With the name of the pirate captain that rolled out of the mouth of the admiral, Twilight Sparkle had begun to fear for her life even more. She gulped deep before her eyes were forced shut while the prayers were being made. Prayers to both of the goddesses that her end would be a quick one.
She fundamentally believed that her life would be ending there and then. By the hands of an anthrony who perhaps couldn’t be reasoned with at all. Flashes of her life went by her eyes before the silence of time came in. Nothing made a sound, everything was silenced as the unicorn didn’t even call upon her magic.
When the time was finally there, there wasn’t anything that happened. The winds inside of the cavern were picked up by her ears again. Time itself began to travel again to its normal speed before she noticed something. Something was taken off of the side of her head. Twilight didn’t know what she could be doing outside of opening one of her eyes.
Slowly but surely was one of her eyes carefully opened up in the hope to see a good sight. Though what she got to see was something that was highly debatable on that fact. For the eye looked straight into those of Applejack who still stood there.
She just stood there with her arms crossed against her chest as her green rimmed eyes staring sternly towards the two of them. Yet it was in the reflection of the pupil that Twilight saw the thing she had never expected.
Rarity Brittenburg just stood there as well, grinning like the madmare that she was.
The pirate captain had a massive grin that went across her face. She felt almost proud on the fact that somepony still knew her name, her actual name. The very name that she had lost so many years ago. It was a mad delight to say the least and Applejack could tell that in an instant. Something still didn’t seem to be right though, there was no harsh return.
Applejack knew Rarity and the admiral had expected a reply by then. Though she also knew the fact that she didn’t had to make the other captain angry. A deep exhale was released by the admiral as the arms uncrossed themselves and just hung off the side of her body.
The grin of the other unicorn turned into a light chuckle just before the words finally dared to leave through the mouth. “When you speak about the devil, it’s said that he shall arrive, my dear,” she spoke in that unusual lady-like tone for her.
Applejack released a deep huff in response. Her expectations were matched by the words of the unicorn and it was her turn to come up with a massive counter for them. “Unless the devil appears to be like a she, in that case, she’s everywhere.”
"Now that doesn’t make a lick of sense,” the soothsayer then whispered. Her words were just loud enough for Rarity to hear them. Who oddly enough actually gave a nod towards them. It was something that caused the mulberry mare to think a little bit before the battle of words was released once more.
“Though, do tell me dear, how’s that brother of yours doing? I remember him being the feisty one at night. Oh how good he was at his secondary job,” taunted Rarity then towards the admiral with a sickening grin across her muzzle. The words caused Twilight to go fully wide eyed when she made the horrid connection of the words.
The truth was something she didn’t wanted to believe at all. Applejack on the other end became furious at the mare. The veins inside of her eyes became visible. The urge to draw her own sword and flintlock almost won. The fingers twitched vividly before they were curled up into a fist. Rarity’s grin was the thing that only added insult to injury.
“That one night stand of yars wasn’t worth it! He made a mistake and he knows it! Ah made sure of that,” replied Applejack to her. Her head turned itself away from the scene. The horrible thoughts all returned to her like that.
The news that her own brother had slept with the captain was something that still shuddered her to that day. Even though the stallion got himself under control, the rumors never left. Sometimes a lie is easier to take as all the truth does is making one’s heart ache.
“Oh did you now? I wonder how that must have been doing then? Hmhmhm, maybe I should leave it to my imagination,” the pirate captain said. It began to dawn upon her just how Twilight tried to struggle her way out of the hold.
“And where do we think we’re going to, hm?” she questioned when the barrel of the gun was placed once more in the side of the head. The action almost instantly caused the hostage unicorn to fall silent again. The motions ceased to exist just like that.
It couldn’t end like that in her eyes. Somehow that insane mare was needed for the journey that still laid ahead. But Twilight was in no position to talk to her. Applejack on the other end might have been. It was a long shot and the mare knew that. Though if they wanted to have any chance of getting out of there alive, it was well worth the risk in her eyes.
