Chapter 1: Canterlot Sky
Along Came a Pirate
By Skye Silverwing
Chapter 1: Canterlot Sky
The skies over Canterlot were perfect. Celestia’s Sun was shining down, there was no wind to be spoken of, and there were only a few large white puffy clouds drifting through. It was a perfect day for Prince BlueBlood to have a party on his private yacht.
This was, of course, the grandest of the Prince’s many yachts, a four hundred foot long affair, with a huge, whale-shaped balloon to keep it aloft. Just one of the many perks to being a relation, albeit a distant one, to Princess Celestia, as well as the most willing to make use of that connection.
He sat on a lounge chair on a small raised platform on the aft deck and waved for one of the serving mares to refill his half full wine glass. He was, after all, royalty, and could not be bothered to poor his own glass.
He brought the glass to his lips and smiled at the flavor on his tongue. He had had over two hundred cases of this Chrystal Berry Wine shipped directly from the Chrystal Empire as soon as he had learned that the thousand-year vanishing of that nation had preserved it; Every bottle that had been in the Wine Cellars at the Chrystal Palace. His adoptive cousin Cadence would never even notice that they were gone, as she had never been much of a connoisseur. Nor would her meat-headed commoner of a Husband.
BlueBlood held the glass up to study how it shimmered in the light. Yes, with this he stood to make a fortune. Already, several of the lesser nobility and Canterlot Elite had approached him to inquire about the wine, and two had even expressed an interest in buying it at 10,000 bits per bottle. And demand would only drive the price higher.
At this rate, Blue Blood would not even need his Aunt’s Status to hold himself up in Society. He would still use it, of course. Why mess with a system that works? He could use his Aunt’s name to get nearly anything he wanted. He had even used it to woo a number of mares. He had four in Canterlot alone, but a Societal dislike of such discussions kept them from coming to know about each other.
His thoughts, such as they were, were suddenly interrupted by the sound of a prop spinning through the air. He looked around and then waved the ship’s captain over. “I thought I told you to shut the engines down during the party.” He demanded, “My guests do not need such racket.”
The Captain shook his head. “That sound isn’t coming from this ship.” He said, “We are drifting on the breeze, like you commanded.” He looked around, ears shifting a little. “That sound is coming from… that way.” He pointed towards a decently sized cloud just off the port bow and below the ship.
A moment later, the cloud’s top began to swell, until another airship suddenly erupted though it.
It was a smaller, sleeker vessel, with a reinforced, un-stylized balloon, and a number of propellers, fins and wings to allow for speed and maneuverability. It was also equipped with a significant number of heavy cannons, as well as what appeared to be a forward-mounted ram Spike.
The most important and prominent detail was raised just above the highest Propeller of the ship: A black flag, featuring the image of a Pony skull, flanked by skeletal wings. Pirates.
The Captain Sprung into action as soon as the Pirate Vessel broke through the cloud barrier, dashing along the deck toward the steerage and shouting for his men. “Pirates!” he shouted, “Get those engines online and pull the anchor! If we can get the ship in range of the City, the Royal guard might be able to help us and maybe driver those sky dogs off. If we can get below the wing limit, we might have a chance!”
Blueblood watched in shock as the Ponies on board the other ship moved to a line of Ballista that lined their deck, leveling three of the things on his ship. The ropes on the Ballista made a snapping sound as they loosed, launching large Harpoons that punched through the hull of his ship with a devastating crash.
“Prepare to Repel boarders!” the Captain Boomed from the steerage. Several of the members of the Royal Guard as well as some of Blueblood’s personal bodyguards moved to surround him.
Blueblood cringed as rough-looking Pegasai and Earth Ponies began to Fly or Swing across the intervening space between the two vessels on ropes, each one armed with a knife, a Cutlass, and a Flintlock Pistol.
The Royal Guard Ponies that had been assigned to protect Blueblood and the Ship’s Crew Members Quickly engaged to pirates, the Guards wielding spears or short swords, and the Crew swinging belaying pins, mops, and whatever else they could find.
The Pirates leapt into the fray and soon nearly half of the deck was embroiled in a wild melee, though Blueblood’s own Unicorn Bodyguards, managed to keep the fray at a distance using their magic. It was pretty clear that the Unicorn Royal Guards and Crewmen were making stands in other parts of the ship as well.
