The Blue Rose

by Chicago Ted

Canto IV

Celestia’s Orb had long since gone
O’er the horizon, thus dimming the sky.
Indeed, it burned vermillion
Whilst she cleaned her art with clouds of lye.
In its stead, Luna hoisted her own Sun,
The milk-white Moon, into the sky so high.
To accompany it, she added many a star,
To guide aviators near and far.

One such sky-sailor was Captain Fogbow,
Of the Halcyone, Gryphonstone-bound.
With him was Thorn, regarded as a hero
Of Cloudsdale. With Tânadain, he had found
A way to defeat the Craven for the Windigo.
A hero of Dragon-Lands he was then crown’d.
He next intended to intercept Captain Grizzle,
Take the Tartarus Gatekey– he felt some drizzle.

“Go below deck, Thorn!” Fogbow ordered.
“Meridian tells me that a storm is brewing!”
Thorn replied, “Aye, I believe his word–
Fortunately, though ’tis not the Craven’s doing!
I shall seek refuge!”– as how it was heard,
Mindful of the Windigo’s Craven’s sloughing.
Thorn found a hatch and descended the stairs,
Into Halcyone’s belly– not that anyone cares.

The other deckhooves were gather’d ’round
The room, in a merry song and dance.
Some elected to belt out the sound;
Others did strut, swagger, and prance.
The song of the night, so Thorn found,
He recognized, even at the first glance.
The jig and chanty’s theme noöne could miss.
If anyone is curious, it was something like this:

“High up along the airship’s mast,
How she flies proudly in the air!
Our ensign, angel, going past,
Waiving steady, flying so fair!
Her colors a wind’s speedy cast,
Keeping our speed, lest we be bare!
To tack! and tarry! up she gœs!
Flying proudly ’midst the airflows!

“No ship’s complete without a Flag,
Aye, we sing ours praise right aloud!
Even when the rainy skies sag,
Not even ’midst a gray stormcloud!
Where most ships merely stay the drag,
We count on ours to pierce the shroud!
To tack! and tarry! up she gœs!
Flying proudly ’midst the airflows!

“We plead, jack, summon a high draft–
O take us onward to our aim!
May it be heard from fore to aft:
Our colors symbolize our fame!
From steadfast clippers to a raft,
The Flag is what makes a boat’s name!
To tack! and tarry! up she gœs!
Flying proudly ’midst the airflows!”

Thorn decided to join in with singing the verse,
Praising the Halcyone’s flag– my, how grand!
Although the sky-sailors’ chanty was no terce,
It brought merriment to all in the band!
Hard to tell if it was a blessing or a curse,
Enchanted by song and dance, at sea or land!
With the final verse sang, they drank a tribute,
Save for Thorn– his youth he couldn’t refute.

We now return to the decks of the ship.
Here, Fogbow spotted another sailing near.
“Ship ahoy!” he greeted at the clip,
To no avail– now he had a sense of fear.
Who was aboard? “Vessel ahoy!” again the yip,
Then he saw the other, drawing near.
Once it got well enough within sight
To Fogbow, its identity came to light:

A battle-hardened airbarque of Gryphon design,
Cannons and carronades, on either side.
Battered, tempest-tost, in weather so malign.
With fraying knots her sails were tied.
’Twas such a mess flying ’long the skyline,
But that was not why Fogbow’s eyes went wide.
’Twas like he saw a dozen Nightmare-Lunas–
This was Grizzle’s ship, the Pride of Boreas!

His eyes went wider, and he gave a shout:
“All hooves on deck! We’re being boarded!”
In that instant, every sky-sailor came out,
Even Thorn– who here was not needed.
“Know this!” said the Rose, “wi’out doubt,
Grizzle and the Gatekey have just arrivèd;
Assist the Halcyone in defeating the Pride,
And our Gatekey’s-possession shall abide!

The Halcyone’s crew steer’d a hard larboard
To evade the Pride of Boreas’ pirate-gang.
It mattered not; they followed the herd–
Off the port gunwales they now did hang!
Even this weathership they wanted plunder’d,
Stopping at nothing with their gilded fang!
’Twould take more than this to defend.
Thorn decided, “Now this I shall end!”

When the first matey clambered onto deck,
He was met with naught but burning pain,
A scream resonating out of his neck–
And his face, and his beak, had met Tânadain!
Thorn was wise to bring it along on the trek.
“Hark!” shouted Thorn. “By Celestia’s mane!
Bring forth Grizzle, the Boreas’ captain–
Or else, face the furious wrath of the Sun!”

“Thorn!” shouted Fogbow. “Sheathe that sword!
You know that our ship is woodenclad!”
Thorn asked, “E’en in a situation this dire?”
“Yea, e’en now!” said he. “Are you mad?
Go below deck!” His breath had much ire;
Enough problems with ship and crew he had.
But pirates? Aye, it would make no sense
To have a foal wandering for them to fence.