“Applejack, Applejack! Look, look at me!” yelled Twilight towards the earth anthrony. It was a thing that caused both of the other mares to shake their head a little bit and give the unicorn their full attention. “I don’t care, what happened between the two of you in the past. We’re here for a mission remember? A mission of great importance, as well as your promise. I, I don’t want to hurry things here, but I think it’s time that you tell her the truth of the matter! No more petty insults or cutting words… Please, tell her what she must know.”
The words caused Rarity to look strangely towards Applejack. Who in return noticed the genuine surprise and curiosity within the sapphire blue eyes of the mare. A deep groan came from the throat of the admiral. The head was shaken softly in response. It wasn’t a denying of facts but more one that said she needed to get her facts straight.
"What is it, that I should be knowing? That the fortress is being surrounded by your fleet? That you have come here just to put a musket ball through my head and therefore finish the job?” That were just two of the near dozen possibilities that came out of the mouth of Rarity. Her eyes had narrowed themselves towards her old rival as she held Twilight even closer to her. Anything could happen and she would have been prepared.
The admiral shook her head from side to side as she released a deep exhale. “No you fool, it’s something else that’s the matter here. Something that, for a change of pace, doesn’t involve you in its center,” said Applejack in all of her honesty.
The pirate captain released a rather loud ‘heh’ before she began to circle around the admiral over the deck. Applejack did the same as they maintained the same distance from one another. Twilight was forced to walked with them as the argument broke loose. An argument that could very well have been the chance of a century.
“Ah am quite certain that Equestria is getting more and more in turmoil. Things are changing all ‘round us while you are at sea, raiding like you do,” started Applejack while their circling never ceased. “So Ah’m gonna ask ya this, ya ‘ware that earthquakes were happening all over the land?”
The words caused Rarity to think deeply to herself. Though she never took her eyes off of Applejack. It was hard to tell for her whether she knew it or not. “I spend little time on land and what I do, I still do just in the docks with a good bottle of rum. Or wine, whichever one I can happen to get my hands on. So no, I do not know about these ‘earthquakes’ of yours. And if so, why should it matter to me?”
“Because, old fool, of the rather simple fact that everything can be destroyed by them on land! Every last bit of land that you know, gone after a mega quake,” commented Applejack.
“Which makes the anthronies force to live on the water where we have the free game. Don’t you see, it’s a golden business for us! We can raid, plunder and get everything we need without ever having to go on land again! For once, you’re a harbinger of good news. And this little mare here, shall be my first prize.”
“Ah don’t think so, Brittenburg,” the admiral then came back. A moment later had she drawn her own flintlock from her belt. The hammer was pulled back and she was ready to shoot if needed. Though the risk of hitting Twilight was a considerable fact that always remained.
“Go on, shoot me. I know you want to. Or have you made a promise to this little mare? A promise you never, ever are going to be able to live up to?” The head of Rarity was lowered towards Twilight’s eye level before the whispers were made, “what, did she promise you?”
To answer or not to answer was the question that raced through the mind of the mulberry skinned unicorn. Though given the situation, she was the weakest link. So the only thing that she could be doing was to answer truthfully. “She promised me, to protect me on this journey,” she then whispered back.
An answer that made the ivory skinned unicorn grin greatly to herself. Her head rose itself back up as her eyes looked over to Applejack. “Protection? That’s what you promised her? And look where she is now. Do you call this, protecting?”
“Minor setbacks happen, Brittenburg. And another thing, occupational hazard.”
“Oh don’t be so tough around me Jackie, but do continue. Why shouldn’t I think so?”
On those words was there nothing that could be said, outside of the truth that was waiting to happen. Earthquakes had a natural going of flows and once they were out of land, the bottom of the seas provided a good enough substitute.
“Tell me,” the admiral began while her eyes narrowed themselves to near slits, “had an increase in rough waves these past few months?”