Suddenly, a large grey unicorn swung across to the yacht, his black pirate hat perched atop his equally black mane, and an imposing beard. He unleashed a wave of magic that hurled several of Blueblood’s defending Unicorns back against the railing, before drawing his cutlass and engaging four Guard Pegasai.
On the upper deck, another pony landed. A slim, fetching Earth Pony Mare with grey-blue fur and a blue mane streaked with pink and green, she landed on the deck, her long coat flaring theatrically as she landed. She quickly dashed out of sight further aboard, leaving the lower decks to the Unicorn.
The fighting on the deck where Blueblood and his guards were making their stand intensified under the assault of the Unicorn Pirate, with him using both combat and magic to knock down every Pony that dared stand against him. Blueblood’s guards held, though.
As the fight raged on, and the signs of resistance on the other parts of the ship began to dwindle, Blueblood became concerned that his force might be the only group of defenders still holding. This worry was confirmed when the Mare Pirate appeared at the railing of the upper deck and pitched the yacht’s captain down onto the deck below, bringing the fighting to an abrupt end. She then flipped up onto the railing and settled herself into a seated position with her rear hooves dangling over the side.
“This ship is now under the control of Captain Misty Vale and the crew of the Cloud Dancer.” She said with a smile. “Surrender now and you will be spared.”
Blueblood gritted his teeth. “How dare you filthy lowlifes come abort my personal yacht!” He said, mustering all of his High-born indignation. “Don’t you know who I am? I am Blueblood, Nephew of Princess Celestia herself! I am fifth in line for the throne of Canterlot!”
The Pirate, Misty Vale, smiled at Blueblood. “And here I thought we were going to have to work to figure out who the most valuable individual on this bucket was.” She said, Rolling from the railing and flipping twice as she dropped to the deck. “Now, how about you tell us where the valuables are.”
Blueblood glared at the pirate. “Clearly you don’t know who you’re dealing with.” He said haughtily. “Guards, capture this pirate!”
Misty sighed and off-handedly pitched something at Blueblood.
The Prince flared his magic, batting the object from the air, but instead of the clunk of an object hitting the floor there was a poofing sound and the object released a cloud of fine white dust that coated Blueblood and his Guards. He flared his magic again, only to have it sputter and spark impotently from the end of his horn.
Blueblood looked in horror to find that his unicorn guards were all afflicted in the same manner. He turned back to the pirate, only to find her less than a pace in front of him, her blade pressing against his throat.
Misty smiled viciously. “Now, I believe that you were about to tell us about the valuables onboard this ship.” She said. “And then you were going to beg for your lives.”
Blueblood winced, and then nodded slowly.
“Good.” She said, turning to her second in command, the Unicorn with the beard. “Scarbeard,” she addressed him, “see to the others. Prince Blueblood and I have some shopping to do.”
.o0o. .o0o. .o0o. .o0o. .o0o.
Misty smiled as her men and several members of the yacht’s crew transferred the hundreds of cases of wine from the hold of the yacht to her own vessel’s hold. That wine would fetch a small fortune in Sendigal. Perhaps even a large one, to the right buyers.
She estimated that, with all things said and done, the right palms greased and the proper fences used, the wine, along with the chest of jewels Blueblood kept aboard, and the varied elements of finery culled from the other nobleponies aboard, it would be enough to keep the ship in the air and feed the crew for several years.
Of course, keeping an airship running was an expensive prospect. Between parts and fuel, powder for the cannons, and weaponry, it cost nearly half of their usual take just to keep the ship in the air. It was her first priority, since a pirate is nothing without her ship. After that came the crew’s twenty percent, Scarblade’s ten, and her own ten. On a windfall like this, the ship would leave more for the rest of the crew.
She spotted Scarbeard and several other members of her crew approaching the area on the foredeck where she had been holding Prince Blueblood. She was not sure she liked the look on their faces.
Affecting an air of cool confidence, she stepped up to her second in command. “Scarbeard, what is going on?” she demanded.
The scarred Unicorn regarded her calmly. “The men have nearly finished loading the loot,” He said, “And it is a big enough score that the men and I have been discussing how we should get a bigger cut.”
