Night's Deceit

by RegalBrony

A Tempest of Swords

Rarity looked across the deck at the Captain. A dark scowl was scrawled across his face. She smiled and trotted over, relishing the Captain's obvious displeasure as she leaned towards him, feigning affection.

"Come now, Captain, there's no need to be rude. After all, this will all be over soon, darling, as long as you play your part. But we shouldn't have a problem with that, should we?" Rarity whispered delicately in his ear. The captain merely scowled. Rarity saw the look on his face and put on a pouty expression. "Oh, looks like somepony needs a little reminder of his place." A blue glow lit up her horn, and the captain gasped and bent over. Rarity looked at him condescendingly as he tried to regain his breath.

"I.... will do my duty, Miss Treasure." He looked pleadingly at the white unicorn as she stood mercilessly over him, an image of terrible beauty. Rarity smiled as he groveled at her feet. She inspected her shined hooves as she released the pressure in his nether regions to a less painful setting. It was just tight enough now to remind him that it was there.

"Yes. You will do your duty. Although I rather think that it would be a good idea to see a doctor when you get him." A cruel smile graced her face as she continued. "Though it may cost you. After all, this cargo was the last chance for your business, wasn't it, darling? No more money in the bank, you told me. And your beautiful wife all ready to leave you. Not sure why she married such a coward in the first place, personally." Rarity looked up as she saw a dark shadow descending from the clouds above. "Your time is up, I'm afraid. Looks like my friends have arrived, for better or for worse. That, of course, is up to you." Her face hardened.

Twilight looked down at the Brutus, a swagger in her step as she prepared a spell to amplify her voice. Her small crew stood by her side as her magic worked the sails, taking in three reefs on the starboard sail to compensate for an increase in the windspeed as they descended. The lookout on the ship below had noticed the bottom of her sleek ship piercing the clouds below. Obviously inexperienced, he hailed the ship and sent out a magical signal asking for her ship's designation. Standard procedure, but anyone with a lick of sense would know that a ship only approached from above to attack. She fiddled with her hat, than stepped out into the air and spoke, her spell ensuring that every sailor on the ship below would hear her voice.

"This is Twilight Sparkle, captain of the Night's Deceit. You will surrender your cargo immediately, or you shall be decimated. You have one minute to issue a response. If you refuse to respond or comply with our orders, we will kill you to the last man. Your minute starts now." Twilight stepped back onto the ship and cancelled the spell enhancing her voice.
She looked nervously at Rainbow Dash. "Well? Was it intimidating this time? I know last time I kinda botched it when I told them why they couldn't win. Although, really, a scientific analysis of the odds should have been enough to convince them, in my opinion." She bit her hoof in anticipation.

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. "You did fine. Just say something cooler than 'decimate' next time. What the hay does that mean, anyway?"

Twilight pawed at the deck. At this point, the talking was just to take up the time anyways.

Forty-five seconds left. She shifted her weight back and forth. The tension was killing her.

Thirty seconds left. Twilight turned to Pinkie Pie. "Man the cannons, Pinkie. Give 'em a warning shot."

"Okey-doki-loki!" Half a second later, the cannon boomed and a shot whizzed through the mast of the barge.

Fifteen seconds left. Ten. Nine. Eight. Seven. And then a white flag waved through the air, the captain galloping across the deck of the Brutus frantically attempting to get Twilight's attention. She held up her hoof and dove towards him, flanked by Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash on either side. She could have just teleported, but this was much more striking.

Her hooves hit the deck with earshattering boom. Magically amplified to draw attention. The ship's entire crew was gathered on deck. Thirty-five ponies. Twilight had checked the boarding list to make sure that she would know if a trap was being laid for her. That list had thirty-four posted on it, but a certain white unicorn was currently taking up the extra slot. Right next to the captain. Twilight smiled. She loved it when a well-made plan came to fruition.

She slowly walked past the whispering crew member and unsheathed her cutlass, magically holding it at the captain's throat.

"You will load all your valuables onto my ship. Your cargo consists of three thousand pounds of valuable spices, as well as a purse containing fifteen hundred bits that you were delivering to a black market dealer. I do not need your stores of water or food. After you have loaded aforementioned cargo, my ship will destroy your main mast to delay your arrival into port at Canterlot. As such you would do well to avoid standing near the mast. Understood?"

