"A hundred years ago, the world was destroyed. Many variations of the World's End differ from pony to pony, but they all agree on one conclusion: 'The Nightmare did it'. However, to every end there is always a beginning, and Star Swirl made sure that came to reality. The land that had once resided with the core was now above the skies, floating like balloons on a midsummer day. Miles below them laid the molten heat of the earth's core. From young age even into death, Star Swirl and his advances in science shaped New Equestria and its surrounding islands for the best. His disciple, Twilight Sparkle, has advanced it even further and completed her teacher's work by creating New Equestria's number one transportation: the Skyships, born to sail the skies like the seas they once sailed. Because of her courage and daunting acts of hope, Twilight had been granted the gift of immortality; letting her live to the edge of eternity.
"And so the Age of Skybourne began. There was no rulers, no laws, and unlimited freedom. Ponies set out across the skies to discover the bountiful lands that laid before them. As time progressed, so did the small factions of ponies that survived together. Soon, there were two large surviving factions: Crystal Faction, led by the brave and courageous King Somber Crystal, and the Changeling Faction, led by Queen Chrysalis. Together, the two factions built the world stronger through what some may have called 'conquest', whilst others called is 'savior'. However, many believed in the freedom that they had once enjoyed, and with the new rules and factions rising out of the shattered world, several ponies left the factions to sail the skies in isolation. Out of these ponies, several were made enemies to the Factions. They ravaged the skies, plundering the islands and thieving from merchant ships. They despised the new way of life, and these scourges who rose out of the shadows became known as-"
"Pirates! In the skies below!" A pony shouted,and the stallions scurried about the deck, getting to their assigned stations. "Battle stations! Get there unless you want to be blasted into the Core!" They all hurried to their stations, but suddenly the starboard wing exploded and was sent through the clouds in a hurling fire. The stallion became scared as they readied their stations.
"Who the hell's shooting at us?!"
"Pirates, you twit! Who else would be shooting at us?!"
"Are we gonna sink to the Core?!"
"Moonstones are still functional, sir! We've lost starboard wing but we're still afloat!"
"Stop you're whining! You're soldiers! Man your stations!"
Yards behind the Navy Vessel, a large ship chased after them, it's deck and upped half the only thing seen above the clouds. It was a decent sized ship, durable to withstand cannon fire, but fast enough to escape it. It's giant masthead was that of a steel black dragon with glowing amber eyes, only known in legends and tales as "The Nightmare". The ship itself was a dark blackwood type ship and had dark purple railings along the ship. It's three towering masts were also lined with dark purple on the steel, and the dark blue sails held the emblem of the Lunar Pirates: the Mare in the Moon with glowing eyes. Even through it looked majestic, The Lunar Frontier was centuries old.
At the wheel stood a tall stallion wearing a dark blue coat with a small ornate hat atop his head. He was narrowly guiding the ship through the clouds and dodging cannon balls left and right. He was a tall white unicorn with a blue man that had light blue stripes in it. As the masts yet again avoided another contact, the First Mate turned and shouted, "Captain! We have another Navy Transport vessel in our sights!"
The doors behind him, that led to the Captain's Cabin, burst open and a tall blue mare strode out and forward. Her star-filled blue mane was tied back into a ponytail, and it flowed by itself, like it was magical. The top of her forehead and mane was covered by a large black pirate captain's hat - which had a purple feather sticking out of it - that rested on her head. She had a large black cloak with golden buttons that was set on her shoulders, which had purple lining on the edge of the flaps and the cuffs. She wore a dark blue vest with purple buttons, and her neat black pants went over her shiny black boots.
"Avast, mateys!" The Captain shouted, her smile big and adventurous. "Onward to glory! That ship is ours for the taking!" She called to the stallion steering. "First Mate Armor, take us to starboard side! She pointed at a pegasus who was running towards the artillery cannon. "Comadier Soarin! Take out the portside wing of that vessel! I want it burning as it falls to the core! We must not let this ship get out of our clutches!"
"Of course, Cap'n!" The pegasus called back.
"And you, Rainbow Dash!" The Captain pointed at a cerulean pegasus with a rainbow mane. "Get down to the Brig and tell Head Engineer Applejack that her dragon needs to get the engines primed and ready for a quick getaway!" She gripped the banister and shouted, "And fast! I didn't pluck you off of Cloudsdale just for you to laze around!" The pegasus charged below deck. "And everypony!" Everypony froze and looked up at her. She spread her arms wide and shouted, her smile big, "If you find spoils, it's yours!" They all roared in excitement and ran about the ship, preparing for boarding.