He changed his mind when they were o’errun
By pirates– swinging aboard on cords!
Halcyone’s crew was outnumbered two to one,
Knock’d by the bandits down to the boards
Of their deck. There was no way to run!
They were pinned in place with their swords!
Nobody moved a muscle. Coming aboard
Was the Captain, Grizzle, arm’d with a sword.

“Which one amongst ye’s Thorn?” asked he.
“Who dares to challenge Grizzle to a duel?”
Thorn approached, saying “’Twould be me!
I am the one to deal you a fate most cruel!”
“What!” He turned. “A mere foal I see?
This shall be easy! You are a fool!
En garde!”– his sword raised, eager to slash.
Tânadain was summoned for the clash.

Fogbow would’ve objected, but he knew
Thorn was here to defend, as was before.
Tânadain’s flames were crackling anew.
Grizzle’s steel’d blade stood pois’d for war.
Suddenly, from weight the Halcyone did slew
To port– the Boreas’ weight she bore!
But, it mattered not, there was the joust
Between the two– Thorn hoped to oust!

Then the two collided, with swords locked.
Grizzle proved ruthless in his swings!
His sheer force of his blade mightily knocked
Thorn overboard (among other things)!
“That blade is useless!” Grizzle mocked.
“You’d be better off with a pair of wings!
–Like mine!” He then took to the air.
But Thorn knew how to fly without a pair.

A storm had been fully brewn by now.
But Tânadain still shone bright as day!
The gift of flight to Thorn Tânadain did endow,
With one swing, taking him up, up, and away!
Soaring o’er Grizzle, then landing on the bow,
The colt avoided the gryphon without delay.
Then Thorn returned his aggressive blitz,
And Grizzle charged, intending more hits.

Bind! –Parry! –Sparks flew from the blades,
As their swords sang and danced in the rain!
Among duelers Grizzle was a jack-of-all-trades;
For a novice like Thorn, Grizzle was his bane.
But if Tânadain aided well in Gurun’s crusades,
Then Grizzle would be dueling in vain.
’Til at last Tânadain’s heat proved too great,
Melting Grizzle’s blade, and sealing his fate.

Alas, Grizzle was too quick for Thorn–
He kenned his loss and so flew back–
Back to the Pride of Boreas so battleworn.
It was then that Fogbow spotted some slack
In the ropes connecting the ships– nighly torn.
“Thorn!” he hollered. “If you could hack
Through those ropes, then with your blade
Set the Boreas ablaze– that shall end the raid!”

“That can be done!” So Thorn did vow.
In anticipation, Tânadain lit up anew.
With a running-leap, Thorn flew from the bow
Up the mast, and sliced cleanly through.
Then, as fast as Tânadain could allow,
Thorn lept across the sky so blue.
He bounced off the balloon, and then fell
Down to the ship’s deck– the knock her knell!

Once more Tânadain carried Thorn up,
Back to the balloon– back for the finish!
One slice triggered the balloon’s breakup.
That was all– he had granted Fogbow’s wish,
And he had dashed Grizzle’s perfect setup.
Now, they would be sleeping with many a fish.
Once again, Tânadain did return Thorn.
Now, the Boreas in the sky was forlorn.

Two storms in fact had come to fruition:
The first of these was natural, one of rain.
The second was of Tânadain’s ignition,
To bring the Boreas’ crew pure strain.
These brought to an end Grizzle’s mission–
His attempt at boarding, wholly in vain.
All was well– wait– now Thorn saw
That Grizzle was hanging on by a claw.

Worse yet, Grizzle still had the Gatekey–
“I’ll finish you!” loudly Grizzle did vow.
“To the end of Tartarus you I shall see!”
“Gladly!” said Thorn. “Meet me at the prow!”
Grizzle climbed aboard, escaping the sea,
“He’s still here!” shouted Fogbow. “How?”
And to him, “Thorn, be wary of his advances!
Grizzle is a treacherous fœ in his fences!”

Tânadain shone bright, hot in the night.
The water against the blade turned to mist.
Grizzle drew his sword– so began the fight!
Thorn threw himself forward– and miss’d!
How? Grizzle merely stepped to the right!
(He knew better to dodge than to resist.)
Whist passing, Grizzle’s blade contactèd
Thorn’s side– and then Thorn reactèd!

The rain had allied itself with Grizzle
In the fight– not for gold, but for honor!
Waterdrops against Tânadain did sizzle,
As its flames made mist from water.
Even though the rain was but a drizzle,
The fire continued not– Thorn was a goner!
But did that stop him? Not the slightest!
For you see, Grizzle was not the brightest.

With a mighty heave, Thorn launched back–
Thus knocking Captain Grizzle down!
Tânadain pinned him so he couldn’t attack.
Grizzle stared back, with the sharpest frown.
“Why?” asked Thorn. “Why do you hijack
A Cloudsdale airship, one barely renown?”
“I act for the Crown!” so answered he.
“I plunder so that Grover may make me free!