For Twilight it was all sailor talk. She had no idea what a ‘rough wave’ could have been, but was afraid she would figure it out soon enough. Though there was one other little fact that seemed to be interesting her. All aboard the vessel there wasn’t any light or lantern burning. The only light came from Rarity’s horn, if she cancelled her magic, she would be having a massive advantage.
Something about the words of Applejack must be of interest to her. That, or their very presence was enough for just that. Twilight couldn’t tell for certain and she perhaps never could. Which was perhaps something for the better in her eyes.
“Rough waves you say? We may have had a couple more then we would have expected. Why does it… oh, oh!” Suddenly did the unicorn began to make sense of the situation. All of the puzzle pieces were falling nicely in their spots and that worried her. “Oh,” she then added in a near monotone voice. Almost as if she had lost all the previous fires for the fight with the admiral.
Rough waves were waves that come out of literally nothing. They would tower over pretty much every vessel that they come across. They were among one of the most dangerous things a sailor could come across at sea. They were nothing but a literal business killer for Rarity as she had actually seen potential victims being devoured by them.
That was the very reason of why she had fallen so silent against Applejack. No sound came from the ivory unicorn as Twilight even held herself silent for other reasons. Hesitation had fallen upon the pirate captain. A hesitation that was a hard act to follow up to.
What could be done in the matter? What should have been done in the matter? Yank a musket ball through the skull of Twilight? Quickly aim her weapon to Applejack and return the favor from long ago? Or something else? Rarity couldn’t tell as all of the possibilities were racing through her head. Hesitant and uncertain of things had the pirate captain wandering in the dark.
“I propose a negotiation,” said Rarity all of the sudden. The silence was broken while they still circled around. Something that caused both of the other mares to glance at her with a strange glare. “I want to negotiate and hear further about the matter.”
The ice was broken, went through Twilight’s mind. The other unicorn was at least reasonable enough to continue listening to their words. Then the hopes were open on the fact whether or not either of them would end up doing they would come to regret.
Applejack nodded before an exhale was released through her nostrils. “Alright then. Ya want to hear the whole story. Yar holding it.” She then pointed to the soothsayer with her weapon.
“What?!” Twilight screamed towards the admiral in surprise. Before she could speak another word, she was turned around. Finally was the mare granted a live view on the face of the pirate captain. A face so refined that it almost seemed to belong to nothing else but a lady of high society. Something wasn’t right about her yet in a way it all did make sense as well.
“Tell me,” the ivory unicorn began, “that what I need to know. Short version please.”
Twilight released a deep gulp as the horrors surfaced in her mind before the stutters left her thought. Stutters that annoyed the mare pretty much to no end. Almost had she smacked the hostage unicorn with the handle of her weapon. Almost.
The soothsayer came back to her senses and talked to the mare what she had seen in a brief moment. “So that’s why I’m organizing this expedition, this is why we came for you. To make a stop to this violence of nature.” Of course she hadn’t spoken about the fact that she had actually been to the planes of the goddesses themselves. Certain details were best left untold.
“So, you got together a band of misfits. I mean, an admiral from the navy, a lieutenant from the air force, a medic of all trades and now you want a pirate captain to that? All to stop, earthquakes?” To Rarity, it didn’t make a lick of sense whatsoever.
“Major, but you’re correct on it, yes,” confirmed Twilight to Rarity. Whose head them peeked over the shoulder of the soothsayer and looked into the eyes of the admiral.
“Seriously, what kind of drink do they serve up there in Canterlot these days?” She didn’t believe it for a second. But she had to admit to herself that the words of the soothsayer did rang some form of truth.
Easy it wouldn’t have been but Rarity knew exactly how she could get a confirmation by promising nothing. “Alright then, let’s say I do believe this all is real and that it can be stopped.” Without a warning was Twilight turned back around and held firmly against the body of Rarity again. “There are going to be conditions that need to be lived up to considering me in on this. Equestria wants me dead, and you know that.”
