Under Loyalty's Flag

by Gapeagle

Chapter 4: Confrontation

The Ragnarok's crew ended the shanty with a collective cheer. Rainbow sighed in relief as she finally sung in key with the seasoned sailors. She heard the laugh of Caramel as he steered the ship. It had been one day since Caramel had told her that they were "rogue privateers." The seas had remained calm and they had actually seen a couple of islands. She learned that these islands were called the Mid Sea Isles. The sailors said it indicated that they were close to their prize as they were now on the sea route it took. Rainbow didn't want the ship to come too soon, as she was still nervous about what would happen.

"Oh! How can I think this way? I'm Rainbow Dash, I'm better than this." She said aloud.

"We all hope so." A sailor mocked.

Rainbow waved him off. She had gotten used to the sailors' taunts about her and they stopped bothering her. After Caramel's intervention yesterday, many sailors had changed their perspective on her. Berry thought that was because they were intimidated by their captain and didn't want to upset him again. Rainbow wasn't sure if this was true, but she didn't really care, as long as they were being nicer to her and not calling her short, she was satisfied.

She leaned on the railing of the ship and watched an Equestrian schooner sail by. With her experience so far, she was now able to tell one ship from another. Every ship was built in such a way to fit its purpose and not just style. Schooners were for quick merchant runs and even low-class privateers. Brigs like the Ragnarok were for fast naval confrontations and chases. Every plank in the ship served a purpose, just like every crew member had a position. Rainbow nodded as she thought about this. She hoped she would be a fine addition to the crew and their adventurous.

"Ship sighted sir!"

The shout of the watchman made all the sailors lively. Some climbed the rigging to get a view of what the watchman saw. Others ran to the ropes, as in preparation for something massive to happen. Rainbow looked at the captain to see his response.

"What is she?" He shouted back.

"By the shape and rigging, I'll judge a corvette, sir!"

"That would be her! Lads, prepare the cannons, loose the sails! I want everything she's got! Our prize is in sight!"

"Bring her to a proper sail! Do it quick without fail!" Zecora repeated the captain's orders.

"Not already..." Rainbow muttered as she climbed the main mast.

"Fly the colors!"

"Aye sir!"

Sailors came from below deck with a large black sheet. They unfurled it to reveal a white skull sewn into the black sheet. The peculiar skull had the odd triangular symbol that was on Caramel's hood as one eye. The other eye was a bright red cross. The whole skull was placed on a white pike. They then tied the flag to some hooks and raised it to the top of the main mast. Rainbow saw it pass her as she stood on the yards. The intimidating symbol in the middle of the flag showed that the ship was a buccaneer.

"Heave it lads! Give me every inch of wind! These ships are a fast lot, we cannot let them escape!"

"I think she's spotted us sir!" The watchman yelled.

The corvette turned and headed straight for them. As Rainbow was now done with the sails, she quickly descended to the deck. Sailors positioned themselves along the cannons. Rainbow looked at the corvette. It was not as tall as the Ragnarok, but much longer and smoother. The wood was painted black. The square sails were a dark gray. It's flag was black with a bright red symbol with two white swords crossed below it. The symbol was the one on Caramel's hood and flag.

"She's comin' for us! We're in for a fight lads!" Caramel shouted to his crew.

Rainbow took her position next to a cannon near the bow of the ship. Her heart was racing as the corvette came closer and closer. Whoever was the captain, they certainly didn't want to back down from a battle. A sailor next to Rainbow smiled at her.

"Ya ready lass?"

"By Tartarus yes!" She said boldly.

"That's the spirit. Now, one last word of advise, watch for splinters."

"Here she comes! Get ready!"

"Fire the fronts!" Caramel ordered.

BOOM!

The cannons that faced the front of the ship fired with a booming sound. Cannonballs flew at the corvette. The shots glanced off the curved front of the enemy ship. Then, the corvette responded with its own frontal cannons. Rainbow ducked as a cannonball blew away the railing next to her. The Ragnarok lurched to the side.

"Give her a broadside!"

The corvette and the brig sailed side by side. Both ships roared with their cannons. The sailor next to Rainbow pulled his cannon and it fired. Wood flew in every direction. Some sailors were impaled by the large pieces of wood. The sailors on the corvette were having similar issues. Their odd white robes were stained with blood.

"HAHAHAHA!" Caramel laughed manically.

The ships circled around each other. The cannons roared and roared, most missing their targets. The laugh of the captain continued as the ships battled. Water flew through the air from the massive splashes of the cannonballs. Suddenly, the Ragnarok skidded in a tight turn.

"Don't let up! Catch the wind!"

