The scumbag we had captured was quick to be forthcoming with the location of the remaining Guards. Apparently, Melody had decided that killing them would be a waste and had put them to work on a small island off the coast of Manehatten to mine away and collect gems there. The small isle was fairly out of the way, so much so that the pirate had to give us constant directions to lead us there. The presence of Iron standing menacingly behind him ensured there was no foul play. As for the rest of the pirates, well, ships have brigs for a reason after all. Admittedly, getting them all in there was a bit of a squeeze but it was nothing that a bit of elbow grease, thoughtfully provided by the Guard misfits, as well as my own masterful expertise at Tetris couldn’t solve.
With that problem out of the way, I took the time to change out of the dress as we headed for our destination. The pink thing may be perfect for infiltrating a high-society ball or a convention of crossdressers but for sneaking onto an island full of pirates it may be a bit out of place. I was now dressed in my usual coat and, to help keep out the chilly sea air, a red scarf that I had stolen from one of the pirate’s bunks. Despite it belonging to a pirate, it was surprisingly clean and well-made, it’s bright red colour still managing to stand out clearly. As I looked out over the sea, Summer came up behind me and joined me in leaning against the rail. We both just watched the sea pass by for a couple of seconds before she broke the silence.
“We’re doing well so far.” She observed.
“Aye.” I replied, waiting to see where she was going with this.
“Had a lot of luck so far though, won’t last forever.”
“Aye.”
“We’ll need a plan. A damn good one.”
“Aye.” I said for a third time. Sometimes I felt like my worth as a conversational partner was overestimated, considering my job could be done by a tape recorder. “Do you have a good plan?” I added.
She sighed and looked down, “No, I don’t. There’s far too many variables. We have no idea how many pirates are on the island, or what weapons they have, or what condition the Guards are in. Tartarus, I don’t even know if the rookies will be able to hold up.”
I looked over my shoulder to where the young Guards were talking excitedly about the fight, wild gesticulations going everywhere as they eagerly described their triumph.
“They did well.” I noted. I’d seen a few fighters in my time and those kids definitely ranked among some of the best. “I’d like to see what training you put them through to make them so good, and in so little time as well.”
Summer looked up at me and smiled, somehow managing to mix both kindness and ferocity into her smile. “Trust me, you really don’t want to know.”
Well that just made me even more curious!
“They’re good,” She admitted, “And eager as well, but they aren’t ready to go taking on an entire army. We need to know what we’re going up against and plan for it.”
“I think I know where this is going.” I muttered.
“I’m taking Private Shivers and Private Dread on a scouting mission. I know I don’t have any authority over you but I’m asking you, as a friend, to accompany us.”
I pretended to mull it over for a moment before replying. “Island full of dangerous pirates, bunch of rookies along for the ride, infinite possibilities for terrible deadly circumstances? How could I possibly say no?” I sent a grin at her before turning serious, “Besides, you’ll need someone to watch your back and, no offence to Iron, but he would be unsuitable for two reasons.”
“Oh,” She said, raising an eyebrow, “And what reasons are these?”
“One, he is far too large to be truly stealthy and two,” I took a tactical step away from the unicorn, “He would be far too absorbed in watching certain parts of your back.”
That tactical step backwards really helped avoid the buck she sent at me.
We landed on the island by lifeboat, Iron made sure to keep the bulky ship well out of sight whilst we rowed, slowly and quietly, onto land. After pulling the boat up, we took a little time to inspect our surroundings. The isle itself was truly tiny, easily capable of being crossed in about an hour’s walk. The landscape was dominated entirely by a mountain that rested at the centre of the island, looking completely out of place. Down its rocky sides, trees of all different shades of green grew vibrantly, making the place look more like a holiday resort than a pirate hideout.
What ruined the effect, was the black smoke of a mining camp billowing towards the sky.
The pollution made the approach incredibly easy, almost too easy. With the smog hanging above our target there was no chance of us getting lost or turned about in the forest as we climbed the slope of the mountain. Shivers, Summer and Dread had seen fit to remove their armour, the chance of the clunky metal revealing our position being too dangerous, whilst I had thoughtfully wrapped some cloth around my hooves and fashioned some other ninja shoes for the ponies. I was so generous like that. Step over Rarity, there’s a new Element of Generosity in town...and he’s using his title as an Element Bearer to lull everyone into a false sense of security so he can steal their stuff.