The Captain took the helm and Shining placed a hand on her shoulder. "Artemis..." He softly said her name. "This is the tenth ship we attacked as your crew. Do you think it's there? Her halberd."
Artemis' smile faded a bit and she sighed. "I really hope it's there..." Her expression turned dark. "If not, I'll feel better when I see their ship burning as it falls to the Core. This is my goal, and I will not fail."
"The Lunar Pirates. Scourge of the scourges. They attacked Military Faction ships(or Factionaires), plundering and taking what they wanted, and sent them below the clouds into what is knowns as 'The Core' - hot, molten lava that is the center of the world. In her lifetime, Captain Artemis alone has destroyed 500 Factionaire Ships and earned herself a name. With a bounty of 10,000 bits, not even the most experienced of bounty hunters could take the Lunar Captain down; and no one could figure out how she has escaped death so many times. Half a millennium, ago, the Lunar Pirates disappeared, after terrorizing the sky for 300 years. Many thought that Captain Artemis herself died, or that her crew betrayed her, or that the gods themselves simply wished her away. Today was the first sighting of the Lunar Pirates. Today would change history, and change the entire face of New Equestria."
"Are these all the stallions on board?" Artemis asked Thunderlane, a pegasus stallion with a flattop Mohawk.
"Not all. We're finishing up the lower decks. Y'know, This ship looked smaller from very far away. Never figured it could have four decks." he tightened some of the binds on the soldiers and stepped back. Artemis nodded softly and slowly walked towards one of the tied soldiers. As she crouched to see him eye level, she could see the blood leaking from where he was hit in her mouth.
Artemis crouched down and smiled softly at the stallion. "Now, young lad, to make this easy on all of us, why don't you go ahead and tell me what you're transporting? I mean, my crew's already searching, but I happen to be a mare with a schedule. Hmmm?"
In response, the grey unicorn spat blood into Artemis' face. "To 'ell with you bloody pirates! I ain't telling you nuthin'!" The ship suddenly swayed, nearly knocking Artemis off of her feet. It then rumbled down below, like some explosion was triggered. "You angered our guard! He'll show no mercy unless you spare us! Then maybe we'll leave you on an abandoned island alive." He smiled a toothy grin.
Artemis' head bobbed around like he made a good deal, and said, "Well, that sounds interesting, and your guard won't be a problem. Do you know why most pirates don't mess with Factionaire ships?" Before the stallion could answer, she answered for him. "Because they have mercy towards you that they don't want to risk. With your offer, most pirates would mercy that and let you mercy them." Her hand moved lightning fast, faster than eyes could see, and several soldiers jumped when a loud Blam! filled the skies. Their leader slumped over, a hole in his head, and Artemis' barrel of her steel pirate revolver sizzled as smoke came out.
Her smile faded as she stood up slowly, looking down at the body in disgust. "But I show you no mercy..." She said softly as she held her gun and let it twirl it on her finger. "Well, perhaps that was a bit harsh." She began pacing around the deck slowly, moving one foot in front of the other. As more prisoners were brought up to the deck she continued. "Perhaps...well, I'll make it a little fair. If anypony speaks up now, I'll at least let you call for your precious Faction." There was silence among the ship, nopony wanted to confess. "No....? Going once....going twiiiiice..."
"W-Wait, m-ma'am!" A young colt cried out. He was a white earth stallion with a brown mane and a few brown spots on his coat, one of the spots was over his left eye. "I-I can tell you, m-miss!" He said quickly, stumbling over his words.
Artemis' smile returned and she went over to the young boy. She guessed he was hardly a teen, no doubt a child. He wore ragged clothes, which also hinted that perhaps he was the ship's 'cabin boy'. She crouched down to him and asked, "Okay, what's your name?"
"P-Pipsqueak!" He almost responded immediately. After thinking for a brief second, Artemis snapped her fingers and motioned for a grey older stallion with a black mane and purple eyes came forward reaching into his black trench coat. Artemis nodded for Pipsqueak to continue while the stallion looked for something. "W-We're just carrying weapons and supplies to the Changeling Faction..." He swallowed as the gray stallion pulled out a scroll. Artemis looked at the scroll, then at the kid, then back at the scroll. The other Factionaires glared at Pipsqueak like he was a traitor - which he was. "W-What's gonna happen to me if I tell you what you need to know?" He couldn't help but ask.