The brig caught the strong breeze an sped towards the corvette. The frontal cannons raged again. The enemy ship set off another broadside.

"Brace!"

The cannonballs ripped through the bow of the ship. Rainbow was knocked down by the force. She found herself on the deck with a large splinter jabbed in her arm. The sailor ran over to her and painfully pulled it out of her arm. Rainbow grabbed her wounded arm to cut of the blood.

"We're gonna ram her! Hold on tight!"

"What!?"

The sailor and Rainbow flew to the deck as the Ragnarok slammed itself into the stern of the corvette. The entire ship lifted upward from the force. The ships were stuck for a split moment. The frontal cannons fired point blank into the corvette. Wood from the enemy ship soared over the crew of the brig. The corvette turned for another broadside.

"CHAIN SHOT! CHAIN SHOT! DON'T SINK HER!"

The corvette fired into the brig. One of the Ragnarok's cannons shattered from the raw power. A sailor close by Rainbow disappeared as a cannonball met him directly. The brig returned fire. The chain shot ripped the masts of the corvette. The crew cheered as the masts toppled into the sea.

"We got her sir! She ain't movin' now!"

"Get the grappling hooks!" Caramel shouted.

The Ragnarok rounded the corvette and stopped at the stern of the enemy ship. Sailors drew their swords and cheered. Some sailors threw hooks into the corvette and began to pull. Rainbow grabbed her swords and readied herself.

"This is it."

"Board her! Board her! So them the taste of true Freedom!"

Caramel ran and jumped to the other ship. He was ahead of his crew who swung on ropes and climbed to the corvette. Rainbow hesitated. The sounds of clashing swords were heard from the other ship.

"C'mon lass! Glory awaits!" The sailor told her.

"Let's do this!"

Rainbow ran on a rope and quickly tiptoed her way to the other side. Caramel was fighting with several of the white robed sailors. The enemy sailors wore hoods just like his. The entire deck of the corvette was in Chaos. Rainbow watched the battle. No one seemed to mind her at all.

"What do I do now?"

Suddenly, a large enemy sailor swung at her with a sword. She ducked under his swing. He quickly followed up with another attack. Rainbow deflected his blade and kicked his knee. The sailor grunted and returned with a punch her across the face. Rainbow flew into the railing. Before she could recover, the sailor kicked her off the ship. Rainbow tumbled helplessly into the sea.

All the sounds of war disappeared as she was submerged in the water. Her stomach ached from the kick. Despite the pain, she swam to the surface and took a refreshing breath of air.

"What a bloody way to start a pirate career." She mumbled.

A white robed sailor fell over the side and into the water with her. She was prepared to swim away until she saw the sword in his back. The water around him became crimson. Rainbow swam over to him and pulled the sword out.

"Might as well get back into the fight."

She placed the grip of the sword in her jaw and grabbed onto the corvette. She then began to climb the wet wood. The ship was easy to ascend. Many of the footholds were holes made by the cannons. As she ascended, the clash of swords returned. Cheers and screams were heard from above. She finally swung herself over the railing.

Bodies covered the deck. Caramel stabbed a sailor with both of his swords and lifted the body to the air before throwing into the wooden deck. His eyes were wild and he was constantly cackling. After he was done with the enemy sailor, he instantly moved to another target and stabbed him in the back. A white robed sailor swung at him. He deflected the blade with ease and then stabbed the sailor through the neck with one sword and through the chest with the other. A pirate knocked a female enemy sailor down to the ground next to the captain. He quickly turned and stomped on the face of the sailor, incapacitating her.

"A little help lads!"

Rainbow turned to see a wounded pirate fighting a sailor. The ally was clutching his bloodied side and only fighting with one arm. Rainbow ran at the sailor from behind and gutted him through the chest with her sword. The white robed sailor tensed up with shock. Finally, his body became limp and he slumped over.

"Thanks lass!" The pirate thanked her.

"No problem!" Rainbow replied.

"Drop your weapons! Drop 'em all! Now!"

Both Rainbow and the pirate looked to the center of the deck. Caramel was holding a silver robed female sailor and had one of his wrist blades pointed at her neck. Rainbow noticed that her robes were much more elaborate and decorated than the others. The other sailors on the corvette threw down their swords and lifted their hands in surrender.

"All of your bloody weapons!" Caramel demanded.

The sailors began to unstrap devices from their wrists and threw them to the ground. The silver robed one did so also, removing two instead of the usual one.

"Tie 'em up lads. We got the ship now."

A collective cheer rose from the pirates. Caramel threw the woman to the ground. Two pirates walked over to her and tied her hands behind her back. Caramel leaned over her and removed her silver hood. The woman had a fair face with silver hair and lavender eyes. A thin white streak ran through the left side of her hair. The captain chuckled.