“Cloudsdale doesn’t,” the soothsayer struggled to say. The arm of the ivory unicorn almost choked the life out of her. “The doctor doesn’t, doesn’t hold grudges. It’s only, A-Applejack.”
“And you,” added Rarity. Her eyes looked down for just a second. “But of course, Applejack. Trouble follows me wherever I go, doesn’t it? Problem happens to be, you’re so good at sniffing it out and following it.”
“Shut up and name yar states of the negotiation!” Applejack snarled in return. She truly wasn’t in the mood to talk to Rarity. She had to if they wanted to have any form of success through.
Rarity grinned once more before she tightened her grip around Twilight’s neck just a little bit more. Even through her mulberry skin it was visible that she was becoming more and more purple. Air was running low yet she wasn’t allowed to go. “Oh I shall name them, Jackie, I shall.” The grin faded away from the face in order to make room for a little chuckle or two.
The arms of Twilight began to struggle around. It felt almost like all of the air had gone out of her lungs. To make matters worse, there wasn’t any fresh air delivered. To which the pirate finally loosened up just a little bit. It resulted in Twilight taking a massive swig of fresh but also salty air.
“I propose a truce between us. I know you want me dead, six hooves down in the ground in a coffin at an unknown location. But I’m not giving you that satisfaction anytime soon. If her words are true and I do decide to join up with this quest of madness, I desire not to be harmed or hurt by any of your doings. So no backstabbing, or stabbing in general, shooting me and so on. You keep your hands off of me, clear?” That were the terms that Rarity had for the admiral.
That term alone was already enough to make the admiral swallow a massive pill. Rarity was still the iron lady that she was all that time ago. Something that troubled Applejack on more before she almost whispered her words. “As crystal.”
“Secondly,” the pirate continued. Whatever her second desire could have been was something neither of the two could have ever predicted. “When everything is over, when we’re truly safe again and call it quits, I’m able to freely go. I can just walk away without a problem. Twenty four hours after I’m gone, our truce ends and war returns as usual. What say you, admiral Applejack?”
The seriousness in her voice, the tone in which she spoke her words stinging like a cutlass. It was another massive pill that needed to be swallowed by the admiral. She had the most notorious pirate in the land right in front of her and she wasn’t allowed to do anything to her. It wasn’t just Applejack’s pride that was standing on the line, it was the entire navy’s. At least it felt like that in her own eyes that was.
“You, you must be joking!” Applejack hesitantly replied. There was no way in the world that she could believe the very words that she had just heard. Though they were the truth. They were the truth spoken by the pirate captain.
“Does this face look like it’s joking, Jackie?” Rarity replied in a cold and stern tone.
That did it for the earth anthrony. There wasn’t any other way to plead or talk herself out of it. The terms named by Rarity were some of the hardest she had ever heard in her life. Not to mention that little fact that she still held Twilight. One wrong move and the soothsayer might join the history books herself. A difficult matter, was putting the events lightly. It was near impossible for the admiral to agree on the terms.
Though one matter still hadn’t been confirmed, whether or not Twilight had actually spoken the truth. “Jackie,” was suddenly echoed over the deck of the Vengeful Belle. “Look me in the eyes and tell me, whether or not the words are true from the little mare here.”
It was a thing that Rarity knew perhaps a little bit too well from the admiral, the very fact that lying one of her strongest points. “I’m waiting,” she added to make the earth anthrony stress out even more.
The admiral got an even more difficult time. A groan was released from her throat. All of her courage had to be gathered to actually look into the eyes of the pirate captain. For Applejack it seemed like those sapphire blue rims were a hellish, blue fire. Her devil, her greatest demon stood before her and looked down the barrel of her own flintlock.
It was about one of the worst nightmares that had come to live for her. Short in- and exhales were given off by the earth anthrony as she didn’t knew what needed to be done. For the first time since they had boarded the ship, it was her who was uncertain of the events. Her green rimmed eyes looked into the blue hellfire as the words soon enough followed.