Artemis looked at Pipsqueak and said, "Listen, darling. I know that's not all you're telling me. What secrets is this ship hiding?"
"He won't need to answer your question, Captain." Shining said as he came out from the lower decks. The crew behind him carried chests full of valuable treasures that the ship was transporting. He had sadden eyes. "Ran into a bull knight. We lost half of our crew." Artemis stared at him in confusion, and he said, "That's why the ship seemed to be rocking in the wind." He held up a long object wrapped in cloth. "But we did find something...peculiar."
Artemis' sad eyes lit up as she took the object gingerly, as if it were to shatter if she dropped it. She stared at it, and said, "The rest of you that were with me above deck, get out wounded and our dead. Get back onto the ship while I wrap up here." She pointed at Pipsqueak. "Spike! Come get the little one here." A tall, 8-foot dragon lumbered over to the colt, picked him up, and with the rest of the crew, filed out to The Frontier.
The only ones left on the ship was First Mate Armor and the Captain, both anxiously awaiting the revealing object from inside the cloth. Artemis unraveled the cloth, and both of them held their breath as she pulled out the weapon she had been looking for. Her eyes widened, and she breathlessly said, "A...a sword...?!" It was a strait sword with a light blue tinted blade and a sapphire handle. A crescent opal moon was engraved within the handle. When Artemis grasped the handle, it glowed slightly. A look of disappointment and anger came upon her face. "Just the sword...?!" She huffed and whirled on one of the stallions. "Where is the halberd?! The golden one?!" Blackness creeped over her fur as she became more angry, and her eyes began to cnage to a sky blue. "WHERE IS MY SISTER'S HALBERD!?" She roared, and Armor lightly put a hand on her shoulder.
"Artemis, relax." He quietly said, calming the Captain down. "We've got your sword, right? Just like you wanted. Maybe we just missed the ship with the halberd." He swallowed, knowing exactly how angry and fearful the Captain could be. "At least we've got one half. Saves trouble in looking for it, right?"
Artemis' colors returned as she calmed down, and she slowly nodded. "You re right, First Mate. I do tend to get ahead of myself." She smiled a bit and yelled, "Applejack, your turn!" as Artemis crossed the plank onto The Lunar Frontier. Applejack jogged back onto the Factionaire ship and down into the lower decks. Moments later, the whirring sound of the ship began to die and it began to lose power. Applejack came back up carrying a few large red gems. On her way, she cut one stallion loose, and the stallion looked confused as Applejack crossed ships. "Good lad," Artemis said, resting her heel on the foot of the Factionaire ship's railing, her arms crossed. "In the few moments left to live, send word to your precious Faction and tell that dastardly fellow Somber that The Lunar Pirates are back; and we will not fail."
The stallion trembled and crawled froward, shaking terrible. "B-But what about letting us live? We spoke up! We spoke up!" He cried out.
Luna leaned forward as spoke with an eerie voice, "I. Mercy. No. One." She said and pushed the ship away from hers. The ship lost power and began sinking below the clouds. the stallions began screaming as they plunged to the molten Core below. Back on The Lunar Frontier, the bodies of their fallen crew were being ready to be thrown overboard with respect. "They will live long in Elysium," Artemis said, "And may those Factionaire bastards rot in Tartarus." That was all she had to say - most of them didn't have any parents. The bodies went overboard, one by one, sailing doing into the Core.
As the crew began to man their stations once again, Artemis called out. "Ahoy!" They all looked up to her. "I know we've lost many good crew today, but cheer up! We sail for Ponyville tomorrow! If you are sad, how can your shipmates rest in peace?" The crew raah'd in agreement. She spread her arms as the moon rose out of the clouds. "Sing on, you bloody scallywags!" The crew raised there fists as they roared in agreement. As the ship sailed in the silver moonlight through the silent sky, a heart-racing shanty could be heard over the wind, slicing through the silence of the night;
"All deckhands on deck!
Swasher and blackjack!
Peel off to port tack!
Blimey, you got me sold!"
"Argh! Boon-a, come steal my heart made of gold!
Live in my dream, we'll fight scallywags and the mold!
Scream out ahoy!
Lift up our spirits;
Live on the vessel of the Lunar Pirate!"