Yeah, I’m a saint like that.
Eventually we managed to crest a small rise on the mountain and look down at the entrance to the mining camp. It was, fairly predictably, absolutely covered in pirates. Some were lounging about, some were playing cards, some were wearing silly hats. Pirates on every shape and sizes stood about by various fires, some enterprising ones even toasting marshmallows on spits.
I never thought I’d see a pirate slumber party and yet here it is.
We crawled away from the ridge before any of the ponies below managed to spot us. I looked down at Summer and noticed her worried expression, seeing it mirrored on the faces of the two rookies, although theirs was tinted with a bit of fear.
“Got a plan?” I asked a little redundantly.
She paused for a moment and looked up at the only other entrance we had found into the mine, a large hole from which served as a sort of chimney for the black smoke, before eventually returning my gaze, “Perhaps, but there may be some slight problems.” She looked over at the recruits, who returned her look with one of absolute trust, or almost absolute trust in Dread’s case, “You two go back to the ship, get the others back here quickly.” They nodded and scurried away back to the rowing boat. “Ace...exactly how annoying do you think you can be?”
Well that is an interesting question.
“Depends what for.” I paused and gave it some thought. “I once got three Italian mob bosses to declare vendettas against me in a single day. I’ve got to say, the Italian’s really take vendettas seriously, though I guess they really should considering they invented the word.”
She blinked at me, “How exactly did you manage that?”
“I sang Livin’ La Vida Loca to them in an attempt to appease them with authentic Italian music.” I replied, “I learnt three things that day. Livin' La Vida Loca is actually Spanish, I am not very good at geography and the Italian mafia can be quite sensitive about their culture.”
“Okay Okay,” She said, waving one hoof in the air to cut off my rambling, “But do you think that you can keep the pirates attention on you for a good ten minutes?”
I hummed in thought before responding, “I’m not sure if I know that many pirates songs but I suppose I could give it a shot.” I cast a sly glance her way, “What’re you thinking of Stormy?”
“Stormy?” She asked with some disbelief.
“I’m trying out some nicknames.” I shrugged, “So, have you actually got a plan now?”
“Yeah, but you’re not going to like it.”
“I rarely do,” I sighed, “And those are my plans, I can only imagine that yours will be a step up. So, hit me with it.”
She was right, I didn’t like this plan. Although, if I had the sense of mind to actually bother attending a gym then I’m sure my fitness trainer would have loved it, mainly because it involved a lot of running.
I was hidden in some bushes above the pirate’s position, watching intently for Summer’s signal that the others were in position. After a couple of minutes I saw it, a faint shimmer of light blue magic from Summer’s horn, so dim that it went completely unnoticed by the pirate guards.
I took a deep breath and then leapt up from my position into view by the light of the various campfires. The nearest pirates wheeled round at the sight of me whilst the rest were quick to follow upon hearing my announcement.
“Breakin’ rocks in the hot sun!” I shouted, to the bewilderment of my audience, “I fought the law and the...” I pointed at the pirates and waited for them to finish the famous line.
Several arrows slammed into the trees around me in response.
“Wow, you guys totally suck.” I deadpanned, before breaking into a dead sprint away from their position.
My powerful legs allowed me to easily lose sight of the pirates, whose stomping quadrupedal gait worked against them over the rough terrain of the forest. The moment I was certain they had lost my trail I quickly clambered up a tree and waited, perched up in the branches, for a target.
It wasn’t long until one kindly came along, a unicorn with a crossbow held in his magical grip. He looked fairly young, though I’ll admit I’m not very good at telling the differences between ponies, if it weren’t for their colour coding I probably wouldn't be able to tell them apart. They all look the same to me.
Oh my god, I think I’m a racist.
Knowing that there was only one way to take my mind off my potential racism, I leapt down from my tree top position and landed on my target hooves first. The unicorn fell easily under the blow, collapsing to the ground with a thump and dropping his bow. Having committed a suitable amount of violence against the target of my questionable racism, I grabbed his bow and hid in some bushes, waiting for part two of my cunning ambush to play out.
