!” says Twigs. “Good, time to leave.” He takes the helm and steers for the sea. He looks back at the dumbfounded group of soldiers standing at the dock, watching as their ship sails toward the horizon. Ebony comes up to Captain. “So what are you going to call it?” Captain taps his chin as he thinks of a name for his new ship. “Misfortune,” he says. “Why are you going to call it that? Wouldn’t it be better if we name it after something that isn’t bad luck?” “I’m going to call her that because it’ll be bad luck for anypony who crosses her.” “Of course, it’s not like it’ll give us bad luck too.” Ebony replies sarcastically.