//------------------------------// // Chapter 12 // Story: Captain's Journey // by Sphinx_Herald //------------------------------// “I don’t want to talk about it,” Arrel says, slumping down onto a chair. “Well, I do,” Captain says bluntly. “Please, you’ll only think the same of me as them.” “It’s no ones place to chose what I think of you, but me. Now, tell me and let me decide what I think about you.” Arrel sighs and looks around at the rest of the crew. “Fine, three years ago I was a member of the crew onboard the Avenger, and we were pirate hunters… Arrel flies above the night sea, listening to the waves to make sure not he not heading for water. He flies through a dark grey cloud, looks like a storm we’d better hurry. He spots a few orange dots on the sea below. He glances to his left, easily finding the white pegasus flying next to him. He motions toward the ship down blow, she gives a quick nod before they drop altitude. They stay out of sight from the ship’s occupants, while trying to identify their target. After a few minutes of circling he sees a black earth stallion stepping onto the deck. “Found the target, his ship is to the east of the island. He has a pretty big crew, be ready for a fight,” he thinks. “Got it… you two better return to the ship. I can’t hold the mental link much longer,” Coral replies. “Right, coming back.” “He’s so hot…” “Dawn! We didn’t need to hear that!” Honey mentally scolds the white pegasus. “Sorry, sorry, I’m still getting used to this whole telephy… telapy…” “Telepathy,” Coral thinks. “Yes, that!” “Give her a break guys, she’s new here,” Minos thinks. “Guys, we should get back on track, we’re comin’ up on them now.” Terra thinks. Arrel and Dawn find the Avenger approaching the ship from the south. “Race you there,” Dawn says. Arrel looks back toward their ship. As it is he’s closer than her, and it’s not that far away from them. “You’re on.” He shoots off toward the Avenger. However a white and red streak quickly blasts by him. Of course, I lose… again, he thinks. “You challenged her to a race? Don’t you ever learn?” “Mind link… of course.” He lands on the deck of the ship, taking a little rest for the fight that’s soon to come. Minos comes walking up to him, his massive battleaxe sends shivers down Arrels back. The minotaur places one of his giant hands on Arrel’s shoulder. “You know, I think she likes you.” “What gave you that idea?” he replies sarcastically. “I’m just pulling your leg ,buddy,” say Minos. I wouldn’t have a leg if you really were, Arrel thinks. “I won’t argue with you there.” Coral, turn off the bucking mind link! Minos goes over to the cannons and prepares for the fight. The target ship races toward them, hoping to sink the Avenger with their ram. Other crew members run about loading the cannons and grabbing their weapons. “Arrel, Dawn, sorry but it looks like you can’t take a break yet. I need you two to go get their captain. This is supposed to be a simple job, and I don’t wanna waste time with boardin’,” Terra calls over. “Yes, sir.” Arrel gets up and crouches closer to the deck, preparing to take flight. The Avenger suddenly makes a hard starboard turn, aiming the portside to the bow of the pirate ship. “Fire!” The order comes out nearly as clear as the thunderous shockwave that soon followed. The cannonballs find their target, obliterating the figurehead, and sending splinters of wood raining down into the dark sea. The pirates fire some chain-shot at the masts, ripping off a fair section of sail. The crew quickly go about reloading the cannons as the pirates turn to aim their main cannons. “Brace!” Terra shouts, a second later cannonballs rip into the hull and deck. “Cannons are loaded, sir,” call out one of the deck-hooves. “Fire!” Once again, the booming of the cannons are heard, quickly followed by explosions of splintered wood from the pirate ship. “Arrel, Dawn, now!” Arrel quickly shoots off of the deck, easily spotting the pirate captain at the helm of his ship. He looks around to find Dawn to his right. He motions toward the captain, she quickly nods in return and they dive for stallion. Before any of the pirates can react, the two pegasi swoop down and pick up their captain by the shoulders. They circle around the ship and head back towards the ‘Avenger’, throwing the outlaw, unceremoniously, onto the deck. He is immediately cuffed and thrown under the deck. “Good now, sink the ship,” Terra says. The cannons go off once more, punching large holes into the deck, water quickly starts to flow in. Terra goes back up to the helm and steers for Hayvana. “Good job ,crew. How about a few drinks on me?” asks Terra, walking along the harbour toward one of their more prefered taverns. “Or would you two rather be alone? You know, some private time where no one can see what you do… together,” says Coral, blowing a lock of his green mane out of his eye. Dawn looks away,trying to hide the blush forming on her cheeks. “You should stop bugging her,” Arrel says. “She should stop thinking about how hot you are,” Honey growls. Arrel rolls his eyes at the green and blonde mare. “Sorry guys, I won’t be able to join you. I have a few thing to tend to,” Arrel says. Terra give him a suspicious look then turns away. “See ya,” he replies with a wave of his hoof. Arrel flies in the other direction, landing just outside off a slightly beat-up tavern. He walks into the dusty place, inside isn’t much better off than the outside. A few tables are overturned the ones that aren’t overturned have either a drunk passed out on it or a a stallion near that state. Chairs lay about, broken, and forgotten. In the middle of the room are two stallions trying to fence using a pair of old chairs. Charming, he thinks, he looks around and spots a pirate sitting alone at a table by the right wall. He sits down at the table, across from the pirate. Something is off about him, he seems… clean? “Are you Cloud Walker?” asks the pirate. Arrel sighs, thank goddess these fools don’t know my real name. “Yes, I’m Cloud Walker.” “So, what did you bring me?” Arrel crosses his forelegs. “Where’s my money?” The pirate throws a pouch of bits over to his side of the table. “Right, currently the pirate hunters are after a pirate named Black Bit.” One of the patrons leave the tavern, Arrel can swear he hears some fighting outside. Probably just a drunken fight, he thinks. “The fort is also bringing