“Everything, everything she spoke, was the truth. If, if we don’t do anything, Equestria as we know it, shall be doomed,” brought Applejack out with a tremble in her voice. Even her southern sounding accent had completely vanished for the moment. She was terrified, completely and utterly terrified for the first time in a long time.
Rarity on the other end of the circle could only grin to the matter. She knew the words were true and the trek was real. Though somewhere deep inside of her there was the feeling of duty calling her. Destiny awaited her at the gates of hell no matter what. Everything she had done in her life after deserting the navy was wrong.
Facts that were well known by the unicorn, perhaps it was that which caused her to agree on going. Something that could possibly redeem her soul a little bit or lighten the burden that was given to it. “Alright, I’m in. But only, if my conditions shall be applied.”
It was as if Applejack was smacked in the face for a second time. Or as if somepony had actually driven a knife right into her heart. The stomping of her metal hoof on the deck ceased to exist. Another deep exhale was being given off by her as she didn’t knew what to do. Twilight wanted to meddle herself just so much into the matter. But she knew that it was a standoff between the admiral and the pirate.
A saddening fact for perhaps an even more saddening event. The tough pill was swallowed by the admiral. Pride was something that had to be set aside for the time being. Whether it was liked or not, there was only one way in which it all could end. “Alright,” the admiral started with an exhale. “Ah accept yar terms. On one other condition of mah own.”
Then it was Applejack who was going to throw in another curveball into the mix. Something that caught the attention of both the soothsayer and the pirate. “Yar ain’t going to be luring me out. No taunting, no tricks, no nothing. Fair ‘nough for ya?”
The answer to that was something which was a lot easier than the previous statement. “I do not see a problem with that little fact. Fine, no nothing shall be added to the list. I just hope you’re able to keep your end of the bargain.”
“It’s usually ya who doesn’t do that,” the admiral whispered to herself. Then she uncocked her flintlock again. The weapon was safely placed back in its holster while Rarity did the same. In the eyes of Twilight it seemed to be all over. Even though the tension between the two could still be felt clearly. It was uneasy to stand in between the two of them, two titans of the seas they were.
And then, just like that, was the soothsayer released from the hold and pushed forwards. Finally was the soothsayer free out of the hold and finally charged up her own horn. It would only act like a light source to fully investigate the pirate captain. Where Applejack was granted a full view already was Twilight’s turn just then.
What she saw in her eyes was something that was both deadly and beautiful. A mare with the traits of a lady while vicious-looking like the sea itself. Her purple, thigh high boots with two flintlock holsters were impressive enough. Yet it was the white blouse that caught the interest of the mare even more. Two belts went across it, both carrying more holsters for the weapons as well as the sheath of a sword.
It was safe to say that the mare was literally armed to the teeth. Though something under the blouse caught the unicorn by surprise. A bluish light faintly irradiated itself from under it. Almost as if the magic of the ivory skinned unicorn didn’t only channel through her horn. Twilight made probably the best decision not to comment on it.
But they had done it. They had managed to get the feared pirate captain in their company. The infamous White Widow had joined their ranks in their quest of madness. Something that wasn’t all too happily celebrated by Applejack. Their company was complete for four-fifth. Only one member seemed to be missing from that point on. A member who was also the most difficult one to figure out.
“What? No slap in the face, no harmful words from you, soothsayer? Heh, are you trained for these kind of matters or something?” questioned Rarity to her. One side of her lips turned up to give a cheeky grin.
Twilight shook her head softly as their eye contact was never broken. “No, I believe that calm can conquer every single situation. This one, wasn’t mine to handle. It was hers.” Her thumb then pointed over her shoulder, towards Applejack. Who was still grumbling deeply into herself about the whole event.
“The calm before the storm is often the most enjoyed thing before it actually happens. You soothsayers are a special bunch, I give you that much. But much is kept from prying eyes, never forget that. Turns and twists shall get in your way which might be part of a bigger plan. Yet the answer you can find, back where you began.”