It wasn’t long until another pirate stumbled along, perhaps even looking for his missing comrade. As he approached the fallen unicorn I took careful aim with my stolen weapon and, just as the pony held still to check on his companion, I fired. The bolt whizzed through the short distance between us before impacting with a meaty thump. The effect was instantaneous, the target collapsing to the ground and letting out a howl of pain as he tried to press a hoof to the wound. The bolt had gone straight through the knee of the pirate’s hind leg, which made it a bit difficult for him to cover the wound.
I stepped out of my concealed position and walked over to the injured pony, my hands shaking slightly from the adrenaline. I’d done a lot of exciting things in my life but I’d never been the freaking Predator before. Violence wasn’t my style, I left that sort of thing up to the mobsters and thugs who gave crime a bad name. To be honest, I’m not sure what disturbed me more about the pain I had caused; how good I was at it, or how much I enjoyed it.
I looked down at the screaming pony, squashing any excessive emotions that were running through me now. I had to shut him up some way, before he brought the rest of the pirates down on my head. My hand reached for the knife at my waist, the blade presenting an almost stupidly simple answer to my conundrum. One quick slash, that’s all it took. I’d seen men get stabbed before, it was shocking how quickly people died. A single wound in the right place and the fragile mortal form seemed to just give up and die. My mind as numb as my hands, I remembered the first time I had seen death.
I had been fifteen years old and living on the streets of London, fighting tooth and nail just to survive. Like most of the homeless, I would do anything to get my next meal, including theft. To my pride, I’d never used violence against a mark. I was quick enough that I didn’t need to. One evening a man had wandered into the alleyway where myself and a number of other homeless folk were spending the night away from the prying eyes of the police. I remember he was a large man, almost three times the size of my slim teenage frame, and drunk as well, violently so. He started trying to throw his considerable weight around and one of the older unhoused took offence to that. There was a flash of metal and the drunk stumbled back with a stanley knife wedged inside his fat stomach. There was no beauty about it, no glory or honour in his death. The old man, now a murderer, fell on his victim, grabbing the knife and ripping it out before plunging it back in again, and again, and again. It was amazing, in a horrifying way, just how energetic the old man was in his crime, considering his age and condition.
I blinked and was back in the forest, the injured stallion was quiet now, looking up at me and whimpering pathetically. My knife was halfway out of its sheath, apparently the slow rasping of metal that it made as it left its holster had caused fear to override the stallion’s pain and he was now staring at me with wide eyes, silently begging for mercy.
The hand that gripped the knife clutched it tightly, the knuckles turning white. I looked down on the pirate, who had undoubtedly done terrible things to good, innocent folk. I remembered the old man and the drunk. I wondered what Summer and Iron would think of me. I wondered what I would think of me.
I decided what sort of man I was.
Slamming the knife back into its sheath, I swung the unloaded crossbow into a two handed grip and raised it over one shoulder, preparing to bring the heavy wooden frame down in a vicious attack. I felt like I should say something momentous, something special, to commemorate my choice as a more merciful man. Seeing the pirate’s injured knee, I decided on the perfect phrase.
“Skyrim reference.” I muttered darkly, before smashing the crossbow down on the pirate’s head, sending him into unconsciousness and breaking the bow in two.
I dropped the remains of the bow onto the ground and knelt down next to my victims turned patients. Their breathing seemed to be regular and they weren’t bleeding from their skulls. I believe that means they are probably going to survive. I let out a relieved smile and stood back up, wiping some loose dirt off my knees as I did so. I could hear more pirates stomping about as they made their way towards my position, no doubt alerted by their comrade’s screams.
I quickly shrugged my coat off and reversed it before slipping it back on, enchantment at the ready. On silent hooves I slunk into the forest, ready for the next round in the game of excessively violent Hide and Go Seek that we seemed to playing. The pirate’s interest had been well and truly piqued, no doubt they would be willing to chase me down all night after I’d taken down two of their number, which suited me just fine. After all, it was according to the plan. I sped up as shouts began to emanate from behind me, a grin appearing on my face.