reinforcements and supplies, you can expect more soldiers when that’s happening. Also, as far as I know, a shipment of bits is coming in from Eaglela--” He hears what he thinks is shouting from outside, he quickly relizes that it isn’t shouting, but rather, they’re orders. “I got to go.” Arrel grabs the bits, gets up and starts to walk away. However before he can get far the pirate grabs him by the foreleg. “You ain’t going anywhere.” The door bursts open and several soldiers come walking in, among them he spots Terra and Minos. Terra picks up a chair and places it in front of Arrel, and sits down on it. He lets out a heavy sigh and says “So, you’re the one that has been hoofing out info. I was really hoping they were wrong, you know.” “How did you find out?” “We caught a pirate you talked to, he gave a description. Why, why would you betray us?” “I can’t tell you.” “Tell us, dammit!” Minos shouts, making all the soldiers flinch. Terra and Arrel stare at each other for what seems like hours. “There’s two ways this can go down, either you come quietly and you stand a better chance of getting out. Or we take you down, and Minos here is very angry at you,” Terra says. “To take me down you’ll have to catch me first.” Arrel flares his wings, breaking free from the soldiers grip. He then breaks through a window a flies off toward the harbour. There is a massive crash as Minos breaks down the door in pursuit of him. Terra sighs again. “I was really hoping you would pick the quiet way,” he says before getting up and walking over the destroyed door. A shadow falls over Arrel as he flies at top speed. Looking up, he finds a white and red pegasus streaking past, and stopping in front of him. “Please stop, Arrel, I don’t want to hurt you,” Dawn says. I don’t want to hurt you either, but I’m not stopping. He flies around her and continues on along the harbour. A quick and sharp pain shoots through his back, sending him crashing down the the hard surface. Dawn quickly lands beside him. “I’m sorry, I said I didn’t want to hurt you,” she says. “Then why not just let me go!” he shouts at her, immediately regretting his words as he sees the tears streaming down her face. She looks down at the ground. “Why would you do this to us? Just tell us, we can help!” “I-I can’t tell you. Listen I don’t want to hurt you either,” he draws his sword. “But I will if you try to stop me,” he bluffs. Please stop… I’m not willing to hurt you. She looks back up at him. “If it’s going to be that way, I guess I have no choice then.” She draws her own sword and flares her wings. He swallows a lump that has formed in his throat. “Please I really don’t want to hurt you, just get out of my way.” “If you don’t want to hurt me, then put your sword down.” “Fine, if it’s going to be this way.” He takes to the air and tries going over her, but he is blocked by Dawn. He swings his sword at her, keeping it just short of her. She deflects the blade and takes a jab of her own at his wing, he goes into a drive. He levels out just a few hooves above the street, the same blade pops up in front of him, he has no time to block. He shuts his eyes, preparing for the sting of her sword. However only a slight breeze pass just in front of his forehead, opening his eyes a lock of his hair drifts down and lands on his snout. He flies backward, putting some space between him and Dawn. He turns around and flies away from her, a white streak quickly passes by him. He catches the flash of a sword out of the corner of his eye. He goes into a roll, avoiding a strike that would have hit his wing. He returns with a strike of his own, being met with a flash of sparks from metal against metal. Dawn swings at his wing, he strikes at her as well. The sound of metal against flesh fills the air, quickly followed by a blood curdling scream and something hitting the ground. Arrel stares at her in shock, her white coat stained red, and his sword stuck in her shoulder. She screams in pain as she lays on the ground, staining her white coat even further. “Sweet Celestia, what have I done?” He goes to land next to her until he sees a large cloud of dust rising from down the harbour, with a large, enraged, axe-wielding, minotaur in the middle. He shrinks back at the sight, and flies off toward the sea. …I hurt her, I can’t believe I hurt her,” Arrel says. The crew sits in silence as they take in what he has told them. Finally Ebony speaks up, “Why?” “What do you mean ‘why’?! It doesn’t matter why! I hurt her!” “Not that, why did you want the money?” Arrel stares at him for several moments, until he looks away. “I can’t tell you.” “Why not?” “Because, unless Captain is willing to give me all his money, you can’t help me.” “You’ll never know unless you tell me,” says Captain. Arrel takes a deep breath and focuses his look on Captain. “I need it to save my sister.” “What?” Ebony asks. “My sister was taken by some debt collectors, I owed them too much, I didn’t pay. So, they took my sister as ‘collateral’, since then I’ve been trying to make the money to get her back.” “Wait, that means she was taken…” “She was taken four years ago… I’ve been sending payments to them to make sure they don’t kill her.” Rose looks at him, tears starting forming in her eyes, I can help! “I--” “Everyone, to the ship.” Captain says, getting up from his seat and heading toward the door. “They said they would kill her if anyone went after her.” He turns around. “That is why we’re going to get her without being noticed.” “They have an army of thugs!” “And I have a crew, I look out for my crew. You’re part of this crew, it’s clear she means a lot to you. So, I’ll get her back by myself, if need be.” “I’m coming, you’ll need your first mate,” Ebony says. “I’m with you, Cap’n!” Twigs calls out. “Ya can’t leave me outta this!” Smokey shouts. Howler lays a paw on Arrel’s shoulder. “I’ll come as well, you fools will be lost without me,” Starry says from the door. They all look at her, “When did you get here?” Ebony asks. “I came back as he was beginning the story.” Arrel looks around at the crew, a small smile spreads across his face. “I’ve left my sister there long enough; I think it’s about time I knock those guys senseless.” At that, the sound of cannon fire fills the air. They look outside, groups of ponies are running for the port, some of them pointing to something further out to sea. “What was that?” Captain asks.