Misty met the old sailor’s eyes. “You will get the same cut as always.” She said flatly. “The take is big enough that that should satisfy even your greed.”
Scarblade sneered and pulled out his pistol, leveled it, and fired.
Misty blinked for a moment as the smoke stung her eyes. The weapon had clearly not been pointed at her, but it was not until Blueblood gave a small whimper that she realized where it had been pointed.
The Prince stared down at a rapidly expanding red stain spreading along his pristine white coat. “M-my fur…” He whispered, clearly not grasping the magnitude of his injury, “the stain will never… come… out…”
With that, Blueblood’s eyes rolled back up in his head and he tumbled backward over the guardrail and off the ship, plummeting toward the city below.
Misty turned back toward Scarbeard with an outraged look in her eyes. “Why?” she demanded.
The vicious Unicorn Pirate smiled evilly. “Several Pegasai ‘accidentally’ escaped the raid.” He said, “But not before they learned that Misty Vale was behind it. They will tell the Princess and she will believe you the culprit. So now you be faced with a choice. You can wait in the ship’s brig until the Princess lays out a big enough reward for us to turn you over, or you die in a manner befitting a pirate of your caliber.”
As he spoke, he kicked the gangplank out, sticking out over the 3000 foot drop and certain death. Misty stepped slowly over to the plank and looked down, then turned back her mutineer. “So it is mutiny, then?” she said, a dangerous glint in her eye. Her gaze traveled over the crewmates he had brought with him, and then the rest, who were watching from where they stood on both ships. “Do all of you stand with these traitors?”
There were a number that looked for a long moment and then turned back to the work they were doing.
Scarbeard chuckled darkly. “They may not all stand with us, but those that don’t choose to stand aside.” He said, “You have few supporters left on the Cloud Dancer, and none of them have enough guts to stand against us. Again, your choice is to be turned in for the bounty that just tripled, at least, or take a walk.” He eyed the plank as he said it and waited for her response.
Misty stepped onto the plank. “This isn’t over, Scar.” She said. “Dancer won’t have a captain other than me for long.”
Scarbeard Chuckled again. “I expected an attempt at sabotage,” he said, “which is why you be stepping off of Blue blood’s ship, and not ours. No chance to hold up our get away with a missing engine part.”
Misty sighed and glanced down as she reached the end of the plank. “This is not over.” She said finally. “I will be back for my ship.”
Scarbeard grinned evilly. “Not unless you can sprout wings and fly.” He said. And kicked the support, dropping the gangplank into from the ship.
Misty did not scream as she fell. She did not even seem surprised when the plank fell away beneath her. She simply fell, and vanished into a cloud several thousand feet below.
Scarbeard nodded to himself and turned to walk back to what was now his ship.
As he approached, Gliby, the Mare in charge of his crew, informed him that the loot had been stowed. And the ship was ready to cast off. Scarbeard made the order to cast off and leave the prisoners on board the yacht. He waited until the ship had moved a dozen feet clear of the other vessel.
He turned to Gliby and smiled viciously. “Is it all prepared?” he asked.
Gliby nodded. “Are you sure about this, Captain Scarbeard?” She asked.
Captain Scarbeard was silent for a long moment and then replied. “Dead mares tell no tales.” He said. “Fire.”
.o0o. .o0o. .o0o. .o0o. .o0o.
Even as the wreckage of Blueblood’s yacht was being cleared and searched to retrieve the bodies, word spread that the Princesses were livid. That a member of the Royal family could be killed in such a manner was unacceptable.
As was to be expected, the bounty on the head of the Pirate called Misty Vale was tripled almost immediately, and her picture, such as was to be had, was posted near and far. Vale was to be publicly hanged for her crimes against Equestria, and the entire City of Canterlot advanced to a heightened state of alert, with guards patrolling the streets.
Even so, it took little effort for a figure in a thick black robe to slip out through the city’s gates. Misty would have her revenge, and Scarbeard would pay.
.o0o. .o0o. .o0o. .o0o. .o0o. .o0o. .o0o.
A.N. I am really interested in what people think of this story. Please give me some feedback that I can use.