The hunt was on.
If people were really that easy to piss off, I'd either have died long ago, or would have become quite the brawler from all those fights.
Awesome works! It was really great to see some more insight into Ace's past and how he thinks. I won't deny multiple sections made me bust up laughing.
I didn't think Ace new about the elements. I mean, not as actual people. He's probably been told some stuff about the elements, but probably not names. Unless they are more famous than I am giving them credit for.
That, or it has taken me 47 chapters to realise Ace is a brony.
that pirate must've shat bricks
Another good chapter.
2383623 People really are that easy to piss off and no i'm not dead.
2383702
Then I guess I've been meeting some really mellow people!
2383687 As a matter of fact he IS a brony. It is said the first chapter I think.
2383687 I believe it was mentioned in the first chapter that he is a brony, when he got yanked from earth to equestria by the lady luck.
The "mercy scene" works well for the crime-orientated set up you have. But, that's just my own singular opinion.
Happy Birthday!
Only thing I noticed. Should be "shouts".
2383687 I'm with ya, brother. It never really occurred to me whether Ace is a brony or not, I just always assumed he had a passing knowledge of the show but didn't really know anything about it.
2383687>>2383881
reread the first chapter
happy birthday then, buddy
2383687 huh, i never realized it either
Huzzah!
I think you did well on the merciful scene but I think it should have been more serious... XD skyrim reference
Happy birthday! where's pinkie when you need her?
I felt the mercy scene worked pretty well. It certainly did what you meant it to, as far as showing Ace's morality.
One-quarter cheer for your Birthaversery!
Hip!
i say a vey good birthday to you may your wishes come true and thanks for the story
happy birthday!
1. Hap Birtay. That is how I say "Happy Birthday."
2. New respect earned for Ace.
2383698 I used to be a pirate... but the I took a kne to my arrow
.
.
.
Wait...
Well, happy birthday.
Now then, onwards to looking for more fanfictions to read.
Blarg! Not another arrow-in-the-knee joke! This is becoming worse than "Do you like bananas?"
Well, we wish you a pleasant anniversary of the separation of your umbilical chord.
Happy belated, and so on and so forth, you've just leveled up! Set a new high score in Number Of Years Consecutively Lived! Video game references...
Personally, I like the mercy scene, it has appropriate amounts of indecisiveness, inability to explain the exact drive behind the ultimate decision, flashback, reaction from the 'victim' and even a true-to-life lack of actual need to explain the entirety of the thought-process as the decision was made. Well paced and nicely thought out. Keep that up and I'll ask you to be narrating my life for me, as preference over my own running commentary on the weirdness I live in.
Also, it's about time that we got down to, as Santa Claus says, tacks of brass. Who are you planning on putting in as Ace's ball-and-chain?
Seriously here, you've set up Iron and Summer in brilliant fashion, from the very beginning it's been subtle and only now do people start doing that 'Oh, makes perfect sense...' mental shift to say that Ace isn't going to be the romantic interest in this little group and that the two side-kicks are going to get together instead.
This leads me to think in two directions. The first is that, while Ace is accompanied by two witty, strong-willed characters that can dead-pan his ridiculous nature, another strong-willed character wouldn't go amiss... if she were also the thieving type. Why? Because she'd do what Ace did, only angrily, with more leaning on it being a job and not just being damn good at what she did. Some girl with a purpose, a goal, and Ace would be the distraction, the look into actually being more like a girl and having an interest in a guy. Of course, Ace being the sneaky type too would open the door to her not having to stop being herself and melding the two worlds.
Classic, clean, fit for immense amounts of banter and chaos, and best yet you could end it on a parting of ways cliche that tells the audience 'next time they meet, they'll have their tongues down each other's throats so quick you'd swear they were magnetised.'
