By Octavia Melody
"Duck! She got another bottle!"
"Whew....That was close."
The crew of the Ragnarok struggled to get inside the captain's quarters. Their captain, the hung over Rainbow Dash, was yelling and hurling empty cider bottles at them. She was very sober from last night. Since she no longer slurred her words, she could make even more intricate curses and vulgarities to throw at her crew.
"Get lost ya cocksucking, shite-eating, land-loving bastards!"
"Good morning to you too." One of the crew laughed.
"C'mon Cap'n, the sun's up. Ya can't stay in there all day." Another said.
"Shut it, Mr. Kyle! You don't know shite about anything! I can do what I want." Rainbow responded.
"Aha!"
The crew broke open the door and charged the quarters. Rainbow cursed loudly as they grabbed her legs and dragged her out. Once the sun reached her eyes, she howled like she was burning. Some of the crew laughed, but most remained silent. The crew threw her down on the deck. She covered her eyes and continued to complain about the light.
"It burns! It burns! Why? Why is my crew so......evil?" She wailed.
The crew gave a hearty chuckle at their captain. The Bearer removed her hands from her face, revealing a deep frown. Her right eye began to twitch. She stood up slowly, unblinking, and keeping her bloodshot eyes on her crew. Her hands were in tight fists and her breathing became heavy. The laughter of the crew ceased and they began to back up. I took their example and did the same. Rainbow reached for her swords and drew them. The oddly shaped blades were glowing with a bright orange. I felt heat from it as soon as she drew them. The crew members' faces faltered.
"Cap'n, no! Don't do this!"
"Wah!!!" Rainbow charged them with her swords above her head.
The crew members dodged her sluggish attack. She buried her fiery blades into the ship, lighting the wood aflame. As soon as this happened, Rainbow panicked. The flames grew larger and the crew panicked as well.
"Get water! Get water!" Everyone yelled at the other.
"My ship!" Rainbow panicked.
The crew gathered buckets of water and threw them on the increasing fire. I watched without much care, but seeing the drastic change in Rainbow was humorous. Vinyl was laughing and holding her sides. The fire was soon taken care of, but a large black patch of wood was on the wall of the captain's quarters. One crew member brought an extra bucket of water, and seeing it had no purpose, splashed the captain instead. The water that touched her blades became instant steam.
"Gah! What was that for?" Rainbow asked the bold sailor.
"You hurt our ship!" He yelled back.
"My ship!" Rainbow jabbed a thumb in her chest.
"Caramel's ship!" They yelled back.
"Fine..." Rainbow lowered her head in defeat.
The crew soon dispersed and left the wet captain. Vinyl and I approached the Bearer. She looked up at us when we walked up to her. She still held her swords in her hands, but the heat from them had diminished, leaving only a cold dark steel blade. I wondered if the water did that to them. She did a couple of fancy flips with the blades before sheathing them on her back. I had just realized that if she sheathed them on her hip, they probably would have dragged on the ground. The captain sighed and placed her hands on her hips.
"Yeah yeah, you saw what happened. My bad, alright?"
"Your swords are awesome, can I see them?" Vinyl reached for the captain's blades.
"No!" Rainbow intercepted Vinyl's hand and glared at her. "Only I can use these swords, punk."
"Is that your Element's power?" I asked.
"Pfft, no. You think this thing has any use? Nope, it's jus' a lonely shard telling others what to do." She tapped her chest three times; the ringing of the shard could be heard from under her thin robes.
"Then what can you do?" I asked again.
"Climb, run, kill, fight, you know, the usual stuff." She said mockingly as she returned to her quarters.
We followed her inside. The quarters were crowded with strange objects and artworks. From seeing Caramel's art, I could tell these were his. There were several tables and desks in the corners and center of the room. Rainbow walked over to a large decorated desk and sat in its chair. Her head barely went over the top of the desk. The desk had several Gryphonian designs carved into it. This reminded me that the ship we were on was from the Kingdom. The captain impatiently tapped her fingers on the wood.
"So, have you seen the other Bearers this morning?" She asked. It was more of a silence breaker than a question she was interested in.
"No, we have not." I answered. "Uhh...I've been meaning to ask you, but what happened last night?"
Rainbow looked to her desk and sighed. "You mean about how I passed out? I expected this question. Well, you see..."
She suddenly stopped and began clutching her head again. She withheld her screams and merely grunted in pain. Soon, her eyes opened and were glowing bright white. Her whole demeanor changed. We were now talking with Loyalty.
"Well, you see, ladies," the voice was masculine and deep. "Miss Dash has a drinking problem. She's had one for years now. She's also not the most obedient Bearer, and so I must deal with her accordingly. When she gets drunk like that, I must intervene. It's pathetic to know that your Bearer is in such a state. I have made it my..."