"So what's your name captain?" He asked her.

"I am Den Master Silverspeed, ya bloody pirate!" She yelled at him with a Cloudsdalian accent.

"Silverspeed? And a Den Master? Well, this is mighty find, ain't it? Now, is this ship's name Eagle's Eye?

Silverspeed remained silent.

"I'll take that as a yes." Caramel grinned at her.

Eagle's Eye lurched when the brig hit her. Zecora had steered the ship so that the pirates could connect both of the ships with a wide plank or gangway. Pirates walked freely between the ships. Caramel started to pace around the corvette's captain. Silverspeed snarled at him with hatred.

"So.....Where is the Element of Hamrony?" He asked in a polite voice.

"To Tartarus with you and your crew!" Silverspeed replied.

Caramel stopped in front of her and grabbed her chin. He made sure his face was almost touching hers. Some of the pirates guffawed at this. However. the captain looked dead serious.

"Alright. There is one simple choice here. You see your men over there? So helpless, the lot of them. My men can easily find the Element, this ship ain't that big. You have a choice, tell me where it is and your men live. Don't tell me and they die. What's it gonna be?"

"If you can find it so easily, then why ask me?" Silverspeed responded.

"Simple m'lady, I rather have you tell me. Now, choose."

Silverspeed looked at the deck. "It's in the cupboard below deck in the chef's quarters. It's in a golden box."

Caramel stood up. "See? That wasn't so bad. Glad you could be of assistance."

Silverspeed growled. "The Brotherhood will come after you for this! You dare intervene with our war, and for what? Bloody bits, that's what! We'll never stop chasing you! You and your demonic crew!"

"Yeah, you Assassins will chase me, won't you? Well, then I need a backup plan. Lads, take her and lock her up on the Ragnarok. We'll need a hostage for this. You guys make sure the other Assassins won't try anything funny. Take all their wrist blades, we could use some more toothpicks on board. You three, find some rum. You two, with me."

With their orders, the pirates moved about. The captain grabbed the Den Master's robes on the chest and pulled them. The action ripped her clothes and revealed her chest. He looked at her chest with interest before letting go of her. Two men took Silverspeed by the arms and dragged her across the gangway and onto the brig. Caramel went below the deck of the corvette with two sailors. The rest of the sailors picked up the wrist blades from the living and dead Assassins. Rainbow heard a whistle from behind her.

"Hey, lass, take these."

Rainbow turned to see the sailor she had rescued throw her two wrist blades. She assumed they were from the Assassin she killed. The sailor smiled at her while he clutched his side. He walked over to her and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"What be your name, lass?" He asked.

"Rainbow Dash of Cloudsdale, yours?"

"Neon Lights of Baltimare."

"Well, nice to meet ya."

"Thanks again for the save, I would have been in Tartarus if it wasn't for ya."

"Just doing my job." Rainbow boasted.

"Rainbow? Where are you? Are you alive?" Rainbow heard her friend call out.

"Berry! I'm over here!"

Berry Punch waddled across the corvette and looked at her friend. She was covered in small scratches. Her sword was red with blood. The glare from her startled Rainbow.

"So....We survived." Rainbow said with a sheepish smile.

"That......Was......Awesome!" Berry shouted and hugged Rainbow. Her expression made a complete turnaround.

"Uhh...Berry? Did one of the cannons hit ya?" Rainbow said as her friend squeezed her.

"I've never felt so alive! No amount of booze could of done this! I love this new life! Thanks Rainbow!"

"Uhhh.....Anytime?"

"Heh, I'll leave you gals alone." Neon chuckled and walked to the Ragnarok.

"Berry, you can put me down now."

"Oh sorry." Berry placed her small friend on the red deck.

"You know, that wasn't so bad. I mean, I got kicked off the ship, but not too bad. I wouldn't mind doing that again." Rainbow said.

"Neither would I. Rainbow, I can see it now! Us, both the wild gals of the sea. Going from Baltimare to Manehatten, gettin' bits the whole way. What a life."

"Aye, it is a life. Let's make the most of it."

"Let's."

Rainbow and Berry walked over the plank and back on the familiar brig. Caramel had not yet returned from the Assassin corvette. The sun was covered by the clouds of the west. They had the prize now, they could get to Baltimare, to pay day. The pirates were all talking about the fight moments ago. There were a few that didn't make it through the battle, but the time for remembering them was not here. The pirates realized that their lives were merry and short. This life seemed promising to Rainbow now. To be a buccaneer on the Equestrian seas. What could be better?