The other direction is the 'innocent' type. The kind that initially reacts fearfully, but is actually fascinated by him. By following him a little, and by luck (good or bad), she spends some time with him, and realises that he's actually a good person, but one that really, really, really likes doing what he does. So while she doesn't quite approve, and might even jump in to try and prevent him from his thieving once or twice (resulting in hilarity and running away very fast), she starts to like him for him. On Ace's part there's lots of room for frustration and being teased about it by Iron and Summer, and then that horrific realisation that... when it comes to this girl... he really has to be the hero sometimes because it's the only way to stop her from getting very hurt, or for both of them to live through the encounter. 'That and she's actually pretty cu-[mental knee-jerk]' comments would abound. And then! When she actually displays that inner strength and poise in some overwhelmingly un-ignorable way, such as facing down a whole pack of bad guys in a monumental bluff, Ace is forced to recognise that she's not just a distraction, but a genuine companion and asset to their venture.
Less clean, because it involves softening Ace's internal character a little, breaking down some of that hard-built armour on his heart that we've been seeing so far, but a good fit in the world of ponies. You could also end this one in a separation cliche, but a more definite one where she needs to stay and live her life and he needs to go to live his. The promise being that when his wanderlust is sated, when his thieving days finally grant him the satisfaction he's been craving, he has a place that will welcome him back. Not to mention the additional strength it would give Ace for future adventures. Having something to go back to is a very powerful drive to carry on and finish his great journey.
Have I rambled too long? Maybe... maybe... But have I rambled successfully? Only seeing what you put into the story will tell
Happy birthday to you!
Happy birthday to you!
Happy birthday dear author!
Happy birthday, tooo yooouuuuuuu
On another note I am quite pleased at how this story is progressing.
A GLORIOUS DAY OF BIRTH TO YOU! fc08.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2012/131/3/a/birthday_filly_by_littlepirate-d4zch4o.jpg
i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/366/969/e84.png
Good chapter too.
Blackwing used it, Lo used it, and now, you're using it.
There have enough knee sacrifices to the Arrow Gods.
This is, BY FAR, my favorite fic on this entire website; I literally squee'd when I saw the latest update. Hell, I squee'd when I saw that it had updated in general. I drew fanart about this, this is... Frickin amazing. Keep up the good work.
"Skyrim Reference"...
Best. Catchphrase. EVER!
2388885
Ah yes, the ever-present question of the love interest. I'm still deliberating with myself whether or not Ace should have/needs one and what it would add. If I do end up going with it then I'll probably favour a Sherlock Holmes+Irene Adler set up for their relationship. One trying to constantly outwit and out-steal the other with heaps of underlying sexual tension thrown in. So that should be fun
This won't be until the sequel anyways...oh yeah, there's going to be a sequel by the way...
2391702
I'm glad you enjoy it so much If you want you could send me the fanart and I'll put it into a blog update for Wild Card so everyone can have a look at it. If you want to that is
2394653 Ah, so option A out of the two, definitely worth a try.
But wait... sequel? You mean that you're planning on ending this story in the near/fairly near future? Shock! Le Gasp! even
That said... someone pick up that phone. Because I damn well called it
2401010 First, I was screaming at the top of my lungs. Second I'M MINDING YOU BITCH!!!!!!!!!!!
EDIT: Dammit, forgot the italics.
happy birthday (late I know, sue me)
2411222 you know that you are not supposed to reply to very old comments? That one is 26 weeks too old to reply to.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY... sorry I'm late
2387290
But it's not an arrow to the knee; it's a crossbow bolt to the hock.
Completely different projectile and body part.
: I mean, the hock is basically the ankle. Some ponies...!
Dang it went fom fun to dark so fast...
glad ace is the way he is
2385010>>2387290>>2391089
Random Fact: Arrow to the knee is old Viking Ref. to marriage.
Think about the pose you make when you propose.
...I used to be a Pirate like you, but then I took a crossbow bolt to the knee.
HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY!
Amazing chater as always, good sir
2387290 I know where you ain't findin' any bananas... OOOOOOOONNNNNN TTHHHHEEEEEE MMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNN BIATCH
now with sequel
2411326
For that i feel to say "Hi" from 2019 to you
2391089
Wonder what the gods name would be...
2387290
Bananas joke never get old... It ripes to a classic wine in time
I hope Ace didnt end up in a cell after the hunt... That Bitch would not let him go free without a funtime Session this time...