Loyalty's face stiffened. One eye ceased to glow while the other continued. The Bearer and the Element were obviously having some difficulty getting along. It seemed that Rainbow was beating Loyalty in control. If this was the first time I had witnessed such an action, I would have been frightened. However, I only frowned and waited for a victor. A victor did come, and it was thankfully Rainbow.
"Gah....Loyalty is such a bitchy Element. He thinks he can control my life, well sucks to be you. Alright, the Element punishes me for drinking too much. That's all it is. I'm the only one that goes through this. I'm the only one with the will to challenge my Element. The others are weak like that. Especially Twilight. I...I really don't wanna talk about it. Miss Seed!" Her change of subject was instant.
Her call echoed in the quarters. A moment later, a young girl entered the quarters with a salute. Rainbow dismissed the salute with a hand. This girl had light purple hair and green eyes. Freckles dotted her cheeks. She stood erect in front of her captain.
"What ya need cap'n?" She asked with a strong Manehatten accent.
"Miss Seed, show these two around. Maybe take them ashore again. Just get 'em outta my hair." The Bearer ordered.
"Alrighty! C'mon you two. I'll show ya around." The girl gestured for us to follow.
We followed the young girl. Rainbow muttered something to herself and faced the back window of the ship. Vinyl and I exchanged glances as we walked out. Miss Seed turned to look at us. She closed the doors behind us and led us across the deck.
"Eh, don't mind the captain. She has her off days. She's usually in a better mood and manner than this. People go through rough patches right?" Miss Seed explained.
I nodded in understanding. "Of course. Is she always fighting her Element?"
Miss Seed nodded. "Oh yeah. You can hear her scream at herself in the dead of night. I don't think they ever agree on anything. But, it's expected."
Vinyl looked up. "Why's that?"
"Two things: She's a Survivor of Chaos and the other is that the Element chose her not because she's Loyal, but because she was close to the previous captain of the Ragnarok. But, that's accordin' to the rumors. I've only been on this ship for two months."
I watched Vinyl pull out her shard from her pocket. I had to keep reminding myself that Rainbow and Vinyl had made the same deal with Discord. Whatever deal that was, I did not know. All that I did know was that it made the creatures around them avoid them like a disease. The Ragnarok was the only ship in the port with no seagulls flying around it. The birds even flew around the masts and never above them. Why this happened was an enigma, but after seeing Discord, I couldn't blame the creatures.
"This ship is as old as I am, but it still holds up with the new modern ones." Seed continued. "28 guns, if you don't include the small swivels in the back and the mortars. There's even that multi-barrel gun that the former Bearer of Kindness made. No one knows how to work it though."
"You knew the Bearer of Kindness before Fluttershy?" I asked the girl.
"Well....No. Captain and ol' Zecora did. Those two have been on this ship the longest of all of us. Well, except Neon. I always seem to forget him." The girl's voice trailed off.
We stopped in the middle of the deck in front of the main mast. Miss Seed gestured to the stairs that led below deck. Sounds of activity was heard from below.
"You'll be stayin' down there when we leave. It's not the most pleasant place, but it's better than Manehatten. Don't worry, the Labyrinth Isles aren't that too far south. It'll take us two days at most to reach 'em."
"So you know of your captain's plans, Miss Seed?" I asked her knowing the answer already.
"Yup. Oh, and only Captain calls me Miss Seed, you guys can call me Babs, Babs Seed."
"Hey Babs, are these the two joining us to the Isles?" A voice was heard behind me.
Vinyl and I turned around to see a lean and handsome man. His hair was black and spiky. A blue bandanna was wrapped around his head. His blue eyes were solemn yet hid a certain amount of mischief. This was probably heightened by his one-sided grin and angled eyebrows. A thin beard line followed his jaw. The man was also covered in scars, particularly on the side of his neck and ribs. I could see his ribs as he did not wear a shirt like most of the male crew members. His whole demeanor reminded me of the masked woman beside me. Babs Seed walked around us and gestured at the sailor.
"This is Neon, the guy I mentioned. He's been the second-mate on this ship since....Well, before me. Neo, this is Octavia and Vinyl."
Neon gave a short bow. "Pleasure to meet you two. Call me Neo."
I returned the bow. Vinyl stood erect and unmoving. Her face was hidden beneath the mask so I couldn't tell what she was thinking. It was very odd of her to act like this. It didn't feel like she was trying to be rude to the pirate. Neon raised a brow at my friend. He mouthed the word "alright" and back away. Babs was confused as well.
Vinyl suddenly grabbed my hand and we rushed off of the ship. Her step was serious and not in its usual joking manner. Once we had escaped whatever was chasing her, we stopped on the sand covered pier. She looked around some before staring at me through those soulless lenses.
"Did ya see him?" She panted.
"Oh, of course not." I responded sarcastically.