“I was a criminal, foal, even before now–
I’ve been a brigand in days of yore.
My reprieve King Grover would allow,
But only if I robbed Gryphons not anymore.
In its stead, Grover made me vow
To plunder Equestrian airships sailing o’er
The sea near Gryphonstone– That is all!”
His tears were masked by the rainfall.

Thorn listened, but he believed nothing–
“No matter!” said he. “It’s beside the point–
Regardless of if you serve self or a king,
Whether you act alone or in an effort joint,
’Tis wrong! Besides, I’ve come for this thing!”
Grizzle looked on what the rain did anoint–
The Tartarus Gatekey, ringed ’round his neck–
One snip!– and it was on the Halcyone’s deck.

“What!” exclaimed he. “That was thy goal?”
Into Thorn’s sack the Gatekey did disappear.
Grizzle leapt back up. “You’re done, foal!
That Gatekey shall go nowhere, you hear?
I shan’t give it up, e’en for your soul!
It stays with me! –Am I perfectly clear?”
He drew his sword, intent on a round three.
In response, Tânadain found itself free.

“Have at thee!” so announced Thorn.
At that word, the brawl commenced anew.
Beneath where Grizzle laid was torn
By both swords. Higher up Grizzle flew!
Thorn and Tânadain, too, were airborne.
In the air, each other the duo tried to hew!
With one swipe, Thorn and Tânadain did send
Grizzle o’er the edge– nearly to his end!

Grizzle did not give up easily, however–
He was determined to reobtain the Gatekey.
It was a fight of wit– Grizzle’s wiles so clever,
Pitted against Thorn’s thoughts so free.
Tânadain defended its wielder whithersoëver
Grizzle struck– ’twas like Grizzle faced three!
Then he look’d behind himself, and notic’d
That the wales of the Halcyone was closest.

Hanging on by merely his own claws,
Grizzle looked up to Thorn, awaiting defeat.
Then, in his sack, Grizzle noticed the cause
Of his defeat– a blue Rose spurned the feat.
“What!” he thundered finally. “So it was. . . !”
But it was the last thing he would bleat.
A violent explosion carried the pirate higher.
He had been repelled by cannon-fire!

The impact alone spelled not Grizzle’s doom–
Remember, that they are at a great height.
Below him, salty, swirling waves did loom,
As a reward for his involvement in the fight.
Fast approaching was his oceanic tomb,
As he fell further, further from the moonlight.
’Til at last Captain Grizzle went under
Hard to imagine that he was to plunder!

“Who fired that cannon?” demanded Fogbow.
So answered Meridian, “Why, ’twas I!”
His voice rang up from the deck below.
“’Twas I who blew Grizzle from the sky!”
“Thou art our helmspony!” Fogbow did bellow.
“And you abandoned your true post! Why?”
“How much longer could the fight sustain?”
Said Meridian. “Saw you not Thorn’s pain?”

“Return to thy post, Meridian, at all haste!
Thorn is our Hero!” Fogbow demanded.
In following this, time Meridian did not waste.
Still, his heroism would be reprimanded.
“Captain Grizzle from the sky has been erased,
And the Pride of Boreas’ crew has disbanded!
Thorn, once again you work for us a miracle!
Your deed shall be remembered as a chronicle!”

“You flatter me.” Thorn replied with this.
“But give Meridian credit where it is due!
Even as coxswain, his cannon dœsn’t miss!
Yea, though I have dealt with Grizzle’s crew,
It is Meridian who gave him Death’s kiss!
You saw him– from cannon-fire he flew!
Who am I to take credit for the Captain’s fall,
When Meridian finished him once and for all?”

Fogbow then was lost in thoughts so pensive–
Perhaps the foal was right about Meridian!
He had demanded all hooves on the defensive
Against the boarding of many a barbarian.
Thorn may have led the counteroffensive,
But it was Meridian that he did champion.
“Very well!” he declared. “You’re excused!
Meridian, this attack you have defused!”

Thorn headed below deck, and ran into him–
Said he, “Thank you for avouching my honor!
For a moment, I thought my fate to be grim!”
“Think nothing,” said Thorn. “None are abler
Than thee, Meridian, even with odds that slim.”
“Still, to ward off Captain Fogbow’s anger. . . .”
This prompted a word from the blue Rose.
These words were exactly as what it chose:

“Humility– ah, that is what you have learned?
That is excellent, Thorn, but more still exists!
Victory in battle Tânadain may have earned,
But knowledge, before the battle, trumps fists!
Come now to bed, a rest you have earned–
The road stretches long, and Quivett persists!
There should be a bunk assigned to you.
The rest of the night you should sleep through.”

“Set a course onward to Gryphonstone!”
Shouted Fogbow, now to resume the run.
The sails picked up, on to the Gryphon-throne,
All were working on it, save for one–
Young little Thorn, aboard the Halcyone,
Who that night Luna treated as her own son.
The wind howled, but Thorn heard silence–
Dreaming of home, bidding Grizzle riddance.