The captain gulped. A look of rebellion was in his eyes, hidden beneath the fear. He shook his head. Twilight looked at Rarity. "Help him realize the error of his ways, will you?" Rarity nodded.

The screams of the captain echoed across the skies.

"But... she was with us..." The murmurs of the crew floated through the air, their voices tinged with the hurt of betrayal. Rarity grinned.

Twilight's eyes hardened and she dragged the captain around so he was looking into her merciless violet eyes. His tears etched a pattern of pain and terror across his face. She threw him to the deck, and he slid until his head smashed violently against a bulkhead.

Twilight turned to the crew of the Brutus. Without the captain, they weren't quite sure whether they should attack or stay where they were. Twilight searched the crew for someone capable. Her eyes lighted across a dark green pegasus whose eyes were burning with fear and hate.

"You! Come here, NOW!" He flapped over the crew and landed in front of her, shaking. "Your captain refused to obey me, on threat of torture and death. That was quite brave of him." Her voice reached the whole crew, but especially pinpointed the pegasus in front of her. She turned to address the crowd. "Courage. It has saved lives before. Hell, it's saved whole kingdoms. But when you come into Canterlot, I want the world to know one thing." Twilight's cutlass flashed through noonday sun, decapitating the groaning captain. A gasp went through the crew, and several choked as they tried to hold back their tears. "THIS is what happens to those who show courage in my presence! DEATH! AND YOU WILL MAKE SURE THE WHOLE WORLD KNOWS IT!!! She turned to the green pegasus in front of her. "You are the new captain of this ship. Now, set your crew to work, unless you wish to end up like captain number one." He nodded and turned to the crew, ordering them to fetch the cargo.

"Nicely done, darling. A stellar example of the most pitiless pirate in the skies." Rarity said to Twilight as the shipment was slowly lifted by rope to the Night's Deceit.

"YEAH!!! That was totally cool Twilight! Way more intimidating than anything else you've done!" Rainbow Dash grinned, but the smile didn't reach her eyes. Twilight didn't see this, but she did take notice when the smile disappeared as Rainbow turned away to help with the work. She filed the thought away to process in the quiet of her cabin.

Several hours later, the cargo had all been safely passed from one ship to the other. The crew of the Night's Deceit trotted aboard their black ship while the others lamented their losses aboard a crippled barge.

"A good day." Twilight Sparkle gazed across the horizon. "A day where blood and tears flowed freely together." The sun's final rays sunk across the horizon as she faded into the night.

* * *

"No! I cannot allow you to endanger the lives of the innocent in your so-called 'mercy'!" Luna turned, her rage shaking across the table at Celestia. "Simply because she is" Luna paused, "was your student is no excuse to delay sending the royal guard after her ship. She has decimated 15 ships in the last two months alone!" Luna snorted, enraged. Celestia turned towards her.

"Um? Decimated?" Celestia said.

"Destroyed! BURNT! SENT TO THE VERY DEPTHS OF HELL!" Luna overturned the table, sending papers flying everywhere.

Celestia turned from her sister, tears glistening in her eyes. When she turned back to Luna, the tears were gone, wiped away by a flash of golden magic.

"Fine." She said, her voice quavering as she looked at Luna. "I will send my finest ship after her. I will also give you permission to send one of your ships after her as well." Celestia turned away, defeated.

Luna smiled and rearranged the room with magic, victory in her eyes. "Finally you see sense, sister. I shall inform Trixie Lulamoon that she is to give chase immediately. I assume that you will send Shining Armor after Twilight with vengeance in his heart as well." Luna smiled. "After all, I've heard that his current hate for his sister is stronger than any love that he might have once held. And I do love the irony of it." Luna laughed, her desire for justice at last beginning to feel abated as she left to inform her airship, the Shadow Wolf of their imminent departure.

Celestia magic wavered as she signed the warrant later that evening.

By order of the Royal Sisters of Canterlot, the airship going by the name of THE NIGHT'S DECIET is henceforth declared an enemy of the crown, and should it be found, it and it's captain, Twilight Sparkle, shall both be sentenced to swift and immediate justice.
Signed, Celestia

She gave the warrant to the captain of her guard without a word. Shining Armor grinned, and set off for the jewel of Celestia's navy. The mighty Solar Blade.

Comments

[The A I]

More please!

[jackfangs]

more please thank you