She sighed in relief and leaned on a barrel next to me. She removed her mask to reveal glowing red cheeks. I had never seen them so red before. The sight made me worry.
"Uhh...Vinyl? Are you alright?" I asked.
"What? Yeah....I'm alright." She looked away from me.
I blinked at her suspicious response. I tried to get a look at her but she kept moving her face away from mine. I did not understand what was happening to her. Was it the shard? Was it Discord? Was the mask too hot for the sun? I was rather warm in my armored robes, thus it felt natural for her to feel like this too. No, that was not it. She would have complained about it if it was. I was rather curious to know what ailed her.
"Vinyl, what's the matter?" I asked in my serious tone.
"Nothing."
"Let's try this again." I leaned towards her.
"Tavi! Get away!"
She shoved a hand in my face and pushed me away. The force almost knocked me over. The action annoyed me and I grabbed her extended arm. Vinyl growled and grabbed my face with her hand. She then threw me around her and I fell to the wood. I flipped myself upright and raised my fists. It had been awhile since she and I fought each other. I thought that streak would end until she started running away.
"Hey! You can't run like that! Get back here!" I yelled at her fleeing figure.
"If you wanna fight, come get me!" Vinyl answered over her shoulder.
"Bollocks to you! Go ahead, run like a pansy! You'll be back! I know it!"
Vinyl halted in her tracks. She turned and spread her arms out. "What? What are ya, an old hag? Did you lose your skills in prison? Are you afraid of losing? Huh? Huh?"
"Don't make this personal! You couldn't even kill a single Templar! You let her dominate you! You got the scars to prove it! How's that? Huh? Not so..."
I went too far. I couldn't even finish my sentence when a tropical fruit collided with my face. I saw her throw the fruit, but greatly underestimated her throwing arm. She had not only thrown the fruit over a respectable distance, but also precisely on target. I was impressed and would have commemorated her if I didn't have the sourness of the fruit in my mouth and all over my face. In retrospect, I deserved it for scolding her for her insensitive remarks when I myself threw even worse ones back.
The juice blinded me momentarily. When I finally regained my vision, my friend was charging straight at me. She had her head lowered and was as vicious as a bull. I cowardly pleaded for her to stop, but my wails went unheard. Vinyl rammed me off my feet. She kept her feet going until both of us went flying off the pier and into the shallow water.
"Vinyl! I'm sorry!" Were the lasts words from my mouth before we were engulfed in the Bay's water.
I hit the sandy bottom before both of us sprang out of the water. My eyes were stinging. It was the first time I had experienced salt water. Vinyl was cringing in pain as well. We soon returned to the task at hand. My apologetic ways were no longer needed. I was ready to fight. My friend threw the first punch, but I evaded it. The water was up to our stomachs and so we fought like drunken brawlers.
"Take it back!" Vinyl screamed.
"I already did!"
"Then do it again!"
She swung again. I grabbed the flying arm and pulled her under. Her quickness allowed her to grab my shoulder with her other hand and pulled me below the surface as well. Once above the water, I threw her off me and pushed her into a poll of the pier. I then followed up by charging into her. She grunted and then grabbed my head and slammed it into the wooden pillar. The move left my head spinning. Vinyl followed up with a punch that knocked me down into the water.
She allowed me to get back up. She taunted me with her fingers. The pier above us was lined with spectators, mainly pirates of the Ragnarok. The crowd split and Rainbow emerged from the opening. A broad grin lined her cheeks.
"A fight eh? Just what I needed. All we need now is some cider!"
"Cider? Captain, it's still morning." A sailor observed.
Rainbow glared at the sailor. "It don't matter! We're pirates, we drink from dusk to dawn. Or is it the other way round? Eh, who cares." She gave a relaxed shrug.
Vinyl ignored the viewers and charged me again. I dodged the attack and pushed her in the back. The pirates gave a cheer. I doubt they were rooting for me and only wanted a good show.
"Vinyl, this is pointless. There's no need to fight." I said.
"That would make sense. That's why I don't like it!" Vinyl responded.
"She's right mate." Rainbow interjected.
Vinyl threw a clump of wet sand at me, hitting me on the shoulder. Once again, I was glad Rarity wasn't there to see it. My friend giggled at her hit. She was mocking me as usual. As bloody usual. I charged her as fast as I could. She started to run away toward shore. I felt scores of small fish flee from the direction I was heading. Vinyl was making the fish swim away in unexplained fright.
"Ha! What's ya gonna do Tavi? I know you can't take me on land." Vinyl boasted when she stepped out of the water.
"We'll see!" I returned.
Once I propelled myself out of the water, I lowered my head and drilled Vinyl into the sand. We started rolling around, punching, kicking, slapping, and any way to inflict pain on the other. The pirates cheered us on. Well, except Neon.
"Rainbow, we should stop them before one gets hurt."