“And a philosopher. Well that’s unexpected for certain,” returned Twilight almost happily. Though the happiness was short lived as Applejack finally managed to get herself to speak words.
“Now that ain’t making a lick of sense to me!”
“Ugh, metaphors and wise words, dear. You wouldn’t understand if you tried.”
“Perhaps. Come on Twilight, the sooner we are off of this tub, the better.”
"Wait, there’s just one more thing,” the soothsayer spoke up.
Both the admiral and the pirate captain glanced over to Twilight with a gaze of the unknown. Something just didn’t seem to be right in their eyes. They also made the possible mistake that she wasn’t that much of an actual threat. Rarity did a step closer as Twilight summoned something in the palm of her hand.
Only to then stick that very same hand out towards her. The curious unicorn held her own hand below that of Twilight and a raspberry colored, arcane piece of parchment fell into it. “It’s our rendezvous point, be there on time please,” the soothsayer spoke up in a near whisper.
“Why are you whispering there?” Rarity then asked her. To which she only got a shrug.
The light of the raspberry horn faded out of existence, only to soon be followed up by the sapphire blue color leaving the realm of existence. Complete darkness could be found on the deck of the Vengeful Belle. Yet one thing didn’t sat the pirate right. Her ship was called a tub, that was about one of the biggest insults one could give to her.
“Also, tub?! Listen to yourself on that rubber duck of yours, Jackie!” Rarity snarled coldly towards the admiral. Shortly afterwards could her hooves be heard leaving over the planks as both Twilight and Applejack made their departure from the vessel as well.
Rarity Brittenburg had faded into the darkness of both the night and the caverns system while the other two had returned on the docks. “A tub yes, what else am Ah supposed to call it?” Applejack added as she wanted to continue the conversation. Even though her conversation partner was pretty much lost.
“Let’s, let’s not go over that shall we?” Twilight asked didn’t had a clue what was going on between the two. She just wanted to maintain the peace for as much as possible. Which could be seen as almost an impossible task.
~~~~
Minutes had they been wandering through the harbor of the pirate town. They both began to realize something. The time wasn’t in their favor and they were both dead tired. Twilight’s own fears and frights all rushed at her as she realized how close she had been to death in the past couple of encounters alone.
Yet Applejack still had the difficulty of actually accepting the fact that her arch nemesis would be joining them. They needed a place to stay and think about the events as they were and would be going down. They both made way for the streets themselves where Twilight hoped to be finding the way back to the bar they had entered before.
It was a long shot but if they had a room available it would have been pretty much their only choice. She didn’t wanted to risk it to go to another bar or small hotel. She was a little bit familiar with the one she tried to find. Yet something continued to chew upon her consciousness. Something that almost hammered that what she had done was not right.
Which was true in perhaps one way or the other. Yet it was needed to get her because of their demands. Though why they would ask her to, was something that Twilight never actually questioned. Therefore making her look like a pup to do the bidding of the goddesses themselves.
Applejack had so her own means to drop herself deep in her thoughts. Rumbles and grumbles of her mind soared through the skull. All while the ideas themselves seemed to be even crazier than reality itself. All manners of tricks that Rarity could use on her were evaluated by her mind, tiring her out even more as they arrived at the bar.
Twilight opened the door for her and the warm light and the smell of rum filled both of their noses. The both of them were still wearing their coats and hoped to be in a pretty good disguise for the time being. Though neither of them was actually counting on that very fact.
The admiral entered the place and was soon followed up by Twilight. Who then slid past her and made her way quickly over to the bar itself. There she got to talk with the barkeeper once again as the earth anthrony just watched over the events.
The bar was almost in exactly the same spot as they left it, which both troubled yet relieved the admiral. It wasn’t something to be sure about whether it was good or bad. Quite frankly, she didn’t care much about it either. She was dead tired and just wanted to spend the night in a good bed for a change of pace.
Whether or not that wish would have been fulfilled was something that remained to be seen. Twilight had returned to her and spoke one simple sentence, “got us a room, upstairs.”