"Neo, that would make too much sense. Let's watch instead." I heard the Bearer suggest.
"Rainbow!" Neon yelled.
"Fine..."
I was on top of Vinyl, trying to end our brawl. Suddenly, a kick from an intruder sent me flying off and into the sand. Once I got up, I saw Rainbow standing between us.
"Ya'll need to calm down. Otherwise, I'll beat you both." She pointed her small fingers at us.
"Oh really? You think you can beat us both?" Vinyl laughed.
I was feeling my friend's confidence. "Seems rather farfetched to me."
The crew gave a loud moan. Rainbow huffed. "You don't know who you're messin' with."
I chuckled. "Hear that Vinyl? Well, I see how she could be a problem. I'm not sure if her head is high enough off the ground to hit."
The crew gave another suppressed moan. Vinyl laughed at my joke. Rainbow's eyes twitched madly. At that moment, I remembered a special warning from Caramel: "Don't mention her height." As I looked at the horrid face of the captain, my confidence failed me. She pointed a threatening finger at me.
"You're first." She growled.
She gave a hellish screech and ran at me with the fury of a dragon. She jumped in the air and performed a spinning kick into my chest. I was still hearing her screech when I realized what had happened. Her speed was beyond incredible. I hit the ground before I could comprehend the situation.
"That's what ya get! Stretch!" Rainbow yelled.
The Bearer of Loyalty pounced on me and began slamming my face into the sand repeatedly. Her anger and strength was untamed and brutish. However, I was tired of being bested by anyone I came across. I would not lose this fight to such a scrawny little prick of the seas. I rolled and pushed her off me. I then grabbed her little throat and slammed her into the ground. The crew gave a worried gasp.
"No way! Did she...?"
"She did."
Rainbow recovered from my attack and retaliated. Her style of fighting was most peculiar. It comprised mostly of high kicks and spins. Like a master of the East. With all of her jumps, flips, rolls, and spins, it was hard to tell if she was fighting or dancing. Whatever she was doing, it was effective. I spent most of the time blocking her ceaseless kicks and swipes. Vinyl swung at her from behind. The Bearer dodged the attack by performing a split with her legs. In one fluid motion, she sprang up from the split and wrapped her legs around Vinyl's shoulders and flipping my friend onto me.
Vinyl and I righted ourselves right before the rainbow colored blur attacked us again. I could tell some of her moves were purposely deceptive. She would throw a slide kick to bait us with a follow up high kick or punch. It did not feel like we were brawling, but having some acrobatic sport. She could jump well above her height and her quickness left no breathing room. I did not want to imagine her with her blades. She flipped on her head and began spinning with tremendous speed. Her legs spun like a wheel while she stood on her hands and head. Vinyl interrupted the attack by grabbing one of the flying legs and knocking the Bearer off balance.
"Got ya!" My friend exclaimed.
The Bearer kicked Vinyl in the face and flipped again, twisting my friend's grip. I jumped on Rainbow from behind and placed her in a choke hold. The Bearer gagged and struggled. I thought we had won until the Bearer swung herself and her knees clutched my head. She was much more bendable than I had thought. With a jerk of her body, I lost balance and we fell to the sand. However, I still held her tightly.
Vinyl joined me in reining the captain. Her little frame was hard to pull down. We successfully pinned her to the ground. She continued to squirm, kicking her legs at us and trying to push us off. We however, were enough to keep her down. I once again thought the battle was over until she bit my hand.
"Gah!"
The removed hand was all that she needed to get free. She shoved Vinyl off and performed a back flip to stand up again. A wild determination was in her eyes. They glowed with some animal-like passion. I thought I saw fangs and slit eyes glare at me. It felt wrong. She wouldn't stop until she won and her definition of winning differed from most. Her hand came at me again, but this time, her hidden blade was out.
"Stop!"
Rainbow was grabbed by Zecora from behind and pulled away. The much taller Zebranian lifted the captain off her feet. The mad Bearer squirmed wildly. Two crew members grabbed hold of me to restrain me from furthering the fight. Neon took hold of Vinyl. The Bearer of Loyalty flailed and kicked in the air.
"Let me at her! Let me at her! She called me short!"
"Captain, you must cease, otherwise you will succumb to the beast!" Zecora ordered.
Rainbow growled before calming down. Her crazed look remained in her eyes, but it was far less than before. Eventually the Zebranian let go of the captain, who stomped off. The crew members that held me released their grip and I slide to the ground. Vinyl was still being held by Neon. My friend's cheeks were once again bright red and she had a stupid grin on her face. She would usually fight or resist anyone who held her in such a way, but she did neither and simply grinned at Neon. The pirate returned her grin nervously. It took me a moment to figure out what "the matter" was that started all of this fighting. When I found out, I sighed and shook my head.
"Vinyl, you've got to be kidding me."
~